Even with temperatures never above 31 or 32, eleven riders took advantage of this annual excursion in the neighborhoods between Belle Haven park area and Ft Hunt to see the magic of Christmas Lights by bike in the dark.

We rode a little over 12 miles, we were pretty chilled by the end but we saw some terrific displays - and even got a lesson in how to hang lights on a 100 foot tree by the homeowner himself (hint: ropes, pulleys and harnesses for the climber).  

Thanks to all who came out: Lois Lightfoot, Steve Forman, Althea , Melissa Watson, George Sexton, Tom Niedbala, Ron Altemus, Jacob Altemus, Cindy Malisch, Leslie Tierstein.

Joan

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Bob Howell, Jim Hudnall, Linda Bankerd, Joan Oppel, Tom Roberts

Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18125735  To summarize:  somewhat short, somewhat flat, and traversed a few of my favorite roads. Outbound via Chapman's Landing, Chicamuxen, Smallwood Church; heading back via Mason Springs, a zig and a zag to go down mighty Mt Pisgah, and then up Livingston.

Weather:  Another balmy day in beautiful SW Charles County.  Plenty of sun with light easterly breezes; ride start was below freezing (31 degrees) rising to a toasty 34 at the end of our escapade.

AMS:  Swept at 13.2; assume it was a bit more for those riding ahead.

Report:  The first ride of the 2016-17 winter season with starting temps below freezing saw only a handful of intrepid cyclists attending.  As there was no A/B leader, we surprisingly stayed close together until at some point on Smallwood Church, Linda/Bob/Tom got ahead of the rest of us while we discussed important matters which always necessitates a reduction in speed.  Rendezvousing at the Pisgah store, we rode as a group almost the entire way back, only getting significant space between us from Bumpy Oak to the end.  Milestones to note:  Linda has now lowered her minimum ride temp to 31 degrees and Bob is closing in on 3000 miles for the year (and also discovering the joys of riding cold!).

We held our Sunday morning mountain bike ride at cedarville, we decided to move the ride to 2pm. The weather started our good, and as the cold front moved in the temps dropped and the rain started. In true mountain bike form we completed the ride. Everyone had a blast, riders included Randy, and Barry.

Barry Howard

Ride Leader

Class: AA/3
Category: Training
Description: Team-ride; smooth endurance miles
Speed Limit Imposed: 21 on the flats
Colors: None specified
Start: Rescheduled from 11:30 to 7:30 to beat the rain and falling temps
Location: Pisgah Firehouse

The Course

Distance: 35.7 miles
Gain: 1209 ft
Rest Stops: None scheduled
Max Grade: 5.0%

The Ride

Riders:  Blake Altman, Jill Patterson, Steve Koegle, Pete Czapiewski, Michael Blain, David Kemp, Scott Walker
Weather: Overcast w/wet roads, 58 degrees warming to 62, winds from the SW at 14 calming to less than 3
Moving Time: 1:48:18
AMS: 19.6
Mishaps/Mechanicals: We all stop on Riverside for what Blake believes is a flat rear tire.  But, when he checks he discovers it’s fine.  So, we restart only to have Blake announce a second stop “it’s actually my front tire that’s flat.”  So, we stop again and, of course, give Blake a hard time (for not knowing which tire is flat) while he pulls a new tube from his bag.  But, the new tube is split at the valve and unusable (for which he’s savagely abused again). The second tube he pulls from his bag, however, is good and quickly installed...   ...and we're off once more.  As we make the left onto Chicamuxen, Blake needs to stop again for a twig caught in his spokes…   … poor guy, this one's remedied in a few seconds --but thanks for the rest stops and all the laughs and smiles, Blake!
Report: Beautiful ride.  While there's still a lot of road-spray to go around, rescheduling for an earlier depart otherwise works well in terms of avoiding additional rain and falling temps (although in hindsight, the rain doesn't make it into the area until hours after its forecast and long after the time the ride was originally posted).  After we return, Blake immediately asks if anyone wants to do some more miles.  No takers, but he sets out on his own for a bit more.  David and Michael, who rode from home, set out for their return.  Someone asks Jill if the ride was what she expected; “I guess I was expecting more attacks…” (btw, welcome to you again, Jill, nice to have you with us).   With her response I’m not sure she could have paid the team a finer compliment.  Pete puts it best; “as Century-Team rides go, this was a smooth one.”  Yes it was; everyone light on cranks and sync’d.  Very enjoyable!  See the Clip

The weather prediction for Thursday is high of 25 degrees, with wind speeds of 22-25 mph or higher. So a small group of riders responded to my email requesting a show of interest in a "Wednesday instead" ride.  Sunny, temperatures in mid-40s, occasional moderate wind - one great day for riding.  We did a Cross Road, Molly Berry, Baden Naylor, Croom, Nottingham, Fenno & St Tom, return on Duley Station to Van Brady etc.  

