Bootyville is Partyville and Nest is Best

Bootyville is Partyville 😊    Now it’s 24 Nest is Best!

24 Hours of Booty grew up this year and became the 24 Foundation – seems some business executives don’t like to write a check out for Booty.  Ummm, explain that one to the IRS <giggles>

Which means that 24 Hours of Booty is now the 24 Foundation and Bootyville is now the “24 Nest”  Man, adulting bites ☹ 

What does that mean for the folks that live in 24 Nest for one weekend a year?  Well, other than the name change not much.  Turns out everything that was great about Bootyville is just the same in the 24 Nest.

 24 Foundation Baltimore and the 24 Nest is designed for a “FAMILY” atmosphere.  When you arrive you’ll see lots of tents, canopies, lots of kids, people riding all sorts of bicycles and unicycles, blowup slide and obstacle course, and a tent for DJ and live music. 

When you check out the course, you’ll find you’re being cheered on by supporters that were positioned around the 2 mile lap.  The loudest group of course was close the finish line and they did an amazing job giving everyone applause and screams for every lap.


If you’re into bikes – there’s everything under the sun there – road bikes, mountain bikes, commuters, folding bikes, trikes, recumbents, fat bikes, skinny bikes…bikes, bikes, bikes! BIKES!

This year the venue moved from Columbia to Baltimore – specifically to the Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus.  The 24 Foundation and Johns Hopkins did it right – they nestled the 24 Nest right into one of the green spaces giving it a nice cozy feeling that really made the space.

The layout made everything super convenient with every close by – food, hydration, music, bathrooms, the check-in tables and loot of course.

Parking – OMG – Parking!  Parking is at a premium in Baltimore and Johns Hopkins made their parking garage available to the participants. The parking garage is essentially right under the green space we were nesting upon and it was sooo convenient.

If that wasn’t enough Johns Hopkins students were volunteering at the event and were on-hand to unload cars and get your gear to the 24 Nest. Talk about service with a smile. 

In summary 24 Hr booty is a great family event that anyone can enjoy.  We’re already gaming out our plan of attack for next year – more people, more money, better tent set-up with more things to do in our non-riding time.  We can even set up activities at the Varen Techology tent for anyone who would prefer to relax and socialize. (cornhole, ladder game, etc).

Hope to see you guys at next years event

Riding Bikes & Fighting Cancer

For the 3rd consecutive year my company, Varen Technology, sponsored a team in support of the 24 Foundation.  Each year the team gets a little bigger and we raise a little bit more money doing our part to support the fight against cancer.

Cancer is equal opportunity in that it doesn’t care who you are, how much you make, what your title is, or anything. Cancer just doesn’t care about any of that. Cancer is a vicious disease that devastates people and their family and friends.

Now as bad as cancer is – navigating the craziness that is insurance and the health care system is pretty damn bad also. Now imagine you’re dealing with all this and you’re a kid...or you’re the parent of a child with cancer. Talk about a gut punch…

That’s why the monies raised in the 24 Foundation Baltimore go to support The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and the LIVESTRONG Foundation; helping you navigate through the ordeal that is cancer and then helping you pick up the pieces and live your life after cancer.



After cancer? The quarterly check-ups? The twice a year check-ups? The annual check-ups? See it really never ends – it’s always there…tingling in the back your mind.

That’s why my company helps me support the 24 Foundation and cancer patients and survivors. We’ve all been touched by cancer in one-way or another.

Still with me?  I’m sure you’re thinking ‘Bummer dude – you’re really bringing me down.’

24 Foundation Baltimore, 24 Hours of Booty – it’s really 24 Hours of Fun, Friendship, Family, Hanging out and Riding bikes with great people.

The 24 Hour event is family friendly and geared to all levels of people that ride bikes – see I didn’t say cyclist – I said people that ride bikes. Cause we’re all people now matter how we choose to travel.

 Family Friendly? Bouncing stuff – food, drinks, music. 24 Nest has all that and more.

So next year come out to the 24 Foundation Baltimore event, pull up a chair and ride around in circles with us as we raise money to help those people that are fighting cancer, have fought cancer and sadly will fight cancer in the future.

