Weekend Rides, October 30-31, 2010

Dear Friends,

The fall colors are peaking, the weekend forecast is for sunny skies, and we have two great rides scheduled for the weekend!  Please note the meeting times -- 8:00 on Saturday and 7:45 on Sunday!    Also, if you plan to join us on one or both days, please email me directly and request an electronic copy of the cue sheet.  I'll only bring copies to the ride start for those who advise me that they're unable to print out their own.

Ghosts, Ghouls & Graveyards

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010

"GHOSTS, GHOULS AND GRAVEYARDS," starting from Gathland State Park, Burkittsville, Maryland.  **MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.**  Although we're "celebrating" a day early, we are reviving our classic Halloween ride, "Ghosts, Ghouls & Graveyards" on Saturday.    This exTREEMely scary and challenging ride (~9700 feet elevation gain) visits at least 24 historic cemeteries and graveyards, mostly in Frederick County's beautiful Middletown valley.  You'll also commune with the ghosts of fallen Civil War soldiers as you try to elude the terrifying Snallygaster and Snarly Yow (better ride fast)!  See http://wesclark.com/jw/snallygaster.html and http://wesclark.com/jw/s_yow.html.  There are some incredible views, of course.

 

We will visit over 20 (maybe 30!) haunted cemeteries and graveyards and encounter ghosts, ghouls, goblins, beasts and demons as we skulk around the Middletown Valley and up and down South Mountain. There may be heavy casualties on this VERY SCARY ride of attrition. **LIGHTS REQUIRED** if you plan to do the ride in its entirety, as there is much to be seen and savored along the way, and we anticipate a climactic, post-twilight mountain-top finale!  There will be a memorial service after the ride to mourn the loss of those who on this day fall victim to the Snallygaster or the Snarly Yow....or simply to the accumulated elevation gain. 102 miles, with more short options than you can shake a broomstick at, but you dare not take any of them lest the Snallygaster have his wicked way with you!  Estimated elevation gain 9700 feet.

 

Note--there will be an optional brief hike (less than 0.1 mile) on a dirt path to visit a well hidden life-size bronze statue of a dying Civil War soldier, in the center of the area where the most intense fighting took place at Fox's Gap during the battle of South Mountain. If you'd like to accompany us on this little detour you might want to consider bringing covers for your cleats or wearing mountain bike shoes (or better yet walk in your stocking feet), as there are ghosts in every little nook and cranny of Fox's Gap and we want to be quiet so as not to disturb).

 

Directions to the ride start:

GATHLAND STATE PARK, BURKITTSVILLE, MARYLAND

From I-495, DC Beltway, go North on I-270 north 31 miles to Frederick. 

West on I-70 west toward Hagerstown, then 

Exit 52 onto US340 west toward Charlestown/Leesburg. 

In 12 miles take the MD17 exit toward Burkittsville. 

Bear right onto MD17 Burkittsville Rd. 

In 4 miles turn left onto Main Street in Burkittsville. 

In 1 mile turn right onto Arnoldstown Rd at top of climb (War Correspondent's Arch on R), then 

QL into parking lot.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2010

"A NEW WAY TO NEW WINDSOR," starting from the C&C Chalet, 14725 Janice Drive, Rockville, Maryland.  **MEETING TIME 7:45 A.M.**  I think it's been 4 or 5 years since we last rode from home to New Windsor.  We've been looking forward to lunch at K&B's, but they're closed on Sunday so we're going to give the New Windsor Inn our business this weekend.  The route has been revised a number of times and chances are that you'll see a new road or two if you come out with us for this version.  We head north on our customary "Rockville escape route" to our first rest stop in Lisbon.  From there we'll continue north through Woodbine and Watersville, eventually wending our way over to Sam's Creek and then to New Windsor for a leisurely lunch stop.  We'll take a different route back, with an afternoon rest stop in Mt. Airy.  Most of the ride is quite hilly, but the last 25 miles are fairly mellow.  Estimated elevation gain 6500+ feet.  100 miles, with several optional shortcuts.

