Sunday morn dawned bright & clear again. Fantastic weather for November, even for the mid Atlantic states. A modicum of creaks and groans when crawling out of bed from Saturday's hard ride, a hearty breakfast, into the Raleigh Jersey and off to the ride site.
I won't try to describe the winding park and route we took, as it's been done already, but in general we were winding along a small stream through falling leaves on practically deserted, if rather bumpy, roads through the Maryland fall. It was just a lovely route.
Paul Raley apparently couldn't get a pass for Sunday so he dropped off the roster, but Dan Artley, Harvey Sachs and Larry Black doubled up their weekend rides and showed. And then here came one of the biggest parade of CR members I've seen or heard of outside the Cirque of VR. Roy Drinkwater was there on his canary yellow Cinelli, Wayne Bingham showed up on a Rickert track machine, both Sanford brothers were there, Ken riding his mystery chrome track bike with wooden rims and Ben on a top of the line Eisentraut track bike with a knockout pearl white paint job. Ride organizer Tom Roberson was on a Mondia fixie, dispensing good will and ride sheets. At this point the crowd was getting too big and I started losing track of who was there, but I remember lots a bikes. Two Witcombs (one a knockout in the Team Lilac), a Rivendell, a Roma Sport, a french frame repainted in triple fade purple looking like a Motobecane, but the owner wasn't sure, a stunning Raleigh Clubman piloted (I found out later) by one of our newest list members P.C. Kohler (sorry I missed you, P.C.), and on and on. Wow, what a great group and ride.
And then, just when we started to worry, Sheldon CAPT. Bike Brown hit the start line as we were getting ready to roll. Canny veteran that he is, Sheldon knows no ride leaves on time and he timed this ride perfectly. With everyone set, off we rolled.
The ride itself was fine. I found the rough road had loosened up the rear shift lever by the end of the ride so my bike was auto shifting with every bumpy patch, but that just helped me keep up with the pack. This course was considerably flatter than the Baltimore route, and I put in a more respectable showing at least staying in contact till the end. Tom Roberson's cue sheet thoughtfully pointed every option for a hill on the route, and I carefully avoided all of them. Then, all to soon, we were back and the fun was over.
Or was it? Ken Sanford generously volunteered his house for a post ride pizza party, and folks scrambled to accept. Off we went in a LeMans style get away, racing poor Ken who had to pedal home, and surprising Mrs. Sanford when all these sweaty bikers invaded her lovely home. The weather was so good we carried tables out into the back yard, Ken brought out a cooler of beer and sodas, and the post ride camaraderie rolled on with a good will.
Finally about 2:00 I thought about the long drive home and hit the road. This was just an excellent weekend in every way, and I recommend DC-Baltimore as a biking destination whole heartedly. After all, there's still a bunch of vintage friendly shops I have yet to see in the area, and there appears to be no shortage of good riding roads. I'm anxious to see the CR spring schedule. Thanks to everyone, especially Jill DiMauro, Dan Artley, Harvey Sachs, Tom Roberson and Ken Sanford who made this a great weekend. See you all down the road.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