http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=29918

ck out my link it says my commute home is 1600 feet of climbing, does that seem right for that route? I know I'm tired and my legs believe it but what do you think?

Geez MD Peeps, you've put 3 more pages of posts up and I've only been gone one weekend.

But oh, what a weekend it was: Me and Betty headed down to Coho central (Franklinville, NC). Stopped in for a quick hello to Charles(the builder) and Nina on sunday, spent the night at Days Inn nearby and showed up with all my parts to begin build up Monday AM. Beautiful weather (but you all had it too) the whole day. There was only one hitch- the 7-speed cassette was a bit too small for the hub body. Charles called up to a great shop in Greensboro (Cycles de Oro) who had a 4.5mm spacer and an hour and a half later I had it good to go.

We took a short ride around the neighborhood Monday evening before sundown. Charles and Nina kindly offered to let me sleep at their place and knowing that I'd be able to do a longer ride on tuesday, I accepted. The next morning, Charles on his blue Paisano and I on the new Coho roadie rolled through Randolf county and all of it's farms and forests. This countryside is a perfect bike tester- always rolling, but nothing sharply steep and very little traffic.

The Coho is impressive. Immediately I noticed how perfectly it fit me. It is smooth and still a good accelerator. I'll give a more thorough and more thoughtful review with more riding and more writing later. I will add though that I'm pleased with the choices I made on parts. The Nitto Classic bars are a great change from the Rando bars on the Kogswell. They are narrower and flat across the tops. So far, I'm loving the drivetrain and the Mavic wheels with the Grand Bois 28's are light and quick.

The pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2797683...ed/2009/04/29/

Whatcha converting?

aquateen, I am leading a 100+ mile unsupported ride every month. All of these are posted through the BBC, but anyone is invited. Next one is Memorial Day- a ride from the Balt washington Monument to the DC Washington monument and back. For June, a 200k ride to Chesapeake Beach. The rest of the year is still tentative, but likely to be:
July: Baltimore to Frederick
August: 3 Cities Century (Balt, DC, Annapolis)
Sept: On Again, Off Again (a real fun one that jumps on and off of the NCR trail)
Oct: Susquehanna valley 300k (up to Lancaster and back)
Nov: Point to Point (a crazy adventure to 10 peninsulas on the western shore of the Ches.)
Dec: 4 reservoirs tour: Liberty, Pretty Boy, Loch Raven and Druid Hill reservoirs

For a first 100 miler, I'd suggest the seagull or as Maxine suggested the Indian Head (rode that last year with Harry and loved it). Of, my rides: Monument to Monument is not very hilly, but is trafficky. On Again, Off Again is fairly flat and easy to shorten. Point to Point is flat, but has some crazy industrial terrain early on.

-GB

The Seagull Century aka Assateague Century would be a very good first century. It's very flat and well supported. Just keep your eye on the weather. Historically, there's been some rather wet and windy ones.

She's a beauty, mate!

Can't wait to meet her in person.

That sounds weird to me as well. You are coming out of two stream values that I would guess have 300' of climbing each and a few hundred for the rollers going through the city.

I will note that city riding is a different kind of work out then club rides, as you tend to use more of your fast twitchy muscles then your stronger endurance muscles.

Chesapeake Bay Air Ride http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...09041207060597

To help people with lung disease.

Who says its not about the bike? :p

GB Welcome back, purdy bike. I also liked the doughnut in one of the pictures. They made my Kashi bar taste like doo. You also had a Kogswell in one of the pix. Looks like 650 wheels, no? I want to build up an oldish(80's tourer) into one of these. No frame yet. I'll ask you more Q's later. I know brakes and BB height are important.

NR: did you make it to day 2 sans bike?

Josh: rain gear in these parts usually suck. Cold rain or warm sweat, your choice. I never wear a hard shell rain jacket unless it is raining hard. Some folks swear by Showers Pass out of Seattle but it is pricey. Your commute looks nice. Catonsvilles high point is almost 500 feet. You are at sea level at the bay(inner harbor) and almost that low in the Patapsco river valley. Is your odo reading for round trip? Seems like RT numbers to me.

Barry nice sicker but I agree the writing is too small. Congrats on the Spokes write up. I'm going to REI tomorrow. I'll make sure to get one. Doesn't it get confusing with your Spokes and their Spokes??

I agree with NoRacer, its a great first century. Did it last year and good course (very flat, only hill is a bridge) along with the support at all the stops being good. Luckly last year it was sunny and somewhat warm.

Neil (of Spokes Magazine) says he looks at all as a form of advertising and he rattles off a whole list of other things with "Spokes" in the name.

:twitchy: y...Y...y..es. :twitchy: No adrenaline rushes...:crash: no endorphins...:crash: no caffeine...:crash: Cold turkey sux.

