Training Log Archive: PGIn the 31 days ending Jul 31, 2017:
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Monday Jul 31, 2017 #
11 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:25:56 21.5 mi (4:00 / mi) +119ft 3:59 / mi
ahr:110 max:136 weight:136.5lbs
On the flats in Whately and Hatfield, relaxed pace. Legs feeling better, butt still a little unhappy. Gorgeous day.
648 miles biking for the month. Was aiming (in a casual way) for 700, so pretty close. And 2,350 for the year so far. And enjoyed almost all of it.
648 miles biking for the month. Was aiming (in a casual way) for 700, so pretty close. And 2,350 for the year so far. And enjoyed almost all of it.
Sunday Jul 30, 2017 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:13:51 14.3 mi (5:10 / mi) +381ft 5:02 / mi
ahr:98 max:123
Ride with Gail on the back roads up along the river and a few hills too. Exceedingly pleasant (other than various aches). :-)
Saturday Jul 29, 2017 #
7 AM
biking - dark blue bike 7:39:18 107.16 mi (4:17 / mi) +6690ft 4:03 / mi
ahr:136 max:162 weight:136.5lbs
It seems that this is the week I've chosen to polish up my "Weekend Warrior" credentials -- no training for 5 days and then 7+ hours on Saturday. :-)
Phil had suggested a road trip to do the Mount Washington century ride, I had no reason to decline his invite, so off we went. And it turned out to be an first-class trip. The ride turned out to be fine -- perfect weather, the route made up in scenery and a sufficient road shoulder for the sometimes heavy traffic, and the organization (Tin Mountain Conservation Center) did a fine job organizing things and was definitely worth supporting.
And the company for the drive up and back was excellent.
The ride -- 107 miles on my Garmin, 108 on Phil's, about 6,000 feet of climb -- took a fair bit of work, but it got done without too much suffering.
Ailments --
(1) The sore place on my butt (why I'd taken the last 5 days off, figuring it was time to see if a little time off would help, which it certainly did) seemed fine.
(2) My butt in general was getting that pulverized feeling the last 30 or 40 miles, but not so bad to be a real problem. Just standing on the pedals more often than I would have otherwise.
(3) And the weird one, a problem I've had once in a while over the last decade or two, more in running long events than in biking, namely, soreness in the tendons on the inside of my left knee and up into the first part of the hamstring that connects there -- well, it didn't hurt from mile 1 because mile 1 was solidly downhill, but it did hurt from mile two. So it really only hurt the last 106 miles.
Mind you, it hasn't bothered me in the slightest for ages. Why it popped up today, who knows. So I spent a long time trying little adjustments in my pedaling, to little avail. But while it never got better, it also never got much worse. And now a few hours later it is a little sore, but not (yet) depressingly so. :-)
I think Phil was 30+ minutes faster, but he is a (much) stronger biker and I think the margin was just about what it should be. As it was, I think we were both pleased with our efforts. Which is what you hope for.
Phil had suggested a road trip to do the Mount Washington century ride, I had no reason to decline his invite, so off we went. And it turned out to be an first-class trip. The ride turned out to be fine -- perfect weather, the route made up in scenery and a sufficient road shoulder for the sometimes heavy traffic, and the organization (Tin Mountain Conservation Center) did a fine job organizing things and was definitely worth supporting.
And the company for the drive up and back was excellent.
The ride -- 107 miles on my Garmin, 108 on Phil's, about 6,000 feet of climb -- took a fair bit of work, but it got done without too much suffering.
Ailments --
(1) The sore place on my butt (why I'd taken the last 5 days off, figuring it was time to see if a little time off would help, which it certainly did) seemed fine.
(2) My butt in general was getting that pulverized feeling the last 30 or 40 miles, but not so bad to be a real problem. Just standing on the pedals more often than I would have otherwise.
(3) And the weird one, a problem I've had once in a while over the last decade or two, more in running long events than in biking, namely, soreness in the tendons on the inside of my left knee and up into the first part of the hamstring that connects there -- well, it didn't hurt from mile 1 because mile 1 was solidly downhill, but it did hurt from mile two. So it really only hurt the last 106 miles.
