Day 14 - the last big ride day, 87 miles and 4000 feet of climbing and threat of rain. Of course, it was hot and humid. Once again, I found Dr. Richard and followed his controlled approach to long distance cycling.
Our goal was to beat the rainstorms.
I was a bit tired from the ride yesterday but soon got into a rhythm after 10 miles.
Leaving VT and entering NH, we started climbing and most of the climbing was in the first 2/3 of the ride. Great roads in NH but as we got closer to MA and Boston, traffic picked up and the last 30 miles were "interesting" especially around Burlington.
Everyone was happy the major rides were now completed. I rode for two weeks and 1200 miles to this point. The others 3400 miles. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who rode from LA all the to Burlington and to Boston tomorrow, 18 miles. Everyone agrees, I can walk that.
Below is the my Garmin Motionbase Database. Just click on it and you can see the stats for the ride plus a map of the the ride. It is really cool stuff.
CR Brattleboro VT to Burlington MA Road Biking Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, United States MotionBased Dashboard
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Day 13 Albany to Brattleboro VT
Finally I am loading the last 3 days of riding. First, the Albany ( actually Latham, NY) to Brattleboro. Previous riders had stated this was the toughest days riding on the LA to Boston trip. Close to 6000 feet of climbing in 78 miles. All of us were apprehensive.
The day started at 7AM and it was humid and the forecast was for temps in the high 80's with comparable humidity. Three of us teamed up with Dr. Richard as he always sets a consistent pace and manages his energy ( and His philosophy is that he has a full bucket of water at the start and the goal is to have the last drop come out at the end. You have to manage your heart rate and keep it low while also maintaining a good pace) very effectively (68 years old and rides like he is 30). We left Latham and rode to Troy, NY ( 4 miles). We skirted South Troy riding past Russell Sage College and headed up Route 2. The climbing out of Troy told us of what was to come.
Eastern NY is farmland and very pretty ( and unlike Ohio, dogs are friendly). Vermont, going in to Bennington, is equally scenic. We stopped at the Bennington Monument for a much needed "break," and a quick history lesson about Col. Stark defeating the British in 1777 ( must have been an early Marine !!).
Now the real riding began. After leaving Bennington, we had an 8 mile climb to do. The first 5 miles were an average grade of 6% and the next 3 were 10/11% grades. This was the first time I had rode a sustained climb like this and I felt real proud ( and a bit tired at the top). Dr. Richard and I pasted several of the lead group going up. Amazing thing is he kept his heart rate below 140 all the way; me, I was banging the low 150's here and there. Once we got to the top, the downhill was fantastic. Averaged 35mph going down with an unexpected 45mph on one stretch. Scared the heck out of me.
We arrive in Wilmington, VT and re-fueled at the SAG stop. We had one more big climb over Hogback MT before the end. The climb was mostly 9 to 11% and trucks galore. Going downhill was a tad scary with a 2 lane road and semi's breezing by.
Finally Brattleboro, and Dr. Richard and I were the 4th and 5th riders in. The "A"" riders beat us by 25 minutes.
Ann arrived an hour later and with beer and snacks. What a gal, I love her.
Below is a link to my Garmin GPS Motionbase dashboard. All the stats are there plus a satellite map of the ride.
CR Albany to Brattleboro VT Road Biking Cohoes, Albany, New York, United States MotionBased Dashboard
The day started at 7AM and it was humid and the forecast was for temps in the high 80's with comparable humidity. Three of us teamed up with Dr. Richard as he always sets a consistent pace and manages his energy ( and His philosophy is that he has a full bucket of water at the start and the goal is to have the last drop come out at the end. You have to manage your heart rate and keep it low while also maintaining a good pace) very effectively (68 years old and rides like he is 30). We left Latham and rode to Troy, NY ( 4 miles). We skirted South Troy riding past Russell Sage College and headed up Route 2. The climbing out of Troy told us of what was to come.
Eastern NY is farmland and very pretty ( and unlike Ohio, dogs are friendly). Vermont, going in to Bennington, is equally scenic. We stopped at the Bennington Monument for a much needed "break," and a quick history lesson about Col. Stark defeating the British in 1777 ( must have been an early Marine !!).
Now the real riding began. After leaving Bennington, we had an 8 mile climb to do. The first 5 miles were an average grade of 6% and the next 3 were 10/11% grades. This was the first time I had rode a sustained climb like this and I felt real proud ( and a bit tired at the top). Dr. Richard and I pasted several of the lead group going up. Amazing thing is he kept his heart rate below 140 all the way; me, I was banging the low 150's here and there. Once we got to the top, the downhill was fantastic. Averaged 35mph going down with an unexpected 45mph on one stretch. Scared the heck out of me.
We arrive in Wilmington, VT and re-fueled at the SAG stop. We had one more big climb over Hogback MT before the end. The climb was mostly 9 to 11% and trucks galore. Going downhill was a tad scary with a 2 lane road and semi's breezing by.
Finally Brattleboro, and Dr. Richard and I were the 4th and 5th riders in. The "A"" riders beat us by 25 minutes.
Ann arrived an hour later and with beer and snacks. What a gal, I love her.
Below is a link to my Garmin GPS Motionbase dashboard. All the stats are there plus a satellite map of the ride.
CR Albany to Brattleboro VT Road Biking Cohoes, Albany, New York, United States MotionBased Dashboard
Friday, June 29, 2007
FINISHED !!! 1215 miles
Here are pictures of Dave, kneeling on left and the whole group at Revere Beach. The other pictures show the final ride to the beach, after they regrouped so they would all arrive at the same time.
