greaterbrown

Harry,
Nice ride. any pics?

HC203

I planned on taking a bunch of pics but I was so intent on motion that I neglected to.
Here are a few, not very good.

Did you do your pre ride?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hc203/s...7625852794458/

NoRacer

Ditto--nice ride, but then some of us have already discussed this on Facebook (BOB!)

But, the pictures are new to me. Thanks for sharing them, Harry.

And, in other news (also covered on Facebook)--apparently, the SPP will not let me back out of the mileage contest and so I won $20, again, this year.

maxine

The campaign continues!! How long, how long can GB resist??

HC203

I have like 300 something miles for January, goal is a modest 600 something (1000k). Maybe I'll try out the studs tomorrow.

$20.00? How much does that come out per mile?

As for the route, might make a good rando route but GB would probably want to take it off the b&a a bit and I think you guys did a similarly routed rando down to Ches Beach.

greaterbrown

I bet that all of us here never would've have met through a social network. BF is based on information sharing, not "friending".
I don't need more online friends. -sourpuss

HC203

Facebook for me is pretty much keeping up with friends that I have and are spread all over, MD, NJ, NY, CA. I also spout off on my political views and the people who don't de-friend me are friends indeed.

And we're pretty much sharing information. I get friend requests everyday but confirm few. I think some people see accumulating FB friends as a contest, I find it annoying to get updates on people I don't know or care about, and thus I weed them out.

Biggest problem is its a distraction as is this!!!

Hey, GB you did get a cellphone, so there is hope yet. Right now I'm listening to good old Louis Armstrong because of something a friend in NY posted, FB can have value.

maxine

Ditto for me. There is no one that I'm "friends" with on FB that I haven't already hung out with in real life. (Or with whom I was "active friends" long ago, and who are now living far away, and with whom I've deemed it potentially fun to catch up.)

I get the sense that the "be the first to collect 5,000 friends!" thing is more something that the younger peeps go for.

But, GB, I can relate to and respect your technological curmudgeon-liness. I'm a chronically late adopter of new technology. (My friends literally cheered when I finally got a cell phone that would do text messaging. I only got rid of the old one because the phone company, after several more gently-worded pleas, finally flat-out told me that they weren't going to be supporting my ancient POS phone anymore, LOL!!!)

After getting (slightly) lost on both of my first two bike tours, in 2009 and 2010, I am contemplating finally breaking down and getting a GPS for the bike. A big step for me! ; (Still don't have one in the car, despite much nagging from friends.)

NoRacer

WHAT!!!! HOLY HELL!!! When did this happen? Break out the champagne and fireworks!

And, how come I don't have your phone number yet?!

NoRacer

If you have Verizon Wireless, they have an app for that! And, I don't mean a smartphone app, either. I use VZNavigator all of the time to find my way around.

HC203

I "think" GB has a cell, but don't want to start any rumors.

I had that VZ navigator a few years ago, was very good, canceled because I never used it. I'm now planning on getting the i-phone through Verizon Wireless so may get some sort of nav app. I used Google maps on my BB during the Annapolis, worked but a pain in the ass.

greaterbrown

Sorry to disappoint- no cell phone yet. However, GPS (no subscription fee) is definitely something I've considered. Although I do like the look of my cockpit unencumbered with gadgets, it'd be nice to have a Garmin stuck somewhere where I can't see it, but usable if nec.

BTW I did ride the new ramble route last Monday. It was much nicer than I had expected. Might even pass the Janet Goldstein test! Lots of bathroom options and lots of shouldered roads. I will need to create some detours around trails (BWI and Grist Mill) because they were icy. I'll post to the blog tonight or tomorrow with details.

NoRacer

Dog and pony show today: work had a ribbon cutting. May make the news. My bike may be in the background--they're shooting in that direction!

maxine

I almost never watch the local news. Did your bike have its 15 minutes of fame??

Re: the GPS discussion, Verizon is my cell service provider. (NR, I remember you poking around on your phone while we were biking in Ocean City on one of your 4th of July trips.) I've used the VZ Navigator feature once (not on the bike), and only as I would have used a paper map, just to see where I was and how I could get back to the next recognizable (to me!) road.

I guess the primary reason I would consider a dedicated GPS unit rather than using my phone (well, apart from signal availability issues -- does VZ Navigator still work if you're not getting cell coverage?) would be so that I don't have to worry about the thing getting rained on.

balto charlie

hey all: looks like this post is going the way of the dodo. I'll be the last dodo. Today's ride was an adventure. Everything from slush, ice, deep snow(2-3") in Catonsville, ruts but the cars were respectful. I even slowed down so a few could pass and one even tooted his horn in thanks! As tough as today was I prefer it to the recent cold spell. On a side note, last week I had my first colonoscopy. The prep was a PIA....literally. All is clear in my pooper. Too much information perhaps, just trying to liven up the board this snowy AM. Crazy at work these days, gotta go.

maxine

Charlie, I sure hope you're planning on leaving work a little early today! The forecast for the afternoon/evening rush looks hideous -- heavy snowfall, bad visibility, the whole rotten deal, all at its worst at the time when the most cars will be on the roads. I'm not looking forward to driving home today.

But, to "end" on a good note (HA! I kill myself!), glad to hear that all is in the pooper department!!!

derath

What's happening with this post?

balto charlie

cute line at the 'end' Couldn't leave early as we were setting up a new microscope. It was a brutal commute home but enjoyed it. Always an adventure.

@derath: where have you been! Seems most of the folks have moved onto facebook.

derath

I've been around. Shame I'm allergic to facebook.

greaterbrown

This dodo's still here.
I had an amazing commute home last night. Left work at 5PM- during a particularly active part of the storm. I took the opportunity to use a short bike path which had heavy snow covering. I was getting tired keeping the bike upright. However, I was definitely getting better at keeping a straight line and balancing in that stuff. It was so peaceful. Deer were momentarily illuminated on the trail when the lightning flashed. Snow flying everywhere. It was not comfortable, but was incredibly beautiful.

And then, I got out to the main road, Red Run. It was an insane crush of automobiles, very few of them moving and most of them honking. I rode the sidewalk for a bit, very slowly. Passing, 50, maybe 100 cars. I had to walk for a bit too, but made it to the metro which luckily was still running. That gets me to Mondawmin in Balt. city. Then another squirrely, but beautiful ride through Druid Hill. Took about 2hrs all told, but I'm used to 1 1/2 commutes anyway and this one was completely amazing.
Rode back to work this morning, but by the time I got here, the owner decided to close. Phoey.

balto charlie

that wind was WILD. Loved the snowflakes illuminated by the headlamp as well. At least your ride was a lot shorter than most cars.
This AM's commute was a little icy but nothing out of the ordinary.

@derath: Mucinex works well for allergies.

balto charlie

that wind was WILD. Loved the snowflakes illuminated by the headlamp as well. At least your ride was a lot shorter than most cars.
This AM's commute was a little icy but nothing out of the ordinary.

@derath: Mucinex works well for allergies.

derath

Not strong enough. I still start sneezing if I type facebook.com into my browser.

NoRacer

Yay! Made it home!

Looks like I missed some challenging snow riding.

I had to dig my truck out of airport long-term parking, and once home, I had to brute force my way over the snow that the county piled in front of my driveway. Bastards.

NoRacer

By the way, I don't think this thread is going the way of the dodo. It has it's uses, too. Facebook won't replace it even if all of us moved over to there. Some other clique may dominate it or maybe not.

My problem is that I can't post to it with my current "dumb" phone.