39.098,-76.779 (If I gave you any more info we'd both be dead)

I've been out of touch with our team so, now-a-days, I can't even spell B-B-C.

I'd put'em up at my house, if they'll do some lawn work. :innocent:

Actually, my place is a shambles, so I don't even let my relatives in.

:) My nickname for the ginormous public facility at which I toil, Whose Name Shall Not Be Uttered (at least, not in an Interwebz-searchable context. ;))

I'm too far from downtown Baltimore to be hostess, I think. And I only have one spare room, the bed of which is, alas, at the moment covered with cat hair. :mad:

Ouch.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/21/sp...is.html?src=mv

yes. this is a bad day in professional cycling. :(

looks like our guys will be staying up in Wilmington and driving down for the race. Hope you guys can come out and cheer 'em on.

Actually, giving GPS coordinates that can be used in a missile attack can be considered a terrorist threat.

I finally got my response from Chief James Johnson (apparently a form letter.) And I finally got a new alert up to get WJZ to issue a correction. http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...00514194611427

Hey Folks: Nice turnout at the BBA meet and greet. Saw Max, GB, Rod and rode down w/ Harry. Harry and I rode down Guilford and saw a lot of commuters on their way home. I was very impressed. Westside bikers take note, we are way behind the northside commuters.

This AM rode down to B2W day @ city hall. I rode down Frederick rd. and was very surprised that they repaved a lot of it. One of my dislikes for that road downtown was the road conditions. Greatly improved though not done. It was especially important because I was riding the folder and ANY pothole is lethal. Left home @ 630 and got there as they finished setting up. Lots of munchies and good coffee. Saw a few old friends and some new ones. I was interviewed and photographed by someone I didn't know???? So keep your eyes out for my mug. I then made my way over to the MARC, didn't make it to work until 915. Lots of bike stuff this week.

Thanks for the update, Barry.

Dang! I knew I forgot something last night--the BBA thingie!

I went to Towson for the B2W Day event. I didn't expect to see anyone from BF, but up rides Bob. Surprise!

BBC members Dan from Parkton and Russ Loy were there, too, among others we see there yearly.

You were missed. Beers were quaffed in your honor. :thumb:

GB, Harry, Charlie -- that car stalking you guys all the way down Fleet Street until you turned -- yours truly! :lol:

I rode in with our little Bike to Work group from Arundel Mills Mall, even though it meant getting to my desk an hour later than normal. I guess it's a good thing I showed up, because evidently I was the only one who knew the sneaky, back-of-the-parking-lot, cut-through-the-grass way to get to Watts Road (thus starting the ride with zero mall-road drama, and keeping it relatively short for the newbies.)

Yah, Thursday night was a blast, that has to become a regular thing for sure!! I rode downtown to City Hall on Friday morn with Rita. We left my house at 7:30 took it slow, still about 100 cyclists at City Hall when we got there, but the coffee was gone!!! Which I guess is a good sign.
I haven't ridden east of 83 much and that was eye opening. Weird, Hopkins has this shiny new city in the middle of a war zone. I even got a tour of the lab where Rita works, checked out some mouse brain cells, spinal cells, that kind of thing.
I rode down later in the afternoon to ride home with her. We took Chase west to Fallsway, went through a glass strewn park as Chase is blocked. That part of town seems scary but we were greeted very nicely by some people.

Some guy on a bike pulled up net to us on a bike at Springlake and Northern. He had a Hopkins badge around his neck, came from the same place, not very talkative though, seemed that he was huffing and puffing, so must be his workout.

Today's (Saturday) rides in 2 parts - http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/32961 and http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/32962

I guess I do miss driving once in awhile. The drive to Elkton's Meadow Park was nice and mellow.

I stopped at Little Creek, DE (my deal with myself for today was 3 hours out and 3 back (ride time)--3 out worked out to be Little Creek) for lunch where I had a fish sandwhich, potato chips, cheese puffs, and a Pepsi.

On the way home, after climbing back over the Delaware City bridge, I stopped at a Velero convenience store for more drink and some sugary jelly candies.

NR Did you have a tail wind on the way home? 19+!!! Maybe it was the sugar rush.

Did not ride at all this wknd. Worked on 3, yes 3 bikes My folder had sidewall tire failure on the final leg home on B2W day. Had to walk the last mile home. I am building up a commuter bike for my son. I am also putting the finishing touches on another commuter bike for me. I am retiring the old Trek 990 lugged mnt bike. It will be built up as my rail trail bike to ride with my wife. Since I no longer cut through the woods on my commute I decided to go with a faster road bike. It's an old Shogun road bike with mustache handlebars.
My rear tire at train station was showing signs of a flat, just pumped it up and rode to work. It can wait until lunchtime, bike repair 4! ugh....

Here's the link for the 4 person family bike that I spoke about at Koopers last Thursday. Higher res if you toggle down a bit.
http://amsterdamize.com/2010/02/04/bicycle-mania/

For those of you who would like to comment on Baltimore County Road Design Standards: http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...00524202841480

Hey Barry: just read Baltimore Brew and they quote Spokes about the cyclist being hit on Belair rd.!!!
Well done
http://baltimorebrew.com/blog/2010/0...sh/#more-11876

Wasn't that great coverage! I also been getting traffic from CNN of late, I really should try and find out what that was all about. I just got a note from OLC that there are going to support my comments on BaltoCo Road Code. :beer: Here's hoping to see the first "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs in Maryland. That's got to get some heads turning in this State.

