December 2014
ohbike.org
Lead a Ride in 2015
A New Year’s resolution that should be on every
members list is to lead at least one ride in the coming
year. New members need support and
encouragement to become better cyclists. Longtime
members enjoy riding new routes and in new areas.
All of us want a variety of rides to choose from on
weekends and during the week. Promise yourself
that as soon as the weather warms up, you will lead a
ride in 2015.
Leading a ride is easy and, if you like, ask a ride
coordinator to lead with you (see page 2 for names
and email addresses). There are guidelines posted at
http://ohbike.memberlodge.org/guidelines. The ride
classes give you lots of options from casual D rides
under 10 miles an hour to the AA class that pushes
the limits above 20 mph. Casual D, C and CC rides
are especially needed to encourage new riders to
come out and become active members of the club.
OHBike ride leaders who lead and report on at
least 6 rides in a calendar year earn a short or long
sleeve jersey, a wind vest or arm warmers. The real
reward of leading rides is the pleasure that comes
from helping others enjoy cycling. Share the “feel
like a kid again” fun of riding a bike.
OHBTC Jerseys and Arm Warmers
Make Great Holiday Gifts
Go to ohbike.org and place an order for the
perfect gift for your favorite cyclists.
Winter Riding Tips
Cold weather does not stop cyclists from riding.
These suggestion from past newsletters will help you
ride comfortably all winter. Find past newsletters at
http://ohbike.memberlodge.org/newsletters.
Check out:
• Eric Petersen’s Road Captain’s Report,
Oct 2014, pg. 4
• Mark McGibbon’s Dressing for Winter
Rides, Nov. 2012, pg. 7 and Dec. 2012, pg. 3
• Joan Oppel’s Be a Polar Bear – Ride all
Winter, Dec. 2010, pg. 1
Featured in this Issue
Prez Sez Calvin Conyers……………………….... page 3
Road Captain’s Report Eric Petersen………… page 5
Casey Jones Express Scott Walker…………… page 6
The OHBike newsletter “The Spoke’n’Word”
will not be published in January. Watch for the
February edition next year!
2014 Crop Hop Jim Hudnall……………………....page 7
Rocket Fuel Joel Katz……………………….…… page 8
Jamaican Adventure by Peter Klosky ……....... page 9
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The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club December 2014
Welcome, New Members
Lawrence Franklin
Martha Schmidt
Chip Souser
Hyattsville MD
Glenn Dale MD
Alexandria VA
A
CC
C
Need to Renew your Membership?
Go to http://ohbike.memberlodge.org and log in
with your email address and password. If you don’t
have a password, click on “Forgot Password” and a
temporary password will be mailed to you. After you
log in, click “View profile” in the upper right-hand
corner to view your membership information. Click the
“Renew” button to extend your membership for one or
two years. If you have a problem, contact
[email protected].
OHBIKE is on Facebook
The club’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/ohbike has 989
“likes.” Let’s make it a thousand!
Invite your cycling friends to “like”
the page.
Do You YAHOO?
OHBTC members use the
Yahoo group’s e-mail list to
share club-related information, especially changes in
the ride schedule. Joining the OHBIKE Yahoo group
is free and easy. Go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ohbike.
The OHBIKE Yahoo group is for OHBTC
members only. When you join, please include your
name in the box for “Comments to List Owner.”
Members of the Yahoo group can send email to
the list at [email protected].
Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
Club Officers
President
Vice Pres.
Road Capt.
Secretary
Treasurer
Calvin Conyers
Blake Altman
Eric Petersen
Holly Carr
Mimi Newcastle
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ride Coordinators
Class AA
Class A
Class B
Class CC
Class C
Class D
Mountain Bike
Overnighters
Scott Walker
Darin King
Michael Saizan
George Martin
Herman Young
Randy Schoch
Judy Mutty
Barry Howard
Steve Palincsar
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Standing Committees
Program
Public Relations
Newsletter
Advocacy
Safety/Ed
Jerseys
Mike Butler
Jim Hudnall
Jane Hudnall
Walt Roscello
George Martin
Claire Chiamulera
Janell Saunders
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Handy Telephone Numbers
SHA MD Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Dustin Kuzan
24-hr tape
M-NCPPC Trails and Bikeways Information
Fred Shaffer
Prince George's Co. Bike/Ped Coordinator
Victor Weissberg
City of Bowie Bike/Ped Information
Frank Stevens
Pothole Repair Hot Lines:
Alexandria
Calvert County
Charles County
Prince George’s County
St. Mary’s County
410-545-5656
800-252-8776
301-952-3661
301-883-5650
301-809-3053
703-838-4488
410-535-0905
301-932-3450
301-499-8520
301-863-8400
MD-SHA non-emergency contacts to report road problems:
http://marylandsha.force.com/customercare/request_for_service
December 2014
The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
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Prez Sez by Calvin Conyers
As the 2014 riding season winds down, this is a good time to remember the
many outstanding achievements we enjoyed throughout the year. What
immediately comes to mind are the record highs we set in all our major rides:
the May Metric, Rural Legacy, Watermelon Ride, Annual Picnic and, of
course, the Indian Head 100. We have a lot for which to be thankful.