Mind you, it hasn't bothered me in the slightest for ages. Why it popped up today, who knows. So I spent a long time trying little adjustments in my pedaling, to little avail. But while it never got better, it also never got much worse. And now a few hours later it is a little sore, but not (yet) depressingly so. :-)
I think Phil was 30+ minutes faster, but he is a (much) stronger biker and I think the margin was just about what it should be. As it was, I think we were both pleased with our efforts. Which is what you hope for.
Sunday Jul 23, 2017 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:22:10 19.11 mi (4:18 / mi) +604ft 4:11 / mi
ahr:107 max:125 weight:136lbs
Very relaxed pace, and therefore very pleasant. Legs were tired and sore from the last couple of days and this seemed just right.
Up the east side of the river, back the west side via the rail bridge and the dirt extension of McClelland Farm Road.
Up the east side of the river, back the west side via the rail bridge and the dirt extension of McClelland Farm Road.
Saturday Jul 22, 2017 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:55:38 41.1 mi (4:16 / mi) +3539ft 3:57 / mi
ahr:136 max:166 weight:136lbs
Real nice ride with Phil, starting from his place in Northampton, heading out into the hills to the west, Huntington, Chesterfield area. Thanks to his not having ridden much this year, I could mostly keep up. Certainly helped that I was taking advantage of a draft from time to time, especially the last 10 miles of flat or gently downhill when his default speed is faster than mine. But nice that he didn't have to wait on the tops of the hills.
And really happy with my bike. Passed this test with flying colors.
33:40 on the NCC climb on route 66, 17:10 on the climb to Chesterfield center.
And really happy with my bike. Passed this test with flying colors.
33:40 on the NCC climb on route 66, 17:10 on the climb to Chesterfield center.
Friday Jul 21, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:45:52 28.42 mi (5:50 / mi) +2480ft 5:23 / mi
ahr:128 max:158 weight:135.5lbs
One of those times as you're heading down a woods road that continues to deteriorate and you think, I sure hope this doesn't turn into an out-and-back.
But it does.
----------
A quite varied ride, and certainly more varied than intended. The plan, as it often is, was to ride some places I hadn't been. Certainly accomplished that.
The first dozen miles were paved with a bit of up, and I put out a good effort, thinking, I may ride with Phil tomorrow so it's best if I trash myself today, don't want to run the risk of keeping up with him tomorrow and dealing a major blow to his self-esteem. I think I accomplished that, quads were definitely taking some abuse.
Then some dirt road up to the high point of the route, then some more dirt road, getting rough now but still manageable. And then I came to what appeared to be a dead end.
An old woods road lay straight ahead, a rather scruffy one. I checked my mileage, checked my directions, nope, not supposed to turn here, so on I went. Before long I was seriously debating turning around when I unluckily happened to spot bike tire tracks in some mud. The road must go through, I thought, and continued on. Didn't occur to me that they had done an out-and-back too.
Onward. More rocks, branches, fallen trees, some mud. The "road" turned downhill, pretty soon closer to a wet gully than a road. Along the way I dropped through a patch of nettles, first time I've been stung by them on a bike. And at some point I noticed I was going roughly north. That's not good, supposed to be going south.
About then it became clear even to my idiot mind that I had gone far enough. I'd been hiking the bike a bunch already, now a bunch more of that back up the last hill I'd come down. And eventually back to the dead end.
And started back up the dirt road I'd arrived on, and there in about 100 yards was an overgrown road (looked like two footpaths with foot-high grass in the middle), heading in the right direction. What the hell, took it. And it wasn't long before it was obvious this was the right way.
The rest of the way was more down than up. I did skip a planned add-on with a good hill, figuring enough was enough. Time to head off to get some chocolate milk and look for green herons. :-)
Really have to wonder about my decision making when things aren't as I expect them.
But it does.
----------
A quite varied ride, and certainly more varied than intended. The plan, as it often is, was to ride some places I hadn't been. Certainly accomplished that.
The first dozen miles were paved with a bit of up, and I put out a good effort, thinking, I may ride with Phil tomorrow so it's best if I trash myself today, don't want to run the risk of keeping up with him tomorrow and dealing a major blow to his self-esteem. I think I accomplished that, quads were definitely taking some abuse.
