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Ride Reports

Ride Leaders are encouraged to post reports on their rides. Members can comment on ride reports and anyone can read the reports and comments. Instructions for posting a report

You must be logged in to post a ride report. To log in, enter your Email and Password in the upper right corner and click the "Login" button. If you need a password, click Forgot Password. After you login, you will see an "Add Post" button.

Click the “Add Post” button. For the Date and Time, enter the date and start time of the ride

For Subject, enter the Month/Day - Ride Name - Class and number of miles; for example: “6/30 - No Deale Ride - B 45 miles”.

In the Body box, enter your ride report. You can enter it directly into the text box using the word-processor features on the tool bar. After you enter the report, click the “Post” button at the top or bottom of the page and your ride report will be posted on the web site. As the author of the report, you will be able to edit or add to the report.

For a good article on Ride Reports and adding photos to Ride Reports, see pages 7 and 8 of the March 2018 "Spoke-n-Word" .

Here is suggested template for the body that you can copy (control-c) and paste (control-v) into the body of your ride posting.

Leader: 

Members: 

Guests: 

Route: 

Weather: 

AMS: 

Mechanicals/Mishaps: 

Report: 
 


  • Fri, January 05, 2024 1:00 PM | Ron Altemus (Administrator)

    Leader:   Ron Altemus

    Members:   Sherwood Byers, Sr., Donaro Gardner, Darrell Meyer, Denny Miller, Gene Villiva

    Route:  Indian Head Rail Trail from Livingston Rd parking lot east to White Plains and return

    Weather:  sunshine and blue skies with high altitude thin cloud puffs, 4-5 mph SW breezes with temps starting in the upper 30s and maybe reaching 40-41 degrees

    AMS:   varied by rider; your faithful correspondent swept in the low 11s

    Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

    Report:  start time was changed to 1 pm in hopes of some solar warming, which at least brought the temps into the upper 30s instead of near freezing.  Thankfully, all riders where in full polar bear/freezing saddles cycling attire and coupled with the sunshine, it didn't seem too terribly cold.

    Only a few fellow cyclists, some runners, and a couple of young ladies on roller skates to share the trail with during our ride.  Wildlife was evidently hunkered down staying warm as there were no sightings to report. 

  • Mon, January 01, 2024 10:30 AM | Joan Oppel (Administrator)

    Leader - Joan Oppel

    Members - Esther Steward, Robin Garnett, Janet Shipko, Patricia Sanders, Catherine Ade, Gene Villiva, Steve Palincsar, Paul Hamilton, Lisa Peterson, Rick Hagen, Norm Lisy, Chris Moriarity, Linda Bankerd, Sherwood Byers,  Ron Altemus, Alan Kurzweil, Carol Torgan

    Route - from Washington Sailing Marina, 

    Weather - Cloudy, 36 at start with scattered rain drops not amounting to actual rain but reappearing periodically during the ride, 38 at end (temperature readings from my Garmin)

    Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

    Report - Seventeen of us left the marina in a long line, met another rider at the Jefferson Memorial (who remained with us in DC) and another who joined us for the coffee shop stop. Rain drops visited us periodically during the ride but no actual precipitation.

    We visited the Tidal Basin side of the Jefferson Memorial, viewed the Martin Luther King Memorial from inside (without bikes), then the Lincoln and the WWII and on to a warm stop at a coffee shop just outside the White House. By the time we left the coffee shop several riders had left us. Thirteen hardy riders continued on to the end.

    Brief stop at the White House, then down 15th St cycle track to the Pennsylvania Ave cycle track-which we didn't need today because Pennsylvania Ave was closed all the way to the Capitol for a fitness walk!

    Around the Peace Monument at the Capitol, up the nice long hill on Constitution, waving at the Supreme Court, into the Capitol Plaza from First St, waving to the Library of Congress and then stopping at the Botanical Gardens.

    We then returned across the Mall and most of the group chose to do the Hains Point Loop (traditional NY Day gathering of cyclists from all over the DMV). Potomac Pedalers members Catherine Kitchell and Butch Counts had a hot drink and snacks station, including hot chocolate that most of us enjoyed. We were chilled but glad to get out and know that we had ridden all year. 

    More pictures: Lisa Peterson (in pink jacket) and Rick Hagen had a 360 degree camera mounted on a 4 foot pole on the back of Lisa's bike, taking pictures as we rode.  



  • Sun, December 31, 2023 5:06 PM | Jessica Hirschhorn (Administrator)

    Riders were Linda Bankerd, Linda Blackman, Marc Blackman, Denise Calloway, Andrea Clayville, Lisa Friedman, Jenny Haddon, Rick Hagen, Nicole Heckman, Sabine Hentrich, Jessica Hirschhorn, Cynthia Nuzzi, Lisa Petersen, Lynn Schoenfelder, Janet Shipko, Leslie Tierstein, Kurt VanGelder and Cameron Waggoner.   18 in total.  

