Baltimore's 2009 Tour du Port, registration opens Fri 5/15

[Kalidurga]

I love this ride. The 2009 TdP (http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=156) is scheduled for October 4th, and registration begins this Friday, 5/15.

I did the 19 mile route the last two years and am aiming for 41 miles this time around. Anyone interested in joining me?

[Zen]

I might could be persuaded by food :rolleyes:

[ny biker]

October 4th - didn't it used to be later in the month? I think earlier is better.

I can't make any promises at this point, but I will definitely add it to my calendar.

[Kalidurga]

I don't know when it was held before I first rode it, but it's been the first weekend in October the last couple of years and has coincided with the Fell's Point Festival.

There ya go, Zen, festival food.

[Kalidurga]

For anyone who's interested, Sunday August 23rd is the last day to register for the 2009 Tour du Port (http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=156) at a discounted rate.

[owlice]

Sooooo very tempting; thanks!

[Kelly728]

Thanks for bumping. I guess I'll have to make the decision this weekend between the ride and a 5k that day.

[Cataboo]

I love this ride. The 2009 TdP (http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=156) is scheduled for October 4th, and registration begins this Friday, 5/15.

I did the 19 mile route the last two years and am aiming for 41 miles this time around. Anyone interested in joining me?

Hrm.... How fast are you planning on doing the 41 miles? sounds like a route i could have fun taking pictures on. Being there to start at 7:30 sounds kinda miserable.

I will decide in a day or so.

Do they keep the cars out of our way or would we be dodging traffic on city streets?

[Kalidurga]

No blocking of cars, but the traffic hasn't been bad the last two years. That's the beauty of the early start time, despite the fact that I am not a morning person. And the shorter route is mostly low-traffic or wide shoulder roads. Dunno about the section that branches off for the longer route, though.

I usually average 12-15mph so it'll take me 4-5 hours, depending on breaks, photo ops, and such.

[Cataboo]

No blocking of cars, but the traffic hasn't been bad the last two years. That's the beauty of the early start time, despite the fact that I am not a morning person. And the shorter route is mostly low-traffic or wide shoulder roads. Dunno about the section that branches off for the longer route, though.

I usually average 12-15mph so it'll take me 4-5 hours, depending on breaks, photo ops, and such.

k. I can hang at that speed. Maybe not at 7:30 am.

[Kalidurga]

The start time's really just sort of a guide-line, really, 'cause they want you off the road before there's too much traffic. I'll probably aim for 8:00am.

And Fells Fest (http://www.preservationsociety.com/fpff2009.html) after!

[Zen]

I'm gonna BikeDC (http://www.bikedc.net/) instead :o

[ny biker]

It looks like they've extended the early bird registration deadline to Sept 6. Right now it's $35, but it goes up to $45 after this weekend and is something like $60 for on-site registration.

I just registered.

[Kalidurga]

Very cool. Perhaps we'll see you there :D

[Kalidurga]

If we finish at a reasonable time after tour du port, we could pop into the reservoir (triadelphia?) for a paddle afterwards. Something slow. Rob (the guy on my facebook page that's going with us, is making a wood kayak in a CLC class I think this month, so I'm sure he'll wanna come with) or pop into baltimore harbor (never paddled there - is the water calm enough for you? There's enough lights down there that it could be a fun & pretty paddle if it was getting late.)

I'm heading to the Fells Point Festival after we finish TdP. It's one of my B'more traditions.

I don't know where you can launch a 'yak into the Harbor. I'm sure there is someplace, but it might require some googling. There are some very littered, pretty grody launches all the way over across from the Harbor down at Middle Branch Park, though. I rode past them yesterday and was amazed that people were actually fishing in all that crap.

[Cataboo]

I found a woody's trip report for paddling around there, so I'll go back to see.

You have a ton of traditions!

[Kalidurga]

Yup, and I add new ones all the time. Gives me lotsa options for things to do :D

[Cataboo]

I usually don't have a problem finding something to do, but just don't tend to repeat things all that often.

[ny biker]

So, tomorrow's the ride. What time are you planning to start riding? Still shooting for 8:00?

If you see a light green Prius in the parking lot, it might be me. You'll know by the personalized license plates. Looks like it will be long-sleeve weather, so I'll either be wearing a plain light blue jersey or a silver and yellow one that says "The Bike Lane." Any my shoes are red.

[Kalidurga]

Cat, her friend Rob, and I are meeting at a park'n'ride lot off of rte 32 (in between 29 & 95) and driving up together, aiming for a start time between 8:00-8:30. I drive a black Civic w/ black Specialized on top, and Cat's got a green Outback w/ her Lightspeed on the back. I think I'm going to wear an orange/yellow/blue print long-sleeve, but I might have a jacket over it when the ride begins.

Soooo looking forward to this ride. I love biking in B'more :D

[WVGeo]

Did the 19 mile TdP yesterday with my daughter. First time for both of us - what a fun time! One more thing to love about visiting Bawlmer!

[Cataboo]

Kali, Rob, and I did the 41 mile tour - we had a blast up until the last 15 miles were like uphill on overpasses against a headwind. Then we helpfully made the situation better by continuously *****ing about the wind.

[Kalidurga]

Kali, Rob, and I did the 41 mile tour - we had a blast up until the last 15 miles were like uphill on overpasses against a headwind. Then we helpfully made the situation better by continuously *****ing about the wind.

You may have been *****ing about the wind, but I was @!$&#$*#!@&#$!ing. It sucked. But the rest was great, I love the diversity of neighborhoods you get to see on the ride. And North Point State Park was lovely. I'll post a couple of pics when I get home tonight.

And MAJOR kudos to Chipotle for providing free tacos at the end. That was all kinds of awesome.

WVGeo, great to hear that you and your daughter had a good time!

[Kalidurga]

Photos:

Dude was riding a 1954 Evans single speed.
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/002.jpg

Federal Hill
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/004.jpg

There was no "street", just a gravel road back into an old, seemingly abandoned farm
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/042.jpg

The view from the rest stop at North Point State Park
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/048.jpg

The 695 Beltway was just above my right shoulder as I took this shot
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/051.jpg

Free Chipotle tacos at the end of the ride! :D
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/053.jpg

There are a few more here (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Tour%20du%20Port/).