Second C&O training ride [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

divingbiker

09-15-2008, 10:41 AM

September 20--DB, 7Rider
September 21--DB
September 27 -- 7Rider
September 28--DB, 7Rider
October 4--DB
October 5

I think I'd prefer this Saturday, September 20 over the 28th if that's ok with you. (I'm spending all day the 27th in a kayaking lesson, and I'd rather not commit the 28th also.)

7rider

09-15-2008, 10:51 AM

Okay.
I'm game.
Anyone else??
Join us even if you're not "in training" for anything in particular.

Kalidurga

09-15-2008, 11:12 AM

My September/October calendar, as usual, is getting chocka-block full and I may need this Saturday just to catch up on stuff. Any idea where you would ride?

Janice, did you get a paddle float yet?

divingbiker

09-15-2008, 11:20 AM

My September/October calendar, as usual, is getting chocka-block full and I may need this Saturday just to catch up on stuff. Any idea where you would ride?

Janice, did you get a paddle float yet?

No idea where we're riding; we haven't gotten that far yet.

No paddle float yet; I thought I'd take the class and see how to use it and what they recommend.

divingbiker

09-17-2008, 03:42 PM

7rider and I propose that we meet at Whites Ferry at 10am Saturday and ride 15 miles north, have lunch, then ride back. Sound ok?

Zen

09-18-2008, 07:50 AM

I need directions and I know just who to get them from ;)

ETA-Nevermind, I think I got it-
15 to 85 to Dickerson Road (108?) to Whites Ferry Road

divingbiker

09-19-2008, 06:27 AM

OK, it sounds like we have a plan. Anyone else going to join us at 10 am tomorrow at Whites Ferry for a 30 mile ride??? Tam?

Kalidurga

09-19-2008, 08:08 AM

I'm going to have to pass on this one, ladies, sorry :(

Zen, I dunno where you're getting 108 from. It's 85 to 28 to 109 to Poolesville and a left on 107 (Fisher Ave turns into White's Ferry Rd). If you have time while you're in Poolesville, check out Bob's Bikes (http://www.bobsbike.com/store.htm) and donate some spare gear to Bikes for the World :D

Zen

09-19-2008, 11:26 AM

Are those directions from my direction or your direction?

We'll figure it out tomorrow.

divingbiker

09-19-2008, 11:46 AM

Mapquest is your friend.

Zen

09-19-2008, 12:34 PM

Mapquest is not my friend.I do not like mapquest.
google maps are my friend.
i had it right, just need to clarify the 107, 108 and 109 :rolleyes:

divingbiker

09-19-2008, 03:36 PM

Zen, I just left you a message on your home phone. Tomorrow's ride is off for Regina and me; she's got mechanical issues.

We're shooting for next Sunday now to do a loaded ride.

7rider

09-19-2008, 03:54 PM

Sorry. Busted spoke on the rear wheel. :(
I hope folks can make the 28th...same bat-time, same bat-location.

Zen

09-19-2008, 06:13 PM

Just as well.
I need more time to configure my load.

7rider

09-23-2008, 05:39 PM

Are we on for Sunday the 28th?

What time?
I have a friend who's racing the Ed Sanders 'cross race (http://www.bikereg.com/events/ConfList.asp?EventID=7080) at Lilypons on Sunday and I'd love to see her race (IF she goes - she admits to lacking the "killer instinct" needed for a successful racing career - her group goes off at 1:30). No idea if it's do-able to do an early a.m. ride on Sunday and still make it up to the race for 1:30.

Zen

09-23-2008, 06:24 PM

Oh, man! I missed that race last year, I'm going this year so no training ride.
I'll do mine Thursday.

Let's go to Lilypons!

Look at these kids digging into The Suitcase of Courage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOtXNDF5Bo4)

divingbiker

09-24-2008, 01:46 AM

Oh, man! I missed that race last year, I'm going this year so no training ride.

Really? Neither of you wants to ride on Sunday?

OK, I guess I'll do my training ride on my own. I've got no interest in watching other people ride, and I don't think I can do it the next weekend because I'm getting my new dog and don't want to be gone all day (which is why I'm going to do the 20 mile ride at Tour du Port on Sunday Oct 5). And the following weekend is cutting it close if any load adjustments need to be made.

It's looking like a 70% chance of rain on Saturday, so the kayaking lesson may be a washout, anyway, and the trail may be wet on Sunday. I think it's a weekend to play it by ear.

7rider

09-24-2008, 02:37 AM

No, I do want to ride!
(I was just wondering if we'd be done early enough to get to Lilypons for 1:30).

