Biking, Beer and Toast

Successes and Failures on the Susquehanna 300K

2011-06-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

I left my house at 5AM yesterday with no idea what might come of the day. More than half of this route, I knew only from views on google. Lines on a screen don't tell you much more than when and where to turn. That is one of the best things about a challenge like this one: the unknown adventure. I met Isaias at Perring pkwy and Satyr Hill rd. and 10 minutes later we were grinding up Manor rd- a long climb that proved to be just one of many.

The weather was good for riding. Cool for this time of year and cloudy. We cleared the PA border and as we neared the first rest, we caught a wave from Carl driving past. He'd decided to drive up to meet us and ride 100 miles of our route. It was great to have more company.

North into PA we rolled through Stewartstown. At Red Lion we moved easterly to the waters edge and the beautiful, if hazy, views of the river. A long hard climb on Long Level rd. led us up to Wrightsville. This stretch was not excessively steep- just long. However, I felt a lingering fatigue in my legs after getting up to the flat sections after the climb. Not a good sign especially when I am only at mile 60. But hey, the day is still young. We crossed over the Susquehanna to Columbia on the wide shouldered Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The exploration of new physical spaces while on my bicycle is wonderfully satisfying. Underneath the Wrightsville bridge, the Susquehanna river, strewn with huge glacial rocks, is surging with springtime rains and partially covered by blobs of cloudy haze. Columbia, PA is a handsome old town that showed off block after block of 19th century rowhouses. We cross through to the north and head up Kinderhook rd., another beast of a hill, steep and long.

I pretty successfully scaled this one, but I could tell that it was tearing up my increasingly precious leg strength. By the time we reached the rolling farm country north of Lancaster I began slowing down. The snacks I ate in Mt. Joy didn't help me. In fact, it seemed like I was just storing food and water in my stomach and it wasn't going any further down- just sitting and bloating. The terrain got flatter, but I didn't speed up. At this point, Carl and I discussed the option of shortcutting my day by getting a ride back to Baltimore in his truck. That seemed like a smart idea but I'd have to decide after lunch.

The clouds were beginning to break and the air was heating up as we pulled in to Strasburg and the halfway point. We had a nice break and a nice lunch. Strasburg is a train enthusiasts dream. There were antique trains and small scale trains rolling on different tracks as well as a train museum. After lunch we cruised through the rest of the town and then started heading south. Nicely, this rolling terrain was mostly downhill and gave us wonderful views of Amish Farms, buggies on the move, fields of draft horses, mules and chickens. Carl brought my attention to the bike/scooters the kids must ride- large wheeled like a bike, but with no pedal or chain and a small platform between the wheels to prop your cruising foot. Nice design, but I couldn't do this ride on one. My lunch had been minimal and tasty and I could feel that I had gotten fluids into me. But inexorably I began to slow down again. This was very frustrating. Carl stayed back with me and we watched as the sky darkened and thunder rattled overhead. We regrouped with Isaias at a convenience store. Another group of cyclists there warned us of severe weather and tornado warning for the area. After a brief break we rolled on hoping not to be sucked up into the sky.

At the right turn onto River rd. the plops of rain began to fall. Then tiny mushy hail, then deluge. A driver stopped and rolled down his window to tell us about the tornado warning. We thanked him and rolled on through the cooling, but slightly worrisome storm. I felt the grime and slime of the last 100 miles getting scrubbed off me. Once every bit of me was soaked, I began feeling cooler and happier and almost... stronger. The road was a mass of spray and water was streaming off the brim of my cap. I could see Isaias's red Dinotte light up ahead and could just make out Carl in my rear view mirror behind me. The long descent down Holtwood to the Susquehanna was thrilling. The river was gray and the surface of the water was fuzzy with rainsplatter. I was rejuvenated and entertained thoughts of reversing my decision to shortcut with Carl. I would wait to see how my legs did on the big climbs out of the valley and up to Delta, PA

Isaias and I climbed at first together, then he slowly pulled ahead. The rain was letting up and the stream beside the road was surging with runoff. After a couple miles of climbing Carl and I reached Whiteford rd. I needed to make a final decision. The storm hadn't made my legs any stronger, but it made me want to continue riding. I did the math- 55 miles more, with 4 hours of sunlight left. How bad could the remainder be? I didn't know. I decided to continue on the original route. Isaias and I said goodbye to Carl and off he went to finish up his Susquehanna Paradise short version.

I got a little coffee at the next rest stop and Isaias switched his Garmin gps to begin a new file for the end of the ride. The Garmin didn't like that idea and locked up. After several minutes of trying to reset it, we rode off without a functioning Garmin. There had been several points during the day that I was thankful to have Isaias's gps working for us, but now we had to go back to the soggy cuesheets. We stuck together over the next miles, me slowing down on hills, but trying to conserve energy and ride efficiently.

South of Churchville we hit a very nice long stretch on Carsins Run rd. A moment after turning onto Nova Scotia rd we hit dirt road, very rutted, but luckily downhill. It was actually pretty scenic with a small river beside us, but the bounciness was making my fragile stomach feel uneasy. We popped out near a Dunkin Donuts. We were both hungry, but I convinced Isaias to wait for for Mc Donalds in Bel Air. The very next turn brought us to another long bouncy dirt rd. and this one was hillier. My legs just couldn't take the abuse and for the first time I got off the bike and walked up a steep section. At the top we turned onto pavement for no more than a quarter mile and then back to dirt. Unfortunately for me, this stretch was even hillier and bumpier. It knocked the last bit of resolve out of me. I walked up another hill and by the time we came out on Emmorten rd in Bel Air I was toast.

