vermont – Page 51 – littlecircles

April 21, 2009

West Hill Shop

When I lived in Putney, Vermont the West Hill Shop was my local bike shop, hangout, volunteer sales job, and generally fun place to be. I just started to get to know the owner’s and mechanics quite well before I chased my bride to the big city of Burlington. Jim and Diny are some of the warmest folks I met (as the new guy in a town of 2600 +/-). The local racer boys were always friendly and helpful and the shop had a talent for attracting and keeping ace mechanics. The video they’ve posted to their home page brings back some fond memories…

We’re planning on using the shop as one of our 2 hour ‘sleep’ stops on the Flèche. I’m really looking forward to passing through my old riding territory and being able to catch up and hug some friends (for at least a few sleep deprived minutes!)

April 21, 2009

Spring Dirt 1.1

Jim brought the camera out this weekend. These are a few of my favorites snitched from his photostream.

April 20, 2009April 21, 2009

Spring Dirt

Spring ride with lots of dirt – a mental boost and a gear shakedown for next weekend’s 200k. We rolled out of town from our usual start along Mountain View and the always fantastic ’seasonal’ Governor Chittenden Road. Lots of gravel and a roaring brook. On to Richmond via a closed and muddy Kenyon Road – 10% or more in grade, skinny 28’s slipping in the muck when I would stand up. Seated climbing, rear over the rear. Great views to Camel’s Hump. Down into town on the wrong side of the closed bridge, follow the river past Cochran’s and to Jonesville and then up, up, up Stage Rd. (optional as Bolton Notch was gnarly and gravelly). Flying along the highland flats to Brown’s Trace and a stop @ the Village Cup. Busy Rt. 15 then on to Tower Rd. and into Colchester on Lost Nation, Curve Hill, and others. Loop out to the bay and home. Just about 58 miles, with some great climbing and scenery. The group (4 out of 5 Flèche teammates) worked well together – each of us pacing ourselves on the steep stuff and working together into the wind pulling on the flatter terrain.

An Independent Fabrications, A. Homer Hilson, Kogswell, and Gunnar...

... all dressed in Brooks saddles - a Swallow, B17, B17N, and a Swift.

April 16, 2009April 17, 2009

Mt. Philo

The little one and I hiked Mt. Philo today. Trail on the way up, road on the way down. Its a steep climb – steeper with 30 pounds of Ava and kid carrier on the back. Rounding the bend on the top to head down a single speed mountain biker was just clearing the top of the road. Disc brakes and a low gear… and a faint ‘Hello’. The road must top out at 18% +. There are places to get a bit of rest… but its work on a bike. About halfway down he bombed by us through a switchback, knobbies humming on the pavement.

April 12, 2009April 12, 2009

Spirited

Spirited 36 mile ride with the boys this morning. Snow flakes and cold cold wind. New rain gear proved good at shedding the wind – we’ll see how it does when it gets wet – but so far the Shower’s Pass Elite 2.0 is a winner. The design for venting on the new jacket is fantastic – I stayed dry on the inside despite working hard to keep up with the boys on some climbing, and dry after a few long pulls on the front into the cold wind. Coffee at Viva and then I rolled another 10 to hang with the in-laws and family for Easter early dinner. Spent some quality time with the little one reading from the nephew’s vast collection of books and snuggling with an array of cozy warm stuffed animals (a few of them larger than daddy!).

The little one exploring a story of birds...

April 10, 2009April 11, 2009

Streetview

Google Streetview has covered some of our fair city. I discovered this completely by chance today when I clicked a link to a map of a local business I was trying to find. I saw some bikes… so I started wandering around in virtual Burlington – when I came across one of my riding / rando / dirt road / Flèche teammates.

Not far from this image, but heading in the other direction is a local rider I’ve seen all over town – fixed gear, big messenger bag, bell, rolled up jeans with road shoes, and a u-lock. He apparently got in front of the GoogleMobile and was followed down Pearl and up Elmwood.

April 8, 2009April 8, 2009

Dusting

Closing down for the night I watched the rain turn to sleet turn to snow. This morning there was a dusting of the white stuff – nothing sticking to the roads – but it was cold and wet. Certainly de-motivating to get in some decent miles this morning. Cyclists tend to complain about the same things – helmets, drivers, and the weather. I’m officially done with the snow and the wet and I’m complaining. I’m positive that once my new rain gear arrives we’ll have sunny skies and mild temperatures and I’ll never need to wear it.

I was only in the cafe for a few minutes.

April 6, 2009

Calm

A calm morning, drastically different from yesterday when the wind and the lake was trying to push the river back to the mountains. Recovery spin for breakfast along the lake.

Have I mentioned how much I love this cycling cap?

April 5, 2009April 6, 2009

Snow? And Wind

Took off for what was hoped to be a century – but looking at the weather report this morning we knew it would be a stretch. Jim and I worked ourselves northbound to the Islands into an impressive howling wind with snow flurries mixed in to keep it fun. Temps started in the low 30s and barely climbed into the 40s. Cold toes, hands, and a chill building under the plastic jacket (better wet weather gear is on the way).

Jim waiting in the wind. We followed the Lake Champlain Bikeway for much of the ride.

I added another notch to my RCP award training with a stop @ Hero’s Welcome. No cinnamon bun this week – but a chocolate pastry that was wonderfully washed down with some much needed hot hot coffee. Text to the wife and another with words of encouragement to Patrick who was 100 miles into the Old Saybrook 300k… then off south to enjoy a bit of tailwind, and then crosswinds, all the way into town. Another ~80 mile day. It felt like much much more. The last 10 were a struggle, into the wind near the bay, with a respite along the lakefront MUP.

March 30, 2009March 30, 2009

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.

My first training ride towards my RCP (Randonneur Café Pâtisserie) Award. — My first training ride towards my Randonneur Café Pâtisserie award.

The death grate on the drawbridge to North Hero. I slid around here last year in the rain - this time I opted to walk.

James Black cycling cap from Bicycle Fixation... a beloved piece of gear.