October 14 rides

[Kathi]

It was in the 40s and rainy here all day (anyone watching the NL playoffs will know what I'm talking about...) so I just rode the 10 miles to and from my piano lesson. I figured it was a good chance to try out my rain & cold weather gear for riding in Patagonia. It worked well

I was amazed at how much nicer motorists were to me in the rain! A lot of people rolled down their windows to wave or say encouraging things. Some even pulled back when they realized they were blocking the bike path! I don't think I'd mind if it rained more often...

Anne

We call days like this "an Ohio day" because we had this kind of weather so often in Cincinnati. We actually had thunder and lightning last night! My SO drove the 1 mi to the gym, I think that was a first. Me, I'm working on ski conditioning, slide board, intervals, squats, lunges, etc.

BTW, the mtns got snow! Winter will be here soon!

[Crankin]

We did an abbreviated version of a challenging hill climb ride. It was about 57 when we left; first time I wore my tights since April. The wind was gusting up to about 10 every so often, too. We rode out of West Acton into Littleton and climbed Oak Hill into Harvard center. Before starting the climb i switched to regular gloves from long ones and lost the head cover. It's about a 4 mile climb that is never that steep but seems to go on forever. I was going slow, about 8-9, considering all of the medical crap I've been having. The end of the climb turns into a super downhill, which was recently repaved (yay!). I did't feel super confident about speeding descents, so I think I hit 30 at the most. We rested on the town green in Harvard Center and then turned back and headed back into Stow and Boxboro. All familiar roads, with lots of cyclists out.
The total was around 23 miles. I won't eventell you my average, it was slow! Afterwards, the 4 of us went to a cafe and had coffee/tea/and a little sweet treat.

[onimity]

Hi Kathi, "Ohio weather," that is great! It certainly is rare enough here, but all the precipitation we've had this summer/fall makes me wonder if we aren't in for another winter like the last.

There is snow on the top of the flatirons this morning! I'll be in South America Dec 1-early Jan so no early part of the ski season for me...but I'm so looking forward to that when I return!

Anne

[indigoiis]

Here is my ride report from the Northeast section, Norwich metric, Sunday 10/14/07, that Redrhodie and I completed.

-------------

This was a great ride.
Well, at least I thought it was a great ride.
RR might believe differently. Actually, she had an experience at the end that made it a great ride, and it involved men.
But I'll let her tell you about that.

This ride is 60-63 miles with 31 hills. That's one hill for every two miles. Some hills were more manageable than others, but none were "forgiving." The riders who organized this metric were serious about hill training. I had routed this on mapmyride.com to get the elevation, and I have to say that the elevation map was intimidating to look at. However, being the Pollyanna that I am, I figured, if I can ride a century, I can do 63 miles with hills.

We started at ten in a pack of about twenty and quickly spread out. RR and I slowed our pace way down with the idea in mind of saving our stuff til we needed it. We rode with a gentleman RR called "Eagle Eye" because he spotted all (but one) arrows on the road. After she called him this, he was distracted and missed an arrow (as did we all) and we went two miles the wrong way. I turned us around and we went back down and we dropped Eagle Eye.

The next 15 miles were a joy; rolling hillettes, state forest mixed with rural farmland and low woodland; stone walls and bluffs characteristic of the area, and early color on most all of the maples and nut trees. Connecticut roads are a joy to ride on. We are used to the ruts and potholes of Rhode Island roads. We were in high spirits, averaging around 14/15 (my computer is not working and RR's new bike isn't hooked up with one yet.) We got to about mile 20 and I lost RR for the rest of the ride. I picked up another female rider and tailed her for about eight miles of narrow, winding climbs and hair-raising descents into ravines where the temperature was ten degrees cooler, then passed her and headed for the ferry. At the ferry, I had a pb sandwich and waited for RR. A guy turned up and we checked around and found out that the ferry was closed due to high winds. So I finished my lunch and headed out up towards Gilette Castle.

The hills to Gilette and just beyond are long, straight hills, one after the other. They are backbreaking. I got a call halfway up the second from RR and she was just behind me. I told her I'd meet her at Devil's Hopyard and got back on the bike. I'd have to say this was a challenging set of hills. I used my grannies on every one. The guy from the ferry and I kept passing each other. I latched on to the girl I had worked with before at the top of the hill heading toward Hadlyme and we circled around to get onto a long stretch of flat, where I passed her again. At this point, I was alone and the arrows were hard to see, so I kept thinking I'd passed the turn for the Hopyard. But I had not. Finally, I took the turn for the Hopyard and into the campground (I camped here years ago so it was a nice re-visit) and went in to the loo and refilled my water at the ancient pump. I took a minute at the falls and then got back on my bike and took off for the next set of hills. I caught up with the girl I had passed a couple of times before and passed her; she said, "if you pass me one more time, I'm going to kill you."

Miles 50-55 were some steep graded hills. I kept looking ahead and thinking, "uh oh, RR is not gonna like this." I came flying down one grade only to look up and see a terraced hillside just ahead, with bulldozers and a quarry operation. The road went straight and then disappeared left. I figured from the way the ride was going up to this point that this only meant one thing: another hill. Head down and tuning my brain to some Styx song (where did THAT come from... the brain is an amazing thing) I headed out for it. As I rounded left, the road went straight up. Like College Hill in Providence. Yes, that steep. I geared to mini-mouse and spun up the first half, and then heard a huge truck behind me. I knew that the road turned sharply right and by the way I was wobbling, knew it would be dangerous to stay on the bike while the truck and I rounded that bend. So I got off. The truck blazed past me leaving me in a billow of sand and dust. I walked ten paces (like hiking up a trail with a bike in your hands) and rounded the curve and... more up. So I got back on, because riding HAD to be easier than trying to walk in bike shoes. I got to the top and it leveled out for about a half mile, and then, another hill. I think this was hill number 28. Judging by the time (and having mapped the ride including waypoint mileages) I knew that I only had about 10 miles to go and how many hills can you get in ten miles? So I humored myself and counted them down and managed to do them all except for one, where I got off and walked ten paces for a rest. At this point, I was passed by ferry guy. I got back on and pedaled hard. I passed ferry guy and he yelled out, "that's it! I'm done for today!" and I said, "hey! we're almost done! Just think, in two hours you'll be home, showered and having a big dinner!"

