Audax Vermont

Type Two Fun - day 2

2011-03-05T13:33:00.000-05:00

Day 2A

Got up @ 4:30 ~39’F/4’C very foggy. Rained early in PM. Tarp very wet. Cold packing up. Depart 5:00 am. Ate apple en-route. 13 miles to Sparwood. Got to A&W right at 6:00am opening: French toast, 2x O.J., bagel w /cc. Saw other riders. Eight had crammed into one hotel room – only room left during “Coal Miner Days” parade today. Left @ 6:30 am. Cool en-route to Corbin. ( Saw female moose Didn’t find Corbin “Y” Cache. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=80ff4ebf-118f-4095-a69f-9005735eece8 N 49° 31.013 W 114° 40.552 O

In British Columbia, Canada

Rode Flathead Pass w/ Dave Preston. Frost on South side, many stream crossings – wet feet – cold! Scenery very cool. With Dave Goldberg + Mat Arnold for a while. Caught Heather and John Foster. Left all at bottom of Cabin Pass when they lunched. Started to get hot. Aqua Mira H2O near top/ ate pizza/ dried tarp etc. Eric stopped for pizza. Alone rest of day.

Day2b

Cabin Pass super nice. Steady descent. Galton Pass hard, long and steep. Moose half way. Single track cool but only a little rideable. Steep part insanely ridiculous. Hands above head last mile of climb, took forever….granny gear for ages. 1 ½ miles of snow on top. Grueling at end. Snow melt near top Brain freeze. Descent crazy must have averaged 35 mph for ten miles (minutes?) valley very hot. Got to Port of Roosville 7pm ate (?) and fish and drank Kokanee Beer with Robin and (?) Butt sore, changed and washed. Rode to Eureka. Mexican with John Foster. Bought food from excellent store. Rode on to Grave Creek Campground … most undeveloped. Tired! Concerned about theft. 151 mi today average speed 11.3 moving time 13:20.

Type Two Fun epilogue

2011-02-27T16:54:00.002-05:00

.

Dave and I learned in Banff he had a pretty big blog following... and I'm sure many people - like me were waiting to read his post race blog analysis. Sadly this was not to happen. There weren't many things that got past Dave....or surprised him ... so it was fun to be there during this realization. He asked me if I thought it was ok that his last blog entry was so personal ( and not so much about bike racing) ...I told him that its that kind of stuff that keeps us reading .... He laughed and hit the publish button.

It has been some time since I've blogged... but now I have just finished the all-time-Dave B favorite: the Canadian Ski Marathon. Highly recommended to add to your event list if you want to try an ultra endurance event in a sport besides cycling. I would have gone to the event this winter with Dave and because of that I gave in to an invitation from Geoff Wade a lot easier than common sense should have allowed. (I have not classic skied since high school) But I was glad I did and the event was everything Dave B had built it up top be. Sad he wasn't there to get his 5th gold and permanent bib.

We now have several new candidates to take Dave B's spot on our fleche team: Geoff and Akhil are two. I was telling Akhil about one of my all-time favorite events: the D2R2 when he asked me a question I never could answer for myself..."why not do the ride whenever you want? Yes - the bike does give you the freedom to hop on and ride wherever at what ever speed you can handle. Like my ride to Canada two years ago: I just got on my bike and started riding with no idea how far I'd go. It's another PBP year and I'm more excited about our fleche team than the famous 1200k in France!

Matt Lee warned me that I would gradually lose my interest in racing Tour Divide again. I know better than to challenge Matt Lee at something he knows so well. Then I got a visit from a 2012 TD racer: Will. I knew he had been bitten by the TD bug... but sometimes it is hard to tell what kind of bite you've got. Some are web only, some excuses to buy new equipment, and others are the real thing. It was a cold February day with snow on the ground and this guy was out doing a gap/ century ride. I hardly recognized him with a full beard and 30 pounds lighter than when I saw him last fall. But I did recognize what was driving him, inspiring him, fueling this mad ride when all other bikers were safely inside on their rollers.

It's this blog, it's Dave's blog; it's prowling in the wilderness, sticking something in your crystal head that makes you change your plans in life, something learned during the shared experience of an epic ride or an epic ski - good and bad - the surprises of nature are always better with friends.

Type 2 Fun epilogue

From Dave Blumenthal's race notes

Day 1

June 11

Huge crowd @ start. SO eager

DT + I made our peace.

Fog in the mountains. Fresh snow from a couple of days ago. Feel good but a little fuzzy in the head from light sleep for 2 weeks. Among others for first 2 + hours, then after a .1 mile wrong turn, alone. So many prairie dogs on the Dorien Rd. So much bear poop. Bike path in campground really nice. Got water at recently opened bathroom. Others caught up by taking road – OK w/ Matthew Lee. Slow climb up to Elk Pass – power line less lovely. Descent muddy and slow. Loooong road. Focused on pizza.

Day 1B

Passed Aiden who had a tire separated from bead. Finally got to Elkford @ 6:25pm. Stopped for 20min. once, otherwise just a minute for pix. Ordered pizza at Kapps. Called home – Lexi impressed with my speed. Called MTB Cast, ate large pizza, packed some. Drank Kokanee Beer – yum! Left @ 7:30

Long pavement climb. Then great dirt bomber downhills. Found lovely Fording River camp site just before route turned to pavement. In bag 10 pm. Still daylight. Super day. Eager to sleep.


"making our peace."

spectacular first day!

Mr. Bad-ass

2010-10-31T21:23:00.000-04:00

Tour Divide - Day 19 - outside Del Norte, Colorado.

I somehow got hours behind Cricket, Huddle, and Billman. I was messing around with something? Typical...they pulled away from me on a long road section. Brutal headwind that day - all day. I fianlly picked up Brad Perry - he had got lost and ended up keeping me company into Del Norte. Nice two track through the desert into DelNorte... Saw C,H,&B all leaving town. Brad and I had lunch and loaded up on food and water for next two days. We then climbed out of town and up Indiana Pass - camped out on top at 11:00pm.

