Leader:  Joan Oppel

Members:  Chantal Briere, Denny Miller, Steve Palincsar, Walt Roscello, Tom Short, Pat Walthers

Route:   https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49862324  Locust Grove, Dash In and Quailwood

Weather:  What Lou said: Perfect riding weather, mostly sunny around mid 60s at the start, climbing to the low 70s by the end, crisp dry air all ride. .

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  A beautiful day to be out riding - our group split up on the roads and hung out together at the Port Tobacco park rest stop and again at the Dash In. Chantal rode to a bakery near the Dash In and brought back macarons for each of us. So we had quite a sugar high to fuel the return trip.

Leader:  Lou Dall'Orso

Members:  none

Guests:  none

Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

Weather:  Around 70 at the start, almost 80 by the end, just a few puffy clouds, and a bit of gusty wind, which seemed to have some cross on most of the roads.

AMS: Right about 16 mph

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  Having no one signed up, and staying up late (early actually) having come home, I want to say maybe 3:30 in the morning from a concert in Virginia Beach, I took my time and got a slightly late start, which actually allowed me to see and chat with the CC group, who started their ride 30 minutes later. As mentioned above it was a bit windy, but not too bad. The ride itself was uneventful, and enjoyable. I did notice quite a bit of leaves now falling, and on the stretch where 6 meets Riverside (on the bottom of the bowl) for a few miles, there were quite a few covering the road. Back at the car at 12:24, waited for the first of the CCs to arrive and chatted a bit before leaving.

Leader:  Lou Dall'Orso

Members:  none

Guests:  none

Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

Weather:  Perfect riding weather, mostly sunny around mid 60s at the start, climbing to the low 70s by the end, crisp dry air all ride with little to no wind.

AMS: Right about 16 mph

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  Had no takers again today, so like David Byrne might say, "same as it ever was". As mentioned above the weather could not have been better, made just one stop near Mallow's Bay, and back at the car around 12:30 after a great ride. Only some company could have made it better. Will be back at it on Thursday, hope to see more riders.

MAJOR THANKS TO JACKIE SCHOCH FOR ORGANIZING THE PICNIC, PURCHASING OR PICKING UP EVERYTHING AND THEN COOKING ALL MORNING! AND BIG THANKS TO LISA PETERSON AND PATRICIA SANDERS, who did not ride, but  DEDICATED THEIR DAY TO HELPING OUT AT THE PICNIC.

Leader: Sonja Newman

Members: Rick, Don, Stephen, Sean, Mark, Sonja, Peter

Route: Labor Day 2025  30 miles
Weather: PERFECT!
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

Bike Ride Report: A Beautiful Labor Day OH Ride

On a stunning day blessed with perfect weather, I set out with six fellow riders for a scenic and invigorating bike ride. As it turned out, I was the only female in a group of six men, which added a unique dynamic to the adventure.

We began our journey from Village Green Park,  Indian Head MD, and shortly after departing, we merged onto the trail. The group maintained a steady pace, riding in sync, except for one rider who preferred to ride solo while on the trail. He shared his preference with me, and I respected his choice, continuing on with the rest of the group.

Our first rest stop was at Smallwood Park, where we paused to take in the serene beauty of the calm river waters and the peaceful surroundings. It was a refreshing moment that set the tone for the rest of the ride.

Next, we headed to Pisgah Park, another tranquil spot that offered a chance to relax and appreciate the clear skies and gentle breeze. With only about 11 miles remaining after leaving Pisgah, the group naturally split into two smaller packs—three riders in front and three trailing behind.

One rider was not seen after our first stop at Smallwood Park. It was later understood that he had moved ahead of the group rather than falling behind.

Throughout the ride, I enjoyed occasional encounters with other cycling groups. These moments added variety and camaraderie to the journey, allowing us to briefly ride alongside new faces.

As we approached the final stretch on Hawthorn Road, a few members of my group chose to return to the trail instead of climbing into the neighborhood. One rider stayed with me as we ascended Hawthorn road and briefly entered the neighborhood before reconnecting with the trail to complete this awesome ride.

