Local Landscape

Exploring the local neighbourhood on my bike as much as I can these last few weeks. Just up the hill from the house there are an abundance of farm lanes and gravel paths.

A Ride

Been exploring the local woods these last couple weeks of ‘stay at home’. Feels great to get back on the bike and get to know my neighbourhood.

The Bottom Fell Out

Finding my legs and lungs again on the bike, and I have a wonderful network of gravel and forest roads about 5 minutes from the new house in Switzerland.

The IF on a twisty and steep gravel downhill…

Sunday Dirt

Lovely ~30 miles with Greg exploring the pavement and dirt near Montpelier. This was the first ride on the IF in a long long long time, and I felt good, despite not riding much this summer.

We pedaled pavement out of Montpelier, made a stop at Maple Corners store, then explored dirt.

We eventually were swamped out, so we turned around and backtracked.

And stopped to enjoy the pond on the way back to pavement.

Sunday Dirt

Riding the bike with the gear of one on the track of single is starting to pay off. Did a short ride on the go fast bike this weekend – pavement our of Richmond then up Wes White Hill and Pond Rd. looping to Mayo and Dugway before enjoying post ride coffee and fritter at the Parkside Kitchen. ~16 or so miles, but I worked them hard to test the legs on Wes White and the follow on up Mayo.

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Its been a long while since I felt this good climbing… Wes White peaks out at 14%, and while the steepest parts are in the first mile, it carries on for another mile before settling down at the pond. Much more work to do, but I’m glad I re-discovered the Krampus as a single speed rig, its starting to pay off with my overall fitness.

Mt. Philo

I’ve been spending more time on the IF now that I’ve got the brakes and tire selection dialed in for my dirt / pave style of riding. Last Sunday I did a common road loop from Burlington out to Mt. Philo. I usually loop around the ‘mountain’ on dirt and take in portions of the covered bridge loop – but I decided on the way out to climb the road and take in the view. I felt stronger than I thought I would – and surprised myself.

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Its a short, but steep climb. ~44 miles round trip. And I felt good pulling into the headwind coming home.