WEEKEND RIDES -- THURSDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Happy New Year my dear Friends,

We'll have rides every day except Friday this weekend, and Friday's
forecast looks pretty yukky anyway. Here's the scoop!

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2009 -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The TENTH ANNIVERSARY "WEENIE ONE HUNDRED," starting from Hains Point,
Washington, D.C. MEETING TIME 7:30 am. We have been doing this New
Year's Day century since 1999 and see no reason not to continue with the
grand tradition. We begin with a lap around Hains Point, then head down
to Mount Vernon on the bike path. Next, we'll visit Mason Neck State
Park on our way to Occoquan for lunch at the Riverside Grill. After
lunch we'll ride to Fountainhead Regional Park and on to historic
Clifton, returning to Hains Point via Burke, Annandale, the W&OD and
Custis Trails, Theodore Roosevelt Island, and Memorial Bridge. With all
the bike-path miles and little side trips (and unplanned THINGS that
inevitably happen on this particular ride), it is quite likely that the
dark monster will get the best of us; in fact, I can't remember the last
time we finished this ride in daylight--I'm guessing it has never
happened. Accordingly, all riders should come equipped with lights. We
actually enjoy finishing at dusk or later, as it's such a lovely sight
to cross the Potomac River into our fair city and see the monuments all
lit up. If you DO finish before dark and feel cheated, you can do laps
around Hains Point until the cows come home. Slower riders should be
familiar with the northern Virginia bike trails; we have attempted to
produce an accurate cue sheet, but there are still several parts of the
trails where navigation can be tricky. 100 miles, with a couple of
optional shortcuts--you can omit the Mason Neck tour and thus cut off 13
miles, and later in the ride you can cut off 4 miles. Also a couple of
optional bonus miles if you want to visit Fountainhead Regional Park.
Beginning and end of the ride are pretty flat. There are some honest
HILLS between Occoquan and Fairfax Station so don't act surprised when
you encounter them.

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 14th 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.

*****************************************************************

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 2009
"PSYCHED OUT IN SYKESVILLE," starting from the Woodbine Park & Ride,
Woodbine, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30 a.m. A very scenic, very hilly,
and NEW ride through Carroll and Baltimore counties. Points of interest
include Gunpowder Falls State Park, the Prettyboy Dam, an "interesting"
climb out of Monkton, and several other "highlights," the names of which
shall not be mentioned for my personal safety's sake. Lunch at the
Pioneer Pub in Hereford. 100 miles with short options of 65 and 90
miles.

Directions to the ride start:
WOODBINE PARK & RIDE, WOODBINE, MARYLAND

From the Washington Beltway:
Take I-270 north toward Frederick. Go 12.8 miles to exit 16, Father
Hurley Blvd/Ridge Rd/MD27 toward Damascus. In 7 miles, jog right, then
left to remain on MD27 at MD108 in Damascus. In 5.5 miles, take I-70
east toward Baltimore at exit 68. Take the first exit, #73 From the
ramp, turn left onto MD94 north Woodbine Road. Go 1/4 around the traffic
circle and turn onto Old Frederick Road. Turn left into the shopping
center and then left again into the park and ride.

From Frederick:
Take I-70 east about 18 miles to exit #73. From the ramp turn left onto
MD94 north Woodbine Road. Go 1/4 around the traffic circle and turn onto
Old Frederick Road. Turn left into the shopping center and then left
again into the park and ride.

From the Baltimore Beltway:
Take I-70 west about 18 miles to exit #73. From the ramp turn right
onto MD94 north Woodbine Road. Go 1/4 around the traffic circle and turn
onto Old Frederick Road. Turn left into the shopping center and then
left again into the park and ride.

****************************************************************

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2009
"CROOM AND OTHER DELIGHTS," starting from the Crofton Center in Crofton,
Maryland. **NOTE LATE MEETING TIME 8:00 am.** Jim Kuehn designed this
ride many, many years ago and it remains one of our favorite southern
Maryland centuries. The ride rolls through Anne Arundel and Prince
George's Counties and includes a visit to the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary,
a winter resting place and home for thousands of migratory geese. 100
miles with several short options. Total elevation gain only about 4,000
feet -- it's a cruise. There is also an optional scenic tour of the
Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, which adds 4 miles (most of it on dirt)
and a hill or two.

Directions to the ride start:
K-Mart, Crofton Center, Crofton, Maryland
From DC Beltway Exit 19, take US50 east 8 miles to exit 13B, MD3 North.
Go North on MD3 for 5-1/2 miles. Turn right into Crofton Center AFTER
Friendly's, before MD424.


Crista
Work 202-622-4557
Cell (weekends only) 202-365-3738
**I DO NOT HAVE EMAIL ACCESS ON WEEKENDS**

About Weekend Training/Touring Rides

Crista Borras and others organize weekend training rides of 100 miles (or more) on weekends throughout the year. These rides are excellent preparation for randonneurs. The ride schedule for the upcoming weekend is generally posted midweek; however, when the weather is uncertain, the schedule may be delayed.

The time listed in Crista's ride announcements is an "arrival" time; the departure time is usually 15 minutes later. If you find that it takes more than 15 minutes to prepare yourself and your bicycle, try to arrive a bit earlier.

These rides are at-your-own-pace affairs; we do not necessarily stay together as a group except on the coldest days or under the most severe conditions. There will be some cyclists who will be "off the front" almost immediately and others who "make a day of it." If you are pleasant and talkative, you certainly will find someone willing to ride at your pace. The group does endeavor to re-group at rest stops. We often plan a sit-down lunch at a cafe and a post-ride dinner at a local restaurant.

The routes are generally well-suited for road bicycles but will sometimes include a few miles of hard-packed dirt or gravel, a stream ford, or some other "little adventure." Crista usually provides paved alternatives for those wishing to avoid these stretches, at the cost of an extra mile or two. If the ride includes non-paved roads, this will be indicated in the ride description.

There are often shortcuts available for those riders who might have other afternoon or evening plans, those who are feeling a bit lazy, or those who are riding with a spouse or friend not yet ready to tackle a full century.

During the winter and on longer rides, the 'dark monster' may catch us. Randonneurs know that they should carry lights when finishing after dark is a possibility. However, we strongly encourage everyone to have at least a tail light (of the blinking LED variety) permanently mounted on their bicycle. Also, a small clip-on headlight weighs almost nothing and is good insurance.

Cue sheets are provided and are always of impeccable quality. Maps (often highlighted with the main route and options shown) are usually provided as well. Occasionally, we will do a "check-out" or "exploratory" ride where the cue sheet has not been field-tested; this will be noted in the ride description and participants are warned that some 'unscheduled deviations' might result. Consider this part of the adventure.