While you were busy hitting the delete key, I was busy living vicariously as a lonely list lurker. Here's a quick look at what you might have missed on the various cycling list-serves this week...
It seems like the early season action over at the Vint Hill Classic last weekend took the fight out of the normally chatty MABRA'inians. But there were still a couple of interesting items this week:
- Though Tracy Rankin apologized and said "off topic," I think she's dead on with giving us information we can use; she told us all about a "bike friendly store" in the area. If you are anywhere near Travilah and Glen Road over in Potomac, MD, please consider stopping by Travilah Oak Market for your provisions. The owner welcomes cyclists, wants to hear what we want him to stock on his shelves, and has bathrooms for his visitors. Who could ask for more? Help the businesses that want to help us! And, by all means, Tracy, keep us "off-topic" with good stuff like this whenever you find it!
- Jared Nieters invited everyone to join him on Wednesday evenings for an organized group ride out of Haymarket Bicycles in Haymarket, VA. There are two groups, A/B, and both leave from the shop at 5:30. Based on Haymarket's recent results, I'm guessing the "A" ride is somewhat spirited.
- I'm always amazed when a simple question such as "when does the Thursday night Haine's Point ride start?" leads to a flame war; but the question was asked and the flames burned bright with intellectual discourse such as "QTF!" and "jajajajaja!" But the real learning point here is that some cyclists get really ticked when they see Haynes' Pointe misspelled. As resident GamJams historian I feel compelled to explain the history: apparently Haiynes' Point is named after the great Naval Engineer P.C. "Big Hand" Haynz who was responsible for controlling the tides in the DC basin to make it smell better when the snow gets plowed. He may have suffered from Elephantiasis of the hands and face which is memorialized in that enormous statue that used to appear in the park named after him: Hainnes's Point. He is buried in a small Northern Virginia cemetery right across the river from Hains's point. So, next time you head down to East Potomac Park, please be sure to pay your respect to Admiral Hayenes by going fast, turning right and trying to smell better than the guy next to you. (For the record, I didn't make this stuff up. I found some of it on the internet.)
- By the way, could someone tell me exactly when the Thursday night ride kicks off at that park down by the DC Tidal Basin, the one with the tennis courts, golf course, and a million tourists at this time of year?
In the world of the Virginia Cycling Association, there were a few items of note:
- Another group ride is starting up for the summer: it leaves at 5:45 from the Clock Tower between Cary and 10th Street in downtown Richmond. The ride lasts about 1:45 and all are welcome.
- "Cross Venue for the taking!" Yes, you read it correctly: the owner of Cooper Vineyards wants someone to host a race on his property. While others scramble to find venues for their races, this is a real opportunity for someone to join forces with an enthusiastic landowner who can't wait to host a race. All you have to do is contact Matt Marchal for details and start perfecting your waffle recipes; this vineyard is ready to be rocked.
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Got any comments, interpretations, re-interpretations, or mis-interprations? Send them to me; I've got nothing better to do than to sit in my darkened room and live vicariously as a list-lurker...
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Gus Grissom races for Team GamJams Racing, teaches Greek and Latin at DeMatha Catholic High School, and writes a dissertation in his spare time. He compiles this column strictly for fortune and glory.
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