I had a great time on the trip and as I suffered on the mountains I vowed I would come back and conquer those mountains.

2012 is the year of my return to Utah. I have already started to prepare for my return. I’ve been getting to know my indoor trainer again. I am already lighter then I was when I traveled to Utah in 2005 but will focus on more weight loss once we roll into January. I also have a trip or two planned to the Shenandoah Valley and western Maryland to get some hill climbing in. Some will be day trips and at least one will be an overnight trip so I can condition my legs to multiple days of climbing in a row.

If you are interested in joining me in Utah in September let me know. Trek Travel does an amazing job and you won’t be disappointed.

Then in mid December I started riding it in an effort to get some miles in. Boy have I been having fun with it. At first I was just mainly doing zone 2 rides with some one legged drills. Now as the time has progressed I am doing more and more intervals and have been following some workout DVD’s as my riding time has progressed so have the work outs.

I have come to look forward to riding the trainer and work hard to make sure I can fit it into my schedule. It’s exciting because I have created a new habit for myself which is good for me.

I’ve seen a difference over the last month for sure. I am seeing lower heart rates with increased power on the power tap. So the effort is paying off. The trainer time seems to fly by even faster now and I am making my longer ride days longer and longer.

I’ve managed to get outside only once since I started riding indoors and the work really showed off. John and I headed out on Sunday the 2nd. When we left on the ride the rain had stopped, we thought for the day. So I just went out with my outer layer being a light windbreaker and my Gore knickers. A little way into the ride it started to drizzle but then stopped after a few minutes. Then later in the ride it started to rain and it didn’t stop. At that point I realized I was under dressed but I didn’t care. I was having so much fun on the bike I didn’t care that I was cold and wet. My feet kept getting wetter and wetter as the water ran down my legs and into my shoe but I didn’t care. I was just enjoying being out there with the new level of fitness. This is a ride I won’t soon forget but I couldn’t classify it as and epic ride.

I can’t state the value enough of using your indoor trainer this winter if you can’t make it outside. I’ve been riding a Cycle Ops Fluid Trainer but I also recommend the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine. I’ve been training with a PowerTap hub which has made a huge difference as well when looking at the power numbers. PowerTap’s can be a little pricey but Kurt Kinetic makes a computer that when used with one of their indoor trainers gives you power. It is an inexpensive way to check out the use of power in your training.

Please stop by we will be happy to answer your questions about riding indoors this winter. If you prefer riding outdoors we also have a great selection of winter riding apparel. For the amount of money spent on a good indoor trainer that same amount spent on winter clothing will allow you to ride outdoors on the coldest of days.

We decided to start on the Western most end of the trail at Terrapin Nature Park and head west to Kent Island. We pulled in and for some reason I was expecting the park to be empty but what I found was a parking lot full of cars, lots of them with bike racks and people out and about with dogs. Our initial thought was that this would lead to a crowded trail but that was not the case at all. People were just out and about exploring and enjoying everything the trail and the parks have to offer.

We unloaded the bikes and headed out. What we discovered was a great trail. A little wider than many of the other trails I have ridden on which was very pleasant. As I was riding along I felt more like I was in a beach environment then on Kent Island Maryland. In many ways this sort of riding is my favorite. I find it very relaxing and a great way to see new areas while spending time with Amanda, plus it is her favorite type of riding.

This trail winds along sort of parallel to RT 50 but you don’t really feel that accept for a few occasions. The trail crosses across Kent Island High School and then a park full of ball fields offering the most open sections of area around the trail. The school is 0.9 miles from the nature park and would offer another good starting point for your ride. What the Cross Island Trail offers are a lot of great views at several of the bridges that you cross along the trail. We saw several Blue Herons and more in the waterways along the trail.

We rode to the end and then crossed over Kent narrows using the old Kent Island RT 50. There is a little bit of riding that you can do in this section but there are a bunch of water front restaurants to refuel at before you head back. Once we finished exploring this area we headed back and rode our bikes to the Chesapeake Exploration Center and then out to the point on Ferry Point Park. This park or the Chesapeake Exploration Center would make for a great picnic lunch spot. If you are so inclined bring your fishing rods along and do a little fishing here as well. This was a very popular activity at both of these parks.

We headed back to our car after exploring all of the things at the Eastern end of the park. Once we returned to the Terrapin Nature Park we did a little more exploring. There is a trail in the park that heads down to the Eastern shore of the Bay Bridge offering a great view of the Bay Bridge and some more areas to fish with some small beach areas, there are several access paths to these areas offering you and your family the chance to find some space of your own to enjoy the bay.

I really enjoyed this trail and the little extra width made it that much easier to get around other enjoying the park as well. From end to end the park is only about 5.5 miles long with the additional exploring we did I ended up with 14 miles of riding. I initially thought that the trail would be to short but what we ended up having was a great mid day ride that was perfect.