Mud on the Tour Divide

2010-10-30T16:18:00.000-04:00

Climb - on

2010-05-27T06:17:00.000-04:00

6087 feet of climbing in 44.3 miles
South Hill (start) Moretown Mt, Herring Brook, Hog Hollow, Perry Hill, Camel's Hump, Sharp Shooter, So Hill

Getting down to the wire..the race has already started really.. still have bags to finish, cues to make and gotta keep riding without burning out!

I'm training for TD really

2010-05-20T06:54:00.000-04:00

Raynor Road, Roxbury, Vermont

I am sooo far behind. Reminds me of some of my classic late shows at bike races. Galloping Gears in Randolph Vt - what a course! I remember one year starting 3 fields back with the women... that was fun ... actually did ok. But I gotta get on the ball here. A bunch of last minute equipment changes ( nothing as drastic as DaveB tho!) waiting for my tarp/shelter to show up, just got my Selle Anatomica replaced by the factory, still need to print up cues, load corrected gpx, dial in the packing of everything... thus the lack of blog entries and also the lack of google stalking all the newly added racers to the list: Sorry to my two blog followers and "way to go" to everyone who can train and blog! Love reading that stuff.

I used my Steripen this weekend after I drank 4 liters of water climbing Braintree gap at 93'F. Wasn't it snowing last week? I got a global weirding sun burn to boot. So far no tapeworms - but who knows - it must take a while to grow to 4 feet. Giardiosis takes 7-10 days to appear.

The whole process was a lab accident waiting to happen. Dirt on the bottle tops - dirty hands... I rinsed everything with stream water then uv lighted the hell out of it. Not as friendly as your aqua mira bottle sterilizing technique. I keep thinking of all the mico bio and chemistry behind it... the water physically sticking to the bottle - etc. The whole thing is a literal crap shoot!

So while DaveB was off on the tourist cruise of the Central Vermont Bike Tour - I was doing a four gap ride of:
Moretown Mt
deep down in to Devil's Washbowl
Raynor Gap
Braintree Gap
Middlebury Gap

53.11 mi (19.08 mi uphill, 21.70 mi downhill, 12.26 mi flat)
6081 ft total ascent (6910 ft descent) - 9.0 % uphill grade, 8.9 % downhill grade

0:04:57 pace (12.0 mph average speed, 48.5 mph max speed)
31.693 difficulty, 130.378 effort

Selle Anatomica lives on

2010-04-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

Crazy I know - I rode on my new Selle Anatomica LD 25 miles (tour of the valley) and decided it was good enough to take on my next ride: the 240 mile 24 hour no questions asked Warren Vermont to Mystic Connecticut Fleche. And it worked! Just like Tom Milton says " this saddle requires no break in." I thought I had found my perfect Tour Divide saddle... but there was one little problem... a red welt on my right thigh where the saddle skirt rubs my leg. A close inspection of the saddle revealed that the right side of the saddle was not curved in as much as the left. An email was sent to Tom Milton at Selle Anatomica. A prickly back and forth resulted some saddle related some not. I gave up. I sent the saddle home, dear John. I know I'm a guy who didn't try to get along. And he won't get a chance again. That's all she wrote: "Dear John; I've sent your saddle home." as the Hank Williams song goes.

Then I got a call today from the factory - Tom Milton died riding a double century this past weekend. They will be carrying on the business of making Tom Milton's Selle Anatomica designs. They are fixing my saddle and sending it home to me....

Ride on Tom....

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/4003.html

Selle Anatomica (brown) vs Brooks B17 imperial (narrow -black)
The Selle An has an interesting leather lamination and longer cut out. The Brooks has much deeper sides and a much more polished look. Randy said the Selle looked like I had made it myself!

the perfect bike for the Great Divide

2010-04-01T00:56:00.000-04:00

Great Divide Dave!

I saw this bike outside the Salvation Army in SE Portland. I didn't know Magna made a Great Divide model. I couldn't believe this one had the Dave vanity plate to boot! What Karma! I tried to meet Dave - but no luck. I will have to acquire my own Great Divide bike. Perhaps I will suggest to Matt Lee that Magna sponsor the Tour Divide and we all ride this model bike - like a One Design race.

I puttered around Portland a bit - but no other riding for an entire week now. I did run some - ran 1:15 out of town here in Spokane to get to a restaurant - ate then ran/walked back to the hotel. Interesting running on a FULL stomach of Indian food.

Got my first taste of what the Great Divide might look like on the Ag Facility tour in the Palouse and the Scab Lands of SE Washington. Saw pivot ag and sage brush and tumbleweed and long off mountains, slow long climbs. I was trying to figure out how far off the near horizon was - 30 or 40 miles? I then ended up at the Continental Divide dinner table with the inspectors from New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, Montana ( Salish - Kootenai Tribes near Flathead Lake) - Colorado was across the room. We had a grand old time - it will be tough to pass up fun times like these and keep on racing!

Letter of Intent - Tour Divide

2010-03-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

I did it - I wrote my letter of intent - no turning back now, have to stay in one piece between now and June - July really. It took me a while because whenever I thought about what to write all that came up was the poem "Uphill" by Christina Rossetti :

Uphill

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labor you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.

Christina Rossetti was obviously a cyclist.

With this letter* I state my intent to be at the start in Banff on June 11 and some days later stand on the podium** in Antelope Wells New Mexico being congratulated by the TD podium girls***. It has been a long time goal for me to ride my bike across**** the USA. Although I have never touched a wheel to the backbone of North America, I have been training a bit here in Vermont and hope I can translate this to success in the West. I plan to finish strong and finish happy. I am looking forward to seeing some snow capped peaks, tumbleweeds, ghost towns, cacti, and sitting under the stars at night frying up jackalopes in a large cast iron skillet. I have scoped out the competition and this year looks like the year of 100% success rate - so count me in! I am looking forward to racing with you all.*****

David Tremblay
Moretown, Vermont USA
http://audaxvermont.blogspot.com/

* Actually it was with the purchase of the non-refundable plane ticket that I stated my intent.
**The podium for people named "David" and if necessary the sub category of those from Vermont.
*** Provided my daughters pick me up at the finish.
****The vertical north to south version will do.
***** Even if it is for the first 5-10 minutes of the race.

first crack at snowboarding

2010-02-26T09:16:00.000-05:00

Braintree Gap training ride

2010-02-15T22:03:00.001-05:00

There is a photo somewhere... 4:35 pm on top of Braintree Gap on Feb 15, 2010. Third day of riding in a row... DaveB and Geoff Wade off riding the Canadian Ski Marathon. I figured it was a good day to go long... but a bit of a late start required extra permissions and taking the Ayup light. (mounted to helmet)

Bike after the ride with frozen on mud.

