Ride Leader Jane Hudnall with Richard Harrington, Ron Leak, Holly Carr, Shane LaBrake, Kristin Watts and LoRita Simmons. This was LoRita's first ride with the club and as a beginning cyclist, she challenged herself to do the 16 mile route. Other beginning or casual cyclist are encouraged to join us for a ride of about 10 miles or shorter to get use to riding on the roads and with a group. Call the ride leader to let him or her know you are planning to ride. Shane and Richard decide to race from the river back to the fire station while the women took a more relaxed pace. Jim and Ron hung back with LoRita and offered encouragement as she completed the ride.

It was a near perfect evening for a ride tonight with temperatures at about 72 at the start. We had another great turnout with 18 riders in total. Club members included Jan Tucker, Ken Meredith, Charles Coe, John Choate, Mike Dent, Michael Blaine, Scott Oglesby, Brad Renter, Drayton Reese, Jeff Lagana, Brad Francisco, Blake Altman, Michelle Dyer, Dave Owens, and both your ride leaders. We also had two guests, Rob Golding and Mike Cordova. It was an excellent ride and the group split early into like-minded riders. We had another flat on Crain Hwy on the way into La Plata; a group effort got it repaired quickly.

Ron Leak was joined by Ken Meredith and Brad Renter on a ride out to Pisgah and back via the trail.  The road was a little more crowded than expected with people getting home from work, but all in all it was an enjoyable ride.  It was a nice day with clouds in the sky and the temperature in the 70s.  The trail was a bit crowded from Bensville Rd.to Theodore Green Rd, but we managed.  At this point Michie Sidwell joined up, and we had a nice push up to Middletown Rd. from Bensville rd.  I am still trying to get used to that incline, even though it is slight, it does take some out when trying to push.  After getting to Middletown, it was a nice cool down ride back to Theodore Green. 

March 20 Southern Exposure: Goose Bay via Hawthorne & Burch Leader: Steve Palincsar

It was a good day to be riding in the Mattawoman Watershed rather than Southern Maryland. The night's rain had moved east by 9 am, while radar showed heavy rain moving from Brandywine down to Leonardtown all morning.  It was cool and cloudy with not much wind: 63 at 10, rising to 71 and clearing by 1 pm, and humid enough for cue sheets to get soggy by the time we arrived at the first rest stop at Goose Bay.

We were a fairly small group today: Richard Harrington, Jimmy Bartlett, Randy Schoch, Darryl Lowery, Linda and Paul Bankerd, Jim Hudnall, Michie Sidwell and Dave VanAmayden.

The 37 mile route went down Livingston, up Hawthorne to Ripley, Poorhouse to Burch, right on 6 to Blossom Point Rd and down to Goose Bay for a rest stop. After the break we took Mill Swamp back to 6, headed west to Welcome, Fire Tower to Annapolis Woods and Poorhouse to a second rest stop at the Pisgah store; then Mason Springs and Chicamuxen back to Hawthorne, returning on Indian Head Highway.

In all, a very pleasant day for riding, a relief to not have the strong winds of the past week, and the pace showed it, everyone finishing at 14.5 and above, having held over 15 mph for most of the ride.

The gray skies and cool weather quickly morphed to sun, blue skies and warms temps for the afternoon ride down the trail to Smallwood.  Leader Polly Choate was joined at the start by 14 riders including: Janell Saunders, Jim & Jane Hudnall, Jean Wright, Theresa Jackson, Mike Bivens, John Riconda, Walter & Holly Carr, Richard Harrington, Dee & Tim McChesney, Herman Young, and Larry Pied. On the way back, we were joined by Calvin and Celeste Conyers who had discovered their broken gas gauge when they ran out of gas near BJ's. Without a gas can, Calvin considered putting gas in his water bottle, but thought the better of it, and bought a small gas can.  We're glad you both made it ok and could enjoy a nice ride!