This trail would be a great trail to ride with the family or for newer riders who want a nice place to ride that isn’t super long.

See you on the trails!

Ernest Freeland

Crofton Bike Doctor

The C&O Canal Towpath is a ride through history running 184.5 miles from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, DC and is a National Historic Park. The towpath surface is general crushed stone or clay and relatively flat with an approximate change in elevation of 660 feet along the full length. The towpath generally has the elevation changes at one of the many locks along the way. With the way the towpath is set up it is possible to enjoy the canal as a day trips or multi-day trips if you choose. There are numerous campsites along the route that offer space to pitch a tent, have a fire pit and or grill with a hand operated well and port a pot. These amenities make a great way to start seeing the joys of touring by bicycle. If you prefer not to camp with a little bit of planning you can “credit card” tour by staying in hotels and or B&B’s along the way. The amount of easy access to the towpath makes it easy for people who want to enjoy the canal for the day and it provides those on longer adventures easier to get food and lodging. While the towpath is very close to civilization when you are enjoying the park you feel much more with nature.

As a kid I have ridden most of the towpath over a series of trips with my uncles and cousins. Like many I have pondered the idea of trying to ride the entire 184.5 miles in a single day. I have also pondered riding from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC utilizing the Great Allegheny Passage Trail and C&O Canal together a trip of about 330 miles. Each of these trips are still on the “Trips I want to take” list.

On my most recent trip Amanda and I drove to Brunswick, MD and decided to ride towards Harpers Ferry. Brunswick is at mile 55 and Harpers Ferry is just past mile 60. With the surface of the towpath several types of bikes would work well. A hybrid or fitness bike, if you choose to use a fitness bike I would recommend a tire width of at least 35mm. Amanda rode with slightly narrower tires while she did fine she mentioned that at higher speeds the handling got a little squirrely for her. Mountain bikes and comfort bikes would work well on the canal we saw lots of them the day we rode. Another option would be a cyclocross bike. My recommendation would be a bike with 700c tires. I took a Gary Fisher Utopia which is one of Fisher dual sport bikes. The Utopia has 700c tires with a front shock and straight bars, it just might be the ultimate bike for the C&O Canal.

The parking at Brunswick is plentiful; there is a commuter parking lot by the MARC train that is very close to the towpath, more parking can be found a little closer to the trail. Brunswick has a boat launching ramp providing access to the Potomac. This area offers visitors public restrooms, some more parking and a great picnic area. For this ride we had just planned an out and back route. We wanted to ride past Harpers Ferry and see how we felt before turning around. We ended up riding to mile sixty five and turning around for a total of twenty miles. One of the reasons we chose Brunswick is that Harpers Ferry is a popular access point for the canal and the parking close by is limited, but there is parking in Harpers Ferry and a short ride will get you to the towpath. With is being a holiday weekend we didn’t want to deal with parking issues.

We came across lots of people out enjoying a day on the towpath including a family with a child riding with training wheels. The canal is a great place to ride for the entire family. This is a popular section of the towpath, Harpers Ferry is right where both the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers come together. For a few miles the Appalachian Trail uses the towpath as part of its route. These sections of the rivers are also popular with rafters and tubers. Harpers Ferry which is also a National park offers a look back into history and just across from Harpers Ferry on the towpath side is a great hike on the Maryland Heights Trail. Once you reach the top of the trail you will be rewarded with an amazing view of Harpers Ferry. When I reached the top and looked back towards Harpers Ferry it looked like I was looking down into a model train set.

Now back to the riding. When we reached Harpers Ferry we elected not to take the footbridge across to town but to continue on the towpath for several more miles. We had chosen to ride this section on Labor Day and the section between Brunswick and Harpers Ferry was being enjoyed by many people, but the further away from Harpers Ferry we got the less usage we saw.

The towpath is well marked and there are a ton of resources out there to help you plan your trip or trips. I highly recommend you take advantage of the great riding the towpath offers. It offers something for everyone and a ton of history along the way.

Bikewashington.org – A great C&O Canal Resource for cycling.

For this ride we decided to park at one of the shopping centers along Easton Parkway (Route 33). Looking back on it when we do this ride again I would probably park at the St. Michaels Elementary School or make a weekend of it staying in St. Michaels to enjoy another ride the area offers and take in all the activities St. Michaels offers.