Then some dirt road up to the high point of the route, then some more dirt road, getting rough now but still manageable. And then I came to what appeared to be a dead end.
An old woods road lay straight ahead, a rather scruffy one. I checked my mileage, checked my directions, nope, not supposed to turn here, so on I went. Before long I was seriously debating turning around when I unluckily happened to spot bike tire tracks in some mud. The road must go through, I thought, and continued on. Didn't occur to me that they had done an out-and-back too.
Onward. More rocks, branches, fallen trees, some mud. The "road" turned downhill, pretty soon closer to a wet gully than a road. Along the way I dropped through a patch of nettles, first time I've been stung by them on a bike. And at some point I noticed I was going roughly north. That's not good, supposed to be going south.
About then it became clear even to my idiot mind that I had gone far enough. I'd been hiking the bike a bunch already, now a bunch more of that back up the last hill I'd come down. And eventually back to the dead end.
And started back up the dirt road I'd arrived on, and there in about 100 yards was an overgrown road (looked like two footpaths with foot-high grass in the middle), heading in the right direction. What the hell, took it. And it wasn't long before it was obvious this was the right way.
The rest of the way was more down than up. I did skip a planned add-on with a good hill, figuring enough was enough. Time to head off to get some chocolate milk and look for green herons. :-)
Really have to wonder about my decision making when things aren't as I expect them.
Thursday Jul 20, 2017 #
8 AM
biking - dark blue bike 40:12 11.14 mi (3:37 / mi) +75ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:127 max:147 weight:135.5lbs
Got out earlier today. Certainly more pleasant, though I'd imagine the shortness of the ride was a significant contributing factor to that.
In the flats south of town. Putting out a good effort much of the time, seemed like the legs (quads) were the limiting factor, not the lungs. Light southerly breeze.
In the flats south of town. Putting out a good effort much of the time, seemed like the legs (quads) were the limiting factor, not the lungs. Light southerly breeze.
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:12:48 33.0 mi (4:01 / mi) +1345ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:130 max:154 weight:135.5lbs
Up past Greenfield a little bit. Even getting out mid-morning was too late, as I was definitely feeling the heat (and a headwind) on the way back south. Took it easy the last ten miles or so, and even that wasn't all that much fun.
Tuesday Jul 18, 2017 #
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 2:18:34 22.64 mi (6:07 / mi) +2149ft 5:37 / mi
ahr:128 max:157 weight:135.5lbs
That was more of an adventure than I expected, including a slam-dunk in the ongoing war with the FDFs, except this time I was the one getting slam-dunked.
Headed up to Northfield because it looked like the thunderstorms would be less likely to end up there, as turned out to be the case. The plan was over the hills and down to Erving and back, via Old Wendell Road on the way out -- looked steep, but I thought I could manage it -- and several back roads on the way back, ending up for the last few miles going downhill on Warwick Road. Looked like a fine plan.
Of course there was a sign on Old Wendell saying Not Maintained. That's not usually a problem, but in this case the steep part was really not maintained -- one look at the rock-filled gully masquerading as a road and there was not a single thought given to trying to ride it. Maybe 10 minutes of hike-a-bike? Certainly not my favorite, but as it turned out, not the worst part of the ride.
That came on the way back, Flagg Hill Road, about 2 miles, lots of rocks, also sandy areas. I could ride it, but it took all my skills and my attention. The problem was the appearance in force of the FDFs. I was defenseless, blue hat materials back in the car, plus really wanting to keep both hands on the handlebars so swatting them was tough, especially on several sharp little uphills, and I was going slowly enough that they had no problem keeping up.
I don't know what the final score was. It's possible I got a couple, but they sure nailed me a bunch of times.
Other than that, not so bad. I sweated a bunch (it was hot), worked hard at times (nothing new there), and certainly enjoyed the last long downhill. But I don't think I will repeat that route again.
Headed up to Northfield because it looked like the thunderstorms would be less likely to end up there, as turned out to be the case. The plan was over the hills and down to Erving and back, via Old Wendell Road on the way out -- looked steep, but I thought I could manage it -- and several back roads on the way back, ending up for the last few miles going downhill on Warwick Road. Looked like a fine plan.
