Vermont to Switzerland
Indeed. As seen in a glossy cycling mag I browsed at a local cafe. Wonder if the open brakes were a oversight, or intentional. Can’t make out from the spec’s what size tire they can run – but brakes are listed as Dura Ace. Not sure if you can fit anything more than a 25 under there. Or maybe a Conti ’28’.
Local trails, Fargo this morning.
Lowered the saddle once I settled into the singletrack. That made a huge difference, especially on the technical bits. Tweaked the bar position.
Think I’m getting it dialed for both gravel and trail. This morning was – make adjustment, ride a lap, rinse, repeat.
The Vulpines roll well on the gravel and dirt – but they are definitely not a wet, snot, rock tire. Would love to have a 2.2 or 2.4 up front – and something sticky like a Nevegal. Would give me some more confidence in the slick. That said – rolling on a knobby isn’t fun – so the Race Kings or Vulpines will do for now, until I set up a second wheelset for eaiser changes. Riding trail on essentially a large cross tire is fun – and I can’t complain – I used to ride these same woods on 35s and 42s back when the CrossCheck was my ‘all-terrain-a-saurus’
Been riding the Pugs in the woods. Good fun to climb up and over rock and root.
First time I rode this short section, and hiked back to ride over this rock twice. Carry speed from the backside, and get behind the saddle coming down the front side.
Gaining confidence in the woods – it will be a long long time before I’m an effective technical rider though. Starting to enjoy the little obstacles that riding in the northeast gives you – rocks, rocks, roots, rocks, wet, slime – all in places least likely to allow your wheels to roll smoothly over them.
Mellow weekend. Farmer’s Market, morning rides, flowers in bloom, some industrious kids up in the woods, flood damage, more rain, gray skies, good fun.
We just received RUSA certification for the VT North Country 600k. More details over on the NERds site.
The North Country 600k is a challenging ride which will pass through the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Northern New Hampshire & Western Maine. The exact route of this ride is still under development but it will include upwards of five major climbs. Several of the climbs will include “Gonzo Pass” (NH-118), Kancamagus Pass, Evans Notch and Dixville Notch. This ride travels through rural Northern New England and so riders will need to be prepared for limited or no services between controls. In addition, high quality lighting is important on this ride as close encounters with moose are a very real possibility. This ride will pass through many small, picturesque New England towns and will cross several covered bridges.
Completely wonderful day, even if I felt fatigued (still) on the bike. ~45 of dirt, gravel, single track, bike path, and paved riding.
I rode out of town on some dirt, hit the wonderful Governor Chittenden gravel, rocky descent, then Johnnie Brook, which ends for cars and carries on for bikes as single track. Into Richmond proper, passing at the chance to stop at On the Rise, then up through the gorge on Dugway. All roads I’m familiar with.
Then Texas Hill and Economou Rd. Economou is silly steep, and it dead ends into the Hinesburg Town Forest trails – 18 miles of mountain bike goodness (less now from the blow down and damage from winter storms…). I met a rider wrenching his bike at the trailhead and he guided me up the old logging road (dodging trees, boulders, rocks, roots, and puddles). He split off (full suspension machine… would have been nice!) and I carried on to ‘Missing Link’ and then to ‘Backdoor’. A few minor navigational issues (not all intersections are signed) – and I was twisting and turning down the ravine to Lincoln Hill Rd.
The trail puts you out about 2/3s of the way up, so I climbed over the top and bombed into Hinesburg. Out of water and calories I puttered through town, and connected through Leavensworth Rd. I was late for lunch with my sweeties, so Jen and Ava met me inbound on Dorset, as they were heading to our meet up spot anyways… and I was pretty much spent.
I didn’t map my exact route through the woods, but traced a rough outline based on my recollection of the terrain. The large spike starts in Richmond and heads up Texas Hill and Economou Rd.
When I got home there was a box of Lake Champlain chocolates waiting, and a card with a note and some green colored paper labeled as ‘for TD gear’.
Perfect Father’s Day (except now I have to find the energy to lug an AC unit up from the basement to the second floor and get it installed in Jen’s office (and the guestroom)).
…are simply incredible. They have answered countless (likely inane) questions about the Fargo – sizing, geometry, stem flip-ability, availability, etc. etc. Then they made sure my local shop had access to the bike I needed, and took care of a glitch when the stock bike was missing some parts.
All good and great customer service, as one would expect, but a pleasant surprise.
But, when I sent off an email to double check what part # I needed for the replacement derailleur hanger… this fine gent sent me one straight out, so I’d have it in my hands prior to Father’s day. And I didn’t even ask. Wow.
Good folks. And now I get to ride.
Rain is subsiding. Lake is receding. Garden is growing.
