Here is an old report from the web I found:
http://folk.uio.no/ulfb/hvidda6eng.html

Here is a link to Frederick County, MD and surrounding dirt roads.  This will get you started through down past Leesbburg, VA.    I'm not sure what you will find farther south in VA, but east of 95 there are some nice quiet paved roads through civil war history.  I've always loved crossing the James on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, which will get you moving towards the Swamp.

You might ask for route info on the MORE boards.  There are VA members of  MORE with better on the ground knowledge.

Cheers.

I generally agree. Most of the push to 10 speed is to get everyone on a double crankset which allows better shifting in the front. Supposedly, shifting of a triple crankset has been the Achilles heel of road and mountain bikes. Now, with the double and a larger cassette you can keep the same gearing range as a triple for the most part.

But you can do that with 9 speed (or 8, etc.) as easily as with 10. So what use a 10, except for smaller steps between gears, which 75% of riders won't take advantage of?

Last year I was looking at one of those '100 years ago today' blurbs in the local paper and came across this:

September 3, 1908
Major Edward A. Weed, a veteran bicyclist, arrived in this city yesterday from Washington, on a tour from New York to California. Weed has a specially made bicycle, which, including his baggage weighs 82 pounds, and has an 86 gearing.

Which lead to a google search:

January 5, 1901
Major Edward A. Weed.
       Major Edward A. Weed, of Portland, Ore., the oldest international cycle tourist, born in Derby, Conn., June 6, 1841, went to California in 1874, and was connected with the press of Pacific coast as editor and publisher for many years. Was on the staff of the Chicago Tribune before, during and after the World's Fair. Started on a bicycle from Portland, Oct. 15, 1896, riding through Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Crossed the Rio Grande at El Paso and rode in Mexico two years, then steamer to Cuba and New York. Since then has ridden in the New England States, New York and New Jersey. Total on wheel, in twelve American and twenty Mexican States and Cuba, 16,903 miles, and on cars, steamer and horse, 8,390 miles, or a total travel of 25,293 miles. The lowest point reached by wheel was Salton, in the Death Valley of California, 263 feet below sea level, and the highest altitude was at La Cima, in Mexico, 9,985 feet. Major Weed is a veteran of the Civil war, was wounded and a prisoner in Libby Prison, but is in perfect physical condition and enjoys a cold water bath every morning. He has ridden hundreds of trestle bridges, and been in many places where a bicycle had never before been seen. He likes Mexico so well he is delivering illustrated lectures and writing a book on "Mexico, the Wonderland."
       Major Weed rides an Orient, which with baggage weighs sixty pounds. He carries a first-class equipment, consisting of Dunlop buggy tires with steel rims, Twentieth Century gas lamp, New Departure cyclometre, double stroke chime bell and Morrow Coaster brake. He is a traveling agent and representative of the POLICE GAZETTE, and the boys should treat him kindly.

 and ended up with a descendant of the rider posting this photo on another board:

Hey y'all,
Just found this site via the name of the gent you refer to:
Edward A. Weed
I have a researched this guy "quite a bit".
His bicycle rides totaled 57,875 miles.
This between the ages of 55 and 68.
In the US, Mexico, Cuba, and (perhaps) Canada.
From 1896 to 1909.
Yes, all on single speed bikes.
(the later ones even had brakes!  Cool, huh?)
Glad he still brings a smile, and some wonder.
He was a colorful old guy, quite the character.
Email me if you want more info.
And I would appreciate any info about him you may have uncovered.
I'll try to attach a photo here.
Kind regards to all,
Dave Weed,
dcweed@comcast.net
Bellingham WA
Great-grandson of Major Edward A. Weed

Norway, I believe, but I don't remember from where I got these.

... Has anyone tried the Marmot Dri Clime windshirt on the bike?  Does it breathe better?  I'm not to concerned with total rain as I have a rain jacket for that.  Mostly I want to use it for a windblock but not get the condensation that I get with my SD Microlight.

Thoughts?  Opinions?

Kent Peterson discusses the dri clime in this post:
http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2007/12/comfortable-cycling-clothes-for-damp.html

Here in Germany we don't have any unsupported multi day races, I'll do some of my own to get ready for the TDR.

Looks like this is going to happen again in 2010, but I don't know enough German to make much else out.

http://www.grenzsteintrophy.de/

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=520896

I've had similar thoughts for a while, but haven't done anything about it.  Keep us updated on how the alfine holds up.

The question would be does it queue the data it collects or just drop it if it doesn't get reception?  If it uploads the series of tracks when it is able to find reception, it might work ok, just not continuously.

Nice!  Yummy Biking goodness. 

Found this on a German bike site.  It's not me.  I wish it was......

stargo bohemia

Couldn't get the embed.   Thanks for the embed Scott!

Looks awesome Tomi.

Some bears are figuring out the canisters now....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.htm

JHL and others,

JHL thanks for all the mapping help and for everyone with the route speculating.  It's nice to bounce ideas like this around with others.  Bikes are packed, chains are lubed and work is about ready for a vacation leave.  We'll be riding out of Damascus wednesday morning.

~Shaun

Did I miss the ride report?

I started tracing the route.

Cool.  Keep it up!

Frederick Watershed(MD) to Michaux State Forest, PA

Dirt Roads in the same area, as well as around State College, PA.

Where are you planning to cross into MD.  I can make some specific suggestions.
JG

Hi all.
This trip was not exactly what I see posted here most of the
time, but it at least was an overnight camping trip with a
backpack. Suppose that counts for something.

Looks great to me!  Thanks for posting.

I think the hikers would have a conniption fit at the idea.  At least the local one (PATC) would.  However, there are possible alternatives.   One is the Great Eastern Trail http://www.greateasterntrail.net/maps.html  Part shared use, Part hiker only.  There is a drive to get more biker involvement in the trailwork, and therefore to open it up for bikes.  We'll see.

Here is a MORE thread about it: http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14597

Cheers

Wow.  Nice report. Reading it was a welcome break from tax time.