BTW did anyone talk with Michael Dresser at the BBA meeting? He road an e-bike there. Really cool for a first time on bike in decades effort.

The average for this ride (101 miles) is 17.9 mph. The wind came right up Delaware Bay @ ~ 10-12 mph.

I did a similar ride on 6/27/2010 (94 miles) at 18.1 mph. It had "variable" winds at 5 mph that day.

Thanks again Barry for all you do for us grumpy bikers. :beer:


Yesterday, I gave a "pre-ride" to a new version of the upcoming Ramble to Chesapeake Beach. Rode down/back from the century start at BWI for a 132 mile day. The ride was most remarkable because I believe someone was trying to prevent me from leaving town. First dumb decision was riding soft and speedy Grand Bois tires in the rain. :bang: I couldn't even get off the street I live on before I flatted on Falls at MD ave. After fixing that, I managed to get south of Raven Stadium before the next flat. And, a moment after fixing that one I very nearly went down when my rear tire caught one of the RR rails down there and slid out underneath me. For RR trx I usually "hop" the front wheel and let the rear trail as it wants, but I learned my lesson for rainy days. Sheesh.

I swing around to Annapolis rd and get caught at a train crossing which lasted a ridiculously long time. Climbed the hill up to Waterview and pfssssst. Another flat. At this point my arms are getting tired and I'm wondering who has it out for me. A woman walking nearby said that she saw me fixing the flat so she moved some glass that she saw on the sidewalk over to the road so that I would not run over it. She was assuming I was riding on the sidewalk. :rolleyes: It was a nice gesture and I thanked her any way.

I nearly bit it again on a couple of those pot holes, difficult to see in the rain, along Hollins Ferry. Finally got down to my "start" at Dixon Observation. I took Stewart to Old Stage and heard that ole familiar hiss again. Number four. The first for the front tire. Too far along to turn back now. Gotta keep pushing. By then the road was drying up a bit. EXCEPT for underneath the overpass at Crownville and Rt. 97 for number five. Yes, that's right my fifth flat in less than 30 miles! :twitchy: Should I call Guinness for the record? (and maybe a beer)

I should add that I was very conscientious about finding each shard for each flat. All of them were individual instances- not double flats. At the fifth, I counted 4 patches left + one tube and realized that if my pace continued I'd be calling a taxi or riding home on rims. Luckily, that was the last one. I'm sure a big reason why was the cessation of the rain.

So much for "speedy" tires.

^^^^^^^^
Hopefully, for you, the flat tire gods are appeased for a while.

I've been taking extra precautions by running cross tires during the week--these things:

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pcocs...er_tire/pp.htm

http://static2.biketiresdirect.com/i...t/cocsc2-1.jpg

They're fast for a fat tire. They're the ones that I thought felt too supple, but they seem pretty good at averting flats.

I also have a pair of these for muddy trails, but they are very definitely too slow and energy consuming for roads:

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pcosk...g_cross/pp.htm

http://static2.biketiresdirect.com/i...ct/coskc-1.jpg

Been a great commuting week weather wise. Due to experiment constraints I will be riding a nooner but staying late.
@Barry: Didn't see Michael Dresser because I didn't know what he looked like. I have read his articles.
@ GB: Wow, 5 flats!!! I don't care how fast a tire is, 5 flats in 1 ride and they're in the trash. Riding a slow tire and no flats is faster...IMHO
@NR: I rode Ritchey Speed MAx on my tour through W. Va last year. One flat, good on dirt but didn't like the knobs on the sidewalls when turning on pavement. Just didn't feel safe. I think you should try Conti Gator Skins. From what I've read, fairly fast and fairly flat proof. Good commuting tire and comes in 23's I think. Plus I want to here an everyday commuter's review.
I'm still hooked on Schwalbes Marathons, heavier than lead but bombproof. I don't avoid glass....ever;-) On one of my bikes I have been riding Pasela tourguard. 2 flats in the last few months. Nice ride though.

I've used nothing but Conti's Grand Prix 4 Seasons tires on my Airborne for almost 6 years, and I can count the number of flats I've had on one hand. I :love: those things, and if Conti ever stops making them, I may have to fling myself off the roof. I wish they came in a 32, I'd put them on the touring bike. (They're available in 23-25-28.)

http://www.biketiresdirect.com/pco4s...vectran/pp.htm

I'm still riding on an older (size 28) pair, and I have a replacement set of 25s waiting for when those are done; I can't remember if the replacements are these new "Vectran" models, though.

No knobbies, but I've ridden them on the NCR Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath without any trouble.

I have a pained relationship with tires. I LOVE the feel of fast and supple tires and the Grand Bois are the best currently available IMO, but I've got to come to my senses about where I ride. I'm not in Tahoe or Portland. I live in the city of broken glass. I took the Grand Bois off this morning and put on a new pair of standard Paselas. I looked at the trash can, thinking of your words Charlie, holding the unmounted Grand Bois in my hand, but I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. ($65/tire!) I put them back on the hook for a day when I will have forgotten about my 5 flat ride.

I've ridden Gatorskins and you can ride through a pile of tacks on those things, but they ride like concrete. I ride Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy's on the fixie. Only flat I've ever had on those was a stem de-lamination. They are a great round shape, but the casings are so hard that they ride hard and slow. The Paselas, for now, are probably the best match for me. They are quick, average weight, easy to mount/unmount and average puncture resistant. They wear out quickly, but then again, they're cheap @ $22/tire.