Racing Season finished up with a whimper (on my part) in Hingham MA at the Landmine Classic. I wasn't quite DFL, but sure felt like it. Mechanicals, Flats, and Physical Malaise led to a less than memorable performance. With that, I started in earnest on building and buffing up a small CX loop in the back field. No elevation to speak of, but lots of twisty grass turns to polish up the handling skills.
A couple of weeks ago at NEMBAfest at Bear Brook in NH, I demo'd the new GT Sensor. 5" of travel based on the I-Drive. Rides really nice. Have to look into adding one of these to the fleet if I decide to replace the incumbent 5" trail bike.
First opportunity I took to evaluate how CX racing is, was this past weekend in Providence RI. Havng never done this, I was surprised to do as well as I did, 42 and 44 of 60 odd participants in the Cat4 35+ group on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Aside from those two events, lots of local riding.
Lots of fun.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My Bike is Back
Just after I was again well enough to ride, my frame was hit with a nasty skin condition. All is once again well thanks to the folks at GT and Highland Bike.
We should be back looking for a good time at the Landmine Classic in Hingham in front of the Golden Groupies on Sunday,
H
We should be back looking for a good time at the Landmine Classic in Hingham in front of the Golden Groupies on Sunday,
H
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Being sick is no fun...
Taking 2 weeks off from riding to recover from a nasty intestinal infection is no fun. From the morning ride with Kathy and John on the Deerfield Ridge, I hadn't ventured onto a bike until this past friday.
That drought was pretty well remedied in the past few days though. Friday the boys and I did a pretty quick spin through Robinson in Agawam. I really wanted to see if I was going to feel up to the riding I had arranged for this weekend. I felt pretty good, so the plans for Saturday would go forward.
Saturday morning, up early to get Matt off for the start of the 170K D2R2 (http://franklinlandtrust.org/randonee.htm), then back to sleep for a couple hours until I had to leave for the 15 miles on the Road Bike up to Deerfield for the 100K start. The 170K is arguably one of the hardest organized bike ride in the country - 15,000 feet of climbing on the back roads of Franklin County and southern Vermont. (If you haven't been in the area, back roads usually means gravel or dirt roads!) The easier 100K ride, also on about 50% dirt, features only 7000 feet of climbing. Weather for the day was clear and hot, not too much humidity, but the few open climbs were particularly nasty with the afternoon sun baking us to a crisp.
In spite of the weeks off the bike, I rode pretty well, until I started cramping a little bit on the last few rollers. For this ride, I select my new GTR-CX. This bike treated me real well, though I could have benefitted from a little bit easier gearing, unfortunately there aren't many 11-32/34 10 speed cassettes around... Next year those should be more easy to find. I found this bike extremely stable on the sketchy descents. It showed great predictability in the soft gravel endemic to many of the steeps.
Sunday I headed southeast to the NEMBA Adventure Series Ride at F. Gilbert Hill State Forest in Foxborough. I jumped onto a led ride so I wouldn't have to push, but could still enjoy the trails. A great recovery ride on some nice rocky rooty single track.
That drought was pretty well remedied in the past few days though. Friday the boys and I did a pretty quick spin through Robinson in Agawam. I really wanted to see if I was going to feel up to the riding I had arranged for this weekend. I felt pretty good, so the plans for Saturday would go forward.
Saturday morning, up early to get Matt off for the start of the 170K D2R2 (http://franklinlandtrust.org/randonee.htm), then back to sleep for a couple hours until I had to leave for the 15 miles on the Road Bike up to Deerfield for the 100K start. The 170K is arguably one of the hardest organized bike ride in the country - 15,000 feet of climbing on the back roads of Franklin County and southern Vermont. (If you haven't been in the area, back roads usually means gravel or dirt roads!) The easier 100K ride, also on about 50% dirt, features only 7000 feet of climbing. Weather for the day was clear and hot, not too much humidity, but the few open climbs were particularly nasty with the afternoon sun baking us to a crisp.
In spite of the weeks off the bike, I rode pretty well, until I started cramping a little bit on the last few rollers. For this ride, I select my new GTR-CX. This bike treated me real well, though I could have benefitted from a little bit easier gearing, unfortunately there aren't many 11-32/34 10 speed cassettes around... Next year those should be more easy to find. I found this bike extremely stable on the sketchy descents. It showed great predictability in the soft gravel endemic to many of the steeps.
Sunday I headed southeast to the NEMBA Adventure Series Ride at F. Gilbert Hill State Forest in Foxborough. I jumped onto a led ride so I wouldn't have to push, but could still enjoy the trails. A great recovery ride on some nice rocky rooty single track.
Friday, July 31, 2009
3 Weeks without a post... Uh Oh this is bad Hado
Well any way. It has been a pretty busy three weeks. Prepping for the Mountain Bike Adventure Series Ride in Wendell, Running the event - 130 riders over $1000 raised for Wendell State Forest's Conservation Fund, getting in a little riding and suffering through the mud season that July 2009 was.
Only one race, if you can call it that, during these three weeks. The mud slog at Mount Snow on the 26th. Worst race by far of the years both conditions and result 7th in the group. This race undoes much of the good we do on the trails all year. They have these mud slicked steep fall line climbs and descents that are unsustainable in great conditions. Nothing less than stupid to even try hiking in the water soaked soil conditions of this July in New England.
Only one race, if you can call it that, during these three weeks. The mud slog at Mount Snow on the 26th. Worst race by far of the years both conditions and result 7th in the group. This race undoes much of the good we do on the trails all year. They have these mud slicked steep fall line climbs and descents that are unsustainable in great conditions. Nothing less than stupid to even try hiking in the water soaked soil conditions of this July in New England.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Fourth of July and the days surrounding!
When is the rain ever going to stop? Sounds like a trite question no? Well, it momentarily has let up, and gave us one other day since last week's race. Monday, I hit the road for Bikes-Unlimited Ice Cream Social Ride. Fun time, but I don't advise taking a 20 minute break in a ride and having a giant Strawberry Shortcake if you want to see what HR you can maintain on a roadie!!
Tuesday thru Friday, didn't even look at a bike. Rained for large parts of every day. Did make it up to Hawley for one last Thursday night Session with T. McCrumm.
Saturday, Happy Birthday USA! To celebrate a dozen or so locals met at Hawley to see how much we could ride before we ran out of energy or time. The answer, about 20 Miles of Single Track and a couple miles of fire roads just to keep us sane! Took nearly 4 hours, moving time about 3:30. Awesome group and a great ride that was much dryer than we expected.
Sunday: Domnarski's Farm Root66 Race. What a course. If I were to build a course for racing, it would be much like this. Not a break anywhere, tough climbs, rocketing descents, nice tight singletrack. The only thing I would change would be to construct about 100 yards of bog bridges to get across the muddy sections. As is, it is a great race, but really tough on the equipment.
The result? Oh yeah, this is getting old. No major mechanicals this week means I am once again in 3rd place with most of the regulars assuming their natural positions. I doubt I'll ever be faster than Matt Scherp.
Tuesday thru Friday, didn't even look at a bike. Rained for large parts of every day. Did make it up to Hawley for one last Thursday night Session with T. McCrumm.
Saturday, Happy Birthday USA! To celebrate a dozen or so locals met at Hawley to see how much we could ride before we ran out of energy or time. The answer, about 20 Miles of Single Track and a couple miles of fire roads just to keep us sane! Took nearly 4 hours, moving time about 3:30. Awesome group and a great ride that was much dryer than we expected.
Sunday: Domnarski's Farm Root66 Race. What a course. If I were to build a course for racing, it would be much like this. Not a break anywhere, tough climbs, rocketing descents, nice tight singletrack. The only thing I would change would be to construct about 100 yards of bog bridges to get across the muddy sections. As is, it is a great race, but really tough on the equipment.
