Essex, here. I've ridden in Dundalk as well as some of the others folks, here, in this thread.

Sucking is relative. There's some fairly nice roads in Dundalk and then there's roads that are as crumbly, pothole and frost lift ridden as in the city. Well, maybe not quite as bad as some of the city streets, but close.

This morning's commute in to work was nice. I dressed as minimally as possible, so that I wouldn't have to carry a load back home this evening.

I extended the route--got 16 miles in.

I did the same. While the ride to the train was excellent, my train was late so I got cold(temps around 32F) waiting. Never warmed up on the train so the second bike ride was cold. This PM all should be sweet though.

Yesterday @ noon I was tuning up my bike and noticed my rear tire(Specialized Armadillo nimbus) was separating. Half of the rubber was falling off. I'll post pictures later. This tire had 6-7K miles on it, so I guess I got my monies worth;-) Never had a flat. Great tire if it didn't ride like a brick.

I'll be there in June. I think it's funny. We Americans are fascinated by their bike usage, to them it's no big deal, how they get around, junker bikes for commutes, shiny stuff for the weekend. Many of them would probably be in cars if there weren't so many ways that the government dissuades auto usage. We could it here but we won't. I'll probably not be in Amsterdam too long, couple days, were doing a loop out of there, hopefully catching the first stage of the TDF, but that is going to be a real circus, one stage will be enough.

Did two rides today, 19 miles at 6:30am with a guy down the street who I mapped an 83 mile ride for. Figure I should at least ride some of it so went to Mays Chapel and back, frosty.
Second ride at 11:30 and a world of difference temp wise. 30 mile loop up P Heights, Baublitz, etc.

Today was a good two ride day. Perfect weather. I rode Steve Z's BBC ride yesterday and had a great time. Also perfect weather.

NR, I'm stealing some of your Holtwood ride ideas for an upcoming Ramble. One question: any preference in direction going over Conowingo Dam? -GB

I've only ever done it going toward Quarryville from RT 72--probably because I know that it's a continuous climb if you go up RT 222 to RT 272 to RT 372. Coming from the other direction, on the other side of the river, there's a mix of climbs and descents, so you don't realize that it's actually net-uphill the same amount as coming from Conowingo.

Anyone interested in a ride starting in Chesapeake City--50 out and back on Saturday?

It's flat and can be relatively fast.

Well, I'm just about ready for my jaunt to DC tomorrow to meet up with my Pittsburgh friends for the weekend. I'm going to follow Bob's Monument-to-Monument route, which appears to be roughly about what the Bike Washington site recommends. I tried the Google bike directions, but they routed me much further east, through some fairly sketchy neighborhoods on the DC/MD border.

I just hope I don't get lost in the sections that go onto the little park trails . . . :eek:

The weather forecast looks great! I may actually have to dig out the sunscreen! :thumb:

I need to make time to get on those midweek rides. May be doing a regular Monday ride with a couple people from Mbrook. GB-I know you have Mondays off. Their distances will probably be 30-40

NR-Would love to do that flat ride but running the National half m tomorrow, with virtually no training. yay.

@Bob,

Your ride on Sunday--I fed it into BiM and got this (note climbing):

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=142241

Well do to too many things happening (and need to happen) and it looks like I will not be riding down to DC with Maxine (sorry) but I plan on doing this tomorrow:

I'm not sure how many "last" rides I can get in but I figure I'll start with this one. ;)

Awwww... you're going to miss a chance to give Korn-pone a piece of your mind personally?

ROFLMA You mean Mr. "offensive jokes are just jokes, so lighten up people, since when are offensive jokes offensive?" FWIW Sal Ruibal (USA Today writer) does not accept Kornheiser' apology.

Hello all, in Columbia, just moved back here from Philadelphia. Just bought my first bike today.

Welcome!

Hi All and Happy Spring! Did a ride on Sat from Baltimore to Annapolis and back (64 miles r/t). Took the route across the Hanover Street bridge passing Harbor Hospital. Not a great crossing, but was a great route from there on south and came back the same way. Just don't like the bridge. Any suggestions for an alternate route to avoid the Hanover St Bridge? Thanks!

@kineticycle - That bridge is nasty to go over. Coming from Essex, once in the city, I usually head to Washington Blvd, Hollins Ferry, Hammonds Ferry, Andover. This will get you to the airport where you can take the BWI Trail to 176 Dorsey Rd, crossing Dorsey to Stewart Avenue, then picking up the Overstreet Bypass which links you to the B&A Trail south to Annapolis.

Ride Summary from Saturday & Sunday:

http://twitpic.com/show/full/1a834o.jpg

Thanks @NoRacer! I knew you would have the answer...I appreciate it!

Damn. That's a serious weekend, NR. BTW thanks for a good ride on sunday.

One of my bike blog heros, Kent Peterson recently linked to this.
Well worth the watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI7T2iuGjjc

It's -an- answer, but just like your route, there's more ways to accomplish the goal. The answer for the moment depends on the individual rider's willingness to tolerate the conditions at hand.

No, GB, thank you for putting the ride together and doing all of the prep for it. I did nothing but follow your lead.

Alright... I'm up an hour and a half early, and for me, trying to go back to sleep just to have to wake up again, soon, always makes me feel like crap, so... might as well ride! :)

Leftturn, maybe I will see you out and about riding around. There are many recreational cyclists, but fewer commuters. I like those bike lanes
up around the museums in Philly.

Hey folks: Just got back from a climbing trip in WV. Either the cliffs are getting steeper, taller and harder or I'm getting older weaker and softer. Still waiting to hear from a few other about the DC/C&O trip?? Should we pick another date?

Does anyone know which bike club wears black tops with large red dots. Some of them wore the jersey this morning This group passes me(during the warm months) every Tuesday morning in Catonsville.
Max: How did the DC trip go?
GB: Sorry to miss another rando ride
Barry; Is it the last ride? If the DC/C&O trip doesn't go down perhaps a day ride to see the cherry trees. If necessary I'll take a day off work and we can "commute " to DC, be tourist then ride home.
NR: 2 centuries!! or 2 double centuries!!!! Either way that's a lot.

Gotta do taxes still.