greaterbrown

You were at about the same pace as me on Friday. I'd definitely classify that as a training ride because of heat.
Nice wandering route.
And... it answered a question I was about to pose to the BBC forum, namely, "is the Loch Raven bridge passable?" NR's red line says, yes.

NoRacer

Yeah, finally. What a "pita" having to go around.

Look at my sig. I'm poised to break 10k miles by the end of the weekend!

maxine

Wait, wasn't this the year you were going to try to take it easy?? But, hey, as long as you're still having fun on the bike, it's all good, well done!

I'm heading to Assateague National Seashore after work today to camp out on the beach with a bunch of folks, through Sunday. I had plans, while there, to ride from Assateague to Chincoteague via what looks to be a path or trail extending from Bayberry Road. I even put 34c cyclocross knobbies on the Airborne in case the path was sandy. Prepared!

But my occasional-bike-buddy Dave tells me that he's done some poking around, and he thinks that the route might be, as he put it, "all sand, all the time." (I had noticed myself that in Google satellite view, the path is suspicously bright-white, with no visible markings.) He suggested a "Riding for Lunch program" instead. (We rode to Berlin one day on last year's beach trip, and lunch in the sandwich shop there -- in the air conditioning! -- was a nice break from the relentless sun, heat, and sand of the campsite.)

I won't have time to put the smooth road tires back on the Airborne (and I literally cannot pack EVEN ONE MORE THING into my car because I volunteered to also bring a giant load of firewood). I could bring the Trek 520 instead . . . but if I think my car won't absolutely collapse, I might bring both bikes; I'd still like to see how far we could get down that possibly sandy trail! Has anyone ever ridden there?

NoRacer

The mileage isn't intentional--aggregation of commutes and weekend forays.

Pics and a report, pleez! As you know, I mentioned an inland approach to Chincoteague Island, so I'd be interested to hear how this works out as well.

maxine

Of course!

Yes, our conversations during the 4th of July trip about a possible day ride to Chincoteague are what planted that bug in my brain for doing the ride on this camping trip. The "outland" road route to Chincoteague is about 55 miles, one way -- and that's from Assateague itself, not from where we were staying in OC. Via this path/trail, it looks to be about 25 miles from Assateague.

That Dave is pessimistic about our ultimate success is not a good sign, because he is one of the most laid-back, "sure-we-can-do-it-let's-go" people I know. But if I tell him I want to try anyway, and see how far we can get before we get sick of crashing I know he'll go for it.

greaterbrown

Teresa and I did a lot of Assateague bike exploring last year. I loved it. Unfortunately I have to concur with Dave- that road south to Chincoteague seems to be only sand. Maybe there's asphalt under there, but I didn't see any black at all when I was there. HOWEVER, if I was down there with you (and I wish I was) and riding 34mm tires then I'd go for it. Knock almost all the air out of your tires. (be sure to bring the frame pump for the return) You're certainly not gonna pinch flat and you'll get much more control that way. As long as you can stay straight and maintain some forward momentum, then you'll be exploring more than I did. Have tons o' fun and tell the horseshoe crabs we say hello.

maxine

I'm back home, car is unloaded, camping gear is de-sanded, I'm falling asleep on the couch but thought I would post a quick update.

When I came home Wednesday after work to put the cooler in the car and the bike on the rack and head down to Assateague, I saw the new rear tire was flat. I changed the tube, but the brake jammed up again after I got the wheel back on, and somehow in my brief fussing with it I managed to snap the cable. I was already running quite late and didn't want to be putting my tent up in the dark (it was a close call on that, as it turned out), so I just threw the Trek 520 on the car instead.