The road at this point was quite pretty. Bozrah is a beautiful little community and the hills became less steep and more rolling. I was feeling fairly good except for the shoulder/neck thing I get on all long rides. But I could live with it. I had eaten steadily all day so I had no bonking episodes, but I did feel a little lightheaded at this point. I rode along and took the next hill, the last series of hills. And I must say I was spent at this point, but I did spin them out, maybe going 3 mph. I think this hill is called Leffingwill hill. I came down the other side and checked the map and I was a mile away from the finish. I jumped on to 82 and flew back to the park and ride, where I found RR waiting for me! She had a big smile on her face and so I know she had a good time, despite all the hills. But I'll let her tell that part.

All in all, a good hilly ride. I'll do it again next year. I think this would also be an excellent training ride for anyone who wants to ride in the Adirondacks or in New Hampshire white mountains. It took me about five hours, and I averaged around 11/12 mph. I lost two pounds even though I drank 3 bottles of water.

It was fun.
I love hills!

[redrhodie]

Oh, Indi, you are a Pollyanna !

This ride was WAY too hard for a flat riding Newport girl! I lost Indi flying down a descent around mile 20 something, and didn't see her again. Riding alone in the CT wilderness I slowed down to look for the arrows, since we had already missed one earlier, I didn't want to get lost alone in this place I'd never been to before. I felt a little like my avatar!

I got picked up (not literally) by this cutie who was not doing the NBW ride, but just out doing his hill training. He and I talked and rode at an easy pace, and he led me through as he knew the route I was probably taking, which was great, because I have an awful sense of direction, and some of the arrows were way after the turns. He said good bye as he thought he'd be turning to do his hills, and I'd be going straight--an easier ride. Then, he saw the arrow, and said, "Oh, you're turning with me. Looks like they're throwing some major hills your way." OH BOY! He wasn't kidding!

I wasn't even half way through at this point, and my energy wasn't good. I thought, if I'm going to finish the ride, I can't climb every one of these. There was no pick-up wagon, so there wasn't a lot I could do if I couldn't complete at this point. I started walking some of them, eating some snacks as I did, hoping I'd reserve some energy for the rest of the ride.

I got passed by a nice woman and a couple of guys, and met up with them later where they told me not to go down to the ferry, since it wasn't running because it was too windy. (The ferry went across a river, to a road that was supposed to add the 3 miles to make this a metric century). Windy? I hadn't even noticed the wind!

The three of us parted, and at this point, I hit my own personal wall. I was halfway through, exhausted, and knew the worst hills were coming up. I called home, and asked DBF to come get me, which is kind of a joke because he doesn't drive. He gave me a much needed pep talk, told me to rest and eat, and get back on the bike when I felt better. Oh, I was also out of h2o, so dehydration was factoring in, too.

I found a farm stand and bought water, and imediately felt better, but still was walking some of the monsters.

I called Indy, and she said she was just ahead, and would be at the hopyard, but didn't see her. I'm soooo glad, too, because after I left there, I met up with the 2 guys I had met earlier, who were having about as much fun as I was on the hills. They were talking to a couple of other guys about alternative routes, because they were done climbing. They saw me walking up a hill, called me over because they knew I was one of them, and off we went in the opposite direction to the course! This is when it got fun.

The new route was dreamy. I didn't care that there was traffic. Newport has prepared me well for that! The men and I flew. Only a couple of minor hills, and a whole lotta downhills and tailwinds! It was delightful! I felt great at the end.

Yes, I cheated ! I don't care who knows it! I rode 60 miles, my longest ride yet. I'm totally proud of myself!

[indigoiis]

Yes, I cheated ! I don't care who knows it! I rode 60 miles, my longest ride yet. I'm totally proud of myself!

That's not cheating!
that's strategizing. In the business world, it's called a work-around.

I was just glad you didn't strangle me at the end.

[redrhodie]

Naw, Indi, I wasn't gonna strangle you. If I had met up with you at that miserable point (when I'm sure you were hiding from me), I may have made you ride ahead, get the car, and come back for me !

I'm so glad I was able to turn it around and have fun. I guess my song for the ride was "My Way"!

I learned a good lesson. Sometimes the planned ride isn't the right ride. Glad I found my ride--downhill, with a tailwind. It's a beautiful world.

[nic840]

We left Sutter Creek at about 9:15am, weather was absolutely beautiful!!! Perfect Fall day. When it started uphill for the first 1/2 hour I should of known...First stop, Volcano. Adorable little mining town, had a peach pie turnover thing and then onto do Rams Horn Grade. Three + miles of climbing. It was absolutely beautiful and no traffic! Rode along a ridge, another climb and then finally to the descent. Lovely winding roads with views. Down to Plymouth and the back to Sutter Creek with a lovely climb at the end to make your legs beg for more...yeah right!

It was a beautiful and challenging ride for my new bike. Need to change out the handlebars and it is going to be perfect!

It was approx. 43 miles and 4100 ft in climbing! Lovely! Surprisingly enough I can't wait to do it again!