Sat March 10. Gallant Green (Truman Manor the Hard Way, Even Longer). B, 45 mi. Leader: Steve Palincsar Winter came calling today, and he brought his friend, the wind, along for company. It was a clear, sunny day but although the temperatures almost touched 50 the booties, balaclavas and wind layers never came off, thanks to the wind. There was a big crowd at the Brandywine Firehouse, with both my B ride and John Gorman's CC 35 mi version drawing good crowds. Polly's ride was canceled. Among the B's were Richard Harrington, Mike Bivens, Jan Tucker, Cathy Wilson, John Rady(?), Sam Brasel, Janell Saunders, Ken Meredith, Holly Carr, Jane and Jim Hudnall, Herb Pruitt, Michell Dyer and guest Danzie Seaward. The route was an extended version of one of the routes we do on Thursdays from the Firehouse to the Moreland Market by way of Dent and Dr. Mudd for the first rest stop, where we met with John's CC group. After the break, both groups headed south on Gallant Green to Truman Manor, dividing when we got to the grade on Celestial - John going left on Young to bypass the hill, while the B's went up it to Wilkerson, back to Aquasco and east on Dr. Bowen (backwards from the usual) to a second rest stop at The Little Store. [p] From the second break it was a tough slog into a 12-23 mph north wind on Brandywine to Croom (the Fast People motoring off in a pace line, leaving a trail of stragglers behind), where we turned left and went back to Malcolm, then north on Horsehead over to Baden Westwood and east on Westwood to Bald Eagle School. It's the first time I've been down the hill on Westwood in years; the new pavement is simply marvelous. From there, a quick jog over Nelson Perrie to Molly Berry and Martin to North Keys back to the Firehouse. Lanterne Rouge and the Cycling Snails finished with 14 mph averages; who knows what the Fast People did, they were gone when we arrived. [Photos]

Today's ride was a combined ride start with Steve P's B-pace was a similar extended route. Today's temps of course (after several days this week near 60) for us weekend only riders, was only in the low 40s w/ 10-15mph winds, but very clear and brillant sun. Ride leader John Gorman, was joined by members Pat Walthers, Belinda Acre, and Kenny Statom.  I had never gone as far south as this PG/Charles County route travels, but for those who enjoy a nearly flat with long stretches of straightways before the reststop at mile 15, it offers a wonderful fairly traffic-free rural ride. We and the B group gathered together at Moreland's Store about the same time. Thanks to Steve P's suggestion to avoid a major steep hill midway thru Celestial Ln, we took a left on Young Rd which added 2-4 miles onto the cuesheet, but our cassettes, chains,  and legs were happier for it.  (no need to waste a nice ride because of non-level ground)  Considering eventually, this route takes you back thru the hills of Molly Berry, and N Keys, before heading home on Brandywine Rd.  Also this route, which Belinda availed herself to, offers a shortcut at mile 26 and goes straight back on Brandywine to the parking lot. I would highly recommend this route to C riders using the 31 mile short cut (this shortcut elminates the hills on the return), and others who are looking for a ride that doesn't leave you exhausted at the end.   No mechanical problems to report. The ride leaders' pace was 13.34 between sweeping/leading/covering .

Leader was Jackie Schoch.  Riders were Randy Schoch, Brian Riley (Guest), Larry Peed, Jan  Tucker, Debi Jiggitts, Richard Harrington, Paris Watson (Guest), Jane and Jim Hudnall, Steve Palincsar and Jeanne Ulrich.  What a great day for a bike ride and it didn't RAIN.  A group of us had dinner at the deli.  A great time by all. [Photos]

March 8 Best of Brandywine: Croomium Plus. Leader: Steve Palincsar. Today the lamb roared. As promised, it was indeed sunny, temperatures getting up to the low 70s, but you'd never have known it except when climbing the "sunken road" section of Molly Berry, out of the wind, when it felt like 90. We had a big group today: Patricia Sanders, Grant Bagley, Mike Bivens, Ken Meredith (on his new custom Titanium Seven - and it really looked like his size, too!) Holly Carr, Alan Kurzweil, Tom Roberson, Richard Harrington, Diane Harris, Thomas Short, Paul and Linda Bankerd, Jane and Jim Hudnall, Sharon Miller, Sam Perry and David VanAmayden -- 18, two more than the number of cue sheets I printed. Normally that's no big deal, given how well most of the Thursday Regulars know the roads around Brandywine, but today it didn't work out for Sharon, who had no cue sheet and lost contact after turning back to the parking lot. She called Jim, who went back, linked up and met us after the break at Magruders. The route included Croom, more Croom, even more Croom, and a few extras for good measure: an initial 13 miles with only 160' of elevation gain and loss of 200', including a stretch on Malcolm riding directly into a 20 mph headwind doing all of 8 mph; followed by the Croom Rollers and Magruders Ferry Rd. with their 14+% grades, some more rollers on Croom, then over Nelson Perrie, up Molly Berry and a loop around Candy Hill and Nottingham to a second rest stop at the Nottingham Store. Normally going north on Croom from Aquasco is "The Hard Way" (14.6% grades do have that effect on you) but today, with 20 mph winds and 40 mph gusts behind us, Croom seemed pretty easy. Not so Magruders Ferry and North Keys, though: gusting, irregular cross winds whirling around in every direction made for very hard work indeed. 38 miles, 1734' of climbing, overall average in the low 13s. Overall summary: "The Seagull, with hills." [Note: photos up on the OHBike Facebook page]