On November 15, the club hosted the Annual Volunteers Appreciation
Dinner at the Mexico Restaurant in White Plains. The event celebrates the
volunteers who are the reason for our success. This year, 81 members and
guests attended. We were pleased to have friends like Mr. & Mrs. James
Crudup (Mayor of Eagle Harbor), Mr. & Mrs. James Gorney and Mr. & Mrs.
Terri Osborn (LaPlata Kiwanis Club – our partner in the annual Kids Helmet
Give Away project), and Mr. Jey Phillips and family (owner of Max Muscle Sports Nutrition in LaPlata). In
addition to receiving an OHBike Safety Light, every attendee was provided bags filled with useful nutrition
information courtesy of Jey. If you were unable to make it to this year’s dinner, lead some rides or volunteer at
an event and join us next year.
For a list of 2014 ride leaders and the number of rides reported, see Eric Petersen’s Road Captain Report on
page 5. A quick recap: we had over 500 group rides this year. Outstanding! While every posted ride is
appreciated, special recognition was given to our Top Ten Ride Leaders who each received an OHBike
overnight and equipment bag. Congratulations to Karen Fitzgerald on joining this illustrious group in her first
year as a Ride Leader and to Steve Palincsar for leading the highest number of rides (over 61). In total, more
than 30 ride leaders led 6 or more rides during the year. These leaders received the coveted Ride Leader Jerseys,
Vest, or Arm Warmers (new item). There are a few leaders who are close to reaching their sixth ride by year
end. When the weather permits, Let’s Ride!
“Thank You” for all each of you do to benefit our club. Peace, joy, and good will to you and your family.
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The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club December 2014
Thank you OHBTC volunteers!
December 2014
The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
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From the Desk of the Road Captain by Eric Petersen
Stealing one directly from my predecessor, Mr. Ron Leak, I would like to
end this year by saying a very sincere “Thank You” to all of you. Those who
led, those who rode and those who smiled. It was a great cycling year with
weather that even had the Californians turning green. As a club we broke all
kinds of records for attendance at Ron’s famous All Class Rides. We had 73
different ride leaders who posted a combined 514 Ride Reports as of November
15. We saw the resurgence of the Tour de Accokeek, the “surgence” (I know
there’s no such word, but it works) of the Casey Jones Express. Our Centuries
were very well attended, and our club members did an incredible job in support.
Our advocacy group was so effective that each Saturday, on my normal ride, I
get to pass 3 “Bikes may take full lane” and 2 “Share the road” signs that were
not in place the year before. In short, as a club, we were hitting on all cylinders.
