Club Plans

I know it's getting cold, but now is actually when the cycling season begins for some of us who are just now starting our training. I figured a club update was pretty overdue, so I would like to share a few ideas with you guys and (hopefully) get some feedback.

FIRST OFF, PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK BELOW IN THE FORM OF COMMENTS

1. Training Plans–does anyone who is considering racing/getting into better shape want them? I have some I can distribute to you via email upon request

2. Since the Training Plan might be pretty foreign to most of you who haven't used heart rate monitors before, would anyone want to do a spin class where I explain to you what Zone 1/2/3/4/5 and other weird jargon like VO2 intervals actually mean? I figure it would be a fun way to learn the stuff together, and get a better sense of what training and competitive cycling are about.

3. Jerseys–I would like to place a new order, and will begin working on a redesign if there is enough interest. Ideally, if we can get everything organized relatively quickly it should come within 2-3 months. (In time for the season)
FYI, the full kit (shorts and jersey) generally costs about 115, or 110, I'll have to double check.

4. Group Ride? I had been doing sunday group rides at a pretty relaxed pace at 10 AM from JOE'S BIKE SHOP.
4a. does anyone actually know where the bike shop is?
4b. I'm sorry but the ride leaves by 10:10 at the latest, No exceptions. If you're late, it's up to you to catch up.
4c. There is also a local Saturday group ride out of Race Pace in Owings Mills, Last time I went I got my legs torn off, but if anyone is looking for a hard group ride, and is familiar enough with the roads to find their way back, then this is definitely a good option.

5. Clinics with the Coach : I know it's getting cold, but if you dress in a few layers, it's really not too bad. We could schedule some early when we return to school in February or later when it gets slightly warmer (although the season will be underway at that point) We could work on sprinting, climbing, cornering, drafting, anything you guys are interested in.

That is all for now,
Sterling

hopkins cycling pres
845 702 6161

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Fall Colors Ride

Fellow Cyclists,
This weekend, Sunday November 1st, Hopkins Cycling is hosting our Fall Colors Ride . For those of you who have never participated, it is our biggest group ride of the year, and generally has a relatively large turnout–last year, we had several dozen cyclists come out. We would like to encourage a very welcoming and no drop atmosphere. The summer season is well over, the weather is finally starting to change, a few leaves have fallen, and its time to enjoy a few relaxed months of riding, before winter is upon us, and base training begins again.

This year, there will be two rides:
1) The Caves Road loop is the easier option. Leader is TBA, so if anyone can volunteer, it would be much appreciated. The route is approximately 28 miles round trip from the Hopkins campus, at a very easy pace.

2) I will personally lead the longer ride, which will be some variation of the Park Heights loop–depending on the atmosphere of the group, we may
head up longnecker, piney grove or dover . Once again, it will be faster than the Caves Road group, but will still be fairly relaxed. Solid base mileage. So please, no hotshots or heroes. The ride will most likely be between 45-60 miles round trip from the Hopkins Campus.

We will be meeting at 9:40 at one world café,
Here's the google map's location, for those of you that aren't familiar with it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:officia&channel=s&hl=en&q=one%20world%20caf%C3%A9&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
We plan to get to Joe's Bike Shop on falls road by 10:00

Hope to see everyone on Sunday,
Sterling

hopkins cycling pres
845 702 6161

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No Group Ride Today

39 degrees and raining...this week i think i'll pass on the hypothermia.

see you next sunday!

-Ster
hopkins cycling pres

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10/11 Group Ride

Here's a cool image Liam took of our most recent group ride. As you can see, we're a motley crew of Hopkins faculty, locals, grads and undergrads.
Come join us! Every Sunday at 10AM leaving from Joe's Bike Shop in Mt. Washington.
Also, in the coming weeks (definitely before November), the Fall Colors Ride will be announced, we're hoping for higher numbers–last year we had over 20 riders show up... I'm just waiting for the trees to get suitably colorful.

-Ster
hopkins cycling pres

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Listserv Politics

Members of the Hopkins Cycling Listserv,

First of all, I am sorry for technical difficulties with unsubscription requests. Basic commands that I have typically used, for a reason that eludes me, have not been working. However, I am finally figured out how to manually unsubscribe people.