Yep, that trail that extends from Bayberry Drive to Chincoteague does appear to be just sand, and fairly deep (a couple of guys were getting ready to head out on it in pick-up trucks and a Jeep, so I didn't venture onto it myself.) The 520 has smooth 32c tires rated to 110, which I usually keep around 80. I might have waited a few minutes and given it a try had I brought the Airborne, with its new 34c 'cross knobbies, as I had originally planned. Instead, I wandered around that end of the park a bit, and then rode into West Ocean City and moseyed around there, taking a few pics of the commercial fishing boats. (That was Saturday).

That was early Saturday morning. The only other bike ride: it was decided that the group required mimosas for Friday morning. So early Thursday evening Dave and I rode to Trader Lee's (about 11 miles from Assateague) and brought back two bottles of champagne and three bottles of orange juice.

Some friends of mine, along with their kids and grandkids, were staying at Sunset Isle (I think that's the name of the condo joint) on 67th in OC, and they wanted to me to hang out with them for a while Friday. I had planned to ride there (it would have been about 17 or 18 miles, one-way.) Unfortunately, my lower back, which has been bothering me off and on for a few weeks now, was really screaming at me most of Thursday night (and Saturday night, too -- oddly, Friday was okay). I barely slept, I just could not find any sleeping position that didn't really hurt. So I ended up driving my car up to see them.

I'll try to get some pictures up later this week.

NoRacer

I had to drive in to work today.

Saturday, in an attempt to put a spacer between the frame and the right bottom bracket cup, I broke the cup right off of the threads leaving the threads embedded in the frame. After a sound cursing of myself, I drove the bike to Princeton Sports (I've dealt with these folks for quite a while and trust them implicitly.) They said they wouldn't be comfortable doing anything with the frame and suggested a machine shop. [Thanks]

So, next, I drove the bike to Joe's in Fells Point (yeah, I know Joe is also in Mt. Washington, but if it wasn't going to be at Princeton Sports, it might as well be at a shop that's closer. I spent the rest of the day in Fells Point hanging around for the free WiFi, watching Spiderman 2 on Netflix using my cell phone and fielding some posts on Facebook about my activities and damage to my bike.

I haven't heard from Joe's, yet. Hoping to hear from them today.

Sunday, I went trail running:

https://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1239971 <-- stats, map and pics inside

This morning, I'm sore.

greaterbrown

Welcome back Max. Bummer about the bike issues, NR. Is this a steel cup or plastic? Hope it doesn't take long or you'll be running to work.

BTW August Ramble to Havre de Grace is this Sunday.
details on the blog: www.randoramble.posterous.com

NoRacer

It's an alloy external bottom bracket cup. Princeton Sports and now Joe's Bike Shop think it can't be removed. A friend in the SPP wants to give it a try, but I fear that it's hopeless.

Looks like a new bike's is in the future... this one:

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...ike-10032.html

greaterbrown

Damn, that's a nice lookin ride. Bought as frame set or complete?

After spying on NR's FB page I'm imagining three possible scenarios:
1. Bike doesn't get to him before Friday. Endorphin withdrawal is too much to take so he runs up to Conowingo and back.
2. Bike doesn't get to him before Friday. He loses two days of his life in a Guinness haze.
3. Bike does get to him by Friday. He does a quick build up and test ride around the block. He shows up at Canton Park for Sunday's ramble ready to give the bike a 108 mile "shakedown" ride.

Hoping for #3

NoRacer

Complete bike exactly as shown in the link above the picture.

Your forgot #4 - bike gets to me by Friday in time for Sunday's ride, but I do all of that other s...stuff, too!

By the way, I'm taking off on Friday.

maxine

greaterbrown: After spying on NR's FB page I'm imagining three possible scenarios:
1. Bike doesn't get to him before Friday. Endorphin withdrawal is too much to take so he runs up to Conowingo and back.
2. Bike doesn't get to him before Friday. He loses two days of his life in a Guinness haze.
3. Bike does get to him by Friday. He does a quick build up and test ride around the block. He shows up at Canton Park for Sunday's ramble ready to give the bike a 108 mile "shakedown" ride.

