Are we lucky or what? The forecast for the entire Labor Day weekend is absolutely fantastic and we intend to make the most of it. We'll start with a somewhat challenging ride on Saturday, featuring several major climbs. The rides on Sunday and Monday will be relatively mellow. Please note the meeting times for each day and, if you can join us, please email me and request an electronic copy of the cue sheet. I'll only be bringing extra hard copies for those who are unable to print out their own. OK, here's whassup:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2010
"HIGH ADVENTURE AT HIGH ROCK," starting from Monocacy Middle School, Frederick, Maryland. **MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.**
Yes, we'll hit a few high spots on this ride (surprise, surprise)! After a little warm-up through Mountaindale, we climb up the ever-beautifiul Catoctin Hollow Road. Next we climb up MD77 and work our way over to PenMar, where we'll continue ascending to the High Rock overlook. We'll stop to take in the view there and perhaps see some hang-gliders. After that we'll descend into the Cumberland Valley, where we'll enjoy relatively gentle terrain and bucolic country roads all the way to the lunch stop at Tony's Pizza, and for several miles after that. Eventually, of course, we have to get back over the mountains. The climb over South Mountain on Wolfsville Road is a bit arduous but not too long, and we really love the descent into Wolfsville that follows -- hope you do, too! Then we'll still have Catoctin Mountain to "get over," and we have a choice of (#1) tackling the climb up to Gambrill State Park via Crow Rock and Highland School Rds (ouch) or (#2) taking the "low" road (Harmony/Hollow/US40) (aka the Weenie Way). While #1 is more painful, it's very pretty and once you get up there Gambrill State Park has a nice overlook. #2 features a more gradual climb but is not as scenic. Either way, we plunge back down into Frederick via Shookstown Road. Please exercise caution on that descent, and make sure your brakes are generally in excellent working order for this ride! 100 miles, with a 68-mile short option. Estimated elevation gain 7500 feet.
Directions to the ride start:
MONOCACY MIDDLE SCHOOL, FREDERICK, MARYLAND, 8009 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick MD 21702
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).
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SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010
"NOODLING TO NEW OXFORD," starting from Roy Rogers, Frederick, Maryland. **MEETING TIME 8:00 A.M.** This is a relatively tame ride on very quiet and pretty Frederick, Carroll, and Adams County roads. Morning rest stop in Taneytown, lunch at the Pizza Garden in New Oxford PA, and an afternoon rest stop in Detour. Ride includes a brief section of hard-pack unpaved road on Baumgardner. Please don't be put off by it – everyone loves it! 100 miles, with short options of 61 or 88 miles.
Direction to the ride start:
ROY ROGERS, 191 Thomas Johnson Drive, FREDERICK, MARYLAND
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 a quarter mile turn right onto Thomas Johnson Drive, then left into the shopping center. Park at the north end of the parking lot near Weis Market.
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2010
"MISSING THE POINT," starting from the Bloom Supermarket parking lot, Accokeek, Maryland. **MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.** With the close-in ride start, we may experience a bit more traffic than we usually encounter in the last several miles of the ride. That said, most of the ride is on quiet, low-traffic roads, and there are some very nice water views. Points of interest include Popes Creek, Chapel Point State Park, St. Ignatius Church, and the historic village of Port Tobacco, originally an Indian settlement "Potopaco." Lunch at Crabby Dick's at the Port Tobacco Marina. 103 miles, with LOTS of short options – 51, 60, 67, 78, or 89 miles!
Directions to the ride start:
BLOOM parking lot, 15789 Livingston Road, ACCOKEEK, MARYLAND
From DC Beltway, I-495, exit south onto MD210, Indian Head Highway. In about 10.5 miles turn left on MD373 (traffic light) and make an immediate left into the Bloom parking lot. There's a Burger King and Dunkin Donuts across the street.
Crista
202-365-3738