At the McDonalds I could barely eat a bite. Both of us got the shivers in the air conditioning, except that my shivering kept up even after going back outside. I looked at my watch- 8:15PM. Not gonna happen. I told Isaias I wouldn't go any further. He looked disappointed. I felt guilty. I used his phone to call my sis to come pick me up. She'd just sat down for dinner, but she'd come. I felt more guilty. Isaias re-routed for a quicker path home, we bid each other well and off he went into the sunset (literally). Very slowly, my shivering let up and I managed to eat, but it took almost an hour. My ride picked me up and I was rescued from a McDonalds by an automobile. I felt even more guilty.

It didn't turn out well, but this day was a long one. The majority of the ride was lovely and the camaraderie was great. In the light of a new day I can second guess my two big decisions- (1)continuing to ride after Carl's kind offer of taking me home and (2)deciding to call it quits in Bel Air, only 28 miles from a finish. I still believe these were the right decisions. During the last 4 hours of riding I covered beautiful stretches I had never been on, I confirmed that some of these stretches were not right for this route and I pushed myself to just keep trying while I still wanted to. Then, in Bel Air I might have considered re-routing back to Baltimore with my lights ablaze all the way down Harford rd, but I would be attempting this in total darkness on a fairly trafficky road while feeling very physically unstable. That would've been too dangerous.

The route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/463363
Miles ridden: 160, not-ridden: 30. My camera died, probably in the rain, so no pics.
Lesson learned: I need more practice.

Huge thanks to Carl and Isaias for the company and kindness.

Bicycles on the new "boob" tube

2011-01-03T20:11:00.000-08:00

I'd much rather be riding than losing the day stringing together youtube videos.
However, I'm only human...

A super catchy french music film from the 60's. Check out those Peugeot jerseys. ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fir6neas6I8

One of my favorite movies just happens to co-star a bicycle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rzg3esJaaU

I sure love my SPD pedals:
http://vimeo.com/1965120?pg=embed&sec=1965120

A guilty pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1wnOUH2jk8&feature=player_embedded

An hour and 32 minutes of beauty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4IDCkcnnHg

My Response to the Chief

2010-05-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

Chief Johnson,

Firstly, let me thank you for taking time to respond to my letter. You
have solidified my respect for you and your position. Also, I'm very
glad that as a fellow cyclist you've got my sympathies at heart.

I cannot disagree with any of the details you've thoughtfully
described in your response. I am glad that BC Police are withholding
blame until this crash is fully investigated. I apologize for basing
my criticisms on preliminary media information.

I can't help but wonder how this tragic crash plays out in the context
of the recent campaign to help prevent future bike/ped deaths by
educating those most vulnerable- the bicyclists and pedestrians. I do
acknowledge that they may indeed be at fault sometimes, but to focus
on increasing the lawfulness of those most at risk seems like we're
ignoring the far more critical problem- the drivers' responsibility.

I don't know about you, but when the BC Police ask me to ride my
bicycle more lawfully it really doesn't make me feel more protected
from injury and death.

When you or I or any other well-intentioned driver injures a cyclist
we carry responsibility regardless of fault. "I didn't see them" or "I
couldn't stop in time" is not a valid excuse. When I ride on multi-use
paths I carry the responsibility of not injuring pedestrians whether
they are walking lawfully or not. Why? Because I am the more dangerous
vehicle. And, what if they are walking erratically or are partly
obscured by the terrain? I must slow down, give the widest berth
possible and become extra vigilant. It is my responsibility to do so
merely because the pedestrian is more vulnerable. Obvious to me, is
that those operating 4,000 pound vehicles moving at 2-3 times bicycle
speeds have the same responsibilities to bicyclists and pedestrians.
Indeed, they have a greater responsibility because the risk of deadly
injury is so much greater. It's a common rule of respect- protect the
vulnerable. Why are we not harshly reminding drivers of this at every
possible occasion? There is no surprise here- bicyclists and
pedestrians are on our roads and they are us.

When you and I and the BC Police have done everything in our power to
remind drivers of this, then and only then can we remind
pedestrians how to walk safely.

Safe riding. -Bob Wagner

- Show quoted text -

A response from Chief James Johnson

2010-05-13T12:42:00.000-07:00

Bob Wagner

bobwag (at) gmail.com

Dear Mr. Wagner:

I have reviewed your comments and concerns regarding the recent WJZ report on pedestrian and bicycle accidents being on the rise in Baltimore County. Specifically, I am responding to your concerns that the police reported that the truck driver may not be at fault and that the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, was riding in the middle of the car lane, and that the truck driver had a blind spot when he came over a hill. I am unaware of any police report on this crash stating that the bicyclist was at fault because of the aforementioned reasons. Given that the WJZ report is dated May 6^th, two days after the crash occurred, any information learned or obtained at that point in the investigation would be preliminary observations with no conclusion as to fault. Please understand, how preliminary information is reported by the media or how it is construed by the public is beyond the control of the Police Department.

The police report of public record for this crash indicates, by numeric code, that the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. There is no statement of fault attached to this observation. The report indicates that the bicyclist was traveling north in lane #2 (the center lane) of three northbound lanes (2 northbound lanes and 1 transitional lane for exiting and entering Interstate 695). There is no statement of fault attributed to this finding. The report includes a statement from a witness that heard the truck driver state that the bicyclist must have come up on his blind side. Again, the cyclist was not indicated as being at fault because of this finding. In fact, the police investigative report concludes the truck driver, not the bicyclist, to be at fault for the crash.

As a fellow avid cyclist, having participated in five Cycle Across Maryland (CAM) Tours and numerous Century Rides, I share your concerns about cycling safety and the need for motorists to respect the rights of cyclists. I ensure you of my continuing commitment to traffic safety in Baltimore County for cyclists, as well as pedestrians and motorists. In support of this commitment, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith and I recently announced an initiative to reduce traffic crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists in Baltimore County. This initiative will include three important components: Education, Enforcement and Engineering. The Police Department plans to contribute significantly to the Education and Enforcement components. I regard with interest the current effort of the Maryland State Police to develop curriculum for police officers on Maryland traffic laws relating to cyclists. I would be receptive of exposing our officers to this training.

Thank you for voicing your concerns.

Sincerely,

James W. Johnson

Chief of Police

Chief James W. Johnson
Office of the Chief
Baltimore County Police Department
700 East Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland 21286-5501
410-887-2200, Fax: 410-887-4958
E-mail: jwjohnson (at) baltimorecountymd.gov

A Little Advocacy

2010-05-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Baltimore County Police and County Executive,

I recently read the following article:
"Pedestrian accidents, especially fatal ones, are way up in Baltimore County" http://wjz.com/local/pedestrian.accidents.2.1679674.html
If correctly reported, this article highlights how poorly the Baltimore County Police understand MD law as it relates to bicyclists and pedestrians.
We should all know that everyone over the age of 16 is not required to wear a helmet when either bicycling or walking on MD roads. (thank goodness) Also, the state law allowing bicyclists and all other vehicles access to the full lane has been clearly stated for decades.
8 dead so far this year and the voice from BC Police is to blame the vulnerable for these incidents? What a sad way to treat our Marylanders. There must be a more sensitive and constructive way of approaching this, don't you think? The only thing that scares me more than being hit from behind by a well-meaning, but inattentive driver, is imagining Chief James Johnson explaining fault to my wife.
-Bob Wagner, a Marylander, a Baltimore citizen and a long-time bicycle commuter.

"Are you trying to torture us? "

2010-02-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted the above picture of me taken during a solo bike ride from Key West, FL to Marathon, FL. Fellow randonneur, Maile Neel promptly responded to the post with the quote above. It was a reasonable thing to ask. The mid-atlantic had just received its second >2ft. snowfall in the last ten days. I knew it. I was "stranded" in the Keys because of the first snow and barely made it back before the second. Terrible, just terrible. ;-)

Glad to be back. (sort of) Key West was great for eating, lounging, snorkling and eating key lime pie- all activities I'm fond of, however, there aren't many options for long distance riding. There is a bit of a circle around the southeastern portion of the key(maybe 5 miles), but Route 1 North is really the only option for non-circular distance. Today's goal was to get over Seven Mile Bridge into Marathon .

Eaton Bikes was the only place in town that had decent road bikes for rent. They were kind and efficient setting me up with a Kona Jake- an aluminum frame cyclocross bike. It has 10-sp cog and a triple in front. I don't know what other riders do with all those gears. I would've been fine with a single speed. I left before sunrise from our rental along the historic seaport. Not the safest thing to do since I didn't have lights. I did wear my reflective jacket which, I'm guessing, helped keep some cars from hitting me. There is only one road off the island- Rt. 1 and I missed it. I began seeing the waterfront along the southside of the island and realized I had already gone past the only turn I needed to make. U-Turn.

Once on the Rt.1 bridge I was heading ENE to Boca Chica and directly into 25-40 mph headwinds. I knew it was going to be a wind fight for the next 40 miles and I needed to be back in Key West by 12:30 for brunch. (tough life, eh?) Off to the east the waters began to lighten with emerging sun. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to get a proper sunrise. As soon as the sun was above the horizon though, the temperature began rising. By mid-morning it was up to high 70's and I was gulping down water like it was August in Baltimore.

Route 1 was scenic for me, but loaded with traffic traveling anywhere from 30-60mph. The route is part of the Eastcoast Greenway with plans to have a ped/bike path along the entire stretch. They're a long way off from that though. I took the trail once and it lasted not much longer than 1/2 mile before I was unceremoniously dumped back onto the main road. So, I rode the remaining miles on the shoulder which was mostly clear and smooth and only occasionally narrow, glassy and/or rutted. I lost count of how many bridges I went over. The route is just a series of frog hops over channels. Each bridge gives you a reason to get out of the saddle and rewards you with great views of the complex waterways as well as easy views of sponges and sea critters through the clear, shallow water. Good stuff.

I felt a bit uncomfortable getting on the Kona for this ride. Riding a bicycle for more than a few hours creates a relationship between rider and bicycle. A strong relationship is built on familiarity and a variety of trusts. Kona and I had none of that and I was hoping we would at least be civil and respecting of one another. We were not a perfect match. The frame was a bit small for me. I felt cramped in the top tube and was constantly repositioning my hands to take the weight off the bars as I couldn't find a comfortable balance point. As a part of the initial fitting, I'd raised the seatpost twice, but should've put it up another couple cm. So, I felt like I wasn't able to put in a proper power stroke. I was determined to be pleasant with the Kona and I was. Oh yeah, another thing- there was a slight leak in the rear tube which became rather sloggy by the end of my ride. Okay that was all. Kona was a pleasant rental, but we were not destined for one another.

I was nearing the southern base of the Seven Mile Bridge around 9:30 and realized that even with a quicker return ride I was not going to make it all the way up to Marathon and then back to Key West by 12:30. Although the bridge is a bit less distance than its namesake, it would be completely un-sheltered from wind and I'd be slow getting over it. I decided to accept my backup goal which was to ride out on the abandoned Flagler bridge from Little Duck Key. The bridge, an abandoned section of the old Overseas Highway, runs parallel to the new Seven Mile Bridge. It is missing several pieces in the middle because of storms and a movie stunt explosion, but long sections of it are still accessible from Marathon to the north and Little Duck Key to the south. I rode out for nearly a mile on it, passing fisherman and sight seers to the concrete barrier at the end of the section. It's kinda creepy looking over to the other inaccessible portion of the bridge. Then it was time to head back.

Traffic was getting heavier, but the tailwind made it a much faster trip. I chatted briefly with some Aussie road bikers in Little Pine key and finally made it back to Key West before my rear tire got too soft. I stopped to return the bike at Eaton bikes. They were shocked and amazed that I had ridden that distance and I soaked up the attention.

