Update – our Bakfiets is moving to a new home. The bike has been sold. Thanks for all the interest.
Bakfiets Sold
Cafe Grand Prix
First annual Cafe Grand Prix – ~60 miles, 3 cafes*, 3k of climbing. Tolerable paved sections, dirt, a bit of single track. Classic VT views. BTV to Richmond via Mountain View and Gov. Chittenden. On the Rise Bakery. Cochran’s to Stage Road. Up up up to Leary Rd. and Nashville Rd. A bit of a delay searching out a dead end – then to Plains Rd. And into Jericho for the Village Cup. Rt. 15 to Weed, 128 and Towers then back to the dirt on Lost Nation and the back way with a view to Colchester Pond. Return round the Bay and into town with a final stop at Viva Espresso.
*We skipped the last stop as our relaxed pace began to encroach on family time. The next version might have to turn into a century and include Red Hen Baking.
Formula
38/19 + 700×40 CrossTires + Burley + LittleOne + Gear + CSA Pickup + Errands = 42/16 + Saddlebag + 700×32 Slicks
Gear is still too tall to play in the rocky and rooty woods without hike a bike(ing) and my MTB skills need work. I do suspect though that regardless of how low I get the fixed ratio I’ll just find steeper rockier places to climb. And I haven’t really tapped into the ‘mountains’ yet. I have a triple crank from an old Bridgestone in the parts bin that might have to set it up as a single to get smaller rings on the front. Need some bike cave time to sort it out. Would love a reasonable tooth jump with a double dingle so I can switch from road(ish) to dirt(ish) with the same chain. I foresee a MTB in my future. Something that was bound to happen as soon as I parted with the Yeti FRO. Hadn’t ridden it in forever and it fit the Yak better than I – so it is now being ridden on a near daily basis – in the woods and dirt and single track of central VT – instead of hanging on a garage wall. CrossCheck suffers from too high a top tube and non ideal geometry for true MTB use. Maybe a 29r frame and fork I so can transplant all my parts…
River Sun
Sun over the Intervale. Mornings are crisp and dark. 38 x 19 fixed combination + 700 x 40 tires is still a bit tall for playing in the woods – but seems perfect for pulling the little one about in the trailer.
Morning Ride
Fall is in the air. Quick trip through the woods and along the lake. Legs still sore from our hike.
Sunday Dirt
Solo adventuring today on some favorite roads. Household stuff to do – so I kept it short to 38 or so. Shot some video descending Governor Chittenden Road – but the bar mounted camera bouncing around makes it nearly impossible to watch.
Proud V.2
Three years ago next week my (then soon to be) father in-law had a stroke. Yesterday Jen and I hiked him to the top of Camel’s Hump via Forest City, the Long Trail, and Burrows. Impressed and proud that he made the trek – he has been talking about hiking and climbing mountains since his first dark days in the recovery room.
We certainly tired him out – and the Forest City to Long Trail route was ambitious to say the least – but with our help he methodically scrambled the rock below the summit, cursing the vertical on the last push to the top – and did it all in style. We even managed to snag the bill from our waiter during a post hike feast – the entire day was our treat to celebrate life and recovery and possibility.
Wet
Trying to get a long ride in before some family travel sans bikes. Looking to be a wet one.
Granola Ninja Training Camp
Stumbled on this secret granola ninja training camp this morning while exploring the local woods. Camo painted extension ladders locked to trees, steel cable slack lines and rigging, climbing wall, tire swings, tree platforms and some sort of zip line. All minutes from downtown Burlington… just off the beaten path.
It is just up the trail from some mild double track, which turns to single track and then footpath. Some foot bridges and plank crossings back in this way too.
Wandering
Wandering the Intervale with the little one.
