Monument to Monument: May 19th

The eleventh iteration of the Monument to Monument century ride will happen
Sunday, May 19th, 2019

All the details are the same. Wear your best socks.

 

Print yourself a cue sheet from the link below, or export the route from RWGPS.

• Date/Time: Sunday, May 19th 2019. Meet at 7:45AM. Leave PROMPTLY at 8:10AM
• Start Location: Baltimore Washington Monument
• Map/GPS: M2M Map/GPS  (click “export” in upper right for GPS)
• Cue Sheets: M2M CueSheet
• Cost:  None. Bring $ for lunch and snacks at local businesses
• Assistance/Sag:  None. (except help from fellow riders)
• YOU RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK

IMPORTANT! READ THIS BEFORE RIDING M2M

WHAT’S THE RIDE LIKE? M2M is a little of everything. There will be fast and slow riders, skinny and fat tire bikes, racers and bike party people. There has been groups of only 10 riders in rain and groups of 100 in nice weather. M2M goes rain or shine. We ride a steady average pace of about 13MPH. There are hills, but none more strenuous than a long ride through your neighborhood. The roads to DC are as safe as riding in Baltimore. Most of the route is surprisingly scenic and the DC trail system is very relaxing. We’ll stop 3 times: a break at the 25 mile point, a lunch at Union Station in DC and a break at the 75 mile point. I will bring a few cue sheets, but mostly you will be following ride leaders.

2018 M2M article

I’ve heard from a few people who were unaware of THIS WONDERFUL ARTICLE in Baltimore Magazine by long-time M2M rider, Ron Cassie.

Thank you, Ron. Maybe I’ll see you Sunday.

 

Pics from M2M 2018

A big THANK YOU to all of this year’s Monument to Monument riders. I had a wonderful ride.

I heard several stories of riders who had been planning on riding M2M for a while. Yesterday was their day. Well done. Also, I loved hearing stories of those who’ve ridden the route on a different day. No need to wait for next year. Download the cue, grab your biking buds, and ride.

ciao       -Bob

(click pics to enlarge)

 

What 100 miles can do to a hat

Drink water right now to be hydrated for tomorrow’s ride.

• Slop up with sunscreen in the AM. Don’t forget sunglasses too.
• Rear blinkie batteries charged?
• Got a bike bell? Put it on the bike.
• Expect to take it real easy for the 1st half. If you’re feelin’ good, kill it home.
• Print the CUE, stick it in a baggie, and put it in your pocket. You, or someone else might need it.

Stoked for this. See you at the Monument at 8     -B

the M2M way-back machine pt5

While we’re waiting for the June 17th M2M tenth anniversary ride, I’m delving into a little M2M history

Top ten (+1) best pics from a decade of Monument to Monument. (click to enlarge)

2013. It’s hard getting good shots of the start, but this one seems to catch the excitement.

2014. M2M taking over the street. BELIEVE

2015. One of 4 different M2M spoke cards made

2016. Cold and wet, but great lighting for the buttercups.

2013. Got this shot on the 1 year we came in on the Mass. ave. center bike lanes.

2013. DC Monument still under rapair after damage by earthquake.

2011. This group stayed together all the way to DC, making for a nice “class photo”.

2013. Follow the leaders. These nicely designed signs took the place of the tinsel the year before

2014. I took the Outlaws’ idea and rode the fixie.

2013. Love the tired smiles from this finishing group.

 

Last, and best photo has to go to Lars Peterson for his shot of Boson Au in 2008. Absolutely iconic.

the M2M way-back machine pt4

While we’re waiting for the June 17th M2M tenth anniversary ride, I’m delving into a little M2M history

–

It might be the simplest aspect of M2M which makes it so great: the ride itself.

If it’s been a while since i’ve ridden to DC, I’m definitely thinking about riding to DC. There’s just something wonderful about the two cities, their respective personalities and the travelled space between them. As we ride M2M, Baltimore’s rough roads and aging industrial areas give way to gnarly woods and rocky streams; as we roll south, small outlying communities pop up, cut into disparate pieces by tangles of highways; we go through new suburbs, then old suburbs, and finally bike trails transport us to the Capitol city, Washington DC. Oh yeah, the ride also comes with a silly reason to connect the two: the Monuments.

