Hi all, Impromptu rides welcome for December! I am sad to report that we will not be able to lead our Christmas lights ride this year. I (Laurie) managed to fracture my ankle a couple weeks ago and today my Physical Therapist said I would not be ready to ride before Christmas 😢. We hope you have a great holiday and look forward to riding with you next year! Thanks, Laurie and Ed

Hi all, We did not schedule a ride in November since the weather later in the month can be iffy. However, with all this beautiful weather impromptu rides are welcome! Thanks, Laurie

Hi all, Here are the details for our next tandem ride. We hope to see you there! Thanks, Laurie October 19th - Fall Foilage - To Sugarloaf and Back Start: 10:00 Location: Adventure Playground parking lot South Germantown Recreational Park 17920 Germantown Park Drive, Germantown MD, 20874 It's a return to the back roads of Northern Montgomery County as we hit peak foilage season heading up from South Germantown Recreational Park to Sugarloaf Mountain and then back again. The ride is 33 miles long with 2000 feet of elevation gain but with several nice downhills thrown in and one rest stop at the Dickerson Market in Dickerson Maryland. The ride will begin at 10:00 AM from Adventure Playground (17920 Germantown Park Drive, Germantown MD, 20874) which is right off Route 118 (Germantown Road) and located in the South Germantown Recreation Park. The Ride with GPS route link is below: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12569485 Ride Leaders: Mike Saft - 240-678-2658 mcsaft@... Candace Cotton - 240-602-9550 ccotton663@...

Hi all, We have two rides scheduled in October. We hope you can join in! Thanks, Laurie October 5th @ 10 am Cambridge to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge This is a FLAT, flat route on low traffic roads. It is worth the drive to be able to cruise along and also to see the migrating waterfowl. We will start at the Municipal Parking Lot in Cambridge, ride around the Blackwater NWR, and stop the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Museum for a break. Please bring your own snacks, there is no food on this loop. I hope the group will be interested in adding on a trip down to Old Salty's Restaurant on Hoopers Island for lunch. The miles may look long, but the area is so flat that we will be rolling along quickly. Details Start: Municipal Parking across from City Hall corner of Academy and Muir St Time: 10:00 am Shorter route 46 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48570173 Recommended route 61 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48570085 Old Salty's Seafood ** We had planned to ride on the WB&A and look at the work that has been done on it, but the bridge and trail are not open, and are gated off. *** Lydia Cunningham and Scott Durloo 443-422-9189 (cell) October 19 @ 10 am Start: Adventure Playground in the South Germantown recreational Park, Germantown MD 30-40 miles Details to follow! Mike Saft and Candace Cotton

Hi all, The weather forecast for Saturday is looking promising! Please remember to use the link below to register if you will be joining us. The next planned ride is October 5th. We will have the details out soon. Thanks, Laurie Saturday September 21st - Chesapeake - Delaware Canal Ride Joint Tandem ride with the WABITS and CRABS on D&C canal and surrounding area in Northern Delaware. This ride is 49 miles in length, 945 ft climb, and starts on the D&C canal in Chesapeake City, MD. We will follow the canal trail east to Delaware City. Then we will cross the canal on the Reedy Point Bridge (biggest climb on the ride) and follow scenic low traffic roads for a loop on the south side of the canal to Port Penn and Augustine Beach. We will circle back to the Reedy Point Bridge to again cross the canal and take a short snack break in the park along the Delaware Bay before we cycle back to Chesapeake City via a road route. Once back we have the option for lunch/dinner at Schaefer's Canal House. Bring snacks and water for the ride. Bring money for lunch/dinner after the ride. Date:Saturday September 21 Time: Be ready to ride at 10:00 AMStart location: Schaefer's Canal House, 208 Bank Street, Chesapeake City, MD 21915 I suggest parking in the far back of the parking lot so as to minimize interference with other restaurant customers. Ride with GPS route link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44165377 Please be sure to preregister on the BCP website https://phillybikeclub.org/bcpdo/ride/calendar

