Category: burlington

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Stitching



Stitched together the last bit of a 200k mixed terrain ride… hopefully to become a registered RUSA permanent. Three route options range from 70 miles to 125 miles. The usual suspects will be tackling the 90 miles to verify the cue sheet in early October and I’ll get out solo to confirm the extended closing leg of the 200k route in late October.



Lots and lots of dirt – maybe 80% of the route. Plenty of climbing. Fantastic views to Mansfield and Camel’s Hump – even a quick peak at the lake and the Adirondacks. Country lanes, small towns, country stores, sheep, horses, and mountain ponds. The colors are just starting to pop – I think it will be the perfect leaf peeping ride.

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Not D2R2


At the last minute I canceled my trip to D2R2. Jen was feeling ill all day Friday so halfway to Deerfield I turned the car around and returned home to take care of the little one. As frustrating as it was to miss a ride I do need to keep perspective on family – and I managed to get the exterior decks sealed and tear apart and reinstall a new jamb on the front door.

I managed a quick ride on Sunday before heading off for points south for a work road trip. Down through Charlotte to spin my legs into a nasty headwind. The bike was rigged for D2R2 – I pulled the lights and fenders, and installed some Pasela 32’s. I’ve been riding the Pasela’s on the Surly – I’m not sold on them. I really like the way the Conti’s ride…


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Smells like Fall

Looks like it too. Did a quick ride with the boys tonight – I hadn’t eaten all day, and couldn’t bear to choke down the Clif Bar floating in the bottom of my Barley. I pulled hard for the first half of the ride and then was humbled climbing up Irish Hill. I let the boys go on the inbound leg – really wanted to hang as the wind was howling off the lake and could have used the help getting home – but I struggled in to warm soup and a smiling little one (and the cookies I baked earlier in the day!).

Feeling good for D2R2 on Saturday. I won’t set any course records and I’ll probably ditch my control card as I’m approaching this as an end of season sight seeing / social ride.

Building my plans for next season – I’m finally starting to feel like my base is back in form – now to hold it and improve it through the winter, ditch this extra baggage around my waist that I’ve been carrying around, and tune my fitness for a full brevet season capped with a 1000 or 1200k.

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Sunday Dirt


Got out for 50 this Sunday morning with Jim and John. We had a partial dirt tour from Richmond to Huntington and mixed in some quiet paved roads to stitch ourselves a loop. The three of us + Patrick are riding the D2R2 in a few weeks – and in addition to ‘training’ we all really like scenic, quiet dirt roads. We took the busy (even on a Sunday AM) Rt. 2 out of town, headed past Catamount on Mountain View Rd. – then dipped down to the valley on Gov. Chittenden Highway – a great seasonal road. In Richmond we followed the Winooski east a bit, then turned up on the edge of Camel’s Hump State Park. We were rewarded for the 15% grade with some great views of a quiet valley. Along pond road there is a – pond. We cut down to Huntington and then through the hollow to Hinesburg, scouting a few more dirt roads for a future ride. We wrapped up at John’s, and a cold Smuttynose hit the spot. I also picked up our cake pan from John – as we left it awhile back at dinner. It rode home on the Mark’s Rack (more on that later) held down with my improvised helmet strap / double strap method.



I met mamafiets and Ava at yoga for the ride home. I was tickled to see the Bak parked in a spot normally occupied by a car. Jen surprises me sometimes with her logic… which is great. At the beach she simply parked in the parking slot next to her girlfriends – at yoga she didn’t want to wrestle the bak over the curb – and figured if a motorcycle can park in the lot – then she could. (oh how I love thee…) I had 45 minutes to wait so I let the beer do its work and napped under a tree. We headed for home with a grocery stop and then were off to Plainfield to dinner with friends.

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Different Bikes for Different Folks


Good friend J was in town – he’s been touring the north east on his BMW GS. I plotted out some great dirt roads for him to explore – and on his way south he took in App Gap and lovely Rt. 100.

We enjoyed the usual Burlington and Church Street fare, including a short bike ride to the Winooski bridge. We spent the evening catching up after dinner, enjoyed a few local brews, and took the long walk home from downtown along the lakefront bike path as the sun was going down over the Adirondacks. J shot the portrait of Ava and I on the bridge – he borrowed my mountain bike that we have set up for guests. The last guest was 5’2″, J is 6’5″ or so… the saddle had to come way way up.

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Sunday Rain Ride


After a hectic week with the whole family coming down with a GI virus I managed to get out on the bike. We skipped the Boilermaker as we have all been under the weather – so any exercise was welcome – and I just wanted to spin the legs.

John and I managed ~34 miles today. I was on the Surly fixed gear and John got the A. Homer Hilson dirty. We had a great but windy start heading south to Charlotte fighting the wind – hoping it would stay its course through the day so we would have a tailwind on the return trip. We had drizzle and wind for a bit – then a torrential wind driven downpour soaked us to the bone as we neared the ferry landing. The wind and the rain were coming so hard that it hurt when it hit my face – we ducked onto a side road under some trees and slowed the pace for a bit – and decided to make it an easier day. We topped up our bottles and had a snack at the Old Brick Store in Charlotte – then added rain gear to keep warm for the return journey. I regretted leaving the rain cape at home – as I took the plastic jacket to try again to like it…

We explored a bit as we neared the lake front bike path – looking for an elusive shortcut through the woods and a condo development. We didn’t find the path – but we did find what looked like a stolen and abandoned mountain bike. We dropped it off at Burton’s headquarters and talked to some employees – they think the bike might belong to one of their fellow employees.

Most of the photo’s I’ve added lately have been taken with my Palm Centro. It’s not the greatest camera in the world – but I don’t have to carry an extra piece of digital equipment. I do like some of the effects I get when shooting a closeup while moving…


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Saturday


This weekend is a sales tax free (on items under $2k) economy jump start weekend here in Vermont. Old Spokes was packed when I arrived – I needed a few odds and ends to wrap up some maintenance. The racks were full – and a steady stream of folks were test riding and leaving with shiny new and refurbished bicycles.

I ran into John – he was out on the A. Homer Hilson en route from the farmer’s market home via the bike shop to pick up a Nexus 8 speed hub for his sweetie’s ride.


I made a quick stop in town at the farmer’s market – lots and lots of bikes out today. Juggler’s too. Picked up some just picked zucchini and fresh bread. Then made a stop at the local giganto mart for a few items. I’m enjoying the new Camper Long Flap I added to my bag collection – I could have easily fit a few days worth of groceries, rain gear, etc. etc. in the bag. I was carrying a U-lock, pump, tools, gloves, hat, fresh bread, 6 zucchini, peppers, onion, and a bottle of household cleaner.


The Camper Long Flap looks to be the perfect size for light touring and long brevets. I’m going to put it to use on the OneWay300k. I also have plans for several S24O to enjoy the fall colors – I want to explore some terrain in the ADKs as well as a quick ride to the Underhill side of the Mt. Mansfield area. I think the bag will easily hold sleeping and cooking gear – and I can strap the Hennessy Hammock to the outside.

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Snaps


Two snaps from last week. Met dear friends in town at Flatbread for dinner and enjoyed a lovely evening ride home, taking in the sunset on the Bak.


Playing with some Nitto Moustache bars on the Surly. Not sure if I like them – I need to get them up and away a bit – the only stem I have that fits is too short and too shallow.