Spinning Statewide

Historical fact:   the first bicycle arrived in Leonardtown on a steamship in 1879.  The folks in Patuxent Velo have been celebrating this historic occasion for 13 years with a professional level race through the streets of historic downtown Leonardtown. 

This year's edition of the Leonardtown Criterium will take place on Sunday, May 16th. There will be nine different races held throughout the day, including one kids race. Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race by.

One week later is the annual Bike Jam in Patterson Park, a favorite of pedal pushers everywhere.  Like the Leonardtown Crit, it involves professional cyclists competing for cash prizes, as well as a community festival and celebration of bicycling as a fitness regimen, recreational endeavor, and transportation alternative.  Patterson Park, in east Baltimore, is a midtown oasis just above Canton. 

Patterson Park and Canton are also competition grounds for the hilarious counter culture bicycle competition known as the Kinetic Sculpture Race, which takes place this Saturday.

Beginning at the Visionary Art Museum, the wacky array of contestants parade down Boston Street before testing their amphibious capabilities at the boat launch in Canton.  If they don't sink (lifeguards in kayaks on duty) they progress to Patterson Park for an endurance test through the mud.  The vehicle deemed most mediocre wins the competition.

(While the merits of this triathlon as a legitimate sports challenge may be questionable, it is a favorite in both the artistic and cycling communities.  Until you've seen a bicycle-powered vehicle drive off a ramp into Baltimore harbor, you haven't experienced Charm City culture.)

Of course in June, the ultra-endurance Race Across America finishes in Annapolis.   245 cycling enthusiasts will begin pedaling in a six- to nine-day bicycle race that starts in California. Over the course of their journey, they will ride 3,000 miles through 14 states.  There are even some locals competing, which you can read about in our media section.

As long as we're talking bicycles, I have to give a shout out again to Spokes, the Frederick based magazine that covers all things bicycle in the mid Atlantic region.  Spokes is behind the nascent Tour de Frederick, which will take place August 13-15. 

Spokes is a great source of calendar events about local competitions of all stripes, as it the website BikeRide.

So you can see how much enthusiasm there is in Maryland for cyclists and their contests.  So it is a good time to harness all these sources and regions to put together a mega media event that would involve the entire state (and its diverse geography) in a week-long challenge.  That's why Team Terry is holding a meeting on June 3 at 10 am at the Sheraton Annapolis on Jennifer Road for Medalist Sports to make a preliminary presentation to cycling enthusiasts, county leaders, and tourism officials about staging a Tour de Maryland.

Give Terry a buzz at (410) 767-3373 if you'd like to come.  Medalist Sports has staged premiere events all over the world.  They're the best in the business and we'd love to have them do something here.  So put June 3rd on your calendar and pedal on over.

Wow of a Weekend

We all know Maryland is a four season state.  There is never a weekend (or day for that matter) when there isn't a happening in the world of sports.  But something about fall -- when the beach is still beckoning, the mountains splendorous, the air crisp and the temperature moderate -- brings people of all ages from all over the country to experience Maryland.

This weekend is a real challenge for Team Terry in our efforts to be everywhere on top of everything.  Today our eponymous leader was in Cabin John today for the opening of the 2010 South Atlantic Regional Figure Skating Championships, which is an early Olympic qualifier.  It's a big deal in the world of competitive skating.  Tomorrow's darlings of the ice will be skating in tournaments like this today.

On the other end of the spectrum are the bass fishermen, who will be in Smallwood State Park for their own regional championship.  No, it isn't exactly a spectator sport (unless you count the festivities at the weigh in) but fishing -- whether it be deep sea off Ocean City, wading in the Savage Creek, or on a boat in the bay -- is a big business in Maryland.

Of course, tomorrow is the Baltimore Marathon (now known as the Running Festival) which will pretty much dominate the town as 20,000 runners, friends, and family descend upon the town.  The event continues to grow in the number of participants, sponsors, and media recognition every year.

Ordinarily, that would be enough to send me scurrying to Annapolis to avoid congestion, but there is an even greater iconic event taking place there -- the first of the Annapolis Boat Shows.  While not a sporting competition, it is a can't miss activity for all those who participate in any aspect of sailing.  And yes, they come in from all over the world.  I know.  I've competed for parking against them (and those Aussies are cutthroats.)

The presence of the boat shows pretty much rules out watching the Navy game at my favorite watering hole.  Even with my son running interference, I wouldn't get close.  So it seems like a good idea to cross the bridge and look at another popular event that attracts participants from all over -- the Sea Gull Century bicycle race, in Salisbury.

Blessed with flat terrain and spectacular scenery, the Sea Gull did not take long to develop from a 68 cycle enthusiast challenge to what is recognized as the most attractive "century"  (100 mile or 100 k) race in the Mid-Atlantic area.  The University-sponsored event is now in its 21st year, with a pre-registered field of 7,800 participants and a weekend of activities for family and friends.  This is an all-inclusive event.  The oldest participant is 87, the youngest is 5.  Sounds like my kind of crowd (especially the dude on the unicycle.)

As if Salisbury won't be hopping enough, there is also a Fight Night at Perdue Stadium Saturday night, with the featured bout being a rematch between Alexis Guerrero and Rodrika Ray.

Other options for the weekend include the cyclocross in Hyattsville, tennis match in Cross Keys, and the Discovery Cup (an elite soccer tournament) at the SoccerPlex in Boyds.

Maryland is definitely the place to be.  Whatever you're interested in, it's here.  Whoever you have to drag along with you will also find something to do. (It's so thoughtful of those Century folks to have a wine tasting, concert, and kayak tours to entertain tagalongs.)

So much to do, so little time.  I hope I can talk Tweety into driving.