The morning started with heavy fog, misting the windshield during the drive to the ride start.  All was dry in The Plains, VA (and stayed dry throughout the ride) and 25 riders enjoyed a very scenic up and down ride through Aldie and Atoka back to The Plains.  The sun finally showed itself 8 miles from the end of the ride but the route itself got many compliments.  Total mileage was just under 46 miles.  Oxon Hill was represented by Michelle Dyer, Alan Kurzweil and Tom Roberson (it was a joint ride with Potomac Pedalers).    

The weather wasn't at all what I was expecting from the weekend's weather reports.  It was cool, overcast, misty, and the roads were wet.  Bob Thompson, Chantal Briere, Blake Altman, Liam Healy, Ken Meredith, John Clark, Jack Gardiner, Nancy Avitabile, and Richard Edelman braved the wet roads and mist to join me for this ride.  We quickly split into 2 groups but met at the rest stop.  Nancy and Richard went on ahead while the rest stayed a bit longer to give me and Liam a chance to take advantage of the break.  The 2nd part of the ride was at a more leisurely pace, with the group staying together, soft pedaling when needed to let those behind catch up.  Towards the end of the ride the sun came out.  All in all a good day.  Ride leader averaged 15.6 mph.

Four riders (Jack Hammond, Grant Bagley, Jimmy Bartlet, and Paul Bankerd) signed up for the slower version of the two St. Patrick's Day Extravaganza rides departing from and returning to John Baggett Park in Laurel Grove.   The group enjoyed some of the best scenery Northern St. Mary's & eastern Charles Co. have to offer.  Weather conditions were outstanding!   There were no mechanicals or flats.  

Grant shifted to the B pace riders early in the ride.   Jack was able to set a longest ride mark for this young cycling season.   Jimmy, on the other hand, set a cycling career distance and average speed record when he finished with 45 miles at an AvS of 13 mph.   Congratulations, Jimmy!

We finished up at Laurel Station, next to the park, for lunch & green beer or green ice cream, depending on your orientation. 

 

Ride Leader Sharon Miller was joined by Grant Bagley, Linda Bankerd, Rita and Harold, Darryl Watson, Chuck Coe, and Steve Palincsar as we piggybacked on the Donahue's C/CC ride which began at Baggett/Laurel Grove Park. Steve started at the Northern Senior Center, so we met him about 4 miles into the ride.  It was a glorious day with start temps in the low to mid 60's climbing to the mid 70's by ride's end.  We rode together until six miles into the ride, Grant had a flat in his tubeless tire.  He was able to get enough pressure in it to make it back to the ride start where he changed the tire followed the cue sheet backward till he saw some from the group.  Our group was split after the stop for the tire repair, with some riding on ahead.  Several of us joined riders from the C group at the rest stop/outhouse at the Amish School where we were being observed by a young Amish boy from across the road.  Ride leader's average was 14.5. Thanks to Dan Donahue for a great route which included the Three Notch Trail and scenic country roads! 

Nobody wore green today for the ride. For shame! Neither did yours truly. I have no green gear.  Next year I must be prepared!  Ride leader, Charles "Michie" Sidwell, was joined by Diane Harris, Michael Blaine, Blake Altman, John Giglio, and David Kemp, who met up with us along the route.  We started the ride by discussing the politics of gasoline taxes.  The jury still isn't out, and everyone had their own opinions.  We picked up the pace a bit on Chicamuxen Rd on our way down to Riverside Rd.  We breaked at the store on Liverpool Point Rd.  David and Mike decided to break off from there and head back.  Blake, Diane, John and myself continued the ride. We rode on a little known road called Smith Point Rd.  I'll be sure to include this road in more future routes.  It is a nice, charming little country road.  We picked up the pace again on Ironside Rd and Mason Springs Rd.  Blake broke off at the Pisgah Store to head back to his home in LaPlata.  Diane, John and myself went the rest of the way.  We took the IHRT back to Indian Head.  We saw lots of cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the trail.  So nice to know people are utilizing this county treasure.  The pizza place wasn't open for some strange reason.  No one was really up for pizza after the ride anyhow.  Couldn't ask for better weather for cycling. Wish it could be that way all the time! [Photos]