The result? Oh yeah, this is getting old. No major mechanicals this week means I am once again in 3rd place with most of the regulars assuming their natural positions. I doubt I'll ever be faster than Matt Scherp.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Appleblaster/Putney Weekend - June 27,28
Since last week, I got out for a few rides, on Monday I pulled out the Pantera SS from the garage and took it up the climbs in West Hatfield over Chestnut Mountain. I figured that would be reasonable preparation for the Hill Climb in Chesterfield NH on Saturday. On Wednesday, we joined the Franklin County NEMBA/Bikes Unlimited group for a cycle through the trails in Deerfield. Pretty much the rest of the week, I watched it rain from inside.
Saturday, I had a meeting in the morning which kept me out of the Cyclecross race, but I did participate in Root66's Appleblaster Hill Climb in Westmoreland NH. Although it was a small field, 2nd place is 2nd place for us old guys right?
Sunday, rain again in the morning, but I still made my way over to the Putney School where the West Hill Shop hosts Root66's Putney Race. A great course, featuring about 1000 ft of climbing per 4 mile lap, we 50+ Cat 2s were dropped back to 2 laps in hopes of an early day. There were 15 of us at the start, and I let most of the field go for the whole shot, comfortable in my ability to pick riders off on the many climbs on the course. Things were going according to plan, and I had passed 10 of the 12 guys I expected to catch when there was this nasty snap and then silence. Sure enough I had popped a link on the chain.
I can usually get these repairs done in under 2 minutes, but today nothing went right. Chain tool, OK, pin out, OK, now how to thread this through the rear derailleur - over or under that darn tab. I had it threaded wrong for one ride before so both sides show the same wear... I guess wrong, un thread it and redo it correctly. Snapping on the quick link I look down and swear quietly to myself - I had forgotten to thread through the front Derailleur!
As the next field starts passing me, I snap the quicklink apart, go through the front and pop it together again. Damn - nearly 5 minutes and the whole field has passed me by. I hope the chain holds cause it is either drop out or put the hammer down and gain a respectable finish.
I start up, and almost immediatly catch two guys on the next climb, not too bad I'm now in 13th. Two more on the last climb before the start finish, puts me just out of the top 10. I challenge myself to finding 3-4 more. Just before the last hill, I get the 3rd guy, putting me into 8th (late comment - the first two guys were DQd - official results now have me in 6th). Not bad considering the fat fingered repair.
Because we were staying with my folks Saturday night, I had the puppy with me. Nothing brings people by the tent better except maybe free beer!
Saturday, I had a meeting in the morning which kept me out of the Cyclecross race, but I did participate in Root66's Appleblaster Hill Climb in Westmoreland NH. Although it was a small field, 2nd place is 2nd place for us old guys right?
Sunday, rain again in the morning, but I still made my way over to the Putney School where the West Hill Shop hosts Root66's Putney Race. A great course, featuring about 1000 ft of climbing per 4 mile lap, we 50+ Cat 2s were dropped back to 2 laps in hopes of an early day. There were 15 of us at the start, and I let most of the field go for the whole shot, comfortable in my ability to pick riders off on the many climbs on the course. Things were going according to plan, and I had passed 10 of the 12 guys I expected to catch when there was this nasty snap and then silence. Sure enough I had popped a link on the chain.
I can usually get these repairs done in under 2 minutes, but today nothing went right. Chain tool, OK, pin out, OK, now how to thread this through the rear derailleur - over or under that darn tab. I had it threaded wrong for one ride before so both sides show the same wear... I guess wrong, un thread it and redo it correctly. Snapping on the quick link I look down and swear quietly to myself - I had forgotten to thread through the front Derailleur!
As the next field starts passing me, I snap the quicklink apart, go through the front and pop it together again. Damn - nearly 5 minutes and the whole field has passed me by. I hope the chain holds cause it is either drop out or put the hammer down and gain a respectable finish.
I start up, and almost immediatly catch two guys on the next climb, not too bad I'm now in 13th. Two more on the last climb before the start finish, puts me just out of the top 10. I challenge myself to finding 3-4 more. Just before the last hill, I get the 3rd guy, putting me into 8th (late comment - the first two guys were DQd - official results now have me in 6th). Not bad considering the fat fingered repair.
Because we were staying with my folks Saturday night, I had the puppy with me. Nothing brings people by the tent better except maybe free beer!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Is this training, or just a good time...
Been a great couple of weeks, even though the weather has been particularly nasty.
Trail Work -
National Trails Day - we ran a big event up in Wendell. Put up a nice kiosk for a new map at the major trail junction. We also finished off the section of Trail I laid out to Connect to the Mormon Hollow Trail - AKA $13 Trail - off the M&M.
I cleaned out the Upper Link at Mt Toby. All is now good on that side of the mountain. We need to see what kind of mess remains on the Frost out toward Bull Hill.
Worked on the final connector at SLN. Probably get that finished early this week if the rains subside.
Riding -
Highlights - Petersham EFTA fun Ride
Rode with Pete O, Matt and GW for all but the out-and-back hero sections. About 4 hours in the rain slicked rooty rocky delight that lies just to the North East of the Quabbin. In spite of the slick conditions, they had nearly 50 riders show up, raising several hundred bucks for the scholarship fund.
Wednesday we headed to Wendell for the weekly BU/NEMBA ride. Matt, GW and I did a warmup run out the Frost to Leverett and back the Old M&M before joining the gang for a wild excursion down the M&M to the Mormon Hollow Trails mentioned above. That descent on the M&M is sure a burly downhill... From there we headed up the Fireroads to the upper trails for a nice less technical roundout of the ride.
Saturday was a big start to Father's Day weekend. The PV NEMBA boost the ranks event at Earl's and B Street. 25 or so riders, most current members, joined us for about 4 hours covering both sides of 116. Hot and humid morning, but a real nice group covered a lot of terrain. Later in the day, Matt and I headed down the valley to Robinson for one of Steve's kids rides. Nice leasurely pace with a great turnout of over a dozen families - over 50 total riders.
Father's day. Matt took me on a nice ride in Deerfield. We parked at Pokomtuck Rd and did everything but the Punish Loop. Two downsides to the ride. Matt got bit by a nasty little furry shoebox dog, no breaking of his skin or the Mutt's head resulted. Also, of late there has been a lot of really stupid riders on MXs on the Pokomtuck Double Track. These guys have no skills, so fortunately have stayed off all the ST, but they seem to think their roll in life is to splatter every bit of mud out of every puddle they can find to go through. Two of them met us as we were coming up Bruiser, I gave the universal slow down signal - palm downward -only to get a roostertail of mud up my back as the leader passed me accellerating down the hill. What a jerk.
Trail Work -
National Trails Day - we ran a big event up in Wendell. Put up a nice kiosk for a new map at the major trail junction. We also finished off the section of Trail I laid out to Connect to the Mormon Hollow Trail - AKA $13 Trail - off the M&M.
I cleaned out the Upper Link at Mt Toby. All is now good on that side of the mountain. We need to see what kind of mess remains on the Frost out toward Bull Hill.
Worked on the final connector at SLN. Probably get that finished early this week if the rains subside.
Riding -
Highlights - Petersham EFTA fun Ride
Rode with Pete O, Matt and GW for all but the out-and-back hero sections. About 4 hours in the rain slicked rooty rocky delight that lies just to the North East of the Quabbin. In spite of the slick conditions, they had nearly 50 riders show up, raising several hundred bucks for the scholarship fund.
Wednesday we headed to Wendell for the weekly BU/NEMBA ride. Matt, GW and I did a warmup run out the Frost to Leverett and back the Old M&M before joining the gang for a wild excursion down the M&M to the Mormon Hollow Trails mentioned above. That descent on the M&M is sure a burly downhill... From there we headed up the Fireroads to the upper trails for a nice less technical roundout of the ride.
Saturday was a big start to Father's Day weekend. The PV NEMBA boost the ranks event at Earl's and B Street. 25 or so riders, most current members, joined us for about 4 hours covering both sides of 116. Hot and humid morning, but a real nice group covered a lot of terrain. Later in the day, Matt and I headed down the valley to Robinson for one of Steve's kids rides. Nice leasurely pace with a great turnout of over a dozen families - over 50 total riders.
