Training Log Archive: PG

With Phil from his house. The weather forecast was a bit grim, dark green moving in on the radar within 30 minutes, but it never did more than sprinkle a little.

One good climb, up the Lake Bray road, the legs seemed to have some life in them. And one summit, Mt. Nonotuck, the northeastern high point on the Mt. Tom ridge, control #6 on the 2010 Billygoat. That was pretty ratty, lots of rock, unrideable for me at times. Hike-a-bike maybe 100 yards on the way up, 50 on the way down. But a totally respectable summit, and of course a bike selfie for evidence. And no, the tower isn't tilted, but I'd backed up as far as I could and to get the top and the bike in the photo.... :-)



The rest of the ride was just plain enjoyable -- no rain, pleasant temperature, little traffic, good legs, excellent company. As good as it gets.

C • Tilted 1

C • Tilted 1

Event: WCOC Summer BBQ, Sprints and Meeting
 

Easy ride, Montague Center area, except for the ups, which always get the heart going. Enjoying the scenery and the lack of traffic.

A really nice loop a little bit to the north of here -- Bernardston to Vernon, VT, the easy way, gently rolling roads with little traffic, back the hard way, over Huckle Hill. Still struggling a bit on the hills. The last pitch on Huckle Hill is real steep but only for a two or three minutes, and I was thinking, hmmm, if it was a little steep and I had to do it for 30 minutes that could be a problem.

Nice day, minimal wind, and way more pleasant now than later in the day.

C • E-Bike 6

Didn't get out early, but still early enough to not be hot, maybe mid-70s. Going to have to start getting out earlier.

Flat/flattish. No need to head for the hills today. Ended up putting in a decent effort, just about right.

Up in the hills a bit more, starting a little past Charlemont where the road to Monroe leaves route 2. The plan was (1) to see if I could get up Kingsley Road, heads straight up from Monroe, the first half at 20% or so, (2) then traverse over to Rt. 2 at Florida, with a nice climb (and then drop) on Tilda Road, and (3) a long downhill on route 2.

Of course, before I could start #1 I had to get up to Monroe, so I had an hour to think about it. And based on how I was feeling, I was not optimistic. Possibly even pessimistic. Possibly even very pessimistic. There is a difference between something that will be hard work and something that will be hard work and you will fail, and this seemed quite likely to be the latter.

Just as I got to Monroe there were orange signs, Road Work, and then lots more signs at my turn, the main one being Road Closed. Seems they were in the process of repairing a bridge, right at the start of the road. Several trucks, one of them blocking the road pretty completely. But as I looked up, past the 100 yards of mud and past the trucks, the road, other than being very steep and ratty pavement, looked fine.

I could have done it, or at least started.

But it didn't seem to take but a moment to start thinking about what my options were. One was to do a 180 and head back the way I'd come. Nope, boring. Another was to do the climb on the other side, Monroe Hill Road, and loop back to the car that way. Nope, done that before, and I wanted to do Tilda Hill. And another was extend my route a little, there was another way to get to the top of Kingsley Hill, longer, still climb, but not nearly so steep.

Decided on that, and within seconds I could feel my mood improving. And so it stayed for the rest of the ride. The hills got done, slow as always but no real suffering and no fear of failure. And then route 2 was a nice long wheeee.

Got to my car thinking, that was a satisfying ride.

Worked harder the first three miles to catch up to Gail, and then the rest was perfect, just the right amount of effort.

Nice day, getting warm. General Pierce bridge, Old Deerfield.