Braintree Gap ride stats:

time out: 5 hours - 2:30pm to 7:30 pm
Max speed ( North Road by Tremblay Rd) 38.9 mph
Avg moving speed      10.6 mph
avg total speed         9.8 mph
total climbing    4167 feet
max elv 2425 feet
min elv 582    feet
distance                49.6 miles
time moving           4:40 hr:min
time stopped         22:31 min
riding in dark 1:15 hr:min
walking/pushing in snow: 2 miles?
my house to top of bt gap: 25 miles
bt gap: 2.7 mile climb
780 ft to 2425 feet
Tire pressure: 18 psi front, 20psi rear!
water carried: 48 oz
water consumed 31 oz
water undrinkable due to temp:17 oz
food consumed:
choc chip Clif Bar 240 Cal
2 peanut butter crackers 65 Cal
total bike weight at end of ride: 35.4 pounds
clothes:
beat old Hincapi bibs w/ Craft warmup pants over.
vb socks
ss ibis wool bike shirt
ls light Louis garneau base
rain shell
wool hat
Louis Garneau gloves
bandana - for road dust

clothing layers worked well - a little light and began to get a bit chilly at night but good for 20"F and not stopping.

This was a no (little) stop fast (besides the hiking) pace ride at TD race pace... but I ate and drank way too little. Mostly because I knew I was only going to be out for five hours. 300 calories - should have been 3,000 - though I doubt I could stomach that amount.

Waitsfield Gap

2010-02-14T21:15:00.001-05:00

Randy and I did another snow ride - this time with 1-2 inches of fresh snow. We met at South Hill - rode up Moretown Mtn road over the Moretown Gap. Mostly frozen dirt with a few bare ice patches. Flew down the other side into Devil's Washbowl - which had surprisingly been plowed sometime this year. We then rode to the end of Bear Mt Rd and got on the VAST trail over Waitsfield Gap. This would have been ok but only two snow machines had been on it and that was about two storms ago. Here is a great shot of Randy hitting a surprising stream crossing:

Coming down the other side was a blast. I made a little movie of Randy crossing one of many ice patches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP6hiGi3OBw

We then hit Floodwoods road for about 20 feet then got on Elwin Neil's VAST trail - awesome down hill to Pony Farm, Then a mellow ride home. A completely normal ride despite the 20'F temp and snow and extra layers and cold feet and frozen water bottle. Bike remarkably clean for a 18 mile mountain bike ride. Just a krummholz of snow off the bottom bracket.

stats:

total ascent 2500 ft
max elevation 2208 ft
max speed 34.1 mph
distance 18 miles
moving time 2:13 stopped: 31:18
8.1mph avg 6.6 total ( we had to walk a mile or so)
Like they say - every mile on snow is equal to two.

Excuses

2010-02-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

Fracture of the Radial Head.
(top of lower left bone) 5/1/09

Some days I can come up with dozens of reasons not to go off on a 2750 mile bike ride. Creaky knees, family responsibilities, money, mosquitoes, agrizoophobia, coulorophobia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.... but the one thing that keeps rearing its ugly (radial) head is my elbow. I broke it last spring and it still won't open all the way. When I try to open it all the way - it aches. I couldn't do a push-up with it until about two months ago. I have been working on that. I have also been hanging from the chin-up bar and doing some pull-ups. Pull-ups are palms out - right? I am trying to reach my PB record set in 1975: 13. Of course in 1975 I had an incredible power: weight ratio being just 50 pounds. I now weigh three times that and can't do nearly as many chin-ups. I have had my sports chiro working on my elbow. He wanted it re-x-rayed to see how it has healed. Here's how it looks today - nine months later:

2/12/10 Healed Radial Head Fracture.

Not too shabby looking - right? Especially considering I was doing a 240 mile ride four weeks after I broke it. Thanks Charles Martley and Akhil Kaplan at Three Moons Wellness! Now if I can just get full extension.

Oh- how did I break it? Hmmm people don't get it when I explain I'm a 46 year old skateboarder- I have now cut back on the skateboarding but I still love it ... I am just getting too old and too big to fall. Next year - hope to work on my falling. Below - me and the skatepunks back in the day:

L-R John Champy, John Siudut, me, Mike Seeley, Mike O"Connor circa 1980?
On my 1/4 pipe of salvaged wood.

Last day of January snow bike ride

2010-01-31T21:21:00.001-05:00

Randy and I went for a little loop - conditions are perfect right now for cycling - anywhere! We did a little single track on Grandma's trails then cut across Erica Dow's fields to the Duxbury VAST trail. Snow not deep enough for snow machine, x-c skiing or snowshoeing but we saw tracks of all three of these. Went down the brook by Harwood where I crashed into a block of ice in a stream crossing then across Rt 100 to the Church o t C. One then Vast behind Simplicity Farm to Small DOg then Pony Farm back to Moreotwn. The climb home was as hard as it has ever been for me! Randy rode his Rawlands with 650b Pacenti's and I took my SS Litespeed with custome ice spikes. No mechanicals no flats. The gear was a bit high - the same gear I raced VT50 with in 5:15 - pretty tough with the slow tires and breaking throw the crust. Strange randy seemed to float on the surface more than me.

More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/parisbrestparis/SnowbikeJAN31#

new LC-142 Vermont Tax Form

2010-01-30T08:32:00.003-05:00

Here is the *new* LC-142 Vermont Tax form. This is a bit off topic - but I can't find this form anywhere! Just Gov. Jim Douglas making hard for poor little renters to get there tax rebates. This form seems to be available only by request for some reason. Oh and here are the instructions: (click on image to get printable form)

The Vermont Farm Show maple contest 2010

2010-01-25T22:36:00.000-05:00

Maple syrup was tasted and judged, And the winner is - you'll find out tomorrow - first time ever for this Best in Show! The three class winners in syrup were all very good. I ended up judging maple products with Hugh Lund but then went to the syrup table for the best in show contest. This was a lot easier than last year when I judged the fancy - hit my limit on drinking syrup. I had a pretty clean pallet going into this and when the six judges all gave two votes to each of the three classes I cast the deciding vote: ________ ! It was an excellent example of this class - one of the best I've had.