As such, I would like to give thanks to those below who performed the most
basic unit of what our club does and led rides. Thanks. Eric
Steve Palincsar
Blake Altman
Scott Walker
Randy Schoch
Shane LaBrake
Mike Bivens
Joan Oppel
Sam Perry
Darin King
Jim Hudnall
Karen Fitzgerald
Larry Peed
Robert Smith
Barry Howard
Debbie Bowman
Holly Carr
Judy Mutty
Jane Hudnall
Linda Bankerd
Jackie Schoch
Sylvia Pope
Brad Francisco
John Gorman
Calvin Conyers
61
40
33
24
20
17
16
15
14
14
14
13
12
11
11
11
11
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
Mia Haynes
Ron Leak
Dan Donahue
Eric Petersen
Norm Lisy
Reggie Stokes
Diane Harris
Janell Saunders
Liz Willis
Michael Saizan
Richard Harrington
Robert Golding
Teresa Martin
Walt Roscello
Desiree Holkon
John Early
Nancy Avitabile
Walter Carr
Ken Meredith
Polly Choate
Regina Saizan
Alan Canfield
Alan Kurzweil
Belinda Acre
7
7
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
Brian Raines
Chris Backhaus
Chuck Coe
Claire Chiamulera
Dana Trevas
Deborah Reynolds
Elizabeth Willis
George Martin
Hans Holkon
Jay Lewis
Jean Wright
Jocelyn Herrington
John Hutson
Larry Perkins
La’Tasha Banks
Linda Molesworth
Paul Bankerd
Richard Avitabile
Ron & Jan Tucker
Ron Altemus
Sharon Miller
Sonja Newman
Steve Perakis
Thomas Short
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club December 2014
Casey Jones Express - Season Report by Scott Walker
Class: AA/A/B
Category: Express
Description: Hammerfest
Speed Limit Imposed: None
Gain: 528-701ft
Distance: 25.8mi (TT segment at 25mi)
Max Grade: 5.1%
Founders: Benny Budd and Joni King
Support: OHBTC and Paul Bales/Casey Jones Restaurant
Motto: “For the love of the people and the ride” - Michael Blaine
Course KOM: Dan Hoefert / Robert Golding (September 17, 2014 /
24.0mph)
Course QOM: Claire Chiamulera (Aug 22, 2012 / 22.2mph)
2014 Ride Leaders: Blake Altman, Karen Fitzgerald, Brad Francisco,
Scott Walker, Robert Smith, Larry Peed, Dan Donahue
Starts: 24
Weather Cancellations: 8
National Points Earned: 64,154
Report: Another fantastic season! 70 riders accumulate 24 trips on the CJE over three different
courses. During the year, Express riders rack-up over 64k points helping to put Team OHBike in the top-10,
nationally, for the 2014 National Bike Challenge. Well Done!
Editor’s note: Scott’s comprehensive report on the 2014 Casey Jones Express Riding Season is at
http://ohbike.memberlodge.org/reports/3139282.
Riders at the start of one of the 24 Casey Jones Express rides of 2014. For photos of riders at other Casey Jones
Express rides, see the photo album Scott posted at Facebook (http://goo.gl/PFcPFq).
December 2014
The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
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2014 Crop Hop by Jim Hudnall
A number of OHBTC members were among the 320 riders at this year’s Crop Hop
on October 25. The ride, sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural
Development Commission, highlights the connection between farms, fresh food and
good health. Funds raised provide fresh farm foods to low-income families in Southern
Maryland. Members of OHBTC supported the ride by designing the route, painting the
roads, and advertising the event.
This was the third year for the Crop Hop and the first in Prince George’s County. The first two were in St.
Mary’s and Charles Counties. This year’s ride started in Nottingham on the Patuxent River and visited sites of
historic interest as well as local farms and a winery. Archeologists, re-in-actors, wine makers, cheese makers,
farmers and farmhands greeted cyclists at six stops on the metric century; shorter rides had fewer stops. The
ride ended with lunch near the one-room school and the Patuxent Riverkeeper house in Nottingham. Next year’s
Crop Hop Ride will visit farms in Anne Arundel County.
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The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club December 2014
Rocket Fuel by Joel Katz
Everyone wants to do better and we continually check ourselves to
see if we are. Cyclists monitor their average speed, weight trainers keep
track of their bench press and runners note their times. When my wife
comes home from step class she presents her arm and wants me to agree
there is more muscle. I have no Idea what step class has to do with biceps
but I always say “wow.” We will try anything that may give us an edge –
lighter bikes, better shoes, magic potions. In the locker room at my gym
the guys mix a variety of powders into their water bottles. When I ask
them what it is, they reply “protein man, protein.” My next question is
“does it do any good?” Answer “yeah man, I benched 450 today.” Then
I ask “why would anyone want to do that?” You can guess that I don’t
have many friends at the gym.
I think body builders with their bulging muscles look silly. I tried
doing one of their poses before a mirror in the locker room. My Japanese trainer, O Takashowa, laughed so
hard he fell off the bench and broke his coccyx. I think the emaciated look of cyclists is much more appealing.
Two years ago I experienced back pain. My orthopedist began a five week series of prednisone shots. The
shots worked and my cycling improved. Prednisone is a performance enhancer. I went from being a CC rider
to a B. The downside came when I received an FDA warning letter. The drug came from the New England
Compounding Pharmacy. It was suspected of contamination and causing spinal meningitis.
The window for infection passed and I was ok, but I became a CC rider again. I wanted to be a B so I asked
my doctor to hit me again but with a drug from a different manufacturer. He said no. So I continued my search
for an edge.