Two days later I rented a cruiser bike. Key West has perhaps, more humans on bicycles than anywhere I've visited except Amsterdam and 90% of the bikes are cheap cruisers. In Baltimore, I live in a world where owners tout their own individual choices in bicycles and bicycle parts. What you ride becomes an expression of your personality. Custom steel, Carbon, Ti? High performance, long distance, commuter. We define ourselves and are defined by our bikes. No so in Key West. A bike is just a "red bike" or a bike with big handlebars or "the one with the milk crate". Strange and wonderful. After riding a red cruiser with a yellow milk crate for a full day, it made me appreciate the Kona. In spite of our differences, I went back to Eaton bikes to rent the Kona again. The shop was closed. Like an excitable kid, I cupped my hands at the front window looking to see if I could see it hanging up inside. I wondered whether it might be taking someone else up to Marathon Key.

More pics from my trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27976837@N00/sets/72157623279683853/

Ruining my Rando Rep. or "Round the Big Bean"

2010-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

Lake Montebello

Today I did a very strange thing: I rode around Lake Montebello more than 20 times.

I was hoping to meet a friend to ride our fixed gear bikes, but he couldn't make it. So, on a whim I set out to see how many laps I could do without getting bored and annoyed. I was surprised.

The first thing I realized is that it's difficult to keep track of how many laps you've ridden when you don't have a cyclo computer. So I devised an artificial memory system using a binder clip. I'd flip up one "arm" of the clip for the first lap and the second arm for the second lap. Then the first arm down for 3 and the second for 4 laps. Then I'd move my Dinotte light cable from the right side of my stem to the left to designate 5 and begin again with the binder clip. Perfect.

I was the only rider there at around 3PM. My half hour watch alarm went off as I was nearing my 8th lap. I was enjoying seeing the recurrent faces in the oncoming ped lane. There was a woman dressed entirely in black Lycra including a sinister black balaclava. She was running at what seemed like an impossibly fast pace and she kept it up the whole time I was out there. Running is hard and she was amazing to watch. A kind-faced Asian man smiled and nodded hello to me each and every time I passed. Geese were making silly noises announcing their arrivals and departures and the striated ice on the lake made a blurry reflection of the sky. Then a few other bikie types showed up and I got distracted.

I started measuring my speed against theirs. I'd glance across the park and note their position every time I passed a particular light post. I was closing in. I began trying to predict how many more laps it would take me to over take them. This is probably common mind games for the usual suspects riding Montebello, but I was a newb and excited. I imagined myself as fast as a Janet Goldstein and as focused as a "teacher" Bob. When I'd get to the only headwindy part of the loop I'd rise up and accelerate into it. I finally pushed a few more yards and I was in their draft. Strange. They weren't trying to pull ahead of me at all. They looked like they were just enjoying their ride.

I chatted for a bit. Nice guys. Then I pulled ahead hoping to warm up my toes a bit. I was just finishing up a lap when it hit me that I'd completely forgotten about my binder clip memory tool. Hmm... How many laps then? I was guessing at a number. The asian man was gone and I hadn't noticed when. The runner was chatting with a friend and cooling down. The kids poured out of Montebello elementary. It must have been around 20 laps. I reasoned that I ought to ride one more lap to be sure. I rode two instead and then headed back to Hampden stopping at the donut shop on the way home. A good ride.

The Odds

2009-11-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

I appreciated a blog post earlier this year by Coho bicycle builder, Charles Lathe concerning riding bicycles and desensitization. His brief story was to explain that he wasn't directly interested in riding in harsh weather other than the fact that it desensitized him to riding in more of the same. If you never ride in cold rain, you'll hate it big time when you do.

Last night on my way home from work I got a flat tire. The tire was a kevlar belted Ruffy Tuffy, a tire I've only flatted once in several thousand miles. I decided to just shoulder the bike and walk home. It wasn't until this morning that I inspected the tire and tube for the culprit. The rubber had de-laminated at the base of the valve stem. There was no apparent reason for why this had happened. There was no distress in that area.

This flat was my tenth in a little over a month. I don't know what the odds are for something like that, but they must be low. It seems like I'd sooner flip ten heads in a row with a penny than get ten flats in one month. I realize that getting or not getting flats on a bicycle tire is not as controlled an experiment as flipping coins, but I have to believe that the chances I'll get another flat in the next 24 hours are extremely low.

I hope.

Here's the tale of the tape:
October 14th on the Coho I get a flat in Mt. Washington in light rain. Fix on the road. I get home and as I'm lifting the bike up on to its hook I hear a hiss from the front tire- a puncture from a small piece of wire.
October 18th during a group ride also in the rain I flat the rear tire of the Kogswell. I find the sliver of glass and patch it. Less than 5 miles later another flat in the same tire-a sliver of glass in a different place.
October 26th pre-riding the On Again/Off Again century ride I flat the Coho's rear on Glatfelters rd.
November 6th I get an immediate hiss from the rear tire of the Coho after (foolishly) riding down the glass-strewn alley behind my house. In the morning the front is also flat. Both from glass.
November 8th during the On Again/Off Again group ride the Kogswell's rear tire's bead pops out of the rim, abruptly (and loudly) exploding the tube. A replacement holds fine for many more miles until while homeward bound, a flake of glass flats the same tire.
November 18th while rounding a corner the front tube on the Miyata fixed gear mysteriously delaminates.

The Kogswell's rear tube after blowout

I have spent a lot of time trying to find patterns and reasons for this unlikely string of flats. Riding in the rain is more likely to cause a flat tire. I should not ride in my back alley. Grand Bois tires, while they are fast and pliable, are much too soft for city commuting. However, none of this thinking is likely to change the likelihood of me getting another flat on my way home tonight. At least the ten I've already had have helped to desensitize me when it does happen.

