http://vermontbikepacking.blogspot.com/
Audax Vermont will be moving (mostly) to VermontBikepacking.... now that Vermont Bikepackers have started an official VMBA Chapter* and will be pushing to make the XVtBkPkRte official!
I'll have a little help so hopefully it won't be a place where words go to die like this blog has been!
I'll continue to post personal bike stuff and rando stuff as needed here.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Pt 3 Trans Canada Trail: VT to PEI
Part of my two year effort to ride from Vermont to Prince Edward Island - mostly off road.
This part is the second year in 2012:
5/0 Woodstock, NB to Fredericton, NB
My bivy on the last night:
This part is the second year in 2012:
5/0 Woodstock, NB to Fredericton, NB
Begin at the halfway point. My last day of my first ride in 2009 ended in
Woodstock, New Brunswick where I took the bus to Charlottetown, PEI... with my bike in its potato chip box.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108377311123808474629/albums/5579898055831242865/5579900173605025410?pid=5579900173605025410&oid=108377311123808474629
Now the family is dropping me off downtown, we have an impromptu picnic lunch curbside with the kids and the boat and every colorful local while I load up the bike. The trail doglegs in Woodstock – so it is a trip back up the St John and across the new 585 bridge, a bit on the 105 and the rail trail back to Newburg Junction. Here the rail trail parallels itself, slowly climbing to the town of McKenna. It is ATV two track of every flavor; smooth and fast, soft and sandy, rocky and wet… all of it a slight grade up or slight grade down and all of it with the most aggressive deerflies I have ever encountered. At times I can see the shadow of the cloud above my head chasing me. At any speed below 9.4 mph there is a danger of deer flies making it out of the cloud and landing on me – great coaches these deerflies.
I do not let off the gas for the next 40 miles – and there is nothing to stop for as the names of the towns on the maps prove to be only words in the woods where rail siding towns once stood: Shewan, Carr , County Line, Woodman and Woodstock Road. In Millville there is a depanier and there is even a fully loaded touring bike outside. Inside I find a cross-Canada cyclist taking a break and chatting with some of the locals. It is funny to meet at these crossroads – he is a pavement only tourer on the road since April! This is at the day’s halfway point to Fredericton – which is good because I will pass no other stores until then. I do encounter some ATV’s and it is not pretty. I hear them first of course, and then see them coming at me full blast – three kids wearing just their bathing suits – do not let off the throttle at all and squeeze by at full speed – as unnerving as the auto traffic. I see another ATV and it appears to be a father heading into town with his daughter – a much more civil encounter. I begin to see other recreational trail users and trail amenities like picnic tables as I near Fredericton… I even find a water fountain to fill my bottles. In the city the trail is paved and there are loads of people out on this beautiful summer night. I grab a sandwich at a Subway and head out of town as the sun sets over the St John.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108377311123808474629/albums/5579898055831242865/5579900173605025410?pid=5579900173605025410&oid=108377311123808474629
Now the family is dropping me off downtown, we have an impromptu picnic lunch curbside with the kids and the boat and every colorful local while I load up the bike. The trail doglegs in Woodstock – so it is a trip back up the St John and across the new 585 bridge, a bit on the 105 and the rail trail back to Newburg Junction. Here the rail trail parallels itself, slowly climbing to the town of McKenna. It is ATV two track of every flavor; smooth and fast, soft and sandy, rocky and wet… all of it a slight grade up or slight grade down and all of it with the most aggressive deerflies I have ever encountered. At times I can see the shadow of the cloud above my head chasing me. At any speed below 9.4 mph there is a danger of deer flies making it out of the cloud and landing on me – great coaches these deerflies.
I do not let off the gas for the next 40 miles – and there is nothing to stop for as the names of the towns on the maps prove to be only words in the woods where rail siding towns once stood: Shewan, Carr , County Line, Woodman and Woodstock Road. In Millville there is a depanier and there is even a fully loaded touring bike outside. Inside I find a cross-Canada cyclist taking a break and chatting with some of the locals. It is funny to meet at these crossroads – he is a pavement only tourer on the road since April! This is at the day’s halfway point to Fredericton – which is good because I will pass no other stores until then. I do encounter some ATV’s and it is not pretty. I hear them first of course, and then see them coming at me full blast – three kids wearing just their bathing suits – do not let off the throttle at all and squeeze by at full speed – as unnerving as the auto traffic. I see another ATV and it appears to be a father heading into town with his daughter – a much more civil encounter. I begin to see other recreational trail users and trail amenities like picnic tables as I near Fredericton… I even find a water fountain to fill my bottles. In the city the trail is paved and there are loads of people out on this beautiful summer night. I grab a sandwich at a Subway and head out of town as the sun sets over the St John.
