Let me guess, never put back on the Schwalbes......

I will say this is my worse nightmare. Had to deal w/ a flat in sub-freezing temps once, missed my train, froze my a$$ off, wanted to cry.....but didn't

The Schwalbes wouldn't have stopped this staple:

Damn. Sorry to hear about the crappy commute.
BTW is there any bailout option for this new route? Any buses run up there?

No bus stops along Pulaski Hwy. My parents live in Abingdon--we've discussed the option of my stopping there, if needed.

In White Marsh, Joppatowne and Edgewood there are warm places to stop in at. At Riverside, I'd have to take a big detour, but there are shops in that area. The desolate places are between Days Cove and Joppatowne and at Doves Cove leading up to Otter Point Rd.

If memory serves the Schwalbes didn't stop the nail either.

Well winter, while not officially here, is being felt...21F to start the day. Tonight I will be going to the Bike Maryland Legislative Task Force meeting. I will bike from my MARC station @5:30 to MDOT near BWI then return home late. I will be cold and hungry. The meeting better be worth it. How many people will bike to this meeting**********

I just traded the apartment life in beautiful and scenic Laurel, MD for some good ole' fashioned country living in Mt. Airy, MD. The move included going from piling 5 bikes in what should be the dining room of our tiny apartment to having a 16x22' dedicated bike shop in the basement.

Also- The Mt. Airy Bike Shop is amazing.

Hey HandsomeRyan, we were just in your old neighborhood last sunday. I'm thinking of scheduling the January century to be a ride between B'more and Frederick- thus headed through your new hood. Won't stop at Mt. Airy bikes although it is a great shop- they're not open Sundays

greaterbrown, If you'll be riding anywhere near Fredrick rd/Old Fredrick rd specifically in the Poplar Grove area let me know and you can stop by for a cup of hot chocolate or a cold beer (depending on what you are into drinking while riding in January).

We're into Guinness.

This close to the PA line and I have to be the one to tell you:

Lancaster Milk Stout > Guinness

Although you're a lot more likely to find the latter on tap and on tap always trumps bottles/cans so we'll call it a draw.

Handsome, I'm pretty much decided on a ride to Frederick (this one: https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/476398) for our January outing. (haven't decided on whether it'll be the 2nd or the 9th)

If you're up for the cold weather riding and the the hills on Rt.144 we'd love to have you.
(more info about this monthly century series in the Rando Ramble link below)

Handsome, Handsome, Handsome: All stout brewers try to emulate Guinness, as far as I can tell they have all failed. Lots of great stouts out there but only 1 Guinness.

NR: thinking about you last night. I did my typical 23 mile commute(friggin' cold) then added 10-12 more to go to and from the bike meeting. I can't believe you do that and more everyday, kudos dude. You probably have the most miles of anyone in this state.

My Magicshine light(in a current recall) did well last night. Temps were in the low 20's for the AM and PM commutes, battery lasted 2.5 hours. Hopefully they remedy the recall because this beast is bright. I rode on some really dark 2 lane roads and it lit up the road.

How was the meeting?

Didn't know about that meeting.

GB-I will put your Rando on my calendar and try again-

This Saturday I am heading up to York. Friend of mine Bennett, from Virginia, some of you know him, is heading to York to pick something up. So he'll sleep at my place Friday night then we'll head up to York and do a ride from there. I have a route mapped from the Heritage trail down around Pretty Boy and back. Contemplating riding back to Baltimore after we get back to York trail head. I will probably have limited daylight at that point but figure can always jump on the NCR with lights and truck down to Hunt Valley light rail to Falls and then ride up Lake. or Just light up and ride home in dark.

Anybody care to join?

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...29182908689394

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...29190126413570

Meeting: Lots of legaleaze stuff about the 3 foot law, criminal negligence manslaughter charges vs JUST manslaughter, crash vs accident, and other legal jargon issues. Important issues but better for those that understand. I did not. Other legal issues were fines for parking in bike lane(like balto city), arrest for leaving the scene of an accident if there is injury(I kinda figured this was a crime??) and 1 or 2 other items.