Guy Amundsen

2010-01-14T20:58:00.000-05:00

photo from the Valley Reporter 'Valley Vetrans Honored" pages.
Guy was in the USMC 1955 - 1959

Guy died today while skiing at Ole's. It was a great day for skiing - the "pick of the week." Guy taught my girls to ski and was always such an inspiring, cheerful face in the Valley. I am glad I had a nice long chat with him while picking up my season pass application at the Waitsfield Ski and Skate sale. But I didn't get out on the snow with him this year - I only had one other brief conversation with him in the ski shop... Our family will miss him.

I was pretty low coming home from my otherwise wonderful ski - listened to Moondog's "Bird's Lamment" twice in a row with the tiptronic on and picked up Hazel. I didn't say anything to her about Guy so I thought it was sweet she insisted we go out for a ski when we got home. It appears the ski bug has jumped into her rosy cheeks out here in a star lit snowy Vermont field, her head lamp forging ahead through the darkness.

Killington Stage Race 2010 is on!

2010-01-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

Just saw race director Gary Kessler at Ole's - the race is on:
http://www.killingtonstagerace.com/index.php
Still no sign I will get a job out of the gig....

The boy who rode to Perham and back

2010-01-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

..is in.
Kent "Mountain Turtle" Peterson is in for TD2010.

http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-dont-know-whats-wrong-with-me.html

plus:
"While I am going to be ramping up my training in March and yeah, I'm spending the month of June racing the Divide, .... First off, it will take a lot of prep, a ton of luck and something of a miracle for this old guy to crack Chris Plesko's amazing 19:00:21 record for the 2741 mile course. My old record of 22 days and change was for the 2500 mile border to border route. Jake makes it sound like I'm just going to ride up and take the record back. I'm going to ride like heck (at a persistent, old turtle pace) to see if I can do it, but it's by no means a forgone conclusion. I'm racing to find out if I can do it."

Says it all... much better blogger than me. 27 comments and followers galore.

51 years old and aiming to win and break the SS record! Inspiring... maybe I can do the TD in 2015?

Go Kent!

Mr Lamb ride

2010-01-03T17:16:00.000-05:00

Six gaps in one 222km day.
Moretown 1590 ft
Rochester 2109 ft
Brandon    2170 ft
Middlebury 2144 ft
Lincoln        2410 ft
App Gap     2365 ft
total: 12,000 feet?

plus the un-named:
Northfield Gulf
Granville Gulf
Baby Gap

I just got a nice note from Don Nolte about the 2009 MR LAMB ride. It was a fun day - the politics/business part of the ride soured things for me and kinda tainted the memory of what was a really cool thing to do. It was great to raise a chunk of money for the PTN and the Safe Routes to School program at Moretown Elementary. But when our project was delayed and nasty letters to the editor written... I threw up my hands and thought "why bother?" But hearing from Don made me look at the photos and re-think the whole thing. The Bolgers did a great job supporting the ride and the after party at Randy's house was excellent - especially with the deput of the Red Hen Pizza! MR LAMB 2010 anybody?

Start at Moretown Elementary School

Rochester Gap (aka Bethel Gap) 2109 ft

Brandon Gap

Middlebury Gap

Lincoln Gap

Appalachian Gap

Red Hen Pizza!

Biggest snowstorm in Vermont ever (that we missed)

2010-01-03T11:59:00.000-05:00

33" in Burlington, 3.3" in Moretown

Hiked to top of Baldy with Annie and Martha plus dogs Posey and Oscar.
It was spectacular. I am always disappointed how un-spectacular my Vermont photos are... esp compared to blogs out west. But I assure you: it was spectacular. In the link below is a view of the clouds dumping a record setting snowfall west of the the Green Mountains!
more photos here.

First place woman

2010-01-01T22:45:00.000-05:00

Suzanne M Marcoe

"This summer I plan on becoming unemployed and catching up on all the mountain biking that I have been missing out on in recent years. I think 2745 miles should probably cover it, so I will be lining up under Mt Rundle on June 11th. It’s time to leave behind the mind (and soul) numbing boredom of the 9-5. See you in Banff."

Hard to tell with Suzanne... she comes right out and says she has been missing out on mountain biking in recent years.  That works for me... and certainly her unemployed angle might work for me!  ( at least for a little while) Not much to report otherwise.  This could be her ... looks a bit young for a long distance rider:

 another short track rider!

"It's a friendly, no drop ride, right?"

2010-01-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

About Brian De Groodt

Brian De Groodt - makes it easy for me: nice website! Very funny letter of intent - I'd say he is already in the lead of contenders, certainly on the LOI podium. BUT what the heck went down at Leadville last year??!! Interesting. Very interesting. Demons and baggage and witches. Did he learn his lesson? Sounds like he'd be fun to ride with anyway.

Damn hard to see all these people signing on while I have to sit on my hands.

Once in a blue moon ski

2009-12-31T23:01:00.000-05:00

skiing under the big blue moon at Ole's.

dark - but bright enough to ski.

Tour Divide or Tour Denied?

2009-12-31T21:14:00.000-05:00

Asked the big boss about taking time off to race the Tour Divide. He said it was a lot of time at a busy time of year... isn't looking good for me. He said he would have to present the idea "upstairs." Damn ... I know I can meet my quota's and have Doug cover emergencies. Chance of there being a radiological dirty bomb in Vermont those 4 weeks are about as likely as me setting a new record for the Tour Divide. And if I did that I would only need 2 1/2 weeks off anyway! 22 years of working every deer season, every sugaring season, every winter spreading ban first week, every January thaw.. and don't forget the army worm invasion!

I guess I should start shopping around for another event.... suggestions?

Tour Divide Contender or Pretender?

