Tour de Canal 2010 PostingsWelcome! Learn more about TDC, training rides, tips and more. Click here to join us on our Facebook TDC event page. Invite family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to be fans of our Chapter's page so they can help spread the word. For... Thank you for visiting. Come back again to read the latest! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 29 and Monday, August 30, 2010Hello, We had our final two qualifying rides this past weekend. Therefore, we should have everyone who is doing the 100- or 184-mile rides qualified and ready for the event!
Weather and trail conditions could have not been better. Not one single puddle was spotted along the entire 25-mile stretch to White’s Ferry. Let us hope that the good weather and trail conditions hold out for another two weeks! The park authority is hard at work still clearing some humungous trees that have fallen the past few weeks. So, if you see a ranger/worker out on the trail, say "hi" and thank them for their hard work. Without their tireless efforts, this event and any usage of the C&O trail in general would be impossible. Time may have run out for those wanting to register for the 100- or 184-mile rides but there is still time for those wishing to do the 20-mile Memory Ride! The Memoy Ride starts on Sunday, September 12th - goes from the Georgetown waterfront, up the trail to Carderock and back. That way one can still be a part of the cause and help cheer on the 100-mile riders, and especially the 184-mile riders, as they make their way to the finish! Some recommendations for the next two weeks, and days leading up to the event...
I look forward to seeing everyone in Georgetown in two weeks! Regards, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, August 8, 2010(Sunday, August 7th 50-mile Qualifier #3 - Carderock->Whites Ferry->Carderock) Hello again. This past weekend’s ride was another great one. The weather gods smiled upon us and we started the ride in perfect conditions. With a group of 17 trainee’s and three trainers, we had a solid group on the trail. Surprisingly with all the bad weather we have had in the area the past week, conditions were nearly bone dry. However, a front and rear fender did come in handy as we approached Whites Ferry. As usual the crowds near Great Falls added an exercise in patience to the trip, but, with a little coaxing, most cleared a path. We split into three groups and the last group made the five-hour mark with only minutes to spare. But, a few minutes are all you need to qualify! Cold water was enjoyed by all and we are very happy to have our dedicated Alzheimer’s Association staff members there to provide it after a long ride. We only have five weeks until the big day! So, if you haven’t been out on the trail yet, we better see you this weekend! You don’t have to do the entire 50-mile qualifier today, but, you can definitely get some valuable miles in before trying the full 50-mile enchilada! Chris Schumaker --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, July 18, 2010Hello Everyone! This weekend’s ride was another great one. With a big group of riders we were definitely a force to be reckoned with on the trail! Our journey took us from Carderock; down to the Georgetown Waterfront; back to Carderock; then past it to Seneca Creek Aqueduct; then finally back to Carderock. Phew! In all about 44 miles! With the weather we had the night before, it made the trip down to Georgetown and back a wet and sloppy one. We all arrived at the Key Bridge covered in mud but happy to be out on the trail! (For some of us, it was the first time we had ridden the trail since last year!) The trail West of Carderock however was bone dry. We assume it must have been a very selective storm the night before, and only decided to make the first half sloppy for us. The trail seems to be in good shape overall with both the, Warning, Bikers Dismount, Trail Hazardous, sections slowly returning back to normal. We all made it back safely to Carderock, be it a little dirtier, but definitely happier. We will be returning back to the C&O towpath next weekend for our first 50mi qualifier! If you think you’re up to the challenge, go ahead and get it out of the way now! See you July 24th, at Carderock at 7:45 a.m.! Chris Schumaker --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, July 11, 2010Great ride. Steady rain at the start…rain stopped after going to [the] Key Bridge and back (18 Miles). Nice dry ride to Seneca and back...no thunder...;-) Don Ewen --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, June 29, 2010Hello, This past weekend’s ride was fantastic. With the hot weather continuing, I was certainly g lad that most of the trail was in the shade. We met at Carderock at 8 a.m. and got loaded up and made our 1 hour trip to the Fort Frederick area. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the small talk with my fellow riders as we made the trip North-West.The Western Maryland Rail Trail is a pristine 23-mile hike and bike trail that is essentially a drag strip. With nearly no stops or major intersections paired with no major hills or turns, the only thing slowing you down is yourself! Our first pit stop was at the 10-mile marker in Hancock, MD. As we approached the stop we encountered a group of people standing around the edge of the trail. There was a band setting up and vendors selling trinkets and food. Apparently, we stumbled upon the annual Hancock canal boat race! Each boat had a different theme including a Snoopies’ doghouse and giant chicken! We waited for the rest of the group to arrive, but two of our counterparts were lagging far behind. We waited and waited and determined they must have had a technical [problem]. We decided to continue on without them in hopes that we would cross paths on the return trip.
The second half of the trail guided us through some fantastic views of the mountains that loomed above our heads. The trail ended uneventfully at a simple yellow gate and a white mile marker. We turned around and made our way back to Hancock with one thought in mind – PIE! We pedaled as fast as our legs could in anticipation of what was to come. Weavers restaurant is just off the trail and has ample bike parking and seating inside. We happily found our lost counterparts sitting at a table enjoying their dessert and [they] filled us in on their tale of the failing front wheel. Luckily, there is a nice bike shop in town owed by a man who won the shop in an essay contest. (An interesting tale, but, this ride summary is already getting a bit long!). After scarfing our lunch and pie down with great pleasure, we made our way back to the start. The second half was most certainly slower than the first as we discovered that packing in pie might not be good for speed. We arrived back at Fort Frederick around 3:30 p.m. and Carderock an hour later. Overall, a great ride with lots to see and do, and experience. I hope that many more will join us on the 10th of July for our first official training ride on the C&O Canal! Until then…Chris Schumaker Monday, June 21, 2010Hello All, This past Saturday was a beautiful ride to Purcellville. The weather was a little balmy but bearable with the headwind as we rode. Upon arrival, the trail parking lot was full with fellow cyclists out early trying to beat the mid-day heat. We met several potential riders as they suited up and hopefully we will see some of their faces in September! We set West with four trainers and four trainees, one of our best turnouts yet! However, one of our trainers had to cut back early for his daughters high school graduation. In fact, we passed a high school in Purcellville that was having their graduation ceremony in the heat. Congratulations class of 2010! We arrived in Purcellville and had our usual fair at the local diner. However, the unusual part was how the diner was arranged. They had recently renovated making it more accessible for larger groups and even added a semi-private dining area. After our meal, we all headed down the trail together to check out the short cut on Dry Mill Rd. that avoids the detour on the W&OD. It had some fast down hills where I reached at least 30mph and was far more enjoyable then the ups and downs of the detour. The group checked back in at the parking lot around noon but kept the stories short as the temp neared 85 degrees. Yet, the parking lot was just as full as when we started (the procrastinators were still out there). Looking forward to the Pie Ride this weekend! Regards, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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