This Ride: 37.8 miles
Kona Distance: 5,508.9 miles
Month to date: 467.9 miles
2010 Total: 6,000.4 miles
6000 miles on the bike in 2010. That’s a pretty significant accomplishment for my first year of serious riding. It wasn’t a goal I set early in the year, in fact, it was about November before I thought it might be possible. My original goal in January was to ride consistently enough to justify the purchase of a bicycle and to complete a 100 mile ride in October. I had no idea then how low these goals really were.
Last night was the SPP Christmas party. It was there that the plans for this morning’s rides were solidified.
The first part of the ride was the normal Saturday 6:00 am ride, the Solley Road Loop. This is usually a very fast ride, and it was much faster than I’ve been going recently. I was an anchor (read dead weight) slowing the group down this morning, but I don’t think that some of the other 5 riders minded too much. Chip did a nice job slowing the crew down to my pace. Still, it has been a while since I’ve had an above 18 mph average over 5 miles, and I had one of those this morning. We ended that ride a bit early with most of the guys stopping at Java Divas for an espresso. While waiting for the 7:30 ride to start we were shivering as our bodies cooled and the sweat conducted the heat away in 29 F temps. Half a dozen of us rode some leisurely additional miles just to keep our blood moving while we waited.
Sixteen riders started out at the Rusty Bridge for the breakfast ride into Annapolis. We picked up Bob C along the way for a 17 rider peloton down a pretty active B&A trail. There were some icy spots we negotiated without mishap. I just couldn’t take the time to eat with the group this morning, so I bid adieu at the south end of the trail and relished the last 7 miles to my 6000 mile goal. At least that’s how I want to remember it. The headwind was strong and it was a real effort to complete those final miles solo after such a good group ride this morning.
Next week? Some breakfast rides are being planned! Sounds like fun.
This Ride: 19.2 miles
Kona Distance: 5,471.1 miles
Month to date: 430.1 miles
2010 Total: 5,962.6 miles (37.4 to go for 6,000)
Had it not been for my goal of 6,000 miles for the year still within striking distance and had it not been for a regular group of riders, I would not have dragged myself out of bed this morning for a ride. But goals and groups are good. They help keep me on track when the excuses lay in wait.
Seven of us were out in 32 F with strong north westerly winds. That meant we had the wind in our faces on the return. Bob C was out for the first time in a very long time. It was good to see him. I considered extending the ride at the end a bit, but there is a whole lot to do this morning, and those few extra minutes are important.
This Ride: 23.4 miles
Kona Distance: 5,451.9 miles
Month to date: 410.9 miles
2010 Total: 5,943.4 miles (56.6 to go for 6,000)
This was a rare afternoon ride. I was unable to ride with the SPP 5:45 group this morning due to an early appointment, but had hoped to be able to ride this afternoon. All the cards lined up properly, and rather than a nap, I jumped on the bike for a planned 20 miler. It was warmish (42 F) and breezy. I had some gear adjustments to make early on and my chain started complaining about a quarter of the way into the ride, but it was a nice ride.
I can’t take the remaining days of December for granted. Snow is possible this weekend, and some forecast models indicate it could dump quite a bit on us. If I don’t want to finish my 6000 miles on the trainer, it makes sense to get as many as I can in before the weekend. It looks like a 2-3 good rides will do it.
This Ride: 21.0 miles
Kona Distance: 5,428.5 miles
Month to date: 387.5 miles
2010 Total: 5,920 miles (80 to go for 6,000)
Technically this was the last autumn morning ride. The winter solstice arrives this evening.
None-the-less, we took a mostly winter route this morning. The B&A Trail is not plowed or treated in the winter, so snow and ice accumulate. Most of our snow is gone, but there are significant ice patches remaining, making the trail hazardous. We ride on the roadways and shoulders of a route close to our normal route, and add a loop in Glen Oban. (This morning I chose not to ride the complete Glen Oban loop. I’m noticing a very deep fatigue remaining from the 200k last Friday. The last part of that route is another hill. I didn’t do very well on the hills prior to that this morning.)
It was a nice morning. Four of us rode. Bryan still had his “candy cane” Christmas lights on the bike. My “glow stick” necklaces were still glowing in my spokes. (Storing the bike in the cold garage apparently extends the chemical reaction. They’ve been glowing now 2.5 days.)
A few key photos from the “Sailing Down to Solomons 207k last Friday.
Getting everything ready before the start
Ready to go!