Father's day. Matt took me on a nice ride in Deerfield. We parked at Pokomtuck Rd and did everything but the Punish Loop. Two downsides to the ride. Matt got bit by a nasty little furry shoebox dog, no breaking of his skin or the Mutt's head resulted. Also, of late there has been a lot of really stupid riders on MXs on the Pokomtuck Double Track. These guys have no skills, so fortunately have stayed off all the ST, but they seem to think their roll in life is to splatter every bit of mud out of every puddle they can find to go through. Two of them met us as we were coming up Bruiser, I gave the universal slow down signal - palm downward -only to get a roostertail of mud up my back as the leader passed me accellerating down the hill. What a jerk.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Where'd the time go
Woops, been a long time since I got to writing up happenings in the Blog, well here goes...
Lots of riding - that goes without saying!
Hawley - damn it's nice to have that place back into shape. Been up there twice on the bike now to complement the dozen or so trips with the chain saw and rake! Another couple large work days and it will be done - by-by ice damage.
Mt Toby - led a diverse group on a no-drop ride tonight. I need to get up to the Upper Link with the saw. Would have thought some of the XC skiers would have cleared it out, must be only mountain bikers do trail work!
Wendell - several sessions in both riding and trail building mode. Great Trail Building session on National Trails Day. A dozen of us finished up the mile long section of the new Mormon Hollow I had started and laid out with the ranger. I was disappointed when I got home to have my SD card tell me it needed formatting though. At least a dozen pictures were lost to the ether.
Deerfield - Got out there once with Liam and Matt. Quite the suffer-fest, but it is all good.
Bear Brook - I must be an anomaly. Although the course was kinda fun, I really like the nasty ones better for racing. Too much pure speed and high speed handling. Give me some gnarly climbs and I'd have done a lot better than the 5th I got. Heck just make us climb the stairs or the rocky section we went down would have made it much more interesting!
Acton - got out with Bill and Philip before the EC meeting. PK did you plant all that poison ivy to keep the crowds away?
Lots of riding - that goes without saying!
Hawley - damn it's nice to have that place back into shape. Been up there twice on the bike now to complement the dozen or so trips with the chain saw and rake! Another couple large work days and it will be done - by-by ice damage.
Mt Toby - led a diverse group on a no-drop ride tonight. I need to get up to the Upper Link with the saw. Would have thought some of the XC skiers would have cleared it out, must be only mountain bikers do trail work!
Wendell - several sessions in both riding and trail building mode. Great Trail Building session on National Trails Day. A dozen of us finished up the mile long section of the new Mormon Hollow I had started and laid out with the ranger. I was disappointed when I got home to have my SD card tell me it needed formatting though. At least a dozen pictures were lost to the ether.
Deerfield - Got out there once with Liam and Matt. Quite the suffer-fest, but it is all good.
Bear Brook - I must be an anomaly. Although the course was kinda fun, I really like the nasty ones better for racing. Too much pure speed and high speed handling. Give me some gnarly climbs and I'd have done a lot better than the 5th I got. Heck just make us climb the stairs or the rocky section we went down would have made it much more interesting!
Acton - got out with Bill and Philip before the EC meeting. PK did you plant all that poison ivy to keep the crowds away?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Weekending May 24 2009
Wow what a week. I finally put down the trail tools for a few days (well except for a short time on Monday when I started the new trail in Wendell) and got in some regular riding.
Sunday was Hop Brook, which I reviewed last week.
Monday morning I spend about an hour in the morning in Wendell starting on the 2nd section of the Mormon Hollow trail. When finished this will be close to 3 miles of varied sweet toughness, swinging through the north central section of the park.
Tuesday - Hawley only this time in the saddle rather than with loppers, rake and chain saw. We rode for close to 15 miles, 2/3 or more on some of the parks superb single track that has been lovingly restored following the devastation of the December ice storm. I am not exaggerating when I say that over 80% of the hardwoods in the forest lost at least one major branch. Lots of love, and lots of work by many volunteers from NEMBA and other trail user groups. Did I mention this was a fabulous ride with the spooky bikes boys - they are trying to keep me young. 161 Average, 182 Max 1600' vertical.
Wednesday - Bikes Unlimited/NEMBA regular group ride. Tonight we rode the Greenfield Ridge with a group of about a dozen. There were a few slower riders tonight, and we kept to a single group, so not as many miles as most of these rides, after the hammerfest in Hawley yesterday though, that was OK by me. 147 Average 179 6.15 miles 1000' of vertical.
Thursday - Matt, Liam and I met up for an assault on Sugarloaf North. We rode the Single Track Loop and then the outside loop - what a great workout this trail network is. Great Training for Coyote Hill on the Weekend!! 141 Average 180 Max Just about 5 miles 1100' of vertical. Comparing this ride with wednesdays, they look pretty similar, but... I guess you had to be there!
Friday - rest day, at least biking wise...
Saturday - get up early and head to Fairlee VT for the weekend of races at Coyote Hill MTB Camp. Tom Masterson puts on a great event up there. Matt has been a camper or councilor up there for the past 6 years or so, so we headed up to give a hand pre-race in exchange for camping space Saturday night.
We arrived early Saturday morning and marked out the Short Track Loop and 2 different options for the hill climb the first principally fire-road and the second all single track, so by the time the competitions rolled around at noon, I had already done the ST loop a couple of times and both Hill Climb courses - we ended up using the ST version which is shorter, but with a more steady pitch. The fire-road course had a squidge more elevation gain, since it incorporated a short steep down hill so some of the gain had to be fought for twice.
I participated in the Short Track, not a result I'm proud of, but what should I expect competing in a 35+ bracket. 4.3 miles, 167 average 194 Max 700' climbing.
Immediately following was the Hill Climb up a nice 1/2 mile ST course behind one of the cabins. Elevation gain was about 260 feet - average 166 max 184. I ended with a 3rd in the 35+ category, about as expected beating a couple of guys. Both the ST and HC were pretty small fields - about 10 riders.
Following the HC, Matt, Kent and I did a casual lap of most of the XC course - about 4 miles per the GPS, though Tom swore it was 5.2!!! must be the squiggles added up faster than the GPS could record them. 148 average, max 184 750' climbing.
Sunday - XC Race day - another podium 2 laps 3rd place. 1600' climbing 160 average 184 max. Shared tent space again with Kathy. Great to have multiple members of the team on hand yet again. The four events so far there has been at least two of us at each - GO Team!
Till next time,
H
Great week, lots of bike talk around the campfire Saturday night.
Sunday was Hop Brook, which I reviewed last week.
Monday morning I spend about an hour in the morning in Wendell starting on the 2nd section of the Mormon Hollow trail. When finished this will be close to 3 miles of varied sweet toughness, swinging through the north central section of the park.
Tuesday - Hawley only this time in the saddle rather than with loppers, rake and chain saw. We rode for close to 15 miles, 2/3 or more on some of the parks superb single track that has been lovingly restored following the devastation of the December ice storm. I am not exaggerating when I say that over 80% of the hardwoods in the forest lost at least one major branch. Lots of love, and lots of work by many volunteers from NEMBA and other trail user groups. Did I mention this was a fabulous ride with the spooky bikes boys - they are trying to keep me young. 161 Average, 182 Max 1600' vertical.
Wednesday - Bikes Unlimited/NEMBA regular group ride. Tonight we rode the Greenfield Ridge with a group of about a dozen. There were a few slower riders tonight, and we kept to a single group, so not as many miles as most of these rides, after the hammerfest in Hawley yesterday though, that was OK by me. 147 Average 179 6.15 miles 1000' of vertical.
Thursday - Matt, Liam and I met up for an assault on Sugarloaf North. We rode the Single Track Loop and then the outside loop - what a great workout this trail network is. Great Training for Coyote Hill on the Weekend!! 141 Average 180 Max Just about 5 miles 1100' of vertical. Comparing this ride with wednesdays, they look pretty similar, but... I guess you had to be there!
Friday - rest day, at least biking wise...
Saturday - get up early and head to Fairlee VT for the weekend of races at Coyote Hill MTB Camp. Tom Masterson puts on a great event up there. Matt has been a camper or councilor up there for the past 6 years or so, so we headed up to give a hand pre-race in exchange for camping space Saturday night.