Jon and Tim, June ’08

Harry C. Nov. ’08

Nov. 2008

June 2008

Boson saluting. June, ’08

the M2M way-back machine pt3

While we’re waiting for the June 17th M2M tenth anniversary ride, I’m delving into a little M2M history

–

There have been many adventurous and supportive riders who’ve contributed to the momentum of M2M. At the start in 2012, I was looking out at an overwhelming 80+ riders. That morning, I felt very thankful to have a network of capable ride leaders. In contrast, the 2016 ride brought us a steady cold rain the ENTIRE RIDE. I mused about whether I’d be riding alone. I didn’t have to. Nine resilient riders accompanied me that day for every single mile. Awesome. The ride itself is certainly known by far more people than have ever ridden it. The route has been copied into at least 30 different accounts on RWGPS. For a lot of Baltimore riders. M2M endures as singular cycling goal.

Barry and Isaias, Nov. ’08

Headed back home

Outlaws at Jessup

June 2008

the M2M way-back machine pt2

While we’re waiting for the June 17th M2M tenth anniversary ride, I’m delving into a little M2M history

The M2M riders from 2008 exemplified to me what the bike could do- and so simply too: it could transport you so far away from your start that you find yourself in another world, another city. In DC, I’d see local bike riders- probably just riding a couple miles around town, and I’d realize what a big accomplishment it was that we’d all come from Baltimore. If they only knew. Of course there’s the little matter of getting back… also by bike. With great power comes great responsibility. No sag, no MARC, no Garmin. Cellphones?

On the return ride in 2008, our Nov. group was still ten miles out of Baltimore when the sun went down. It was cold. The dark potholes on Hollins Ferry were trying to beat the fun out of us. And then, seeing the view from Fed. Hill, up Charles St.: the Baltimore Monument gave us a “welcome home” smile.

It was cold when we started. Barry, Harry, Isaias, Josh and Pat

Isaias, Josh and Barry

the M2M way-back machine pt1

While we’re waiting for the June 17th M2M tenth anniversary ride, I’m delving into a little M2M history.

–

2008 had a lot of Monument to Monument riders. I rode a version of the route in July, and then again in Nov. organizing with Barry Childress and Isaias O’Daniell, but we weren’t the first group that year. Unbeknownst to me, another bike group (actually a combination of a couple groups) had had the same idea. Their ride was on June 22, 2008.

More pics to come. Comments and stories welcome.

See you for 2018 M2M on June 17th.

M2M Details !!! 10th anniversary

Print yourself a cue sheet from the link below, or export the route from RWGPS.

• Date/Time: Sunday, June 17th 2018. Meet at 7:45AM. Leave PROMPTLY at 8:10AM
• Start Location: Baltimore Washington Monument
• Map/GPS: M2M Map/GPS  (click “export” in upper right for GPS)
• Cue Sheets: M2M CueSheet
• Cost:  None. Bring $ for lunch and snacks at local businesses
• Assistance/Sag:  None. (except help from fellow riders)
• YOU RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK

IMPORTANT! READ THIS BEFORE RIDING M2M

WHAT’S THE RIDE LIKE? M2M is a little of everything. There will be fast and slow riders, skinny and fat tire bikes, racers and bike party people. There has been groups of only 10 riders in rain and groups of 100 in nice weather. M2M goes rain or shine. We ride a steady average pace of about 13MPH. There are hills, but none more strenuous than a long ride through your neighborhood. The roads to DC are as safe as riding in Baltimore. Most of the route is surprisingly scenic and the DC trail system is very relaxing. We’ll stop 3 times: a break at the 25 mile point, a lunch at Union Station in DC and a break at the 75 mile point. I will bring a few cue sheets, but mostly you will be following ride leaders.