Ride leader: Steve Palincsar
Riders: Bob Howell, Loretta Troen, Alan Kurzweil
Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4191135 -- or, at least, that was what we planned.  However, after over 10 miles of steady drizzle and light rain we decided to shorten the route by 8 miles, ending up with 27 instead of the planned 35.
Weather: 42-45, overcast turning to drizzle and then light rain.  As we finished the ride, the skies cleared and temperatures started rising, but by then it was too late for us.  Still, it was good to get out and ride.  As reported, Old Sycamore is definitely closed. 

It was windy, but wonderful.  So many people showed up:  Excuse me if I spelled any names wrong....Jan and Ron Tucker, Joan Oppel, Loretta Troen, Patricia Sanders, Karen and Taylor Morgan, Janell Saunders, Lisa Orcen, Steve Palinscar (Ride Leader of the Year), Ken Meredith, John Early, Margie Chattab, Linda Bankerd, Jim and Jane Hudnall, Lopu Dallgen, and Carol G.  We worked hard to get up  Mason Springs Road, and then we opted for Bumpy Oak because the shoulder is wider for a large group.  On this day, the first of daylight savings time and the opening of the Washington Post Peeps contest, we pondered.  Should we enter a Tour De Peep display next year?  We are looking for suggestions, and any input for how to obtain/make a peepcycle...  Please chime in.

Ride Leader:  Blake Altman

Date March 9, 2014

Ride Name:  Goose Bay 36

Ride Distance:  36 miles

Average Speed of the Ride:  18.2

Ride Class:  A

Mechanical Issues: None

Weather: Upper 40’s to lower 50’s, sunny, and windy

Guest Riders: None

Member Riders: Darin King, Scott Walker, Matthew Lewandowski

 

Ride Report:

 

Well it’s March and we all know what March is famous for – wind.  The web says the wind was 20 to 24 MPH out of the northwest for the period of ride.  So we had a quick ride from the north to the south towards Goose Bay with the wind mostly behind us.  Of course, when we turned north to return, we got to enjoy an excellent work-out into the wind.  Matthew’s GPS tells the tale of the ride; we had a 20+ MPH average out and just over 16 MPH on the return.  Other than the wind, it was a good ride with everyone staying together and working together throughout.

Ride Leaders: Jane and Jim Hudnall

Ride Leader: Debby Bowman
Members: Thomas Short, Alan Kurzweil, Walter Meesdy, Susan Estes, Linda Bankerd
Guests: Dennis Scanlon, Bob Essink
Route: 35 miles, 1651 feet of climbing, http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4153888
Average speed: 14.3 mph at the back
Weather: Beautiful!! Sunshine with temps rising from 50 at start to 60 at the end
Mishaps and mechanicals: 1 flat tire

Spring is making a comeback!! Eight cyclists met at Southern High School for this shorter, later-starting B ride, and we were greeted with sunny blue skies, temps above 50 and good road conditions. Walter planned to ride a CC pace, so he rode on his own behind the group.

We traveled in a clockwise loop, going west on Harwood Rd, then north on Patuxent River and Queen Anne Bridge up to Central Ave, where we headed east for a few miles. Then we went south on Brick Church, S. River Clubhouse and Muddy Creek Rds to our rest stop in Galesville, where we found Janell's group taking their break at High's. While at the gas station we had our only mechanical, as Linda discovered she had a pinch flat. After fixing the flat, we took off down Owensville Rd for short trip to Deale. We went south on Owensville Sudley/Sudley Rd, then made the left to remain on Sudley, turned briefly onto Muddy Creek and then turned onto Swamp Circle Rd. We took Bay Front to Rockhold Creek to Deale Rd, then turned north up Nutwell Sudley and headed back to the school. While on Sudley we passed Walter as he pedaled towards Deale.

On a side note, I was happy to see some (new?) Cyclists May Use Full Lane signs on Harwood and Sudley Rds, and noticed others on Sands Rd as I was driving home. They should be very helpful in such a popular cycling area.