We arrived early Saturday morning and marked out the Short Track Loop and 2 different options for the hill climb the first principally fire-road and the second all single track, so by the time the competitions rolled around at noon, I had already done the ST loop a couple of times and both Hill Climb courses - we ended up using the ST version which is shorter, but with a more steady pitch. The fire-road course had a squidge more elevation gain, since it incorporated a short steep down hill so some of the gain had to be fought for twice.
I participated in the Short Track, not a result I'm proud of, but what should I expect competing in a 35+ bracket. 4.3 miles, 167 average 194 Max 700' climbing.
Immediately following was the Hill Climb up a nice 1/2 mile ST course behind one of the cabins. Elevation gain was about 260 feet - average 166 max 184. I ended with a 3rd in the 35+ category, about as expected beating a couple of guys. Both the ST and HC were pretty small fields - about 10 riders.
Following the HC, Matt, Kent and I did a casual lap of most of the XC course - about 4 miles per the GPS, though Tom swore it was 5.2!!! must be the squiggles added up faster than the GPS could record them. 148 average, max 184 750' climbing.
Sunday - XC Race day - another podium 2 laps 3rd place. 1600' climbing 160 average 184 max. Shared tent space again with Kathy. Great to have multiple members of the team on hand yet again. The four events so far there has been at least two of us at each - GO Team!
Till next time,
H
Great week, lots of bike talk around the campfire Saturday night.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Another Week - Ending Sunday May 17
Started out with a Mothers Day ride on the Greenfield Ridge, followed with dinner and festivities at Steffi's. Good ride, even if I did forget my shoes, good group, and generally good times. Low key post-race-day ride. For some reason the computer didn't record the track, but probably 10 miles in an hour and a half or so.
Monday, I headed to Hawley for a work session. I worked on Moody Springs Rd and started up the climb to the spring (or the switchbacking dh as we usually ride it). Really rough in there!
Wednesday, I snuck out 2 rides. In the morning Tom, Nick (NCC), Liam and I did a nice figure 8 through Earles and Batchelor's. Did about 9 miles at a pretty quick pace Max HR 176 - average 137. In the evening, we did the usual Wednesday night Bikes Unlimited group ride, again in Wendell. The most common loop tonight starting on the XC heading to Carlton Dirth, down to the Hiatus, up the Escape, across Maple Leaf and Down the Nipmuck. At the top of Baker Rd, the group split with Matt and I taking the adventurous down the Hannah before returning on the fire-roads to HQ. Another nice 9 mile ride - Max 174, average 142.
Thursday evening I got in an hour or so in Hawley in the rain. Worked on the Divide Trail.
Friday, not much going on, packing for the Weekend etc.
Saturday - picked up Jeff at the Crew Race in Salisbury CT. We drove to Winsted and pre-rode the course, nasty conditions - like riding in a cloud. I kept having to stop and clear the glasses, hoping the conditions would improve before the Sunday Race.
Sunday - Winsted Woods Rt66 Race. Rained all night Saturday, making the course another mud bog - seems to be a pattern this year. Matt was again racing with the Pros while Jeff and I were both running Cat 2. Jeff promised to best my time for the day, though I don't think any of us believed it. Having watched the nasty bits during Matt's race, I planned to take it easy on lap 1 and let the field wipe themselves out in the muck. Seems that strategy worked pretty well, only missed first in the age group by a couple seconds as the lead rider crashed on the last DH before the line. I didn't have a clue I was that close till I saw him walking through the tree gap as I hit the last few rocks. Another 10 yards before the line and I would have had him! Sure is nice racing 50+. Great group of guys, most of them really nice on the course.
Monday, I headed to Hawley for a work session. I worked on Moody Springs Rd and started up the climb to the spring (or the switchbacking dh as we usually ride it). Really rough in there!
Wednesday, I snuck out 2 rides. In the morning Tom, Nick (NCC), Liam and I did a nice figure 8 through Earles and Batchelor's. Did about 9 miles at a pretty quick pace Max HR 176 - average 137. In the evening, we did the usual Wednesday night Bikes Unlimited group ride, again in Wendell. The most common loop tonight starting on the XC heading to Carlton Dirth, down to the Hiatus, up the Escape, across Maple Leaf and Down the Nipmuck. At the top of Baker Rd, the group split with Matt and I taking the adventurous down the Hannah before returning on the fire-roads to HQ. Another nice 9 mile ride - Max 174, average 142.
Thursday evening I got in an hour or so in Hawley in the rain. Worked on the Divide Trail.
Friday, not much going on, packing for the Weekend etc.
Saturday - picked up Jeff at the Crew Race in Salisbury CT. We drove to Winsted and pre-rode the course, nasty conditions - like riding in a cloud. I kept having to stop and clear the glasses, hoping the conditions would improve before the Sunday Race.
Sunday - Winsted Woods Rt66 Race. Rained all night Saturday, making the course another mud bog - seems to be a pattern this year. Matt was again racing with the Pros while Jeff and I were both running Cat 2. Jeff promised to best my time for the day, though I don't think any of us believed it. Having watched the nasty bits during Matt's race, I planned to take it easy on lap 1 and let the field wipe themselves out in the muck. Seems that strategy worked pretty well, only missed first in the age group by a couple seconds as the lead rider crashed on the last DH before the line. I didn't have a clue I was that close till I saw him walking through the tree gap as I hit the last few rocks. Another 10 yards before the line and I would have had him! Sure is nice racing 50+. Great group of guys, most of them really nice on the course.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thank-you
To all the folk who have donated time, sweat, gasoline and blood on restoring the trails at Dubuque - Thank-you. Matt, Jake and I spent a couple of hours enjoying our handiwork. They are riding delightfully. I'm guessing we've seen the results of over a thousand volunteer man/and women hours since the first of the year.
To you all - thank-you for giving unselfishly of your time and energy. We still have a few more miles to go, but the vast majority of the park is ready to go.
To you all - thank-you for giving unselfishly of your time and energy. We still have a few more miles to go, but the vast majority of the park is ready to go.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
4/27 through 5/9 Lots of trail work and a bit more riding
Rides - Wednesday April 29 - I led the moderate pace weekly PV NEMBA ride out of Bikes-Unlimited in Greenfield. Tonight we met the group at Wendell State Forest and took 'the road less traveled'. I let the bunch around the pond loop, out to the Maple Leaf Trail and up the Bob-is-Fat Trail. From there, we darted a short distance down Baker Rd and took the fearsome left onto the Mormon Hollow Return Trail (only we rode in the out to not return from direction). This trail is relatively new, and for most of its existance it has been unrideable (or at least unenjoyable) for most riders. For some reason this winter was kind to it and it is riding like the gem we hoped it would be when we built it. It still proved quite the workout, so we opted to take the fireroads back to Park HQ after a short section of the Hannah Swarton's Remove.
Total Distance 6.45 - Climbing 1002 ft average HR 143 Max 181.
Monday May 4 - Matt and I returned to Wendell, he after Winding Trails on Sunday and me after the wining and dining of Parent's weekend with Jeff. We went down the M&M from Ruggles Pond, crossed the Mt Grace land and then took Jerusalem Rd all the way to the Mormon Hollow Return. Return we did, finding the trail climbed just as nicely as it descended on Wednesday. But that wasn't the end of things today. We dropped down Bob-is-Fat and wound through the swamp to the Nipmuck. One of the favorite trails in Wendell, some of the youngsters have deemed it necessary to build some 'wicked cool berms' on some of the corners. Problem is they haven't a clue what makes a berm work, nor how to make a good berm. All they ended up with was piles of mushy dirt just off the natural tread of the trail. Makes you wonder...
Back up Baker Rd, out to Moosetrax and down the Lookout Trail. Really nice day.
Total Distance 10.55 - Climbing 1937 ft average HR 157 Max 182
Wednesday May 6 - NEMBA BU Ride again, this time from Eaglebrook. A very large turnout that we managed to keep together except for one kid who was clearly over his head. We hit Mud-Mile to Blueberry, then the Road to Crystal Cave, Back up to the Friend's trail, Keets Rd out to the gate, The XC Trail to Eric's. Unamed to the XC Trail and out to the vertical climb up to the Pocumtuck Ridge. From there along the ridge to the Powerlines, down the lines and back on the road.