Where Do You Park Your Whip?!

You finally decide to bite the bullet and start riding your bicycle for local errands!  Huzzah!

So you hop on your trusty bike and take off. The winds blowing through your hair, the sun is shining and you are feeling FAB-U-LOUS! Heck, you even think you look MA-VA-LOUS! (That is fabulous and marvelous for you dull folks)

Now you roll up to your first destination and look around for a place to park and lock your trusty two-wheeled friend - we shan't talk about those one wheeled or three-wheeled heathens here :) - and what do you see? Nothing, Nada, Zip! No bicycle racks!  Your choices are leaning your ride against the building or locking it to a signpost, a tree or some other immovable object.

Note to self - that big ole' pick-up truck ain't immovable and the driver will get testy when she comes out and finds your bike locked to the door handle. Move it along, nothing to see here.

So now, you're jammed - no good place to park. You've got dollars burning your pocket and you're jonesing for a Twinkie. What to do? what to do?

Well, if you’re like me…you’ll go rogue and lock your bike to the mobility scooter, run in and grab your stuff and get out before anyone notices. Then you'll go on your way and forget all about it until you need that next Twinkie fix.

What should you do? Why do something about it of course. If it is a big chain store, send a nicely worded email to the Corporate HQ and store manager and ask them to install a bike rack for their customers. It's a locally owned

Bikes, Boats and Maybe Beer

Riding your bike doesn’t need to be all about racing, shedding weight or even wearing lycra and getting all sparkly -- that sweaty for less classy peeples.

Riding your bike can be all about an adventure.  Noooo, I’m not talking about riding in the woods and hugging trees…or crashing into them. Which is usually frowned upon by one’s spousal unit. I’m talking about a destination ride. Riding your bike to see the country-side and checking out places at relaxed place.

Last year, my wife and I took a ride over on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Awesome ride that makes a perfect day trip or even a nice weekend getaway….and you get to ride on a Ferry! 

Bikes & Boats – can life get any better?  Wait, add beer!  Bikes, Boats & Beer! Yes it can.

Anyway, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is probably one of the best places to ride in Maryland with beautiful scenery, super wide shoulders, and wildlife. 

This is a perfect weekend getaway area with great cycling and plenty to keep you entertained for the weekend. St. Michaels has some wonderful B&B's and restaurants to feed your hunger after a great day of riding.

Be sure to check out the Oxford Bellevue Ferry while you are there. The Oxford Bellevue Ferry, believed to be the nation's oldest privately operated ferry service, crosses the Tred Avon River between Oxford, Maryland and Bellevue, Maryland. You’ll definitely want to check their website before you go because the ferry doesn’t operate year round - the ferry runs seven days a week from April to *November (*Nov-Saturday-Sunday ONLY)

If you don't want to spend your entire time riding there are plenty of other activities close by such as golf and sailing…but seriously, golf when you've bikes, boats and beer?

You’ll find the Bishop’s House B&B route cue-sheet and route mapping over on RidewithGPS.
This route takes you through the quaint historic town of Oxford; across the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry; through the village of Royal Oak on to St. Michaels, the home of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and back across Oak Creek to Easton.

Ride Description: Beginning in Easton, Cycling to Oxford & St. Michaels, Returning to Easton - 35.4 Miles

Assault and Battery

This happened this past weekend on Sunday, 17 September 2017 near Hamilton, Va -- near Leesburg for those that aren't familiar with Hamilton.  

Now this isn't me, but is someone that I know through cycling.

The person on the bicycle was riding west/north on Harmony Church Rd in Hamilton VA yesterday afternoon. As he approached the intersection, a car approached behind and the driver laid on the horn continuously.

The person on the bicycle figured no big deal, just ignore him and he'll go away.

Nope.

After the person on the bicycle stopped at the stop sign, he heard the driver getting out of the car.

The person on the bicycles got off his bike - he didn't want to try cycling away from him as he'd get up to a decent speed to get away only to have the assailant him run him down in his car? No thanks.

The driver began attacking the person on the bicycle.

The assailant let up attacking to toss the bike into the ditch. At that time the victim took out his cell phone and started filming the above video.

