I managed to ride my February century on the last day of the month. I left the office far too late and rode another slow century around Mt. Mansfield. It was sloppy slow ride of mechanical mishaps – I lost my rear blinkie from my Carradice twice (the second time over some railroad tracks killed it), the chain sucked into the chainstays twice, I dropped the chain once, the new saddle needed several adjustments, I fell (clipped in, landing on my knee) leaving a convenience store as an SUV doing twice the speed limit bore down on me, and my computer ejected itself from my stem 2 miles from home. I chalk the drivetrain mishaps up to the salty overspray that coated the entire bike – my chain was in trouble at about mile 50 and I listened to it chirping the rest of the way home. It took me half a day to do a proper cleaning – and for good measure I pulled the bottom bracket to find it filled with water (most likely from cleanings and last falls rain rides).
The middle third of this ride was wonderful – great views as I pedaled through Johnson, Hyde Park, and Stowe – the landscape very different from January – lots of snow on the ground and in the mountains. As I left Waterbury the sun set and the runoff started freezing. The last 20 miles was misery into the wind heading back to Burlington and dodging ice on Route 2.
A fountain or spring in Stowe that has frozen over and over… this was not here last month!
I miss this sort of winter landscape. In western Mass (where I lived), or in Vermont, you get to live in two places but without the hassle of moving. A lush green environment for half the year and a stark white environment the other. Beautiful pictures.
Thanks for the comments on the photos. Winters been a long time coming this year! Some days I do dream of living somewhere warm… but its typically when I haven’t been outside in a few days. It only takes a few minutes turning the cranks to realize how wonderful it is to have seasons – even cold ones.
Living in Canada I can say that winter is fun for about a month. After that it becomes a drag and you pine for the warm days of summer and long bike rides. I am going to try and commute through next winter. I can’t believe I just typed that…lol…now I’ll have to really do it!
Mike you got a nice ride in hopefully had all your mechanical bad luck for 2007 in one shot…=-)
Hi… Thanks for the nice comment. You must have drifted over from my buddy Kent’s blog
Gorgeous pics here, but I’m sure you all are past ready for the arrival of spring. Hold tight, I feel it approaching!