25 miles done: frozen water in bottles
Chesapeake Bay: southern most part of the route
Lunch near a fireplace
2nd flat: At least it is daylight!
Christmas Tree at North Beach: 95 miles
2nd favorite stop - Sweet Sue's. Favorite stop? The end, of course!
This Ride: 13.8 miles
Kona Distance: 5,407.6 miles
Month to date: 366.5 miles
2010 Total: 5,899 miles (101 to go for 6,000)
If anyone asks me to describe the coldest ride of the year, this ride wins hands down. It was 33 degrees, at least 10 -15 degrees warmer than the coldest outdoor temperatures I’ve ridden in, but our leisurely pace meant I was shivering and my hands went numb in gloves that have kept them warm in much harsher conditions. I even put the bike in the gear that would allow maximum revolutions of the pedal for minimum revolutions of the tires just to bump my heart rate up. But now it sounds like I’m whining.
This was a fun ride. About 18-20 people on bikes cruised the neighborhoods to look at Christmas light decorations at homes. There were simple displays. There were elaborate displays. There were displays which caused us to scratch our helmeted heads in wonder about how the home owners accomplished what they did. We spent about an hour in and out of these cul-du-sacs, and had a great time. Once we tried singing a Christmas carol, but without music backup and lyrics, we were well out of our league.
I haven’t told you the next to the best part yet. We decorated bikes. There are battery operated lights, chemical light sticks, glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets that were all used to light up our rides. Clint took some photos and I’ve used some of them here.
The best part? John & Janet opened their home, provided some food (as did others) and we had a good time for our post Christmas Light Ride gathering (pre-SPP Christmas party).
This has been dubbed “The First Annual Severna Park Peloton Christmas Light Ride”. It was a hit!
This Ride: 129.2 miles (longest ride to date)
Kona Distance: 5,393.8 miles
Month to date: 352.8 miles
2010 Total: 5,885.3 miles (114.7 to go for 6,000)
About a week ago, Mike suggested that the “weather window” was just right for his 12th consecutive monthly 200k on a Friday. Knowing that I might be interested in riding a 200k and that Fridays are typically a day off for me, he invited me to accompany him. The weather forecast was for a low of 29 and a high of 45, sunny skies and very light winds, great conditions for a long bike ride. Clint also was invited and arranged to ride. The details were worked out, and Monday of this week we filed the necessary paperwork and prepared, watching the weather forecast deteriorate. On Thursday, we had our first measurable snowfall of the season, with 2 inches at home and up to 4 inches along the planned route. None of the three of us “blinked” despite spouses who were hesitant and other club members who ever so gently asked if we were still going to ride. We met up in Crofton at 5:30 am for a 6 am start. Chris, a SPP member who had completed his R-12 a week ago (solo) was there to send us off.
It was 23 degrees and dark when we set out. The shoulders of the roads were mostly wet, heavy slush, so we carefully negotiated the traveled portion of the roadway. Most drivers were courteous and observed good clearance distance. Some drove by close enough to cause some concern. At mile 6, I stood in the pedals for a slight hill, and felt some unusual sensation in my front tire. It was going low. We pulled off under a street light and in the cold and dark with snow underfoot, changed the tube. I couldn’t locate the cause of the flat, so with numb fingers crossed, we pressed on. (Mike has a great pump with a pressure gauge in it.)
Most of the route to Solomons follows Rt. 2, a major N-S highway. After the gorgeous sunrise, we were able to negotiate the shoulder more often, stretches of it were simply wet with slush patches that could be avoided. The rumble strips caused increased attention, as did the heavy commercial traffic. At mile 25, we stopped in a gas station for a restroom break and to get hot water in our water bottles (to melt the ice and stave off more freezing for a while). At mile 37 we stopped in at a Starbucks for coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and bathroom break. We were certainly objects of curiosity. Three guys on bikes, in this weather? Schools had been canceled for the day in this county!
That first mile after a meal stop is always tough. It is cold, the muscles are stiff and don’t want to work. On we pedaled, and soon we lost what little sun we had. The sun felt good when it was out, but now it was behind the clouds and the chill was noticeable. At mile 58 we had our first control, an information control at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Chesapeake Bay Laboratory. The view of the Chesapeake Bay was marred only by the merging of the cloudy sky and the cold water … both the same wintry color.
