That would work for me. Of course, we've been trying to do this for over a year and the schedules never seem to sync. School's winding down, but we're going to Disney last week of June.

Well to be honest, we haven't tried too hard either :D

But most sundays these days I am biking to and from church. And so on the ride home it is no problem to make a "detour" to do a loop with you.

-D

18 miles for a 12yo is very good. I'll take a shirt since I rode, L. Thanks for all the info on Balto Biking. Do you always go to the meetings?

That is true, but blame my surgeon. I sure wouldn't have taken six months off without him.;) I'm thinking June 10 might be good. (Hopefully, I'll get enough miles in to not slow you down too much, or you won't get enough miles in to crush me.:rolleyes: )

Ha! you're riding _literally_ to my house (I live on Baltimore street in front of Patterson park, 2nd door after milton!).

For a scenic route I would recommend getting to other side of Druid Hill park, then to falls rd via clipper mill rd, south on falls all the way, across the maryland ave bridge, cross mt royal, left on biddle, right on st paul, take left fork in road after center street, left on lexington go past city hall and veterans building, right @ T, then left on Fayette at police station, right on president, left on Baltimore.

I actually live in Towson, and work in Forest Hill so my daily commute is about 22 miles. I have considered doing half or maybe a little over half by car and riding the rest. As for the hills I will just have to pace myself and keep hammering away.

New MTB rider in the Catonsville area. All of my time has been spent at Patapsco Avalon, and that is in no way depressing.

Hey, my brother lives in the 2000 block of Baltimore. I'd do Bike Jam as well, but I will be out of town.

That's my hood. Spend lots of time in Pat. less lately as commuting has been wearing down my legs. Hope to get there this wknd tho' welcome

Do you ride falls? Too keep away from hills ride over 41st bridge. Easiest way over the jones falls.

I was just there a few weeks ago. I think that area has become one of the best areas in the city. Far enough from the bars to get away from crowds yet close enough to grab an quick beer.

Where the F@#% did y'all go. Ain't nobody riding? I rode a 40 miler over the wknd to a party. Failed to ride home. There was a pretty freaky thunder/lightning storm Sunday evening as I arrived. For those of you that ride N Balto Co: What's the best East/West route. I took Papermilll and Sweet air...not impressed. I was 'buzzed' often. Not a lot of traffic but they didn't give me much room either. Hyde rd was nice including the wineries music festival. Would have stopped if it were not for the party I was en route to. I am close to buying a folder. I want to be able to ride different trains and I can't park a bike at each station so... Anyone here ride one?

====
5/23/2007

Greenbelt Training Race

I felt and did much better than the past 2 weeks at Greenbelt, but initially, I felt apathetic about the race. That changed after a thorough warm-up.

I finished high up in the front pack (maybe top 10--don't know for sure, because the referee stopped counting after 3 people crossed the finish line and then a crash ensued, distracting her from counting any more finishers.

====
5/24/2007

Easy recovery ride during my commute to work.

Hard ride during my commute home.

Ride to and from Patterson Park in Baltimore City--The park is where Bike Jam 2007 is to be held. I rode to the park to meet 4 other race team members. We rode the race route many times before I had to leave.

The race is Saturday. I'm on the CAT 5 waiting list.

====
5/25/2007

This is the combined ride file for the commute to and from work including a false start where I forgot my helmet and returned home for it.

====
5/26/2007

Did not race at Bike Jam 2007. re: the officials would not let CAT 5s on the Wait List into the race even though there were only about 30 CAT 5 racers that actually made it to the start line.

====
5/27/2007

BBC Club Ride - Mt Airy to Poolesville and back - 72 miles

====
5/28/2007

Social ride with Dr. Pete of Capitol Hills Velo and other folks from BikeForums.net.

I had to quit early due to a mechanical problem (self-induced) where I accidentally, while in a hurry fixing a flat, broke the aluminum valve stem off of my wheel. I wound up having to call a cab to take me back to my car. :-(

====
5/29/2007

Easy recovery ride during my commute to work.

Commute home w/some hard accelerations to "open" the legs in preparation for the Greenbelt Training Race tomorrow evening.

====
5/30/2007

Greenbelt Training Race, Wednesday 5/30/2007.

DNF; mechanical problems--stuck shifter.

====

Saturday I road 26 miles out to Glenelg for a 26 mile 10/12 BBC ride, in hopes that the slower pace would be easer on my knee that has been giving me trouble off and on. Well I ended up with 3-4 14mph cyclists but they took the hills gently so that really saved my knee and I had a great time.

Then after the ride I decided to head off to Bike Jam. I took Fredrick Road in to the city and about 8 miles out I noticed a car with the bike in the back so I waved as he passed, waved again as I passed and so on all the way to the park. We got there about the same time and talked a bit (I think I might have another convert to commuter biking.) I got to the park around 1ish, had fun listening to the bands, running into various people I know (including noracer who looks good in his racing jersey.) I played Frisbee with a guy named Nick for about an hour. And I think I spent $20 just on drinks (mostly soda and Gatorade) while I was there (it was hot!)

Sunday I had a mission to get a friend back on a bike so we road 10 miles down to a street festival on the west side of town. Not a bad for a first time in a long time ride.

A good east/west route for north BaltoCo? Seminary, Providence, Lock Raven, Dulaney Valley, Manor, Carroll Manor, Sweat Air. The BBC still does rides on these roads so they are used to seeing us out there. Paper Mill has sort of become a no man’s land for cyclists. There is supposed to be a cut through the golf course the locals use instead of Paper Mill but I have not looked into it.

It was good seeing and talking with you, Barry. Best wishes for the knee problem.

I haven't gotten much riding in lately at all. If I don't get this turned around soon I am gonna go nuts.

