Category: vermont

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Franklin Follies


Enjoyed the day with the GMBC Touring group on the Franklin County Follies on Sunday, June 3. I opted for the long ride – and as I wasn’t feeling well from the start I suffered . My stomach and allergies were causing me trouble and I overheated heading up some 14% grades through beautiful country on the way to Fairfield. The ride from Fairfield to Enosburg Falls was fun – especially seeing the older gent (I assume he wasn’t with the group) on the Colnago in full kit, sans helmet, climbing away up Duffy Hill Road.

I seem to have missed the re-group in Enosburg Falls – I kept looking for the store called on the cue sheet but it seems everyone camped out in front of the falls for a break. After a few circles through town I settled on the Brooks Pharmacy for a snack and I was off into a stiff headwind. I fought the headwind for what felt like the entire way home – 118 was very windy and rolling – with some good climbs thrown in for fun. There were a few occasions where the wind coming through the valley bounced me around quite a bit – and I got discouraging comments from a few riders coming the other way ‘Glad we’re headed home with a tailwind!!’.

I was cooked by the time I got to Averys Gore WMA on 118 – most likely dehydrated and still unable to find anything that agreed with my stomach (and I didn’t notice how much sun I got until my wife commented on the goofy tan lines from my gloves). The climb through the gore was wonderful – I’ll have to get back to this area again – hopefully when there aren’t many clouds so I can take in the long views to Jay Peak.

109 was pleasant (sans wind) after I hit some long downhills as I rolled towards 108.

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Share the Road


A plethora of hot air balloons took to the air over Burlington this evening. I was enjoying a ride through Colchester and Essex and caught up with many of them as they touched down in Williston.



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VT Car Care

Enjoyed a great 45 mile ride this afternoon – 50% of which was on some lovely dirt roads traversing Essex and Westford. I rode the IF with 28mm tires. I’ve found a sweet spot with the Continental GP 4 Season tires for riding on pavement – I’ll need to experiment more when riding on the dirt.

I came across these fellows somehwere in Essex who were busily working on what looked like their latest project. I’m not sure if OSHA would approve – but it looks like they ran the forks under the roof and picked the car up to work on its underside. They didn’t notice me stopping to take the pic – each busy at his own task – apparent that they may have done this before. Just off the road out front were 4 VWs – 3 Jettas and 1 Golf. Parked near the front door were 2 crotch rockets.

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Nebraska Notch

Took a quick 4 mile hike with Maya to Nebraska Notch. Explored some beaver ponds and enjoyed the fresh scent of the woods. It rained most of the day Saturday – the woods were filled with the scent of life awakening from its winter slumber.

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Crown Point


I joined the GMBC Touring group this past Sunday for the the Crown Point Caper. I chose the 40 mile option (and added some bonus miles for a navigational mistake). I rode to the start from Shelburne, so I had about 68 miles total for the day. I’d guess there were between 20 and 30 cyclists out for the ride.

The ride left from Vergennes and headed over the Crown Point Bridge to NY. A quick break at the campground and I headed back north, through some lovely countryside. The route was primarily flat – but the headwind on the way home wore me down – especially with the extra miles back to my starting point.

Southern end of Lake Champlain, from the bridge.

The bridge from Basin Harbor Road.

Bookends – Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. I’m in the planning stages of a RUSA Permanent that will circle both of these mountains.

A house somewhere in Charlotte. The owner must be investigating siding / enclosure options!

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May Century

I rode a wonderful century on Sunday. It was a picture perfect Vermont spring day. I travelled from Burlington through Richmond, Huntington, Bristol, Addison, Vergennes, Charlotte, Shelburne and returned to Burlingon covering 102 miles. The route I chose flanked Camel’s Hump, wandered over ‘Baby Gap’, and to the shore of Lake Champlain. I passed mountains, meadows, orchards and a covered bridge. 7:20 riding time, 7:50 total time with 4700 feet of climbing and an ugly crosswind and headwind for the last 40+ miles.

The Round Church in Richmond

Camel’s Hump

Camel’s humps

Covered bridge in Charlotte

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Fixed Exploring

Waterfront Sculpture

The Surly… the headbadge popped off the first time I cleaned the bike – the decals are proving rather stubborn.

Vermont Railway Yard

Totem File

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Random Riding

Vermont Spring. Lots of random riding over the past few weeks – been on the fixed gear around town and managed a fast 45 mile ride on the IF last Saturday.


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March Century

My March century was a sufferfest. With all the travel for work and play (see previous post) I’d only been on the fixed gear for short rides around town two maybe three times since my February century. It really showed – or I was having a really bad day.

I set out from Burlington and rode through Williston, Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes. In all I covered 108.5 miles with about 5,000 feet of climbing. The day started cold in the 30’s and climbed to the high 60’s. I suffered from mile 30 on, with a slight repreive between miles 96 and 106 where I felt great. I had trouble with just about everything other than the bike – eating and drinking on the bike were off, I was overdressed, then underdressed, and I was pretty sore in spots. I forced down a sports drink about 20 miles from home and it really helped – my electrolytes must have been out of balance – about 30 minutes after I was able to pick up the pace for awhile and enjoy the ride. I covered the distance in just under ten hours total time, with about nine hours on the bike. Last season I completed my first 200k (125 miles) and 7,000 feet of climbing while severely anemic in 9:46! Where have my legs gone?

I overhauled the bike after my February adventure and swapped out the Campy chain for a Wipperman. The Wipperman has made a huge difference – my drivetrain runs much quieter and I didn’t have any mis-shifts the entire ride. I’ve used their quick links on other chains and bikes – but this is my first experience with their chain and links. So far so good.

I’m not entirely sold on the Selle Anatomica saddle I installed this winter. It is noisy as the leather rubs on certain bits of the frame, and I could swear that as my longer rides go on I end up sinking closer and closer to the top of the seatpost and saddle clamp. Yesterday it felt like I was hitting the top of the clamp when I rode over rough pavement. I’ll experiment a bit more – but I may swap back to my well broken in Brooks Swallow.

After yesterday I am rethinking some of my goals. If it turns out I had a bad day (which can happen) – I’ll press on and try to complete my season as I imagined – if the trend of a really rough rides continues I’ll dial back my goals, focus on regaining lost fitness and having fun so as to not burn out / stress out watching my speeds drop and frustration set in.