So, If you want to be taken off the list, NOW IS THE TIME.
If you want to be removed: send an E-mail to ME, Sterling Kouri, sterling.kouri@gmail.com
and I will happily remove you!


Finally, please acknowledge that this forum has 193 subscribers. If a fiery debate begins, please restrict it to those involved–DO NOT SPAM THE ENTIRE LISTSERV. Try to maintain the same level of manners that you would extend to strangers in face to face conversation, and, although I am not trying to infringe upon first amendment rights, just keep things civilized. If you somehow feel that a controversial/sensitive issue provides perfect support for your cycling related argument–think twice. If it has the potential to offend other members of this diverse group of nearly two hundred students, teachers, and alumni, it would be best to keep it to yourself.

To end on a positive note, I am happy to say that the Sunday 10AM group ride is gaining a steady following, and there is promise of a regular Thursday afternoon ride. We began this Sunday with 5-6 and picked up two locals on the way. I will continue to send info to local clubs and hope to get a consistent field of 10 people in the group ride by the end of fall.

Big ups to the new club members who are getting out there with us, we are happy to see you out on the road.

-Ster
hopkins cycling pres

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World Championship

I felt compelled to make some kind of comment on the World Championship, although i'll keep it brief...
1. Fabian Cancellara is unbelievable. Winning the WC TT by 1:27 is just absurd. Being able to sit up, make yourself a sail and coast leisurely to the line really speaks to his talent.

2. Cadel wins the WC RR. Well, at the very least, this win will make him complain less in the future. Does he, in his own words, "deserve this shit?" As to the idea of Cadel in the rainbow jersey, I thought this image sums it up pretty neatly.

See you at the meeting tonight!
-Ster
hopkins cycling pres

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CLUB MEETING!!!

We're having our first club meeting this Wednesday at 8pm in the Rec. Center Classroom.
It's a chance to welcome the newcomers and explain what we're all about–our rides, the listserv, our sponsors, our resources, training plans, and the 2010 road race season which begins in frigid February.
Bring any and all questions you might have,

-Ster
hopkins cycling pres

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Bikin' in B'more: Ride Cues

Some short loops to help you learn how to get in and out of the city or to noodle around on easy days.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2599802
A great short ride through Towson. You can cut out the painfully steep climb up Bellona by turning off on Boyce, Malvern, or Rolandvue over to Charles Street.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2546929
Great stand alone route, probably the least busy way to get in and out of town. Easy to make longer too; instead of going left on Stevenson at mile 9.9, take a right and immediate left on Old Valley. Go left on Greenspring Valley, right on Park Heights, left on Caves, right on Garrison Forest, left on Greenspring Valley to loop back around to the rute specified.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2546944
Another great stand alone route on not so busy roads. Make longer by continuing straight on Park Heights at mile 11.5, take until it ends and go right on Garrison Forest. Take a right then another right on Greenspring Ave. Follow back to Greenspring Valley and the existing route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2546961
To go a little farther, at mile 11.2 go left on Bellona and continue onto Margate. Take Margate until it ends and take a left on Pot Spring. Follow until it ends at Old Bosley and go right until you hit Dulaney Valley. Take a left on Dulaney Valley, then after the bridge, stay to the right to stay on Dulaney Valley. Take a right on Loch Raven Dr and another Right on Providence, which brings you back to the route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2547003
To add in a great hill, at mile 12.2, go left on Falls, right on Ivy Hill, then right on Jerome Jay. On the climb, Jerome Jay turns into Michaelsford, take that until it ends at Katesford. Go left on Katesford then Right on Cleghorn, which brings you back to the existing route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2547060
To extend, go left on Winands at mile 16.3, then a left on Deer Park. Jog over to Sheraton to Connect to Marriotsville. Go right and then another right on Powells Run. Go left on Liberty when Powells Run ends, then an immediate Right onto Wards Chapel. Go Right on Deer Park to loop back around.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2547077
You can cut out the Lawyers Hill by continuing straight onto River Rd at mile 12.7. Continue through the bike path and then after about 2 miles, cross over the sketchy wooden walking bridge. head left on the bike path and it will take you to the base of the Illchester descent, back on the route. Also, instead of heading up Hilltop Rd at mile 18.6, you can take Thistle Rd, it is much less steep!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2547092
To add in a good climb and add a couple extra miles, at mile 16.2 continue straight on Old Court Rd and take it until it ends at Old Frederick. Take a right on Old Frederick and then a right on Marriottsville. After a few miles on Marriottsville you are back on the route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2599750
You can cut out a couple miles and add in a much steeper climb by crossing the railroad tracks at mile 19 then heading up Gun Road. Gun Road ends at Rolling Road, head left to be back on the route.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2599822
To extend, at mile 12.8 go left on dulaney valley then left on potspring. Head right on Old Bosley, left again on Dulaney Valley, Right on loch raven dr, and left onto providence and the route.
Or, at mile 14.6 go left on Providence and left on lochraven dr. Then right on morgan mill (or right on dulaney valley and right on long green), right on manor, right on glen arm, right on cromwell bridge, right on loch raven drive, left on providence.

