Members: Alan Kurzweil, Walt Roscello, Sarah Clement
Guests: none
Ride leader: Debby Bowman
Route: 33 miles, 970 feet of climbing, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11513612
Average speed: just under 14 mph
Weather: Warm sun, 72 degrees, SW winds 10-15 mph
Mishaps and mechanicals: Ride leader underestimated Beltway traffic
Farm animal roll call: We passed a horse that wanted to race us, but just as he started to run he remembered there was a fence keeping him in.

There's an episode of Seinfeld where Elaine tells Jerry about getting stuck in traffic on the Van Wyck Expressway while driving to JFK airport; Jerry nods knowingly, saying, "Nobody beats the Van Wyck." Well nobody beats the Inner Loop in Montgomery County either, but a certain ride leader thought she could do it on Saturday morning. Surely if I start the ride in White Plains at 11:00 I'll have time to run a quick errand in Rockville at 9 am, I thought. Ha ha ha, no. And stop calling me Shirley.

When I arrived at the IHRT terminus at 10:59, Alan and Walt were ready to go. Thank you Alan and Walt for your patience and understanding!! As I was hurrying to get ready to go I looked up and saw Sarah, who had also been delayed in getting to White Plains. At least we didn't need extra time for layering on warm clothes, as the weather was positively springlike.

Once we were on the road, things were uneventful. The route was the same one that I had led on New Year's Day, and was a modified reversal of the route Steve had devised for the Jim and Jane bench dedication a year ago. We began by crossing 301 at the stop light and taking Demarr Rd and St Charles Pkwy to Radio Station and Charles St. Due to the flat terrain I had expected a fast pace, but a steady headwind kept us in check. After taming the Beast of Bel Alton we crossed back over 301 to Chapel Hill (the easy way) and a stop at St Ignatius, where we said hello to the Pope and took a moment to enjoy the view. After the break we continued down Chapel Hill to Causeway, Port Tobacco Rd and Rose Hill (the hard way), then took Bumpy Oak to the IHRT back to White Plains. While riding the trail we passed one inline skater who was probably part of the race that Mia's group had seen. 

Walt had ridden from home so he left the trail early to head back and get changed for the volunteers dinner. Once back at the parking lot, Alan and I admired Sarah's new car and we all agreed that we hoped to be able to continue riding into the winter months. Then Sarah headed for home while Alan and I drove up the road to Mexico. We had timed the ride perfectly, with enough time to get changed for dinner and get to the restaurant just as the thickening clouds announced the arrival of the cold front and its winter winds.

Thanks very much to Sarah, Walt and Alan for joining me for another great bike ride!

The Post

Class: AA/3
Category: Sport
Description: A cup of coffee and a quick spin
Speed Limit Imposed: None
Start: 0930
Location: Manokeek Village Center

The Course

Distance: 34.8 miles
Gain: 943ft
Rest Stops: None
Max Grade: 7.6%

The Ride

Ride Leader: Scott Walker
Riders:  Blake Altman, Steve Koegle, Mike Wilson, Tom Roberts, and Pete Czapiewski
Weather: Sunny, 53 degrees warming to 63, w/winds from the SSW at 8.
Moving Time: 1:43:29
AMS: 20.1
Mechanicals: Dropped chain to start the climb up Pomfret
Mishaps: None
Report:  Blake, Tom, and Mike rode from home and Pete rode in from Friendly.  A tall, chai tea latte at 09:15 and we were off.  Mike circled back towards home early in the ride and Blake did the same very late (Blake w/only about a mile to go before we returned to the parking lot).   Thanks to all for coming out.  Riding fast and tight with you all was, and always is, great fun!!  I’ll post up a similar ride soon (early Dec) for a late Sunday morning start (maybe 11:30ish).

Ron Altemus, Pat Sanders, Pat Walthers and Barry Winkleman joined me on today's ride.  Ron had revised the suggested route from the A/B group to eliminate a long stretch on Brandywine Rd.  We went over Martin, Molly Berry, Baden Naylor, Horsehead, Mt Pleasant, Woodville to join the main route at Gallant Green.  Brandywine continues to have a high number of fast-moving large trucks and we were happy to add a couple of miles and a couple of hills to avoid it.  Head winds made the second half more of a challenge but it was a beautiful fall day and we all enjoyed the excursion.

Joan

Leader: Barbara Haney

Members: Ron Haney. Holly Carr, Jan Tucker, Dave Schnirel, Linda Bankerd, Karen Morgan, Tom Roberts, Brad Francisco, Pete Czapiewski, Ken Meredith

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17707700, stopping at Hughesville and Moreland Market; one of the flattest B of B routes

Weather: Sunny, mid 50s to about 60, NW winds about 10-12 mph

AMS: 16.8 for leader

Report: We had a genuine AA contingent today (Brad, Pete, and Tom, joined at times by Ron and Ken) who we saw only at the rest stops; they posted AMS's above 19. We ABs took advantage of the tailwind to set a brisk pace to the first stop; however, when we then turned west and north the party was over, and we had to contend with a steady headwind that felt worse than it was because so much of the route was on open, unsheltered roads. This lasted the rest of the ride. Ken had to get home, so he skipped the Moreland Market stop, and we really missed his strong pulls from that point on. We took turns doing the work, nonetheless enjoying the sun, warm temps, colorful foliage, and fragrant fall air. It was a breezy, yet enjoyable ride; many thanks to all who turned out.

