Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Saturday August 20th "Love the Peach Ride" in Delaware

On Sat, there is a ride in Delaware that will start at the high school and end at the high school with a stop at the peach festival, which will be awesome. We will be treated to a piece of peach pie (yum) and have a great time.

35 mile ride, flat area in Delaware. Meet up at 9 am at Middletown Delware High School on Silverlake Road Route 299.

No one will be dropped. We will average 12 mph with frequent stops to regroup. Ride leader is Jim Dudley. I havent met him yet but talk with him through email.

Que sheets coming soon.

paison is in....

who else?

Neil? Will? Ray?

As long as I don't have to work I'm gonna plan on it, and the wife might join us as well.

I would love to join you, but we've already made plans that day....:(

Delious!!!

214633

As long as I don't have to work I'm gonna plan on it, and the wife might join us as well.

I'll plan on it. And I'll bring a memory chip in the camera. If wfournier's better half goes, however, we can't carpool. :-)

BTW, "flat" is a relative term. I've been in that part of DE twice, in 2007 on a metric century and on my 2009 tour. Compared to NJ yesterday it's not flat. It's considerably flatter than Chester County, PA, but there are some decent rises, particularly around Middletown. BTW Delaware is only about 15 miles from bay to border there, so you can cross the state twice in 30 some miles.

I'll check tomorrow and see what's going on..

from the ride leader:

"We will have sit down lunch at the 15 mile mark at Lorenzo's in Clayton,DE
they open at 10 am and will expect us.

The 34 mile course is marked in bright red fluorescent paint
every turn is marked down and back No fear of getting lost

This is the flattest and most rural ride with very little car traffic that I can do in Delaware.

Those that did the peach ride with me last year all told me how much they loved the route.

We start with peach pie and a parade
ride bikes
sit down Italian food for lunch
ride bikes

festival at the end


How is that for a bike ride"

whos in for this?

Me, james T, neil, will, chris.......anyone else?

I'm really excited.

I wish I could go. During the storm last weekend my house was flooded. I have to repair a car that was in the garage at the time.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll11/LongT/Garagedoorclose.jpg

The garage door is just visible on the left side of the pic.

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll11/LongT/Depth-1.jpg

A little hard to tell but you can see the water level by the fan on the left middle. This is through the garage door window

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll11/LongT/Tbetter.jpg

Bill

Wow Bill.... that really sucks. I am sorry to hear that.

alright all..... here is the info as I know it. The route will be well marked so no one will get lossed. We will be having lunch on the way as well so bring a little money too.

Remember to bring water and a snack just in case you need it. Cant wait to meet you all out there.

Wow Bill.... that really sucks. I am sorry to hear that.

Sorry to hijack your thread.

You are correct it really does suck. But the car is coming along. Still have the lawn mower and all the junk to clean out. The floor is covered with dirt that washed in. I didn't want to move the car until I drained the fluids. So all the wet boxes and other assorted junk is still there. It's hard to get around the car.

Have a good ride. Sounds perfect for me. Catch you on another one.

Bill

Sorry -- I'll be on my way to Canada for my vacation/tour there.

bill: you can come along and relieve some stress and if you need help cleaning up, I am free on sunday.

I'm really excited.

Down boy! :-)

whos in for this?

Me, james T, neil, will, chris.......anyone else?

I'm coming with a friend who doesn't post to Bike Forums. Does that count? :-)

Wish I could. I'll be free again in just a few short weeks.

sayre: you never join the group. why? wife restraints?

neil: do you have info on the ride next weekend?

bill: you can come along and relieve some stress and if you need help cleaning up, I am free on sunday.

Wish I could and that is a very nice offer. I'm sure I'll be on a ride with y'all soon.

Have a good one and ride safe!!

Bill

sayre: you never join the group. why? wife restraints?

neil: do you have info on the ride next weekend?

No, no. Nothing like that. Actually, I was kidnapped by a pack or roving musicians and convinced into joining them for the remainder of their season. It means rehearsing every weekend in NJ and then performing in exotic locations (like Hatboro, PA, Secaucus, NJ, Bridgeport, CT and Rochester, NY) We finish up over Labor Day weekend. That's why I keep saying I'll be free any time after that.

Peach Ride Upate from the Ride Leader:

here is the Gps info for Saturday's peach Ride

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/107538764

As you can see it is a 34 mile ride with no surprises .All marked turns
There is less climbing than the 34 mile SRT ride.


The ride is being done by a number of bikers that have not ridden with our group. A word of caution to all.

The ride takes us into very rural farm lands and extremely wooded forest. You do not want to be on a poorly maintained bike or ride without spare tubes on this ride. The thing that bikers love the most deserted flat roads are not fun if you have to walk back 15 miles.
Enough said!

Jim, the ride leader, said that if it is raining, we will not ride. I asked him to call me since we will all be on the road so if you want me to call you please pm me your phone number!

Forecast is for sunny weather.