It was a day filled with beautiful scenery, great company, and the joy of cycling—an experience to remember and hopefully repeat.

Thank you to Jackie Schoch, Lisa Peterson, and Patricia Sanders and all the volunteers that made this ride complete in style without you the day would not have been the same.

Leaders:   Ron & Susan Altemus

Members:   Gail & Bruce Black, Maureen Flynn, Fran Jezisek, Catherine Kitchell (hidden behind Denny - sorry!), Denny Miller, Leesha Saunders, Robin Garnett, Esther Stewart, RL Susan, Connie Quickstad, Gene Villiva.  Not pictured:  Paul Adams and Bob Rourke, Butch Counts, Diana and Dan Donahue



Route:   the full complete Indian Head Rail Trail. Village Green to White Plains and return.

Weather:   it just keeps staying fanastico!  Brilliant blue skies with puffs of adorable white clouds, air movement moving from NNE to NNW, temps range of upper 60s to mid 70s, continuing NO humidity

AMS:   varied by rider.  RL swept in the mid 12s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:   Paul's rear derailleur cage malfunctioned shortening his ride after only 2 miles.  He walked back to the Village Green.

Report:  what a big turnout!  Everyone rode at their own pace and distance on the trail of their choosing.  It was nice seeing some new faces and/or long time Virginia members who haven't ventured across the river in a while.

Many other trail users given the Labor Day holiday and the fantastic weather.  Plenty of cyclists, including a good number of children.  Hopefully, they will grow to love bicycling as much as club members do and continue riding long into the future. 

The after ride picnic seemed to be the best ever.  Again, weather might have played a part as no one was exhausted from the heat.  The hot dogs cooked by Jackie Schoch, and her serving crew of Lisa Petersen and Patricia Sanders, for fritos, watermelon, sodas, and cookies, deserve our thanks for not riding in order to prepare the picnic meal.  Good times had by all.

Item of interest:  this was Diana's birthday and she was extremely pleased that it had been declared a National Holiday and so many of her bicycling friends had come out to ride with her and have a picnic.

Leaders: Joan Oppel and Linda Bankerd

Members: Catherine Ade, Caresse Bullock, Babs Butcher, Candace Carlisle, Andrea Clayville, Eric Feigebaum, Josh Garrison, Ellen Goodwin, Liam Healy, Christopher Lawrence, Ray Luckenbach, Karen McMillan, Lori Michaelson, Karen Morgan, Steve Palincsar, Deb Reynolds, Randy Sim, Dave Van Ameyden.

Weather: Stunning day - cool and pleasant at the start, warm and pleasant through the rest of the day. Bright blue sky with some fluffly clouds showing up (and a little breeze). 

Route: 40 miles from Indian Head to Smallwood Park, then to Nanjemoy and through Pisgah and back to the Indian Head Green    https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52166561

Mechanicals and Mishaps: Steve needed to change his e-bike battery and was having trouble connecting it Dave discovered/removed a small stone in one of the ports and also cleaned the battery terminals with an alcohol wipe.

Report:  The group broke into several parts but most of us gathered at Smallwood State Park and at the Nanjemoy Store. Everyone enjoyed the chance to eat,chat and hang out after riding.

Leader:   Ron Altemus

Members:   Rick Hagen, Mark Garrison, Joan Oppel, Gene Villiva, Susan Altemus, Lisa Petersen (pictured in front of George Mason's Gunston Hall)



Route:   advertised as a  casual tour of Mason Neck, we started off with an out and back on Belmont Blvd.  Gunston Rd took us to the Mason Neck trail followed by a short spur on Springfield before rejoining the trail.  We left the trail at High Point Rd to head down to the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center.  Retracing on High Point, we used Gunston Rd to tour the Hallowing Pointand Gunston Manor neighborhoods and then back to the trail.  Gunston Hall and Pohick Bay Park were visited in turn off the trail before the final short stretch on Gunston Rd back to the ride start. 

Weather:  the great fall like weather continues!  Sunny, temp range mid 60s to low 70s, light air movement, and NO humidity.  Perfect day for riding and riding and riding...