Kalidurga

09-24-2008, 03:04 AM

If you're riding around White's Ferry, it's a pretty quick drive from there to Lilypons. I'd like to see some of the early races on Sunday. When I was at the Ed Sanders race 2 years ago, watching the scrappy dudes in the 55+ Masters category was inspirational. Those guys are tough. So I may try to show up for the 10am start time. Zen, what time are you going?

I'm going to pass on riding again, though, as I need to be up at the PetSmart in Frederick at noon to adopt a kitten I saw there last Sunday.

Janice, if the folks you're taking your 'yak lesson from are anything like the folks I took classes with, only thunder and lightning will make 'em cancel. When it threatened rain on the days of a couple of our classes, the instructor would say "This is a water sport, after all!"

7rider

09-24-2008, 03:11 AM

divingbiker

09-24-2008, 04:13 AM

Oh...meant to also say...
You're getting another dog, DB! Wow! That's great (but I thought you were going to be a one-dog house for a while??)! Can't wait to see pix.
And good for you, KD, for adopting another cat. I'm glad to see that.

RE: Sunday...I figure, even if the trails are wet...we're doing our ride regardless, right? So, we should probably train regardless, too.

And, yeah...KD...re: raining on a kayak lesson....what can happen? You get wet?? ;)

Can we be at White's Ferry to ride at 9?

I think 9am on Sunday would be fine, if that gives you enough time to get to the race. I assume we'll drive up separately so you can go directly there (no idea where Lilypons is.)

Re the dog, it's too quiet with just one. I found AJ at the cocker rescue, and he seems like he'll fit in fine. He came over Sunday and the two of them got along fine (even though he was pretty distracted sniffing the whole house.) He's nine and has thyroid and high blood pressure issues, but seems to be pretty spunky.

Yay KD on getting the new kitty!

Zen

09-24-2008, 05:11 AM

Can we be at White's Ferry to ride at 9?

NINE!
Maybe, but someone will have to pour coffee over my head.
I'll figure this all out later, I have to get to PT.

divingbiker

09-27-2008, 12:21 PM

So are we on for 9am tomorrow at White's Ferry? And we're driving separately, Regina, so you can go to the cyclocross race?

7rider

09-27-2008, 02:43 PM

So are we on for 9am tomorrow at White's Ferry? And we're driving separately, Regina, so you can go to the cyclocross race?

Yes. 9 a.m. TO RIDE - White's Ferry.
I wish we could drive together. There is a CHANCE Kathy won't race tomorrow (40% chance of rain through much of the a.m., and she's not such a gung-ho racer as to race regardless of the weather or conditions). If she raced...it'd be fun to watch. Lilipons is about a half hour north of where we'll be. If she didn't race...we'd just go back home after our ride.

divingbiker

09-27-2008, 03:21 PM

Yes. 9 a.m. TO RIDE - White's Ferry.
I wish we could drive together. There is a CHANCE Kathy won't race tomorrow (40% chance of rain through much of the a.m., and she's not such a gung-ho racer as to race regardless of the weather or conditions). If she raced...it'd be fun to watch. Lilipons is about a half hour north of where we'll be. If she didn't race...we'd just go back home after our ride.

After my long day kayaking and failing to rescue myself today, I don't think I'm up for extra driving or waiting around for the races.

So I'll just drive myself, if I can figure out how to get there.

So you're saying we should be ready to ride at 9am, not just get there at 9am, right?

7rider

09-27-2008, 03:28 PM

After my long day kayaking and failing to rescue myself today, I don't think I'm up for extra driving or waiting around for the races.

So I'll just drive myself, if I can figure out how to get there.

So you're saying we should be ready to ride at 9am, not just get there at 9am, right?

:(:(

Yes...riding at 9 is my plan. I hope to leave the house at 7:30. I figure with wet trails and possible rain, it's going to be slow going. Call my cell at 7 - maybe Kathy will have pulled the plug completely by then, and we can carpool.

withm

09-27-2008, 08:55 PM

After my long day kayaking and failing to rescue myself today, I don't think I'm up for extra driving or waiting around for the races.

So I'll just drive myself, if I can figure out how to get there.

So you're saying we should be ready to ride at 9am, not just get there at 9am, right?

so tell us about the kayak lesson? Where was it? Was it with Atlantic Kayak? What did they cover? At least you survived. Hope the water wasn't too cold.

divingbiker

09-28-2008, 01:13 AM

so tell us about the kayak lesson? Where was it? Was it with Atlantic Kayak? What did they cover? At least you survived. Hope the water wasn't too cold.