Of course there was a sign on Old Wendell saying Not Maintained. That's not usually a problem, but in this case the steep part was really not maintained -- one look at the rock-filled gully masquerading as a road and there was not a single thought given to trying to ride it. Maybe 10 minutes of hike-a-bike? Certainly not my favorite, but as it turned out, not the worst part of the ride.
That came on the way back, Flagg Hill Road, about 2 miles, lots of rocks, also sandy areas. I could ride it, but it took all my skills and my attention. The problem was the appearance in force of the FDFs. I was defenseless, blue hat materials back in the car, plus really wanting to keep both hands on the handlebars so swatting them was tough, especially on several sharp little uphills, and I was going slowly enough that they had no problem keeping up.
I don't know what the final score was. It's possible I got a couple, but they sure nailed me a bunch of times.
Other than that, not so bad. I sweated a bunch (it was hot), worked hard at times (nothing new there), and certainly enjoyed the last long downhill. But I don't think I will repeat that route again.
Monday Jul 17, 2017 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:39:10 20.57 mi (4:49 / mi) +1586ft 4:30 / mi
ahr:121 max:150 weight:136.5lbs
Up to Shutesbury and a couple of roads I haven't been on in a long time, and maybe never on a bike (just running). Legs were sore from yesterday, but climbed a few more today anyway. Mainly because it was hot, and it's a little cooler in the hills, and certainly more shade. Maybe 75% dirt road.
Sunday Jul 16, 2017 #
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 3:32:16 37.1 mi (5:43 / mi) +4606ft 5:07 / mi
ahr:129 max:161 weight:136.5lbs
Made it up Kingsley Hill. :-)
Started at the junction of Route 2 and the road up along the Deerfield River to Monroe Bridge and Reading, VT. Plan was to test myself on Kingsley Hill, and then continue on to see some places not previously visited.
Warm day. Took it easy all to way up to Monroe Bridge. Lots of people out rafting/kayaking/tubing on the Deerfield. Must say it looked more fun than what I was doing (although I was having a fine time).
Kingsley Hill was tough, 900' climb in 1.4 miles, first part especially steep. Made it up, lowest gear (obviously), but in reasonable control. See comments.
Then into Vermont. I'd only brought one (large) bottle of water and drank that before the hill, so stopped in Readsboro for another bottle and a bit to eat.
Then a bunch of hilly back roads working my way over to the upper part of the Bear Swamp pump storage facility in Rowe. Nasty hills getting to the reservoir, then a really nasty hill going down, steep, loose dirt, on the brakes hard all the way. Sure glad when that was done.
Except a moment later, back on flat pavement, a little hill coming, shifted to the smaller chainring and the chain dropped off to the inside and got jammed. Took me 10 minutes to get things back working again, and then the gears were running rough for the couple of miles back to the car. Obviously needs adjusting.
Quite trashed by the time I was done. Stopped at the first store I saw for chocolate milk. A good outing.
Started at the junction of Route 2 and the road up along the Deerfield River to Monroe Bridge and Reading, VT. Plan was to test myself on Kingsley Hill, and then continue on to see some places not previously visited.
Warm day. Took it easy all to way up to Monroe Bridge. Lots of people out rafting/kayaking/tubing on the Deerfield. Must say it looked more fun than what I was doing (although I was having a fine time).
Kingsley Hill was tough, 900' climb in 1.4 miles, first part especially steep. Made it up, lowest gear (obviously), but in reasonable control. See comments.
Then into Vermont. I'd only brought one (large) bottle of water and drank that before the hill, so stopped in Readsboro for another bottle and a bit to eat.
Then a bunch of hilly back roads working my way over to the upper part of the Bear Swamp pump storage facility in Rowe. Nasty hills getting to the reservoir, then a really nasty hill going down, steep, loose dirt, on the brakes hard all the way. Sure glad when that was done.
Except a moment later, back on flat pavement, a little hill coming, shifted to the smaller chainring and the chain dropped off to the inside and got jammed. Took me 10 minutes to get things back working again, and then the gears were running rough for the couple of miles back to the car. Obviously needs adjusting.
Quite trashed by the time I was done. Stopped at the first store I saw for chocolate milk. A good outing.
