We have a ride scheduled for Sunday only this weekend, and here's the scoop:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009
"VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE SMITH," starting from Monocacy Middle School, Frederick, Maryland.MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.This kind and gentle ride is adapted from the 2007 Frederick Pedalers Century designed by Bill Smith and Tim Guilford.(Thank you, Bill!)The route goes to most of the same places but uses mostly different roads to get there.In the morning we'll noodle along some of our favorite mellow roads between Frederick and Emmitsburg, then continue north into Adams County PA and slightly east to McSherrystown for lunch at Brothers Pizza.We'll pass through the village of Harney in the morning and again in the afternoon, and there will be an afternoon rest stop at WGR's favorite refueling spot -- Detour!Only ~ 4,000 feet elevation gain.100 miles, with a 58-mile short option.
PLEASE NOTE: I will only be bringing 10 copies of the cue sheet to the ride start to distribute on a first come first served basis, so if you plan to attend, please email me and request an electronic copy to ensure that you get one.
Here are the directions to the ride start:
MONOCACY MIDDLE SCHOOL, FREDERICK, MARYLAND, 8009 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick MD21702
From D.C. Beltway (I-495), take I-270 north 31 miles to Frederick.Continue north on US15 3.7 miles.Take Exit 16, Motter Ave exit (sign for Frederick Community College).Turn RIGHT at the traffic light onto Opossumtown Pike.In about 1.5 mi. turn RIGHT into Monocacy Middle School parking lot (just after Frederick Community College on the left).
Sir Rudy Hewitt is turning 60 -- what a great excuse for a new ride and another party! Please see Joel Dechter's party invitation below. We hope that you can attend, and if you can please RSVP right away to Joel if you haven't done so already.
Here's the lowdown on the ride:
"GUY AND DOLLS" aka "RUDY'S REJUVENATOR," starting from Joel Dechter's house, 2200 Winter Garden Way, Olney, Maryland.**MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.**A steady diet of rides like this and you, too, can be as young in body and mind as Rudy when you turn 60!Please join us as we celebrate Rudy's 60th birthday with this new ride and the party at Joel's house following the ride.
The ride begins as we visit historic Brookeville, which served as the capital of the United States for one day during the War of 1812 and as a stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.We continue in a northeasterly direction, passing through both Patuxent River State Park and Patapsco Valley State Park (and featuring several "scenic" crossings of both the Patuxent and Patapsco Rivers).We'll eventually reach the historic railroad town of Sykesville, where we'll have lunch at E.W. Beck's Restaurant & Pub. You can check out their menu at http://www.ewbecks.com/.Soon after lunch, the route heads northwest into Frederick County, passing the Linganore Wine Cellars (see http://www.linganore-wine.com/) before our final rest stop in Mt. Airy.The last 22 miles back to Joel's house are a mostly mellow run!I'm estimating between 7,000 and 8,000 feet elevation gain, but it's a new ride so all bets are off.100 miles, with an optional 9-mile shortcut before lunch and optional 16 and 29-mile shortcuts after lunch (i.e., ALL the shortcuts include the lunch stop in Sykesville).
Here's Joel's invitation and directions to his house:
It is with great pleasure that we announce early a ride / celebration in honor of one of our cycling community's dearest friends . Although he is turning 60, this fine gentleman has never given up his fondness for dolls, love for dogs and rooting for his beloved NY Jets . More importantly, he still rides his bike with the legs of a 20 yr old . He is a fixture on the roads of Montgomery County and rarely misses a weekend century (though lately he has been a soloist). He has been known to carry more gear on a solo bike than most local repair shops own, eat only the finest of cuisines (red zingers and twinkies), and still manage to get to brevet controls before most people half his age . Some people refer to him as an Afro-centric American Jew from the Bronx with ties to Osama bin Laden. Others recognize him as a person who never has a bad word to say about anybody or anything. His ability to blend style with thrift shop apparel is unparalleled by anyone on the planet. Few know him as Rubin but many as Rudy . SOOOO...please join us on 11/21 for a ride designed by Crista and a light meal provided by Joel and friends post ride . The celebration will take place rain or shine while the ride will take place based on the usual Crista guidelines . The ride start will be the location of the festivities 2200 Winter Garden Way, Olney, MD 20832. Festivities will begin between 6:00 and 6:30 .
Please email Joel Dechter (jsdbike@hotmail.com) if you plan to attend so there can be a rough estimate of needed foods etc .