 

Directions to the ride start:

C&C CHALET (CHUCK WOOD'S HOUSE), 14725 Janice Drive, Rockville, Maryland

From I-270: 

Rockville Exit 6 (MD28 East) 

1.0 mi. X MD355 (TL) 

0.2 mi. L MD28 East (TL) 

1.5 mi. X Bauer Drive (TL) 

0.6 mi. R Bel Pre Rd (TL) 

0.1 mi. 1st R Janice Drive

3rd house on L - 14725 Janice Drive 

 

From DC Beltway: 

North on Georgia Avenue 

approx. 4 mi. X Connecticut Avenue 

0.7 mi. L Bel Pre Rd

1.1 mi. L Janice Drive (just before TL at MD28) 

3rd house on L - 14725 Janice Drive 

 

 

Another way: 

0.0  I-270 split - heading north from I-270 split (get in right lane) 

1.0  R Montrose Rd East (At split on ramp you can also get in left lane& go under Montrose Rd) 

0.2   L Tower Oaks Rd (1st L) 

0.8   R Wootton Parkway (follow curves) 

1.3   X Rockville Pike MD355 

0.2   X Veirs Mill Rd (becomes MD28 East) 

2.0   X Bauer Dr. (TL) 

0.6   R Bel Pre (next TL) 

0.1   1^st R Janice Dr. 

3rd house on L (14725 Janice Dr.) 

 

OR from Baltimore:

South on I-95 or Rt. 29 

East on MD198 (Laurel - Burtonsville) 

Miles are approx.: 

4    X  MD650 (TL) >MD28 

4    X  Georgia Ave (TL) 

1.4   L Bel Pre (2nd TL) 

0.1   1^st R Janice Drive 

14725 Janice Drive (3rd house on L) 

Crista

 

Sunday Morning Coming Down (to Hains Point)

Dear Friends,

Mary Gersema just advised me that the Army 10-Miler is taking place at 8:00 on Sunday morning, starting from the Pentagon.  The race does not go onto Hains Point (thank goodness), but there may be some traffic delays getting to the start.  I think you'll be OK if you use the 14th Street bridge, but Memorial Bridge will be closed.  Be ready for an adventure!  If you can ride your bike to the ride start all the better.

Here's the link to the website to the run and the course map: http://www.armytenmiler.com/

Thanks, Mary!

Crista

3 New Rusa Permanents

Dear Friends,

Just a note to advise that I have three new 200K permanents available:

1.  Route # 961:  "If You're Not Rich You're Not Welcome,."  starting in Leesburg VA.   A tri-state loop highlighting classic Virginia horse country (including pretty and pretentious Middleburg VA), historic Shepherdstown WV, and wonderful views of Harpers Ferry.

2.  Route # 962:  "Stan Miller Memorial Ride,"  also starting in Leesburg.  More Virginia horse country, three great food stops, and a crossing of the "Stan Miller Memorial Low Water Bridge."  This ride is dedicated to the memory of a very beloved DC Randonneur.

3.  Route # 965:  "Repast at Rocco's," starting from the Giant in Urbana MD.  The first and last 15 miles or so of this route are extremely hilly, but the guts of it are over fairly gentle terrain.  The route heads north into Pennsylvania to every randonneur's  favorite Adams County pizza joint where we always receive a warm welcome from Rocco himself. 

Crista Borras

Weekend Rides, October 23 & 24, 2010

Dear Friends,

Another beautiful fall weekend is at our doorstep.  Come out and enjoy the great weather while it lasts!  If you can join us on either or both days, please email me directly and request an electronic copy of the cue sheet(s).  I'll only be bringing hard copies for those who advise me that they're unable to print out their own.  Here's the menu:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010

"OVER THE HILL WITH DOCTOR DISC," starting from the Weis Market on Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick, Maryland.  MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.

 

This little gem of a ride was originally designed to celebrate Chuck's 60th birthday.  Even though he's been "over the hill" for a "few" years now, we still love the ride and will continue to offer it at least once a year until we're both so old and feeble that we can no longer get OVER THE HILL.  The ride heads east from Frederick, with an abundance of scenic views, turns, sweet and squirmy little one-lane roads, and exhilarating HILLS.  Lunch at Tony's Cafe & Pizzeria in Taneytown.  Rest stops in Union Bridge and Libertytown.  We'll be doing a slightly modified route this weekend to avoid the bridge out on Lenhart Road.  100 miles, with several short options.  Estimated elevation gain 6500 feet.