Saturday Jul 15, 2017 #
5 AM
Note
Went up to Vermont yesterday evening with Dave, Rick, and Tim, then manning an early aid station at the Vermont 100 from 5:30 to 9:00. Brought back some nice memories of that course and running ultras in general.
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 52:05 14.0 mi (3:43 / mi) +195ft 3:40 / mi
ahr:123 max:146
Short ride late afternoon. A little harder than I intended, thinking of maybe a longer outing tomorrow.
Friday Jul 14, 2017 #
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 48:03 10.4 mi (4:37 / mi) +781ft 4:19 / mi
ahr:122 max:168 weight:136.5lbs
Satisfying ride.
Just a short outing, the purpose being once up South Sugarloaf and hopefully putting in a good hard effort in the process. The challenge is similar to various time trials I used to run over the years -- you know it will hurt -- but I have much less practice doing it on a bike.
And so much less of a sense of how hard I can push without, I think the word is, cracking. And there is certainly a fear of cracking, because the assumption is at that point I'd be so wasted that I wouldn't be able to either keep going or unclip. Just sprawled on the pavement. Not a pretty image. So there's always a little held in reserve.
Anyway, nice cool day, low 60s, no wind to speak of, roads pretty much dry after morning rain. Did a proper warm-up. Just so I know for the next time I try, first part of the way in 3rd gear, then 2nd where it got steep, then a bit of 3rd before the hairpin, then 2nd the rest of the way. Pretty much max effort.
Only thing I screwed up was the Garmin, stopped it in the process of getting through the light at the bottom, didn't restart it until I was 1:35 up. But that was partly because I was taking my time on my regular watch, easier to see, but my mind was clearly overloaded.
Splits at usual spots: 2:49, 5:32, 6:35, 7:41, 8:26, 9:05 at the top. Delighted. Must be the new bike. :-)
And then a gentle cool down on the way home. It sure is nicer coming down Sugarloaf with disc brakes.
Just a short outing, the purpose being once up South Sugarloaf and hopefully putting in a good hard effort in the process. The challenge is similar to various time trials I used to run over the years -- you know it will hurt -- but I have much less practice doing it on a bike.
And so much less of a sense of how hard I can push without, I think the word is, cracking. And there is certainly a fear of cracking, because the assumption is at that point I'd be so wasted that I wouldn't be able to either keep going or unclip. Just sprawled on the pavement. Not a pretty image. So there's always a little held in reserve.
Anyway, nice cool day, low 60s, no wind to speak of, roads pretty much dry after morning rain. Did a proper warm-up. Just so I know for the next time I try, first part of the way in 3rd gear, then 2nd where it got steep, then a bit of 3rd before the hairpin, then 2nd the rest of the way. Pretty much max effort.
Only thing I screwed up was the Garmin, stopped it in the process of getting through the light at the bottom, didn't restart it until I was 1:35 up. But that was partly because I was taking my time on my regular watch, easier to see, but my mind was clearly overloaded.
Splits at usual spots: 2:49, 5:32, 6:35, 7:41, 8:26, 9:05 at the top. Delighted. Must be the new bike. :-)
And then a gentle cool down on the way home. It sure is nicer coming down Sugarloaf with disc brakes.
Thursday Jul 13, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:44:11 26.83 mi (3:53 / mi) +915ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:121 max:147 weight:137.5lbs
Heading north so gently rolling. Turners Falls and Millers Falls.
Wasn't expecting to get out today, but the rain departed. and isn't due back until late afternoon. With all the rain we've had this year, have to take advantage of the opportunities.
Wasn't expecting to get out today, but the rain departed. and isn't due back until late afternoon. With all the rain we've had this year, have to take advantage of the opportunities.
Wednesday Jul 12, 2017 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:43:55 18.61 mi (5:35 / mi) +2559ft 4:56 / mi
ahr:134 max:164 weight:137lbs
Back to a loop I did a couple of weeks, the main parts of which are a couple of good climbs, Cooper Lane and Patton Hill, just with the new bike. Got around 16 minutes quicker. Not sure to what extent I was working harder, was aiming for a relaxed pace with the exception of course of the two climbs. Average heart rate was 10 beats higher, but that seems to fluctuate a good bit day to day. So who knows.
Liking the bike. Specs are here, got the dark blue color because that's what was available, with the one change being a 11-36 cassette. Very glad I got that.