The Final 14

2009-11-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

Riders at the start of the BBC's On Again/Off Again

I left the dark parking lot of Oregon Ridge Park having said thank you and goodbye to Andy and Rita. We had just finished the On Again/Off Again century. The sun was down and we were feeling good, hungry and ready for rest. I had suggested dinner together and we considered it. They asked if I was riding the rest of the way home and I said, "no, I'm pretty beat, I'll use the light rail". We wound up not going to dinner. It would've been nice, but it just didn't seem like the right night. Another time maybe. And, then for some reason I turned right on Ivy Hill rd instead of going straight to the light rail station on Beaver Dam.

I've mentioned here before that I find I get introspective towards the end of long rides. I can't tell you why, but the mind set is always a positive one. Usually I'm feeling appreciative of the physical world around me and if there are other riders in sight, I often admire their physical stamina and riding style. I think about the amazing magic of a modern bicycle- all those smartly placed levers, pulleys and cables easing and exerting forces on one another and the energy in and out of that system. I see my body as an equally magical secondary system interacting with the first- pressing and yielding to produce nothing more than to get back to where I started.

Ivy Hill rd is an above average climb- sharp, but short. It was, however, enough of a effort to give me the feeling I was transitioning into something new. I had thought I was just "finishing the first ride" or just "heading home", but that hill, the dark sky and the fresh air in my chest all combined to give me the feeling of a new ride begun. And, so I stopped.

Under a rare street light, I prepared for my new ride. The shirt I'd worn for the last 118 miles came off and was replaced by the shirt I'd stripped off earlier in the day. The fleece vest went back on and I felt warmth on my chest. I fished my helmet headlamp out of the bag, attached it and clicked it on. The light beam seemed strong and I pointed it straight down Jerome Jay rd. Several points of light blinked, then moved off to the left quickly. Deer. Warmer gloves went on. I checked my water bottles- both of them nearly empty. Grabbing one, I tipped my head back to squeeze the last bit of strawberry-flavored drink into my mouth and I noticed the amazing texture of stars across the sky. New ride.

From Ivy Hill, Jerome Jay rd has a gentle slope down towards a bridge over a creek. At the bridge there is a short section- wooded on both sides, that gives the eastbound rider a brief feeling of seclusion. The westbound rider wouldn't even notice it because they are most likely screaming down the last of the Jerome Jay hill. This is the hill I begin to climb. I downshift conservatively, staying seated and press hard to see what my muscles would like to contribute to the climb tonight. They seem compliant and I begin a smooth passage forward and up. I swing around the the first of several unnatural bends in the road and I'm into the meat of the hill. For at least one full mile there are no flat spots. My heart rate is going up, but I'm relaxed and managing to enjoy the few remaining slices of woods left in the neighborhood.

I think of Steve Zeldin's short BBC ride several years ago when, as a novice group rider, I cramped both hamstrings trying to shove myself up Jerome Jay. At the time, I acted the martyr and told Steve to not wait on me. He didn't take my advice, instead rolling back down the hill to my position and giving me words of encouragement. I stretched my muscles for a minute, tenderly got back on the bike and began again. Up. I watched the little logos on the back of Steve's bike shoes go up and down, forward and backward ahead of me. His seeming lack of effort while riding up that hill didn't help me, but the bobbing logos distracted me long enough to get to the flatter sections further up.

At some point Jerome Jay rd. becomes Michaelsford rd. I've never known when it does, but the rise begins to ease. The climb doesn't actually crest for another half mile though. Even so, I can feel my HR recovering and I'm still feeling relaxed. I wonder what encouragement I might've given had I been riding with my earlier hamstring-cramped self. Would I have rolled back down the hill to help? Or, would I have seen in myself signs of perseverance and self-reliance and, figuring I'd find the energy to get home, just ridden on, slipping into the dark like a deer? I don't know.

The Jerome Jay hill is behind me as I roll toward Padonia rd, brighter lights and the sounds of heavy traffic. This was by no means the steepest or longest hill I climbed today. Today's century ride was a hilly one- 8,000-9,000ft of ascent. Somehow though, my ride up Jerome Jay, alone, in the dark and after a satisfying 100+ miles was the most meaningful. It was filled with appreciation.

Padonia, leads me to my very last turn- a left onto Falls rd, the road I live on. However, there are still several more miles left to this second ride of the day. The long fast descent past St. Paul's School, the bridge over the traffic choked Baltimore beltway, Joe's bike shop and Mt. Washington, through the Falls/Northern Pkwy intersection (one of the deadliest in the city), past the beautiful homes of Roland Park, the road surface gets ever worse and the houses closer together. I roll into Baltimore city and Hampden. There's a sub shop on the corner where I order my dinner. The line cook gets the order wrong, but the woman at the counter scolds him and makes him remake it for me. I appreciate that.

Pictures from the BBC ride On Again/Off Again:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27976837@N00/sets/72157622812206970/

the "S" word

2009-10-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Snow?! Yikes.

To be an effective ride leader you need to want your ride to happen more than anyone else does. So, even though it's unlikely to find anyone wanting to ride a hundred miles in 35 degree temps, 25 mph winds and rain with the possibility of snow, there still could be one or two who might want to show up at the start to see what the day brings.

Thus, I set out at 7AM last sunday to the start of the Point to Point ride to see what the day would bring. I figured I might spend some time shivering at the front gate of Fort McHenry, and then after no one showed up, I'd have a brisk ride back to bed. However, the first person to end that silly notion was Isaias swinging around the corner of Lombard and Light sts. With his L&M 600 front light ablaze, he pulled up next to me. "Chuck and Crista called- they're on their way" Nice. Then, as the two of us head down Fort ave we see more crazies- Mike and Ben, both regular DC Randonneur riders. Hopefully the weather won't be quite as bad as they say because this is definitely a ride.

