Ride Leader: Mike Bivins

There are 12 opportunities each century to ride when the day, month, and year are the same.  Even though bicycling is great for your health and prolongs longevity, unfortunately, most of us won't be around to ride on Jan, 1, 2101. Today 12 (-8) riders (Joan Oppel, Steve Palincsar, and Tom Short) rode a 12 (x3) mile route in 12 (x4) degree weather, Ride leader, starting and ending from home added 12 to the start and 12 at the end.  We went down 12 (-10) hills (Bumpy Oak and Rose Hill) to go east on Port Tobacco Road and then through the Quailwood neighborhood.  The first rest stop was at Dash In (appropriately named in case it looked like the world was coming to an end).  We continued across 301 to Rosewick, Radio Station Rd, La Plata Rd and then turned on Piney Church. We passed Blue Crabs Stadium and new neighborhoods one rider described as either a Gulag or minimum security penal colony.  The second rest stop was at WaWa (which in Mayan means Wide Arms/Welcome All). We returned to Bryans Road via Billingsley and Middletown Roads, the IHRT, Pomfret and Livingston. The sun peeked out for about 12 seconds and wind gusts did get as high as 12 mph.  Sweeping from the rear the AMS was 12 (+1.5). Disappointed there weren't more riders today, but assume they're waiting for the next opportunity. 

   

Ride Leader: Steve Palincsar

Ride Leader: Blake Altman

We held our Sunday morning ride at Rosaryville, riders included Will, Matt, Randy and Barry. We decided to make this a fast ride so everyone could get back in time to watch the foot ball game. We followed the course clockwise, at the inner loop Will & Randy followed the inner loop in a figure 8 pattern, and Matt & I followed the standard course. After the inner loop, we continued the ride and followed the course back to the trail head.

Combining both song ("Riders on the Storm") and film ("Gorillas in the Mist"), today's ride could have been subtitled "Riders in the Mist."  Seven others (Jan Tucker, Diane Harris, Larry Peed, Janell Saunders, Clair (almost at 6K for the year) and George Chiamulera and Mike Levesque) joined Rider Leader Mike Bivens on this 32 mile B paced outing.  The weather forecasters were correct - it did not rain, but the mist made it seem we were riding in a cloud.  The temps were mild though.  While there were opportunities to turn around or take one of several short cuts, all rode the entire route.  Janell and Mike L. arrived at the start riding from home and Janell left the group before we went down Marshall Hall and up Barrys Hill.  Up to that point, I swept from the rear and rode with Janell just in case there was an issue with a tire or tube, plus I like listening to her tunes.  A short rest stop at Halfway Liquors (no public restroom) gave everyone a chance to clear glasses and dry helmets.  Apparently there are a lot of football fans in the area who were not rooting for either Washington or Baltimore and/or many others had already completed their shopping, because there was more traffic than anticipated, but no incidents and the hot cup of coffee at Starbucks at the end with Diane and Mike capped off another adventure.  Same ride at same time next Sunday (Dec 16) from same location, but we'll reverse the route and go down Barrys Hill.     

Ride Leader: Dan Donahue

This route incorporated a modified Bishop’s Strawberry Festival Ride (no strawberries) through parts of northern and central St. Mary’s Co.  Participants were Diana Donahue and Sarah Clement. 

Departure at 1:00 p.m. included overcast skies, temps in the low 50’s, and damp trail/road surfaces.  Later in the ride the sun came out and temps climbed to the mid-50’s, but the predicted 60 degree high temps never materialized.  The ride became more tour-oriented as we took time to visit the interior of Christ Church in Chaptico (a national historic landmark) and the Chaptico Market for lunch (the market is a bike-friendly establishment-probably more friendly to motorcyclists, but still civil to bicyclists).   The casual pace (13.0 ams) forced a short detour to ensure arrival back at the starting point prior to darkness. 

Unfortunately, as Diana and I were pedaling on Mechanicsville Rd., each of us was accosted by a pick-up truck swerving partway onto the shoulder in a clear attempt to intimidate us.  We were barely in sight of each other when the truck swerved, so he had to make a deliberate effort twice to come onto the shoulder.  Sarah, who was ahead of us and out of sight, reported that she did not have this experience, so I suspect that the truck may have turned off into one of the housing developments along this portion of Mechanicsville Road.  We have a partial identification of the truck and will be on the lookout for it.  We will also be speaking to some local police officer friends about what can be done.  At a minimum, I would think that the driver could be charged with a violation of the 3-foot rule, reckless driving, and/or reckless endangerment.

