Flats – Jan 19, Feb 9
Women’s Flats – Feb 16
Road Bike Maint – Jan 26
MTB Maint – Feb 2
Women’s Tri – Feb 23

All classes start at 6 and reservations are required. 301.663.9288

There is also a plug for the Sunday am rides that start currently at 9am. They ride at above 25 degrees with no precip or frozen patches on roads. Distance varies from 30-50 and pace at about 16-18.

http://wheelbasebikes.com/

If you want to receive notifications of the rides, ask Vicki to add her to your email list: vickibate@hotmail.com.

I’ll be leaving my house around 10 AM on Sunday and can meet folks who want to join me at the Park and Ride on Route 17, just south of Myersville.  We’ll be going to Hancock (~40 min drive) and starting from there as that’s the halfway point and will allow folks to either do around 21 miles or 44 miles.   Plan for 3+ hours if you’re going to do the whole trail with me.  There is a bike shop in Hancock but I’m not sure if they’re open yet, so please plan to bring adequate supplies with you, especially if you do the entire trail distance.

If the weather forecast turns sour (i.e. rain is forecast), I’ll have to cancel and will try to reach folks who have contacted me Sunday morning around 9:30 and also post a cancellation notice here as well.

Reply to this post if you’d like to join me or send me an email dsemiller@comcast.net.

Well, I had not clicked on the Event Summary page last night and just clicked the other so I knew where this was at. I came to find that the first statement is more correct than the other and is even a bit of an understatement. Now, I didn’t ride out of the park as I know that’s a bit of a hill to start and then come out onto Route 40 to a nice downhill. That’s where I picked it up at. Zooming downhill coming up to Crystal Falls Road and that’s a sharp right turn. Then mostly rolling with a few steeper climbs on Crystal Falls. This road is a bit rough at spots, winding here and there, offering short to not so short climbs along it. Coming down the last hill on this road to the next turn on Federal Lookout, one has to be careful to cut speed and not miss this turn. Hopefully, there will be people directing but it may be a problem to go through to the stop sign if you’re not careful. Turn onto Federal Lookout you’ve cut your speed for the turn and have to go uphill! It’s a bit gradual but it’s still a hill. Then you come down a short hill and merge onto 17/Wolfsville Road. Hopefully, there’s folks stopping traffic here as there’s no shoulder and you also can’t see the traffic coming from the left.

Now the REAL FUN starts! I looked at the road ahead of me going up South Mountain! And did it ever go up! Over the next mile and a half, I climbed approximately 550 ft!! Now, I’m not a good climber and as I’m hitting the higher numbers on my heart rate monitor I’m thinking “No way I can do this on my tri bike!” I mean I have a triple chainring on my road bike and I’m in the lowest gear (the granny). Finally, I’m over the top and I’m concerned that the same steepness is on the other side. Fortunately, going down is a lot more gradual with a nice downhill section coming into Wolfsville. The ride on Pleasant Walk is okay with more rollers and short climbs, but the road is better than Crystal Falls. At the end, turn right to again climb the mountain a bit on Route 40. But once you finish this last climb, you’re rewarded with a downhill all the way into the park.

The climb over South Mountain has got me thinking twice now about doing this race.  I have a few more weeks to decide, but I wanted to give everyone here a preview of what they might be getting themselves into if they are considering this race.  Personally, I thought the climb for Diamond in the Rough was easier.  I did that one on my tri bike.  This I wouldn’t consider.  If I do end up doing this, I’ll put some short aerobars on my road bike for the parts I can zoom on just to get a bit more aero.  But, then I’ll definitely use the triple (and then maybe even my 27 cog for my cassette) for that climb.

BTW, the folks doing the 50 have to do this loop TWICE!  I’m sorry.  Can’t imagine doing that climb twice.  More power to ya. 

I’ll see about previewing the run course and do another post.

“Race Report” Dave

Mike Matney and I are thinking about a fairly long but casual ride the Saturday after Eagleman starting from Frederick and going to Gettysburg and back.  We could do a couple of different riding levels based on the number of folks that want to attend.  But, like to see what interest we have.  Probably starting 9-ish.  We’d grab “lunch” at Gettysburg and then head back.  Figure the morning would be devoted to the ride and a bit perhaps after noon.  This is weather dependent and we’d have to probably try another weekend as the next day is Father’s Day.  Post a comment here or email me if interested – dsemiller@comcast.net.

Dave

Vicki Bate

If you’re looking for folks to ride with during your cycling training and you average 15-18 mph (class B rider), Vicki Bate reminded me that there’s a pickup group that rides from Glade Elementary Tues and Thur evenings, departing at 6PM. This used to be with the Frederick Pedalers but they’ve discontinued leading them. But, folks still come there on those nights looking for people to ride with. Now on Tuesdays, the racers also ride from Glade. So, dont’ get confused or else you’ll be looking at trying to ride at 20+ mph on average.

BTW, Vicki also let me know that some folks get there around 5 and do a loop before coming back for the folks that show up at 6.  So, if you want a bit longer ride, there should be folks there to go out with for about an hour before picking up the 6 o’clock group.

The group usually heads north towards Thurmont and then back covering distances of 25-30 miles. There’s some pacelining but the group isn’t normally as intense as the racers and don’t usually end up dropping folks.

Glade Elementary is located off of Devilbliss Bridge Road just north of the main part of Walkersville.

Dave

If anyone is interested would like to get some feedback on ability group rides for the weekends.  I think we can have up to three types of groups A, B and C.  If anyone is interested in helping lead (navigate) one of the groups let me know.   Even though we are all responsible for ourselves on the road, safety and rules of the road are paramount for leaders and individuals who would want to participate.  

I would be glad to help on Saturday rides for A and B rides (mainly A, occasionally B).  I usually ride starting in the Walkersville area and sometimes out near Middletown, or route 67 with Dave Miller.  Occasionally make the trek up to the WMRT in Hancock,  Looking at a “nice” hill ride from Gambrill to Catoctin Falls at least once this year.   Most rides will be 1.5 hours to 3.5 hours in length, you can always get more or less once you learn your way around.  Every other Saturday is a brick. 

I would also help with runs on Sunday afternoons or evenings on Fort Detrick (flat) sometimes out at Gambrill/Watershed on hill days.  If you are interested in helping or participating post your feedback please.

 I have open slots for swimming on Fort Detrick as well. It costs four dollars and the slots are Friday evenings between 5-7 PM or Tuesday 6 AM.

 Hope your training is going well!

Mike