Sunday Ride, January 30, 2011

Dear Friends,

Sorry for the delay in posting this notice.  We had no power for a couple of days and I just got back online this morning. 

Please download and print out your own cue sheet and GPS files for tomorrow's ride directly from this site.   Just click on "Cue Sheets" (on the left side of this page), and you'll find them there!  When you open a pdf file, just click on "Print" to print the cue sheet.  If you're unable to print the cue sheet yourself, let me know and I'll bring a hard copy to the ride start for you.  I won't be bringing extra copies of cue sheets to the ride start unless you email me directly and advise me that you're unable to print out your own.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2011
"SNOW EMERGENCY RANDO RIDE," starting from the Weis Market on Thomas Johnson Drive in Frederick, Maryland.  MEETING TIME 10:00 a.m.

It doesn't look like there's going to be a whole lot of melting going on today, so we're opting for our Snow Emergency Ride tomorrow.  Even though it's only 53 miles, we'll climb more than 4600 feet and I can guarantee a great workout.  You really get a lot of bang for your buck on this ride, as you'll be either climbing or descending for all but a few miles.   The ride heads due west on US40, a snow emergency route with a wide shoulder and very little traffic.  After climbing over Catoctin and South Mountain, we turn north on Crystal Falls Rd, which offers great winter views.  Note that although the cue sheet indicates lunch at Carmine's Italian Restaurant in Smithsburg, Carmine's is closed on Sundays so we'll have to settle for the Subway tomorrow.  53 miles, 4600+ feet elevation gain.

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.

Crista

New RUSA Permanent # 1055 - "We Can See Clearly Now"

Several weeks ago, in an email entitled "We Can See Clearly Now," Bennett Minton posted some really fabulous photos from an impromptu ride he did starting from his weekend getaway cabin in Sperryville.  In case you missed them, here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikerben58/sets/72157625488386376/show/

The photos were so stunning that it inspired me to design a permanent route incorporating many of the roads from Bennett's ride.  This latest addition to our local library of permanents starts in Marshall, Virginia.  It heads west to Front Royal, then south through Fort Valley, over Edith Gap, and down into Luray, which has many interesting lunch possibilities as well as a friendly bicycle shop, Hawksbill Bicycles.  The views descending Edith Gap when the trees are bare are truly spectacular!  Leaving Luray, the route climbs over Thornton Gap and then takes the beautiful "back door" into "Little" Washington via Gid Brown Hollow Rd and Harris Hollow Rd, perhaps my favorite part of the entire ride.  It includes 1.4 miles of hardpack, no problem at all for road bikes, and the descent on Harris Hollow is entirely paved.  Washington – Flint Hill – Orlean and back to Marshall is all on lovely roads familiar to most of you.  While I agree with Bennett that the views are really best in winter, the cold temps and short days can make this ride particularly challenging, so it won't be available in January and February. 

Crista

Sunday Ride, January 14, 2011

Dear Friends,

Conditions for this Sunday are looking good and so we're rescheduling the ride that we were going to do LAST Sunday.  Here's the warmed-over ride description!. 

Please download and print out your own cue sheet and GPS files.   Just click on "Cue Sheets" (on the left side of this page), and you'll find them there!  When you open a pdf file, just click on "Print" to print the cue sheet.  If you're unable to print the cue sheet yourself, let me know and I'll bring a hard copy to the ride start for you.  I won't be bringing extra copies of cue sheets to the ride start unless you email me directly and advise me that you're unable to print out your own.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

"GET TO THE POINT," starting from T.C. Martin Elementary School, Bryantown, Maryland.  **MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.**  A pretty ride through Charles and St. Mary's Counties to Colton's Point and the Potomac River Museum at St. Clement's Island.  We'll have lunch at the quaint but charming, off-the-beaten-path Morris Point Restaurant (see http://www.morris-point.com/), where once upon a time the owner served us lunch in her pajamas and mink coat!  We'll pass several picturesque Amish farms in the afternoon.  Terrain is flat to gently rolling.  Well, OK, there are a few of hills, but total elevation gain shouldn't be much more than 3,000 feet.  101 miles, with several short options.

Directions to the ride start:

T. C. MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BRYANTOWN, MARYLAND

6315 Olivers Shop Rd, Bryantown, Maryland

From DC Beltway, south on MD5 Branch Avenue, toward Waldorf (Exit 7A)  In 12.2 miles turn left onto MD5 (traffic light) (just after entering Charles County, sign to Lexington Park/Leonardtown).  In 3.2 miles turn left onto Leonardtown Rd to remain on MD5 (traffic light, Bus. 5 goes right).  In 4.9 miles turn right onto Olivers Shop Rd MD232 (blinking traffic light).  In 1.1 miles turn right into school parking lot.

Crista

"Diminutive Dover Delight" Permanent Populaire

Dear Friends,

So, I have another new permanent populaire for our local P12 seekers.  "Diminutive Dover Delight" is a 135K abbreviated version of "Over to Dover."  It's the identical route except that it starts and ends in Emmitsburg and omits the southern legs between Frederick and Emmitsburg.  Heading in a northeasterly direction to Dover, Pennsylvania, the route features picturesque scenery with several crossings over old stone bridges and, for the most part, gentle terrain.  There's one big hill just before lunch.  Since it's an out-and-back route, it climbs over the same hill just after lunch, too, but the grade is kinder and gentler heading in that direction. Afternoon cross-winds can be a player this time of year :-)  Estimated elevation gain about 4,000 feet.  Your altimeter may vary.

 

I've about come to the end of my project of shortening existing permanent routes to form new populaires but hope to design some original populaire routes in the coming weeks if time permits.  And here's a thought.  If you're participating in RUSA's R-12 and/or P-12 program, why not design a route of your own that starts in a location convenient to you?

Crista

Sunday Ride No-Go for C&C

Dear Friends,

These two old bodies have paid their dues and are wimping out tomorrow.  Combination of temperature and wind is not in our comfort zone.  If you wanna ride, you know where to find the cue sheets.   Here's hoping for next weekend,

Crista

Sunday Ride, January 9, 2011

Dear Friends,

Look like our best bet for clear roads and reasonable temps is Sunday in St. Mary's County, so here are our plans. 

Please download and print out your own cue sheet and GPS files.  Just click on "Cue Sheets" (on the left side of the page), and you'll find them there!  When you open a pdf file, just click on "Print" to print the cue sheet.  If you're unable to print the cue sheet yourself, let me know and I'll bring a hard copy to the ride start for you.  I won't be bringing extra copies of cue sheets to the ride start unless you email me directly and advise me that you're unable to print out your own.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011

"GET TO THE POINT," starting from T.C. Martin Elementary School, Bryantown, Maryland.  **MEETING TIME 8:00 a.m.**  A pretty ride through Charles and St. Mary's Counties to Colton's Point and the Potomac River Museum at St. Clement's Island.  We'll have lunch at the quaint but charming, off-the-beaten-path Morris Point Restaurant (see http://www.morris-point.com/), where once upon a time the owner served us lunch in her pajamas and mink coat!  We'll pass several picturesque Amish farms in the afternoon.  Terrain is flat to gently rolling.  Well, OK, there are a few of hills, but total elevation gain shouldn't be much more than 3,000 feet.  101 miles, with several short options.

Directions to the ride start:

T. C. MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BRYANTOWN, MARYLAND

6315 Olivers Shop Rd, Bryantown, Maryland

From DC Beltway, south on MD5 Branch Avenue, toward Waldorf (Exit 7A)  In 12.2 miles turn left onto MD5 (traffic light) (just after entering Charles County, sign to Lexington Park/Leonardtown).  In 3.2 miles turn left onto Leonardtown Rd to remain on MD5 (traffic light, Bus. 5 goes right).  In 4.9 miles turn right onto Olivers Shop Rd MD232 (blinking traffic light).  In 1.1 miles turn right into school parking lot.

Crista

Another New Permanent Populaire: "Solomons Shorty"

The "Sailing Down to Solomons" permanent route is now available as a 159K populaire, starting from Harwood, Maryland.  The "Solomons Shorty" is a fairly gentle cruise down to Solomons Island with plenty of nice water views, and the route is identical to Sailing Down to Solomons" except that it omits the legs between Crofton and Harwood.  It has the advantage of affording a later start and earlier finish and, if you're NOT in a hurry, you can indulge in a leisurely lunch at any of several attractive restaurant options on Solomons Island.  99 miles and only about 4250 feet elevation gain. And, of course, it qualifies toward your P-12 :-)

Crista

New RUSA Permanent Populaire - "RaceyataRocco's"

Hi all,

I have another new permanent populaire available.  If you're looking for an easy winter route, "RaceyataRocco's" may be the ride for you.  The route is 165 kilometers (102.8 miles) and starts in Frederick, Maryland.  It's an out-and-back route that omits all the hilly parts of "Repast at Rocco's" but includes all the flat & fast parts and, of course, includes a lunch stop at our dearly beloved Rocco's in East Berlin, Pennsylvania.  I'm estimating about 4500 feet elevation gain.

Crista