Training Log Archive: PG

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.

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...

Up along the river, back down through Deerfield. Legs were tired, seemed like hard work.

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....

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. :-)

C • I can't help but wonder 3

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. :-)

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.

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.