no, I don't know how many of us there were, but I'd guess 25 - 30, and yes, we did the 24 miles in a more-or-less leisurely way (although a few stretches had surfaces resembling Paris-Roubaix). Thanks to Tom Roberson for setting it up, and Ken Sandford for providing a post-ride gathering place, and all the riders who came, including the guest of honor, CaptBike himself.
I think that the majority were riding fixed gear (if you include the two ASC 3-speeds). There were lots of vintage bikes in many flavors, a few road bike conversions, and so on. Ben Sandford had his lovely pearlescent Eisentraut tracker, but brother Ken did his maiden voyage on an fully chromed, anonymous (but British-looking) bike that easily won "most relaxed seat angle). A lovely '51 Raleigh Clubman in blue, with the ultra-rare FC (4-speed, close-ratio) S/A hub. And a number of nice modern fixed gear bikes, like Surly. My envy award still goes to Roy Drinkwater's early Cinelli tracker, in yellow and looking nice. Glad it's too small for me (I hope) so Roy got out alive today.
Tom Adams made both rides (Baltimore and DC) with his Ephgrave, spending the weekend away from NJ.
Ok, guys, I can read the writing on the wall. Any time I bring two bikes, and the are clearly the winners of first and second place in the grubby-bike contest, it's clear I'll have to work on one of them. :-) I just hate to repaint the 38 Paramount yet again and have it become a wall-hanger instead of a wonderful rider. And there is no way that the "patina" will leave the Magistronis on the Roma Sport, so I'll have to think hard about which to clean up. Luck to have that choice.
There are great places to ride around here, and we'll keep trying to let people know about it. Not a bad place to bring the family for a long weekend, and sneak of for a morning of riding, too.
harvey sachs
mcLean va