Total Distance 9.73 Climbing 1335 ft average HR 150 Max 189
Saturday - Race #3 - UMass Cycling Club's Orchard Assault. It was raining lightly, on a promised partly cloudy morning as I prepared to hit the line. The rain stopped just before the whistle blew as 30 some odd Cat 2s headed up the fireroad for the start-finish line. The course winds up and down a 200' hill on the Amherst campus. Plenty of Mud, plenty of downhills and plenty of climbing. This was an open race, so no age buffer in the finish positions - nice for the plethora of Collegiate As that don't have USA Cycling licenses and have to race as 2s - not so nice for 50+ guys. I managed 21st, about 20 minutes off the fastest.
Total Distance 9.76 Climbing 1911ft aver HR 173 Max 188
Interspersed with the riding, was another bunch of trail work days. Twice in Hawley both weeks, and once each week in Wendell - another 20+hours buffing our best Single Track. At this point Wendell is just about clean of the ice storm debris. Hawley is approaching 50-60%, but there was a session up there while I was racing at UMass, hopefully we get to 70-80% by next weekend. I will say, once we get finished up there, the riding will be world class - most of these trails have needed the face slappers and derailleur biters cleared for a long while. Everything we are hitting now is getting a hard rake and heavy lop in addition to the clearing of the ice storm devestation.
Total Distance 6.45 - Climbing 1002 ft average HR 143 Max 181.
Monday May 4 - Matt and I returned to Wendell, he after Winding Trails on Sunday and me after the wining and dining of Parent's weekend with Jeff. We went down the M&M from Ruggles Pond, crossed the Mt Grace land and then took Jerusalem Rd all the way to the Mormon Hollow Return. Return we did, finding the trail climbed just as nicely as it descended on Wednesday. But that wasn't the end of things today. We dropped down Bob-is-Fat and wound through the swamp to the Nipmuck. One of the favorite trails in Wendell, some of the youngsters have deemed it necessary to build some 'wicked cool berms' on some of the corners. Problem is they haven't a clue what makes a berm work, nor how to make a good berm. All they ended up with was piles of mushy dirt just off the natural tread of the trail. Makes you wonder...
Back up Baker Rd, out to Moosetrax and down the Lookout Trail. Really nice day.
Total Distance 10.55 - Climbing 1937 ft average HR 157 Max 182
Wednesday May 6 - NEMBA BU Ride again, this time from Eaglebrook. A very large turnout that we managed to keep together except for one kid who was clearly over his head. We hit Mud-Mile to Blueberry, then the Road to Crystal Cave, Back up to the Friend's trail, Keets Rd out to the gate, The XC Trail to Eric's. Unamed to the XC Trail and out to the vertical climb up to the Pocumtuck Ridge. From there along the ridge to the Powerlines, down the lines and back on the road.
Total Distance 9.73 Climbing 1335 ft average HR 150 Max 189
Saturday - Race #3 - UMass Cycling Club's Orchard Assault. It was raining lightly, on a promised partly cloudy morning as I prepared to hit the line. The rain stopped just before the whistle blew as 30 some odd Cat 2s headed up the fireroad for the start-finish line. The course winds up and down a 200' hill on the Amherst campus. Plenty of Mud, plenty of downhills and plenty of climbing. This was an open race, so no age buffer in the finish positions - nice for the plethora of Collegiate As that don't have USA Cycling licenses and have to race as 2s - not so nice for 50+ guys. I managed 21st, about 20 minutes off the fastest.
Total Distance 9.76 Climbing 1911ft aver HR 173 Max 188
Interspersed with the riding, was another bunch of trail work days. Twice in Hawley both weeks, and once each week in Wendell - another 20+hours buffing our best Single Track. At this point Wendell is just about clean of the ice storm debris. Hawley is approaching 50-60%, but there was a session up there while I was racing at UMass, hopefully we get to 70-80% by next weekend. I will say, once we get finished up there, the riding will be world class - most of these trails have needed the face slappers and derailleur biters cleared for a long while. Everything we are hitting now is getting a hard rake and heavy lop in addition to the clearing of the ice storm devestation.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A couple of weeks this time
Life is sometimes like that. What's been going on - Riding a little, not as much as I should be. Trail work, lots - Wendell, Hawley - total for the past few weeks, close to 40 hours in the woods. Raking, sawing, lugging brush - you name it.
Rides at Earles with Matt, Greenfield Ridge with the Bikes Unlimited gang, at Greatbrook with the NEMBA Board, in Keene with Folks looking to form a chapter up there - on the roads around home.
Need to keep a better reconing.
Rides at Earles with Matt, Greenfield Ridge with the Bikes Unlimited gang, at Greatbrook with the NEMBA Board, in Keene with Folks looking to form a chapter up there - on the roads around home.
Need to keep a better reconing.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
WE 4-11 or 2 Races Bunches of Trail Work and some Training
Sunday started bright and early with a road trip back to Burlingame in Charlestown RI. It is about a 2 hour drive so Matt and I hit the road about 6:00 hoping to arrive in time for the TT start with some time to spare.
On arrival I set up the tent, met up with fellow coalitioners Kathy and Adam and discussed how much we liked the carbon rigs we are riding. I had never done a MTB Time Trial so didn't really know what to expect, other than riding as hard as possible from end to end. Well, that's really all there is to it. My only disappointment was that I had mounted up Kenda Small Blocks on advise from Matt - I won't do that again. Although he thinks they are 'Fun' I found them squirrelly and unpretictable which doesn't help much in a head sport like mountain biking. I resorted to dabbing and dismounting more than I would have hoped and only eaked out a 13th of 18 in my category - 71 of 110 overall kind of disappointing.
On the way home we hit up the Batch with Chris and Liam for a couple hours just to make sure we were tired before heading to the NCC party at the Northampton Brewery. That worked out just fine.
Monday Liam and I returned to Sugarloaf North for a resumption of cleaning out the deer runs we found and making them into finished usable trails - progressing nicely!
Tuesday I caught up on some other projects around the home office.
Wednesday Matt and I made our way to Earls Trails and put in a nice 12 miles with a couple thousand feet of climbing.
Thursday I spent the morning with GW working on cleaning out the ice damage on the bobcat trail at the DAR in Goshen all morning, and then met up with Bill Boles and PK for a pre-NEMBA EC meeting ride at Great Brook. Although there is no substantial elevation there, PK did a great job laying out some really fun ST in there. We rode for a bit more that 1:45 at a nice leisurly pace.
Friday - just a short spin since the first full length race is Saturday.
Saturday - the Bunny Hop Brook Dam Race. First race of the Root 66 season. A moderate rain with mixed in sleet and slush was falling from about 11:00 on. Matt and I arrived a little after 10:00 since the Cat 1s were scheduled to go off at 11:30. I set up the tent, then moved it over to where Art had set up his. The GT compound looked pretty snazzy for a while until the weather took over!
I had to leave to get Jeff and a couple of friends from Germany at school, so returned just in time to see Matt cooling down from his Cat 1 victory. Soon after Art rolled into the compound and I got ready for my 2:00 start. There would be over 100 Cat 2s starting and 96 would ultimately finish slogging through the mud for 11 miles. There was an uncharacteristally large over 50 class today with 15 of us lined up at the tail of the Cat 2 men's field. No glasses today since the rain would have made vision impossible rather than just blurry without them! I warned my peers that If I ran into them - it wasn't that I was being a jerk, only that I couldn't see. With that we were off.
Hop brook's course begins with a sprint around the North end of the lake and then a swing into the woods and up across a moderate side hill. All that sounds great, until you factor in the fact that there had already been the The Cat3s twice, the Pros 4 times, the Cat 1s 3 times and the whole Cat 2 field before we old guys got our chance at the hill. Slipping and sliding was the order of the day with lots of spinning, crashing and otherwise jovial experiences!
