48 miles on a warm sunny day...

6:15 AM

Town Hill Road

Town Hill Road long climbs

Montpelier at 7:30

Up to Hubbard Park for a detour

Tower at the park

On the way home at Vermont College

Nice back roads

Another amazing day. I am a bit afraid that we are using them all up. Normally in Vermont you might get 3 sunny days in a row to be followed by 2-3 cloudy ones. All that rain keeps the Green Mountain State green I suppose. I rode into Montpelier over Town Hill road to meet Yiorgos today at Capitol Grounds. I arrived early so I headed up into Hubbard Park and back. Got a bagel and then we rode out to Worcester. After that I got another bagel with egg this time, and rode back home via County Road and Snow Hill Road to Rt. 14 and then over 214 to Plainfield.

Vermont spring 200k

bakery in Richmond

stretching time

???????

rest stop

view over the valley

power line donut

Burley rando

sunset along spear st.

 
I rode the 200k this Saturday. You couldn't ask for a better day. It was clear and sunny and just warm enough and just cool enough. The ride started in Burlington and headed south to Richmond and over the hills to Bristol and Brandon and Middlebury and then back north along the lake. It was a moderately hilly route. Definately not flat but also not brutally hilly. There was a very nice group of folks, as usual.

I had a decent ride but had been hoping for a quicker finish. I pulled in with 50 minutes to spare. I was in high spirits despite some cramping as we climbed over the Bristol gap. After that I took it easy on the legs as anytime I pushed too hard I felt the lactic acid coming on.

One rider finished in just over 8 hours and the last rider pulled in at the buzzer. There was one rider who did not finish but made a valiant effort as he was recovering from both a broken collarbone and a blood clot!

The fellow who I rode the last 40 miles with was pulling a Burly trailer that had glass jars of peaches, sardines, nuts and other goodies. The next morning he was planning to ride to work, teaching a spinning class!

It was a classic Vermont ride with plenty of nice country stores and supply stops and scenic spots along the way.

nice road time...

back roads near Montpelier

field outside Moretown

solar installation off rt.12

rest stop at solar installation

ride stats

Had a great ride on Sunday. Trying to get some miles in before some of the longer rides come up. There was a headwind almost continually and I was fueled by Red Hen coffee and chocolate milk, yum. It was pretty much a perfect day on the Pacer.

Ride link... http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/90700073/

I left Montpelier around 1:00 and headed out to Red Hen on the River Road, a nice short stretch of dirt/pavement that is little traveled on the weekend. Then I took Rt.2 for a few minutes over to the Hen. After a coffee I went down Rt. 100B into the very odd continually shifting wind. It a a lovely stretch of road. Clear and wide shoulders and it follows the Mad River. I rode with another rider from Duxbury for a few minuntes. Then I turned around in Moretown after chocolate milk. Back up to Montpelier. The I cruised Dog River Road over to Rt. 12 and headed south toward Nothfield so I could get in my 30 miles I had set for myself.

I continue to be thrilled with it and the Conti 4 seasons. I have been making a conscious effort to push harder on the climbs this year to gain some speed in that area with the goal being more relaxed control stops during the brevets.

sand fat bike...

yes, it is

yep, it's not Vermont

fat with house

fat palms

Michelle having fun but embarrased

Went with the family on a vacation to Florida in the intracoastal area. I rented this Fat Sand Bike and had a blast going up and down the streets in town and on the beach. My wife also had fun, although she was not so sure about riding a bike that draws so much attention. She said "it's perfect for you though" in an enigmatic way. I am still not sure exactly what that means.

Gravel Grinder 2012

food stop halfway chocolate bacon?

hippie electrolyte drink, I also add maple syrup

So I rode it this past Sunday. It was quite a ride. Here is a link to the ride map/stats...http://www.strava.com/rides/gravel-grinder-2012v1-6361860 . Matt and I met at the Plainfield Park&Ride and then drove out to Waterbury. It was a chilling sort of mid 30's cold at 8AM but would prove to be just the right temperature for the massive climbing involved.

We signed in, got our T-shirts and chatted with folks. It was nice to see Wil there, but sadly he was out of the ride due to a health issue. Jim was there 3 months after a completely busted femur knocked him out while he was ice skating on those long nordic skates, and I must admit, he passed me on Perry Hill. Stubborn I am, a fast climber I am not.

We headed out of Stowe and into a massive climb. The pack mostly stayed together through the first 6-8 miles. Then folks started pacing out. I made the error of keeping up with Matt for too long and got a cramp around mile 12 which I stretched out, thus making it to the "food" stop late.

The food is one good reason to do this ride. The list included...bacon, chocolate chipped bacon, twizzlers, pretzels, bananas and a brown liquid in several glass bottles which seemed potentially flammable but was consumed by some and I think there might have been some water too. After the stop we blasted downhill and I consumed a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pie which contains 310 calories and I can eat it about 39 seconds without my stomach hurting as with gels.

Then it was onto Rt. 100 for a brief spin over to Gregg Hill Rd. The climbing, climbing, climbing. Then zoooooom back down into Waterbury. I was thrilled to learn I finished about 15 minutes behind Matt as he is fast and I am not.

On our return there was yummy catering by Frida's (an amazing Mexican place in Stowe). Also Long Trail beer. Yum. After an hour or two of hanging out we headed home.

March madness...

Yiorgos and Matt

dirt road on road bike in March!

Clifton on the Jamis Aurora Elite

Matt and Paula on the big bikes outside Danby

What a crazy year. Here are some pictures from a few of the March road rides. You can see from the lowest picture what lovely roads we enjoy here in Vermont! Matt and Paula are on their big bikes, the Big Dummy and Xtra Cycle. Clifton is on his Jamis Aurora Elite. I have been stealing time away from work now and then to ride before the busyness of summer hits.

Gravel Grinder...

Inspired by Wil I registered for the Vermont Gravel Grinder on April 22nd. I expect it will be a good chance to thoroughly humble myself early on in the season. Look for a ride report with tons of pictures as I plan to ride and shoot a lot. I find that for me stopping to take pictures makes a ride much more enjoyable. Otherwise it seems easy to settle in to a place that feels like work mode.