The only real adventure was coming to the Brooks Church & Baden Naylor intersection, we discovered a large number of trucks and workmen repaving Baden Naylor.  In fact, one lane was freshly - very freshly - repaved.  We surprised the work crew, I think because they were monitoring Baden Naylor but not Brooks Church.  We rode the new lane's somewhat sticky surface and got through that short section.  Everyone wiped down tires at the Nottingham store.  

Thanks to Linda Bankerd, Alan Kurzweil, Pat Sanders and Pat Walthers for coming out to join me today.

Leader: Barbara Haney

Members: Ron Haney, Darryl Lowery, Bob Howell, Tom Roberts, Joni King, Jill Patterson, Pete Czapiewski, Cindy Anderson, Lou Dallorso

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/9123875 Goose Bay Redux, a clockwise route stopping at Goose Bay Marina and returning via Ironsides and Pisgah

Weather: Mostly grey skies, low to mid 40s, not too windy

AMS: 16.4 for leader, faster up front

Report: Ten of us joined Ron A and his CC contingent to head out of Bryans Road, destination Beautiful Goose Bay. With Polar Bear weather imminent later this week, we wanted to get outdoors before some of us would be confined to the trainer. The rather cold conditions were not a problem, since we were all dressed adequately and had some nice climbs to stay warm. Part of the group got a gap after a few miles and kept up a good pace until the stop at the Marina, thanks to some riders' very strong pulls (for which Ride Leader thanks you!); we were soon joined there by the others. The faster group opted to not cool down too much and took off shortly, minus two Haneys, who took a bit more break to enjoy the warmth inside the Marina Store and have hot coffee (in honor of Jim Hudnall, who couldn't join us today). The rest of us then finished the route at a nice B-ish pace. A good morning's ride; thanks to all who came out, and to Ron A for posting this nice route. I hope we don't have to wait too long to get outside (non-Polar Bear) again!

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Holly Carr, Joan Oppel

Route:   Advertised as https://ridewithgps.com/routes/9123875  Bumpy Oak/Rose Hill outbound; Mason Spring/Livingston for the return.  At Welcome, Joan/Ron opted for roads less traveled and revised our routing, taking W. Hilltop/Annapolis Woods/Poorhouse/Stuckey to rejoin the route on Mason Spring.  That stretch was much quieter!

Weather:   Overcast with just an occasional peek of sun; E/ESE breeze of 3-5 mph; temp range of 41-46.

AMS:   somewheres in the mid 12s (which just means that we got to enjoy the ride longer than the A/B minions).

Report:  After two washouts, the third time was a charm for another pleasant ride in SW Charles County.  Holly signed in with us but actually rode inbetween the two groups along with Bob Howell (who has 3000 miles in sight for the year).  Joan is still learning the intricacies of her new Garmin 1000 which leads to an occasion chuckle as to its directions, such as the "Get Off Road" admonition she was getting on Mason Spring.

It was not too windy and it was about 34 degrees at the ride start.  The sun came out a bit.  Ron, Tom, Bruce, Jean and Chris joined Sherwood and me for the ride.  We were mostly comfortable, a few cold parts here and there.  There no mechanicals. For me it was a personal low!

Leader: Barbara Haney

Members: Larry Peed, Lou Dallorso, Holly Carr, Janell Saunders, Tom Short, Sam Perry, Tom Roberts

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16826867 Croom Rollers to the Five Points, a 36 mile route going south almost to Hughesville and back, stopping at Moreland Market

Weather: low to mid 40s, mostly overcast, not windy

AMS: 15.7 for leader

Report: Eight of us rode out of North Keys this AM despite damp roads and grey skies. We soon forgot about the weather, though, except for using extra caution on wet downhills and curves, since within a couple of miles we were on the Croom Rollers, and other rollers, which kept us occupied almost until our stop at Moreland Market, at which point Janell turned back to take a shorter route home. After that most of the hills were behind us, except for a couple (one very steep) on Celestial, where Sam stopped to walk off leg cramps; Holly was riding with him, alerted the ride leader, but fortunately all was resolved and they were shortly back riding. They finished the ride without incident, as did the rest of us, and we reached the parking lot within a few minutes of each other. Thanks to all for riding today!

Usually it turns out to be too cold or too something to do a birthday ride.  But this year the weather was cooperative.  It was a little cool and breezy, but made for very comfortable riding.  I was joined by Alan, Sherwood, Charles, Tom and Lou.  The new route (72k) was mostly excellent, especially due to Sherwood's tweaking the cue sheet by adding info. about tracks, dangerous intersections etc.    Special thanks to Larry Peed who clued me in about the dirt road I had originally included. We rode at a comfortable pace, stopping to regroup now and then.  Tom had a flat, but quickly caught up with the group.  Donuts too.