Looking at the route, I see I passed through that area in my 2009 bike tour. I missed my turn following DE's official bike route, and instead of tracking back I took Rt. 13 through Smyrna instead. But Summit Bridge Road brought me into Middletown. I think we'll pass this on our trip:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3673675525_a5200dcd57_b.jpg

BTW, it was in Middletown where I had my encounter with "I don't want to do this anymore" thinking. I sat in front of a school and debated ending my tour. I was tired, hot, dirty, thirsty, and I'd been on a bike for two weeks. I'd had enough. But after a few minutes sitting feeling sorry for myself, I remembered I'm not a quitter and mounted the bike.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3674846284_1709778487_b.jpg

And two hours later I was at my campground on Lum's Pond and eating ice cream.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3674040661_acaf6841a2_b.jpg

this should be a great ride!

BTW, it was in Middletown where I had my encounter with "I don't want to do this anymore" thinking. I sat in front of a school and debated ending my tour. I was tired, hot, dirty, thirsty, and I'd been on a bike for two weeks. I'd had enough. But after a few minutes sitting feeling sorry for myself, I remembered I'm not a quitter and mounted the bike. ...And two hours later I was at my campground on Lum's Pond and eating ice cream.

That's what I call being an AmeriCAN and not an AmeriCAN'T!!:thumb:

That's what I call being an AmeriCAN and not an AmeriCAN'T!!:thumb:

The whole day is here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/557092-Every-Day-is-a-Winding-Road?p=9226176&viewfull=1#post9226176

I enjoyed the ride as far as being with my friends goes. Special thanks to Paisan who rode the entire distance with me, even after the 12 MPH no-drop ride leader dropped me with a 15 MPH pace. (That was two miles into the ride, BTW.)

thank you to all who came! Wonderful time.

I agree neil..... it was a fast ride (for me). Had a hard time keeping up and made more stops by myself after lunch.

I had a fun time keeping up, there was a couple quick people up at the front. Next time I'll be sure to hang back and bit.
It was awesome meeting everyone.

Curious: was the ride leader (Jim D) a very tall guy, about 60-ish?

Neil, I should be thanking you for putting up with my bad singing and even worse jokes for 3 hours!

Curious: was the ride leader (Jim D) a very tall guy, about 60-ish?

I'd prefer to avoid mentioning names of people who don't post here. But yes.

I had a fun time keeping up, there was a couple quick people up at the front. Next time I'll be sure to hang back and bit.
It was awesome meeting everyone.

"Callmeclemens" having a fun time:

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/311049_2173859238496_1607271639_2143318_6281930_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296056_2173864038616_1607271639_2143328_4502168_n.jpg

Neil, I should be thanking you for putting up with my bad singing and even worse jokes for 3 hours!

Nah, I had a great time. In particular after you told me about "boiling the frogs" who dropped me.

My escort on the ride:

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309777_2173864958639_1607271639_2143331_15460_n.jpg

thank you to all who came! Wonderful time.

I agree neil..... it was a fast ride (for me). Had a hard time keeping up and made more stops by myself after lunch.

The ride started a few minutes after nine AM. The group of 19 riders headed over to a senior center in Middletown to mark the festival with a slice of peach pie.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/306890_2173858598480_1607271639_2143317_5089109_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/304220_2173860478527_1607271639_2143321_6561136_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/302055_2173859918513_1607271639_2143320_503477_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/318881_2173861278547_1607271639_2143324_4657108_n.jpg
Pie out of the way, the ride resumed.... and went downhill in my opinion. The leader changed the route from that on the cue sheet and took us on the road being used for the peach festival parade. I got off to a late start and was slowed by having to fight crowds of people crossing the closed road. Meanwhile the group was doing 15 to 16 MPH on what was billed as a 12 MPH no drop ride. I saw the group waiting on the side of the road for me, but before I could catch up they all took off again at a fast pace. Paisan dropped back to ride with me, and stuck with me the rest of the ride. Wfournier and his wife joined me, as did my friend Dodson who came with me to the ride. By this time I was so annoyed with the ride leader and the 'lead group' - all regular members of Bicycle Club of Philadelphia as far as I know - that I made a point of riding past whereever the group decided to stop for me.

At the lunch stop in Clayton, DE, I basically ignored the group, which worked out well because they were ignoring my friends. Before the return stretch, the ride leader started to quiz me on my familiarity with the area:

"Neil, you were in Clayton on your ride in 2009?

"Tour. No, but the Delaware Double Cross Metric Century had a stop in Clayton in 2007. In 2009 I rode Rt. 13 through Smyrna instead of coming through Clayton."

"Rt. 13?"

"Yes, it's a decent road for bikes."

Coming on the grumbles I'd heard were coming from some riders about "slow people holding us back", I took the questioning to be yet another case of my having to 'prove' myself to 'real cyclists.' Fortunately the group dropped me from the start again so I didn't need to see them. Paisan and I had a good time heading back to Middletown. By the time we got back almost all the other riders aside from my friends had left, including the ride leader. Dodson, Paisan, and I hung out while chefisaac, callmeclemens, wfournier and his better half rode back to the senior center for more pie. When they returned, we loaded up the cars and went our separate ways.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/318542_2173866078667_1607271639_2143336_1857529_n.jpg

Wfournier and his Amazon spouse joined Dodon and I for what was allegedly Delaware's best ice cream at Woodside Farm Creamery near the PA border. Seeing bacon ice cream, I had to try it. The kindest thing I could say about it is that not everything is better with bacon.....

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296719_2173867198695_1607271639_2143339_4638288_n.jpg

great pics. The one with you, will, and wills better half at the senior center is outstanding.