May 2007 TE-DC ride...?

[divingbiker]

I actually feel guilty for this (my poor 'yak), but I'm gonna make the effort to get up early enough to join you guys. How many miles are you planning to ride? Anyone have an extra chain guard? And, Janice, do you want to pm me directions to your house?

It's a 10 mile loop at Rosaryville. Don't know what a chain guard is. Will send you a pm with directions.

My bike rack holds 3 bikes, a tight fit with MTBs. We can make it work.

Now let's hope the weather holds out. They're now calling for thundershowers overnight; if that happens, we can't ride the trail.

[Kalidurga]

Thunderstorms, huh? Blech. I'll wipe down my little dustball anyway, though, just in case.

[divingbiker]

Well, it's not looking good. I've got lots of thunder and pouring rain right now. The radar shows it's raining all around the area, so it looks like tomorrow's MTB ride isn't going to happen. What do you think?

(One of my dogs is about to have a stroke...unfortunately he's the one with high blood pressure so a stroke is a real possibility. He's hiding under the desk at my feet right now. Poor guy. The other one is so deaf he doesn't even know it's thundering.)

[7rider]

Don't give up on the ride just yet!!!
I don't know if this qualifies as "soaking".

I posted a query on the MORE website (Ride forum) about when is it NOT okay to ride, and got a few replies, including:
"Well, checking the forecast for Upper Marlboro, they are calling for a tenth to a quarter inch of rain tonite. As dry as things are, that won't even faze Rosaryville.
"Check the 2 day history tomorrow morning, and check the amount of rain that has fallen overnite. If its under 1/2", I think you'll be golden. Rosaryville holds up reasonably well to rain, and it has to be absolutely bone dry now."

Another said:
"There's no magic formula outside of a little common sense and a healthy amount of respect for the trail. The biggest thing is to be ready to turn back and stop riding (or never start) if you show up at the trail and find it is in bad shape.
"Too many people rationalize their bad behavior; some seem to think that their right to ride is proportional to the amount of time and effort they expended to get to the trail head. An hour on the Beltway does not undo trail damage from riding on wet dirt.
"Use your noggin and you'll be fine."

So....let's check first thing in the a.m. Tam, that means early early for you, but I honestly think we'll be okay.

p.s. Janice - glad this storm blew through pretty quickly. Hope the dogs are okay!!

[divingbiker]

OK, OK, I'll set the alarm and get up early as planned. I would really like to do this ride, so I hope you're right. Good night!

[Kalidurga]

My alarm's set, too, and I'll check in here when I get up.

As a hiker, I fully agree with keeping bikes off of wet trails. If we get to Rosaryville and it's too wet, maybe we could do the Patuxent ride you guys did last fall. It wouldn't be too far out of the way coming back along the Beltway.

[Kalidurga]

As of an hour ago, the 2-day history looks like we're good to go... Funny that there are not precipitation readings for the periods of 20:55 & 21:55 when there were apparently thunderstorms, but it appears that area only got a tad over .5".

[divingbiker]

So whaddya think? Are we on?

[7rider]

As of an hour ago, the 2-day history looks like we're good to go... Funny that there are not precipitation readings for the periods of 20:55 & 21:55 when there were apparently thunderstorms, but it appears that area only got a tad over .5".

Must be that gov't math!