My thoughts drifted back to 1958, my freshman year at Penn State. A bunch of guys were sitting around a
table in the student union. Terry struck a match and held it to the seat of his chair. A jet of fire shot out. It took
a moment for the rest of us to realize what happened. Then we all started doing it. People gathered around and
there were a lot of ”oohs,” “aahs” and laughter. The manager came and made us stop.
I have since done this many times and only set myself on fire twice. Kids, don’t do this without adult
supervision. You can find many videos of this on U-Tube. There is one where a cow is lit off. I am telling this
to show you the energy in methane gas which we all produce. The challenge is to find a way to harness this
energy to improve our athletic performance. If you can figure this out, please e-mail me at
[email protected].
About the author: Joel Katz has been a member Potomac Pedalers for 35 years and of OHBTC for 3 years. He is 75
years old, married and has 2 children and 4 grandchildren. His background includes a BA in Labor Relations from Penn
State, US Army service, Greenbelt City Councilman 1969-1971, Masters in secondary education from the University of
Pittsburgh, a Ford Foundation Scholarship Education of the Blind and Visually Limited and owner, now retired,
industrial supply company. He has a wonderful sense of humor and has agreed to share some of his thoughts with us.
December 2014
The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
Jamaican Adventure by Peter Klosky
Six cyclists from the DC area were among 35 participants who completed the three day Jamaica Reggae
Ride on November 10th. Our contingent showed two strengths: expedition comradery and riding skill. The
weather, coaching, lodging, food and transport were excellent.
On the last day of the ride, the tour director created two race
teams, each with one woman and one man selected from the ride
participants. Each team had a coach selected from the 15 guides.
The guides were all top racers, from the Junior to Masters Level.
Each coach was to ride with his team over an 18 mile course,
coaching and pulling. The first team to bring both members across
the finish line first would win.
Both of the women selected were from the DC area - Amy Ta
and Robin Mason. Amy has been racing with the District Taco
team, finishing on the podium more often than not. Her Facebook
profile picture shows her winning the sprint finish of a road race in
outstanding form. Amy is one of the top young AA/A riders on
local Century rides. That Amy at age 26 and active on the race
circuit would be chosen for the team was no surprise.
Amy Ta and Robin Mason
That Robin would be chosen was more of a surprise, as she has
not been active on the racing circuit. Ever. Her bike has a luggage
rack. But a bike does not make a rider.
Both Amy and Robin did well. They made it up the steep 12%
climb to the finish, Black Hill in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, ahead
of a racer who bonked. Amy was first to the top, but her teammate
was by the side of the road, cooked. In the local Jamaican cycling
parlance, “peppered.”
For her trouble, Robin will now be shopping for a new bike that
is suitable for a racer. Robin’s husband John confirmed this during
the awards presentations. For Amy, the race aspect of the ride
will be named “The Amy Peppa Race.”
The six riders from the DC area stayed in the first two groups
of the three ride classes offered. We supported each other, sharing
meals, and participating in aquatic activities..
DC racer Amy Ta and Billy Cordero from LA
jump for joy with their “Certificate of
Completion” on the Jamaica Reggae Ride.
This ride has been a big motivator for me. Since signing up for the April ride that began on March 30th of
this year, my weight has gone from 183 lbs. to 156 lbs. To train, I rode challenging rides on weekends for the
month before the Jamaica Reggae Ride and led Tuesday/Thursday rides for Potomac Pedalers.
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The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club December 2014
All six cyclists from DC brought their own bikes in club cases. Potomac Pedalers has eight cases, Reston
Bike, five and at least one Oxon Hill ride leader sometimes lends hers. The non-stop from BWI to Montego
Bay is convenient, a 3.5 hour flight. We left Jamaica at 3 PM, arrived at BWI 6:30 PM, and were home in DC
by 8 PM. Love the Express parking at BWI, as the driver helps load/unload the bike cases right at the car.
Peter Klosky, celebrates completion of
the Jamaica Reggae Ride
Guides Clifton “Screamer” Cargill and Glen
“Rasta” Taylor lead the group on the road
I will be returning to Jamaica on April 17-21 to do this ride again. While late April is chosen as some of the
best weather in Jamaica, it is early for our season. If you sign up, you would need to train over winter and early
spring. As the Jamaica Reggae Ride includes all local transport, hotels and meal arrangements, planning is
simple. Call or email with any questions, or check out the hundreds of pictures online.
Peter Klosky Cell phone: 703-727-4939
[email protected]
Riders and guides assembled for a team photo at the end of ride banquet, Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica.