That's really the best way to do it. Don't really need to take the pedals off, though. And make sure she uses the brakes a bunch before going on a solo flight.

So when is the next Bike Forums Baltimore get together? I only ever ride with NoRacer and it'd be fun to meet some new folks.

Taxes = done

Mortgage overage check = deposited

Military style haircut (closer than Bob's :) ) = done

The Human Car (Barry) is moving, so we're trying plan a get together before he leaves. Carl, I'm sure you'd be welcome if you wanted to come out for it. You could meet us at the ride start or intercept somewhere along the route.

It looks like 4/18 is shaping up to be the date.

Mine = not done.

Don't really know what that means, but I'm thinking that it means you're buying the next round.

Damn. I was liking the hippy dude style.

@ NR I don't even know what your hair looks like. You always have a bike helmet or dew-rag(sp?)
@GB: Gotta pay the man, don't mess w/ U Sam. I remember that picture, right before you drank that strong Imperial stout.
@ Rizz: join us, the more the merrier.
@ Max: I taught a lot of kids to bike but never an adult. I just ran next to them until they got the balance thing going and off they went. They all learned w/in a day. In fact w/in an hour.

@Max - Don't forget that the BBC's Instructional Ride Series is coming up very soon--early May, I believe.

BBC Instructional Ride Series start May 2nd http://baltobikeclub.org/index.php?o...d=58&Itemid=83

I'm good for the 18th

I'm planning on riding to Annapolis today.

Yes, I was thinking about that. I don't think they teach people how to ride who have never ridden at all, but if my friend could get "up to speed" enough, the series would probably be pretty helpful for her. She lives in DC, though, and I have a feeling that even if I'm successful in keeping her upright :), she probably won't buy a bike and stick with it. But I'll mention it to her.

Hurray, it looks like this is going to happen!

Last Sunday's ride report (sort of) and pics: http://randoramble.posterous.com

Excellent, the ride is on!!

Man, this report scares me.

Bobs route is fine. If we want to add a few of Balto highlights along the way it would be cool too. Anyway, I'm outta here for my trip to Fla. Talk to you folks next week. Ride safe.

I'm no longer teaching teaching beginning adults but I just got an email Mt Airy bicycles might be doing something during the week. There is a lot of interest in this.

I road 88.6 miles today. How hot did it get today? I didn't look but man did the heat hit me hard.

About 1 degree (F) per mile.

Surprised no one has talked about the 42 year old killed last night at Falls Rd and Butler Road. Driver also hit his friend who is at Sinai. Online at the Baltimore Sun with your requisite a-holes provding much comment about bikers on the road...

Participated in this thread about the callous replies by some in response to the bMore Sun article:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...my-local-paper.

...and the BBC Forum thread:

http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.p...=225&Itemid=64

This went really well. I kept the sores in check with just some generic wound protectant creme from CVS. Baltimore Bike Works amazingly had no chamois creme. By the second night, things were healing.

So, yeah, the ride itself. The first day was a bear--about 75 miles in the end after getting a little bit lost around Gardners and Idaville (where I ran out of water and wound up frantically running around the houses on the main drag looking for a working outside spigot and/or someone that wound let me use their sink; no stores in town). The hills were fine until I hit the ridge at about 70 miles in, which is prolly about 900 feet in two miles. There was a bit of walking. The ride down into the park followed by cracking a beer by the creek/river makes for one of the best half hours in recent memory.

The second night, I changed course and stayed in Gettysburg rather than Thrumont. In retrospect, I don't know why. I think I just wanted to get some fudge, a pickle from a barrel, and maybe a tacky something-or-other souvenir for the girlfriend. I also figured I could find some camping there pretty easy. But. I asked at the shop and the dudes working just looked at me like I was an alien and sent me out to some RV campground five or so miles back toward the mountains that wanted $35 for me to throw down a tarp. I didn't know where to stealth it--and I'm a little wary of stealthing it my first time alone anyhow--so I dropped $50 I didn't have on a motel.

That second day ride from Pine Grove to Gettysburg was pretty nice. I rode down the middle of the Michaux State Forest valley to Caledonia and climbed up to South Mountain and explored around there a little bit. And from South Mountain rode down east a kinda meandering route up and down that beast of a ridge again. About 45 miles that day. Got into Gburg around three I guess. Back to Baltimore the next morning via Hanover and Hwy 30/Hanover Pike.

I think next weekend I'm going to do a short jaunt up to Cunningham Falls/Catactin for an overnighter. Hopefully I'll have my normal-ass road bike built up by then.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Great story, EE! Thanks!

also, here's some pics: http://bit.ly/bBg1DS

Yeah Elk, great ride report. And, I was loving the pics.

BTW: what's your rig there? Surly?

Thanks!

It's a Falcon frame--kinda floppy '70s steel--with a pretty nice Vuelta wheelset and a mutt of a fixed-gear setup.

+1 - we love pictures!

As I'm sure you already know from B Spokes-Jon Cardin will be on Steiner tonight to talk about the death on Butler. Send an e-mail-tune in.

steinershow@gmail.com

Is it being re-run?

First time in this sub-forum, just wanted to say Hi. I live in Ho. County and if I manage to get out I usually ride the Columbia Triathlon loop from Centennial.