Ride Reports August 2005

A Ride Around Italy on a Folding Bike
July 2005 by Fred Abeles

Ann and I have returned from our ride in Italy with a group of 15 people from Wisconsin sponsored by the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. It was a three week trip and involved staying at seven different towns in the lake region of Northern Italy.

Generally speaking we biked from Angera (near Milan) to Monselice (near Venice). We covered about 400 miles during this time and the longest ride was 82 miles. Most of the time the weather was sunny and hot and the roads flat to rolling. Motor vehicle traffic ran from heavy to light depending on the roads we followed.

The tour was primarily self guided. Ann bought some road maps of varying detail and tried to pick back roads from place to place. My good wife did an excellent job especially when you consider that road signage varied from confusing to nonexistent. The surprising thing I noticed was the Italian drivers. They were uniformly courteous and patient with cyclists. We did notice that many people ride their bikes in towns and on the highway. On the weekend we were treated to masses of club riders streaking past. We tried to keep right and ride in a predictable fashion and use hand signals as much as possible. For the most part the roads have no shoulders and we learned to ride the white line. I wish that US drivers were as courteous.


Ann Abeles by a scenic Italian river

Our accommodations and food were good. Most of the time we just went to restaurants for lunch and dinner. The beer was great but not strong. After one especially long and hot day we ordered a couple of 1 liter mugs of the local brew. Ann could not quite finish hers so as a kind and considerate husband I helped her. The trip was expensive, about $7,000 for two with included air from Dulles to Milan. Included was all our lodging, breakfasts, six dinners, baggage transport, SAG wagon if you needed it and a bus ride back to the starting point. Our folding Dahons and their especially designed suitcases worked well and the airline took them as baggage at no extra charge.

Frederick Pedalers Club Picnic B/C Ride
July 2, 2005 led by Brian King

Joan and Serge reserved perfect weather for the 2005 picnic which they graciously hosted at their country estate. A group of 8 riders arrived there several hours before the event to get in a ride before gorging on wonderful French fare in honor of the Tour de France opening day prologue.

Click here for pictures from the ride and picnic.

The SL Easy Way to Gettysburg
July 3, 2005 led by Laura Chaffiotte

This ride began bright and early (6:00 am) on July 3 at Monocacy Middle School. It was a nice, cool summer morning. Laura Chaffiotte, ride leader was cheerfully greeted by Randy Buxbaum (who was rocking out to Karen Carpenter in his van), David Miller, Brian King and Bill Smith.

David Miller in front with Bill and Laura chatting behind.

We headed north up to Gettysburg. Bill serenaded us along the way with Grateful Dead tunes and some of his own songs. Randy and Bill headed back to Frederick just past the Mason Dixon Line. Laura, David and Brian continued on to Gettysburg.

David has his passport ready as he crosses the Mason-Dixon into Yankee territory.

We made a group decision to detour around Thurmont, in an effort to minimize traffic. This shaved approximately 2 miles off of the trip for a total of about 75 miles.


Everyday life in historic Gettysburg.

Into the Bush
July 9, 2005 led by Martha and Mark Anderson

On Saturday July 9 Mark & Martha Anderson were joined by club members Mike & Betsy Lapadula and guests Mike Scotto, Isaac and Scott. Isaac recently relocated to Frederick County from San Francisco. The group rode together up to Thurmont, Kelbaugh Rd and onto Eylers Valley. The lead group of Mark, Mike, and Scott blew by a "Road Closed" sign while the sane among us followed the detour signs onto Crystal Falls Rd. It all came back together on Annandale road, though the insane had to shoulder their bikes and tiptoe across the rocks over the raging torrent at a missing bridge to rejoin the circuit.

The group met up for a shared rest stop in Emmitsburg. After the break, a three-man breakaway formed, surviving to the finish. Martha, Betsy, Mike & Isaac finished together at the community park, just behind the leaders. A great ride on a beautiful day.

Hagerstown-Smithsburg-Thurmont
July 23, 2005 led by Bill "15 Minutes of Fame" Smith

Laura Chaffiotte and interested prospective member Dave Olney joined the leader for a very early (6:15 am start to beat the oppressive July heat) and hilly sixty-miler to Hagerstown, Smithsburg, Thurmont and back to Frederick. We started up the route 40 climb from Bowers Rd at an easy pace to save our strength for later. As we neared the old Dandee Restaurant we noticed a kneeling photographer up ahead. It was none other than Frederick News-Post expert shutterman Bill Green snapping shots for the next day's paper. (We had not expected to see him until our return around noon). We pedaled along slowly as he took photos, then we hit the descent and the fun began. As our speeds reached 35 miles per hour, he drove alongside us, steering wheel in one hand and camera in the other, firing off photo after photo.

Further along route 40 Dave and Laura spotted a huge turtle on the road shoulder. A little bit more down the road Dave broke a dark brown glass bottle with his rear wheel (the perils or riding a major roadway) and wowed us with the speed at which he repaired his flat tire.

A short stop just north of Hagerstown for refueling and then we were off to Smithsburg, then the big climb on route 77 over the mountain, followed by a high-speed descent to Thurmont and another rest at the High's. We pedaled easily with a tailwind back to Monocacy Middle School where we met News-Post reporter Jason Fraley for the post-ride interviews. This being Dave’s first group ride (and a good learning experience), he was awarded the best young rider classification; Laura picked up the best-dressed rider; Bill took home the least attentive rider for not seeing the aforementioned turtle, which was described by the others as "being larger than Bill's head". The next day there was a very nice article in the News-Post about our bicycle club.

Yes — the interview and pictures were all set up beforehand. The Frederick News-Post reporter was inspired by local reaction to the Tour de France and found about us on the Internet. Brian King read his inquiring e-mail and started us on the way to our "fifteen minutes of fame".

Click Here to read the News-Post article

In France With Lance
July 2005

Look for the full TDF report next month, but until then here's something to tide you over...