Thanks Barry!

Here's what I wrote in my training diary today:

This is why I ride Tufo tubular clinchers. When they flat, they won't fall off of the rim, unless you are in a very tight turn. Once they've gone flat, you can still ride them even if the sealant doesn't work.

Take care of yourself.

Speaking of routes - anyone have a suggested route from Montgomery County to the Ski Liberty area of Pennsylvania (Carroll Valley)? I'd like to ride to a friends place but am unfamilar with that area. I can to the Sugarloaf Mt. area (SW of 270), but I'm thinking being north/east of 270 would be better.
Thanks,
Bob

derath here ya go
Here's my route from Tim. to TV hill/41st to BWI trail
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...m-to-BWI-trail

Alternate options:
1)Take Roland if Falls feels to busy
2) Stay on Frederick rd. to River rd.(just before Ellicott city) turn left, follow along the Patapsco river, cross bridge(after ugly old factory), then turn left onto the grist mill trail through Patapsco state park. Very nice area

Barry: hope you heal. I'll check out clipper rd next time throug

NoRacer: double flat Commuters worst nightmare. Since your training you should ride Schwalbe Marathons plus, flat proof and heavy. Help build up those racing legs. What are tubular clinchers. I thought it was either tubular or clincher.

bobby C: I have no 'real' clue but have ridden rt 27, hilly narrow some traffic but not real bad.

Where in mont. county? That could make a difference.

-D

Could probably be almost anywhere - I could drive to a starting point if that works. I live in Silver Spring just inside the Beltway by Georgia Ave. From here I can ride out the Poolesville area, that's where I do most of my riding. But by looking at a map, it seems a more northernly route (north & east of 270) would be a better way.

This is as far as I got so far.

https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...to-Ski-Liberty

Keep in mind I did the route backwards (starting north and going south) so the elevation is backwards.

South of where I ended I wasn't sure the best route. There are many options, depending on how you feel about traffic.

-D

Does this help any?
https://bikewashington.org/routes/dc2thurmont/index.htm
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/gi...s/bikeways.asp

FWIW That section of Washington Blvd I don’t care for. My variant is to take Foxhall Farm Rd to the fire service road (gravel, the skinny tire folks won’t like but it is short) to the Glen Artney section of the park or I use Gun Rd. Then connect to your route via River Rd/Levering Ave.

First one works well, except I would follow my directions from Rt 26 north. there is no point in going all the way to thurmont.

-D

yeah that part sucks. it's short and I haul a$$, has some shoulder. If I 'm biking w/ non-experienced riders I kick back into the park and go around to Levering. I'm trying to picture the fire service rd you speak of???? Where does it enter the park? Gun Rd I know.

I was just looking at those. They look COOL. Great comprimise between tubulars and clinchers. I may have to try out a pair when my current tires wear out.


-D

The service road

Hey Noracer,

Which Tufos do you ride on? I assume they hold up well given that you ride so darn much, and commute on them as well.

[edit] NM found a recent thread in the road forum where you mention it.

-D

I finally remembered. It comes into the park near the picnic grounds and the area that use to have a bunch of mnt bike log rides. Until "The MAN' hauled them away. That's a rocky road for a few hundred feet. 23s would not be happy. My touring (32's)bike might be ok. I'll try it one morning on the way to the train. Barry, you really know your way around.

Derath & Human Car,

Sorry to be late with my response, between riding and obligations, I couldn't get to BF until this morning.

Thanks for the input - that gives me a good sense of what to do. A combination of the two routes will work, I'll map it out & post.

Bob

This is a little off-topic, but since someone brought up Pennsylvania, I thought I should share my link to a bunch of PDF's of bike touring paths for PA...
Here it is: https://www.dot.state.pa.us/bike/web/tour_routes.htm

These are "long-haul" routes that criss-cross the state (typically 2-lane or 4 lane blacktop). I would like to do at least part of one someday. I have ridden in and around the Bedford PA area and found that to be marvelous.

Reminder about an upcoming ride.

Patuxent Rural Legacy ride, June 9. Hilly metric century. I did this ride last year and tanked. In my defense my son (or second child) was born 6 weeks before the ride and I hadn't been on the bike in over 8. So I am going again to redeem myself. And it was a nice ride.

If anyone is interested let me know. We can also carpool. I have room for 3 passengers and bikes.

Ride info

https://www.ohbike.org/events/rural_legacy_eflyer.html

My info from last year

https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/896042

-D

After looking at that route, I think I'd make sure to have my will up-to-date before trying it. Most of the roads on that route are 50mph+ for cars with not much shoulder and a lot of blind curves and crests. Very non-bike-friendly stuff.

The alternates to this are almost countless. From Damascus (where I currently live) I'd probably try to stay on the east side of 27, where there's less traffic. Something like Howard Chapel Dr to Gue to Long Corner to 144, where there's around 6 feet of shoulder on each side. 144 west of Mt Airy isn't as good, but at least it's straight-ish and the sight distance is better than 80.

I actually think that using Old Annapolis Rd to cut of that one corner would be better, as it would save some time on 144 and also on 75. Anything marked as a MD state road (27, 75, 80) is going to be pretty busy, and the only reason 144 isn't bad is because 1) it has the shoulder for a good portion, and 2) most of the traffic going that way uses I-70.

Just my two cents as someone who rides that area year-round.

I don't know the roads that well below Rt 26. But north of 26 I have ridden those roads before. They aren't too bad. Not that much traffic. But you would know better living out that way.

-D

Hmmm, if I don't get called on to instruct that day for an autocross school and I decide not to do the MS150 in Salisbury and I can get a kitchen pass from the wife, I may just do this ride with you. I'll keep you updated.

Good deal then. If I can get ya to 26 alive, then you can get us the rest of the way.

Is the MS150 basically the Seagull route?

-D

Not sure, but its looking more and more unlikely that I'll want to do the whole weekend over there, so your ride is looking better.

Not quite, although it occasionally covers some of the same ground. I'd say it's closer to the ViewTrail 100 route, with stops at Shockley Road, Furnace Town (very cool!), and Public Landing.

https://www.visitworcester.org/birding/viewtrail100.htm

I much prefer the MS150 route to the Seagull; it's more scenic, has more interesting rest stops, and even has one or two tiny hills, as I recall.

Think we should start another thread about this ride and try to get some BF people together? Also, I plan on doing the Covered Bridges ride again...that was a blast last year. This year I ride with the group and the FIL is on his own.