Saturday 24 May 2008
Caught up with Steve for a ride with the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club - a great DC area bike club that seems to pull together lots of riders.
The ride started out at Southern HS in Harwood south of Annapolis. We headed out with the A riders at a blistering pace, but somehow managed to hold on for several miles. I think Steve and I were both relieved when we reached our turn off for the 47 mile route as that meant we split off from the A riders who were continuing on for the 61 mile route. That said we maintained a strong pace and averaged around 20 mph for the first half of the ride. After a quick lunch in North Beach we began our way back - the return route featured a few long-ish climbs, but we still managed to finish up around an average speed 18 mph for the day. For my sake it was a good thing Steve was suffering from a bad cold or I'd of never kept up.
A stunning day - loads of sailboats out on the water...
Wildlife highlights - two huge draught horses
47 miles on the day, plus
8.5 miles on Sunday (Walther & Montebello)
14 miles on Monday(Walther & a few laps around Montebello)
972 miles to date
27.5.08
25 hours in NYC
Wed/Thu May 22 & 23
Popped up to NY to catch a play and visit a friend.
Saw Thurgood at the Booth Theater - a one man show about the life of Thurgood Marshall - a great performance by Laurence Fishburne - an amazing story of an incredibly accomplished Baltimorean.
Wandered around the new(ish) MOMA for a few hours...
I also managed to squeeze in quite a few NY icons in my wanderings about Manhattan - including Grand Central Station, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Wall Street, Battery Park, and a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - a first for me - and as it turns out just in time for it's 125th anniversary.
20.5.08
A Rainy Ride
RIDE FOR THE FEAST 2008 - DAY 2
In the morning we rode a bus across the bridge to start our ride from a bike shop near Sandy Point State Park. Today's ride would take us back to Baltimore mostly via the B&A Trail. Once of the trail we wind our way to Carrol Park. The original plan was to regroup there and then have a police escort across the city to the Moveable Feast headquarters. Unfortunately the police backed out - so we transfered from Carrol Park to Paterson Park on a bus and then rode the final 10 blocks or so.
Steve, Matt, and myself were riding sweep - meaning that we would ride at the end of the group to make sure that everyone made their way to Carrol Park. We waited a while to let everyone get a ways down the road before heading out and managed to get almost to the first pit before encountering another rider. We then lingered a bit longer than we needed to at that pit as discovered that everyone was doing quite well and at one point we began to fear we'd be holding things up at Carrol Park. After picking up the pace for a couple miles we finally reached a small group of riders and rode with them into the second pit.
Shortly after heading out from the pit stop it began to rain... at the same time we started to hit the biggest hills of the ride and started to catch up with more riders. At the top of a long hill we pulled of to help with tire change. As we started to get back on the road we discovered that three more riders also had flats. To make things even more exciting a nearby power line began to shower sparks into the street as the wind and rain tangled it up in a tree. Eventually we got back on the road and caught up with the other riders at Carrol Park for the transfer to Patterson Park.
In the rush to get rolling again in the rain a few of us didn't leave with the group - so Steve, Matt, little Steve, and myself had our own little trip through East Baltimore. We arrive not longer after the group for the post-ride celebration.
All told we raised over $200,000 for Moveable Feast - not bad for a bunch of knuckleheads on their bikes.
30 miles on the day
899 miles to date
In the morning we rode a bus across the bridge to start our ride from a bike shop near Sandy Point State Park. Today's ride would take us back to Baltimore mostly via the B&A Trail. Once of the trail we wind our way to Carrol Park. The original plan was to regroup there and then have a police escort across the city to the Moveable Feast headquarters. Unfortunately the police backed out - so we transfered from Carrol Park to Paterson Park on a bus and then rode the final 10 blocks or so.
Steve, Matt, and myself were riding sweep - meaning that we would ride at the end of the group to make sure that everyone made their way to Carrol Park. We waited a while to let everyone get a ways down the road before heading out and managed to get almost to the first pit before encountering another rider. We then lingered a bit longer than we needed to at that pit as discovered that everyone was doing quite well and at one point we began to fear we'd be holding things up at Carrol Park. After picking up the pace for a couple miles we finally reached a small group of riders and rode with them into the second pit.
Shortly after heading out from the pit stop it began to rain... at the same time we started to hit the biggest hills of the ride and started to catch up with more riders. At the top of a long hill we pulled of to help with tire change. As we started to get back on the road we discovered that three more riders also had flats. To make things even more exciting a nearby power line began to shower sparks into the street as the wind and rain tangled it up in a tree. Eventually we got back on the road and caught up with the other riders at Carrol Park for the transfer to Patterson Park.