Liking the bike. Specs are here, got the dark blue color because that's what was available, with the one change being a 11-36 cassette. Very glad I got that.
Tuesday Jul 11, 2017 #
Note
Lots of excitement out front today. See the comment thread for today's ride for details/photos (didn't want to exceed my yearly allotment of space on my log proper, comments have no such limit).
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:15:14 18.58 mi (4:03 / mi) +555ft 3:56 / mi
ahr:116 max:141 weight:137lbs
Back roads in Whately, easy pace.
Monday Jul 10, 2017 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 53:55 14.19 mi (3:48 / mi) +313ft 3:43 / mi
ahr:123 max:146 weight:137lbs
Up the river a ways and then back through Montague Center. Not so bad, yesterday's ride was still being felt in the legs. Dropped the tire pressure down to about 65 and that seemed much better.
Sunday Jul 9, 2017 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 4:19:38 44.19 mi (5:53 / mi) +4265ft 5:23 / mi
ahr:138 max:161 weight:137lbs
Longish ride up in the hills with Walter, led by a friend of his Lloyd. Mostly fine, though I could have done without a bunch of hike-a-bike in the middle when Lloyd wanted to go by some old arch bridges and the biking to get there was challenging. And a bit too challenging for me.
Otherwise, fine. Probably 2/3 dirt? Lots of hills, a few steep. Strangest thing was not knowing where we were much of the time nor where we were going, since I usually know both of those quite precisely. But this was Lloyd's ride, so I just went with the flow. Didn't mind, just a strange feeling.
And trying out a new bike. Felt good, though I do need to knock the tire pressure down a bunch, think it will make a smoother ride, also better traction on the steep parts.
And a stop on the way back with Walter at The Creamery in Cummington, a piece of quiche because it's really rich and this is the only time it feels OK to eat such, also a couple of bottles of chocolate milk because it's just the best. :-)
Oh, and managed to smash my right thumb, but not bad enough to require amputation and not so much a concern since I'm not spending any time on the links anymore. It does hurt pretty good, but rode 40 miles after doing it so it can't be that bad.
Otherwise, fine. Probably 2/3 dirt? Lots of hills, a few steep. Strangest thing was not knowing where we were much of the time nor where we were going, since I usually know both of those quite precisely. But this was Lloyd's ride, so I just went with the flow. Didn't mind, just a strange feeling.
And trying out a new bike. Felt good, though I do need to knock the tire pressure down a bunch, think it will make a smoother ride, also better traction on the steep parts.
And a stop on the way back with Walter at The Creamery in Cummington, a piece of quiche because it's really rich and this is the only time it feels OK to eat such, also a couple of bottles of chocolate milk because it's just the best. :-)
Oh, and managed to smash my right thumb, but not bad enough to require amputation and not so much a concern since I'm not spending any time on the links anymore. It does hurt pretty good, but rode 40 miles after doing it so it can't be that bad.
Saturday Jul 8, 2017 #
11 AM
mountain biking 1:11:34 8.53 mi (8:23 / mi) +877ft 7:39 / mi
ahr:116 max:155 weight:137lbs
Time for a few miles in the rocks and roots. Got rained on about half the time, and everything was very slippery with all the rain we've been having, so was off the bike unintentionally I think 7 times.
Most were benign, lose traction going up and put a foot down, but one time going downhill, when I was going quite slowly and had just reminded myself that things were slippery, the rear wheel just went right out from under me and I had a more airborne dismount. Landed on my feet, but in the process whacked my right inside anklebone on the end of a handlebar as the two were going in opposite directions. Will be sore for a while.
Been riding on much easier stuff recently, so the tire pressure was up, maybe 60ish. For this stuff 25ish is better. Oh well...
Most were benign, lose traction going up and put a foot down, but one time going downhill, when I was going quite slowly and had just reminded myself that things were slippery, the rear wheel just went right out from under me and I had a more airborne dismount. Landed on my feet, but in the process whacked my right inside anklebone on the end of a handlebar as the two were going in opposite directions. Will be sore for a while.
Been riding on much easier stuff recently, so the tire pressure was up, maybe 60ish. For this stuff 25ish is better. Oh well...