Hoping for #3

greaterbrown

NR, I've still got that Performance Forte saddle if you want it.
<50 miles on it, the right color scheme, cost: one (good) beer.

maxine

I am a dumbass. (Can you say "dumbass" on BikeForums?) But the good news is that I am a dumbass because it turns out that I did *not* snap the brake cable on the Airborne -- I'll take that trade-off any time.

The lighter wheels with the smooth 25c tires are back on the bike, and (without me touching the brake adjustments at all) both wheels are spinning freely when they're supposed to, and stopping when they're supposed to.

NoRacer

^^^^^^^^
So, what happened with the brake cable?

NoRacer

So, Excel Sports posted on their Flickr account a picture of the build they did for me, here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/excelsp...in/photostream

HC203

Nice looking ride NR, will you be doing any X racing this fall? I'm intrigued by the sport but man would I need to get training right away.

HC203

Oh-and GB, I still owe you some compensation for those studded tires, beers or otherwise.
I haven't been on the bike in weeks, back and forth to NH doing some hiking, not sure if I should post the link to my pics here or not, this being a bikes forum. The effort on the Presidential traverse was different from biking, some cardio but mostly like leg presses and a whole lot of jarring of knees and ankles. My calves took 3 days to feel somewhat normal afterwards.
I may very well show up for the Rando on Sunday but my Madone is disassembled so I would have to go with my Cdale with the 53/39, 27 in the back I think.

NoRacer

I have my license. Nothing stopping me, except me and the fact that I really don't like doing an hour of intervals... oh and I can't mount and dismount correctly, yet.

NoRacer

C'mon out. Heck, I'll be riding CX gearing (46/36) with an 11-28 on the back.

maxine

Oh, boy, I'm not sure I'll be able to describe it!

I had to help a friend with some stuff on Tuesday, which required me picking him up in Columbia and driving us up to Hunt Valley. I figured I'd put the bike on the car, and that after I dropped him off afterward, I'd stop at the Race Pace in Columbia on the way back to work and give them the bike. (I had already put the lighter wheels with the skinnier tires back on, but hadn't even bothered to close up the brakes, figuring I'd ask Race Pace to adjust them while they were at it.)

Everything took way longer than planned, so we decided to get lunch at a place near Race Pace before we went back to our respective workplaces. While he was inside changing his clothes, I started poking at the bike again, while it was sitting on the car rack. So the piece I was looking at, that I had assume was snapped, was a short piece of wire, much thicker and not flexible like the actual cable. When I looked at it *really* closely, I realized that it didn't look like it had broken. So I eyeballed the front brake for a few minutes. That same thick wire was connected at one end, with the other end just pushed behind some other piece of the brake. I looked back at the rear brake again, then shoved the wire behind that same place, and voila! No way, I thought to myself. I closed the brakes, spun the tires, and watched in disbelief as they both rolled right along. I hit the brakes, spun them again, all good.

My friend came out of his apartment to me standing behind my car, grinning like an idiot as my bike wheels twirled around.

I was in a huge hurry when I left for Assateague, which I guess is why I missed the fact that that wire wasn't actually broken, but just out of place.

HC203

Dude, I can't imagine you with that front chainring setup. You used to have that frisbee sized 50+.
I may be there, doing my dad time tonight by taking kids to Hershey Park.
Just stopped by Joe's with my stripped down Madone. I didn't have that little plastic tool for taking off the Shimano cap on the non drive side of the crank. He fixed me up right there, broke it down, put new push in bearings cartidges- but I still doubt I'll be using the Madone, contemplating upgrading all to Dura Ace. Not for weight but cleaner shifts. The DA on my old Cannondale is precise.

HC203

Or maybe I'll just sell the Madone. Been thinking more about getting back into MTB. I have a nice MTB, by 1998 standards. New tires would be needed.

NoRacer

Here's a picture of my new rig with all my crap on it (test ride out to Wilson Point). I sure know how to make a light frame heavy.