2009-12-28T09:32:00.000-05:00

Who is competition and who is dreaming large? Where do I stand among the others. What do I look like to other racers? Who is qualified and who has trained? What is enough experience and how much is enough training? Who is sitting in front of the computer dreaming and who is out riding in the snow? Beside those who have completed this race - who can say they can do it - and then pull it off?

It is really hard to guess who is going to make it and who more in love with the idea than the riding. I always wonder if this might be me ... but I do love riding... and I have always loved riding. My camping skill are rusty - but with a little help fro DaveB I have come a long way! I did spend a whole summer working for the ATC/ AMC as a ridge runner - caretaker. I did ride 1200k of the Paris Brest Paris in 73:50 and a 600k in <27hrs. I spent six nights out last season out bikepacking - I did the 6 Gap MR LAMB ride last year and did plenty of dirt road exploring. I won the Millstone SS open age (pretty good for a 46 yr old racing against plenty of 20 and 30 somethings) And I have always loved the VT50.

Then there are the counts against me: last season was the first time I ever rode my mtn bike over 100 miles in one day. I still suffered from the effects of my concussion from the 2008 Vt 50. I broke my arm in April and it still doesn't quite straighten out. I am starting to build strength in it again - but it is far from where it was. I rode on it 24hrs in the NE fleche - six weeks after the break ( thanks Charles and Three Moons Accupuncture) Work is being uncooperative with time off. It costs money to get there and back. I am old! - yeah - years of crashing are adding up.

These quotes from bikepacking interest me:

"Preparation – with time constraints (work & family) I rarely rode more than 10-12 hours per week but mostly at higher intensities. Riding long distance at steady pace is easy no? I only did a couple of long weekends in the lead up to TD. Better to arrive in Banff strong and healthy than tired / stressed from trying to fit too much into your busy life. But follow Jay’s advice – you have to decide what will work for you." Fettis (?)

"And now some inspiration for rcktfanatic; you can absolutely ride TD on seven (now almost six) months preparation. Of course your goals, and reality, have to mesh. See caveats above. But it can be done. In '08 I rode TD on less than 650 miles of training in the six months leading up to the race. Life, a monstrous winter, and a lack of motivation to ride the windtrainer conspired to deliver me to Banff in pathetic shape. Since I knew I wasn't going to be setting the course on fire, my mantra became "I'll take whatever the gods and my body give me." I ended up turning in a semi respectable sub 24 day finish.." Leighton White

Of course Leighton White's day job is a professional firefighter ( and the real kind - not like me only responding to dirty bombs and other radiological incidents.)

So I blog on scoping out the competition. Please provide me with more details on yourself if someone actually reads this and I got yer info wrong! Or I can just shutup all together if my google-stalking you creeps you out too much!

Latest addition:

"Hi my name is Phillip Fogg,
I'm an ex Pat. living in germany. Came over here during the cold war(1987), met a girl, fell in love and well, I'm still here!
I started biking when I was a kid, around 1970. At nine my first bmx bike. At 16 I got my first motorcycle and bicycling took a back seat for a few years. In 1996 I bought a used Rockhopper and from then on I've never looked back. I've done numerous endurance races here in Germany.
As far as Bikepacking goes, I'm a greenhorn, never done it but I'm so intrigued by it that I'm collecting gear and getting ready for my first trip.
You all will think I'm nuts but I'm planning on doing the Tour Divide next year. So I will be asking alot of questions about gear, training and othe TDR related stuff. "

A greenhorn and this will be his first bikepacking trip! But coming all the way from Europe: ten points! Grüß Gott Phillip!

Merry $3 XMass

2009-12-25T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ole's 7 km ski map

2009-12-24T20:19:00.000-05:00

The 10 km open at Ole's (really 7 km)

I guess the reason why I could do 10km in 45 min so easily was that it was really only 7 km that I was skiing. I got suspicious when I did this entire loop in 30 min (including two ski dismounts and avoiding a couple of bare spots)

It was nice to get to Ole's with the sun shining! But it didn't last long... days still short here.

Latest Tour Divide racer:
Christian Vedder
41 years old
This guy probably serious contender.
raced in Portland, OR short track MTB in '08 (maybe that's a strike against him)
Also finished about a third of the way back in the 40+ category in TransRockies '08
won Grand Columbian (Oregon) Ironman tri in 2004 11:10 That is a big effort in race mode.
His LOI is short but to the point: "I need to suffer. I'm in!!" At least he's not likely to talk your ear off....
Is this Christian Vedder? Looks vaguely familiar........

skiing off steam

2009-12-23T22:23:00.000-05:00

Edgecomb Field at dusk. 17'F - usual wind at Ole's, 1" new snow.

Today was supposed to be the office Christmas lunch but I had to go out on an Accepted Ag Practices complaint. I see why Doug always takes this week off. Probably the worst reaction to bad news I've ever delivered. Just bad timing, after the summers milk "prices" and being two days before Christmas. But the neighbor HAD to complain now - anonymously. Pure anger, pure frustration. But after some talking - I was there a couple hours, and some family came in, and the dogs, we worked things out. Equipment malfunction really. If the neighbor had just asked directly - maybe coulda lent a hand.

So - I needed a ski after work. I am loving skiing these days. I find it a lot like mt biking - cruising through the woods with no cars bugging you. But of course it was late and of course I didn't have my head lamp. Good balance training to ski in the dark. Wish I was a better skier but already getting more skill this year. 6th ski of the season - not bad.

New LOI for TD 2010:

Stephen Huddle
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.stephenhuddle.blogspot.com/
Looks like he's coming back for a second try. Did about 80 miles a day before pulling out on day 10 in Lima. Interesting blog. Longest race before 2009 was less than 35 miles! Quite jump to 2700 miles and he almost pulled it off. definite contender now for 2010.

My ray of sunshine!

2009-12-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

Number one daughter back from college! Here she is in her work-out togs!

Winter Equinox - Tour Divide LOI day one!

2009-12-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

Last lap at Ole's- north end of the runway, 14'F with 30knot gusts - actually pretty nice with freshly waxed skate skis.

Days start getting longer now. Pressure on to train! Today is the day Tour Divide accepts Letters Of Intent. (LOI)

Three riders are on the list...with no statements! Who are they? I will Google-stalk them and try to determine if they are contenders or posers.