Isaias, Michael, Ben, Chuck and Crista

Fort McHenry (Locust Point) is disappointing as a vista due to the construction going on to stabilize the berm around it, so we all leave directly from the gate. North and west into the wind and the wet.

The beginning of this ride is rough. Both because there are many quick turns through Baltimore and because the road surfaces go from intentionally rugged (cobblestones) to unintentionally ragged (cracks and potholes). I am worried that our visitors from DC Rand won't appreciate the worth of going through this urban slalom or that the numerous out-and-back sections will get tedious. We curve around Baltimore harbor and out to the end of Broadway pier in Fell's Point, continue along the water passing Lazaretto Point in Canton where we can clearly spy Fort McHenry across the water.

Continuing on, we roll through Dundalk, a very handsome blue collar town, down Peninsula hwy towards Sparrows Point. I love rides where while riding in a flat valley section you can see the mountains looming up ahead, dwarfing the landscape around them. Riding down Peninsula hwy. you can appreciate the visual parallel as the mountainous Bethlehem Steel facilities tower above the landscape. Bethlehem Steel encompasses an area almost as large as Baltimore City. At mid-century it was the largest steel mill in the world, serviced by three railroads and employing tens of thousands. The plant rises high above the Patapsco and is surrounded by a matrix of steam pipes, power lines and railroad cars. Riverside dr. and Tinmill rd takes us through the train yards bisecting the property and inbetween the lower warehouses and the behemoth steel processing plant. Riding through this area on a bicycle is still very exciting to me.

Sparrows Point

Next we head over to North Point and Fort Howard. I like the view from the water's edge at the old VA hospital. The US Gov't is very unclear about the visiting privileges for this property. We arrived during open hours, but the gate was closed. Everyone felt comfortable about going in so we rolled through the stone gate to the somewhat cloud obscured views across the water. Bethlehem Steel, the Key Bridge and Fort Smallwood park are all visable. On clear days you can see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Kent Island from this point. On the opposite side of this same peninsula we take our first of three views of Hart Miller Island from Cuckold Point.

We'd been feeling wind from the side mostly up to this part, but now we headed NNW facing the headwinds. The rain was beginning to fade to almost nothing and the streets started showing dry spots. Hmm... where's that snow now? At a coffee stop I notice my tire has a slow leak. I find the glassy culprit and replace the tube and the group heads up to Eastern ave again and over the Back river bridge. Before I can get to the next point (Cox), the tire is going flat again. Argh. I tell the group to meet me up ahead and fix flat #2 finding another sliver of glass.

Rocky Point

From Cox point we roll down to the incredible 270 degree views from the tip of Rocky point and then over to our lunch stop- the Island View Cafe. As we step up onto the porch, fellow BBC rider Bud Lippert pokes his head out the window of the restaurant and mentions something about good timing. Unbeknownst to us, he had adjusted his ride's route to attempt an intersection with our ride. His ride was the only other BBC ride hopeful enough about the weather not to cancel. Way to go Bud!

Filled up on Oyster stew and MD Crab soup, we headed back to Eastern ave, the backbone of the route. Mike decided to take the metric century option so we waved goodbye to him as he peeled off to the southwest. We had four more points to see.

Wilson Point

Nestled in a small community next to Martin State airport is Wilson Point with a very nice newly-constructed boardwalk and rec area along the lower branch of Middle river. Up to Eastern ave again, past the famous Bengies Drive-In (I didn't get to a single show there this year), down Bowley's Quarters rd. to Briar Point and Miami Beach Park. No bathing beauties to be seen at this time of year, but the stop offers a good opportunity to shed some riding clothes. The day is getting warmer!

Next up is Marshy Point with an intriguing looking nature center that I'd like to go back to check out as well as a great view from the end of the pier. We rode our bikes out on it and I have to admit I gave my brakes a quick test before getting near the end. Chuck looked down to the thick mat of weeds in the water and remarked that if you did go off the edge you surely wouldn't sink too deep. True, but you'd be in need of a very long hot shower.

We reach our final vista of the day near Chase, MD in the Gunpowder State Park. A view of Dundee Creek from the fishing area in the park. I could not find the name of that point though. Dundee Point?

The roll back towards Baltimore is made not so bad by a slight tail wind. And, the late afternoon sky is showing a bit of sun tearing through the clouds as we wind our way back. I often get a little introspective nearing the end of long rides and this was no exception. I watched Isaias and Ben up ahead of me acting like teenagers- sprinting one ahead of the other. In my rearview mirror I could see Chuck and Crista's tandem, the mother-ship, cruising smooth and steady behind me. Baltimore is noisy and harsh, but it still gives a warm and honest welcome to bike riders coming back into town. To continue the good vibe we all decide to meet up at John Stevens in Fell's Point for some tasty beer and grub.
"S---" yeah!

More pics here: point to point ride

"Rando" Bob goes legit

2009-09-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

9 hours 13 minutes

A rare Saturday off of work gave me the opportunity to ride my first official brevet- The Civil War Tour, a 200k hosted by the DC Randonneurs. My usual long distance riding buddy gave me a raft of minor reasons why he couldn't make it. I don't know him all that well, but I do know him to ignore all manner of practical responsibilities, sleep requirements, aches, pains and social obligations in order to dash off to ride his bike. Clearly there was some other reason for his not wanting to ride this one. I suspect I know what it is.

Brevet means 'certificate' and refers to the card carried by randonneurs which gets stamped at controls; it is also used to refer to the event itself, ie: a certificated ride. (wikipedia)

I arrive a bit after 6AM. I register, paying my $10. I fill out my name and address on the brevet card and step to the left to allow the next registeree to squeeze in. The Regional Brevet Administrator (RBA) reminds me that I need to sign the card. Oops. I sign the card and step to the side again. “Bob!” I step over to the table again. “You need to take your card with you.” Oh yeah, I guess I will need that.