These routes only get you started, the best riding is beyond these! Let me know If you have any questions or want any additional ideas.

-Mike
mike.retzlaff@gmail.com

Sunday Group Ride

today we had our first hopkins sunday groupride leaving out of Joe's at 10 am. It was a modest turnout, but we had a great ride up Garrison Forest, over to Mantua Mill and past Cal Ripkins house on Dover. it was a solid endurance pace, and the weather was just beautiful–blue skies and temperatures in the high 60s. definitely, a notable improvement over yesterday, when a mile away from my house, a light rain began. bad day to skip out on the sunglasses. i got straight misted the whole way, which made the chilly fall day pretty unpleasant. next time it may be good to throw some arm warmers in the jersey pocket.

hopefully we can get a few more Hopkins people out next week. i'll continue to advertise it to C3, LSV, and even BBC if I can google their listserv. i definitely feel like it could be a nice ride throughout the fall, and even into base building in the winter.

but, for that to happen, i'm gonna need your help! from now on, i'll be there every sunday. hope to see you out there.
-ster

first group ride 9/4

I know I'm a few days late, but I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out for the group ride last friday. We had 11 at one point, and a core of 9 that made it out and back on a 45 mile loop. It was a great turnout and dynamic, and I hope more will come out for a steady sunday group ride. If enough people show up, we can split it into A and B groups. More info on the Sunday Group ride to come.

If you didn't hold pace because you had mechanical issues, or trouble staying with the, dare I say, overly excited group, PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. There will be many more rides at a much mellower pace suitable for all beginners. Start there, and with a little effort and determination, you'll be hanging on the harder rides.

I'll leave you all with this sweet vid of one of my personal fav's--Fabian Cancellara. Peep these descending skillz! one of the best bike handlers in the peleton.


-ster

JHU Club Fair/First Ride O' Season

Today at 1:30 is the Student Activities Fair at the Rec Center. We will have a small unofficial booth-poster/sign up sheet, where you can put down your email and get up on the listserv. Janine/Allie will be representing us at the fair, so feel free to chat with them and get a better idea of what we're about.
I will be leading our first group ride of the year at 3pm. Hopefully, by mid September we should be able to organize our first club meeting. I will post more info as soon as it's more concrete.

looking forward to meeting/riding with all the newcomers!
-ster

Clothing Reorder

new kit has arrived. well, actually, its the same as last years– the new old kit if you will. i did a re-order for those who missed out on the first one.

from now on, however, i think there will only be one clothing order per year–most likely in november or december.

for those of you who haven't seen it yet, here's the design. pretty fly if i say so myself.

new website

the old JHU Cycling website is seriously outdated. this new blog will serve as the primary source of team info and updates. sometime in the coming weeks, i will send out details of our first club meeting through the hopkins cycling e-mail listserv. if you would like to be placed on the listserv, contact me at skouri1@jhu.edu. all basic questions you may have about our club and cycling in general will be addressed at this meeting.

until then, keep the rubber side down!

-sterling kouri: president of hopkins cycling