greaterbrown

This is true as well. I don't know what my problem is. I just assumed that >100 mile rides with no support and no RUSA credit leaving from a trafficky, potholed city was a popular choice for riders.

balto charlie

Sorry my bad, thought you were referring to his picture

funny:-) potholes are huge and growing. They actually put an orange cone in one on my commute and you can barley see the cone sticking out but you can see a nice arrangement of hubcaps nearby. I think most cyclist want supported biking when long distances are concerned. I have never ridden with support nor am I interested but I can understand the desire to have it.

HC203

I like the concept. Riding for riding's sake. Why check in?

I did a solo tour last June, 120 miles on day one, and it was quite enjoyable. I rode down to DC and up the C&O. The most enjoyable part was the route between Balt and DC.

You mentioned multi day rides, any ideas? Besides the annual 4th of July ride, which I can't do as I'll be in The Netherlands.

balto charlie

This is my lunches productivity for today:
I have been putting together a trip of 2 or 3 days that “MIGHT” attract all of us; at least I hope it does. It has primitive like feel and an urban slant, spectacular scenery with and without tourist, mid-distant cycling to unlimited miles. Do I have your attention? Mileage will be around 60/day with options for many more miles with numerous turn arounds.
DAY1
This mini bike tour starts in potholed Baltimore riding south to DC. We knock around the mall, museums and some of the bike trails. When we had our fill we head north on the C&O to a rentable lock house(they now rent these) w/ some amenities (fridge and running water) for the night. If folks are needing more miles they can ride to Cumberland on the C&O if they want; while others sit on the porch and sip a little of the Irish. This lock-house is operated by the NPS and charges $$ but not a lot, sleeps 6. The House keepers are Davey Hearn and his wife(I don’t her name). They were our representatives at the world and Olympic whitewater competitions for many many years. We might need to bring a sleeping bags, I have extras if this is a problem.
Day2:
If we do 3 days then we can spend a mellow day riding up the C&O, stopping at the Billy Goat trail near Great Falls. Park/lock our bikes and hike this 6 mile trail overlooking the Gorge, check out whitewater kayakers and rock climbers along the way. We then return to our bikes and ride up the C&O to Lock house 49. This is a period type home with no running water and electricity but has a sweeeet looking porch for late night hanging out. Again for those wanting a longer ride they can go 10 or so miles to tour Harpers Ferry and Antietam Battlefield.

Day3 We can bike towards Frederick and head home along Rt40 or 99.

Lock-house link
https://www.canalquarters.org/index.php
C&O map
https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm
click on view map

NEEEDS;
1)probably sleeping bag but I haven’t read everything so they might give us sheets
2) Cooking stuff: We can often get food along the way with some cooking. I have cooking supplies and we can figure out what we want to cook.
3)Off the bike walking shoes
4)other stuff to figure out

So anyone interested? I can organize this if there is interest.
1st: Is there interest?
2nd: 2 days or 3 days. I know Bob has trouble with Saturday. Would folks be interested in a Sunday-Tuesday trip? If Bob is not interested we can go to a Sat-Mon. or Sat-Sun with only 1 night
3rd Firm up dates. I think Spring or fall are best. If fact I would like to try for the Cherry Blossom time. The Mall will be a zoo but the trees are spectacular. We can also do this tour in reverse so we can tour the trees during Monday or Tuesday.

Harry: I guess this is your ride with the lockhouses as a lure to those needing a mattress;-)

NoRacer

The chain pictures on BiM are mine. The other blogs have their own pictures from their own experiences.

I posted this in Bike Mechanic on BF, too, but all they want to do is shoot the messenger. Others are coming around, though, saying that it's not rider abuse of the chain (rider abuse in 7 days? one surface application of WD40? some of those guys are butt-wads!)

balto charlie

If one surface application of WD40 is enough to break the chain then there is a defect.

maxine

My, you *have* been productive!! I like this -- the lock houses sound very cool! I'm in. I'm flexible on whether it's 2 or 3 days (I'd vote for 3, if it weren't too much trouble for everyone else.) If it involves weekdays, I just need as much notice as I can get so I can let work know I want to take off.