BTW NoRacer, I was almost about to try some Tufo's, but reading about your bad luck lately I am hesitant to try now.

-D

Well, here's some food for thought. I attribute the problem to the valve extender that I need to use with my American Classic wheels, not the tires. I could've continued on if I wouldn't have broken the extender. Also, I ride these same tires day in and day out during my bike commutes to work. I've had less flat problems with them, on the dirty, filthy streets of Baltimore county, then with the Michelin Pro 2s I started with.

Extracted from: http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.pl/schedulea

----
Saturday - June 2

CASUAL – 10 am - 28 miles
START: NCM - North Central Trail at Monkton - Directions: I-695 to Exit 24 I-83 North to Exit 27. Bear Right on Mt. Carmel Rd. Right at traffic light on York Rd. Go one block, then Left on Monkton Rd. Go 3 miles, then park along Mt. Carmel Rd. Meet in the parking lot at Monkton Station. Trail ride to New Freedom for lunch/snack. Restaurant to be chosen by the group.

10/12 MPH - 10 am - 33/27 miles
START: MSM - Marley Station Mall
Ride to the Beach. Come bike along the B & A Trail (and other roads), to a beach on the bay in Sandy Point State Park. Be prepared to go for a swim if the weather turns hot and you really want to cool off on the middle of the ride. See great views of the Bay Bridge. Easy for a 33 mile ride! Enough stops for drinks even if it is a really hot day. Anyone who wants to do the shorter 27 mile version of this ride should meet us at Earleigh Heights Ranger station (along the trail, not ride start EHP) about 20-45 minutes after the ride start.

13/15 MPH - 9 am - 42 miles
START: HFP - Hammonds Ferry Park & Ride
John's Tri-County Loop visits Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties. Mostly rolling on lightly traveled roads with a couple good hills thrown in to make it interesting. Some of this ride is on the BWI trail.

15/17 MPH - 8:30 am – 103 miles
START: TCP - Thurmont Community Park
Civil War Century, all 103 miles of it. Try it for free, without the crowds (or the SAG support, or the plentiful food, or the cheerful volunteers). Rest stops at about 28 miles, 43 miles (early lunch in Boonsboro), and 70 miles.

18 MPH - 9:30 am - 84 miles
START: Rising Sun-Banquet Hall/Firehouse (1 mile outside town-R on the Main street & go 1 mile-On right)
Break the same old, same old ride syndrome! Georges annual $10 dollar ride. He bought a book for $10 of bike rides & the rides were only 20-30 miles each. He pieced 3 rides together. Ride is not too hilly but always seems to be demanding. Rides through the Heinz Estate is kinda neat!

Sunday - June 3
CASUAL - 10am - 15 (approx.) miles
START: MSC - Manor Shopping Center
Join the Instructional Riders for a scenic tour of northern Baltimore County.

10/12 MPH - 8:30 am - 30+/- miles
START: NCW - North Central Trail at Whitehall.
White Hall to Glen Rock for snacks. This is a trail ride.

13/15 MPH - 9:30 am - 42 miles
START: RVS - Riverside Shopping Center – Directions: I-695 to Exit 33, I-95N; then take Exit 80, turn right at end of ramp - 1/2 miles to shopping ctr. on left, park out from supermarket.Ride to Havre de Grace & Susquehanna St. Park (mix of flat, rolling, 2 long climbs) with lunch/snack options.

15/17 MPH - 9:30 am – 49 miles
START: RUN - Runneymede Elem. School
Tour of Thurmont Lite. A classic Carol and Walt Russell ride to Thurmont. Lunch stop at mile 24.

18 MPH - 9:30 am - 69 miles
START: CMP - Carroll Manor Park
Rocks, Slate, River. Phil Manger's scenic ride through Harford County. I've heard that this is wonderful and never had a chance to do it.

TANDEM - 10 am - 35/45 miles
START: MSC - Manor Shopping Center
Ride from Jacksonville. Come early and have breakfast at the Bagelmeister before the ride. Beautiful rolling ride in horse country to Rocks State Park.

That's true. The main interest in those tires for me is their at least theoretical ability to stay on the rim in a flat.

I am not going to buy tubular rims etc for day to day, but out here in CC, it is hilly. Every ride I have several downhills where I am easily getting speeds in the 35-50mph range. Every time I have in the back of my mind what would happen if I had a blowout and my clincher came flying off the rim. Given that the tubular clinchers are supposedly able to stay on even flat it would be a nice extra safety measure.

-D

+1000000

Re: Tufos, if you do get a flat, is it repairable or do you just toss the tire?

Small leaks (< 2mm) can be mitigated with sealant (to a point--you won't be able to run them at high pressures.)

The Tufo C S3 Lite tires I've been running are ok about flats. I think I had better results with the Tufo C S33 tires, but the shape of those tires aren't the best for racing, thus the S3s.

Commuting, I run the tires at 90-100 psi. Racing, I run the front at 150 psi and the rear at 160 psi. If I flat during a race, then the race is over, but that would be the same even if I were running clinchers.

My understanding (and I am only going off what I have read, since I have never used tubulars of any kind) is that they generally are repairable. But it entails getting the outer cover off to expose the inner tube that can then be patched. This process is generally thought of as annoying so people tend to junk them after a bad puncture.

-D

Tufos aren't repairable, at least not the clincher versions. I thought that I read that the "normal" tubs were built in such a way that they aren't repairable either. You'd need to get "real" sew-ups.

Here's how to fix a true sew-up tubular:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/tubular-repair.html

Yeah back when I was racing like 13 years ago I used sew-ups and made many a PITA repair. I've had good luck with my Serfas and flats, but the thought of the tire coming off the wheel at 30+MPH is scary.