The whole group rode to Revere Beach from the hotel in Burlington, MA. The LA riders completed their cross-USA journey of 3340 miles having started May 12. I am just amazed at their endurance. We have riders aged 71, 69, 80, etc. and the 69 year old is one strong rider.
The ride to the beach today was a bit scary; lots of traffic, the riders in a group all excited and really not watching what they were doing. It was best to ride in the front or hang out in back ( I did the latter). Families joined their riders at the beach and there was a big celebration with many jumping into the ocean.
Later , I will post the rides from Albany, NY to Brattleboro, VT (80 miles, 5500+ feet of climbing) and Brattleboro to Burlington yesterday ( 88 miles and another 4000 feet of climb). I feel very good about both rides.
Talk to you later.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Day 12 Syracuse NY to Little Falls NY
The ride today was 78 miles, average speed 16.7 mph, 1600 feet gain in elevation, 4 hours 41 minutes of riding time. 4200 calories expended. Cumulative miles 958.
We had a nice ride today, rode along the Erie Canal for a long time. I was riding in a pace line for along time. The first Sag stop had a couple of ponds and a lot of us were skipping stones. The smallest chapel in the world was on a platform in one of the ponds. It is called Cross Island Chapel in Oneida, NY. Built in 1989 floor area of 51 inches by 81 inches, it seats two people.
Lots of the people on the ride are saying that New York is one of the prettiest states on the ride,
In Little Falls we walked to the barge canal and saw a boat go through a lock. The lock keeper was explaining the working to the group.
Posted by Ann, we might skip a day in posting. I am going to drive to meet Dave tomorrow and follow along to Boston. We might be able to update the blog with some pictures and route info from Dave's Garmin once we get it connected to the computer.
We had a nice ride today, rode along the Erie Canal for a long time. I was riding in a pace line for along time. The first Sag stop had a couple of ponds and a lot of us were skipping stones. The smallest chapel in the world was on a platform in one of the ponds. It is called Cross Island Chapel in Oneida, NY. Built in 1989 floor area of 51 inches by 81 inches, it seats two people.
Lots of the people on the ride are saying that New York is one of the prettiest states on the ride,
In Little Falls we walked to the barge canal and saw a boat go through a lock. The lock keeper was explaining the working to the group.
Posted by Ann, we might skip a day in posting. I am going to drive to meet Dave tomorrow and follow along to Boston. We might be able to update the blog with some pictures and route info from Dave's Garmin once we get it connected to the computer.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Day 11 Canandaigua NY to Syracuse NY
Today's ride was 69 miles, 2400 feet gain in elevation 17.1 mph average speed. Cumulative total 880 miles.
Started at 8:15AM and arrived in Syracuse at 1:15PM. Today was a great ride, I was trying the new riding technique and increased my mph by 3.5. When I arrived at the SAG stop at 38 miles, Tracy asked what I was doing there so early. I was riding with Dr. Richard again and he gave me more pointers, I am feeling good about how I am improving.
It was a pretty ride going by Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes. Rode thru Waterloo, birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Seneca Falls which has the Women's Rights Hall of Fame. We stopped at the Erie Canal Park, but we were there before the park opened.
Lunch was at Tully's Sports Bar a 10 oz burger, boiled potato, and root beers. Dinner was an all you can eat Chinese buffet.
Posted by Ann.
Started at 8:15AM and arrived in Syracuse at 1:15PM. Today was a great ride, I was trying the new riding technique and increased my mph by 3.5. When I arrived at the SAG stop at 38 miles, Tracy asked what I was doing there so early. I was riding with Dr. Richard again and he gave me more pointers, I am feeling good about how I am improving.
It was a pretty ride going by Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes. Rode thru Waterloo, birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Seneca Falls which has the Women's Rights Hall of Fame. We stopped at the Erie Canal Park, but we were there before the park opened.
Lunch was at Tully's Sports Bar a 10 oz burger, boiled potato, and root beers. Dinner was an all you can eat Chinese buffet.
Posted by Ann.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Day 10 Hamburg NY to Canandaigua NY
The statistics for today's ride 95 miles, 4113 feet gain in elevation, 15 mph average speed, 4813 calories expended. Cumulative miles 811.
The day was cool and a bright blue sky. We rode through some nice small towns, Avon and Marilla Center. Stopped for a 3000 mile ceremony for the people riding from LA. Scenery was farm lands with mixed hardwoods and lots of antique stores.
Rode with Dr. Jose Bran from Guatemala, who was born in 1938, he is a great bicyclist.
Dr. Richard Mushorn is giving me cycling tips, wants me too learn to maximize efficiency, he thinks I should be a faster rider.
Posted by Ann
The day was cool and a bright blue sky. We rode through some nice small towns, Avon and Marilla Center. Stopped for a 3000 mile ceremony for the people riding from LA. Scenery was farm lands with mixed hardwoods and lots of antique stores.
Rode with Dr. Jose Bran from Guatemala, who was born in 1938, he is a great bicyclist.
Dr. Richard Mushorn is giving me cycling tips, wants me too learn to maximize efficiency, he thinks I should be a faster rider.
Posted by Ann
Friday, June 22, 2007
Article in Erie Newspaper about the cyclists
Click on the link and you can see the article.
GoErie.com :: Your source for news, information & fun!
GoErie.com :: Your source for news, information & fun!
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