Following the uphill slog, is a descent of the same hillside into a sketchy brook crossing before winding up the road and across a field. 2 Years ago when I raced here, the field was impassible due to the mud. Although there was generally more mud today, the field wasn't too bad - you never know! After the field is a nice techy rocky climb which I cleared nicely on the tail of a local who knew the best line, I hated passing him on the next hill since the local knowledge would have come in handy elsewhere. Alas that was not to be. I began picking my way through the field - It is really a new experience for me - passing riders. Maybe it is the more rigourous early season training - maybe the superlight Zaskar, but I ended the day having passed nearly 20 riders from earlier age groups on my way to a 5th place finish in the age group - 61st of 98 Cat 2 finishers on the day - a personal best ever.
I really love this bike, and with the new tires (a Nevegal in Front and a Conti Spider in the rear) in place of the Small Blocks (and the stock Karma's), I was much more comfortable on the rocks and in the mud than last week at Burlingame.
On arrival I set up the tent, met up with fellow coalitioners Kathy and Adam and discussed how much we liked the carbon rigs we are riding. I had never done a MTB Time Trial so didn't really know what to expect, other than riding as hard as possible from end to end. Well, that's really all there is to it. My only disappointment was that I had mounted up Kenda Small Blocks on advise from Matt - I won't do that again. Although he thinks they are 'Fun' I found them squirrelly and unpretictable which doesn't help much in a head sport like mountain biking. I resorted to dabbing and dismounting more than I would have hoped and only eaked out a 13th of 18 in my category - 71 of 110 overall kind of disappointing.
On the way home we hit up the Batch with Chris and Liam for a couple hours just to make sure we were tired before heading to the NCC party at the Northampton Brewery. That worked out just fine.
Monday Liam and I returned to Sugarloaf North for a resumption of cleaning out the deer runs we found and making them into finished usable trails - progressing nicely!
Tuesday I caught up on some other projects around the home office.
Wednesday Matt and I made our way to Earls Trails and put in a nice 12 miles with a couple thousand feet of climbing.
Thursday I spent the morning with GW working on cleaning out the ice damage on the bobcat trail at the DAR in Goshen all morning, and then met up with Bill Boles and PK for a pre-NEMBA EC meeting ride at Great Brook. Although there is no substantial elevation there, PK did a great job laying out some really fun ST in there. We rode for a bit more that 1:45 at a nice leisurly pace.
Friday - just a short spin since the first full length race is Saturday.
Saturday - the Bunny Hop Brook Dam Race. First race of the Root 66 season. A moderate rain with mixed in sleet and slush was falling from about 11:00 on. Matt and I arrived a little after 10:00 since the Cat 1s were scheduled to go off at 11:30. I set up the tent, then moved it over to where Art had set up his. The GT compound looked pretty snazzy for a while until the weather took over!
I had to leave to get Jeff and a couple of friends from Germany at school, so returned just in time to see Matt cooling down from his Cat 1 victory. Soon after Art rolled into the compound and I got ready for my 2:00 start. There would be over 100 Cat 2s starting and 96 would ultimately finish slogging through the mud for 11 miles. There was an uncharacteristally large over 50 class today with 15 of us lined up at the tail of the Cat 2 men's field. No glasses today since the rain would have made vision impossible rather than just blurry without them! I warned my peers that If I ran into them - it wasn't that I was being a jerk, only that I couldn't see. With that we were off.
Hop brook's course begins with a sprint around the North end of the lake and then a swing into the woods and up across a moderate side hill. All that sounds great, until you factor in the fact that there had already been the The Cat3s twice, the Pros 4 times, the Cat 1s 3 times and the whole Cat 2 field before we old guys got our chance at the hill. Slipping and sliding was the order of the day with lots of spinning, crashing and otherwise jovial experiences!
Following the uphill slog, is a descent of the same hillside into a sketchy brook crossing before winding up the road and across a field. 2 Years ago when I raced here, the field was impassible due to the mud. Although there was generally more mud today, the field wasn't too bad - you never know! After the field is a nice techy rocky climb which I cleared nicely on the tail of a local who knew the best line, I hated passing him on the next hill since the local knowledge would have come in handy elsewhere. Alas that was not to be. I began picking my way through the field - It is really a new experience for me - passing riders. Maybe it is the more rigourous early season training - maybe the superlight Zaskar, but I ended the day having passed nearly 20 riders from earlier age groups on my way to a 5th place finish in the age group - 61st of 98 Cat 2 finishers on the day - a personal best ever.
I really love this bike, and with the new tires (a Nevegal in Front and a Conti Spider in the rear) in place of the Small Blocks (and the stock Karma's), I was much more comfortable on the rocks and in the mud than last week at Burlingame.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Race Day Report - Preliminary
Well race number 1 is in the books, out of 110 racers I was 71st overall. Sport Men over 40 I was 13 of 18. My normal class is over 50 - not sure how many of us old guys were there.
All in all, I still felt sort of fast and the bike performed very well. With an average HR of 176 for the race, I'm not sure there's much more speed than that in the old engine.
We arrived at the Burlingame picnic area about 8:15 and I promptly got our numbers and set up the tent. Shortly after I arrived, Kathy and Adam showed up and we populated the tent with 2 small Marathons and my Extra Large Zaskar. The Zaskar sure looks big next to their bikes!
After we left, we stopped on the way home for a 2 hour scoot through Batchelor's Street. By the end of that ride, the hours of trail work came back to haunt my rotator cuff pretty badly and I gingerly picking my way down Missing Persons like an old man (or is that as an old man).
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Week ending April 4 2009
Trail Work.
On Monday I went up to Wendell and cleared most of the first climb on the Robert Frost from the December Ice Devestation. On Tuesday I cleared some of the nice Single Track on Sugarloaf North the rest of the week worked with Liam in clearing out one trail that was little more than a deer run after years of neglect. It should be riding great as soon as the weather drys out a little more.
I did get in a nice training ride at Batchelor's Street with Matthew on Tuesday and several sessions at SLN before or after I McClouded, raked, sawed and lopped.
Spent a couple hours with Jason, Pete and yet another Matt scouting and raking in the Mt Grace Trust land adjacent to Wendell State Forest. We will be opening up about 2 miles of this ST and probably include it in the Nemba Adventure Series ride here this summer.
After the trail work, Matt and I got in a short lactic acid burn on the farm roads in prep for the Burlingame TT in the morning.
On Monday I went up to Wendell and cleared most of the first climb on the Robert Frost from the December Ice Devestation. On Tuesday I cleared some of the nice Single Track on Sugarloaf North the rest of the week worked with Liam in clearing out one trail that was little more than a deer run after years of neglect. It should be riding great as soon as the weather drys out a little more.
I did get in a nice training ride at Batchelor's Street with Matthew on Tuesday and several sessions at SLN before or after I McClouded, raked, sawed and lopped.
Spent a couple hours with Jason, Pete and yet another Matt scouting and raking in the Mt Grace Trust land adjacent to Wendell State Forest. We will be opening up about 2 miles of this ST and probably include it in the Nemba Adventure Series ride here this summer.
After the trail work, Matt and I got in a short lactic acid burn on the farm roads in prep for the Burlingame TT in the morning.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Week Ending 3/28 First full week with the Zaskar
Sunday - Road Ride with the Bikes Unlimited gang. 45 miles over Mount Warner and back to Greenfield through North Amherst/Cushman. Brutal wind and a damn aggressive pace. I blew up a bit on the run-up to the Mount Warner climb as our pace into the wind peaked at about 28mph. I am much too big an air scoop for that!
HR maxed at 186! and the average for the ride was 159 even taking it easy on the last 15 miles.
Monday - Batchelor's Street with Matt and Liam- Took the Zaskar for a dose of real dirt and rocks. About 2 hours - no HR data
Tuesday - Back to the Batch with Matt. Did some of the nastier stuff today that Liam bypassed yesterday (yeah I walked a bunch of it).
Wednesday - Sugarloaf North. I love that climb. I need to finish raking the trail so I can clean the climb without spinning out the rear - next week.
Thursday - Skiing at Mt Snow. A full day of bumps and trees!