Spring or fall, hmmmm, cherry blossoms or colorful leaves? Both quite nice. I read that the cherry blossoms are supposed to peak in the first week of April. Something to think about: the process of getting 3 feet of snow to turn into water and evaporate may mean that even as late as early April, the C&O may still be a boggy mess.

I have some backpacking-designed cooking gear (stove, pots/pans) that I could bring along.

NoRacer

Charlie,

Do you think that it would be possible to do the trip with just a credit card? <j/k>

NoRacer

Anyone up for approximately 120 miles from Essex? (tomorrow 7am)

https://tinyurl.com/NotherHotwoodLoop

(LOL! The tinyURL is correct, but apparently I screwed up the spelling putting it in tinyURL. It was suppose to be H O L T wood--as in the Holtwood bridge up by Lancaster, PA.)

NoRacer

Garsh and shivers me timbers, Olive Oyl, nose body wants to go 120 miles 2morrow! Ahgagagagah! https://tinyurl.com/NotherHotwoodLoop

maxine

Awwwwww! Nobody wants to go 120 with NR???

That looks like a pretty cool route, but no way my sorry out-of-shape self is riding 120 miles tomorrow. If I get to 30, I'll be happy!

greaterbrown

Still riding with the studs on?

derath

Wow, so it's been probably about a year since I have even come by bikeforums and this thread is still at the top. How's all the MD peeps doing? Miss you guys.

-D

balto charlie

Guess you are out there riding as I type. I'm not in shape enough to ride 120 with 6K climbing. Hanging with the wife today anyway but tomorrow is looking like I might log some miles. Hoping to get 60 with a possibility of 80. I'll post later today if anyone is interested. I'm thinking southern Maryland. Or maybe bobs ride through Carroll county from Ellicott City

balto charlie

Hey derath how's it going. It's been a loooong time since you posted. Are you getting any free time away from the kids?

balto charlie

Excellent, glad to see some interest. The lock-house cost 100 and 80 each night. At those prices I think we need at least 3 folks, better with four and I think they accommodate 6 or more.Good point about the trail being soggy. We can easily ride over to the WOD trail ride up to Leesburg/Purceville than back over RT15. I looked at RT15 on google maps and it looks doable but will check wih others.
Come on folks, we need a few more. Harry?? Barry?? GB?? NR??

Dude this IS CC touring. If fact you don't even need the CC as the houses will be paid for in advance. You got a roof, bed, crapper, shower and kitchen at one of the houses. The other one has a roof, bed and a killer porch. I figure we can make breakfast(easy stuff) with strong coffee then we lunch and dinner on the road. Keep it simple. Dinner on the first night can been in DC. Dinner the second night can be done in Leesburg or Pucerville. If weather is right we can take the Whites Ferry over the Potomac to Leesburg.

greaterbrown

Good to hear from ya. Been ridin?

greaterbrown

Biking, strong coffee, maybe some Tullamore Dew on the porch. I gotta say yes.

NoRacer

No. I took them off last night for today's ride.

NoRacer

Hey, Daniel! It's been way too long. I hope you've been riding.

NoRacer

My interest is piqued.

NoRacer

The blog entry is not ready yet. I have pictures to go into, too. First, I need to rest a little. BiM says the climbing for this ride turned out to be 7,969ft over 115 miles. Between that and the wind, I'm a little tired.

derath

Sadly no. I am lucky if I did 50 miles for 2009. It was getting so depressing it is the main reason I have stayed away from the boards. But I'm back so that is a good sign.

balto charlie

Hey folks: here's what I am riding tomorrow if anyone is interested. I plan to leave early but not too early. Between 7-8, what suits me and anyone else. I'm on my way out now but post, call or PM me and I'll check back when I return.
https://ohbike.org/cuesheets/davidson...galesville.pdf
I will probably extend the ride down to Deale

Glad to see some more interest in the CC tour;-) We talk about it in more details later. Start checking dates.

NoRacer

Today's ride - https://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/30699 - Part 1 / https://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/30700 -Part 2