Great pix, Barry.

Yes, I'm glad that I missed the "hike" out to the ride and then the 60 miler followed by the ride back to Starbucks. After Saturday, it definitely would have been too much. As it was, I had to catch back up with my hydration, which is why I had cramps to start out with--not keeping up with my fluids Friday and Saturday.

I did do a ride with the DC Rand folks on Sunday--Glen Echo Century. We rode easy all day going thru the following areas: Poolesville, Beallsville, Point of Rocks, Waterford, Clarkes Gap, Leesburg, Ashburn, Herndon, Vienna, Falls Church, then back into DC at Georgetown, returning to Glen Echo.

It was a nice ride. The sun came out for a spell and the wind wasn't too bad--mostly a tailwind on the way back.

Any pics?

No pics for Sunday, but there may be some from Saturday taken by wabeck. I'll check and post the link to them.

EDIT: Here they are:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wabeck/...7603802922131/

I just wanted to take a minute and say how nice people have been in Essex the 2 times I have broke down, first time my rear axle broke @ homberg and eastern, i sat for a few minutes waiting for the wife and a man and his son who just went to 7-11, came over to me and offered to get his truck so i can toss the bike in and take me home, the second time was today, I left at 610, which leaves me extra time in case i get a flat or something, sure enough, while on the back river bridge, I got a flat, I walked to mace ave, flipped the bike upside down and began removing the tube, sure enough my wonderful target schwin pump didn't fit over the scharder valve (WTF, i have a new one now), I had an older gentleman on a walk, stopped and offered to help me out, neither one of us could get the pump to go on. I am just amazed how nice people are.

Thanks for listening.

^^^^^^
That's cool. Just watch out for the MTA bus drivers. Really.

speaking of those intelligent bus drivers (HA HA),after more than once passing a bus on the left due to it being STOPPED and having them pull out while I'm next to them, I had one last week begin to pull out right by the crab shack and the produce place, stop and let me pass, very suprising.

They have become a little more aware of us.

Some of it may have been my correspondance to One Less Car and the MTA regarding an incident where an MTA bus driver went over the solid white line of the road margin to show me who was bigger and badder (road rage). This, after passing me at speed, within about a foot, the bus' turbulance almost throwing me into it's side. I caught up to the bus at the next traffic light and waived an index finger at the bus driver in an attempt to say "watch out". Apparently, this pissed the driver off and that's when the driver aimed the bus at me, crossed the margin line, and this time coming within inches.

Barry (The Human Car) has had run-ins with the MTA as well. He has followed up with complaints.

The best MTA story is when I was riding home from a meeting with the former executive director of One Less Car. We were about a half a block apart and I see an MTA bus driver harass her (comes up behind her at a red light and lays on the horn, inches forward and then more horn, repeats one more time till the light changes, then when passing her the driver uses the bus to push her to the side of the road) and then tries to run me into the curb rather then wait one second to pull into the stop behind me. Two bike advocates in two minutes, that's got to be a record.

I was talking to one of the higher ups of MTA and he was playing the poor bus drivers you don't understand their issues record. And said if we could get you guys to drive a bus just for a few blocks to see all that drivers have to contend with... And I said that's a great idea we'll have cyclists driving buses and bus drivers riding bikes. [Laughter] and then he admitted that we have things to contend with as well.

We still don't have MTA cyclists aware training instituted at MTA so our past actions fade with time. So be on the look out and report any harassment and copy me on that as well. And who knows maybe we will have a bus driver/cyclists switcheroo day. ;)

Hey everyone.

Long time no see. I have been away from the boards for awhile. Probably over a month. I hope everyone is doing well.

Noracer-Good to see you have jumped on the Dinotte wagon. I love them lights. I run dual 200L's up front and a 140 in back. Great setup, and nice and clean mounting (leaves nothing behind when removed). If you don't already have one I would recommend the maha c800s charger. They are awesome.

Hey has anyone here ridden the bike portion of the Savageman Tri? I signed up with some buddies to do it as a relay this year (I'm doing the bike of course). It looks like a fun ride, including the famed Westernport wall.

Route info from last year

Some videos of the wall

If anyone is interested, I have access to a free place to stay at Deep Creek so I plan on going out a few times this spring/summer to spin the course. You are welcome to come join me.

