Training Log Archive: PG

Sweet. And even figured the route just about perfect, a little margin for error but not much. The watch rolled over to 73 just a few seconds before I reached the bottom of the driveway. :-)

Route.

I've been thinking for a while about doing a 73-mile ride on (or about on) my birthday. What I was really thinking was I should do a 73-mile ride with 7,300 feet of climb. The reason was that the course was already there -- the 115K route of the D2R2 -- and the numbers were perfect. The course was clearly calling to me.

But there were a couple of problems. I really preferred to do the ride today, but first I had to drive my brother and his wife to the airport and I wasn't back home until close to 11. The 115K, lots of hills and mostly dirt roads, would probably take 7 hours or so. There really wasn't going to be enough daylight. And there are no places along the route to get water, so I'd have to carry a lot. And today was warmer than I cared for, and more humid too. It clearly wasn't in the cards.

But sometime this morning plan B popped into my mind -- I hadn't ridden around Quabbin Reservoir for quite a few years. Hmmm. Looked up the data. Last time was 2010, 4 hours 50 minutes for 72.8 miles, 3:59 a mile.

Thought about it a little, just a little, why not. Got organized, made a couple of little modifications to the route, one to put in a few miles of dirt roads instead of going over the top of the hill in Wendell, the other to fiddle with the route at the end to make sure I got to 73. The big change was in recognition of the day's weather, winds from the south at 15 mph or more. Thought a bit, decided clockwise would be easier than counterclockwise, get the headwind all the way down the east side of the reservoir where there should be occasional shelter from the wind, get the tailwind at the end, all the way back from Belchertown.

Off I went, said I'd be home by 5;30, it gets dark not much after 6.

Felt tired much of the time, especially the first part. Wondered a few times if I could manage it. But the miles kept going by. The wind was certainly there, pushing me around sometimes, but the last 19 miles with the wind mostly at my back were really fine. And I was home by just after 5. :-)

I am reminded, as many times in the past, of the old phrase -- "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." A fine way to celebrate my birthday.

C • Nice. 6

Enjoyed a very fine visit from Inara and Barney. And their parents are pretty cool too.

Relaxed ride on this side of the river, with the exception of going up Cave Hill Road, held a steady pace and that got the heart rate going. Another beautiful day.

Gorgeous early afternoon, bright blue sky, low humidity, about 60F, breeze from the NE. Felt chillier than I expected. I was trying on my arm warmers for the first time, figured I'd take them off after a bit, but ended up keeping them on the whole time. Could have just as well worn a LS shirt. But they do give me options, and easy to tuck into a pocket if not needed.

Across the river and over to Whately Glen, but instead of taking the unmaintained road up, I took the woods road that goes along the stream and then the main reservoir, so about two miles of mountain biking.

Whoever built that road many decades ago didn't spend any extra effort trying to lessen the grade -- lots of short but steep ups and downs along the way. Had to hike one of them, didn't even try it, but managed to get up a couple others that looked beyond my skill level, but just barely.

Stopped at the reservoir for a couple of minutes, surprised to see it down 8 or 10 feet. I'd thought we've had more rain this year, but maybe not.

C • water 4

Up the east side of the river to Turners Falls, back through Old Deerfield. Bit of a breeze from the NNE.

Put a little more air in the tires before I started. They had been about 40-45 psi, upped it to 55-60, more where they ought to be. Bike was certainly rolling better, though I was contributing some effort too.

The sun showed up again after a couple of days with lots of rain, so no reason not to get out. Breezy, out of the NW, roughly. Seemed like I was working harder than usual, but not necessarily making all that much forward progress. Some days are just like that.

On the flats across the river plus a little bit up in the Whately hills.

C • Westbrook Rd 4

The beautification project is almost done. The place has certainly improved, now has at least a smidgen of self-respect.

And certainly looks better than the local football team, now #5 in the rankings.

C • UMass 2