HC203

I'm just busting chops, I like geeking out on that stuff too, but it can all be expensive. I'm going to be getting an i-phone at some point so maybe I'll look into that feature for tours, if I ever actually get a chance to tour.

The guys I ride with on Sunday don't even have bike computers, I kind of admire that. I give them the stats when we're done, spd, distance, approx calories burned.

balto charlie

I walked into this thread and thought I walked into a Best Buy forum:-)
Isaias going high tech I can understand(he's already there) but Rando Bob?
@hookiefree: you gotta teach Bob how to use a cell phone before he can buy the apps.
Hey: Anybody know where Harry is?
I will say this far more interesting than the discussion in touring determining fuel densities........

edit: now biking: gonna suck on the commute home, cold rain

HC203

Ha, Harry is where he spends too much time, behind this computer. I did just run before the rain though. Wouldn't be very exciting tracking me for a half hour around Cedarcroft.

hookiefree

Sux. How far do you commute?

NoRacer

Ack!!! Charlie won't be as exposed to the elements as long as me. I have 13.5 miles.

Glad I brought my raincoat--not that it'll keep me dry, but at least it'll be warmer than not having one.

hookiefree

I'm thinking about tryinig a 12 mile commute. Is that ambitious for a beginner.

balto charlie

your GPS could be the camera on top of your laptop:-0

4X5.5 plus 2 train rides. I ride to and from the MARC station @ both ends

close though AND I have to wait for a train. I brought my rain gear today too.

greaterbrown

Yep. Don't need or want any of that stuff (cell phone, GPS, cyclo computer, etc.) for my personal usage. But if someone gave me one of those James Bond style stick-on tracking devices so that anyone who wants to find me, can, then I'd pay $100 for that.

I haven't ridden in so long (last Friday ), I look out at this weather and I'm dreaming of rainy spring centuries. Whoa. I need to start kicking in the "Super Commutes"

The Human Car

For a beginning cyclists yes 12 miles is ambitious. Think about options like using a bus (with bike racks) for part of the return trip or taking your car halfway, anything to keep starting within do-ability and not to get burned out. No law says you have to do it all or nothing, mix it up at first and eventually the distance will be doable.

greaterbrown

This does seem like it might be a Bob-style gadget. Although as far as I can tell it operates only on cell ph. networks which might be weak or non-existent in parts.

NoRacer

I agree with Barry. It's easier to do small progressive steps toward your goal. Not even a pride of hungry lions can eat a full grown elephant at one sitting.

balto charlie

Is that round trip or 1 way. If 1-way then I agree w/ Barry and NR. If it is 12 RT then doable. Try it every other day for starters. If 12 miles one way then do what Barry said. Ride part of it/drive part of it when starting. I always tell beginning commuters that you need to get into a routine before it truly becomes easy. Once a routine is established then biking WILL be your preferred choice.
Where will you be commuting to/from. We might be able to help with routes.

balto charlie

It was foggy and HUMID this AM. It look like the moors in England. Soon to be 70F though. Hard to figure this weather out but my house is really cold. I refuse to turn on the heat in May.

NoRacer

Same, here, for my house. I did have a huge ceramic heater on in my living room set to 60F. It was kicking on last night.

Finally had a flat on my 32mm cyclocross rear tire this morning. It was pretty bulletproof up until then. Couldn't feel anything in the tire, but there's something very small in there, because the new inner tube was going flat when I got to work. A co-worker out having a smoke break stopped by to tell me that it was completely flat. I found a puncture at the 5 o'clock (or the 7 o'clock) position of the tube, the valve stem being 12 o'clock. I orient the tire in a specific manner, so I should be able to find the culprit in one of those two locations.

It's nearly lunch time for me, so I may go fix it, now, so I won't have to deal with it right before leaving.

hookiefree

Thanks for the advice guys. I did mean 12 miles each way. I'll be coming from PG County into Alexandria VA. There is a trail a couple blocks from my house that would let me out maybe 3 miles from the bridge I need to get into VA and from the bridge I'd only have another 2 or 3 miles to go.

TrekDen

New Martinsville, WV road race.
Just thought someone may recognize this one. Not for any particular reason other than I've heard the club mentioned here before.

balto charlie

I know there are a few ways through this area to the Woodrow Wilson(I think this is the bridge you speak). There is a new bike path across the bridge. On the VA side it hooks up with other trails but on the MD side you still have to ride road. Post @ this site, I know someone there has the best way to ride.

https://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikeWashingtonDC/

Tonights commute home was done between rain storms. Rain before I left work but stopped when I got on my bike, rained lots when I was on the train but stopped again as I rode the final leg, then all he!! broke loose as I got inside.....to my cold home:-(

NoRacer

The Baltimore Bicycling Club and the DC Randonneurs and the PPTC borrow route info from each other periodically since we're all somewhat in the Baltimore/Washington Metro areas.

Each club is quite different, though.

NoRacer

I managed to miss the precipitation -almost- completely. I felt a drop or three on Martin Blvd as I was getting ready to cut through the Aero Acres area of Middle River.

My house was a balmy 68 degrees F when I got there.

greaterbrown

I really didn't expect a response from Chief of Balt. County Police, but hey! sometime you catch someone's ear.

I put his mail to me and my response back up on www.bikingbeerandtoast.blogspot.com

balto charlie

Well done Bob........and a new bicycle advocate is born:-)

With the chief an avid cyclist we should make sure HE educates his forces. I also wonder if they teach anything about dealing with cyclist at drivers ed?? I've been asked by my children's friends what they should do when they see me. One of them felt she should stop and let me merge(bad place to do that). I told her to treat like she would another car.

Ride of Silence: Do y'all want to get one going in Baltimore? As of yesterday no one stepped up @ BBC. I believe the date is next Wednesday.

poena

ellicott city and laurel md here! hoping to hit some of the trails soon and move onto a road bike in the future!

The Human Car

FWIW: My letter to WJZ, Baltimore County Police and other key officials https://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...00510120012540

I will be issuing another action alert targeting WJZ to issue a correction on their misleading statements (if not false.)

greaterbrown

About to leave work and get a little piece of that beautiful weather out there. Hope you all have been enjoying it.

I had a very uncharacteristically low mileage week. Too much driving. I rode a total of 10 miles between the 7th and the 13th.
I finally got a good ride in to work yesterday, but I could already feel a difference in fitness. Sheesh. My HR was up and I was huffing up hills. Crazy how fast that happens.
Had a fast ride in this morning though, even though it was into the wind a bit.

greaterbrown

Oh, yeah. Next Ramble is a really nice one.
https://randoramble.posterous.com