Stuff I understood

ICC: Jon Morrison is leading the charge to re-instate bike path along new freeway or bike access onto it
.
Complete streets: All new roads MUST have bikes and peds in mind when they are built. This is already a law but not followed(ie. ICC)

Bikes(full size) on MARC: Don’t hold your breathe though. I have tried over the years to gain access. Since I ride it and know a little about it I am now “the bike MARC” man;-) I’ll try again

***I think the most important issue was the 50/50 vs 80/20 TE matching funds. It is hard for counties to match 50% of project so a 20% match will get more use of the funds. This is especially true for poorer counties. I believe some of this money goes unused. A lawyer said not to spend too much time on this as there may not be TE funds in the near future due to the new congress. He raised a good point.

Trail access after dark. Interesting because a BF member just got a ticket a week or 2 ago. Someone from parks and rec is looking into this but felt parks will be held responsible so they must supply lighting and security. I think this might be best “don’t ask don’t tell”. The police can monitor the trail but if someone passes with lights, helmets commuter type then let them pass.

Funding for advertising 3 foot rule with billboards and signs to educate public.

It was good to meet some of the bike folks, good people. Unfortunately, I don’t think biking is taken seriously by our elected officials and until we have our folks in position, progress will be slow. Apparently many politicians will hold up bills. Why, just because they can.
Side note: Barry is in New York so he didn’t make the meeting. They were hoping he would call as he understands the issues more than most. They were hoping he would call but the conference call really sucked, people had to shout so phone callers could hear. Eventually they gave up and hung up.

Took a little break, starting yesterday--biked from work to my parents' place in Abingdon for a visit, Chinese food dinner and spend the night. RT ~ 16 miles. It was a nice change.

Looks like there's a bit of a snow squall to the west. The prediction is for a relative warm-up through the weekend with precipitation sometime late Sunday, then a possible changeover to some snow. Once that warm front moves through, it's suppose to get even colder than this past week and windy, again. That squall to the west looks a little closer then Sunday, but what do I know?

It's snowing here in Beltsville, noonish

Snowing a little, here, too--small flakes.

Left for work super late today and I got a little "snow ride" on the way.
Started w/flurries in Mt. Washington and by the time I got in to Owings Mills there was almost a 1/2" on the roads. Welcome to winter.

274!

So, what tires did you ride?

Not studs. And , it was too slippery when I left to head home, so I took the metro shortcut. The city was almost dry but not Owings Mills.

274 = how many more miles until you reach 10,000.

251 as of this AM.
But damn dude, you are closing in fast. No ride today?

edit: ah! just saw your posting on FB

Did 71 out of York yesterday with Bennett. Couldn't do my planned ride back from York, we got a 10am start and it was 4pm when we got back to York-and still had to go help B pick up his daughters stuff. Well enough though as I was cramping on last climb (yes, we found a climb in York) and then when I got out of the car back in Bmore both hams seized up, ouch!! took five minutes before I could move, gotta figure that issue out.

Anyway, excellent ride, only did a couple miles on the rail trail coming out of York and then coming north through New Freedom. With that beautiful Pleasant Valley Rd. paralleling the trail it's a wonder anybody would ride the trail. We went down to Pretty Boy and then back up to York. Nice ride.

Hey Folks:
The race is on. Nr looking @ 15K and GB eying up 10K. Crazy numbers boys.
Today's commute was little spooky. Patches of snow and a little ice thrown in but had traction all of the way. Good thing because I don't have my studded bike ready. I went to rebuild my winter ice bike last week and hit a wall! I can't get my shifters off of the bars. Seems a nut is stripped in the bar ends(mnt bike) so I can't slide the shifters off. I have already taken(read:cut) many of the cables from the bike. I also wanted to put on different bars (trekking bars)but they don't fit!! Nothing is working here. I guess I can cut the mnt bars to remove my shifters but now need to find another bar that fits. Back to the drawing board.
Dress warm , going to be a cold week.