Driving back from the watershed last night I took note of the new sign on Gambrill Park Road (the primary reason for bringing along my camera). Maybe next week we'll be invited to God's pants party?
God markets to all demographics....
Image provided by James (ten daily things)
s a force to be reckoned with. With about 5 laps to go Christina got stuck out in front and ended up doing a good amount of work. My heart really went out to her, but I thought I would let one of the bigger teams take up the slack. (photo: can you find the race?)
and be happy with whatever was to come of the day. The race was actually quite tame with few attacks that didn’t seem to amount to much of anything that I can remember. I think everyone was feeling a bit too sketched out by the course to really try and mix things up. But it really was a perfect course for getting away for that very reason. (photo: Lesley prepares for her top 10 finish)
Environmental Partnership Summit. I think the most interesting thing to come of the conference was the increased attention being paid to the changing of behaviors and lifestyles. All too often these conferences spend a lot of time focusing on technological band-aid fixes rather than lifestyle sacrifices.
The plenary keynote was given by Phillipe Cousteau, grandson of the famous Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Phillipe was recently included in the Smithsonian Magazine issue entitled America's Young Innovators for his work in preserving the earth's ocean and freshwater systems through the use of media. As chief Ocean Correspondent for Animal Planet and CEO of EarthEcho (co-founded with his mother and sister), he continues his grandfather's legacy and passion for environmental exploration and protection. 
the Conservation Fund recently purchased 2,500 acres from the Glatfelter Pulp Wood Company to be added to the Michaux State Forest!!! This land will be handed over to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for long term management. Joseph Rothrock would be so proud! Maybe this will necessitate a forth race in the Michaux series????
It was exactly a year ago that I made some waves at the Union Grove road race due to the lack of a cash prize for the women’s OPEN race. I took it upon myself to set up a collection bucket at the registration table along with a nice collection of flyers and posters alerting racers to the missallocation of funds. We raised 40 bucks that day which was doled out to the top three women. It wasn’t really about the cash, it was the principle of the matter. (photo: scenery along the course)This year’s Union Grove race is under new management and there is indeed a women’s cash prize. So, it was in good humor that I asked the gentleman at the registration table if he happened to remember me from the prior year. Indeed he did, and he still didn’t seem to think the event was altogether humorous. Well, I guess you can’t please everyone. I cracked myself up anyway…
The long and short of this race report is that I thought I was feeling pretty good. (photo: tania and her husband)I felt strong on the punchy little hills. Probably did a little too much work, but wanted to be sure to be in the front should a break succeed. I attacked at the end of the last lap on the flat section just before the last right turn that leads to the hill top finish. I think I was a bit too conservative on the attack. I should have just laid it all on the line. Instead I think I only succeeded in stringing things out. Sitting second wheel back at the base of the hill, we got swarmed. I got out of the saddle to sprint for the finish and ….didn’t feel as strong as I had on the 5 previous laps. Oh, well. There’s always next weekend to try to score some upgrade points.
Tania rode a smart race and successfully finished up in the top ten!!! The rest of our teammates were busy tearing things up in Wilmington. Nice racing ladies!!!!
Etc…..
It was a nice long three day weekend.
After the race I headed to JuJo farms in Perry County Pennsylvania where I joined my friends Jonas and Judy Stoltzfus. Sunday morning I helpd Jonas with the morning chores, then the rains came …washing away our
plans to put up a fence.
Judy and Jonas continue to plod forward with their work in protecting our rights to buy and sell raw milk without government intervention. Raise a glass of cold raw milk to the Stoltzfus clan!!!
Later that afternoon I headed for 
ome trails.
I was not disappointed. Rothrock has never been so beautiful. Monday evening I rode until the last bit of sunlight ducked behind the ridge. Oh, The impermanence of a beautiful evening. As heartbreaking as the withering of a cherry blossom.