Friday - just a couple of short jaunts around the farm roads, since I had to pick up Jeff at BDL after his rowing trip to Tampa. No organized riding though.
Saturday - chores and hanging with the boys. Jeff goes back to school Sunday, so time to spend some time with him on his last day of break.
First race is next weekend - the TT at Burlingame. We rode that course and more at the February fun ride. Should be fun.
About the bike. Really nice ride. Stiff, light, great climber. I am really liking it at this point.
HR maxed at 186! and the average for the ride was 159 even taking it easy on the last 15 miles.
Monday - Batchelor's Street with Matt and Liam- Took the Zaskar for a dose of real dirt and rocks. About 2 hours - no HR data
Tuesday - Back to the Batch with Matt. Did some of the nastier stuff today that Liam bypassed yesterday (yeah I walked a bunch of it).
Wednesday - Sugarloaf North. I love that climb. I need to finish raking the trail so I can clean the climb without spinning out the rear - next week.
Thursday - Skiing at Mt Snow. A full day of bumps and trees!
Friday - just a couple of short jaunts around the farm roads, since I had to pick up Jeff at BDL after his rowing trip to Tampa. No organized riding though.
Saturday - chores and hanging with the boys. Jeff goes back to school Sunday, so time to spend some time with him on his last day of break.
First race is next weekend - the TT at Burlingame. We rode that course and more at the February fun ride. Should be fun.
About the bike. Really nice ride. Stiff, light, great climber. I am really liking it at this point.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
First impressions of the new Zaskar
I have now taken a couple of good rides on the new machine, and she suits me just fine. I knocked a tad of weight off by swapping the wheels for American Classic/Stans Olympics and improved the fit a bit with a Thompson Stem and Easton Carbon Riser Bar. I also wasn't too happy with prior Fox Shocks, so I installed a new SID Team. This bike is really nice now.
A few pics of the most recent ride at Mount Holyoke State Forest.
We did 8 1/2 miles in about 2 hours. 3200ft of climbing average HR 144 Max 174. Pretty sure the dog was working harder than I was though.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Ski Week 3/15 - 3/21
As stated in last weeks post, we were at Sugarloaf for the week. Great snow, great times. Wednesday Matt and I took a try at tele - liked the experience, but not ready to give up the rigid setup quite yet.
Headed back south Thursday night.
Friday - Bachelor's Street - real local dirt on the first day of spring!!!! 9 miles, 2 hrs, 180 Max HR, 156 average. Awesome time. Had to walk a few places, but on the whole a great ride.
Saturday morning - SS ride on the Pantera with the dog early. If I get out again today, I'll post that with next week.
Tent is here, welcome pack is here. Like the Sugoi clothing, nice fit.
Late arrival, the bike shows up Saturday afternoon. Got it built up - swapping a few parts to more fit my liking (bar, stem, fork - seatpost coming soon - wheels too!), but here it is before the maiden voyage of 5 miles on the farm roads behind the house.
Headed back south Thursday night.
Friday - Bachelor's Street - real local dirt on the first day of spring!!!! 9 miles, 2 hrs, 180 Max HR, 156 average. Awesome time. Had to walk a few places, but on the whole a great ride.
Saturday morning - SS ride on the Pantera with the dog early. If I get out again today, I'll post that with next week.
Tent is here, welcome pack is here. Like the Sugoi clothing, nice fit.
Late arrival, the bike shows up Saturday afternoon. Got it built up - swapping a few parts to more fit my liking (bar, stem, fork - seatpost coming soon - wheels too!), but here it is before the maiden voyage of 5 miles on the farm roads behind the house.
The lost week 3/8-3/14
I hate being sick. The week started out OK, a fixie ride with the boys on a chilly but pleasant day Sunday. Up to Whately - netting 11 miles or so. The HR strap wasn't transmitting so no data there. That night the flu bug hit - fever, coughing and hacking for the next three days just vegging on the couch. Yuck.
Friday we headed north for a week of skiing. Day on on the snow Saturday - beautiful day. Hit the backside of Sugarloaf - really pleasant.
Friday we headed north for a week of skiing. Day on on the snow Saturday - beautiful day. Hit the backside of Sugarloaf - really pleasant.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Week Ending 3/7/09 Spring hits the Pioneer Valley
Well spring is here. Snow riding comes to an abrupt end, so the Merlin makes a reappearance in force this week.
Sunday - Matt and I studded up the bikes and met up with Steve for an ice ride in Robinson. Nearly 100% of the trail surface was glare ice, which proved a nasty challenge for the Nashbar house brand studded tires the boy and I were sporting. Steve did much better with his $300 a pair Nokians. When else is 9.1 miles in 2 hours a workout?
Monday - 8 inches of powder and temps in the teens all day. Snowshoe hike on Sugarloaf North just to keep the body fresh.
Tuesday - Trails too soft with the fresh snow, road too slushy to ride - Snowshoes again today with the dog around the back 40.
Wednesday - still mighty cold. I headed out with Matt for a road-ride, but didn't have the right clothing - cold and hot at the same time. Bailed after about 6 miles and threw the bike on the trainer in frustration. Man I hate trainers! About an 1:26 of saddle time HR Max 174 average 138
Thursday - Spring is here. Roadie up to Turners and back through Sunderland - 35 Miles 16.9 average 182 Max HR - 152 average. Felt good to feel the burn, but the legs were plenty mushy overnight.
Friday - Roadie again with Matt doing the heavy lifting. We took to the hills today out through Williamsburg, West Whately and Conway - 4500 feet of climbing - 179 Max HR 144 average - 2:39 38.7 miles.
Saturday - time to celebrate Allison's birthday with her friends. Back to the bike Sunday.
Sunday - Matt and I studded up the bikes and met up with Steve for an ice ride in Robinson. Nearly 100% of the trail surface was glare ice, which proved a nasty challenge for the Nashbar house brand studded tires the boy and I were sporting. Steve did much better with his $300 a pair Nokians. When else is 9.1 miles in 2 hours a workout?
Monday - 8 inches of powder and temps in the teens all day. Snowshoe hike on Sugarloaf North just to keep the body fresh.
Tuesday - Trails too soft with the fresh snow, road too slushy to ride - Snowshoes again today with the dog around the back 40.
Wednesday - still mighty cold. I headed out with Matt for a road-ride, but didn't have the right clothing - cold and hot at the same time. Bailed after about 6 miles and threw the bike on the trainer in frustration. Man I hate trainers! About an 1:26 of saddle time HR Max 174 average 138
Thursday - Spring is here. Roadie up to Turners and back through Sunderland - 35 Miles 16.9 average 182 Max HR - 152 average. Felt good to feel the burn, but the legs were plenty mushy overnight.
Friday - Roadie again with Matt doing the heavy lifting. We took to the hills today out through Williamsburg, West Whately and Conway - 4500 feet of climbing - 179 Max HR 144 average - 2:39 38.7 miles.
Saturday - time to celebrate Allison's birthday with her friends. Back to the bike Sunday.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Feb 22 to Feb 28
OK, this week started with another Sunday dirt ride. Allison wanted to go visit a friend on the cape, so Matt and I loaded some bikes on the roof and we hit the road for SE Mass. Her friend messed up the time, so we didn't get to the TOT trail head until much later than intended. We have only ridden there a couple of times and managed to get pretty miserably lost. Still 3:13 moving time 17 miles 179 MHR 135 average 1400 ft climbing.
Monday - Hiking on the Greenfield Ridge
Tuesday - On the snow in town with the dog. 2:56 17 miles, 179 MHR, 132 average 700 ft. Snow was crusty and the studded tires dug in quite a bit. Still got in a nice ride.
Wednesday - Road Ride in the afternoon - gorgeous day 1:26 23 miles 180 MHR 152 average 900 ft. Looped up to Whately, down to Burgie and back through Hamp.
Thursday - Today I turned 51. Left the dog at home today and used the Rush as the surface had softened up a bit from tuesday. I got in the best ride of the week 2:32 20.7 miles. Must have mis-installed the chest strap 'cause I know I didn't average 100 bpm. All I know is the legs felt like mush at the end of the ride and I got just over 1350 ft of climbing. Perfect riding in the woods, though by the time I got back to the open fields they had softened up in the 40 degree temps.