-D

Hey Derath! Welcome back.....

I have "attempted" the W-port wall....once.....but I didn't have the right (cough) tools to get up the hill, though.... :(

...but that was back around 90-91 .... don't know if I could do it now, either haha....maybe later in the summer , when I'm down to a svelte 240-ish....

Me Too!! I been off line for a long time too... Probably since just after the Lancaster ride last fall. I kind of fell off the wagon and lost my mojo!
I'm back in the saddle again and trying to get back where I left off. It really sucks picking up the pieces.
I went and rode 22miles on B&A trail today from Marley Station Mall and back. It felt so good to get back on the bike again.

Cheers

Hey Don! What time did you ride B&A? Me and three other TeamBBC racers were out on it today. We started somewhere around 10:20am from the Dixon Observation Parking Lot at BWI and rode down to Annapolis, stopping at the parking lot across from the academy entrance before heading back.

Hey -D! Yeah... I like the DiNotte for my randonneur rides, but the single 200L is no match for the L&M ARC HID. Two 200L wouldn't be either, since the ARC HID puts out nearly 600L on high. I much prefer it for bike commuting to and from work.

I spoke to an L&M guy Friday and he had me send the system back. He doesn't think that's it's the battery, but instead, an overheated ballast. He said it'll cost me about $75 plus shipping charges--much better than $200 plus shipping.

Anyway, glad to hear from you again. Have you signed up for the new iBike forum. It's here:

http://ibikeforums.com/

It's no longer associated with Topica. Lots of exciting stuff going on.

For your viewing pleasure, the DC Randonnuer's "Boiling Springs Century":

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wabeck/...7603839729492/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/...9429cc42_m.jpg

We rode this, yesterday, Saturday 2/2/2008.

Were you guys (how can I say this?;)) wearing pink jerseys?
If so, You guys passed me going south when I was on my way back to Marley Station. I left around 10:10 from Marley Station Parking Lot heading south. I turned at the end of the paved trail before going down the hill to Rt. 2.

That was us!

I was dressed like this minus the balaclava:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/...6cb9d9.jpg?v=0

Yep - that was you guys - You were making pretty good time if you left BWI ten minutes after I left Marley Station. I got to the end of the trail, stopped for a swig or two of water then turned around. I think I passed you guys just north of Glen Oben. I was riding a yellow/black Giant and wearing blue riding jacket/white helmet.

That looks like one heck of adventure.

Somewhat related, I got my handlebar camera mount Saturday and was out playing with it on Sunday. There is a lot of vibration for taking movies while riding but taking stills is great.

Well, Don, if you ever see a single rider on the trail in that kit, it'll probably be me--say hi.

Yeah... I haven't been using my video camera. I need a better way to mount it, so that the vibration is reduced.

Don- Yea I know how you feel. I have done maybe 4 rides in the last 3 months. 2007 felt mostly like I survived it, rather than lived it. I vow to live 2008!

Noracer- Yea the 200L is no match for a 600L light. I would almost get the Dinotte 600L but I really like the flexibility of AA's and the sheer size and simplicity of the 200L's. 2 of them are sufficient for my commute, but then again mine is 99% rural.

Yes I have been lurking on the new ibike forums. I am there as Derath as well. Just haven't posted anything. Definitely some interesting stuff. There might be an ibike for me in 2008.

Maybe a VRK kit can do double duty for your ibike and video camera :)

-D

[QUOTE=derath;6104243]I would almost get the Dinotte 600L but I really like the flexibility of AA's and the sheer size and simplicity of the 200L's. 2 of them are sufficient for my commute, but then again mine is 99% rural.
[quote]

+1 on the flexibility of the AA batteries.


Huh, I didn't think of that. I wonder if the VRK would work.

Now THAT would be an interesting post over on the ibike forums.


-D

Wow, so many near-misses on the trail! :) I have been sick for the past 10 days with an incredibly painful chest cough. It's slooooooowly been getting better, but yesterday I just couldn't stand the inactivity anymore, and I went out and rode around the BWI Trail twice. I was there around noon, I guess. I started coughing again at the end, but it sure felt nice to get outside on the bike again!

Hey I seen you giys. I was sitting at the picnic table at the begining (mile 0) of the B&A trail. I was going to yell GO BBC but settle for hi instead.

Bill