It wouldn't be Bike to Work Day without a good drizzle! Although things were again on the soggy side, the weather did not succeed in dampening the spirits of those who braved the wet streets to show their support of bicycle transportation. Many thanks to Eric Gilliland for pulling everything together, and to WABA for being the cornerstone of bike commuting in our nation's capitol. (btwd poster - carfreeusa.blogspot.com/)
camaraderie. City Bikes was out in full force with a host of fabulous raffle prizes and their full crew of mechanics (even Marc came out on his day off!). Maybe I'm biased, but I think City Bikes embodies the very spirit of DC cycling. (photo: joel - a city bikes icon and charlie - a city bikes owner, together in bike commuting brotherhood) 
Be sure to check out their coaching tips on the TRIAL of TIME
(banksy)
headed to New York for the Bear Mountain road race to take place the following day. Turns out you can cram a lot of shit up in the Honda Fit. I was really rather amazed, especially considering we were operating without a roof rack. Our inventory included the following: 
Oh, and we were lucky enough to end up with the DELUXE room at the Days Inn in Nanuet. That's right, D-Lux....
tch them on the flats just after the climb. This was a mistake. I should have just absolutely buried myself …did I have it in me though …still trying to figure that out.
ew... this seems to be a habit.
e it that much more difficult to scrape my crap together and bee bop on out to Hagerstown for the Fort Ritchie Criterium. After a few stout cups of coffee and blank staring into space, I was able to round up the inspiration to load up the Black Stallion (this is a new name…I’m just trying it out …we’ll see how it goes)
I think it was the second prime that I found myself in good position for. I tried to take it, ended up third wheel back, but succeeded in finding myself in a break of about 7 women. I really wouldn’t have gone for it had it not been for Kate’s encouraging words. Thanks again Kate! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to hang with the break …dropped off the back and eventually got reabsorbed back into the main field. Seeing that Kate was now alone in the break, Lorena successfully bridged up without dragging anyone else with her. Nicely don
e Lorena! We don’t call her the Stormin’ Mormon for nothing!
Top three results: 
Archives:
A Raw Deal I
A Raw Deal II
The Tenacious Scooter Thief is at it again...
s established thanks to the concern of one of Pennsylvania's most influential conservationists of the day, Joseph Rothrock. In response to rampant deforestation during the mid 1800s, Rothrock helped establish the Michaux State Forest as a means to introduce more sustainable forest management practices into the region. So, many thanks to Rothrock for making this race possible....
Although my legs were a bit tired from the day before, I was looking forward to a nice romp in the Michaux woods. Pain and fatigue aside, in my mind Michaux races are a great opportunity to play in the rocks and soak in some good PA single track. Thanks to Chris’s stellar mechanical skills, I was able to start the race on a completely functioning bike….even if it was a little mismatched. For reasons I won’t go into, my components were comprised of the following: 
For the first part of the race I was jockeying for position between 2nd and 3rd. Ultimately I lost sight of the first two ladies on one of the climbs. I had banked on catching at least one of them in the rocks…but never again would I catch a glimpse of their pink and green jerseys. 
Poolesville came into existence thanks to the Poole brothers, John and Joseph, when they bought 160 acres of land with which they eventually established a timber company. The town of Poolesville was not officially established until 1867. So...that sets the stage for Saturday's race....
Oh, Melissa Wills was there too! It was a reunion of sorts.
was bad was my handlebars that kept slipping every time I hit a hole a bit too hard….resulting in about a 90 degree rotation. Using brute strength I would wrench the bars back in place…which overcompensated for the situation until the next hole came along to dial things back into position. This made for some hectic bike handling. (photo: men's pro 1/2 field - James Wilson Photos)
Tania, one of HPC’s newest team members had an awesome day on the bike and finished up the day in 6th place. Nice racing lady!!! Beth, also new to HPC, finished her first race with a smile. Looking forward to racing with you ladies again! (photo: Kate, Tania, and I)
Author, James Kunstler, recently released his latest book "World Made By Hand".
tal sustainability" seem to have lost all meaning, Kunstler brings us back down to reality. What I like most about him is that he is not willing to sugar coat the issue and recognizes that technological advances will not save us from ourselves. For any significant changes to be made we will need to make very real sacrifices in our daily lives.
As some of you may remember, it was just last summer that I joined the Stoltzfus family in the organization of a Raw Milk Rally launched in response to a raid on the Nolt Family's dairy farm in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Their crime....selling unpasteurized milk, cheese and yogurt without a permit.
Rally in Support of Mark Nolt
constitutionally protected right to sell raw milk, and raw milk products, directly to consumers (as well as a consumer's right to buy and consume these products). This will be a peaceful assembly. Concerned citizens are encouraged to bring signs and banners in support of Mark Nolt and that reflect positively on raw milk and its benefits. Those who are unable to attend the rally are encouraged to contact their legislators in support of direct farmer to consumer sales of raw milk and raw milk products, to contact local media to request coverage of the rally, and to support the defense fund that has been established for Mark Nolt by sending a check in his name to Mark Nolt, c/o PO Box 136, Blain, PA 17006. 
