NoRacer

I really wished that I had picked up a set of race blades for my TCR, especially after the salt trucks went through and the temperature seemed to have risen a little. The slop was shooting up on to my back.

Tires? I'm riding non-sewable tubular clinchers (Tufo clinchers). The past couple of months I've been riding 25s.

barndoor

My favorites!

You coming down to do the tour de carroll on April 26th in Westminster?

NoRacer

I don't know. Racing season will be started by then, so my focus will need to change.

popsicleian

I came REALLY close to wiping out on St Paul on my way home from the train station. Speaking of the station, they do a terrible job of keeping the access roads clear. Even when it's not snowy there's usually lots of ice on them. It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt.

The DC end of my commute wasn't too bad--much worse in Baltimore.

The Human Car

Popsicleian: I don't know if it's my imagination or not but it seems to me the storm water management on east/west streets is not functioning well and the overflow on the north/south streets is causing issues. Once we get another bike ped coordinator we can look into the Pen Station road issue.

NoRacer: Do they make Tufo clinchers in 28s? I'm reluctant to go smaller do to my cargo caring habits but higher pressure has an appeal for me.

Charlie: I ordered the light and it should be here any day now. Thanks again.

NoRacer

Barry--It looks like that Tufo only has them wider than 25mm in a 26" wheel size.

Here's a link you can check out:

https://www.tufonorthamerica.com

I usually order my Tufo tires thru: www.biketiresdirect.com

jamesshuang

Hi everyone,
I figured I'd let everyone in this thread know about my trip as well. This summer, I'll be biking from Baltimore to San Francisco with the Hopkins 4k. I posted a thread about this on the touring forum, so check out https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/380569-hopkins4k-baltimore-san-francisco.html for more info. Help me achieve my fundraising goal! Thanks!

-James

The Human Car

James: Post a Yellow page ad on Baltimore Spokes about this. I am really excited for you!

Charlie: I zip-tied the belt holster for my new light on to my aerobars and did a short trial run tonight. Working good so far. I love the idea of being able to have near halogen light available for 2oz extra and not to mention no worries about killing the battery (which is what I did with my first set of halogens.) Oh and I tried out the glove liners and they work great, thanks again.

I'll mention that I am planing to go out riding in the cold tomorrow. If anyone wants to hook up, let me know before 8:30-8:45 AM. Otherwise I will probably do the BBC ride from HHE.

NoRacer

Looks like that ride got cancelled, Barry.

Very short notice, but you are welcome to join me at 10am, Dixon Observation Parking Lot, Dorsey Rd, for a very easy (hard enough to stay warm, though) ride to Annapolis.

NoRacer

My reply to the BBCTalk listserv:


--- marktabb <marktabb@yah.....> wrote:

> So, if you felt a little guilty for not riding, you
> made the right
> decision. IT WAS ONE SICK DAY .....but please come
> next time....it is
> easier to suffer with others....& drafting doesn't
> hurt either!
>
> I am now having hot coffee & hot soup...IT HURT SO
> GOOD!
>
> Remember- It's a gift!!
> Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
> MT
>
>

Well, my ride to Annapolis seems that much better after reading your report, Mark.

First of all, I got to the Dixon Observation Parking Lot on Dorsey Rd a little later than I had planned (10:30am vs. 10am), so I'm glad that the two other gents from the race team decided to beg off or they would have been waiting on me.

The first set of obstacles to overcome were presented on the southwest portion of the BWI trail--namely ice. Getting past some of it required riding onto the snow covered grass. That section of the BWI trail was worse then the entire B&A trail. There was only one section of the B&A that had ice from edge to edge. That was a portion of the trail that ran parallel to the road for Marley Station Mall.

I had a tailwind to Annapolis and thought that I may have been overdressed, but riding back to BWI against the wind, I was glad about my clothing selection.

The hairiest part of the ride was crossing the Naval Academy Bridge going south. I was buffetted by the wind seemingly from the west and then the east (or was it northwest and southeast?), back and forth. In other words, it would push me towards the guard rail or the other way toward traffic. All I could do was get as low as I could in the drops to make myself more aero to the crosswinds. For some reason, the winds were not nearly as bad heading the opposite direction.

The ride was 37 miles. At different points in the ride, my computer registered 22 degF and the ride averaged 24 degF.

Here's a slide show of my adventure (it's not much, just a few shots here and there):
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...view=slideshow

DirtMO*SHette

to stopping by to say hey, i live here in frederick county

NoRacer

G'day, mate!

The Human Car

First off for more general interest I got some wool socks from Performance called "Blaze" by DeFeet and my toes were toasty, toasty all day long. I like these socks!