Directions to Joel's house: From I-495 coming from College Park: New Hampshire Ave exit 650 N approximately 8 miles Left on Norwood Rd 2.9 miles Straight on Doctor Bird Rd MD-182 (Norwood extended) 0.7 mile Left on Olney Sandy Spring Rd MD108 W 0.4 mile Right on Old Baltimore 0.6mile Right on Winter Garden Way (second coming , Winter Garden is a horseshoe; 2200 is at the end ) 2200 Winter Garden Way
From I-270 and points west: From I-495, take Connecticut Ave North approximately 7 miles Left on Georgia Ave 97 North 3.8 miles Right on Old Baltimore 1.9 miles Cross over MD108 Olney Sandy Spring Rd Right on Winter Garden Way 2200 Winter Garden Way
"BONNE ROUTE," starting from Dave Berning's house in Potomac, Maryland.MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.We first did this ride in August of 2007 as a send off for Randonneurs who were PBP-bound. It's only moderately hilly, definitely the easiest century that we do starting from Dave's house.Nothing new under the sun on the route, but it's a very nice ride to Purcellville via Seneca, Dickerson, Point of Rocks, Lovettsville, and Hillsboro.After lunch at the Purcellville Family Restaurant, we ride over to Leesburg and take the ferry across the Potomac River back into Maryland (bicycles pay $1.00 to the toll troll).EXACTLY 100 miles with a few optional shortcuts.
Directions to Dave's house:
DAVE BERNING'S HOUSE, 12430 McCrossin Lane, POTOMAC, MD.
From I-495 in VA: Cross Potomac River and exit to River Road west. Go about 9 miles and turn right on Travilah Rd. Go 0.5 mile past 4-way stop sign and turn right onto McCrossin Lane. Dave's house is 2nd one on right.
From Rockville: head west on MD28 from I-270 interchange. In 1/2 mile turn left on Darnestown Rd (two lanes turn left at TL). In about 2 miles turn left onto Travilah Rd (past Great Seneca Hwy). In 3 miles, left to remain on Travilah at T. In 0.4 mile, bear left to remain on Travilah where Turkey Foot goes right. In 0.4 mile left onto McCrossin Lane. Dave's house is 2nd one on right, 12430.
From points northwest: Access Quince Orchard Rd MD124 from either I-270 or MD28. South (or west?) on Quince Orchard, crossing MD28. In 2.5 miles turn right at T onto Dufief Mill. Continue straight onto Travilah Rd in 0.2 mile. In 0.4 mile, bear left to remain on Travilah where Turkey Foot goes right.In 0.4 mile left onto McCrossin Lane. Dave's house is 2nd one on right, 12430.
DC Randonneurs is offering a new and different 200K Brevet (FLAT and FREE!) on Saturday, designed by Chip Adams. For all the important details on the Flatbread 200K (including driving directions), see the DCRandonneurs website, www.dcrand.org. We're expecting a great turnout and, to entice you to attend this fun event, here is Chip's ride description:
"Get ready to ride your fastest ever 200K on some of the flattest roads you'll ever see. You don't even get rollers! You may actually find a 1% or 2% grade here and there, but the only time you'll be out of the saddle is when you're trying to see over the corn rows. This will be a wild departure from the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, but it should be enjoyable and very scenic during this time of year.
The ride starts in the quaint little town of Centreville, Maryland on the eastern shore and passes through a couple of marshy basins before heading toward the ocean at Slaughter Beach. Before you get to the Control at mile 59, you may want to take a left on one of several short roads that give you access to the ocean and dip a toe or two in the Atlantic. Heck, go for a swim if you want. Watch out for sharks!
After the Slaughter Beach Control, you have only 10 miles to the next Control and, if you would like, a nice lunch at the Iguana Grill in Milton, DE. They may even have "Flatbread." The folks are friendly, the menu is great, and yes, you can still have a nice lunch and have your personal best for a 200K.
Heading back towards Centreville and the final Control, the ride will pass through the Bridgeville Control and into Denton, Maryland. There's an opportunity to fill your water bottles and grab a snack before the last push into the final Control at the Good Guys Sportsbar in Centreville."