Leader was Jackie Schoch. Riders were Randy Schoch, Erica Kane and Ruddy Elly.  What a great day for a ride and it didn't rain, but the wind was mighty strong.  This is one of Randy's famous short cut rides.  We didn't have to climb Bumpy Oak Road, did the trail instead and no Rose Hill.  Erica went ahead of us since she had to catch a plane later that day.  Since this was the first time for this ride (officially), we stop to mark the mileage along the way. Randy and I have decided that since he has all of these "Short Cuts" in his head we need to give them to the club so other people might like to lead a ride. Be prepared for more rides will be coming.

Tuesday, March 6 - Southern Exposure: a Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel  Leader: Steve Palincsar
It was a cool, sunny morning with a good breeze; according to weather reports Darryl heard, supposedly the "last winter day of the season."  It was 37 when we left Bryans Road, 47 when we returned 37 miles later, and balaclavas, booties and wind layers stayed on all day.  In the group were Darryl Lowery, Richard Harrington, Mike Bivens, Linda Bankered, Grant Bagley, Jim Hudnall, Sharon Miller and Joan Oppel.  It was a relatively easy route today, only 1185 feet of climbing and the pace reflected it: 14 mph my pace as the slowest rider.  [Note: photos now up on the OHBike Facebook page]

Chaptico and Chopticon: 42/36 miles, class B.  Leader: Steve Palincsar

After years of trying, the weather finally cooperated after a fashion (40s, sometimes sunny and sometimes overcast, with a northwest wind that began as "breezy" and eventually escalated into "stiff headwind" for the last 12 miles) and this ride happened at last -- probably for the last as well as the first time.   Present at the ride start were Paul and Linda Bankerd, Norm Lisy, Jill Thompson-Riese and guests Holden Hudson and Bill Schulz.  As we turned left from the school onto Thompson Corner Rd. we saw Dan Donohue riding towards us.  He joined the group and rode with us as far as Christ Church, Chaptico.  Sarah Clement had some trouble finding the ride start - stayed on 301 at Mattawoman-Beantown Rd. rather than going left on 5 and ended up in La Plata - but joined us in Chaptico, having skipped the loop from the rest stop at Christ Church up Hurry Rd., down Manor and back to Chaptico on Maddox. 

It was a chilly day that got more windy and chilly as the day went by.  Ride leader Holly Carr was joined by J&J Hudnall, Richard Harrington, Mike Bivins, Janell and my long lost friend Delane Rouse!  Riding again with Delane and friends was awesome.  But, this ride is gaining a reputation for blowouts.  We had 3 flat tires in 30 miles.  Perhaps we should find a new route.  But where would we go for our Starbucks at the end?     Photos

Leader Claire Chiamulera was joined by members Drayton Reese, Blake Altman, Ken Meredith, Danzie Seaward, John Choate, John Giglio and David Kemp. It was a treat for me to ride to the start at Oak Ridge Park, just 6 miles from home.  Blake and David had the same idea, but put in some more serious pre-ride miles. We started with clouds and a stiff wind, but by the rest stop at the Amish school, the sun had broken out. The group rode a strong pace, enjoying the rolling, peaceful roads of southern Maryland’s Amish community. We mostly stayed together, with a few riders engaging in occasional off-the-front attacks. A good dose of hills kept us climbing, but the hills were well spaced to allow time for recovery. Even so, by the final climb, my quads were done. Ride leader finished with a 17.0 ams. Photo

It wasn't raining in Fort Washington but the roads were wet early Saturday morning so I delayed the ride by 1 hour, starting at 11:00 instead of 10:00.  Three people braved the wet roads with me on this ride - Benny Budd, Joni King, and Michael Blaine.  We had a good ride in spite of the wet roads, even enjoying the peeks of sunshine along with the wind.  A large bird joined us briefly (a buzzard?) when it took off from the right side of the road, right next to Mike...it was close enough to see the pattern of it's brown feathers!!  We ended with a 17.0 ams.