Northeast - Tour du Port, Baltimore

Sunday, October 22

I'm planning to ride it for my sixth time.
It's a fun ride. Nice way to see the city, watch it wake up.
The ride is a little short, only 22 miles for both loops. Last year I rode it twice around for 44 miles, and plan to do a double again this year. Being first or second rider out on the Canton loop just as the sun is coming up is great. Made it around the first loop before the marshals were in place.

So, who else is going?

If anyone wants to join me on the double challenge, I'll be there by around 7:00 am and starting as early as I can.

My wife and I did it on our tandem last year. We will be there again this year.

-D

I registered last week. I don't think I'll be doing a double, but still looking forward to this ride. If anyone wants to ride with a slo-poke let me know.

Hey Don, give em HEFT! I am trying to get some things moved on around on my schedule. A couple of my MTB friends are doing this one, hopefully I can make it as well.

I'll be there...with some other buds from the Eastern Shore! My first time riding TdP but looking forward to it! OneLessCar does great work and Baltimore is a great city to tour around in without the traffic.
-Scott

....Baltimore is a great city to tour around in without the traffic.
They don't close the streets for the tour, but there is not much traffic that early on a Sunday morning. Much of the ride is on less busy or very wide streets. And the bikes are mostly spread out, not in one big bunch.
My favorite time to see the city is early morning. Watching the sunrise over the harbor from the piers of Fells Point is magical. (The sun coming up in your eyes on Boston St is another matter.)

Looks like we might have a good weekend for the TdP. A little cold, but the rain should hold off.
I'd suggest a BF meet-up, but it sounds like everyone is on their own schedules.
I still plan to try a double. I'll be signing in at 7am and getting an early start.
If you see a middle age guy on a blue Trek hybrid, probably with Bike Forum stickers on a black helmet, say hi.

I might get up early for this one. I havnt ridden a Balto tour since 2000. I still remember those cobbles in Fells Point.

If you see a middle age guy on a blue Trek hybrid, probably with Bike Forum stickers on a black helmet, say hi.


Yea I don't know when we are planning on starting. But we will be on our Fuji Absolute Tandem. Just yell

"Hey Dan" and watch me probably fall :D

If anyone wants to meet up and before the ride, or ride along with me on Sunday morning let me know.
I'll be going at a easy pace, taking in the Baltimore sights and may even take a few stops for photographs here and there.

I will be there with the wife. I'll be wearing a "quick-step" jersey, going to show up early as we haven't registered yet.

It looks like I’ll be there helping One Less Car collect signatures on letters to our gubernatorial candidates to support biking. Look for a tall skinny guy with a beard or a long bike (Xtracycle.)

Back from TdP.

Started not quite as planned. Got up late at 6:04 am instead of the 5:00 I intended. Got ready VERY fast, including breakfast of toast and tea (in the travel mug, to go) and was in the car and rolling at 6:16. Made it from Falls Church, VA to parking next to the AVAM in 50 minutes (stopped the car at 7:06, and yes I know I drove very fast)
Got the bike ready, changed shoes, rode to Rash Field, checked in, got bagel and coffee, used the Tour du Portopotty, and started just before 7:30.

The rest of the plan worked. Made it around the route twice for 40ish miles. Best part was on the long loop the first time, when I was almost alone on the roads. Was tenth or so to arrive at Patterson Park. No lines at the rest stop was nice. Got back to Pratt Street and did the first loop again. This time with lots of company. Said hi to the rest stop people as I went thru again.
Got back to the Inner Harbor and rode the second loop. Finished the second loop for the first time by 10:45 and stopped for lunch, and to watch the trapeze school. Then went around the second loop a second time, finishing well before noon.

Picked up my T shirt and talked to the OLC people. Then headed to the Gwynn's Falls Trail to add more miles. http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/images/pics/GFTMap2005.pdf Went south to Cherry Hill Park, then back and up Federal Hill (third time) to enjoy the view. Finished the ride with just over 50 miles.

After stowing my bike in the car, I spent an hour looking at the AVAM's new show. Bought Xmas presents from Sideshow. http://www.avam.org/sideshow/index.html
Also stopped at the Rouse Center to see the kinetic sculptures (art bikes.)

Fun day. Satisfying ride.
Weather started cold but nice. Clouds w/ sprinkles after 9:00. Sun out again after 21:30.
No serious incidents. No accidents that I saw.
Will be posting on my lj bike journal..... eventually. http://cc-rider.livejournal.com/
Forgot my camera, and the cell phone charge was low, so no picture of the ride.
Took pictures of my computer afterwards. Loaded here http://www.flickr.com/photos/iggentleman/?saved=1
Thought the maximum speed one was interesting. Didn't think I was going THAT fast. :p

VERY crowded ride this year - I don't ever remember it being this crowded but we started earlier than usual since my husband was meeting for a group ride in Oregon Ridge at 11AM. Averaged just over 9 miles an hour for the first 5 or so miles due to the crowds. Picked up a bit for the final 15. Perfect weather - except the clouds probably did not make for a picturesque view. A fee sprinkle as we went through Fort McHEnry. TONS of volunteers - I was impressed.

Where I was riding the crowd didn't seem too bad. Worst place was the Patterson Park rest stop. The hill at Holabird and Dundalk (large pack waiting at the light), and Linwood approaching Paterson Park were also bad bottlenecks.
My average speed on the first (solo) time around the long loop was 14.5 mph. On the second time, when I was with the pack, it dropped to 12.8 mph.
The OLC people always seem to turn out lots of volunteers. Well organized, as usual.

Where does one find out about races like this and how to register for them?

It was my first time even though I've lived here for 5 years!

Definately a nice ride that really showcased Baltimore. I would certainly recommend it to out-of-town folks.

a few photos here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/trivelli/sets/72157594340038651/detail/) (taken when the sun came out briefly around 10 am).

Yea I don't know when we are planning on starting. But we will be on our Fuji Absolute Tandem. Just yell

"Hey Dan" and watch me probably fall :D
hey derath -
Is you tandem blue?
And do you have a beard?
I might have seen you in front of the trapeze school.

Well it turns out I got commandeered to help pedal Mt Airy’s conference bike (http://www.conferencebike.com/). We were going to do the 8 mile route but we got too busy talking and we ended up on the 22 mile route. It was a great time and one good work out trying to move a 400lb bike.

It looked like everyone had a great time.