2010 Start List
Kyle Paladini
http://encyclingpedia.org/results/?permit=2009-2586

12th place in a Florida mt bike race... Under 23?

Stanley Riffle

I Stanley Riffle do here by give my letter of intention. I intend to train for a long, long, long ride. I intend to adjust my diet of snackcakes and soda, to less snackcakes and soda. I intend to test all my light weight gear before I leave. I intend to reach my inner child and remember how I love to see what's around the next corner and over that hill. I intend to tell my wife...soon.

Confirmed! This is THE Stanley Riffle:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stanley-Riffle/1504970909
He is in it for the adventure - Go Stanley!

Gili Torovezky Springfield, NJ
"

My name is Gili Torovezky, 42 years old from Springfield, NJ. I’m avid Mountain Biker and adventurer in my soul. So why do I want to participate in the great divide race? Well, I can find 1000 reasons why not, but there are at least equally reasons why I should do it: Passionate about mountain biking, passionate about the outdoors, passionate about pushing the envelope and aim high - nothing is impossible. My romance with biking and outdoors started back in Israel when I celebrated my Bar Mitzva with brand new road Fuji red bike my dad brought home from Japan. Shortly after I moved to New York in 1999, a friend introduced me to mtn biking and there when I got totally hooked. There is something special about mtn bike that is unparallel to any other sport: the fast moving pace, the adrenalin, the changing landscape, and mental and technical challenge that pushes you to excel every time. Ever since then I been racing in adventure racing (got first place in the co-ed group in 2007), XTerra triathlons, local X-Country races in NY area, I volunteer once a month to clean, build and improve trails in South Mountain reservation NJ to allow opening the park for MTN bikers. See South Mtn. Conservancy Group. Last but not least, on May 29th 2009 my dad passed away and I want ride for him.
In all, the great divide race is brings together all the things that I love to do: biking, navigation, the great outdoors and life time experience. I hope you will consider my enrollment positively and accept me to 2010 race.
Thank You,
Gili Torovezky"

He does trail work - that counts for a five minute head start! 

http://www.xterraplanet.com/races/view_results.cfm?race_id=681&page=1

David Tremblay - what do I look like with a google "bike+david+tremblay" ?
http://www.racetiming.com/97_MTB/Trail_66/killingt.htm
hasn't raced in 13 years! That is an old one! Interesting to see that I was beat by Peter Guyer. - all the other usual suspects are there: Jon Rowe, Jon and David Lamb, Brian Moody, Steve Wright, Brian Lyster and Troy Michaud - all still beating me 13 years later! Interesting to see Whitney Kaulbach racing as an Expert woman: I now live in her house! She has since married Olympic skier Marc Gilbertson. (who has also beat me in many a race.) Really people should look at the one and only race I did this year: http://www.barttiming.com/summer/results09/millsg09-1.htm scroll way down to the Single Speeders - wow! first place! actually - kinda lousy time if I think about it - well I felt good but look who beat me on geared bikes and by how much - Lyle Gilbert, Stephen Wright, Ben Silberfarb (13 yrs later - I still haven't met the guy - he now lives in the next town over!) What does this mean - I better come up with something interesting in my LOI less someone decides to gooogle me for more info!

Dave Blumenthal - and what does google give us for my neighbor Dave? His awesome linkn'd page and the fearsome http://xvtmbr.pbworks.com/ This guy is serious! TD racers - you want to know what this guy is made of? Read it and weep: www.studiozoic.com/adventures He is a manimal.

2009-12-19T11:41:00.000-05:00

Ole's at sunset.

Got out on the skate skis at the end of the day. Another hour on the 10k of what is groomed. Cold and squeaky but sure beats the rollers in the basement! Forgot my wind pants and wore Carharts instead - try that on a bike! Also didn't bring the HRM or any other gizmos - just skiing!

2009-12-18T09:07:00.000-05:00

Thuoars Vortex

This is my brother's site specific art installation in the new Thouars museum. It is actually ride-able - I was hoping he was going to get me a plane ticket to be the rider for the opening - but instead he ended up going with a local cycling club. Some were more successful than others.

The Last Ride

2009-12-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

I've been in a funk lately, so when I saw a window to ride last week - I took it and went long. Lincoln - App Gap loop. Lincoln Gap has been closed for about a month - as seen above. Now my Van Dessel is oozing brake fluid and I am back on the Litespeed. It was a bit snowy going over the top on the west side but clear sailing after that.. and best of all: no traffic! I knew snow was coming and this would be the last dry riding for a while. I ran into Jack H. and he cheered me on to "extend the season." A ride like this is a great way to bring a season to its end.

Just enough room to get through with skinny tires.

Off to Paris!

2009-12-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

http://www.audax-club-parisien.com/ Here's the Paris-Brest-Paris web site. Dear family, friends, neighbors, associates, and others; This August I will travel to France to participate in Paris-Brest-Paris. Check out the link for more info... it is the oldest bicycle "race" in the world - held every four years. It starts outside of Paris, goes 600k to Brest and then back to Paris. An utra-cycling marathon of 1200k ( 746 miles) that must be completed in 90 hours or less. This will be my first trip to Paris. As many of you who know me - I hate being a tourist. I will be wearing a jersey that says "Ne se dispute pas je, je suis local." ( Don't hassle me, I'm local) In order to get the most out of this trip I'm am reaching out to you, my worldly knowledgeable friends, for any thing French: tips on food, places to see, free couches to sleep on, catchy phrases, - anything to make me an immediate citizen of France. Or - if you are one of my un-worldly friends - I can try to fulfill you requests by bringing you back a souvenir of something French, a part for a Renault, or a photo of the basement of the Eiffel Tower or anything else you've always been curious about. thanks for your input, David.

A stone in the wall will cry out. A beam in the roof will answer it.