7AM in the Pizza Hut parking lot

Obviously I am a bit sleepy, but I’m also a beginner and I’m beginning to realize that today’s ride will be more than just riding my bicycle out in the country with all those assembled in this parking lot. There are rules to follow. Paperwork. And if I don’t do it correctly, I don’t get credit.

7AM and we’re off- 38 riders and 38 brevet cards into a beautiful morning. It’s kinda chilly and I’m glad I brought my wind-blocking vest. I was thinking that I’d be putting it back into my bar bag after an hour, but I never did take it off. The air stayed brisk for most of the day. I get up to cruising speed on the Coho, but immediately have to slow down for something going on further up in the group. Riders are pulling off to the side of the road at a small civil war memorial. This is just one memorial in an area of hundreds, maybe thousands. I’m thinking “sheesh, this is going to be a long day if all of us are stopping to read each memorial” Then I notice that everyone is getting out their brevet cards. I glance at the cue sheet. This is an "informational control”. We must answer the question related to this memorial and write it down on the brevet card as proof that we’ve passed this point. This seems dumb I think at first- a control that is a 1/4 mile from the start. I write the answer down and ride off. Then I realize that if the first control had been 10 miles down the road when riders are separated by longer distances, I probably would not have even noticed the control and blown right past it. I wouldn’t have gotten the answer to the question and I wouldn’t have gotten credit for the brevet- even though I might have actually ridden it. Then another mile down the road it starts to occur to me what a great idea that was to put the first control within a 1/4 mile of the start. It’s an early reminder that we’re not just on a bike ride. We’re riding a brevet. I also realize that the organizer must have a good sense of humor. Nice.

Now we’re moving. The sun is up. The group is breaking into packets of 3-5 riders. There’s a little drafting and chatting and the bike geeks are eying up each others machines. The landscape is punctuated with silver historical signage and sharp-edged marble markers to the dead. Lots of golden yellow. The Catoctins are ahead. At a red traffic light many riders begin taking off their windbreakers. Uh oh. They know something's coming up. Up indeed. Up and over two steep summits. Soon I'm in my 34/28, breathing heavily, but climbing quickly. Luckily, it's only two climbs of less than a mile each. At the top I remind myself to go easy thereafter to save some energy in the tank. We're only at the 30 mile mark.

I suppose I qualify as a bike geek and the wide variety of frames, gearing and components is an exciting part of the landscape for me. Bikes are often like pets and are of similar attitudes as their owners. Randonneurs, however, can keep you guessing and I like that. I met some go-fast people on slo-mo bikes and vice versa. Good stuff.

Entering Antietam

We wind our way into Antietam. I'd never been there before. Scrubby fields and more angular markers. Lots of history. Lots of death. The day and the ride are so beautiful and I'm smiling and because of this I'm wondering whether that's disrespectful to the soldiers. By the way, who's that guy up in the road ahead with the pen in one hand and a camera in the other? Oh, it's the RBA and he's set up a "secret" control. One that's not listed on the cue sheet, but is just thrown in there for fun. It's paperwork for sure, but it's kinda like the paperwork in a scavenger hunt. Just for fun.

From here the route takes us northeast through Boonsboro with South Mountain to our near right and Hagerstown to our more distant left. A right turn onto Raven Rock begins the 4 1/2 mile climb up towards Gettysburg. I first rode this hill last year during a club ride version of Baltimore Bicycling Club's Civil War Century. It felt grueling then and was mostly likely the culprit of my bonk later that day. Today, my legs decided to make it a fairly easy climb for me. Thanks. Perhaps it was that tasty pasta with mussels I ate for birthday dinner the night before.

The Summit of Raven Rock

At this point in the ride I am beginning to see the same 5-8 faces again and again as we are all riding similar speeds, but occasionally leap-frogging one another during climbs. I actually get in some nice conversations with some very interesting riders. It is a strange feeling to pass a rider on a climb while you're feeling strong, then later you discover that this person has completed handfuls of 1200k rides and super randonneur series.Whoa. Sure, you might be going faster than they are right now, but for how long? I think to myself that if I was on a 400k ride today I'd be toasted at the 250k mark and that that rider I passed a mile back would be cruising past me with the same easy expression on their face that they had 100 miles ago.

My stomach is telling me that it's about lunch time. We're getting into the big daddy of Civil War battlefields, Gettysburg. The traffic gets heavier and in the park I'm having to keep an eye out for pedestrians whose entire field of vision is their point and shoot cameras. Car traffic is often moving so slowly that I am having to carefully pass. In the town of Gettysburg the lunch control is the ye olde 7-11 convenience store. I grab some grub, stretch out, and set my butt down on the curb. I try to be quick about my stop, but I notice several riders pull in to the parking lot after me, buy food, and roll out while I watch them come and go. These are the hi-tech methods of the real long distance riders. Quick stops. Eat on the bike if you can. These riders are relaxed and deliberate about their schedule. To a non-randonneur it would seem hectic, but to a racer it would be outrageously leisurely. This is the power of the brevet card and the time limit. Oh yeah, the brevet card. I forgot to get mine signed. A quick initial from the kind 7-11 employee and we're off for the last 45 miles.

A piece of the vast Gettysburg Battlefield Park

The last "little bit" of this ride was a mixture of self congratulation along with hints from my legs that they might be done for the day. We had two more informational controls in quick succession in Gettysburg and I began to appreciate how thoughtfully the controls were timed. Instead of the controls making the ride seem like a long goal-oriented video game, they were spaced close enough together so you could easily concentrate on the "paperwork". This alternated with sections of many miles without controls so you could enjoy the carefree side of riding the bike.

