Short wet and slick hike on the Sunset Ridge trail to Cantilever Rock. Inov8 trail runners continue to impress, even in the wet.
Recent Snaps
Summer is winding down. We’ve eaten fresh tomatoes nearly every day, with no end in site. Garden needs to expand next year. Shelburne Farms is a local treasure. Parking meter FAIL = free parking for dinner. Hiking in Mills Riverside is always a treat.
Fall Classic Update
RUSA certification of both routes is pending. I pre-rode most of the 114k route in the rain last Sunday. Course is as beautiful as ever, and will be much nicer when things start to dry out this fall and we get a bit of early color.
Some notes:
114k has ~35 miles of dirt road
200k has ~ 61.5 miles of dirt road
Surface quality will vary based on weather nearing event time. I’ve done most of these roads on Conti 28’s (26mm mounted) and recently on some fat(ter) Pasela 28’s.
Terrain ranges from high single digit grinders to double digit sharp rollers to several double digit climbs. Check the 114k elevation plot or the 200k elevation plot for a good idea of what gearing to bring. Or you can follow along in Google Earth. 114k link here. 200k link here.
What goes up does come down – and there are some wonderful dirt descents. Views to Mt. Mansfield, Madonna Mt., and Camel’s Hump are stunning from various vantage points along the course.
Worn
Worn Spécialités TA ring that has served me from early spring of 2007 until late summer of 2010. Swapped out the 30/46 for 32/48 as I’m trying to avoid buying new TA rings ($$$!) – so I’ll run slightly higher gearing this fall. I might drop to 30/44 for the Fall Classic 200k for bailout options as there is Shaker Mt. Rd. to get over in the second half of the ride.
Recent Snaps
We love living in Burlington. Spent time in the garden, and did a bike cruise to the Intervale for Summer Thursdays. Flatbread, ice cream, music, and time to run around with the little one.
Dirty
Course checked most of the 114k Fall Classic route on a wet, rainy, and muddy day. Slow going in some parts with all the water we had flowing… but good fun to be out on the bike. Modified the route as I took off and returned from home. ~3800 ft of climbing (by altimeter), average grade of 4% with max grades (several!) topping out at 16%. Lots of high single digit grades on dirt (short, sharp climbs) – and some double digit grinders. The wet slowed me down – but I still pulled out ~80 miles for the day. If we get a wet spell prior to the big day I’ll be running some 32 cross tires on the IF.
The first photo in this post is from a spot Thompson Rd., just as it turns to a single lane for a great descent. On clear days it looks like this.
This was the last ride for my current drive train components. Big ring is shark finned, chain was finished about 150 miles ago, rear cassette is showing its age in the middle range. I am debating running an 8spd setup on the rear – using my Ergo 10 lever to pull a Shimano rear mechanical over an 8spd cassette. Cost of keeping up the 10spd is pretty high when playing in the dirt…!
Fall 114k! (and 200k)
Requests have been made that I add some shorter routes to our VT Brevet calendar. I aim to please – so I’ve added a 114k (71 mile) Populaire to the calendar. This ride will run concurrently with the Fall Classic 200k on September 25. The routes share the first 53 miles – which will allow friends and family to have a good, partial day on the bike and enjoy a control stop together at the popular Village Cup.
Start time is 6am, but I’m working to change that to a bit later. RUSA certification is pending – we may not get the 114k done – but an unofficial ride will still be available – cues and such available at the start.
reCharge
Up early. On the trail by 7:30 – 7:45. Mt. Mansfield ‘The Forehead’ by 9:30. Eating lunch in Underhill by 11. Good morning, off the bike, but a much needed recharge hike.
Champlain 200k/300k
We had a successful running of the first RUSA sanctioned 200k and 300k brevets in Vermont this past weekend. 9 riders started the 300k and 21 riders started the 200k. I was running on 3 hours of sleep – so thanks to everyone for patience at the start. A larger turnout than expected had me juggling multiple forms, sign in sheets, checks, and trying to make change – all at 4:30 am. I’m sure I made some good pre-ride theater.
The ride started with a cruise through Burlington to the Local Motion Bike Ferry – 11 miles away at ‘The Cut’ in the Colchester causeway. Our pilot was waiting for us with a smile – and we ferried everyone across in just under 1/2 hour.
The first 45+ miles of the route is about as flat as you can get riding in Vermont. We cruised past orchards, vineyards, and eventually over the largest obstacle in our path – the bridge to NY. Our first control was at Lakeside Coffee and staff greeted us with a knowing smile. A quick breakfast and recharge was had and we headed out for another 35 miles of flat(ish) roads south and through Plattsburgh, NY. Pacing ourselves on NY state’s very smooth roads and passing marinas full of sailboats we noticed the temperature started to resemble ‘HOT’. Even the breeze started to feel warm.
Our small group – now collectively the Lanterne Rouge of the 200k – made a quick stop for fluids and salty foods – then pressed on into the terrain of the Adirondack Park. Up we went – to a not so secret control / resupply stocked and staffed by our pre-ride volunteer and his wife. More ice, liquids, V8, and salty foods were consumed. Our group decided to split up at this point – two of our five cut the ride short with a trip across the Burlington – Port Kent Ferry. They happily took a DNF on their first brevet settling instead with a century – their longest ride…. ever.
Three of us pressed on – up and down and up and over Highlands Rd. which seemed to have an infinite amount of miles of double digit grades. Temps reached into the high 90’s and on this very quiet road we rested and slow climbed in the shade of the opposite lane. Our group felt the heat and we stopped prior to the Charlotte Ferry control to restock on liquids. After 2800′ of climbing in the last 22 miles the ferry ride was a welcome break. The cool breeze created as we motored across the lake was welcome – and we rolled out from Charlotte in good but tired spirits with enough time cushion for a mechanical or food stop. We had neither – and slogged on in the heat to the finish – even getting passed by roadies returning to Burlington on Spear St. pulling twice our speed. Greg and Chris finished their first 200k rides, and Greg finished his longest ride – ever.
After a quick bite I put on my organizer hat on and set up for returning 300k riders. We had 7 riders still on course – 1 300k rider finished before we knocked out our 200k and we had 1 DNF due to switching to the 200k course. 300k riders rolled in about evenly spaced for the next 3 hours, and all riders were off course by 9:45 pm.
Unofficially it looks like we had 14 finishers for the 200k (with several riders indicating this as their first brevet!) and 8 finishers (+ our pre-ride volunteer) completing the 300k.
Thanks to Anthony and his wife for baking in the sun and giving up their Saturday to staff and stock our not so secret control atop the climb in NY, and thanks to the Old Spokes Home for hosting our start and finish.
Our next event is the hilly and scenic Fall Classic 200k – with lots of dirt, climbing, covered bridges (5!), and early fall Vermont color. We’re hoping to add a 100k option for those looking for something shorter or to ride with family and friends… keep a watch on this website or the RUSA calendar.
Champlain 200k/300k Final Notes
Just an update on the VT 200k/300k: