Thanks Isaias,  one question I don't understand is the life of this wheel now after two rides both hobbling home.  Should / do I need to ask for a replacement wheel or can this wheel be brought back to true with the correct tension with everything as good as new?  I like the longer rides meaning I can be quite far from home.  thanks for any insights or advice.  jeff

p.s. are there any club mechanics classes for us newbies?

First off I don't know anything about building up a wheel.  Yesterday on a group ride my rear wheel came out of true (very bad) and I don't think it was because I hit anything, very good roads at a moderate pace.  Took the wheel in and had a mechanic true it up - I watched it seemed like he did a great job.  On todays ride the wheel again came way out of true and I know I didn't hit anything and was on some of the nicest roads I've ridden.  I've broken spokes before and never had the tire go woefully out of wack so quickly.  There were so many spokes that were incredibly loose. 

Had a spoke wrench with me tried to use my brakes to tighten and true the tire along side the road (too far to walk) but none of the spokes would keep their tightness (over time) and I wasn't going to oven tighten them - unsure what's going on out on the side of a road.

So any insights why a perfectly trued tire would come out of true after riding for less than forty miles?  Again I know today and yesterday I didn't hit anything including potholes.  Thanks for any advice  jeff

p.s. the bike /wheels are less than a month old

Steve,  I rode it today 5/9/10 and all the signs were down and was able to go across the dam no problem. there still were construction trailers onsite but I think the road is open for good

Wondering if any of the Rando's are going to bike to Union MIlls for pancakes on Sunday?

Dave

Bob:

I join in Carl's poetic (and musical) tribute to a wonderful day biking to and from Washington.  Thanks for leading a great ride.

Dave

Just got my new bike and am wondering if I should register it with the bike registry?  Is there any practical benefit to this registry?  Or is most likely even if a road bike was recovered it would be beyond repair and just better to claim it on insurance? Any insights or opinions are very welcome.  thanks jeff

Aaaaand... hijacked.

Thanks Barry.  That is helpful information.

I'm not sure how lights are relevant to my inquiry about advocacy efforts, but sure, they're a great idea too guys.

The tragedy on Butler road has me wondering.  Does anybody know of any efforts having been made to get counties to designate some of the more heavily cycled roads as "cycling routes"? 

Simple brown signs that say "Baltimore County Cycling Route" might foster awareness that we are there, and maybe legitimize our right to be there in the minds of some of the people that think we don't belong.

The more I read about these accidents, the more I believe the problem is NOT about how cars pass us once they see us (3 ft. rule people, that's for you).  The problem is getting them to see us before they pass us.  That would mean slowing down and paying attention.

Which leads me to another question - anybody know about any bumper sticker campaigns like the motorbikes have?  You know those yellow stickers that say something like "Share the Road" or something like that?

Really?  Sounds like a picnic compared with posting on this forum...