TE-DC ride in December?

[aicabsolut]

Yeah, I'm thinking clockwise.

I was just thinking that with several of us, it might be easier to deal with stopping w/in the blocked off area of Beach. Ranger station would work though too.

Routeslip sucks sometimes. A friend of mine was playing around with a loop he thinks I could do at home, and that day it wasn't calculating elevation at all. Not that there are hills in Savannah, but a bridge or two might be involved.

A start place w/ a bathroom would be nice, so don't worry about it if the Bicycle Place start isn't as good. Though if anyone wants to start way down at the bottom of the parkway, they can run into my house which even post-exams is much cleaner than the porta-potty.

I'll be done with exams after the 12th but still working on a paper probably. But the 16th-17th is the last weekend I'll be in town till about the 2nd week of January, and I'll be busy, but itching to get out on the bike.

[HillSlugger]

Routeslip sucks sometimes. A friend of mine was playing around with a loop he thinks I could do at home, and that day it wasn't calculating elevation at all. Not that there are hills in Savannah, but a bridge or two might be involved.

Those 0 elevation points do get fixed, in time, especially if you send a bug report.

I hope to keep riding during the winter, at least on days where the temps will be in the 30's. I was quite cold when I started out yesterday but warmed up before too long. Not too long later I was getting hot and needing to unzip and shed heat. I still need to work on my body layering but I must say that I love my Pearl Izumi AmFib tights. Why aren't there toe covers that work well with mtb shoes?!?

[aicabsolut]

Have you tried the new PI Am/Fib covers? I have them because they're the only ones that work with my Keos, especially since I have them set far back on the shoe. They could fit on a larger shoe at the toe. Or could you go up a size bigger than what's supposed to work for your shoe size in a road shoe?

The regular PI thermafleece kind didn't fit my setup at all.

Revolution lets you try them on and return them if you don't rip the tag off.

[7rider]

The folks at the BP are ususally pretty good about pre- post-ride breaks in their BR. Does anyone know if the public ones are still open just north of the intersection of Joyce and Beach?

RE: Routeslip and elevations....when I re-mapped with a mid-route start, it gave me a total climbing of 1500 ft, vs. 800 ft for the link I provided earlier. There is NO way the short spur from Beach to the shop require 700 feet of climbing! Yet that was the only difference b/t the two routes - and the hill was clockwise vs. counterclockwise...but since it's the same hill, hello? You'd be doing the same amount of climbing. Sigh. So, I view the elevations as suspect. I have one route on my Garmin where I did this route (without the shop) from my house - from Colesville through Wheaton and Kensington (for those who know the area, I climb Plyers Mill from CT Ave to Georgia Ave). That total ride was 1700 ft elevation gain. According to Garmin.

Anywho.... for our new folks and visitors, I'd suggest parking at the shop. Easy to MapQuest directions and plenty of parking. (okay...can you tell my bias about hating to drive into the District? A "city girl" I am most definitely NOT!) We could drop into the Park and do the hill (clockwise) while our legs are still fresh (twice if the speedy are so inclined! ) and regroup at the ranger station at Beach and Joyce.

Thoughts? Different opinions (I could alway park my own butt at the shop and ride my bike down to the bottom of Beach and meet you'all there!)?

Last thing: Re: AmFib tights...Nicole...Toasty warm? I'm thinking I need to replace my old tights. I have lightweight tights and knickers for cooler and sick-warm tights for the brutal cold, but my mid-weight tights for 30's and 40's kind of rides are getting old and thin. Would these fit that niche pretty well? And I agree on the shoe covers - try a larger size.

[HillSlugger]

I view the elevations as suspect. I have one route on my Garmin where I did this route (without the shop) from my house - from Colesville through Wheaton and Kensington (for those who know the area, I climb Plyers Mill from CT Ave to Georgia Ave). That total ride was 1700 ft elevation gain. According to Garmin.

Consider them as rough estimates.

Anywho.... for our new folks and visitors, I'd suggest parking at the shop. Easy to MapQuest directions and plenty of parking. (okay...can you tell my bias about hating to drive into the District? A "city girl" I am most definitely NOT!) We could drop into the Park and do the hill (clockwise) while our legs are still fresh (twice if the speedy are so inclined! ) and regroup at the ranger station at Beach and Joyce.

