C&O Canal: Anybody wanna ride in September?

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

It sounds like we have the location down. There's a small convenience store and snack bar/grill at White's Ferry, so it's definitely a good spot to chill out for a while before we turn around. Is it too early to decide what time we want to meet?

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I'd prefer starting out fairly early, somewhere between 9 and 10 am.

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

As happy as I'll be for you when you sell your hybrid, Nicole, it would definitely be cool if you could hang on to it long enough to join us. It's starting to sound like that's what you're planning on ;)

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I know. I'm definitely of two minds about this. I definitely want to ride with you and I definitely want to sell the bike, but I figure if I don't get it sold pretty soon I'll be looking at having to wait until spring. With the amount of interest so far, and the fact that I'll be out of town next weekend it's pretty likely I'll still have it. As a backup, does anyone have an extra trail-worthy bike I can borrow?

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

I'd prefer starting out fairly early, somewhere between 9 and 10 am.

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I usually don't get on the trail until after 1 pm, so I'll apologize now if I'm groggy that morning ;) Regina, does that work for you? Mickchick, divingbiker? Anyone else?

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Originally Posted by MDHillSlug

As a backup, does anyone have an extra trail-worthy bike I can borrow?

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Shame I finally stopped procrastinating and donated my old all-terrain bike. It might have been too small, though. If I remember correctly, it had 24" wheels.

While I've been planning to do this ride all along.....I've had this fear in the back of my head.
And now what I suspected may happen is about to happen.
My father-in-law down in Florida has ALS and is not doing well. At some point, we'll need to fly down - to help out my mother-in-law - but also, too, to say good-bye. We need to go sooner, rather than later. We've been coordinating weekends with DH's siblings and it's looking like "our" weekend will be the weekend of the 14th.
If that's the case, we'll be making plane reservations tomorrow once DH works out the leave situation with his employer (I have a bit more flexibility in that department).
So, I apologize, but it's looking like I may have to back out.
I'll let folks know if anything changes (and, for what it's worth, I'd prefer an a.m. ride, too) and hope to hook up with you all again for a future ride or event.

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that, Regina. I hope that at whatever point he goes that he'll be in peace, and that it won't be too difficult for you, your DH and his family.

And definitely don't apologize for missing the ride. Whoever ends up going, we'll be sure to think of you and hope for the best.

HillSlug--It's only 25 miles, so why not come along? I'll invite my hybrid-riding husband so you won't be the only hybrid rider in the group (he refuses to let me buy him a road or touring bike and rode--suffered?--that hybrid in the Covered Bridge Metric).
I'm a morning person and the earlier you get out, the fewer people you encounter. Believe me, it's worth skipping sleeping in and you can always take a nap in the afternoon.
I'll do my best to make it, so long as weekend chores, etc. don't get in the way. If my ankle continues to feel strong, I'm going to do the Seagull on Saturday, but if my tendonitis comes back, I might not be able to join you, regardless (need to keep to pavement, if that's the case).

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Originally Posted by mickchick

HillSlug--It's only 25 miles, so why not come along? I'll invite my hybrid-riding husband so you won't be the only hybrid rider in the group

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I'm trying to sell my hybrid to help pay for my new road bike. If I still have it I'm definitely planning to ride with you.

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(he refuses to let me buy him a road or touring bike and rode--suffered?--that hybrid in the Covered Bridge Metric).

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I rode the 25 miler. It was a great ride.

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I'm going to do the Seagull on Saturday

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I've got my sights set on the Seagull metric for next year. Are you doing the metric or the miler? Please tell me all about it afterwards.

Wow, the fact that you gutted out 25 miles of Lancaster's hills on a hybrid is something. My husband finished the metric about 45 minutes, give or take, behind me and that's taking into account that I lost about a half hour, waiting for him at the lunch area! He was fried when he rolled in at the finish and couldn't even partake of the Turkey Hill ice cream. Don't worry--I ate his share while I was waiting for him (haha).

Hopefully, I'll be doing the metric century at the Seagull. The ankle is feeling good but I'm not going to push it. I had enough overuse injuries during my marathon days to teach me that ignoring an injury is the ultimate knucklehead behavior.

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Wow, the fact that you gutted out 25 miles of Lancaster's hills on a hybrid is something.

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Actually, I did this ride on my road bike. I got it the weekend before this ride and haven't been back on the hybrid since.

The toughest ride I did on the hybrid was 29 miles from Brookeville, up into Howard county, and back. It included about 1500 feet of climbing. I had to walk part of one hill. I repeated this same route on Saturday on the road bike and managed to do that hill, but road the last 10 miles in the rain :eek:

I think we've agreed to meet at Rileys Lock on Sunday October 15. I assume we'd meet at the parking area furthest from River Road, the one with the Porta-Potties.

I don't recall that we've set a time to meet, but I know some of us favored an earlier start, perhaps between 9 and 10am.

So, can we finalize a time? Who's in for the ride?

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!

Nicole

You read my mind, Nicole, I was going to post a similar message this morning.

9:00am at Riley's is on my calendar and the back parking lot makes sense to me. If by any chance it's already crowded, though, I'm sure we won't have trouble finding each other. Do we want to say that we'll be on the towpath and pedaling by 9:30? 10:00?

It's likely to be pretty cold Sunday morning, with the overnight low in the 30's and the high for the day in the low 50's. Brrrr!

Anyway, I'll plan to be there at 9, dressed in layers.

Janice

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Originally Posted by Kalidurga

9:00am at Riley's is on my calendar and the back parking lot makes sense to me. If by any chance it's already crowded, though, I'm sure we won't have trouble finding each other. Do we want to say that we'll be on the towpath and pedaling by 9:30? 10:00?

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Let's shoot for pedaling by 9:30, hopefully that way we'll actually be pedaling by 10 ;)

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

It's likely to be pretty cold Sunday morning, with the overnight low in the 30's and the high for the day in the low 50's. Brrrr!

Anyway, I'll plan to be there at 9, dressed in layers.

Janice

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I just bought a helmet cover and toe covers (hopefully I can make them work for mtb shoes) and I've got my tights and wind jacket ready.

Kali, divingbiker and I both drive Subaru Outbacks (mine gold, hers blue).

See you at 9am!

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

It's likely to be pretty cold Sunday morning, with the overnight low in the 30's and the high for the day in the low 50's. Brrrr!

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Actually, as of this morning WeatherBug is calling for temps in the low 60's on Sunday. I'm hoping that a wind jacket and knee warmers will be sufficient, cause I'm just not ready for tights and a long sleeve jersey yet.

I drive a black Civic with, of course, a roof rack.

Anyone else? Mickchick, tulip? Regina, I hope you're able to join us, but if not we'll send out good thoughts for your family as we pedal.

Hi.
We're leaving for BWI in a few hours - I'm just packing and finalizing the list of what to bring now (and, spending a last few moments on the PC! :D ).
We won't return until Sunday evening. I'm bummed I won't be able to make this ride. Have a great time. I'll be thinking of you guys. Hopefully, we can schedule another TE event soon!
Regina