It was with REI, and we were on the Potomac at Riley's Lock.

We reviewed a few strokes, then did self rescue using a paddle float, and also helped someone else by turning over and emptying their boat, then stabilizing it while they got back in. The latter I could do, with a bit of struggle.

But oh my, the self rescue ate my lunch. I was doing something wrong, and couldn't get the paddle (with float) to stay perpendicular to the boat, so I kept falling back in. My boat has a big cockpit so there's not much room at the front of the boat, but I think the problem was with me and not related to the boat I've got. I told Kalidurga and 7rider that I can never go kayaking alone, because there's no way I could save myself. I am extremely sore today.

The water was in the high 60s and there was a lot of "salad" in the water. It wasn't bad unless you had to stay in the water forever as you tried over and over to get back in. By the end I was a bit chilly. The rain held off till we were done, so that was good.

All in all, a frustrating day.

Kalidurga

09-28-2008, 02:52 AM

I wondered if your cockpit would make it difficult to hold your paddle in the proper position. But you can go kayaking alone, because you'd have to lean pretty hard to swamp a rec boat like you and I have. And, depending on where you go, if you did manage to swamp the boat you could just swim and pull it to shore, then drain it and get back in there. You may not want to go out in the middle of the Chesapeake alone, but there are plenty of other places where you definitely can.

Did REI mention the paddle sling (http://www.ehow.com/how_2158148_use-rescue-sling-reentry.html)? That's one of the options that Potomac Paddlesports showed us.

divingbiker

09-28-2008, 12:18 PM

Did REI mention the paddle sling (http://www.ehow.com/how_2158148_use-rescue-sling-reentry.html)? That's one of the options that Potomac Paddlesports showed us.

Yes, she mentioned the paddle sling at the end. I'll have to check that out.

7rider

09-28-2008, 03:17 PM

Zen. KD. We missed you. My friend ended up calling while we were still on the trail and saying she watched the guys but wasn't staying for her own race....she was heading home. So, we didn't head to Lilipons and went instead to Bassett's in Poolesville for lunch. We called both of you, but neither of you had your cell phones turned on!! :rolleyes::(:p
We got in our 30. It rained the whole way there, but stopped as we arrived and remained rain-free the whole time. That's not to say it was DRY, however. Trail was quite muddy - lots of puddles.
Here's a before and after pics. Bike had to get a nice bath when I got home...KD, the chain is now so shiny...you'd be proud! ;)
Sadly, as I was putting my gear away, I noticed my helmet strap was broken! :eek: Not the chin strap...but the bracing strap that holds the helmet on your head. So, I had to head down to the LBS afterwards and get a new helmet. Drat! :mad:
Here they are in shiny newness, packed and ready to go.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z85/7rider/Weekend%20activities/IMG_0618.jpg

Here's what happens when you ride a muddy trail with no rear fender:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z85/7rider/Weekend%20activities/IMG_0621.jpg

Here's the finished icky:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z85/7rider/Weekend%20activities/IMG_0622.jpg

Kalidurga

09-28-2008, 03:46 PM

Actually, my phone was not only turned off, it was sitting at home. Sounds like you ladies had a good ride. The C&O can actually be a lot of fun when it's mucky :D

Zen and I had a good time at the Ed Sanders race. There was major bike pr0n (both bikes and half-nekkid riders). We watched the 45+/55+ categories, marveled at how much mud and ripped up grass can be sucked up by bike components (how the chain even made it through the derailleur jockey pulleys is beyond me), and I had the opportunity to meet a guy who's biking blog (http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.com/) I've been following. None of my race shots turned out very well, but I did get some decent pics of the lilies. I can't wait to see Zen's photos, though, I hope they're as good as it seemed they would be.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/LiliPonsCross_2008-09-28/015-b2.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/LiliPonsCross_2008-09-28/025-b2.jpg

And, after that, I went to pick up my new adoptee and have been taking turns giving him and my girl attention (he's staying closed in the bedroom for the first few days). Hopefully I can make some time to get out on my bike tomorrow, though.

Zen

09-28-2008, 04:47 PM

Mud?
You guys are pikers;)
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/ThereWillBeMud-1.jpg
Not only was the guy half nekkid, he was pouring water all over himself.
I was mesmerized.

Kalidurga

09-28-2008, 05:17 PM

The grass/mud mix was what really did it. You could thatch a hut with what was stuck to those bikes.

And, yes, Zen was mesmerized by the half-nekkid guy taking a shower with the water in his hydration pack. And this was after she stood not three feet behind another racer aiming her camera at his, um, chamois. Just can't take her anyplace :rolleyes:

;)