Not likely, but I hope so, too.

I've been commuting to work on the bike, again, since yesterday. It was a little sketchy, yesterday morning. I gave myself a little more time and took it slow in the areas that I reconn'ed for black ice Monday in my motor vehicle. Nevertheless, my time was faster than some of the most recent commutes to work.

Yesterday afternoon's ride back home was wet, salty, and muddy, but it was one of my fastest trips home since the latest cold snap. I averaged just under 18 MPH on wet, grimey, muddy roads that are still lined with aged snow.

This morning, I was a little more reckless, because I knew it was relatively warm over night. My time was about the same as yesterday, but I felt some latent fatigue from yesterday's activity.

I think I'm seeing some benefit from my time on the rollers. I need to continue doing roller rides even if the weather gets better.

Stop in at the Md welcome center and ask. They have bicycle orented road maps.

Joe

I have been trepidatious about leaving the city since the snow fall so I have been doing mostly short 10-20 mile rides around the city. Any way this is where I have been since my last post here:
Attachment 37562

Thanks for the info.

I've already acquired a Maryland State Bicycle map from the State Hiway Administration which states which roads and bridges that are fully or partially prohibited. So, usually I just go to www.bikely.com or some other Google Maps derivative to map a route if I don't already have one.

Well we are having a baby shower this Saturday so I don't think going to Annapolis beforehand is going to happen for me.

Hey guys. I have been busy down here at a client in Tysons Corner today. Working like crazy so I can get back on the road before the afternoon rush. I will get back to you later tonight.

-D

:roflmao: Exactly, once you survive not having a car for a short time you really start to question whether it is really worth keeping/replacing the thing or just use taxies and car rentals for the few times you really need a car, that’s what I did for my first car free year and it worked out fine. And as you said it's not that tough.

FWIW The state should have a new bike map out in March and I had a look at it during the bike symposium and it is a lot better then the old one. They even have BikeWashington.org’s Balto-Washington bike route marked (though I wished they would have done some more invasion routes not just for DC but other areas as well but that’s the price we pay for the state not wanting me on that committee.) But as I said it is better so that's not a bad thing.

^^^^^^ Barry, do you know when the new map will be available? Mine is in very bad repair.

^^^ I’ll at least post something on Baltimore Spokes when it is available and possibly on BF as well. I hear it will be available in March sometime (it was supposed to be available at the bike symposium but the time table slipped.) I assume if you email bikes@sha.state.md.us they will send you one when it comes off the press.

Montgomery County here... soon to be Howard County come April (First House!). BTW, I haven't read the entire thread to see if this has already been done yet, but if someone can link me some nice routes in the ellicot city/columbia area, I'd appreciate it.

You can check these sites for something:

www.bikely.com
www.routeslip.com

Where in HoCo? Pretty much the question is "where isn't it nice to ride" Pretty much all of the country roads are awesome to ride on IMO. I work in Columbia so I often take long lunch rides where i just pick a road and head out.

-D

Hey if you want epic that is plenty cool. I haven't gotten in nearly the miles I have wanted to so far this year. So you will definitely be riding circles around me anyhow.

Anyhow. I was goofing around a little on Routeslip. Here is the Route from my parents house up the B&A to BWI. We could both ride from our respective homes and meet at BWI, and then tool around up there. The only problem is I don't know of many decent roads to ride on up that way. We could do a couple loops of the BWI trail or something.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/22602

I was also playing around with getting around Annapolis. This isn't a complete out and back route, but one that goes to Thomas point. Ya know I grew up in the area and I don't think I have ever been to Thomas Point park. Plenty of places to tool around in that area. And I am sure the homes and the views are grand. Hopefully saturday morning the roads wouldn't be too crazy.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/22605


I probably will start from the house. It increases the amount of cycling time vs driving in the car time.

The ride with Don could be fun too. Although it makes me a bit nervous. What kind of ride is it Don? Are we talking an A/B class ride or something a bit more relaxed?

Either way, I figure those routes also give you a good idea of my start location. It is a pretty easy shot down the B&A etc.

Overall, I just wanna get on the bike and ride darnit! Don't really care that much where.


-D

^^^^^^^
-D,

Let's plan on meeting at BWI. If you don't mind, the "Observation Parking Lot" on Dorsey Rd is right on the BWI Trail. We could meet there, then head south to Annapolis and the point. I still have your cell phone number and you likely still have mine, so if we get crossed up we can contact each other.

What time do you want to meet?

Anyone else want to join us?

The Observation parking lot is perfect.