Directions to the ride start:

WEIS MARKET, 199 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 (traffic light), then left into the shopping center.  Park in the lot just north of Roy Rogers.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2010

"MONUMENT TO MONUMENT," starting from Hains Point, Washington, D.C.  **MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.**  This route is adapted from a Baltimore Bicycle Club ride of the same name.  It's almost identical to the BBC's route except that theirs starts in Baltimore and turns around at the Washington Monument in DC.  This ride starts from Hains Point, passes the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument in the first mile, and turns around at the Washington Monument in Baltimore!  We'll be traveling on lots of city streets, with many stop signs, traffic lights, some funky neighborhoods, and a couple of bike paths.  Lunch will be at the hoppin' Little Havana in Baltimore.  Some points of interest include the Jefferson Memorial, US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington Monument, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Artemesia, Baltimore's Washington Monument, American Visionary Arts Museum, Peabody Institute, and Catholic University.  99 miles.  No cued shortcuts but you can turn around at almost any point on the ride and pick up the cues for the return route.

Directions to the ride start:

HAINS POINT (EAST POTOMAC PARK) 

1100 Ohio Drive, S.W., 202-619-7222

Take I-395 north into Washington (over 14^th Street bridge) and take the first exit for Potomac Park/Park Police.  Turn left at the T intersection (Buckeye Drive, unmarked), then left into the parking lot near the tennis courts.

Crista

 

 

 

Saturday Ride - Big Beautiful Brevet!

Dear Friends,

Saturday is the DC Randonneurs Cacapon 200K Brevet.  The route, designed by Lynn Kristianson, is absolutely gorgeous and is one of our all-time favorites.  You really don't want to miss it!  The ride starts promptly at 7:00 at the Super 8 in Middletown, Virginia.  If you haven't already pre-registered, on-site registration is $10.00.  DC Randonneurs membership is required.

Here are more juicy details, courtesy of RBA Bill Beck:

The cue sheet and GPS files for the Cacapon 200K ACP brevet scheduled for this Saturday, October 16, are now posted at http://dcrand.org/blog/2010/10/12/cue-sheet-and-gps-files-for-october-16-cacapon-200k-rusa-brevet/. Please park well away from the entrance to the motel. If you missed pre-registration, you can register onsite starting at 6:00AM.

 

The Cacapon 200K route is a real treat, with plenty of fall colors, a very pleasant 10-mile section along the Cacapon River, and the always-fun climb and descent of Wolf Gap. The fall colors were just getting started during my checkout ride on Saturday, so should be a very pretty mixture of red, yellow, and green this weekend. Thanks to Lynn for designing this relatively recent route that is becoming an October classic for DC Randonneurs.

See ya tomorrow!

Crista

Please ask for cue sheet if you're coming tomorrow!

Hi all,

I forgot to say that if you can join us tomorrow, please email me directly so that I can send you an electronic copy of the cue sheet!!  I will not be bringing extra hard copies unless you advise me that you're unable to print out your own.

Thanks!

Crista

SATURDAY RIDE, OCTOBER 9, 2010

Dear Friends,

We have a ride scheduled for Saturday only this weekend.  Weather forecast looks great!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2010

"ROLLY ATKINSON MEMORIAL CENTURY," starting from Monocacy Middle School, Frederick, Maryland.  *MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.*  William Shakespeare Smith designed this scenic and yet fairly mellow ride for the Frederick Pedalers last fall, and it includes lots of lovely notes like the Mid Atlantic Soaring Center, the fruit orchards of Adams County, Pennsylvania, the pretty campus of Mount Saint Mary's College, and one of our favorite Adams County pizza joints, Mamma's in Biglerville.  104 miles, with short options of 64 or 87 miles.  Estimated elevation gain 4000-4500 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). 

