Author: mb

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NERds VT 100k

We had 20 riders start the first RUSA sanctioned brevet in Vermont – the VT 100k Cafe Cruise. Lots of fun. Thanks to all participants, and special thanks to Old Spokes Home for providing us with a launch and landing pad. The early morning bagels did the trick to get folks going.

Start photo compliments Chris McCown @ Old Spokes Home

If we handed out awards, we would give them to:

  • 2 riders from the NYC area who road tripped to experience some good VT backroads and fine cafe food (stops at On the Rise and The Village Cup)
  • A tandem team who came over from the lakes region of NH for the ride.
  • 1 rider from Montpelier, VT (40 miles+ or more one way) who rode to the 7am start @ Old Spokes Home, finished the event, then rode home. (He’s doing the NJ 600k this week)
  • 2 riders who battled a mechanical and made it in just at the buzzer.
    • Climbing Stage Rd. - up and up on the dirt. Photo compliments Chris McCown @ Old Spokes Home
    Finish photo compliments Chris McCown @ Old Spokes Home

    First riders were in @ 4h20m from the start.
    Last rider in just at the buzzer after fighting a tube / tire problem.

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    Getting it Back

    More please. Of this, when I didn’t blink to stay up late at a bonfire, ride a century the next day, then drive 6 hours home. Or this. Or this. Life is about balance. I need to recenter about the bike, for sure.

    I just jumped off the coffee wagon, something I do on a semi regular basis now it seems. I’m getting my head sorted out. Mood is up (when I’m not in a sans-coffee induced stupor). Weight still needs to drop by 20 ‘pregnancy’ pounds (most of it was gone last fall before I blew out my back and my foot). And I need to claw back my fitness. Intensity needs to climb, as I slowly get a base back under me since getting the pneumonia out of my lungs.

    It will come. I’ve been here before. Mind over matter. And then maybe I’ll get some of it back. Feeling like you can climb mountains all day long. Riding all day long and then some. Floating on the pedals. Chasing down your friends that took off uphill. I remember. Gotta work on getting it back. The clock cannot be turned back. But the body can adapt.

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    Belief

    I wanted to believe in human powered lawn clipping.

    Sadly we exchanged the Brill RazorCut 38 German wunder machine reel mower for a battery electric model. It was lightweight. It was quiet. But it failed in slicing the dandelions and thicker grasses we have in our motley new yard. Perhaps if we actually wanted a ‘lawn’ and we seeded and planted and watered and manicured – a reel mower would do the trick – but not now, with the patches of weeds and crabgrass and thick lawn. Eventually we’ll return to the push mower when our edible backyard master plans come to fruition (and our budget bounces back after buying the new place…!) – but for now, an EarthWise from Gardner’s Supply will have to do to care for the green stuff that will pass as our ‘lawn’.

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    Pneumonia

    We had a tough week last week – the family was dodging colds while packing and prepping for our move. We made it. Closed on the new place last Tuesday, moved on Wednesday, and turned over keys to our old place on Thursday. We are settling in to our new (old) cape in Burlington with 1/3 of an acre blank slate of a backyard for the dog and little one to enjoy. We have trees, grass, a fence, and a small garage. Ball chucking with the pooch and chasing the little one around ensued. Life is good.

    Until that cough caught up with me. I went to urgent care Saturday morning after spiking a high fever and I’m being treated for pneumonia. Starting to feel human again after 2 days in bed catching up on some movie rentals. Hopefully my lungs will return in time to enjoy the VT 100k Cafe Cruise. It was going to be slow before I got sick, as I’m in a death spiral of riding form… now I just plan to enjoy a long day on the bike and to finish with some friends.

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    FB

    I have deleted my account on Facebook.
    Please contact me using ‘traditional’ electronic means.
    Folks who know me, know where and how to find me.

    Note that it wasn’t you – it was the service, the framework, the ever changing rules of the game on what is private, and what is not. And something just not quite right about the profitization of people’s lives, with little control by the people involved.

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    Brevets / Vermont

    I’ve teamed up with the New England Randonneurs to run 4 events this coming summer. It has been a long time dream to run brevets locally – offering great northern Vermont riding – right out of our back door here in Burlington.

    100k Cafe Cruise
    Champlain 200k/300k
    Fall Classic 114k – NEW!
    Fall Classic 200k

    Lots of dirt, great scenery. Vermont goodness on a bike.

    Please see the New England Randonneurs website for registration information.

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    Sunday Dirt – 100k Pre-Ride

    The usual suspects (and a new face!) rode a preview of the dirt on the Cafe Cruise 100k Populaire that I’m running in collaboration with the New England Randonneurs on June 13th. The ride is being billed as a VT ‘Intro to Rando’ – we start in Burlington, head to Richmond for the wonderful On the Rise bakery, then climb up to Jericho for the Village Cup. Rough guess is that the route is 50%+ dirt, with one section of single track (doable on a ‘road’ bike).

    Official route is pending RUSA certification and I’ll have more information up on the NERds website (and over there –>> in my ‘pages’) in a week or two after work and travel and house finding settle down. Also look for a return of the Champlain 200k/300k (and some more pictures here) with chartered bike ferry and the first official running of the Fall Dirt 200k.

    And I should note: physics cannot be avoided. The climb from the river on Stage Rd. hurt. In a good way. If you like suffering as an out of shape, out of form, still looking for a house, stressed out parent of a two year old… excuses excuses.

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    Tweak

    H-Bars on the Soma

    A small tweak. New Titec Jones H-Bars on the Soma Juice. I threw the Ergons on as I ran out of time to tape. So far I like them over the Soma Odin bar. Time will tell.

    Enjoyed a really slow roll on the lakefront Monday morning. Was under geared for flat riding – so I cruised along at whatever speed 32/19 would take me. Listened to the birds. Watched cormorants fishing. Sat by the lake. Slow bicycle movement – maybe I should sign up.