I mapped out this route. Let me know what you think

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/22625

It gives us some good scenery through annapolis. Right past the Naval academy (shame it isn't as easy as it used to be to get through the gates, cause biking around the academy grounds would be fun). St. Margarets road on the way back should give us some of the only small climbs we will likely see on this flat run.

If we are ahead of schedule we can tack on this detour out to Sandy Point St. Park for an extra 5 miles or so

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/22628

And then we can end up at my parents' house. You can use the bathroom, refill bottles there if needed. I will make you a cue sheet and print up a map to get you from there back to the B&A Trail. It is pretty easy.

That should give me a nice 55-60 mile ride and maybe 80 or so for you? Be a fun day.

How would 9:30am be? That should easily get me back to my parents house sometime between noon and 1pm. It will give me some time to visit (don't want to seem totally anti social). And plenty of time before our afternoon dinner.

I wanna go and can't, therefore you guys suck :p

Well, we at least know where -you're- priorities lie. ;)

Ellicott City, close to Snowden River Pkwy and Rt 100. My sister-in-law lives just down the street and her address reads Columbia, so I guess it's fairly close to the Columbia-Ellicott City border. I checked routeslip.com a little while ago, but that doesn't really give me a feel for 'which roads to avoid', which I guess would've been the better question (which apparently, you agree with).

I much prefer Baltimore County to Howard. Other than the proximity, it is much easier to get away from the sprawl development and onto some really really back roads. State roads in Ho. Co. like Rt. 108 and 32 are horrendous though 99 is nice. When I go that far west (not very often) I will take Old Court all the way to 99 which is not too unpleasant. I also think the inhabitants of norther Baltimore County are a little more 'genteel' than folks in Howard County and thus more accommodating of bikes and other slow moving traffic.

PS. Got out yesterday for and hour and a half around Loch Raven Reservoir. The run off was abominable. My feet where freezing and my arse was soaked but I burnt a few killajoules! Don't forget to lube those chains!!!!

Sounds fine to me. I'll leave my house at about 8am to allow for traffic lights.

Ummm... I may wind up with more than 80 miles, as it's 75 miles for the round trip from Essex to Annapolis after just crossing the naval academy bridge, but that's ok. I'll be in the "ball park" for "epic" once I get home.

I said 'I' was not that tough. I think being car-less has to be tough. I am always impressed by folks like you. It's easy to be car-less in NY, CD, SF but not as easy in B-more. I don't like to buy beer and carry it on a bike.

What map are y'all talking about. Is it map that looks like a regular road map. I guess it's good to tell you which roads to avoid at all cost. It's notthegreatest bike map but i guess it's all we got.
For those of you riding this wknd be careful on rail-trails routes. Any unplowed shaded areas are going to have ice.

I can't make this on Saturday because of my TNT training ride, but I'd love to do this one with you guys on another occasion --- or another route for that matter.

I go to Annapolis on the B&A Trail fairly often for a low-pressure-low stress recovery type of ride [weather permitting]. BTW, the last time I rode on it, there was a section that is closed. I believe they're doing renovations. It's not hard to by-pass and find your way back on to the trail.

Don, the current map can be found here:

http://www.sha.state.md.us/SHAServic.../OPPE/maps.asp

http://www.sha.state.md.us/images/map3.jpg

That's ok. You can handle epic I'm sure :D

-D

Yea well at least are riding this afternoon. I heard on the radio something about chances for up to 50mph wind gusts?

FUN

-D

Yeah, if it's coming from the correct direction, I could open up my jacket and use it as a sail. :eek:

NoRacer,

Actually I can't find your number. Wanna zap it to me again?

-D

Wow WIND. I took a quick spin this afternoon. Sorry you couldn't make it RacerMike. It was seriously windy. I had a headwind all the way back up Deer park.

It worked out kinda nice. My wife had taken the kids to a play date, that actually was also a birthday party. So she forgot the present. So my ride was double duty exercise/Bike Messenger.

But yea, there were times I was leaning over like I was taking a 90deg turn just to counteract the wind.

It also dropped like 10 deg while I was riding.

I gotta remember the raceblades saturday.

-D

^^^^

Yeah, the weather returning to winter by Sunday sux. At least on Saturday, the wind is suppose to subside. I've been riding home in shorts the past two days. I don't think I'll get away with it on Saturday.

-D, did you get my number?

Yea that's the only thing I am sorta nervous about (aside from keeping up with you). It is gonna be the longest sub 50deg ride I have been on so far. I hate trying to figure out what to wear.

Got your number and plugged it into my phone.

-D