Many thanks to everyone who joined me for a fun ride today.

Ride Leader:  Blake Altman (Substituting for Diane Harris)

Date March 8, 2014

Ride Name:  Davidsonville Park and Ride

Ride Distance:  49 miles

Average Speed of the Ride:  17.3 to 18.9

Ride Class:  A

Mechanical Issues: None

Weather: Upper 40’s to upper 50’s, breezy, and Sunny

Guest Riders: Chris Garret

Member Riders: Darin King, Matthew Lewandowski, Claire Chiamulera, Rita Zeidner, Charles Sidwell, Harris Hudson, Richard Hen, John Giglio, Steve Koegle, Jessica Livingston

 

Ride Report:

 

When I arrived Diane was in her “civvies”.  She told me something had come up and asked me to lead the ride.  Thanks Diane for making the drive all the way to Davidsonville just to find a ride leader and provide the cue sheet and sign-in sheet!

 

Given the average speed range it is no surprise that the group quickly split into multiple groups.  By the time we had finished the first small loop, the front groups were lost to sight from the back group.  The tail of the ride caught the front folks at Highs in Galesville.  After the break, most of us rode down to the water for another short break.

 

Following the rest stops the group rode together for a few miles but shortly fractured again.  No matter, everyone made it back to the start without incident.  I think everyone enjoyed the ride and the nice weather even if I’m no Diane.

Ride Leader:  Janell Saunders

Ride Distance:  47 miles

Average Speed of the Ride:  14ish

Ride Class:  B

Mechanical Issues: None

Weather: Upper 40’s to upper 50’s, breezy, and Sunny

Member Riders: Joan Oppel, Rita Zeia, Ken Meredith, Holly Carr

Guests: Jeff Wolfram 

Well, I was late having missed the exit, which meant I had to go all the way to Riva Rd to do the turn around, so got there right at 10.  But, my intent was a relaxing B ride, which is exactly what we did.  My average never got over 14.5. 

After just a few miles we saw a couple folks waiting for us....Harris Hudson and John Agazzi decided to back off the "A" pace and join us.  We all rode together but then John decided to turn around at 10 miles to shorten the ride, still recuperating from his hip injury. A couple  other folks went off at a faster pace and we caught up to the them at the gas station rest stop in Galesville. Most of us skipped the ride down to the official rest stop, shortening the ride by 2 miles, no matter. We also saw Debbys group as they rode into the gas station.  We invited a few of them to join us, but they were happy not to, hmph!

I think we all enjoyed the more relaxed pace, the great weather, great roads and great company.

We held our Sunday morning Mountain Bike Ride at Cedarville. The group managed to get started around 10:15 and followed the trails counter clock wise. Benny & Joni meet up with the group near the lake trail. Riders included Barry, Randy, Matt, Joni, and Benny.

A lone warm day with a hint of sunshine was not to be missed.  Tamara Miller, on her first ride as an Oxon Hill member, Janell Saunders, Pano Gianniotis and myself rode the familiar route from the Starbucks with a different ending.  No Barry's Hill, a nice decent on Farmingham, only to go up Chatsworth.

Ride Leader:  Blake Altman

Date March 2, 2014

Ride Name:  Hidden Amish

Ride Distance:  46 miles

Average Speed of the Ride:  17.7

Ride Class:  A

Mechanical Issues: None

Weather: 40’s to 50’s, breezy, and cloudy to partly cloudy

Guest Riders: None

Member Riders: Darin King, Matthew Lewandowski, Scott Walker, Diane Harris, Claire Chiamulera

 

Ride Report:

 

What a great ride!  The weather was nice ahead of yet another winter storm.  We had a well matched group of riders who stayed together throughout.  Matthew had his new Zip wheels and he was really rolling along!  I don’t have too much else to say except it was fun.