Hey Pops,
That's terrifying and glad you made it out with your wallet and bike. I'm not surprised though, I lived in B hill way back in the eighties, lived on Park actually above the Pharmacy, and people were getting mugged all the time. Don't mean to alarm but there are some serious criminals in this town and yes I would mix up your commute a bit as criminals do tend to case. Bolton Hill is beautiful but bracketed by some tough neighborhoods, I'm surprised that I never got mugged.
Be safe, and actually the safest thing to do but seemingly most difficult to swallow is to give them what they want, you never know what they're capable of, life doesn't mean s--- to some of them. But outrunning them is a good first option. Maybe next time lead them on a high speed chase right to the cop shop. Also,doubt they would follow you all the way into one of the MICA buildings. On Lanvale I would book it back to the Fox Bldg, security guards right at the front desk.
Stay safe.

Argh! Not fair, but very glad you made it through safely.

In my opinion, no one is ever really safe. But I believe that tomorrow you'll be as safe as you were before this happened. Take Harry's advice: change up your route, keep your wits about you and try to re-imagine your ride before today. I will too. -GB

I second that. Not like these guys are waiting around just for you, they have others to harass and even though criminals do case people, look for patterns of easy prey, they are first and foremost opportunists, which is probably what you were, an opportunity for quick cash. But still mix it up. So many students around there, not sure where you live but maybe cruise up past Lafayette or stay on Mount Royal longer.
I once lived at the end of Park right near North, that was considered the DMZ at the time, go no further, of course now things have changed a bit, especially with MICA marching up to North Ave.
You may have been cased but most likely wrong place at the wrong time, guy on a funny looking bike.


BTW-I'm trying to help my friend Bennett plan a Memorial Day Weekend tour. He's heading from Arlington up to Gettysburg then to my house. Then I hope to ride with him to Annapolis on Monday. From Gettysburg he wants to head east and south, so I have a route from Coduras SP which jumps on the NCR. If any of you have route directly from Gettysburg proper east to New Freedom then south-please post. He doesn't want direct, looking for an 80+ ride.

Sorry to hear this. Hope you heal both physically and mentally. I think this happens too often in Baltimore. Many of the young know there will be little to no repercussions for this type of crime. The city has bigger fish to fry. The police have a "do not chase" policy for the young groups riding illegal dirt bikes at high speeds through the city. These packs have on more than one occasion buzzed me on my bike and my car at insane speeds through red lights.
In some parts of town I feel safer battling cagers on busy roads tha riding less traveled quiet roads.

GB's Monument to Monument ride is Memorial day monday.

:cry: Barry will be missed. :cry:

My wife and I are headed to Ocean City (Maryland) this weekend and will be bringing the bikes. Does anyone have a recommendation for a 30-40 mile ride in the Ocean City area?

Thanks in advance!

Matthew

Here's a map from OCMD to Assateague Island National Park (~22 miles round trip):

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/OCMD-to-Assateague

Here's a map from OCMD to Bethany Beach (~31 miles round trip):

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...thany-Beach-DE

Either of these can be stretched out for more mileage.

:eek: I hope you recover OK both physically and emotionally. I know where I was chased by a similar gang of boys it took me a year before I could comfortable ride that area again and not much happened to me other then a couple of punches to the arm. With the police given chase the gang should be out of that area for a while but still do what you need to do to recover. I wish I had better advice.

Awwww. I know I hold you guys back a bit when I had both legs working well but at least it was fun for me to try and keep up with you and it wasn't that bad. Now I'm not so sure though I did a 50 mile ride (critiquing Tour dem Parks routes) yesterday and I was feeling good, I was able to stand and hammer most hills (with a bit a of list) so maybe I might reconsider. We'll see.

NR, You riding the DC Rand 300k his weekend?

BTW: looks like I finally sneaked up to half of NR's mileage. Not for long though- Teresa and I are headed out to Albuquerque for a weeks vacation. Hopefully some leisurely riding, but no long distances. I'll be back for Monument to Monument and more LD riding. I'm thinking I've got my knee pain under control thanks to regular stretching. Good stuff.

I'll let him know about that Monument ride on Monday but I think he wants to go to Annapolis. Anyway, the request was for a route from Gettysburg to Baltimore via NCR, anybody?

These might help
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...-century-route
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...-SP-NCR-return

No brevet. I'm racing at BikeJam on Sunday--2 races; Masters and CAT 4.

NoRacer,

Thanks for the link, looks like a good ride.

Matthew

Happy Bike2Work Day!

I rode to the Towson Courthouse for the Baltimore County celebration. I saw all of the usual suspects there, including GB. He and I closed the place down.

Blog entry with pix pending.

I made it to the Columbia meet, but I really don't know anyone in the area.

Had the pleasure of a strand of cable (not mine, just road debris) wrapping around my cassette, so I got to screw with that for twenty minutes trying to untangle my drivetrain. Other than that, great ride!

Glad to hear that the drivetrain problem didn't cause you to miss the the meet.

I was thinking, one year, I may take a vacation day on B2WD and ride from Essex to the Baltimore City meet, then to the Annapolis meet, up to the Columbia meet, back over to the Towson meet, then up to the Bel Air meet. That'd be a great ride--if I didn't run out of time.

Off to Rehoboth for Ride for The Feast. Pumped.

May stop at Bike Jam after the ending celebration at MFeast, not too far from Paterson Park.

Should be able to catch the 4 race, spectator of course.

Spectator?! Are you kidding? - just jump right in on the tandem.

I'm not sure how many you could hit in two hours (7-9) I was thinking of doing Towson, JHU, and Baltimore in one shot. Westminster meets at noon so we could easily add that in for a day ride.

Well, the answer to that is...

...B2WD has to be extended all the way up until lunchtime! :thumb: It's not like they are closing any roads. :D

--------
Tomorrow's "short" ride:
I'm going to use the ride as an "open the legs" session in prep for the Sunday races.

Here's my Bike2Work blog entry w/pix:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/22966

I thought I got a picture of Bob, but I guess not. I missed Delegate Cardin, too.

I missed all BTW rallies as usual as I had to be in at 7am AND I missed Duclaw as the wife had to go to the tutor for school :( , the father in law don't do dipes so I had to head home.

Of course as my luck has it NOW they make my hours 830-5 (old 7-330), had they told me this YESTERDAY I could have been at a rally!!!!! Upside no more waking up 5ish to get to work, now I can leave @ 7am-ish and have all daylight on the way in.

Ouch!

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/22995

Fingers crossed for David. :(