Some nice socializing while riding with a small group got us to the very final hills. I got some distinct protest from my legs on these last few climbs. It could have been real or maybe the legs just knew we were real close to the Pizza Hut finish. One more informational control just before the end and just like that I'm done. And hey, someone bought pizza and drinks for me. Thanks RBA!

As I reread my ride report here I am mostly seeing descriptions of a ride my friend would have loved to ride. However, he didn't. And for valid reasons too. I can understand why a rider like my friend wouldn't want to come on an official brevet. It taints the purity of the thing. It's not just getting on a bike and riding. The "official" part of it gives it this artificial context. It's for credit. It's more than just a bike ride, or, depending on what you like in a bike ride, maybe less of one. But for now, I'm good with the paperwork. I'll choose to see the larger context- that it's all just for fun.

More pics here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27976837@N00/archives/date-posted/2009/09/21/detail/

Thousand Mile Month

2009-09-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

Super Commute #3: "Passing Prettyboy"

At first, it was just wanting to squeeze in a few extra miles because July had included lots of driving for me. I started adding additional miles to the commute by developing longer, more scenic routes. Then there were a couple of Baltimore Bicycling Club rides that I needed to check out before leading them so there were three 75+ rides for the month. I like tracking the weather too. And the bike used column shows my habit of staying with a certain bike for a few days, then something- like weather or needing to carry a package, changes my bike. Then I get into that bike for the next few days.

Kinda fun too, thinking that I could've ridden from Ocean City, MD to St. Louis, MO last month. August Total Mileage: 1,031

Miles Ride Date Temp. Weather Bike Used

17 AM Bike commute 08/04/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

17 PM Bike commute 08/04/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/05/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

40 Deerparks/Dogwoods 08/05/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/06/09 50-70 Light rain Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/06/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

24 AM Bike commute 08/07/09 70-90 Clear Coho

17 PM Bike commute 08/07/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

41 Loch Raven/Mantua(AM) 08/08/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

42 Passing Prettyboy (PM) 08/08/09 70-90 Cloudy Coho

9 to/fr. Little Havana 08/09/09 90 Clear Coho

5 AM Metro commute 08/11/09 90 Clear Miyata FG/SS

19 PM Bike commute 08/11/09 70-90 Cloudy Miyata FG/SS

19 AM Bike commute 08/12/09 70-90 Cloudy Miyata FG/SS

39 Ellicott/Aviation Loop(PM) 08/12/09 70-90 Cloudy Miyata FG/SS

17 AM Bike commute 08/13/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/13/09 70-90 Clear Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/15/09 70-90 Clear Coho

5 PM Metro commute 08/15/09 70-90 Clear Coho

102 Pre-ride 4 Reservoirs Tour 08/17/09 90 Cloudy Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/19/09 90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/19/09 90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/20/09 90 Cloudy Kogswell

5 PM Metro commute 08/20/09 90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/21/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/21/09 90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/22/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/22/09 70-90 Rain Kogswell

103 4 Reservoirs Tour 08/23/09 70-90 Clear Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/25/09 70-90 Clear Coho

17 PM Bike commute 08/25/09 70-90 Clear Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/26/09 70-90 Clear Coho

40 PM Super Commute 08/26/09 70-90 Clear Coho

17 AM Bike commute 08/27/09 70-90 Clear Kogswell

19 PM Bike commute 08/27/09 70-90 Clear Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/28/09 70-90 Light rain Kogswell

17 PM Bike commute 08/28/09 70-90 Light rain Kogswell

17 AM Bike commute 08/29/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

22 PM Bike commute 08/29/09 70-90 Cloudy Kogswell

29 PM Super Commute 08/29/09 70-90 Light rain Kogswell

79 Pre-ride BBC Rocks ride 08/31/09 70-90 Clear Coho

The 4 Reservoirs Tour

2009-08-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

We had lovely weather on sunday for a rolling tour of the Reservoirs. A healthy (for my rides) group of 5 at the start. We paused at the bottom of Dogwood hill looking for Carl at about 8:55-9:00 Alas, he was not to be found. That hill was likely the hardest grade of the day. Good to be done with it while the legs were fresh. We went from 5 riders to 4 when Barry's spokes took a bite at his rear derailleur (or was it the other way 'round?) He told the rest of us to roll on without him.

Then a few miles later we were 5 again when we intersected with Tom who was looking for us. Good stuff.
We got into an easy "long ride" cruising speed, clearing Lake Liberty and stopping briefly in Finksburg for sugars and ice. Up to and over Prettyboy ducking into (mostly) and out of the cool canopy of the trees. Isaias got a bit ahead of the group as we neared Wally's for lunch and missed one of the last cues. When Tim and I showed up at Wally's there was no pink BBC jersey to be found. Isaias texted me that he realized he missed the cue and wasn't planning on turning back- he'd finish the ride by himself. During lunch I was excited to meet the legendary Greg Conderacci (who rolled in while we were eating) and was amazed that my reputation had proceeded myself- he had been wanting to meet me!

Also, while we were eating, we met Daniel, a Cat 1 racer who was getting his legs back for regular racing. He had had a flat that morning and couldn't make the ride start so he rode up to Wally's to find us. So, then we were 5 again.

Down to Prettyboy dam and back up. A long slog for the entirety of Corbett over to Jarrettsville.
... and who's that crazy man in a pink jersey waving at us from across the interesection? Ha! Isaias and with him- Barry !! Barry had fixed his RD and then bent the space time continuum getting to Jarrettsville before us, meeting Isaias and waiting for us. Now we were 7

The final leg brought us over Loch Raven and back into the Towson 'burbs. I stopped with Isaias and Tim one more time and that's when Janet made her move. (I knew she would) She and Tom blew past us foregoing the ice water to be the 1st to finish. Tim and I hauled ourselves up Ruxton, Falls and Lake ave hils, finally cruising back to the start. Good times. Good ride.

Thanks all. -Bob