I started out sort of dragging my feet as I was not too sure where I wanted to go today but I definitely wanted to get out after being stuck inside yesterday with a bunch of teenagers. I though I would try and meet NoRacer but I would have been a half hour late so I gave up on that. So my first stop was a coffee shop to warm up after my 400' 3 mile decent from leaving my house. There I happened to run into the Director of Planning and we talked a bit about family and bike polo and then we talked a bit about the outer promenade and they are working on fixing that issue. I called a friend of mine who was diagnosed with cancer and he was up to seeing visitors so I ended up there till after 2. I then went to another friends store in Hampden to see how they are doing. I then went downtown to do some shopping and then came home looking like a snowman (beard froze over) and water bottles frozen solid (time to start adding stuff to the water so it doesn't freeze I guess .) Not an amazing ride @ 22miles but fun.

NoRacer

Well, since I was a half hour late, we would have been in sync, but who would've known? I think we need to exchange cell phone numbers some day.

NoRacer

Commuted to work on the bike this morning (since my job doesn't honor MLK Day ) arriving with a frosty reading of 10 degF on the iBike. I was warm enough that I still raised a little bit of perspiration. My toes complained, but only a little. Chemical warmers might solve that, since I'm already wearing wool socks (very good, but cheap from Sam's Club--imho, better than the pair of DeFeet Wool Blaze I got through Performance) and neoprene booties.

greaterbrown

I was planning on riding up to the BBC ride from Butler rd today, but it got cancelled due to frigid temps. Alas. Not to be deterred, I went out on my own at 10am and 16deg.

I'll admit, I'm a cheapskate and I look at overly expensive bike crap like insulated water bottles and just see a total waste of $. Ha ha! Last laugh on me today with both of my bottles freezing up at about 25miles into the ride. I wound up banging them on the toptube and having to unscrew the lid to get the last of the water out.

Managed to get a nice 46 miles in. Toes were cold, but still alive. Glad I brought my neoprene face mask though. Handy on the downhills. I passed 2 riders out on Mantua- one of them circled the side of his head with his mitten and shouted "you're crazy to be out in this cold!" hilarious.

balto charlie

I didn't have to ride yesterday and glad i didn't. I DO have MLK day off. Rode today which seemed balmy compared to yesterdays temps. I think it was 10 degrees warmer today. I guess the term warmer isn't really correct as my toes still got cold. I think tonights commute home is going to be a different story...ICE. I got some Nokia studded tires for Christmas so I hope they work. Talk about some serious rolling resistance.
As for frozen water battles: put some cytomax or similar energy drink powder into your bottles. It has sugar which allows water to stay liquid at freezing temps. I don't know if would have worked on MLK day tho'

NoRacer

Let us know how the studded tires work out for you, charlie.

I didn't ride today. Freezing rain + 25 mm tires = fall off bike

My Cytomax stayed unfrozen after an hour of riding, yesterday (MLK day), at 10 degF.

balto charlie

Ice event was much ado about nothing yesterday. Temps were close to freezing but just missed. Studs on ice report will have to wait. Perhaps Thursday. I was glad the event didn't occur because I rode 2 different bikes yesterday and one was stud-less.
Good to know that cytomax can get down that low!!
Barry: There's a post that is seeking Amtrak info. here's the link
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=1#post6033498
I knew you wanted the info but didn't know where it should be sent.
Charlie

greaterbrown

BBC has this ride for sunday: all pace long - 10:00 am - 60 mi - Barry & Mary Menne 410-795-6571
START: MTV - Mount View Middle School. 60 miles +/-. Variation of the scenic 13-15 Piney Run Picnic ride. Head to Mount Airy and beyond.

Weather forecast sez sunday may be in the 40's so I'm thinking about riding out there from Hampden, thus turning this ride into a century(20+60+20). Timing might be: leave B'more at 8am. BBC 60 from 10-3pm then we should be able to get back before 5:20pm sunset.

Any takers? -GB

foamy

No, you're not alone. Talbot county reporting in. "The Land of Pleasant Living," indeed.

The Human Car

Cycling in Balto, what do you think about it?

Basically the question came up... so I put three new polls on Baltimore Spokes and if I could ask people to take a minute and answer the questions it would be appreciated.

www.baltimorespokes.org
(Poll questions are in the right hand column.)

Thanks so much!

calhoun1

Yesterday was not too bad around 4 in the afternoon. I braved the drizzle and went up the B&A from Annapolis, out to Sandy Point, and back toward downtown Annapolis via St. Margaret's road. The roads were wet and not icy and it felt great to get off the trainer and outside.

Though I did get a fun question when I had hung up all my clothes after the ride:

"You wore all of that at once?" yes, yes i did.

joshandlauri

question to all, is the gray haired older man that i pass all the time on my way home and to work on here. dundalk/essex eastern ave. I wear the blue helmet, bright headlight and yellow jacket???

MountainMan1

Hi,
Just found this forum and thought I'd go ahead and post. I live in Garrett County in Western MD. Been biking for a few years and recently moved out here. I've found some great places to ride and have been mapping them to share with whomever is interested. So far I have trails in southwestern OH and here in Garrett Co., MD. Just rode in Margroff Plantation which is in the Savage River State Forest. Will have the maps up by the end of the weekend. Check out www.TrailQwest.com to see. I'll keep posting new maps as I can ride them or ski them as we have a good bit of snow out here now.