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.

Leader was Jackie Schoch.  Riders were Randy Schoch, John Riconda, Jimmy Bartlett, Mike Bivens, Jane and Jim Hudnall, Ruddy Elly.  Jeannie Ulrich parked at Livingston Rd (224) and Calvin and Celeste Conyers parked closer to White Plains, which was a good idea since this is Celeste first ride on the trail since her accident.  Before the ride started, I told everybody that if the weather doesn't look good at "Old Woman Run" we will turned back.  When Randy and I got to Old Woman Run there wasn't anybody waiting so I told Randy, "well, I guess they want to keep on riding."  After we had our break at White Plains it started to sprinkle and off we went, but it got a little harder as we went.  I know one thing: you learn how hard you can push yourself when it is raining. :o)  Ruddy Elly got a flat so Jane and Jim stopped to help him.  They said that it was kind of hard to check for the hole in the tube when it is raining.  Jimmy got picked up by Calvin and Celeste.  Jackie, Randy, Jane, Jim Ruddy, Celeste and Calvin had dinner at the deli.  I have to say, "Mother Nature, I get the hint, if there is rain in the forecast, I will cancel my ride". Two times in a row and I finally get the hint. Photos

Best of Brandywine: Marlton Croom Station. Leader: Steve Palincsar. Summer came early today. Sunny, breezy, up to 70 degrees, and how wonderful it was to be wearing shorts and short sleeve jerseys! (Note to doubters: Jim's got the pictures to prove it.) The group today consisted of: Richard Harrington, Patricia Sanders, Jay Lewis, Alan Kurzweil, Tom Roberson, Joan Oppel, Linda and Paul Bankerd, Jim and Jane Hudnall, Dave VanAmayden, Ken Meredith, Sharon Miller, John Early and -- joining us at the rest stop -- Sam Perry. The route today was a variation on an idea originally led by Mike and Regina Saizan two or three years ago that pushed the northern boundary of the Thursday Brandywine rides across the 301 frontier to Upper Marlboro. Today's route followed Old Indian Head, down Trumps Hill and Croom Station to Old Crain Highway and William Beanes. At least, it did for most. There were a few who mistook Crain Highway for Old Crain Highway and headed off on 301 towards Anne Arundel County. We tried to regroup, even tried to phone, at Old Crain but to no avail, and so pushed on to the Safeway. There we lost Tom Roberson, who kept on going on 301 back to Brandywine, and found Sam Perry, who came late to the firehouse, found no cue sheets (we started late and I thought everyone who was coming had done) but managed to interpret my cryptic email comment about the "northern frontier" and joined us at the Safeway. At length, the stragglers from 301 rejoined, having gotten in a few bonus miles. So, too, did Paul, who dropped his chain on Croom Station. The official route was 36 miles. It was such a beautiful day many decided to extend the route: after coming down Van Brady, going left on Molly Berry and turning on Croom, instead of going up to the Nottingham store for a second break, we went left on Mattaponi and right on St. Thomas Church to Fenno to the Merkle Sanctuary, picking up the route at Candy Hill for a 40 mile total. Total elevation, 1880-2000', average in the mid-13s. Photos