Re: [CR] Recap of the Parkton, MD vintage ride (Long)

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Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:39:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: "John Barry" <usazorro@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Recap of the Parkton, MD vintage ride (Long)
To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <002501c7c6ee$2a4c0650$2e01a8c0@danbarbpc>


I'd like to add my thanks to Dan and Barb for being such gracious hosts. I realize that for the past two years, when Dan hosted the ride, the weather was less cooperative. This year though - what a great day!

Few things in life could be finer than a convivial vintage ride on a beautiful sunny day - followed by a nice repast and entertainment. What those things might be though, completely escape me for the moment. I guess it would have been even more enjoyable if a few more participants had been able to make it - but that might have meant feeling guilt about taking a second brat. ;-)

It was great to see everyone who came. All the bikes were worth seeing, or seeing again, and I must say, Peter's kit and lovely Peugeoy made it appear we'd been joined by a time traveler.

One story to share about the ride. After having lost Jim and Wayne to the missed turn, I set off on the gently three mile rise along the final stretches of the ride. Gary was right behind me, and I presumed everyone else was as well. When we made the turn off the road, I looked back, and found nobody else was in sight. About a quarter mile later, we turned onto the newly-paved road that makes for that really nice downhill. Gary and I were moving along pretty well. Not going all out, but not exactly taking it easy either.

Perhaps a half mile into the descent, a rider went rocketing by us. I've always considered myself to be the human equivalent of a brick, and I immediately kicked my bike into high gear (I won't spoil the story mentioning that my high was 40-14), and gave chase. Even if I had 53-12 gearing, there would have been no catching Dan. Flying down the winding, wooded road gave a tremendous sensation of exhiliration. I felt kind of like we were in a speeder chase on Endor.

I had a great time, and I hope that now there are a few people saying to themselves "I wish I had gone". I look forward to seeing more of you at the next edition.

Best regards,

John (claiming polka dots on the day) Barry
Mechanicsburg, PA, USA


--- Barb & Dan Artley wrote:


> We had a lovely day for a pretty ride in the
> country, just hot enough to
> look for shade while waiting to regroup, but just
> lovely with the wind
> in your face. And it was a nice intimate crowd that
> made it a easy to
> keep together. Wayne Bingham was first to arrive,
> with John Barry
> coming soon after. Wayne brought his green Baylis,
> always a stunner.
> John had the oldest bike, the 1952 JA Holland he'd
> brought to Cirque
> this year, lot's of patina, but it sure was pretty!
> My biking buddy
> Gary Gentry came next riding his Litespeed (his
> vintage fixed Motebecane
> inappropriate for this terrain). Peter Kohler and
> Ken Sanford were
> next, Ken on his Gillot, and Peter riding his 1969
> PX-10 with full
> Peugeot racing kit in honor of Bastille Day and
> Tommy Simpson. Larry
> Osborn was next, coming the farthest distance with a
> really sweet
> Eisentraut Limited that he'd owned for years.
> Finally arriving were two
> local friends, James Sheridan, and Al Barrett.
> Jim's been doing these
> rides here for a few years on fixed gear,
> alternating between his
> DiBernardi track bike and an Ibis Scorcher, finally
> last year using a
> front brake. This year he'd brought a mountain bike
> converted to city
> riding for our hills. And Al, a retired bicycle
> sales rep for the
> Baltimore/Washington area, had his old tourer w/
> biopace rings.
>
> The group climbed out of our valley, and we started
> to level off a bit
> after the first half mile with folks pairing off to
> chat. John Barry
> with the highest low gear and James were leading the
> pack attacking
> every grade. About three miles in, Gary heard a bit
> of metal tinking on
> the paving and searched and found the pedal dust cap
> from John's
> Holland. Finger tightened we continue'd the ride on
> quiet roads. We
> rolled through a small lake community having a
> neighborhood yard sale,
> commenting on the bikes for sale. And then along
> Strawberry Road,
> through the neighborhood of Beatle's fans, Abbey
> Rd., Penny La., etc.
> We stopped at a local bike shop in New Freedom to
> tighten John's pedal
> cap, and cruised the back room with the owner
> showing us his vintage
> stuff, trade ins with virtually no mileage, a silver
> Alan, perfect
> Raleigh 3 speeds, and an interesting belt drive
> unusual suspension
> hybrid. The folks waiting outside had a longer rest
> stop than they
> expected while we disappeared into the shops bowels.
>
> Back on the bikes we rolled out of town, down a
> lovely roller through
> the corn fields and back up a slow grinder to the
> ridge. We were to
> turn onto a really pretty road Peter once compared
> to the English
> countryside, a somewhat blind turn in the middle of
> the hill. Wayne was
> getting into his stride at that point and rolled
> into the lead and was
> out of sight before the ride leader as always,
> leading from behind,
> could get his attention. He and James were gone.
>
> I waited a minute or so, but they weren't coming
> back, so I tried to
> catch the peloton. We regrouped at the next
> intersection and climbed
> the last short, steep climb, and were soon heading
> homeward along the
> ridge with only a few miles to go. The last four
> miles are mostly
> downhill with the last two and a half an absolute
> roller coaster with
> some hairpins thrown in. And fresh smooth paving
> that replaced one of
> the crappiest, badly patched road surfaces in the
> county. I know the
> road so well I was off spinning as fast as I could
> and soon was by
> myself. But everyone was enjoying that finish. Jim
> was there within a
> minute or so of the rest and Wayne showed up a few
> minutes later. Wayne
> was remembering the ride of two years ago finishing
> in the rain and
> having to ride the brakes all the way down. This
> was what biking's
> about!
>
> Barb had the grill fired up within minutes and a big
> spread for the
> hungry riders. The dogs were soon ready, and the
> drinks were cold!
> John helped me pull out a couple of bikes from the
> basement to line the
> railing and we brought up a few of our riders bikes.
> The tour was on
> TV, and people started to get comfortable. My bike
> shop had the best
> cleaning it's had in almost two years and everyone
> got a look. Life is
> good! I hardly felt that I'd talked to everyone
> enough when folks
> started to be off! Can't wait for the next ride.
> Who's is next?
>
> In the excitment John Barry left his camera here, he
> was the only one
> taking photos. I'd carried my camera along the
> whole ride without
> pulling it out once, too much fun. He's honored me
> with allowing the
> downloading of those photos, so here they are posted
> for all to see.
> http://sports.webshots.com/album/559886921ygXJin
> He's really taken
> some nice shots. Thanks John and all who came for
> the ride. I sure had
> a good time.
>
> Happy trails,
>
> Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland
>
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