After the control, we turned north for our return home. We stopped for lunch at Woodburn’s Market at about mile 60. Once again, we were the objects of long stares, slow head shaking, and a lot of questions by the staff. Lunch consisted of a French Toast Bagel and Hot Chocolate. Water bottles were topped off, and it was here where we replaced the foot warmers in our shoes. As we pushed off, we confirmed that we were not setting any speed records. We were averaging about 10 mph including the stops, and 14.5 – 15 mph rolling speed. The maximum time allowed for a 200k is about 9 mph including stops, so we were a lot closer to the maximum time allotment than any of us liked. So, putting our heads down, on we pressed.
Until the flat at mile 70. It was just like before. I was up in the pedals, pushing up a hill, when I noticed that softness in my front tire. We pressed on to a side road near the top of the hill, and there took a lot of time to change the flat. We found the hole (glass that had pressed through), and also pulled half a dozen other bits of glass out of the tire. The glass causing the punctured tube was difficult to extract. Mike had a pair of needle-nosed pliers that he offered. The two parts wouldn’t close, so they were useless. I remembered the straight pin I carried, and we were able to dig out the junk, booted the hole, and changed the tube. That tire will be replaced this week. All of this was accomplished behind a police vehicle set up for a speed trap. I think he barely glanced at us.
Shoving off once again, we were reaching the warm part of the day. My Garmin shows that it hit about 35 degrees. We picked up the sun once again just before the flat, and it remained out all afternoon. Soon we were into the rolling hills and wooded roads leading to Chesapeake Beach/North Beach. They seemed to never end. We saw deer. Then we saw a big unleashed Golden Retriever. Remembering Chris’ stories about dogs from last week, I was very cautious, until I saw the big yellow Frisbee in her mouth. She wanted to play! I think she offered it to each of us in turn, but we were preparing to grind up yet another hill, and didn’t slow down to accommodate her.
Ah, Sweet Sue’s at mile 95 was a welcome stop. More hot chocolate, a huge chocolate chip cookie, control cards signed, and updates sent off to friends and family. My chain had been chirping for about 10 miles, and having brought some lube for this possibility, I generously doused the chain before going in, and then used a napkin to remove the excess before pushing off. That worked very well, and I’m glad I brought it. Those 95 wet, salty miles had removed the oil in the chain and filled it with grit.
When I gauge the attitudes of the three riders, I think we were all ready to be done. There were about 30 miles left in the ride, and we went a bit more quiet. We still had the hills north of Sweet Sue’s, and we had all ridden those hills before. It was here we hit the real challenging part of the ride. For about a mile, the road was completely snow covered, alternating between hard packed snow and hard packed snow that had a treatment of salt upon it. Most of it was either flat or slightly downhill, and was a real challenge because the rear wheel didn’t necessarily track the front wheel. I un-clipped one foot, intent to go down in that direction if necessary. There were no falls. I also knew that we had a very steep downhill coming up that ended near the water. If there was snow packed on it, we were in trouble. Thankfully, the snow pack ended, the downhill was wet with some slush that could be avoided. I’m frankly surprised that we didn’t hit more snow pack on our route.
These last 30 miles saw more than their fair share of “natural” breaks. At mile 103 we had an information control at Tacaro Farm. It was starting to get close to sunset and flashing lights were turned on. At mile 112, the sun was down far enough that we turned on our headlights, trying hard to balance the need to see down some very steep long fast downhill runs, and battery life. Crossing under Route 50 was a spirit-boosting landmark. We admired Christmas light displays. Some of these people have really gone all out!
I never knew a nose could run so much. As it got colder, it ran and ran, and nothing I did seemed to stop the flow. The long down-hills seemed to aggravate it, but so did the climbs.
Once on MD 424, we encountered police activity that had traffic backed up for miles. At least it was moving slowly, and we kept pace with the traffic. Soon, we were in the final stretch, and Mike moved into the lead to cross the finish first, the completion of his R-12! Chris met us at the finish. It was great to see a friend there.
My Garmin shows we arrived 12 hours 17 minutes after our start, which is a relatively slow time. We had 1.5 hours left in our time limit. Official time was 12 hours 25 minutes (we had to wait in line to get our control cards signed.) The Garmin link will give you more information about those parts of the ride.
Our SPP friends and some family planned a “welcome home party”, and after a quick change of venue because the original place was crowded, we met up at Hella’s and spent a couple of hours telling stories, drinking beer, and having a good time together. Then, I went home and was asleep almost as soon as sitting down.