Note: The CCs rode a variation of the route that avoided the beginning stretch on Brandywine and took them on a slightly longer and hillier route to Hughesville, so we didn't get to see them at the rest stops like we usually do. 

Ron Altemus, Holly Carr and I were the CC group today, simply following along on Barb's chosen route. We enjoyed a pleasant ride, catching up on recent travels, recent life events and recent news.

Leader: Barbara Haney

Members: Ron Haney, Alan Kurzweil, David Schnirel, Mike Bivens, Jan Tucker, Larry Peed, Tom Roberts, Tom Short, Jim Hudnall

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17440368, a new route to La Plata via Hawthorne/Rose Hill/Rt 6, a stop at the Dash In, then a loop west of 301 over some lesser-used but good roads, Oak, Glen Albin, Springhill Newtown, back across 301 and over to Chapel Point and back via Valley/Hawthorne/Marshall Corner/Pomfret

Weather: Overcast, in the low 50s to start, then occasionally sunny, with a steady moderate NW wind, warming up to near 60

AMS: 15.4 for leader

Mechanicals/Mishaps: Larry was beset by unresolvable issues with his on-bike technology; Jim waited and then went back to check up on him, but by then Larry had decided not to continue. Having become separated from the group, Jim used his thorough knowledge of the roads to devise a shortcut that got him to the rest stop about the same time as we did. Hopefully Larry will be back at the next ride with the problem solved.

Report: We started with 10 riders. a nice turnout for this time of year. Despite several windy stretches on open roads, it was a pleasant day on the bike; we split and regrouped several times but in general rode together. The route gets a thumbs-up: there are some nice roads out there that are not over-familiar, and the La Plata Dash In is a good facility for a rest stop. Overall the drivers were courteous, the worst incident occurring on Chapel Point, where an oncoming van had to come to a stop to avoid colliding headlong with a car that was passing us. Fortunately this is a rare occurrence, but it is always scary and makes roads with wide shoulders ever more welcome, as well as making us appreciate even more those drivers who are patient...As usual, thanks to all who came out this morning!

Members: Janell Saunders, Alan Kurzweil, Mary Edington
Guests: Stephen Cohen
Ride leader: Debby Bowman
Route: 30-39 miles, 1800 feet of climbing for the full route, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17580247
Average speed: 13 mph at the back
Weather: Another great fall weekend -- warm sunshine, cloudless blue skies, temps in the 60s
Mishaps and mechanicals: None
Farm animal roll call: Horses at numerous farms, a donkey, some unimpressed cows, a couple of llamas on Baden Westwood just before the turn to Westwood Rd

Despite the cold temperatures overnight, we had near-perfect weather for a bike ride this afternoon. Even the usually cold North Keys Park was comfortable in the warm sun. Our route was basically a variation on the top half of the Patuxent River Rural Legacy ride, which was the last time yours truly has ridden in the Brandywine area. We began by heading down Martin, Molly Berry and Baden Naylor to Baden Westwood, Westwood and Bald Eagle School, then up Croom and down Tanyard to Nottingham, Fenno and Merkle. After leaving Merkle we rode up St Thomas Church and continued north on Croom. From there the full route went up to Mount Calvert Rd, then down Duvall and Croom Airport Rd all the way to the Jug Bay picnic area for a second stop. The final leg went up Croom Airport and included the Duley Station-Cheltenham-Old Indian Head-Van Brady loop on the way back to Molly Berry, N Keys and the park.

The ride was pleasantly uneventful. We spread out on the hills and then regrouped again at the turns. All five of us enjoyed the first stop at the Merkle visitors' center. After that we split up. Alan and Stephen rode ahead, planning to do the Mount Calvert-Duvall-Croom Airport loop but skipping the down-and-back to the second stop at the picnic area. Mary opted to take the short cut noted on the cue sheet, turning left onto Duley Station from Croom Rd instead of continuing up to Mount Calvert. Janell and I rode the entire route, including a quick stop at Jug Bay.

The Brandywine area is beautiful in the autumn afternoon sun. Thanks to everyone for enjoying it with me on today's ride!

On this cold Sunday, where the early morning temperature was 27 degrees when I woke up, Ron and Barbara Haney, Ken Meredith, Brian Dupuy, all OHBTC Club members,  and one other who joined Linda Bankerd & Sherwood Byers (Ride Leaders), for this late morning ride. About 9 miles into the ride another rider joined, but did not sign in for this wonderful ride to Mason Springs.  If not for a flat tire and a truck driver who ran through a stop sign on Mason Springs Road which almost plowed into us, the ride would have been pristine perfect.  The sun made the temperature very comfortable as we rode along and viewed the leaves changing their colors and hardly no traffic or wind to worry about.  What a wonderful ride.

Thank you to all that came to ride.

Wasn't sure if I would  have riders this morning as other B rides (or combination rides with the B class) were put on the schedule, giving club members and guests other options.  I was happy to be joined by Stuart and Karen Morgan, Cathy Wilson, and Kirk Saunders on this cold but clear morning.  The temperature at ride start was 38 degrees but we used the climb up Berry Rd to get us warmed up.  This was Kirk's first time back on Accokeek Rd since club member, Lou Dallorso, was hit by a car on this road.  There was traffic but fortunately no mishaps.  This was a good group, staying together throughout the ride, with regrouping at the top of any hills encountered, specifically, Dr. Mudd Rd.  Uneventful ride with the exception of me having my first Moon Pie ever!  300 totally empty calories.  Thank goodness I was midway through the ride with time to work it off!