Saturday - a day on the slopes at Mount Snow.
I am now an official member of the GT Dirt Coalition. Expect to get the swag and bike in the next month or so.
Monday - Hiking on the Greenfield Ridge
Tuesday - On the snow in town with the dog. 2:56 17 miles, 179 MHR, 132 average 700 ft. Snow was crusty and the studded tires dug in quite a bit. Still got in a nice ride.
Wednesday - Road Ride in the afternoon - gorgeous day 1:26 23 miles 180 MHR 152 average 900 ft. Looped up to Whately, down to Burgie and back through Hamp.
Thursday - Today I turned 51. Left the dog at home today and used the Rush as the surface had softened up a bit from tuesday. I got in the best ride of the week 2:32 20.7 miles. Must have mis-installed the chest strap 'cause I know I didn't average 100 bpm. All I know is the legs felt like mush at the end of the ride and I got just over 1350 ft of climbing. Perfect riding in the woods, though by the time I got back to the open fields they had softened up in the 40 degree temps.
Saturday - a day on the slopes at Mount Snow.
I am now an official member of the GT Dirt Coalition. Expect to get the swag and bike in the next month or so.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Birthday Present
GT got my birthday gift three days early. The Dirt Coalition contract arrived via email this afternoon.
H.
H.
Week ending 2/21/09
This past week started with a riding bang, but ended with too many other commitments to keep up the pace.
Sunday morning bright and early we left town to get in a ride on DIRT! RI NEMBA was sponsoring a fun ride at Burlingame State Park down on the coast. Even though it was a 2 1/2 hour drive, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for a guided ride on something other than roads or snow. The four PV folk - Me, Matt, Jason P and Mickey D - hopped onto the tail of a 'fast paced' ride and proceeded to pick up the pace and heart rates to race level. 15 miles 1000 calories 185 max 153 average for 2 1/2 hours.
Monday morning - president's day I took Matt and Liam up to Wendell for a ride with Jason D. We looped out around Bear Mountain, getting in a pretty nice, but mellow ride 17 miles 1000 calories 180 Max 139 average.
Tuesday I was just getting the fixie out of the driveway when the pedal blew up and then the phone rang. Too late in the day to get anything in when I finished up with the call.
Wednesday - miserable weather!
Thursday - XC skiing with GW in Wendell for 3 hours.
Friday - too warm for the trails, too wet for the road.
Saturday - ice skating at the mullins ctr for an hour.
Let's hope next week works out better!
Sunday morning bright and early we left town to get in a ride on DIRT! RI NEMBA was sponsoring a fun ride at Burlingame State Park down on the coast. Even though it was a 2 1/2 hour drive, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for a guided ride on something other than roads or snow. The four PV folk - Me, Matt, Jason P and Mickey D - hopped onto the tail of a 'fast paced' ride and proceeded to pick up the pace and heart rates to race level. 15 miles 1000 calories 185 max 153 average for 2 1/2 hours.
Monday morning - president's day I took Matt and Liam up to Wendell for a ride with Jason D. We looped out around Bear Mountain, getting in a pretty nice, but mellow ride 17 miles 1000 calories 180 Max 139 average.
Tuesday I was just getting the fixie out of the driveway when the pedal blew up and then the phone rang. Too late in the day to get anything in when I finished up with the call.
Wednesday - miserable weather!
Thursday - XC skiing with GW in Wendell for 3 hours.
Friday - too warm for the trails, too wet for the road.
Saturday - ice skating at the mullins ctr for an hour.
Let's hope next week works out better!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
WE Valentines Day 2009
What a great week of training! Started Sunday with a couple runs at Sunday River before they closed up due to high winds. Drove the gang home Sunday night after lunch with the NEMBA posse gathered at Tom's friends ski house.
Monday on the Trance after Matthew's class, we hit the sled trails for a great workout. 17 miles on the snow (some road due to softening conditions on the way back to town) nearly 3 hours on the bikes.
Tuesday Allison had her individuals day at Berkshire East. I spent the day sessioning the mountain collecting coats for her team (she finished 25 in the combined GS/Slalom out of the field of just over 100 girls).
Wednesday used the Pantera, I knew there was a very short window of time for riding the snow before it got to soft. Left the house at 8:00 and got in 12 miles in about 2 hours before looped back to town.
Took Thursday off - the trails were too soft, and you have to rest sometime!
Friday on the Rush Matt and I went up to Wendell and got in some real elevation change riding 1700+ of vertical in about 12 miles. We were out about 2:30.
Saturday morning with the Trance I met Matt B, Mark N and Jason D for an early morning romp through Wendell. Only got in an hour up there - everybody's water froze in the camelback hoses so we cut the day short - 8 miles in the park about 1 hour riding time.
Saturday afternoon the Merlin came out of hibernation. Matt and I were joined by Mickey D for a 35 mile roady up to Deerfield and back over Mt. Warner. Just over 2 hours 800 ft climbing.
Week totals 80.63 miles, ~10 hours in the saddles, 5051 ft of climbing, 186 max heart, 138 average, 6400 calories.
Monday on the Trance after Matthew's class, we hit the sled trails for a great workout. 17 miles on the snow (some road due to softening conditions on the way back to town) nearly 3 hours on the bikes.
Tuesday Allison had her individuals day at Berkshire East. I spent the day sessioning the mountain collecting coats for her team (she finished 25 in the combined GS/Slalom out of the field of just over 100 girls).
Wednesday used the Pantera, I knew there was a very short window of time for riding the snow before it got to soft. Left the house at 8:00 and got in 12 miles in about 2 hours before looped back to town.
Took Thursday off - the trails were too soft, and you have to rest sometime!
Friday on the Rush Matt and I went up to Wendell and got in some real elevation change riding 1700+ of vertical in about 12 miles. We were out about 2:30.
Saturday morning with the Trance I met Matt B, Mark N and Jason D for an early morning romp through Wendell. Only got in an hour up there - everybody's water froze in the camelback hoses so we cut the day short - 8 miles in the park about 1 hour riding time.
Saturday afternoon the Merlin came out of hibernation. Matt and I were joined by Mickey D for a 35 mile roady up to Deerfield and back over Mt. Warner. Just over 2 hours 800 ft climbing.
Week totals 80.63 miles, ~10 hours in the saddles, 5051 ft of climbing, 186 max heart, 138 average, 6400 calories.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Training and Rides for WE 2/7/09
We got in several hard rides on the soft snow this past week. Sunday it was Matt, Steve Rossi, the two dogs and I for about 2 1/2 hours in pretty difficult conditions. Steve was in a hurry to meet up with some people in Amherst, so we didn't do the full loop. Finished at about 14 miles - 7 mph pace (which I find hard to believe considering the conditions.)
Monday we appended the loop from the last ride with Tyler with an nasty hill (Matt cresting the hill - needless to say the Old Man had to hoof it) and a bit of road section. 24 miles total.
Tuesday, I forgot the Garmin, same loop.
Wednesday - I already posted that ride. First of the year with the HR monitor.
Friday we drove to Maine for some skiing. Full day on the slopes Saturday - most of the lifts closed Sunday so only a couple of runs.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Another punishing training ride with the Kid
Matthew and I put in 18 miles on the snowmobile trails today. 182 max heart rate 159 average 2:14:01 975 ft climbing. 7.34 average pace.
Snow was a little soft, but certainly fun.
Snow was a little soft, but certainly fun.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Week ending 1/31/09
2 more 15-20 mile rides on the sled trails on Monday and Tuesday. Breakable crust formed from the storm Wednesday that closed the riding through the rest of the week. Took the opportunity to get some skiing in on Thursday and Friday.
Friday, January 23, 2009
January Training Rides WE 1 24 09
Getting a few hours on the snow for some mid-winter training this week. Snow mobile trails a bit soft, but running big tires with little air makes for a decent ride. 2 hours thursday and about an hour this morning before I blew up a derailleur.
SS home on the road
SS home on the road
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