    ROUTE:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42647025  40 miles circumnavigating the DMV.  Trails included Capitol Crescent Trail, Rock Creek Trail, Douglass Bridge, Anacostia River Trail, Rachel Carson Greenway, Sligo Creek Trail, and Beach Drive.    Keeping this large group together was a challenge, worse after our lunch stop at the MD Meadworks (which everyone enjoyed!)  In Sligo Creek Trail, and in the transition from the trail to Beach Drive (using local streets and some admittedly confusing turns) was a challenge.  We lost a cyclist who needed to rest and got behind the sweep (me) unbeknownst.  She missed an important turn despite having RWGPS running, but used Google Maps/Bike mode to get back to start, where I was waiting for her. 

    Milage 40.6

    Mechanicals:  2 dropped chains, and 1 loss of DI2 battery life, necessitating spousal pickup of cyclist. 

    PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/96852862@N07/shares/3u34088j0p

    We all enjoyed this Adventure despite its occasional challenges. 

    Looking forward to leading it again with a smaller group.  

     

  • Sun, December 31, 2023 12:00 PM | Diane Harris (Administrator)

    Leader - Diane Harris 

    Members - Liam H, Sherwood B, Theresa R, Sam P, Lori M, Alan K

    Route - From the Manokeek Shopping Center, Accokeek MD 

    Weather - Sunny, temperature in the 40s, occasionally breezy

    AMS - Ride leader ended with 14.5

    Mechanicals/Mishaps - None

    Report - It's been a while since I've led a ride for the club and today was a perfect reintroduction for me. Nice route, nice weather, good company. Thanks to all who joined me. 


  • Sun, December 31, 2023 11:00 AM | Stephen Palincsar (Administrator)

    The group at Smallwood Park

    Leader: Steve Palincsar

    Members: Mary Scala, Catherine Ade, Patricia Sanders, Joan Oppel, Donaro Gardner, Ron Altemus, Janell Saunders and Pat Walthers

    Guests: none

    Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45236419

    Weather: What a lovely day for December 31!  Sunny, low 40s at the start rising to the high 40s by early afternoon.

    AMS: 11.0

    Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

    Report: We welcomed out the old year with a ride that welcomed back Pat Walthers, who had been rehabbing from a knee replacement.  It was a fairly easy, very simple route that Pat picked out, up Hawthorne and Mighty Mount Pisgah, Ripley to Poorhouse, Poorhouse to Bicknell to Chicamuxen and a stop at Smallwood Park.  Return was Chicamuxen with the usual diversion on Marbury Run Rd back to Livingston Rd.  We all had fun, and at the end Pat felt tired but good, and happy to be with friends again.  We were equally happy to be with her again, and just in time to see the old year out.

    Happy 2024, everyone!  See you next year.

  • Sat, December 30, 2023 10:30 AM | Ron Altemus (Administrator)

    Leader:  Ron Altemus

    Members/Guest:  Donaro Gardner, Darrell Meyer,  guest Claudia Guidi, Steve palincsar


    Route:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44628163 32.6 miles, 771' elevation change.  Regular Tour routing to Bryan's Road then meanderings through South Hampton and Timber Ridge subdivisions back to Marshall Hall Road.  Descent of Marshall Hall Road to an exploration on Fenwick prior to a rest stop at Marshall Hall Landing.  Return featured out and back on River Rd,  Barry Hill Road, a short excursion on Old Marshall Hall Road and return to the firehouse.

    Weather:  overcast throughout with temps in a narrow range of the mid 40s and 8 mph breezes out of the SW

    AMS:  swept 11ish

    Mechanicals/Mishaps:   none

    Report:   Penultimate ride of 2023 featured views of the Bryans Road area that several participants had never seen nor ridden.  We toured as a group throughout the ride, at times side-by-side conversation was quite prevalent.  More homes continue to be built in the subdivisions off of Marshall Hall Road:  quite amazing that there are so many back there.

    Guest Claudia enjoyed her introduction to this part of Southern Maryland.   Hopefully, she'll be joining the club to experience additional favorite club routes.

    The out and back on Fenwick offered a couple of photo ops:

    View across the Potomac to Mason Neck's Hallowing Point neighborhood:

    An interesting Christmas display, photo courtesy of Steve Palincsar:

  • Fri, December 29, 2023 10:30 AM | Ron Altemus (Administrator)

    Leader:  Ron Altemus

    Members:  Gene Villiva, Jackie & Randy Schoch, Darrell Meyer, Sherwood Byers, Sr.  Not pictured:  Donaro Gardner



    Route:   Indian Head Rail Trail, Livingston Rd parking lot to White Plains for a rest stop, then return to the start.

