No worries, mate. ;)

We need to get Josh's Laurie out riding with us too.

Charlie, What do you (or anyone here) know about carroll island? Ever been there? I thought it was owned by a power plant and was not accessible. But it looks great if you can get on to it.

Here's my bikely route for Point to Point getting closer to complete:
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/246455

BTW I've gotta admit I've really got a bug for route making.

Maxine: I've got a personal mission this year to submit at least one rando-style ride (+/-15mph and 100-300K) each month. I've got a 100K on March 1st and a combined 100/200K on April 5th. After that I've got at least 4-5 more routes up my sleeve for later this year. :)

Let me know about that 100k. I started a tradition last year of taking the day off and riding my bday on March 11. Last year I did the NCR 80 mile rounder, boring as all get out. Maybe this year I'll do the ride to Gettysburg I've been putting off, or the Booth century. Oh, there are so many.

Hey, I've been dropped by this BF group, though you do wait and I'm usually not that far behind.

Tour of California coming up.

My memory recalls that the road to Carroll Island is fenced off and guarded.

It looks like it could be:

Hey, join the club. ;) Seriously what I think is fun about the group is they sort of mix up the social aspect of the 10-12 rides with some of the challenges of the faster pace rides. This is not an easy thing to do but when done correctly you'll see moments where GB (on a fix gear) is giving NR a run for his money up the hill to Charlie's house. NR did catch up but still it was an exciting two seconds. ;)

+1, that was FUN! He had me redlined!

Rode in this morning--another snow ride in the books. I did have a problem at one intersection--dumped my coffee losing the lid in the process. :notamused: Threw the cup away once I got to work. Anyway, I hit a slick patch at about 3 mph and went down--one of those slow motion, but damned if you can do anything about it type moments. Only thing hurt was my pride... and my coffee cup.

To whomever makes it out to the symposium, believe me, I'd rather be there. Unfortunately, I have some important software reviews to do today, so there's no way I can be there. Maybe next year.

Isaiah: I see a pair of studded tires in your future. Was a little slick this morn'. I was covered in snow by the time I arrived at work. I only rode the last leg of my trip. Don't have slicks for the balto ride....yet. Westminster this wknd might be in the plans.
GB: I don't know about Carrol Island, just looks interesting in Google maps.
Harry: touring CA, nice. I've been toying w/ the idea of riding Glacier PK for a week or so. Logistical problems BUT there's an Amtrak that carries bikes 'TO' the park from Chi. Go into the touring forum and check out the post about West side Glacier park. Very nice pictures and great biking info.
brandenjs: I might be going to Bike swap and GB as well. Perhaps we can get together for it. We should go as early as possible. I live in Catonsville.
Max; Very nice house.

I did not go to the Bike symp in Annapolis. My microscope repair man is not finished w/ the scope(I'm the only one here today) AND I just figured out that the light rail ends in Glen Burnie. I don't know why I thought it went all the way to Annap. Wasn't it suppose to go there?

Hey Charlie. What I was referring to was the Tour of California stage race with Lance and Landis and the rest. I had toyed with the idea of going out and catching the last stage up Mt. Palomar. You can ride up before the pros. I still may be doing a warm weather trip on the 15th. When you're self employed you gotta bolt when you see an opening.

Glacier-Yes yes yes!!! I did an Adventure Cycling tour out there in July 07. The tour itself didn't do Glacier but I added a couple days at the end of the trip to do the Going to The Sun Rd. A couple people from the AC tour joined me plus my brother. We camped at the base. You are correct about the train, very convenient. There was a woman who followed me and my brother around all week (a story for another time) Anyway she came into Whitefish on Amtrak. We climbed the west side of glacier but supposedly the other side is even more stunning,if that's possible.

I'm finding that trips can be done fairly cheap if you camp. As you mentioned the AC trips are kind of pricey for what you get.

example.

Southwest to Phoenix-$99.00 each way plus $50.00 for the bike. (*&^%!)
Car-biggest expense $300.00 or so-Scratch this if you go to San Diego where you can just ride away from the airport, of course that means panniers and touring bike.
Camping=$15-20.00 per night (what happened to $5.00?)
Food=eat in and eat out, biggest expense but can be done for under $50.00 per day for sure.

Total for a week in Tucson= Under 1k
All the way to San Diego is pretty much the same.

Oh that tour.
Let me know what prices SW quotes on shipping bike. I am hearing airlines are really jacking up the prices..150.00!!!! Cost more to ship bike than ship a human being.

balto- I'm going to try to get there between 8:30 & 9:00. I'm meeting a gentleman there to sell him one of my bikes. I'm also putting another one in the "Bikes for sale" lot. Hopefully make a couple of bucks so I can just turn around and spend it right there. I'll be in my blue Dodge Dakota Quad Cab with racks on top if you happen to see it. It would be nice to meet some of ya.