In the rush to get rolling again in the rain a few of us didn't leave with the group - so Steve, Matt, little Steve, and myself had our own little trip through East Baltimore. We arrive not longer after the group for the post-ride celebration.
All told we raised over $200,000 for Moveable Feast - not bad for a bunch of knuckleheads on their bikes.
30 miles on the day
899 miles to date
18.5.08
A tale of three Steves...
A Kelly, a Matt, a Kristin, and 80 or so others who spent their weekend riding in the wind and the rain to support the Moveable Feast.
RIDE FOR THE FEAST 2008 - Day 1 - Rehoboth to Easton
Above is the gang of seven, mostly Steves, who I spent the bulk of the ride taking turns in the wind with [Kristin is the 7th - see here - for another version minus one Steve plus Kristin]. To get to the sofa you have to rewind 95 or so miles to Rehoboth.
As usual the ride rolled out in one large group headed up the coastal highway and I must admit that my recent spill made me want to get out of the pack ASAP. After our first turn onto rt. 24 things start to string out and I began to make my way to the front in search of a less congested spot in the group. By the time we reached the first pit at mile 20 much of this group had taken shape - Kelly, little Steve, Florida Steve, and myself... after that pit we got a bit more organized and began a paceline. About half way to the second pit we passed Joanne (who was volunteering as a sag driver) I broke off to say high and shed my arm warmers - then got a nice workout trying to sprint back onto the group. I reached them just in time for the second pit stop.
After the second pit the brothers eschmacher joined on and we started to get our paceline a little more organized with everyone taking fairly regular pulls on the front - though it did seem for a while that a certain Steve's turn at the front kept coinciding with the towns rather than the windy farms...
Somewhere between the third pit (lunch) and the fourth we picked up Kristin, who Bart, Steve, and I met last year on this ride. Between the third and fifth pit we mostly kept together making a great team effort of covering the miles, sharing the wind, and encouraging each other.
A few miles after the fifth pit Kelly was taking a turn on the front when the rest of us splintered and she opened up a pretty good gap. After a bit I decided this was a good chance to get out of the saddle and sprint to catch up with Kelly. When I reached her we tried to pick up the pace and quickly learned why two person break aways rarely work. We did OK for a mile or so, but it didn't take long to exhaust ourselves - as a two person paceline offers only brief shelter from the wind. Which is when the sofa came into view - remember the sofa...
There on the on the side of the road was the most remarkable orange velvet sofa basking in the sun atop a manicured lawn with a hand lettered sign "FREE" - It seemed obvious to Kelly and I that this would make the perfect pit stop to chill out and regroup. We had just begun to sit down when the gang began to come into view... naturally it also seemed a great photo opportunity...
We made short work of the few miles we had left - finishing roughly 8 hours after leaving Rehoboth - minus the lunch and pits we pedaled for a little over 6 hours.
Today's soundtrack included - Lollipop (thanks to Lolly Pop Lane) and Victoria (thanks to first person I rode this route with two years ago)
Wildlife Highlights included - numerous turkey vultures including one group working over a deer carcass on the side of the road, a pair of shaggy donkeys. a beautiful Clydesdale, and a groundhog
[I'll try to take a stab at day two tomorrow]
100 miles on the day
869 miles to date
RIDE FOR THE FEAST 2008 - Day 1 - Rehoboth to Easton
Above is the gang of seven, mostly Steves, who I spent the bulk of the ride taking turns in the wind with [Kristin is the 7th - see here - for another version minus one Steve plus Kristin]. To get to the sofa you have to rewind 95 or so miles to Rehoboth.As usual the ride rolled out in one large group headed up the coastal highway and I must admit that my recent spill made me want to get out of the pack ASAP. After our first turn onto rt. 24 things start to string out and I began to make my way to the front in search of a less congested spot in the group. By the time we reached the first pit at mile 20 much of this group had taken shape - Kelly, little Steve, Florida Steve, and myself... after that pit we got a bit more organized and began a paceline. About half way to the second pit we passed Joanne (who was volunteering as a sag driver) I broke off to say high and shed my arm warmers - then got a nice workout trying to sprint back onto the group. I reached them just in time for the second pit stop.