"UNION BRIDGE CENTURY," starting from Chuck Wood's house, 14725 Janice Drive, Rockville, Maryland.**MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.**Usually we try to schedule a relatively tame ride on Sunday as an antidote to our customary hilly Saturday ride, but this Sunday we'll do a few hills to make up for Saturday's flatness. Once we get past the obligatory Rockville "escape route," this ride becomes delightfully scenic and rural as we head north through Howard, Carroll and Frederick Counties to Union Bridge.After our first rest stop in Mt. Airy, one short but nasty molehill on Harrisville Road yields us a marvelous long run down appropriately named Talbot Run.We'll ride the entire length of Bessie Clemson Road, one of our all-time favorite Frederick County roads, as we wend our way over to historic Union Bridge for a yummy lunch at Original Pizza (NOT to be confused with "OIP" (Original Italian Pizza).This is NOT a chain, but rather an authentic Italian mom & pop pizza joint.Not only is their pizza excellent, but the crab soup is as good as any we've had in fancy seafood restaurants.After lunch we'll enjoy a beautiful and bucolic stretch along Sam's Creek before the terrain once again becomes "stimulating."There is a brief stretch of hard-pack on Roop Road, which riders can avoid if they want to replace it with the gnarliest part of Buffalo Road.We'll pass through Woodbine and have a final rest stop in Lisbon before returning to Chuck's house.101 miles, with a 56-mile short option that turns around in Mt. Airy.There are also a couple of little shortcuts before and after lunch.You can take both of those and yield a 92-mile ride.Estimated elevation gain for the century 6000-6500 feet.
Here are LOTS of directions to Chuck's house (take your pick or just do a Mapquest!):
We are really looking forward to a fun-filled weekend of riding and merry-making. Please come out and join us for both rides as well as for WGR's 50th birthday celebration after Saturday's ride! Be sure to RSVP to Paul if you can attend the party. Details follow.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
"HI-LO," starting from Middletown Primary School, Middletown, Maryland.MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.A delightful ride that scales the heights of Catoctin and South Mountains and plumbs the depths of Catoctin, Antietam and Conococheague Creeks.We'll head northwest in the morning with some beautiful ups & downs through the Middletown Valley, cross the Appalachian Trail, and enjoy a wild descent into Boonsboro.The next several miles through the Cumberland Valley feature bucolic farmland, as we continue north to our lunch stop at Tony's Pizza near the Hagerstown airport.In the afternoon we'll visit the Antietam Battlefield before the last significant climb over South Mountain.Finally, we head back to Middletown by way of lovely Bennie's Hill Road, which features a short stretch of hard-pack.They've finally repaired the bridge over Catoctin Creek and the road is once again open for travel!
Note: I will bring 10 copies of the cue sheet to the ride start, first come first served. If you plan to attend, please email me and I'll send you electronic copies of the cue sheet and map. If you are unable to print out your own copies, let me know and I'll be sure to reserve one for you.
Here are the directions to the ride start:
MIDDLETOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL, 403 Franklin Street, MIDDLETOWN, MARYLAND
From DC Beltway, take I-270 north approximately 32 miles to Frederick.Then take I-70 west 3.5 miles to Exit 49/Alt.40.Go left/west on Alt.40 for about 4 miles to Middletown.Turn left onto MD17 Church St. in Middletown.In 0.1 mile turn left onto Franklin Street (restrooms available at store on right just before turn).In 0.3 mile turn left into school.
********************************************
PARTY-PARTY!
WHEN: November 7, 2009
WHAT: Dinner after Saturday's weekend ride - Shake Your Groove Thing!
WHERE: Braddock Inn, 4830 Schley Avenue, Braddock Heights, MD
If you're doing the ride (or not) on Saturday Nov. 7 and are interested in joining the celebration please RSVP to basketboy@verizon.net so I can give the Inn a head count. Dinner is dutch but there will be free cake.
History note: The Braddock Inn is in a hundred year old building, but real history began in the 70's when it was a bar and ski lodge. It's there a young WGR learned to ski and shake his groove thing!!
***************************************
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
Bob Wagner is leading "ON AGAIN/OFF AGAIN," starting from Oregon Ridge Park, Cockeysville, Maryland.**MEETING TIME 7:45 a.m., FOR AN 8:00 a.m. RIDE START.**
Here's Bob's ride description:
"Here's a fun one. The NCR (North Central Rail Trail) is one of the best bike trails in Maryland, but its unpaved surface is not very well suited to long miles on a road bike. I developed this ride as a solution. On Again/Off Again rides on every mile of the NCR from Hunt Valley to York, PA with no more than 10 mile stretches on the trail. We drop on and off the trail north, then hit all the sections we missed on our way back home. This also means that there are many turnaround points all along the route.The trail is hard-packed and stable, but bumpy. The route gives you 40.5 miles of trail riding in 5 sections. I rode it on my 100 psi Grand Bois 28mm tires with no problems. The PA portions are more gravely and less bumpy, the MD portions are less gravel and more bump."Lunch at Genova's Pizza in York.103 miles, with short options of 28, 49, 66 or 82 miles.
Note:The trail portions are flat; the road portions are quite hilly!