    Weather:   temp range from u mid 40s to lower 50s, SW winds 6-7 mph, mostly cloudy.  Still pleasant for this time of year.

    AMS:   varied by rider

    Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

    Report:   A good number of walkers/joggers using the trail but not too many other cyclists.  Given the rains of Tuesday/Wednesday, the Mattawoman Creek was swollen and overflowing its normal streambed between Pomfret and Livingston.  Numerous sections of land along the trail where underwater, which is good as this area had been extremely dry.

    This was the last Friday IHRT ride of 2023.   Not to fear though, as we'll be backing riding again come the first Friday of 2024.  Hope to see you out there with us.

  • Thu, December 28, 2023 9:14 PM | Ron Altemus (Administrator)

    Leader:   Ron Altemus & Joan Oppel

    Members:  Janet Shipko & Gene Villiva

    Route:   meanderings through several neighborhoods of the Greater Fort Hunt Metropolitan Statistical Area (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45176143  12.2 miles, 273' elevation change)

    Weather:  relatively balmy for the end of December with temps in the low 50s, minimal air movement, and dark skies

    AMS:  slow

    Mechanicals/Mishaps:   our guest rider, Claudia Guidi, attempted to ride from her Arlington home to the ride start.  She got lost and arrived very late and when she tried to call the ride leader (your faithful correspondent), he had his phone set to not ring for unknown callers.  So she ended up missing the ride.

    Report:   The weather was the big story - no one got cold on this ride.  We saw plenty of nicely decorated homes and a few that were completely over the top.  The house on Collingwood Rd, winner of a national competition several years ago but dark last year as the owner recovered from injuries and illnesses, was lit up again this year.  Not as grandiose as in year's past, but still very brilliant.

     Creek Drive

     Culpepper Rd

     Collingwood Rd

    (apologies for a photo that does no justice to this nice lighting display)

     Crowley Rd


  • Thu, December 28, 2023 9:30 AM | Joan Oppel (Administrator)

    Leader - Joan Oppel

    Members - Linda Bankerd, Sherwood Byers, Harold Datz, Susan Golonka, Steve Palincsar, Patricia Sanders, Janet Shipko, Rita Zeidner, Randy Schoch and Jackie Schoch

    Route - from Bryans Roiad Shopping Center - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45229547

    Weather - Cloudy, mid-40s to start, ending in 50s

    Mechanicals/Mishaps - Sherwood had a flat which he reported he quickly fixed.

    Report - Great day for a ride after a rainy couple of days. It never felt really cold, though cloudy skies kept the temperature down somewhat. Low traffic for most of the route and the quiet roads were appreciated. The Goose Bay store was closed but the porch was a comfy place for a rest stop, as usual. The group separated out a couple miles from the beginning, couple of people off the front, couple of people off the back, but we regrouped periodically and the core 7 stayed more or less together. Very enjoyable ride.


  • Sun, December 24, 2023 10:30 AM | Stephen Palincsar (Administrator)

    A unique take on Three Wise Men and their camels, or maybe Shepherds and their Sheep, featuring harvest figures with skeletons as the wiseguys and antlered duck decoys as whatever it is they're portraying.  Seen on Hurry Rd.  photo by Janell Saunders

    Leader: Steve Palincsar

    Members: Ron Altemus, Ken Meredith, Janell Saunders

    Guests: none

    Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39343336 -- at least, that was the original intention, based on weather that didn't happen.  What we did instead was shorten the ride by six miles, skipping the out and back to Cobrums Wharf and instead retracing back on Colton Point Rd to Hurry after leaving the rest stop at 7th District Park.  We also decided to return on the Three Notch Trail instead of Old Village Rd.

    Weather: The Capital Weather Gang said "A couple of showers could linger into the morning, but they’re out of here quick if so. Otherwise, a mix of clouds and sun with highs in a 50 to 55 range most spots. Winds blow from the south around 5 to 10 mph."  Not quite.  We had rain on the way down to St Marys County, clearing at 10:00, but genuine rain at 11 (happily we were at Baggett Park under the roof when it came) and then scattered drizzle on the way down Colton Point Rd before the break at 7th District Park and on Hurry Rd on the way to Chaptico.  High 40s at the start, maybe 50 for the high, but damp due to the rain.

    AMS: 11.8

    Mechanicals/Mishaps: none

    Report: We had some light patchy drizzle in a couple of places.  There was some actual, genuine rain while we were at Baggett Park (just white noise coming from the roof for about ten minutes, as far as we were concerned) but we were comfortably out of it, and it was over by the time we were ready to roll.  It was Dec 24th and we had a nice ride with friends.  It could have been a White Christmas; thank goodness it wasn't.  Snow today would have made me very sad indeed.

    Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
P.O. Box 81  
Oxon Hill, MD 20750-0081

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