Thoughts? Different opinions (I could alway park my own butt at the shop and ride my bike down to the bottom of Beach and meet you'all there!)?

I'm getting a bit lost with the options. I'd prefer not having to drive into the district if at all possible. Just tell me where and when to meet...

Last thing: Re: AmFib tights...Nicole...Toasty warm? I'm thinking I need to replace my old tights. I have lightweight tights and knickers for cooler and sick-warm tights for the brutal cold, but my mid-weight tights for 30's and 40's kind of rides are getting old and thin. Would these fit that niche pretty well? And I agree on the shoe covers - try a larger size.

I find the AmFib tights nice and warm. My legs have never been cold in them (so far). In fact, the problem with them are if the temps start warning up into the 50's they get too warm.

[HillSlugger]

Kali,

We've hijacked your original post about a more casual ride. Are there still thoughts about this or are you hanging up the bike until spring?

BTW, the trail ride we did was the coldest I've been on a ride, even though the air temp was warmer than yesterday. I think that riding in the shade of the trees and at slower speeds keeps you from getting as warmed up.

[7rider]

Ahhh....hadn't thought about the "off road" elevations. Good point.
I think I routed out at one "-" above fully zoomed in. I probably had us riding over some rock walls and hills! But, yeah, I do view it as an estimate. I view the Garmin's estimates as suspect to, and use it just as a relative guage.
Okay....to reduce the options...here's where we are at:
Road ride - moderate to fast pace (16-20 mph cruising) - December 17th (time?).
Departure point: Meet at The Bicycle Place, 8313 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring (http://www.thebicycleplace.com/ ) - meet in the parking lot in the BACK of the building.
Route: We'll ride from the Bicycle Place (BP) and drop INTO Rock Creek Park via Beach Drive. We'll do "the hill" - Ridge Rd to Ross to Joyce - clockwise once - or twice if certain someones pull ahead - but we'll all discuss that as we ride. We'll regroup at the Ranger station (just south of the intersection of Beach and Joyce). We'll ride up Beach out of the District, into MD, out to Garrett Park. Turn around at Garrett Park (rest and potty break if needed). Turn around and follow Beach Dr. back down to the BP and end. Will be about 27 miles all told. Route is ALL on road.
'kay?

p.s. "Sick warm" tight are ancient Performance brand tights (consequently, the fit sux, but I have to admit, they are warm). They are fleece and fronted with a wind-block material. They come out maybe 3x's/year and can also be layered under windpants for spring skiing or xc skiing.

[aicabsolut]

So you make me drive all the way through the District? Uh huh, I see how it is. Eh, no worries.

Did you remap at a very high zoom? Maybe it's using an off-the-road elevation somewhere--in a couple of places that makes a difference. Twice comparing my Garmin to routeslip, routeslip has been short about 50 ft. Maybe yours needs debugged?

I tried on the Am/Fib tights. I've got fit issues with PI, but from that brief dressing room moment and from my toe covers, I like the material.

I was going to order a new pair of tights today, but my size disappeared. D'oh. What material are your "sick warm" tights, Regina? My midweight Cannondale ones might not do for the 30s.

Oh, and the weather on the 17th better not feel like it did today. Brr!

[HillSlugger]

So you make me drive all the way through the District? Uh huh, I see how it is. Eh, no worries.

The Bicycle Place is about as close to being in the District as possible without actually being in the District.

OK, it sounds like a plan. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with you two.

Let firm up the time as we get closer and can look at the morning temps, etc.

[aicabsolut]

I wore them commuting today and was very comfortable in the 32 degree, 20 degree wind chill weather this morning. .

Kudos to you for commuting on the bike today. I could hardly handle walking 10 minutes to school for something.

TE people suggested Sugio midzero tights for me. But theyr'e all out in my size. They look kind of extra high in the rise though. My Cannondales already come up to my ribs.

The Bicycle Place is about as close to being in the District as possible without actually being in the District.

Yeah, yeah, it just happens to be on the *other side* of the District from me. It's ok. I can handle it.


I think a look to the forecast is in order for times. The route sounds good to me.

I just plotted some possible routes for when I go home to Georgia in a few weeks. One of them has a whopping 71 feet of climbing over about 23 miles.