Friday Jul 7, 2017 #
4 PM
biking - red bike 1:18:04 20.43 mi (3:49 / mi) +472ft 3:44 / mi
ahr:125 max:148 weight:138lbs
Up along the river, back down through Deerfield. Legs were tired, seemed like hard work.
Thursday Jul 6, 2017 #
10 AM
biking - red bike 2:33:03 29.75 mi (5:09 / mi) +3672ft 4:36 / mi
ahr:136 max:158 weight:137.5lbs
Same route as June 4, except this time on my road bike. Thought it would be faster and it was (2:55 that time), though I think I worked a little harder this time. And my legs felt OK today. And it rained for about 15 minutes, which cooled things off nicely. So the light bike was probably faster, but certainly not 22 minutes.
Regardless, a pleasant outing. Not really much suffering on the hills. And I'm getting better on the dirt roads -- maybe 75% of today's route -- in terms of reading the conditions and picking a good line.
Expect I will try the route one more time this summer with my third bike....
Regardless, a pleasant outing. Not really much suffering on the hills. And I'm getting better on the dirt roads -- maybe 75% of today's route -- in terms of reading the conditions and picking a good line.
Expect I will try the route one more time this summer with my third bike....
Wednesday Jul 5, 2017 #
12 PM
mountain biking 1:03:15 8.62 mi (7:20 / mi) +1043ft 6:35 / mi
ahr:119 max:143 weight:137.5lbs
A little more exploring of back roads and old woods roads, this time NW of Quabbin. Feeling pretty weary (had already been on my feet all morning), so midway through the ride when the time came to decide among various route options, it was an easy choice to take the shortest and easiest route back to the car.
Had two interactions with the cops prior to the start. I had parked just off of 202, both legal and safely out of the way, and I was feeling in no hurry to get going. Town (New Salem) cop pulls up, what I assume is a standard question -- "Everything OK?" Told him I was going out on my mountain bike in a few minutes, we chatted a bit, he was friendly and in a little bit he headed off.
A couple of minutes later a cop car pulls in a little ways behind me. At first I thought it was the same guy, just setting up to run radar, but then I noticed it was a state cop. I got out to get my bike out of the back, he got out, asked if that was my car. Huh?
I said it was. He said something about it being registered to a woman. I said it was registered to me and my wife, said maybe it was her name first, thought for a moment and said, no, my name is first. He quickly seemed to lose interest, in process letting on that they were looking for someone. I guess maybe whatever description he had of the fellow they were looking for did not include the trifecta of old, short, and thin.
Then I figured it was my turn to get to ask questions -- who are you looking for. He mumbled. Well, you looking for someone who's done something bad, or someone who's missing? He wouldn't say. What he would say is something like -- "There are a lot of bad people out there." To which I responded something like -- "Well, if I worried about that I'd never leave home and the next thing you know I'd be dead. I'd rather get out and do something."
Well, be careful, he said. To which I responded that I was more worried about the bears, and I really wasn't very worried about them.
And I think at that point he figured he was wasting his time with me and he got back in his car and drove off. And I had a nice smile on my face. :-)
Had two interactions with the cops prior to the start. I had parked just off of 202, both legal and safely out of the way, and I was feeling in no hurry to get going. Town (New Salem) cop pulls up, what I assume is a standard question -- "Everything OK?" Told him I was going out on my mountain bike in a few minutes, we chatted a bit, he was friendly and in a little bit he headed off.
A couple of minutes later a cop car pulls in a little ways behind me. At first I thought it was the same guy, just setting up to run radar, but then I noticed it was a state cop. I got out to get my bike out of the back, he got out, asked if that was my car. Huh?
I said it was. He said something about it being registered to a woman. I said it was registered to me and my wife, said maybe it was her name first, thought for a moment and said, no, my name is first. He quickly seemed to lose interest, in process letting on that they were looking for someone. I guess maybe whatever description he had of the fellow they were looking for did not include the trifecta of old, short, and thin.
Then I figured it was my turn to get to ask questions -- who are you looking for. He mumbled. Well, you looking for someone who's done something bad, or someone who's missing? He wouldn't say. What he would say is something like -- "There are a lot of bad people out there." To which I responded something like -- "Well, if I worried about that I'd never leave home and the next thing you know I'd be dead. I'd rather get out and do something."