1. There were witnesses to the assault

2. The victim is pressing charges

Video of the Assault -- remember this starts AFTER the assault started; Essentially the assailant stopped long enough to throw the bicycle in the ditch and that's when the victim had breathing space to pull out his cellphone and start recording. 

Politicans and Bikes

So last night I'm heading into Food Truck Thursday at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company - Yas! Greek on the Street.....and there's this guy making his way over towards me with flyers and glad hand.

Now I'm thinking - Grog Need Food!!!  No Talk! Food!

Whelp, he keeps on coming and says 'Hi I'm Senator Rosapepe", sticks a flyer in my hand and I take off....Foooooddddddd

About that time, my lizard brain starts turning over and thinking Senator Rosapepe, Rosapepe, Rosapepe and it occurs to me that I know this guy! Or at least of him and that's good enough for me.

Then it occurs to me why I know this guy - he's a friend to people on bicycles in Maryland. You might say he's pro-bike.  

So I turn my big monkey butt around and go find him and introduce myself...and say "Hey! Didn't you sponsor some bicycle legislation this year?"

I swear I could see the gears in his brain turning over - the thought of "ruh roh Shaggy, here it comes, some bicycle hater" *sigh*

Soooo, I keep charging and say 'I just came over to thank you for the legislation and for supporting the cycling community'  --- I got the feeling it was a nice change of pace to be thanked and instead of complained at...

So the next time you see a pesky politician shaking hands and kissing babies - Thank them for being pro-bike OR ask them to be pro-bike.

Oh and swing by Food Truck Thursday (4-8PM) in Odenton at the Volunteer Fire Company and get some food

Viers Mill Road Claims Another Life

Loreto Andal Canubas, 74-years old, was killed last night while riding his e-bike while crossing Viers Mill Road near Monterrey Drive in Wheaton.

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. when the man, on a Sun ra bicycle (e-bike), tried to cross Veirs Mill Road near Monterrey Drive and was struck.

Mr. Canubus a bike commuter was on his way to work when he was hit by an unmarked police cruiser while crossing Veirs Mill Road.

Police are investigating whether such factors as speed or alcohol might have been involved. The motorized bicycle did not have lights on it, a police spokesman said.

In an email, Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman, said there is an intersection and a stop sign in the nearby neighborhood that leads onto Veirs Mill Road but no traffic signal there. He said police are investigating whether Canubas was in a crosswalk at the time of the incident.

The death of  Loreto Andal Canubas brings us to 11 people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways.

(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 11

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City
6-Sep-17 / Loreto Andal Canubas / 74 / Wheaton

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/elderly-man-on-motorized-scooter-struck-and-killed-by-unmarked-police-cruiser/2017/09/07/16bb2afe-93bf-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html?utm_term=.f8535872b6f7&wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1#comments

Veronika Badurova Killed By A Hit and Run Driver

Veronika Badurova, 21, a student from Slovakia has died of injuries she suffered in a hit-and-run crash in Ocean City on 30 August 2017.  She died Sept. 1, two days after the crash, Ocean City said.

Around 3 a.m. on Aug. 30, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a reported hit-and-run collision involving a bicycle in the area of 2nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

Veronika had been hit from behind by a hit and run driver - a person that chose to leave her injured and dying in the roadway.

Veronika worked as a lifeguard at the pool in the Mystic Harbor community in West Ocean City during the summer. The popular lifeguard was described in social media posts as incredibly sweet and a hard worker who always had a smile. Residents in the community where she worked held a brief memorial service last weekend and her lifeguard chair was adorned with flowers and a candle and notes.

The person driving the SUV was subsequently identified as Brooks T. Bratten, 38, of Snow Hill. Maryland court records indicate a number of previous incidents involving police and the court system. In January, he was cited in Ocean City for driving a motor vehicle while his license was suspended. In March, he was charged by Maryland State Police with malicious destruction of property over $1,000. He was expected to stand trial for that misdemeanor charge on Sept. 19. Court records also indicate several marijuana possession arrests and convictions in the past.

The death of Veronika Badurova brings us to ten (10) people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways.
(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 10

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City

Source: https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2017/09/07/driver-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-warrant-issued-for-suspect/