Hi all, Our CRABS/WABITS tandem ride for September is a joint ride with the PATS (Philadelphia Area Tandem Society). It is Saturday September 21. The PATS also invite us to join their Wednesday September 11 ride. Details for both are below. Thanks, Laurie Wednesday, September 11th - 2024 Bridges & Beach Ride Join us on Wednesday, September 11th for the PATS Tandem “Bridges & Beach Ride”. It starts at 1720 West Avenue Ocean City, NJ 08226. Please arrive by 9:15 and wheels down at 9:30am. This year’s updated route will traverse 4 shore towns across 3 islands, over to the mainland, using 3 different trails, and several major bridges with breathtaking views of the bays, coastal marshes and a bird sanctuary. The route is pancake flat other than the bridge climbs and is 41 miles but can be easily shortened near the end to 36 miles. NO DROPS! We will provide post ride snacks. Please bring a lunch to eat in our porch or yard, sunscreen, and bathing suits, towels, and beach chairs to visit the beach and surf afterwards. Everyone is welcome to use the enclosed outside shower with changing area after swimming. Single bikes are welcome. If parking is tight, you can drop off your bike and gear in the alley behind the house and park a block away at the Ocean City Library. Our cell phones are: John (610-505-1863) and Debra (610-505-0925). The 41 mile ride loop looks like this: 2024-08-15 OC-Avalon-Mainland and Back Loop Tandem w/Deb | Strava Please pre-register for this ride on the BCP website https://phillybikeclub.org/bcpdo/ride/calendar Saturday September 21st - Chesapeake - Delaware Canal Ride Joint Tandem ride with the WABITS and CRABS on D&C canal and surrounding area in Northern Delaware. This ride is 49 miles in length, 945 ft climb, and starts on the D&C canal in Chesapeake City, MD. We will follow the canal trail east to Delaware City. Then we will cross the canal on the Reedy Point Bridge (biggest climb on the ride) and follow scenic low traffic roads for a loop on the south side of the canal to Port Penn and Augustine Beach. We will circle back to the Reedy Point Bridge to again cross the canal and take a short snack break in the park along the Delaware Bay before we cycle back to Chesapeake City via a road route. Once back we have the option for lunch/dinner at Schaefer's Canal House. Bring snacks and water for the ride. Bring money for lunch/dinner after the ride. Date:Saturday September 21 Time: Be ready to ride at 10:00 AMStart location: Schaefer's Canal House, 208 Bank Street, Chesapeake City, MD 21915 I suggest parking in the far back of the parking lot so as to minimize interference with other restaurant customers. Ride with GPS route link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44165377 Please be sure to preregister on the BCP website https://phillybikeclub.org/bcpdo/ride/calendar

Hi all, The weather is looking hopeful for Saturday morning! If that changes we will send another email. Details for the ride are below, including the RWGPS link. Hope to see you there, Laurie and Ed Barr ————————————————— Saturday August 17 @ 9:00 39 miles RWGPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47972945 Start: Misty Meadow Farm Creamery 14325 Misty Meadow Rd Smithsburg MD 21783 Come enjoy the quiet roads in the valley east of Hagerstown! We’ll cycle past an 1862 stone bridge, stone farm houses, pretty farms, and end up back at the Creamery for lunch and/or ice cream. Tip from previous years’ rides: bring a cooler if you want to buy and transport dairy products back home Ed and Laurie Barr wabitscoordinator@... 703-973-0280

Hi all, We have one ride scheduled in August. Details are below. Thanks, Laurie Saturday August 17 @ 9:00 35-40 miles (Washington County is busy chip sealing roads in the area and we will try to avoid loose gravel as much as possible!) RWGPS link coming week of ride Start: Misty Meadow Farm Creamery 14325 Misty Meadow Rd Smithsburg MD 21783 Come enjoy the quiet roads in the valley east of Hagerstown! We’ll cycle past an 1862 stone bridge, stone farm houses, pretty farms, and end up back at the Creamery for lunch and/or ice cream. Tip from previous years’ rides: bring a cooler if you want to buy and transport dairy products back home Ed and Laurie Barr wabitscoordinator@... 703-973-0280

 Hi all, Please see Shira’s request, from Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes, below. If you or someone you know are interested please let Shira or me know! Thanks, Laurie Begin forwarded message: From: Shira Gordon Date: June 12, 2024 at 16:47:44 EDT To: WABITS Coordinator <wabitscoordinator@...> Cc: MWABA INC <mwaba.inc@...> Subject: tandem captains or groups in Richmond and/or Reston, VA?  Hi Laurie and Ed, Two visually impaired people have reached out to MWABA, one who lives in Reston, and one in Richmond, asking if we know of anyone interested in riding a tandem with them. I don't think they have their own tandems, but it's possible that MWABA could help them find a tandem or loan them one. Do you know of any potential interested captains in either location? For Richmond, do you have a contact for RATS? The woman in Reston is 5'2", and I don't know how tall the man in Richmond is. Thanks! Shira ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shira Gordon Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA) Board Member (847) 217-9505

Hi all, The Blueberries and Barrens ride is on for Wednesday, 7/10! Please be ready to roll at 9:30 since it looks like a hot day. Ride details are below. Thanks, Laurie and Ed Wednesday July 10, 2024 Start time: 9:30 am Blueberries and Barrens 29 mile ride Start location: Batsto Village 31 Batsto Rd Hammonton, NJ 08037 Join us for a midweek ride through the blueberry fields and Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Hopefully we will get a chance to see the blueberry harvesting machines in action. We are planning to have lunch after the ride at the Sweetwater Marina and Riverdeck. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40486776 Ride leaders: Ed and Laurie Barr 703-909-3226 wabitscoordinator@...