Well, be careful, he said. To which I responded that I was more worried about the bears, and I really wasn't very worried about them.
And I think at that point he figured he was wasting his time with me and he got back in his car and drove off. And I had a nice smile on my face. :-)
Tuesday Jul 4, 2017 #
3 PM
biking - red bike 1:00:41 12.31 mi (4:56 / mi) +770ft 4:39 / mi
ahr:96 max:120 weight:137.5lbs
Went to visit Charlie and Rhonda, and on the agenda was a bike ride, all four of us. Totally enjoyable. Had to work a couple of times to keep up with Gail, but then a hill would show up and I'd be OK. But she lets it rip on the downhill. :-)
4 PM
biking - red bike 44:46 7.46 mi (6:00 / mi) +1099ft 5:16 / mi
ahr:128 max:158
And then back to Ratlum Mountain by myself. A good climb but took my time so OK. Steepest bit -- Devil's Elbow -- is at the top, so certainly saving myself before that. Glad I did it.
Monday Jul 3, 2017 #
9 AM
biking - red bike 1:15:35 20.2 mi (3:45 / mi) +499ft 3:39 / mi
ahr:122 max:161 weight:137lbs
Nice ride up to Greenfield, back via Old Deerfield. Sure makes more sense this year to get out in the morning, not so warm, if I can just manage to do it.
Sunday Jul 2, 2017 #
11 AM
mountain biking 2:25:45 21.52 mi (6:46 / mi) +1442ft 6:22 / mi
ahr:104 max:136 weight:137lbs
Went back to Quabbin, on the east side this time, parking at gate 40. Headed off with the plan to get to the end of Shaft 12 Road, and stay legal. Both accomplished, plus a side trip out to Grave's Landing.
Actually saw a couple of No-Bikes signs, plus the map posted 50 yards in from gate 40 showed all the side trails not on the on-line map as off limits. Though not all that I passed were actually marked as such.
Nice outing, though it got warm by the time I was coming back, and I was parched. Though not so out of it that I didn't get a good look at a moose that happened to show up just ahead of me on Southworth Road. A female or juvenile, no antlers and didn't seem real big. I scared it up the road a few yards and then it cut off into the woods and I never saw it again.
And a slight modification to the helmut, a larger landing area seemed to work, and no FDFs stuck to the helmut itself. Though the numbers look slightly lower. At the rate I'm going there shouldn't be a live FDF in the Quabbin in 5 or 6 months.
Actually saw a couple of No-Bikes signs, plus the map posted 50 yards in from gate 40 showed all the side trails not on the on-line map as off limits. Though not all that I passed were actually marked as such.
Nice outing, though it got warm by the time I was coming back, and I was parched. Though not so out of it that I didn't get a good look at a moose that happened to show up just ahead of me on Southworth Road. A female or juvenile, no antlers and didn't seem real big. I scared it up the road a few yards and then it cut off into the woods and I never saw it again.
And a slight modification to the helmut, a larger landing area seemed to work, and no FDFs stuck to the helmut itself. Though the numbers look slightly lower. At the rate I'm going there shouldn't be a live FDF in the Quabbin in 5 or 6 months.
Saturday Jul 1, 2017 #
10 AM
mountain biking 1:59:28 16.58 mi (7:12 / mi) +604ft 6:58 / mi
ahr:108 max:142
Maybe 150 of them? First time I tried on a bike helmut. Sure seemed to work.
Another tour of the old woods road at Quabbin, this time on the NE side from gate 33. Lots of stops, sometimes just to listen, sometimes to use the binoculars and/or the camera. Out almost 5 hours, wonderful.
Lots of FDFs, but only bothered me for a couple of minutes in the middle (must have been going through a dense population of them) and then a few minutes at the end (when the blue tape was at capacity).
Another tour of the old woods road at Quabbin, this time on the NE side from gate 33. Lots of stops, sometimes just to listen, sometimes to use the binoculars and/or the camera. Out almost 5 hours, wonderful.
Lots of FDFs, but only bothered me for a couple of minutes in the middle (must have been going through a dense population of them) and then a few minutes at the end (when the blue tape was at capacity).