After the second pit the brothers eschmacher joined on and we started to get our paceline a little more organized with everyone taking fairly regular pulls on the front - though it did seem for a while that a certain Steve's turn at the front kept coinciding with the towns rather than the windy farms...
Somewhere between the third pit (lunch) and the fourth we picked up Kristin, who Bart, Steve, and I met last year on this ride. Between the third and fifth pit we mostly kept together making a great team effort of covering the miles, sharing the wind, and encouraging each other.
A few miles after the fifth pit Kelly was taking a turn on the front when the rest of us splintered and she opened up a pretty good gap. After a bit I decided this was a good chance to get out of the saddle and sprint to catch up with Kelly. When I reached her we tried to pick up the pace and quickly learned why two person break aways rarely work. We did OK for a mile or so, but it didn't take long to exhaust ourselves - as a two person paceline offers only brief shelter from the wind. Which is when the sofa came into view - remember the sofa...
There on the on the side of the road was the most remarkable orange velvet sofa basking in the sun atop a manicured lawn with a hand lettered sign "FREE" - It seemed obvious to Kelly and I that this would make the perfect pit stop to chill out and regroup. We had just begun to sit down when the gang began to come into view... naturally it also seemed a great photo opportunity...We made short work of the few miles we had left - finishing roughly 8 hours after leaving Rehoboth - minus the lunch and pits we pedaled for a little over 6 hours.
Today's soundtrack included - Lollipop (thanks to Lolly Pop Lane) and Victoria (thanks to first person I rode this route with two years ago)
Wildlife Highlights included - numerous turkey vultures including one group working over a deer carcass on the side of the road, a pair of shaggy donkeys. a beautiful Clydesdale, and a groundhog
[I'll try to take a stab at day two tomorrow]
100 miles on the day
869 miles to date
16.5.08
Night before the ride
We're settled into our hotel in Rehoboth - signed in for the ride, shared a meal with all the other riders as well as the volunteers who will support us over the next two days. I forget what a great bunch of people this brings together... always amazing the threads that link us all together - one of the riders who was behind me when I fell in Easton is married to a scientist that Joanne knows from Hopkins and he is here volunteering as well this weekend... a small world. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me this year... including the donations you made to Team Centerstage - we've raised more than both of my previous rides. From what we heard downstairs it appears that this year is on track to be their biggest ever - with both more riders and more money raised. It means a great deal to me to have all of your support - especially when I'm facing 20 mph headwinds tomorrow.
I did manage to squeeze in one more commute this week...
15 miles on Thursday
769 miles to date
13.5.08
Back in the Saddle Again
Today was my first day back on the bike - out on the road - since the accident. Just the regular commute with a slight detour down Maryland/Cathedral and across Monument - which added a bit of brick and cobbles for fun.I'm feeling pretty good - no real pain or stiffness to complain of... did discover a couple things that weren't revealed by my rides in the trainer or for that matter by working on my bike in the workstand.
1- I seem to have torn the palm open on my left hand glove in the crash - which is fascinating as I only had cuts on the fingertips of that hand and my right hand is much worse off, but that glove looks fine.
2- I have some clicking noise to sort out in the rear dérailleur when on the big ring... can't seem to recreate it when I'm not riding, but need to sort it our before the ride on Saturday.
I was worried of course that I'd be a little tentative, but that doesn't seem to be the case - we'll see how I do back in a pack of other riders this weekend.
Today's soundtrack - Gene Autry's 'Back in the Saddle Again' of course and The Four Seasons 1962 hit 'Big Girls Don't Cry'
17.5 miles on the day754 miles to date
11.5.08
Not really about the bike - Gala for CENTERSTAGE
This week as I've been recuperating from my little crash I've also been helping to put together our gala fund raiser at work. The picture above is a shot of my major contribution to this years decor - a mobile of paper lanterns in our hoistway. More pics are posted on my flickr site - Gala 2008.Went to the doctor on Wednesday - she seemed to feel that my minor bits of road rash were clean and heeling nicely. She also felt that since I've had no more headaches or other symptoms there is little to worry about in terms any lingering head injury issues... with that she cleared me to start riding again - at first on the trainer - which I've been doing.
Went to Steve's today to try and wring out my bike's injuries. We bent back the derailluer hanger pretty easily and trued up the wheels. Otherwise it seems to be running well - THANKS STEVE!. We had hoped to fit in a little shakedown ride - but the rain intervened.
Still hoping to get back on the road some this week in advance of the ride on Saturday.
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