 Hi all, We currently have two planned rides for July. The Harper's impromptu ride a couple of weeks ago worked out well. If you see a beautiful day coming up and would like to announce a ride just let us know and we'll help spread the word. Thanks, Laurie and Ed Wednesday July 10, 2024 Start time: 9:30 am Blueberries and Barrens 29 mile ride Start location: Batsto Village 31 Batsto Rd Hammonton, NJ 08037 Join us for a midweek ride through the blueberry fields and Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Hopefully we will get a chance to see the blueberry harvesting machines in action. We are planning to have lunch after the ride at the Sweetwater Marina and Riverdeck. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40486776 Ride leaders: Ed and Laurie Barr 703-909-3226 wabitscoordinator@... Sunday July 28, 2024 Start time: 10:00 am Winfield to Union Bridge 41 mile ride Start location: Mayeski Park, W Old Liberty Dr Sykesville MD 21784 This is a scenic, low-traffic, 41 mile ride from Mayeski Park in Winfield (Sykesville street address) to Union Bridge. Porta potties are available at the ride start. Rest stop will be at the Flood Zone at mile 27.6 (food, drinks, bathroom, outside picnic tables under shade trees). All roads are paved except for half a mile of smooth, hard packed stone at mile 21. Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46130980 The Flood Zone: floodzonebrewery.com Ride leaders: Phil and Andrea David

Sorry, but we are cancelling our New Oxford Express tandem ride from Taneytown on Sunday. Forecast is for temperatures well in the 90's with a chance of thunderstorms. We hope to reschedule this ride later in the season. best wishes and happy tandem riding Mike & Evie

Hello Tandem Riders, Given this beautiful weather, and that so far have 4 interested teams, we have decided to call an impromptu tandem ride. This will be a make up for the May ride that was cancelled for rain. Yes it is Three Covered Bridges, starting from Utica Park. The ride leaders will use this 41 mile route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43631388 We are also including a shorter 27 miles version: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46533327 This ride is a long time club favorite and passes through three covered bridges in Frederick County, MD. The terrain is rolling and nearly perfect for tandems, with approximately 1600 ft of elevation change over 41.6 miles. There are several parks along the route where we can regroup and / or take rest breaks. We will also pass through Emmitsburg, where drinks and snacks are available, and Mt St. Mary's University. We will use the tunnel under US 15 at Mt. St. Mary's to avoid crossing the highway. We also pass near Thurmont, where food and drinks are also available. The ride start location is Utica Park, which has restrooms: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Utica+Park/@39.521394,-77.402111,14z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c9c5bdfa0ca727:0xfed71c402fe33ddc!8m2!3d39.5137421!4d-77.4017286!16s%2Fg%2F1td3sgld?hl=en-US&entry=ttu Please join us if you can. - Dave & Julie Harper 571-436-2286 703-608-8416

Hi all, We currently have one tandem ride planned for June. We welcome impromptu rides! Thanks, Laurie June 22, 2024 @ 9:30 Taneytown Memorial Park Park Rd and MD 140 Taneytown, MD 21787 Join us for a ride from Taneytown Memorial Park to New Oxford, PA. Enjoy tandem friendly terrain and low traffic roads! Plan to have lunch in middle of ride at Pizza Garden Italian Restaurant in New Oxford. Park in Park Road lot, NOT the playground lot. Portable toilets available at the start. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38930643 Ride leaders: Mike and Evie Reinsel mreinsel1@...

Hi All, Saturday’s Three Covered Bridges ride is cancelled due to forecasted rain. We will try to reschedule for later this year. - Dave

Hello Tandem Riders, Julie and I will be leading the Three Covered Bridges ride for Saturday May 18 at 9:30 AM. This ride is a long time club favorite and passes through three covered bridges in Frederick County, MD. The terrain is rolling and nearly perfect for tandems, with approximately 1600 ft of elevation change over 41.6 miles. There are several parks along the route where we can regroup and / or take rest breaks. We will also pass through Emmitsburg, where drinks and snacks are available, and Mt St. Mary's University. We will use the tunnel under US 15 at Mt. St. Mary's to avoid crossing the highway. We also pass near Thurmont, where food and drinks are also available. The ride start location is Utica Park, which has restrooms: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Utica+Park/@39.521394,-77.402111,14z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c9c5bdfa0ca727:0xfed71c402fe33ddc!8m2!3d39.5137421!4d-77.4017286!16s%2Fg%2F1td3sgld?hl=en-US&entry=ttu We will be using this RWGPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43631388 I have made one change to the route from last year to eliminate a fairly steep hill. We had 6 tandems and 2 singles on this ride last July and everyone seemed to enjoy it. We hope you will join us on Saturday May 18. - Dave & Julie Harper 571-436-2286 703-608-8416