Crista

WEEKEND RIDES, OCTOBER 2 & 3, 2010

Dear Friends,

 

Autumn has arrived and we're hoping the rain we've had the last couple days will improve our prospects for some pretty fall foliage in the weeks ahead.  In the meantime, let's get out and ride.  Here's what we have planned for Saturday and Sunday.  IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US EITHER DAY, PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY AND REQUEST AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE CUE SHEET!!  I will only have hard copies available for those who advise me that they're unable to print out their own.

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010

"ALL ABOUT ABBOTTSTOWN," starting from the McDonald's in Thurmont, Maryland.  **LATE MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.**  Yes, it's true; we've been scheduling this ride a lot lately, so I'm sure everyone is tired of reading the ride description.  Unfortunately, circumstances have been such that I haven't been able to do the ride myself, so we're trying yet again!  George Moore kindly volunteered to lead it for us a couple of weeks ago, and he reported that the new version is a keeper.  It's similar to previous versions in that the terrain is mellow, the scenery pleasant, and it still heads east into Carroll County, MD and north into Adams County, PA, passing through Taneytown, Littlestown, and New Oxford.  The morning rest stop has been moved from the Taneytown Sheetz to the Littlestown Sheetz and the lunch stop has been moved from the "not so improved" Emig's 81 Diner to Brothers Pizza.  102 miles, with a 70-mile short option.

 

Directions to the ride start:

From DC Beltway, go north on I-270 to Frederick.  Continue North on US15.  In 14.9 miles, take the exit toward MD806/Thurmont (the last of three exits for MD806, the FIRST Thurmont exit).  At end of ramp turn right @SS, then QR @ traffic light onto Catoctin Furnace Rd, then QL at "Weis Entrance."  Park in the first lot on the left, across from McDonald's.

 

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010

"UNION BRIDGE CENTURY," starting from the C&C Chalet (Chuck Wood's house), 14725 Janice Drive, Rockville, Maryland.  **MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m.**  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 rewards us with a marvelous long run down the appropriately named Talbot Run Road.  We'll also 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").  This is NOT a chain, but rather an authentic Italian mom & pop pizza joint.  Not only is their pizza excellent, but the Maryland 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.  (Roop is prettier AND easier, but it might be a muddy mess after all this rain so we may have to contend with Buffalo on Sunday!)  We'll pass through Woodbine and have a final rest stop in Lisbon before returning to Rockville.  101 miles, with a 56-mile short option that turns around in Mt. Airy.  There are also a few little optional shortcuts before and after lunch.  If you take all of them you'll end up with an 88-mile ride.  Elevation gain 6000-6500 feet.

 

Here are LOTS OF directions to the ride start:

CHUCK WOOD'S HOUSE, 14725 Janice Drive, Rockville, Maryland

From I-270: 

Rockville Exit 6 (MD28 East) 

1.0 mi. X MD355 (TL) 

0.2 mi. L MD28 East (TL) 

1.5 mi. X Bauer Drive (TL) 

0.6 mi. R Bel Pre Rd (TL) 

0.1 mi. 1st R Janice Drive

3rd house on L - 14725 Janice Drive 

 

Another way: 

0.0  I-270 split - heading north from I-270 split (get in right lane) 

1.0  R Montrose Rd East (At split on ramp you can also get in left lane& go under Montrose Rd) 

0.2   L Tower Oaks Rd (1st L) 

0.8   R Wootton Parkway (follow curves) 

1.3   X Rockville Pike MD355 

0.2   X Veirs Mill Rd (becomes MD28 East) 

2.0   X Bauer Dr. (TL) 

0.6   R Bel Pre (next TL) 

0.1   1^st R Janice Dr. 

3rd house on L (14725 Janice Dr.) 

 

From DC Beltway: 

North on Georgia Avenue 

approx. 4 mi. X Connecticut Avenue 

0.7 mi. L Bel Pre Rd

1.1 mi. L Janice Drive (just before TL at MD28) 

3rd house on L - 14725 Janice Drive 

 

OR from Baltimore:

South on I-95 or Rt. 29 

East on MD198 (Laurel - Burtonsville) 

Miles are approx.: 

4    X  MD650 (TL) >MD28 

4    X  Georgia Ave (TL) 

1.4   L Bel Pre (2nd TL) 

0.1   1^st R Janice Drive 

14725 Janice Drive (3rd house on L) 

 

 Crista