AMS:   RL was in the mid 11s.

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:   as mentioned above, another fantastic day for bicycling.  Two club members hadn't been to Mason Neck in over 30 years but actually it hasn't changed too much other than the number of MacMansions occupying large lots.  We rode together the entire route with plenty of CCing (conversational cycling) taking place.  Traffic was mostly light though there were occasional grouping of cars in one direction or another.  Numerous other cyclists at the visitor's center but none on the trail or farther down the Neck in the neighborhoods.

Outbound on Belmont Blvd.  Photo by Rick.

After the ride, all of us went to Panera's over at Lorton Market for nourishment and more conversating.  A most excellent way to end the day's ride.

The group at Bushwood Wharf

Leader: Steve Palincsar

Members: Lou Dall'Orso, Joan Oppel, Dave Van Amayden, Pat Walthers, Patricia Sanders, Ellen Goodwin, Stephen Cohen, Walt Roscello

Guests: none

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52275528

Weather: Sunny, cool (63) at the start, rising to 80 by late afternoon

AMS: 12.7 for me

Mechanicals/Mishaps: It seems as though it's been quite a while since there's been a decent story for the Mishaps & Mechanicals section, but today makes up for that deficiency.  All was well until the lunch stop at Murphy's Store at mile 27, but leaving the rest stop I noticed the familiar thump-thump-thump that means no one no good.  Oakley Rd is no place to fix a flat: even though there's plenty of shade, there's no shoulder to get off the road, and no place to put your stuff, never mind sit down.

We'd only gone a few yards, so we turned around and headed back to Murphys. There was even a place to work on the flat in the shade, albeit right next to where they keep the dumpster.  Although the dumpster was gone, its fragrance signature lingered onl.

Normally stopping to fix a flat isn't the best of times, but today we had Lou and Joan.  After Lou found and removed the thorn that had caused the flat and replaced the tube, Joan produced her electric pump (see my Road Captain's Report in the August Newsletter) and painlessly, albeit not quickly (my 650Bx48mm tires take a lot of air) fixed the flat.

While they were doing that, I thought this would be an opportune time to swap out my drive battery.  We were halfway done with the ride and I was 60% through the charge.  No worries, I had a spare with me that, when I checked it last night, was fully charged.  Except that when I swapped it in, I found it was 80% depleted.  Oh oh; even dialing the assist back to the minimum that wasn't enough charge to finish the ride.

Plan B was to skip the out-and-back on Cobrum's Wharf, saving almost 4 miles, reduce the assist to the lowest practical level, and stop at Baggett Park and wait for the group to return to the ride start, and wait while someone put their bike in their car and drove mine back to Baggett to pick me up.  Lou to the rescue once again!

Report: A chilly-feeling start, but beautiful clear skies and gorgeous St Marys County scenery we haven't visited in several years made for a beautiful ride.

End of the road at MD-520 (on the Yellowbank Peninsula)

Lunch in Avenue, MD

Leaders:   Ron & Susan Altemus

Members:   Paul Adams, Bob Rourke, Gene Villiva, RL Susan Altemus, Fran Jezisek, Mark Garrison, Robin Garnett, Donaro Gardner, Carl Hattery, Esther Stewart, Leesha Saunders.  Not pictured:  Diana & Dan Donahue (met us at White Plains) and Pat Colvin 



Route:   the best Friday ride in the DMV area:  Indian Head Rail Trail east from Livingston Rd parking lot to White Plains trailhead.  After a rest stop, retrace back to the start.  A number of riders rode additional miles on to Indian Head proper and back.

Weather:   continues to be fantastic - sunshine, no humidity, pleasant breezes, and temp range from the mid 60s to low 70s.

AMS:   varied by rider but probably most in the 11-12 range

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:   a good size group, lots of conversation.  Two riders had recently completed the GAP tour and it was exciting to hear of their experiences on that multi-day trip. 

Other trail users included cyclists, walkers, and joggers.  No noticeable or reported wildlife sightings.  Still a great day to be on a bike on the IHRT!