Camel’s Hump from the east, rain clouds. Taken on my way home from a job site.
Water Drops
Morning water drops, Starr Farm Park in Burlington
VT Fall Classic 2012
We had 40 riders start the VT Fall Classic last week. And, as a rider from Washington DC pointed out, it seems that it will not be a true ‘classic’ unless the weather offers up a challenge.
I rode the short course with friends, and in my haste as organizer I DNF’d before I even left the parking lot. My hot pink brevet card was sitting on the counter at the Old Spokes Home, where I was staging sign in and registration. Realizing this at the first control I accepted my fate but still enjoyed the ride. Any day on a bike is a good day, regardless of speed, time, and finishing status.
It has become harder and harder for me to write about this course and this ride. I developed the original route as a personal ‘birthday ride’ for myself over the course of 3 years, initially started during a time when my wife and I were adjusting to being new parents, and dealing with residual medical issues. There was alot of adjusting and pain (mental and physical) in those days, and my riding time plummeted from previous years. Getting on the bike was a gift, but one with the stark realization that my fitness was gone – and riding dirt roads with steep grades over long distances was something I was going to need to really work at – which continues to be an ongoing process.
After a few unofficial, non event scouting missions of both halves (there are almost 2 distinct north and south rides tucked within the long course) I launched the first official RUSA event in collaboration with the NERds to great weather and good roads in 2010. We’ve since grown the number of riders, tweaked the course and controls a bit, and have had rain and cold at some point during the rides ever since.
The 2012 edition proved promising from the start. A large contingent of riders converged on Burlington from ME, MA, VT, NH, NY, Washington DC. I ran into Lovely Bicycle! and her troupe on Saturday afternoon as they were exploring the Old Spokes Home (the start and finish of the ride), and I met up with more riders later that evening at a very crowded Farmhouse Taproom. Small groups were able to sit together and share food and drink, and eventually folks parted ways to rest for the late(r) (7am this year, instead of 6!) start.
Sign in went smoothly. We had quite a few folks who showed up ‘day of’. Hank Stokes volunteered at the start and finish (Huge Thanks to Hank!) and made sure everyone got off to a good start, and was at the finish with hot coffee and pizza. Bikes ranged from a few carbon racing machines, some classic and classy steel rigs, modern Indy Fabs (Ti and Steel), a couple of Rawlands, a pair of Velo Orange, and I think we had a mountain bike. We also had a rider complete the long route on a fixed gear.
At 7am I sent everyone off, and a small group of us left a few minutes later. The route rolls out of town, where eventually the road turns up, and we start to mix in dirt. I drifted between a few sets of riders near the back of the group, and enjoyed the morning fog and fall color, as well as the company of friends from Maine. I spent much of the day with Greg, who convinced a friend to ride – although he thought he signed up for our Cafe Cruise… a much different experience than the Classic.
For our little group, the rain held off until just afternoon, as we left our stop at the Village Cup. We covered the last ~22 miles in various stages of downpour and solid rain. At some point I got separated from Greg and others, and after soft pedaling and standing under an oak tree I just couldn’t wait any longer as I was getting cold – so I finished solo. I was about 7 minutes out of the time limit, had it mattered. I changed into dry clothes, wolfed down some hot coffee and pizza, then got picked up by the wife and girls, so I could snag our car. I made it back to Old Spokes, relieved Hank from volunteer duty, and waited and welcomed 200k riders in from the wet.
Despite the rain everyone returning was pleasant and had smiles on their faces, many excited that they finished, and offering compliments on the course. By about 7:15pm we had accounted for all riders, and for the first time ever running an event I was able to get home early.
40 starters (50, had all that preregistered been able to make it)
10 riders officially finished the 123k route within the time limits. Another 4 finished after the cutoff. And 3 of you finished on time but walked off with your brevet cards, or didn’t turn them in…
12 very wet riders finished the 200k route.
Be sure to check out the Old Spoke’s Blog, Dave’s report, Lily’s report, and Lovely Bicycle!’s (pending) report and photos.
Wet Saturday
Wet Saturday ride after a big front blew through. Leave, branches, debris and water everywhere. The bike geek in me revelled in the wet – enjoying the warmth of wool covered by my Shower’s Pass jacket and Rainlegs.
Wet
Trying to get a long ride in before some family travel sans bikes. Looking to be a wet one.
Turtle
A wet friend this morning, as the rain comes down again. Oddly enough, I’ve been thinking about single speed and fixed gear bikepacking while out on the Surly. Perhaps I’ve channeled Kent ‘The Mountain Turtle’ Peterson to Vermont? (Kent is ‘practicing‘ for another ride on the GDR, and his site is inspiring, for sure!)
Sunday Not Dirt
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.
Wet and Windy
~80 miles to North Hero in the rain and wind for a delicious cinnamon bun and coffee at Hero’s Welcome. This was my first training ride as I reach toward the coveted RCP Award (Randonneur Café Pâtisserie). Temps were cool on the way out of town, rain drops few. Wool layers worked well until the deluge started and then the plastic shell held off the chill for a bit. I followed the Lake Champlain Bikeways route from town up to the Islands, including a wind blown and dreadful stretch on a surprisingly busy Rt. 2. I brought the camera, only to turn it on and get an error for leaving the memory card elsewhere… so some blurry pics from the smartphone. This portion of the route is on the Celebrate Champlain 300k to be run July 26th.
Spring Rain
Wonderful trip into town today amidst a softly falling rain. The smell of spring is wonderful. The Carradice rain cape kept me dry, and Ava stayed snuggled in the Clarijs cover. We took a short detour to cross the Winooski bridge a have a peak at the Adirondacks.