2009-12-04T09:28:00.000-05:00

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

2009-12-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Stick the level on top and hammer in a little wedge of rock underneath to bring it to level. Put the wedge of rock in the spot that rocks - like putting a napkin under a wobbly table in a restaurant. If you don't have any wedges - you gotta make them - which should be doable with a rock/ brick laying hammer and the Rose Sandstone. Or you and Cathal can go on a wedge hunting trip at the local stream. cut into the slope where wall is parallel and stair case the wall down the slope. Backfill space between wall and slope. Generally looks weird when attempt to follow slope with wall. - although it can be done.

http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-BL24-24-Ounce-Bricklayers-Treated/dp/B0002IGHAW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1259936638&sr=1-3-spell

Stone Wall Building 2007

2009-12-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

Stone Wall Building

Hey there; When asked what he was planning on doing in his retirement, Lance Armstrong said he has been dreaming about building a stonewall on is Austin Texas property. these are the rules I have discovered: Move the rocks as few times as possible. Keep a good selection on hand so you have good shapes from which to choose. Keep a good selection of wedge pieces to level the tops of stones Use the lumpy - mis-shapen stones and wrong sizes as fill. Keep em tight - stones should be sturdy after placement. If it looks wrong from a distance - it is wrong. Try to tie two stones or three together by overlapping with another. you must do this in both directions in a free standing wall. Watch your back. I like to mix in old bricks I find and interesting rocks. The retaining wall I built around the garden is not my best work. Originally I was going to have a retaining wall that was strictly built ruble style. But I started manipulating the pile and before you knew it I had my level out then I got the hammer and started putting in wedges. In this wall there are only about a dozen wedges. In my tighter walls nearly every stone is wedged - often with more than one wedge. I started on the right and worked left. This wall was built very quickly and with virtually no planning or design. The last section I did I worked back from the right corner... this ended in a nice pile of small ruble stones which got covered when I tilled the garden. The wood serves two purposes: It keeps the dirt off the wall and it allows me to weed whack the bottom of the wire fence. I probably would not have used the wood if it hadn't been given to me free and it weas already sitting in the garden having been used two years ago for our hockey rink. I tried to tie the 8' cedar posts into the wall. Originally the posts (set at 94" apart) marked where the top of each 3' roller of my bmx-pump track was to be located - now I hate to hide the wall with unsightly mounds of dirt ... but I am going to try to do it anyway. I changed several things as I went along. I adjusted the sizes of rocks - this was because I was digging rocks out of my foundation excavation pile as I dug them... generally two big ones and the rest small flatter... but I went more with how they came out of the pile. I should have stacked them all before I began but some were too big to move twice and it was a lot faster to work right out of the bucket of my tractor. Some of the bigger ones I pryed out of the bucket and let them lay right where they dropped and worked with it. On the going back wall - I layed a big flat then put in table legs of support stones and then covered with big flat again and repeated - kinda liked this look and wanted to keep working with it. Note that the garden stock tank tub is sitting on a pile of ruble stones from the garden. let me know if you have questions.. i try to send a shot of my culvert wall if I can get the weeds out of the way.. David.

2009-12-04T09:18:00.000-05:00

Quebec 300k

2009-12-04T09:13:00.000-05:00

Quebec 300k

Trans Canada Trail

2009-07-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

The rain behind me - .Petit Temis Trail - Quebec, Canada.

I just completed 5 days of riding on dirt, fully loaded - tour divide
style (without the elevation gain.) It was an amazing adventure and for
that reason alone I am going ahead with Tour Divide plans!
But it was a lot slower than I thought it would be, hard to maintain more
than a 12mph average with speeds around 6mph on the rougher stuff. (note- computer was mis-calibrated)
riding flat for me is tough as climbing though I need to do more loaded
climbing to work out kinks and mabe shed some pounds.
It was a stunning trip - very beautiful. I rode 84 miles from Moretown
crossed the border in Beebbe Plains and got right on a little rail
trail... had to do a little go around Lake Massawippi but then right on
the Route Vert - off road almost entirely to Quebec City... then about a
hundred on road/bike lane up the St Lawrence to Riviere du Loup,
then up over the watershed on the Petit Temis Trail - pretty cool - right
into NewBrnswick where the trail kind ended. After 25 miles of
pavement I founda fourwheeler track that I rode 70 miles along the st john
river to woodstock NB (where I-95 ends in Maine) where I now must get on
bus to be with family. about 600 miles ? in two half days and three ful
days of riding. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
would be great training pulling trailer with child(ren)
photos to follow
so technical questions:
bivy vs tent ... i used tent to organize and pack and mosquito fre map
reading.

how do you dry stuff if you are racing? Never had this issue hiking.

food turned out not to be a big deal every gas station here has good
yogurht and egg salad sandwiches

giardia - I used to fork mounted water bottles but they got so much road
dirt on them... camel backs take more time and fuss to deal with but seem
to stay cleaner. I used a uv light to sterilize questionabe water.

packing - took me four days to get it right on the bike - but takes so
much time in the morning to sort through - re-organize and to get
evrything on the bike!

Rohloff idea made a lot of sense here too as last 70 miles was very wet...
chain was in constant need of lube and why not with that lower derailleur
pulley just inches off the ground. I am thinking hammerschimdt my self.
(note: went with Alfine)

My chain needs 30 min wiorth of maintenance - really should pull the cogs
and empty the bb. pedals are trashed to - no more Crank bros for me! had
to buy onesided wellgo brand at gunshop/snowmachine/chainsaw/oh bikes too
store
goto go.... at this crazy hostel in new brunswick
david

see all photos here:

2007-05-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

Funny slushes in Quebec. From the Wiki:

Sloche is a frozen beverage sold by the convenience store chain Couche-Tard, mostly in the province of Quebec, Canada. While it is similar in concept to the traditional Slush Puppie, Sloche has gathered much publicity through an aggressive (and sometimes controversial) marketing campaign. The oversized Sloche plastic cups are covered with humorous slogans such as: "No animal has tasted this product before you", "A good source of crushed ice". Couche-Tard also sells gummy candies under the Sloche brand. Some of these candies had to be removed from the shelves after allegations that their concept art was racist.It is also Quebec's equivalent to Icee, which is only sold in the United States, English Canada and Mexico.
Flavors
All Sloche flavor names are humorous and often gross, a marketing decision aimed at pleasing a mostly teenager crowd. The brand mission was described as: "To satisfy their need for sensory gratification and protest against authority, parents and society." The beverage's colors are vivid and the taste is said to be much sweeter than that of Slush Puppie and slightly more acidic. The following is an incomplete list of current and discontinued flavors:

* Rose Beef (Rosbeef)
* Sang Froid (Cold Blood)
* Gomme Balloune (Bubble Gum)
* Swompe (Swamp)
* Poussin Frappé (Slammed Chick)
* Liposuccion (Liposuction)
* Winchire Wacheur (Windshield Washer), formerly: Schtroumpf Écrasé (Crushed Smurf)
* Goudron Sauvage (Wild Tar)
* Cheddar Tropical (Tropical Cheddar)
* Gadoue (Dirty melted snow)
* Wontong (Wonton Soup)
* Full Zinzin (Full Zinzin)

The Schtroumpf Écrasé flavor was renamed because of copyright infringement concerns.

