balto charlie

Hey folks: I just finished a CGOAB journal...my first
Here's the good, the bad and the ugly
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?...c_id=5639&v=60

Harry welcome back

The Human Car

Harry welcome back! If you are asking me that question when I was riding around with my kids in a trailer years ago I found drivers way more courteous then when riding solo. My youngest will still go with me downtown in this mode:

We both feel perfectly safe doing so, so ya, I think it's safe.

But be warned the slog up to Roland Park can be tiring pulling extra weight.

Pragmatik

I must be soft, LOL. The trip from downtown to Roland Park is usually pretty tiring for me, pulling just my own big butt

maxine

Still no trip report for my bike camping tour to Gifford Pinchot State Park (I'm working on it, I swear! )

In the meanwhile, here are some pics I took, with some commentary. I *think* this link should work.

https://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailsh...D_NAME=harley/

Some brief statistical stuff: my packed panniers, sleeping bag, and mattress pad weigh 46 pounds. The bike itself, with the front and rear racks installed, weighs about 31 pounds.

I left from mile marker 2 of the NCR Trail, at Phoenix Road, at about 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning (the 18th.) I'm not sure when I got to Gifford Pinchot (there was some drama with my campsite), but I think it was about 3:00. Trip distance 52.4 miles, average speed 9.5 mph, max speed 30. I left Sunday morning at 10:10 a.m. Average speed on the return leg was 10.7, max was 35% (while going down the agonizingly steep and long climb that is right before the camp turnoff.) Maximum uphill grade on both in- and outbound routes is 7%. Ride time was 4:54; I got back to my car at 5:20 p.m.

More details soon!

veloellen

Thanks MAx - nice pics!

maxine

I've been planning on this, but now it's possible that my pool team will need me to play Thursday night (or else we'll forefeit.) I probably won't know until the last minute, either. Well, I'll see you all if I see you all!

NoRacer

I -finally- had a chance to look at these pictures. I like.

The rocks looked pretty uncomfortable. I guess they think everyone carries some sort of air matress to camp with them?

I hate SnapFish for making everyone have to register to view albums. That was the main reason I went with Photobucket--then, subsequently, for posting linked pix to forums.

Now, since Photobucket has made their pages so "busy" with junk advertising (I guess they have to pay for our free accounts somehow), if I had an easy way to do it, I'd move to a free Yahoo account--much less advertising, but currently that's not possible without breaking a lot of picture links.

maxine

See, I was wondering if Snapfish would make visitors do that! I use it mostly as a place for my sister to see pictures I take of her kids, because she can also order prints right from the site. I guess I'll have to find a more user-friendly place to park photos. I think I used to use Yahoo a long time ago, but didn't they drop the photo album feature for a while?

I also posted the pictures on my Facebook page, where Barry gave me a very detailed, erudite tutorial on the subject of campsite "gravel" and how I probably ended up with those big rocks.

The Human Car

NoRacer, where do you pick up that tire tread repair stuff again (shoe goo)? I am in need of some.

Whose coming to the corn roast on Saturday?

maxine

Charlie, great write-up, and fantastic pictures! What gorgeous scenery. And what a tough ride! When you were first describing your plans, I don't think I realized how much of your route was on dirt.

Pragmatik

I talked about Shoe Goo and fixing a tire once, and a family member picked me up some at like Walmart or Target or something in the shoe dept. It wasn't black, but it works (and STINKS!).

maxine

I am probably traveling to PA to visit the family this weekend, so no corn for me.

The Human Car

Lovely, I share a room with my bike.

NoRacer

I've found it at grocery stores where they keep their shoe polishes and at stores like Walgreen's and CVS.

Looks like DC Rand is riding a century to the Corn Roast.

I'm not sure what I'm doing, yet, since I have to give up part of my Sunday due to a contractor coming over to give me an estimate on a new roof.

NoRacer

Yes, it does stink. You are warned to use it in a well ventilated area. Also, make sure you're finished having kids before rubbing your fingers in it.

NoRacer

Poor kid--she looks just like you.

Just kidding--[j/k]

You look like you have room for a third bike on that thing!

Pragmatik

Me, too. With my bike, my wife's bike and the two of us sleeping in the same room, it feels, dirty somehow.

The Human Car

There's a pic up on the net were some bike shop is caring 4 bikes on a X two in the trays and two in the bags.

https://nbbb.wordpress.com/2009/07/30...dness-tonight/ Moonlight Madness tonight and I'm meeting Johnny at the Roland Water Tower. Anyone else coming?

maxine

Can't go. Not enough pool team peeps available for tonight, and it's the last match of the session, so I have to shoot. Have fun on the ride!

NoRacer

Awfully close to my bedtime, man.

HC203

I'll be there. What time rendezvous at Hampden water tower? Are there beer stops on this moonlight madness ride?

joshuaandlauri

The wife and I will be there!!!! woo hoo. We will be driving to the start as the wifee is coming, is there somewhere to park?

joshuaandlauri

Is there parking by this water tower? The wife and I could meet ya there?

HC203

Josh,
You could probably park on the street around the water tower. It's at the intersection of Roalnd Ave. and University Parkway.
I'll be there at 7:30-on my heavy bike.

balto charlie

Thanks Max. I was surprised by the amount of dirt roads. I think it was over 75% dirt/rail trail. Just looked at your pictures. Very nice pixs and your weather looked awesome. Didn't see a cloud. Where was the garden? I always check out the Monkton Garden along that route but that was a different one.