OK, that makes sense. I'd be afraid to ride past the Inner Harbor - too much danger of getting sucked into HarborPlace and spending a ton of money. :) I'm such a tourist!

Today was much better. It was also warmer. I was a little overdressed this AM. had the same clothes on yesterday.

Head - balaclava, cycling cap (for the visor to protect my contacts), knitted cap, helmet
Arms - wool arm warmers
Hands - wool gloves topped with synthetic gloves that convert to mittens
Legs - wool leg warmers
Feet - thin synthetic tec fabric socks (WrightSocks) topped with wool socks, shoes, neoprene shoe covers
Body - 2 pair bib shorts, wool scarf topped with a wool t-shirt, white Performance brand jersey

squish, squish, squish off to the pump room to hang everything. Coulda' used a kayak. Actually, my regular clothes are dry just hung all my rain gear. Dry feet!!! I am using cheap overshoes. Way too big but at least I have dry feet. 2nd time I've used them and the zipper seems broken already. A nice school bus driver stopped me and warn of a flooded road ahead. Very nice of her.

In today's Sun

Off-road bikers have rangers on watch
Riders ticketed as officials worry about erosion, runoff at Loch Raven

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/b...0,507258.story

Max, I noticed your name on the member list of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Assoc. (stalker :o)
What is their relationship with RUSA?
What do you get out of the membership?

I just figured out how to get to the last post without going to the first post. I'm sure you veteran bloggerers and twitterers know this. For us luddites: you can click on the date below the last posters name.

[Golf clap]................................[/Golf Clap]

are you ready for this, I just found the little emoticons

Today was a brisk ride(24F) but dialed in the clothing. Gotta love wool: socks (2), 3rd sock, sweater, mittens:thumb: While i wasn't toasty I was comfortable.

I rode down to the gym today as I do a few times a week, figure a winters worth of riding up Bellemore or Lake will give me strong legs. did spin, weights, but no energy or time left to swim.

The people there think I'm crazy for riding down there in 25 degree weather, I could have told them about you guys but I didn't. Some are impressed and I feel like saying hey I know some dudes that do this all year, a lot farther than 3.5 miles each way. It's Meadowbrook, there are some hard core athletes there. come on! My lobster gloves couldn't keep out the chill, only 3+ miles and fingers froze, but my feet are toasty in my new SIDI Diablo winter shoes, Thanks Santa!!!!!

This is what it was when I rode in this morning and when I leave this afternoon:

http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/t1l6r.jpg-------------------------->http://twitpic.com/show/thumb/t39ke.jpg

Grrrrrrrr!

http://twitter.com/NoRacer/status/6660072662

You ought to try the "new" 7 speed models. They are all the rage.
I disturbed a HUGE flock of starlings this AM and 1 dropped a dookie on face. Gross way to start the day. Cleaned up quickly and cont' onward.

:cry: and double-Grrrrrr!

http://twitter.com/NoRacer/status/6678322840

The bubble-gum is curing (ShoeGoo) and the Gorilla tape is on stand-by for phase II

:trainwreck:

Geez. You guys are great with the bad news- busted chains, frames and getting pooped on.

Well, in contrast, I pre-rode the "Circumnavigation of Baltimore" today. Made it back before dark with no problem. Very nice ride.
I'll make a couple of changes and it's ready for Jan. 3rd.

I'll be there on my bubble-gum & Scotch taped bike--hopefully.

Speaking of... I rode in with no incidence (i.e., no exploding carbon frame). Everything is holding together, so far, but I'm staying sensitive to any wonkiness that starts to develop. The failures, in my mind, would be something with the top tube or seat stay(s) after the seat tube separates. The stuff I did -should- keep it in alignment for a while.

what a bummer. worse than getting the dookie. I am sure someone can lend you a bike until you get a new one. I don't know CF bikes but I hear many injuries from frame breakdowns.

Annapolis in da' house
 

I just picked up a 2010 Trek 7.6 Fx fitness bike, customized some of the bits, and now I'm riding everywhere I can find. I hope to join a cycling group soon so I can get out there regularlly. In fact this is the first year (or time for that matter) that I have every regularly ride in the cold (35+) without any problems. Wacky wild stuff.

Yep. It can be done. Biking in the cold is just a physics puzzle that can be solved with the right clothing combo. Moisture management is always tricky, though.

Rich, you may want to check out these folks:

http://www.severnaparkpeloton.org

They ride the Annapolis area all of the time.

NR-I think you got your moneys worth out of that frame.

http://www.bustedcarbon.com/

Yikes! I didn't need to see this one! (looks like my TCR) The red arrow is where mine is cracked. I believe it was caused by the bottom of the seat post moving around in the seat tube as I change my position. I move fore/aft quite a bit sometimes sitting on the nose of the saddle for certain purposes.

Ah. I bet you're right about the seat post end. Could be worse- could be down at the BB. But please don't injure yourself on that frame.

I personally, dislike the carbon haters. I have no interest in getting a carbon frame, but I don't in any way delude myself into thinking that my steel frame is not capable of catastrophic failure. Steel, carbon, Ti, aluminum, they can all fail in their own way.

That said, NR, please start shopping.

Ooooh! I like the bamboo cross bike.