Vermont to Switzerland
With the exception of a few local spins along the lake I’ve been off the bike. We have ramped up our Bakfiets mileage these last two weeks… and I feel we are just getting into our summer rhythm of farmer’s markets, lakefront festivals, and utility riding. The rain cover will be handy this week!
I DNF’d on the Boston 400k this past weekend. A lingering stomach bug crippled my morning, as my average speed dropped and dropped along with my caloric intake. I logged about 100 miles before pulling the plug, and added another 20 or so to make it to a safe and easy to reach retrieval point.
Thanks to the NERds for putting on what looks to be a great ride. The first half of the route was gorgeous, and aside from it being ‘Bike Week’ (loud motors, not muscles) my morning was as pleasant as could be, under the circumstances. Despite the cramping, needing to ride bolt upright for long stretches, and touring the interiors of numerous restrooms and port-a-lets – I tried to enjoy my father’s day weekend ride.
A nice surprise was that the route passed 2 projects that I recently designed at The Nature of Things in Nashua, New Hampshire, one of which was assembled and raised just last week.
~67 miles with Jim and Patrick. Most of the dirt is in smooth and wonderful condition. Plenty of climbing from steep rollers to Brigham Hill Road. I wanted for a century to scout a 300k route… but we opted for close in and backroads. We never ‘race’ on our Sunday rides – but we do work hard when we have to – and we’ll work well as a group to tackle some of the busier roads and to get out of the wind. This Sunday, knowing that we were going short, I attacked nearly every false flat, hill, and climb. The goal was to redline and repeat. I wanted to feel beat by the time I rolled home.
I succeeded and felt great doing it. The form is slow to return – but it is happening. Patrick was recovering from a 4 gapper the day before and Jim was prepping for a trip to Maine – so they idled it back letting me spin like mad off the front – only to catch me over the top and have me sit in and recover while they chatted away – effortlessly I tell you – while I struggled for breath.
Recovering from my non-ride and adventures in home ownership and repair I met Jim this Sunday for a casual cruise. We had planned a hilly route south and east… but the weather shaped our plans as much as the terrain and my legs. I felt strong from the go, but as our Sunday crew was down by 2 with Patrick kicking ass on the Westfield 400k and John sorting out the purchase of a home… Jim and I opted to keep it close to home. I was treated to a super secret bike path shortcut between 2 major roads before the
weather blew in and we dodged with cafe stops.
We logged about 25 for the day and I added another 15 getting to and from our start and finish. As we wrapped up at yet another local cafe the rain poured down in buckets and we sipped coffee as the front blew through. 10 minutes later I took off for home – clear blue sky with puffy white clouds and the fresh smell of green and growing and spring rain.