New Bike

2007-01-30T13:27:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah - I got a new road bike... Here she is for all who haven't seen her! 2005 Litespeed Sienna.
No wonder I'm dreaming of PBP! but then look at the unfinished electrical project in the background!

Paris Brest?

2007-01-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

Unaswered questions - why am I writing a blog and should I ride Paris - Brest - Paris? First - I love reading others peoples blogs - so here's mine oh well - So far I have only one reader - Hello you!

Paris - Brest? should I do it? 750 miles in 90hrs... or would I rather race a normal season? Perhaps do a solo 750 mile ride to PEI on the trans canada trail?

I'll keep you posted here... so far I am maintaining fitness through the winter but am getting a bit burnt already!

A scary warm January - with plenty of riding and now indoors on the rollers. A little x-c skiing and some base building.

The best day.

2006-12-08T18:35:00.000-05:00

There were two really ... both friday afternoons this fall - when kindergarten got done. One we went to the Stowe bike path and the other to Lake Champlain with Brad Powell. Brad took this picture on our way back from riding the causeway then a little apple tour, birdhouse land, miniture castles and the winery. Where Hazel said "they're not gonna give me wine are they?.. How about if I drink it outside?" Oh and we went to the fish hatchery but only saw a brown bunny. And the bike has brought such magic for being such a clunker. A Columbia Twosome from Westfield, Massachusetts. After debating a tag-a-long trailer then looking for kids tandem remote bottom bracket - I just took the hacksaw to the rear triangle on this soft-steel monster. In no time I had a 54cm compatible tandem with a 12" mini stoker. I replaced her cranks with some from a kids bmx bike - drilled holes for the extra chain ring and mounted them on the bmx bottom braket adapters ( a gift from Brad's bike box many years ago.) I flipped her bars - really need something different now that I look at the picture -and we were ready to roll. I lost the rim brake and was thinking I'd solder on some new v-brake mounts but the drum brake is working good enough for now. I need to run the tandem brake line from my bars cause as it is now I operate the front brake and she has the rear. It took a hundred miles or so before that Sturmey-Archer 3spd Drum brake finally broke-in. The cranks are set so that the stoker powers through my deadspot. This bike has always been a bear on climbs but with the increased power to weight ratio of my beautiful stoker chik - I have been surprised by the power surges on the hills. Two days after this photo I raced the Maple-Onion race at Morse Farm... I felt similar power surges in my reserves and blasted through to a surprise first place!
I'm still thinking about building a real tandem for the two of us... hmmmn - Might try Sheldon Brown's method.

Meat

2006-10-23T22:51:00.000-04:00

To be or not to be... a vegetarian. Yes it is a chore... but even free moose meat comes at a cost (The moose had been hit by a truck) The apples, however, were delicious! A crime you can't buy a local apple . Doug and I made some suggestions about a new addition to the "right to farm law" called " a duty to farm law" If you buy land with apple trees on them you gotta farm 'em!

Middlebury Gap = 12%

2006-09-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

biking Middlebury Gap = 12% = 54 mph (going east) surface bumpy but doable.

live to ride

2006-06-07T22:57:00.000-04:00

Riding with brother J in NYC on way to central park.

5 - boro bike tour traffic jam

2006-05-29T22:51:00.000-04:00

Seems like there was more traffic than ever this year... Still a fun day.

T -Trail Groomer

2006-05-29T22:48:00.000-04:00

I gotta build one of these next fall!

How to fish a cable through a bike frame.

2006-05-28T07:38:00.000-04:00

Never pull a cable out of a frame - leave a sleeve or something in there! Oh too late? I watched my shifter fall to the floor pulling the cable out of my Klein Palomino.
Here's how I got it back.

14g or 16g electric fence wire
mark the length where it just reaches the opposite hole.
insert (this is hard part) and twist until you see the tip - a strong light helps
push through hole - voila! (this step should only take about 20 minutes)
solder small wire - 24gauge? or brake cable? tip to tip to this wire.
easiest step... metalurgy - it worked. Only took 40 years to get some good soldering tips out of my dad... sand paper and a sponge are key in keeping tip hot enough.
pull through - put plastic sleeve on cable and you are back where you were an hour ago:
more simple time traveling!

What is this all about?

2006-05-17T08:24:00.000-04:00

This is what I am up to lately when it comes to bicycles and other fun stuff.

Don't Read This.

2006-05-16T09:53:00.000-04:00

Not sure if I like this idea of web log but perhaps more reliable than this lame computer hardrive. So sistemato... for my Italian friends who finally get a job like mine where you've been at it so long you no longer have to work hard and it is all guaranteed to be there. Ok - I wish my job was like that - but it only sometime is and now is not the time as I must go and do it!

It isn't snowing in May but this is last decent (not of manure) work photo I took on April 5, 2006 at Dean Conant's farm in Randolph, Vermont.

Puffin Project

1992-09-18T23:15:00.000-04:00

Actually working on Atlantic Tern project - Puffins long gone.
I am holding the anti-puffin. Early 90's on Seal Island @ Matinicus Rock off Vinalhaven, Maine.
Working with world famous ornithologist and chick specialist Jonathan Rosenthal.

SS Urban Dirt Jump circa 1976

1976-06-11T23:06:00.001-04:00

Yup! - I invented Single Speed mountain biking back in 1976!!

Photo by John Tremblay age 10

Riding my Schwinn Convertable hand-me-down (stripped down.)
June 1976 - the bicentenial summer - school must have just got out.
what a time!