Wild Goose Chase 2009

[divingbiker]

So, do we have a plan?

I'll throw this out for starters:

--Meet in the parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express at 11:30am (or do we want to meet earlier?
--Caravan over to the put-in on Drawbridge Rd (there is no upstream/downstream to worry about according to Susan at Blackwater Pedal & Paddle--it's totally flat water.)
--Bring your lunch with you, or eat before we go.
--Paddle for 1.5 hours or so, then turn around and go back.
--Go to our hotels and clean up, then meet for dinner around 6--dinner location TBD (thanks for scouting out the options, Martha.)

[Becky]

Piggybacking on Catriona's wheels question here:

What do people recommend for gearing? I understand that it's wicked flat down there, so I was thinking of swapping my 12-25 for a straight block cassette.

[Cataboo]

Piggybacking on Catriona's wheels question here:

What do people recommend for gearing? I understand that it's wicked flat down there, so I was thinking of swapping my 12-25 for a straight block cassette.

I'm thinking I don't need a triple or a compact double.

[Becky]

I'm thinking I don't need a triple or a compact double.

The compact double is going to stay simply because I don't own a standard, but I can't imagine that I'll spend much time in the small ring.

[withm]

The compact double is going to stay simply because I don't own a standard, but I can't imagine that I'll spend much time in the small ring
and

Originally Posted by Becky
Piggybacking on Catriona's wheels question here:

What do people recommend for gearing? I understand that it's wicked flat down there, so I was thinking of swapping my 12-25 for a straight block cassette.

I'm thinking I don't need a triple or a compact double..

You guys are scaring me. The route is very flat but if there is any kind of wind in the 10-15kt range (and that is likely) you will notice it. The ride is generally a loop - so you will feel the wind at some point. If it's variable - it will be from all directions. But changing cassettes, wheels, or gearing sounds like a lot of work to me. It's just a ride with 700 of your closest friends.

[Becky]

You guys are scaring me. The route is very flat but if there is any kind of wind in the 10-15kt range (and that is likely) you will notice it. The ride is generally a loop - so you will feel the wind at some point. If it's variable - it will be from all directions. But changing cassettes, wheels, or gearing sounds like a lot of work to me. It's just a ride with 700 of your closest friends.

That's good info about the wind- thanks! That may help me decide between shorts and knickers too. The last forecast I saw was for high 60s and partly sunny.

As for the cassette change, I'll probably mindlessly change it in front of the TV some night this week- no big deal. My recent experiences with uber-flat riding were in the C&D Canal area, and I remember feeling like I couldn't find the right cog to keep a steady cadence.

[Cataboo]

You guys are scaring me. The route is very flat but if there is any kind of wind in the 10-15kt range (and that is likely) you will notice it. The ride is generally a loop - so you will feel the wind at some point. If it's variable - it will be from all directions. But changing cassettes, wheels, or gearing sounds like a lot of work to me. It's just a ride with 700 of your closest friends.

*cough*

The scary part is that I've got 3 road bikes, one has a compact double, one has a standard double, one has a triple. As for swapping casettes, all I really have to do is take a set off one bike and move it to the other bike.

Actually, all my casettes are either 11-25 and I've got 1 12-26, so I can't reall change all that much with that. But if there's wind, I'm not taking deep dish wheels.

So it's not really work.

[7rider]

Eepers. I won't be changing out any gearing on my bike for this ride. I run a compact with a 12-25, whether I'm doing a pancake-flat ride on the eastern shore, or the Civil War Century with it's brutal climbing.
Maybe when I change out the cassette, I'll see if I can get a 11-26 on it. But then, I'll run a compact with a 11-26 on all my rides - pancake flat, or hilly. And the same wheels, too. Some things, I try not to over-think.
Maybe someday, I'll put a standard crank back on the old bike, and if I put a 11-26 on that, I'll keep that as my "hammer on the flats" bike, and keep the new bike as my climber. Oh, geez. There I go.

DB...your schedule sounds fine to me.

[Kalidurga]

So, do we have a plan?

--Meet in the parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express at 11:30am (or do we want to meet earlier?
--Caravan over to the put-in on Drawbridge Rd (there is no upstream/downstream to worry about according to Susan at Blackwater Pedal & Paddle--it's totally flat water.)
--Bring your lunch with you, or eat before we go.
--Paddle for 1.5 hours or so, then turn around and go back.
--Go to our hotels and clean up, then meet for dinner around 6--dinner location TBD (thanks for scouting out the options, Martha.)

That all sounds good to me (weather permitting).

[withm]

So, do we have a plan?

I'll throw this out for starters:

--Meet in the parking lot at the Holiday Inn Express at 11:30am (or do we want to meet earlier?
--Caravan over to the put-in on Drawbridge Rd (there is no upstream/downstream to worry about according to Susan at Blackwater Pedal & Paddle--it's totally flat water.)
--Bring your lunch with you, or eat before we go.
--Paddle for 1.5 hours or so, then turn around and go back.
--Go to our hotels and clean up, then meet for dinner around 6--dinner location TBD (thanks for scouting out the options, Martha.)

This plan sounds great. Except for the part that I will be missing the paddling part, and don't know if I'll make it back in time for dinner. I have a funeral and reception in DC - and as long as I get out of there by 3:30-4 ish I should be OK to meet up with you somewhere.

I have a reservation for Fri night as well, and IF the weather is good, was going to go over and ride some Friday afternoon. If it's raining, I may cancel the motel for Friday. Is anyone else going over on Friday?

Martha