Southwest still charging $50.00 each way.

Once it gets warmer out, I'll be able to get the wife out more. She been using the trainer here and there.


Due to my non-bike commuting and the wifes car being down, my milage is way down. Just as my luck has it, now that the wifes car is fixed FINALLY, she starts school EVERY saturday 9 til 3pm for a while and works EVERY sunday 8-5. After the clock changes it won't be so bad.

Anyone up for night riding? starting 4pm or so til?, I got a P7 on the way. Thats going to be a way to squeeze in the long rides for me.

Spring Semester ends in May. I sooo need a sitter.

I did manage to get in 15 miles today after work, from Dundalk to the Inner Harbor and back. Felt good, legs felt strong. Surprised about that as my new job, working on heavy trucks, can be a strain on the legs and back.

I'll try the same tommorow if anyone is up for it, maybe longer. Cold don't bother me.

Commute to Work - 05:41 am
05 February, 2009 06:31
http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/20461

Running late today--too much stuff to put on to stay protected from the wind.

The ride, actually, wasn't too bad. It was a matter of overcoming the initial shock of the environment, getting my breathing under control and managing the intensity so that I wouldn't over generate moisture at the base layers.

I haven't acquired a face mask yet. Instead, I used a scarf tied around the back of my neck. It covered the portions of my face not covered by the balaclava, sitting away from my mouth enough to let me breath as long as I didn't start breathing too hard.

What I didn't do was wear plastic in front of the "boys". That would have been a mistake if I had to be out longer than I was. Willy was definitely chilly by the time I got to work.

Control. At these temps it's all about control.


Activity
Route: -- Elev. Avg: 241 ft
Location: Essex, MD, Elev. Gain: +380 ft
Date: 02/05/09 Up/Downhill: [+1128/-748]
Time: 06:59 AM Difficulty: 5.0 / 5.0

Weather:
Sunny
15 F temp; 51% humidity
15 F heat index; winds NW 13 mph
Winchill: 0°F

Performance
Distance: 13.39 miles
Time: 1:07:15
Speed: 11.9 mph
Pace: 5' 03 /mi
Calories: 626

You, my friend, are crazy.

I also took a spill yesterday morning in my neighborhood (Bolton Hill). I was making a right turn and the bike just slid out from under me. No bike damage, but I can tell that I'm going to have one hell of a bruise on my ass.

Just got back from my run this morning--COLD. I'm not looking forward to my ride to the train station and to work. Once it gets below 20 it stops being enjoyable for me.

;)

Most mornings NR is already at work by the time I'm heading out. I get the consolation of seeing the temp. he rode in at 5:30AM vs. the one I've got at 7:00AM. Usually a pretty big difference. Not today.

15.3 deg when I left home and up to a balmy 16.5 deg by the time I got to Owings Mills. :twitchy:

Studs are in your future as well. I bet they got ones for that little bike of yours. Which MARC do you ride? Have we had this conversation before? I'm getting old, memory ain't so good:)

I didn't bike to work today, helping parents. Drove in very late and plan to work late. If you are going to drive a car to DC I strongly recommend noon-8pm. Nobody on the roads.

GB: Are you still going on Sunday? I am still interested but can't commit 100%....dealing with my parents.
Brandenjs: If I drive I will have a white Toyota truck...so I can haul away lots of stuff.
Josh: can you take the MARC train, Penn line to work? I though you worked near Odenton...No?? A little folder and you're golden:D

Charlie, I'm in the same boat. Yes, I'm going, but can't be 100% because of family. I will likely be coming up early with Trevor who you met on the beer ride. We'll see one another. -GB

+1 I had a hard time walking to my truck from house and then from truck into building when I got to work. I could not have imagined riding in this crap. It was/is c-o-l-d out there.

I looked into the whole train thing, but I would end up with all that time waiting for trains seemed kinda silly, the commute isn't to bad. I leave at 545 and on a good day it takes 45 minutes, depending on traffic on 295 it can take over an hour at times.

After the clock change I should be able to get in more riding. If I can at least squeeze in a few miles a day I'll be happy.

Used to work by Martins Airport, never odenton. Glen Burnie 2 years ago, thats close to odenton.

If anyone is headed to the SWAP this Sunday stop by and introduce yourself. I'll be at the Ben's Performance Bicycles/HoCo Cyclists/Bicycling Advocates of Howard County booth. This would be a good opportunity for anyone who owes me beer (you know who you are) to pay up!! ;)

Mike

If I come, I'll stop by. Do you know Bill Kelly? I think he does a lot for HoCo biking. He use to do a lot for College PArk. Do you also know Kit Valentine(last name??). He's does a lot in the Patapsco Valley biking(Gristmill trail). Will these guys be there? Charlie

Where do you work? Train isn't for everyone but once I got a routine down I seldom drive my car to work. It is harder with small kids. I didn't start train commuting until my kids were in high school.