On a positive note, it was a very enjoyable ride except for the above incident.  Diana did suffer a flat but, fortunately, as darkness was falling, she was able to walk her bike ½ mile back to our home.  She had slipped behind as I had put on speed to try to catch up to Sarah.  There were no mechanicals on this trip.

I’m now re-thinking the idea of leading weapon-less rides!

DAN

At 10:00am 8 riders departed from Accokeek firehouse to embark on what I will affectionately call ‘ The weather man lied again ride “ no 60 degree temps, no sunshine, a lot of fog and wet roads.

 

With all that said it was a wonderful day to be in good health and able to get in a nice ride with some great people. Joining me were my co-leader Belinda Acre, Calvin Conyers, Jim and Jane Hudnall, Larry Peed, Pat Wathers and Ron Leaks.

 

Jim took pictures of the group in front of perhaps the last remaining store that likes us..... well at least they have not said they hate us yet ! what a relief !!

 

All went well and concluded with the most perfectly harmonized version of happy birthday to Calvin I ever heard. Of course I still had my balaclava on, which covered my ears and I could not be sure, however Calvin had a big smile on his face when it was finished. Perhaps He was happy it was over.

As Reggie put it, it was a "'The weather man lied again ride' no 60 degree temps, no sunshine, a lot of fog and wet roads"  out in Anne Arundel and Calvert counties, just as it was in Accokeek.  The overcast finally did clear up, but not until everyone had departed Harwood for the trip back home.

There were many cyclists in the Southern HS parking lot: most Potomac Pedalers on Richard and Nancy's A and B rides, a good sized group in the far corner wearing racing team kit -- ABRT, I think -- and for my B/CC version, Joan Oppel, Linda and Paul Bankerd and Barbara Hoover.

Although the same total distance, this route was different from the A/B in several respects.  At the start, we went down Polling House rather than Harwood -- a bit more rolling, somewhat less sustained downhill, better, I thought for warm up on a chilly feeling morning -- and joined up with Sands just as the tail end of the A/B ride  cruised by.  

For the next 25 miles, the routes were the same until we crossed the bridge over the Rockhold Creek in Deale.   The conventional route goes straight down Deale Rd. to the rest stop; we instead turned down Drum Point Rd and rode past modest beach cottages in Owings Beach and Masons Beach, winding through quiet streets along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay before rejoining the main route on Deale Rd.

After the rest stop, we again departed from the conventional route, turning left on Bay Front and crossing back over Rockhold Creek to Nutwell Sudley, a pretty road that seldom features in our routes.

We were the last ones back, AMS in the mid-13s, feeling once again how much fun you can have on a day that really isn't all that nice.

As predicted the sun appeared as soon as the last rider returned to the parking lot. Not that we can really complain about riding when the temperature was in the low 50's on a December morning. We had a great group of 15 Oxon Hill riders who joined 15 Potomac Pedalers to ride through the countryside to and around Deale. Since we had a large group it split into very fast riders, fast riders and reasonable riders. I think everyone found a group that fit the pace they wanted to do. Many thanks to all of you who came out.

Nancy Avitabile and Richard Edelman

 

 

On Friday, Dec. 7, the IHRT (IH to WP and back) riders included Holly Carr, Steve Palincsar, Vicki Garlock, Jim Hudnall and Jane Hudnall.  Pre-ride discussion included motorist/cyclist violence.  The morning on-line Washington Post had an article about a confrontation between a cyclist and a motorist that ended with the motor vehicle driver being stabbed by the cyclist.  Prior to getting under way, this ride leader requested that ride participants leave their weapons, if any, in their vehicles.  I don’t consider HALT, tire changing tools, locks, bike pumps, or fenders as weapons. 

Holly and Steve having ridden from Accokeek, put in an extra 12 miles, while Jim and Jane, who joined the ride late, probably put in 22 miles.  The ride provided ample opportunity for viewing winter-like scenery.  No mechanicals or flats occurred, although part of Jim and Jane’s delay was due to a pre-ride flat suffered by Jim.  Weather conditions were typical for a December ride, with temperatures in the mid-40’s, with damp, but no wet, trail conditions. 

Note:  future OHBT club rides that I may lead will be “weapons-free.”   

DAN