From the shopping center we headed out the Easton Parkway towards Oxford and made a right onto Oxford Road. The traffic was a little heavy between the shopping center and Oxford Road but the shoulder was generous so it wasn’t a big deal. Once on Oxford Road we began to enjoy the peace and tranquility the Eastern Shore offers. The road is flat and the shoulder generous as you head to Oxford.  As long as there are no headwinds, they can be noticeable on the shore; you should enjoy a pleasant journey through some farms, larger estates and a bridge crossing all offering great scenery. The scenery only gets better as you get closer to Oxford, with a population of less than 1000 the historical homes and tree lined street welcome you to town.  At the end of Oxford Road you’ll find the Oxford Bellevue Ferry which will take you over to Bellevue to allow you to continue your journey into St. Michaels. (Check out the pictures in the photo gallery.) Before you board the ferry to Bellevue take time to explore Oxford and take in the history dating back to the 1600’s.

The ferry cost $4 for a bike and rider for the short ride across the Tred Avon River to Bellevue on a busy weekend you will likely be joined by other cyclist for the ferry ride. This was certainly the case when we arrived and ran into a group of about ten other riders. Here Amanda’s new Project One Madone was the center of attention. It has an amazing pink flame paint job that is a piece of artwork; there are some photos in the gallery. At one point one of the riders said “You didn’t think you will be holding a press conference did you?”

 Once in Bellevue you’ll head out to St. Michaels via Bellevue Road. Your ride will be on nice quite country roads, once the ferry traffic gets by you, you’ll be left only to enjoy the piece and quite the Eastern Shore offers. Next you will enter Royal Oak where you will make a left to St. Michaels, just follow the signs. There are a few antique stores and a Bed and Breakfast in this small town, to enjoy. Once you leave Royal Oak you are heading out to St. Michaels Road (Route 33) which you will make a left to head into town. St. Michaels has something for everyone, shopping, restaurants, B&B, spas, the Chesapeake Maritime Museum and more. There is plenty to do in St. Michaels too much to write about here.

One of our favorite places is the Five Gables Inn and Spa located right on St. Michaels Road. Once you have enjoyed all that St. Michaels has to offer you just need to head back out St. Michaels Road, the way you came for your ride back to Easton. If you would like to ride more than 30 miles head out of St. Michaels the opposite way you came and you can explore much more of the area with such towns has Tilghman Island or Bozman. I plan to write more about this area in the future.

For those of you who prefer to stick with the 30 mile loop you will continue to enjoy wide shoulders and flat roads like you have your entire ride. Your journey back to Easton, will include farmlands and a great view of the Miles river at Newcomb. Once you reach Easton Parkway hang a left and head back to your car. If your time permits venture across Easton parkway to explore the town of Easton listed as “the 8^th Best Small Town in America”.

This is a great ride suitable for road bikes, fitness bikes and hybrids. A mountain bike would be fine as well but I would recommend smooth tires. The roads are flat with generous shoulders; the only challenge might be if you encounter a headwind on a portion of your ride. This route would be suitable for the entire family; the only spot of concern would be immediately getting off the ferry in Bellevue. Just  wait a few moments for the ferry traffic to clear and you will be fine.

My recommendation would be to make a weekend of it since there is so much you can do. Stay in St. Michaels or one of the many B&B’s in the area. On one of the days take this route leaving from St. Michaels and head out to enjoy Oxford.  For a second ride head out of St. Michaels towards Tilghman Island and explore all the country roads (I’ll write more about this area in the future) or simply enjoy everything non cycling the area has to offer. Have a great ride! Be sure to check out some ride photos in the Gallery.

Mom 1 day Kids 364 Fair?

I got out for a ride the other day and I had just started the ride and I was thinking to my self.

“I really do enjoy this I need to make more time for “me” and “me” to ride.”

Not a half mile later I rode by this church and saw the above sign. I thought to myself.

“How appropriate maybe someone is sending me a message. It certainly applies to me and not making enough time for myself, how many other people are doing the same.”

For me as of late I have been trying to cut out the stuff that isn’t critical and focus on the things more important to me that will make me more happy and less stressed. I really want to get out on my bike more and had such a great time riding. So then another message was sent to me later in the ride. I was riding with my friend Andrew. In April he made a pledge to ride 30 days outside for at least 45 minutes. He completed that goal and the results of it were really neat to see. Andrew has become a much stronger rider since I rode with last. That became apparant as he “danced” up the hills and left me to suffer!

So what have you done for you today? Probably not enough is my guess.

Have a great week!

I am really excited to use this as it will allow me to Map and share all of my rides with everyone. You can even download them to your own phone that is compatible with the AllSport GPS program. I’ll share more as I get more in-tune with the program. So far it is a fairly simple program to use.

Here is a break up for the boredom!

Want to “ride along” with the pros? What follows is a break down of each of the stages for the Tours. Then next to it is a distance that is a percentage of each of the days stages. You can pick your corresponding distance for the day  and ride it either indoors or out.

Thanks for the help from my friend Nathan and also the write of the Maryland Bike Routes link to the right.