Wait a minute. Did I miss something? NR off the bike? For how long?

... GB thinks: "now's my time to double up on mileage and get back to more than 1/2 of NR's mileage". :innocent:

If you're ready to roll and do your first century this weekend. You may want to try this one called the Six Pillars Century, there's also a 57 mile route. I was going to do it as a training ride with my son but will join a RFF training ride in Oxford instead. There's also the Flatlands Century in June, a BBC ride, also the Bay to Bay in June, around Fathers Day.

http://www.6pillarscentury.org/

http://ohbike.org/events/index.htm

[QUOTE=balto charlie;8828196]

Josh: rain gear in these parts usually suck. Cold rain or warm sweat, your choice. I never wear a hard shell rain jacket unless it is raining hard. Some folks swear by Showers Pass out of Seattle but it is pricey. Your commute looks nice. Catonsvilles high point is almost 500 feet. You are at sea level at the bay(inner harbor) and almost that low in the Patapsco river valley. Is your odo reading for round trip? Seems like RT numbers to me.

QUOTE]

Commute from home to work is 18.5 each way, if I get lazy or sleep its 10 from the inlaws. I really wish
I knew how much climbing I do. Depending on how many points I make using veloroutes the way home is anywhere from 600-1600, one the way in its 1600. sounds like I need a garmin 305 to be sure or NR can go ride it for me and report back ;)

this is the rainjacket I got on sale for $15, had a performace reward certificate for $20 so it cost me nada. had mesh openings under arms and on sides but no very breathable, I guess waterproof/windproof and breathable don't mix.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...slisearch=true

I met the wife at the Barn as she had to get the horse's feet done today. I really need to ride on collage avenue at some point, the hills from frederick rd-collage avenue-beechwood look real steep (to me), maybe one day after work.

Here's Collage Ave http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=29980 350 feet 2.2 miles
Frederick Rd http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=29982 440 feet 2.3 miles
Illchester http://veloroutes.org/bikemaps/?route=29983 440 feet 1 mile
any other good climbs in the area?


I swear this is my last post today.

LOL! :lol: Too late! New month starts tomorrow.

I'll ride very easy to and from work, so that I don't blow myself out, ruining the two rest days I just had before the back-to-back centuries this weekend with the SPP (OC9 - Stevensville to Ocean City on Saturday ~ 113 miles; Ocean City to Stevensville on Sunday ~ 114 miles).

Also, I've switched out the Tufo tires. I put rim strips on my AmClassic CR-420s, inner tubes, and Michelin Pro 2 Race tires (all of which I had laying around) so I won't have to carry spare tires to Ocean City--only spare tubes. I hope I don't regret the decision.

That's the one I have--the clear one.

Here's a map of the route we're taking Saturday:

http://bimactive.com/ba/ui/route_det...s&m2=findroute

I haven't mapped the return route. It is different.

Ouch...all the climbing, sure you won't need a rest day before returning ;)

NR how many mile you get out of tires normally? Both mine seem to have flat centers @ 2600 miles, of course the back is worse of the two.

:banned:

Yeah, those 50 foot peaks may start to take a toll on me over 113 miles. :lol:

Just a little over 100 miles each day, piece of cake for you.

Got dropped again by my fast Friday group, at least I kept them in sight for a bit longer. I have no excuses but I have been running and swimming a lot lately, tired all the time. I will do it again and again until I can keep up.

I'll be out on the eastern shore tomorrow, weather permitting. My son is whining about riding so I may just go by myself and do that Six Pillars Century or a RFF training ride out of Easton.

And, here's the map for Sunday's route back to Stevensville, MD:

http://bimactive.com/ba/ui/route_det...s&m2=findroute

The cuesheet they distributed has nearly 4 miles of error for Sunday. Something is amiss.

All other weekend riders, have fun! And, be safe.

2 days in a row....I'm impressed

I used that coat for many years. Sweat like a pig in it but great at keeping the rain off. I leave it work in case I forget my other one.


All other weekend riders, have fun! And, be safe.[/QUOTE]

Enjoy your ride. I was to go camping this weekend but it's on hold due to "some 4 letter word":)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=537040

ck out this forum guys and help if you can, he is looking for any good climbing routes in frederick. I don't know of any myself.

Technically it's hills in DC

I was just looked at the same one about 30 minutes ago when I was at the store. Ended up not buying one, but did pickup some GU Gels which a box of 24 were 20% off.

Speaking on rain jackets, anyone going to be down in Suitland MD tomorrow? Going to ride in the race hopefully (on waiting list) but due to the rain I figure a bunch wont show. First race in the rain so its going to be interesting :eek: