http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3355862_n.jpg

The 194 bpm heart rate is false... darned alarm systems along the route. 125 bpm for the trip back sounds likely.

/

I was kinda shocked to see that you used Billers for a ride over and back.
Why, after all these years of chugging up to Conowingo?

I agree with you that there is a nice purity to getting there and back only by your own efforts. On the other hand, my ride back from OC last year was a different adventure with the ride over the Bay Bridge.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Walt Biller says he doesn't make much on the service, but it would be a shame if it went away, so after Barry threw some business Walt's way, I decided to do the same.

Also, after last year's fiasco during my return, I didn't want to do that again any time soon. The memory hasn't faded away enough, yet.

I don't know if anyone else noticed but Google Bike there directions say "Walk your bicycle" for the Hatem Bridge. It would be nice if we can get Google to say "use Biller's Bike bridge service.

So

For those who care to join me and my little campaign (to make Maryland more bike friendly and promote a great bike shop ;) )

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=US...&z=15&lci=bike
Click report a problem in the lower right

I selected wrong "driving" directions

and write something along the lines of:
bikes need to use http://www.billersbikes.com/bridgeservices.html
Update: Google sent me
So include that in your comment.


A few people submitting a comment like this might get some attention to the matter. Thanks, -=Barry=-

Yo Max, will be nice to see you again. Use the light rail. I believe a stop is near your home and will take you to Camden yards. If you want to drive perhaps park near Carroll park and ride to WMP.

PS I had to edit this twice, 2 many brews:)

Done. I used "Other" which gives you a text box to write a description of the problem and possible solutions, albeit the best solution was to re-stripe the bridge for bikes and pedestrians.

FWIW My idea is to make the bridge 25mph with speed tables and allow bikes. Greg H idea is to remove one travel lane and put in bike lanes. Jeffery's idea is to install lights so when a cyclist approaches the bridge they press a button and motorists are then notified one lane is closed (to motoring traffic) via overhead lights and the cyclists peddles across.

Some pictures of RAAM from Team Mouri:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/re...d5257596f4264e

been laid up for about a week with this surgery now, looks like you guys are getting some great rides in.

was looking forward to the july rando ramble after missing the june ride with family in town, is the route particularly strenuous? Ive been out that way before and there are some good hikes. Dont want to get in over my head so soon from surgery but would really like to get back out there.

so if anyone has ridden the route or area for that matter let me know if it is tough or just regular ol' central maryland type stuff

cheers

It'll be hilly, but I don't expect any sharp climbs. Bummer about the surgery. August ride will be on the 7th if you wanna heal more.
Ride map/metrics/terrain here: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/513255

Just put my check for the BBC picnic in an envelope to go out Monday.
http://www.baltobikeclub.org/
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/...730a56bc_b.jpg

The light rail stop at BWI is about 7-8 miles from my place. It will probably come down more to an issue of available time than anything else, depending on how my workday goes. The rendezvous time for the ride is 7:30, correct? I expect I'll end up driving in and parking in one of the garages not too far from the Plaza.

I'll be in PA that weekend for my niece's birthday. Have a hot dog for me!

I mailed mine yesterday, but emailed Charlotte in case in does not make it to her on time...but I have the utmost confidence in our mail people. All that is left is for me to make it to Tanneytown. Looking forward to seeing some of you on Weds and some more on Sunday. Charlie

FYI: The moonlight madness ride tonight starts from War Memorial Plaza.
NOT Mt Vernon, as the map indicates.

Here is the cue sheet: http://tinyurl.com/6jnt2dd

Thanks! See you tonight.

Hey, Charlie, Bob, Harry -- sorry for bailing out of the Moonlight Madness ride so soon last night. Just a personal thing for me, I am not at all cool with Critical Mass traffic tactics.

I suppose I should have realized they would probably do that, with such a big group (although I was a bit surprised at how big the group actually was; I wasn't expecting that.) I hadn't thought much about it, guess I just assumed that the group would naturally break up into a few large clumps, and then periodically re-form -- especially since there were six "break" points on a 14-mile route.

It was a lovely night, though, and it looked like a pretty nice route. I would love to do the ride sometime, but maybe with just a few good friends. ;) :) Hope you enjoyed the rest of the ride!

That's why I didn't even bother. It was a mess last time; I expected the same this time.

Actually, much less of a mess.

The recipe for moving 120 bike riders through a congested city is not an easy one. In this case a lot of concessions were made to keep the group together- namely, aggressively blocking intersections so the that riders could run red lights and stop signs. Last night there were a group of riders who were controlling every single intersection as if they were the bicyclist's police force. For most of the first half of the ride, I was annoyed, but tolerant of it, but when 100 riders pulled up to the Druid Hill half way point almost as a single group I was beginning to appreciate the effect. Without these unlawful blockers we'd be strung out across miles of city streets, unable to encourage slower riders, unable to help riders take the correct turns, unable to assist riders with mechanicals or falls and pissing off many more drivers than were pissed off last night. THAT was what it was like 3 years ago.

What's the alternative- not hold the ride?

This is why I never jump into discussions on this topic. ;) :D From just a strictly practical viewpoint, I fully appreciate the impossibility of moving a large group of cyclists, as a group, through a city route without illegally blocking roads and running red lights. It can't be done.

The only alternative -- i.e. the only way to *legally* block roads and run red lights -- is, of course, to go to the city and get a permit for the event. But I know that that isn't the intended vibe of these kinds of rides. And to me that's fine, as a general, abstract idea, and I also want to say that I felt that everybody on that ride last night had a good heart; I didn't feel at all that the group was out to "make a statement" or annoy anyone just for the hell of it or had any other weird ulterior motive; they just wanted to enjoy riding their bikes all together.

Again, this is solely a personal matter for me, passing no judgment on any other person or organization whatsoever -- it's just that I have a pretty strong instinctive "law and order" bias (imagine that, right?? :lol:), and also some cognitive difficulty in wrapping my head around the idea of (on the one hand) agitating to be treated as an equal, legitimate user of the road and (on the other hand) expecting to be allowed to violate the rules of that same road whenever I feel like it.

(And, yeah, yeah, I'll admit that I *do* slow roll through stop signs at empty intersections. :D But I don't think it's too hypocritical to see a qualitative difference between that scenario and the one above -- and also, if a police officer wrote me a ticket for running that stop sign, I'd pay it without a peep of complaint, regardless of how stupid, from a practical viewpoint, such a ticket would be.)

Bottom line for me is just that as much as I was truly enjoying the route and the company, that's just not my style of riding, and it made me uncomfortable enough to want to leave. And again, my bad for not anticipating that in the first place.

Last nights ride was a great time. I also am not comfortable w/ running the red. More for safety than legal reasons but felt the Wheelmen did an excellent job. The main point against rides like these is the negative reaction of cars. I only heard one horn used against us. Most drivers were cheering us on. I think city drivers are use to road interference(trains, parades, etc.) I felt they actually enjoyed viewing our ride. It makes the city feel alive. The folks in the neighborhoods hooting and hollering us on, the kids grabbing their bikes and riding along side of us, the views, the lights and beers at the end. One of the best evenings I have had in awhile. Now this morning's 5:45 alarm was not much fun'
@Max glad we were able to visit for part of the ride. I kinda felt you might peel as we neared the red light, you saying" Oh No, we're not running this light!":)

It was also my impression, for the 5 miles that I did of the ride, that people (pedestrians and motorists alike) were for the most part neutral or even positive in their reaction to the ride. (Even the cops down by Harbor Place were smiling at us as we went by.) I think it helps that the ride doesn't start until 8:00 -- unlike typical Critical Mass rides (which I *do* view as being run largely for the purpose of annoying other road users ;), which usually seem to take place right in the middle of rush hour.

Charlie, I stuck it out for about 4 or 5 red-light-runnings before I bailed. :) It was good to catch up with you a bit, even briefly, and I'm bummed about missing the post-ride beers. :(

Barry just posted to Facebook that he's packed and ready to move to AZ! Wow!!!! :(

Sheesh. I guess we'll have to ride a longer "approach ride" to get to him then.

Already working on a route, but the Grand Canyon keeps getting in the way. ;)