This was a great ride. Thanks to Mike for inviting me. Thanks to Clint for accompanying us. It was Clint’s 25th consecutive monthly 200k. I learned some things about Randonneuring. I felt good about my nutrition/hydration plan which kept my energy level good. (I did mess up at the start. I forgot to eat breakfast before setting out for the early meet up. A Cliff bar, banana, and a trail mix bar at the start served as my breakfast. Both Mike and Clint were rightfully concerned that it might be too little too late. I was fine, but will try not to repeat that.)
Next ride: (I really don’t want to get on the bike again right now) is our Christmas Light Ride Saturday evening.
This Ride: 21.7 miles
Kona Distance: 5,264.6 miles
Month to date: 223.6 miles
2010 Total: 5,756.1 miles (243.9 to go for 6,000)
I passed a mini milestone with this morning’s ride. I passed 3,500 miles in a 6 month period of time. It was a nice ride for this accomplishment.
Six of us met at the Rusty Bridge for a very cold ride. The weather station was reporting 18, some had 19 (my Garmin had 21). There was a good strong wind out of the WNW that made the wind chill around 6. Any colder and I need to make some adjustments. UnderArmour tights don’t have wind stop in the front of the legs. I needed wind stop material this morning. I only used one pair of toe warmers. I could have used two. The Craft base layer keeps me dryer, but it also seems to wick away heat also, so I have to think about that.
It was a faster pace than yesterday, even though we had some riders with short mechanical issues that we slowed down for. When a rider drops a chain at the bottom of a steep hill, I’ll usually ride up the hill and wait there. I’ll risk having to do the hill twice just to use the momentum I’ve built up before the hill.
Tomorrow is a rest day. Friday is my 207 kilometer ride with Mike & Clint, so I’ll take some time to do a once-over with the bike, lube the chain and recheck my supplies. I’m really looking forward to that ride. That ride report will be my next post.
This Ride: 19.4 miles
Kona Distance: 5,242.9 miles
Month to date: 201.9 miles
2010 Total: 5,734.4 miles (265.6 to go for 6,000)
The forecast was for wind and cold. The forecasters were right. It was 22 degrees and 17 mph winds at 5:30 this morning. That was enough for one friend to stay home, but 5 of us met up for what still proved to be a nice ride. Unfortunately, the wind was in our faces on the way home rather than at our backs (which is the preferred way to end a ride). There were a few very light snow flurries and we had to watch for ice on the trail.
I learned a couple of things this morning.
- In the dark, that grey paint on the trail is ice with a dusting of snow on it.
- Chapstick is used on the outside of the nose to help keep it warm.
My big news is that I’m planning a 207k (128.8 miles) mile ride on Friday. Three of us are riding the “Sailing Down To Solomon’s” Permanent starting at 6 am. That will be my longest ride ever.
This Ride: 21.1 miles
Kona Distance: 5,223.5 miles
Month to date: 182.5 miles
2010 Total: 5,715 miles (285 to go for 6,000)
I woke up excited that it was 36 degrees. Not only is that the warmest it has been at 5 am for a while, but that meant it was above freezing! With all the rain we had the past couple of days, temps in the 20s would have meant that a ride would have been too dangerous. I could do 36!
I pulled on all the gear, put the fenders on the bike, and stepped outside to … snow showers! It was snowing! I was as excited as a kid with the first snow of winter. This was going to be fun!
The snow showers were light, but were pushed by a very stiff northwesterly wind. As I moved north, the snow stung my face and rattled against my coat, but it wasn’t sticking on the road surfaces. I learned that an LED light is not a steady state light, but rather cycles on and off. The snow blowing in my headlights was making these patterns that were fun to watch — — — — — — .
I made it to the Rusty Bridge early, so I added some distance, returned to the bridge and waited. At 5:46, there were no other riders, so I pushed off anticipating a solo ride. Soon, however, there were lights ahead, and Dan was riding up the trail. So Dan and I set off and enjoyed one another’s company, and both loving the snow.
Bunnies were out in full force this morning. We had at least 5 or 6 cross our path along the ride. The only slick spots were the wooden bridges on the trail. We were careful to cross these with no change of direction. On our return, our outbound tire tracks on the bridges had been covered by fresh snow. We met one other rider, no runners, and one walker on the route.
After I got home, Lori saw white on the deck in the back of the house, and asked, “Is that frost or snow?” With a big grin, I said, “Snow!” She just shook her head slowly from side to side and said, “You’ve been waiting all morning to tell me that, haven’t you?” I had.
Rev Rider 