At the juncture
where the rail trail heads north and the Google Earth/ snow machine trail heads
east, I enter a hole in the woods barely big enough for my bike. Here it is rough ATV trail and obviously a
major throughway between the city and the suburbs. It is not the nice part of town I am guessing
by the abandoned industrial detritus and self-permitted encampments of
trailers. Trail conditions go from worse
to worser – I know have my light on and I can see ATVs coming towards me and
these too don’t let off the throttle despite having no idea I am a bicycle – so
I don’t take it personally.
Frederickton to Monkton
After the great Google Earth folly of the 2010 NE Fleche –
you’d think I’d have learned riding next to Charles as he descended into a tunnel
in the wee dark hours. Turned out it
wasn’t a mine shaft but a stick in the spokes that sent his shoulder crashing in
a gentle slope to the ground. This time the dark green route extended the Trans
Canada Trail along the St John River past the industrial waste grounds and
rougher neighborhoods. And why was
someone shooting in the woods in the dark?
Was that a machine gun.. Perhaps
I was in the Oromoncto live-fire training grounds.. and at 11pm – those
Canadians don’t mess around. Rapid fire night
vision gun shots super close – no lights no flash no warning signs. Atv trail grew smaller while the puddles grew
bigger. Finally the trail is all wet and then a solid
stream and then my light shines down a perfectly flat trail of water. How long could it be? As big as the entire Grand Lake Meadow? Ankle deep to knee deep to deeper, now a snow
machine cut canal through the thick bush as far as I my light shines ahead and as far as I shine it behind. The night is getting cool and the water
cooler. I am standing in cold dark
water, in a cold dark night, miles from anywhere, not a speck of high dry ground to pause on. Tired with no place to sleep I turn around -15
miles back to Frederickton...back through the gauntlet of gunfire, drunken atv
traffic, and burning garbage smoke. Another 10 bonus miles looking for a place to
sleep. New Brunswick is often tough to
stealth camp. Thick scrubby brush filled
with damp lumpy ground and mosquitos – while any flat spot has the treads of
ATVs – don’t want a Paris Dakar midnight surprise.
South below Grand
Lake is the cycling route but I am already North and I am surprised to find I
am entirely missing that section of NB atlas!
Route 10 is scary little to no shoulder all the way
Minto. At 4:30 am there is no traffic
except a handful of commuters going the other way into Fred. I get the heck out of Dodge, doing a high
speed pack – stripping naked in downtown and not stopping for breakfast until I hit the
town of Ripples. Site of the former NB
WWII Internment Camp site. Nothing to
see here except the power of the New Brunswick forest; there is no trace of the six machine gun
towers overlooking the 15 acre prison guarded by 350 soldiers. No sign of the 52 buildings– apparently many
were moved to the Grand Lake to be used as summer cottages. The trees have grown in seamlessly thick like
the rest of NB forest. If there was an
environmental impact from 1200 prisoners and 350 guards cutting 2500 cords of
wood to feed 100 stoves – it is no longer perceptible. I stop in New Zion and get hot coffee and a
muffin at a gas station. The employee is
none too happy to be working a holiday weekend and a dirty cyclist only seems
to remind her this is precisely why she
doesn’t want to work today. I don’t
breach discussing the town name New Zion – was it settled by the 1940 prisoners
who turned out to not be spies but Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria?
In Minto I hop on the Old Post Road and immediately regret not taking the Cedar Rd/ Iron Bound Cove option as there is now church going traffic with no shoulder – but still a back road. At IBC I take the Mine Road to Pleasant St. it shows as a dark solid black line on map but on the ground it is a mud road packed with rocks by mine trucks then cured in the sun on a hot dusty day. Makes European pave smooth by comparison and I gather I will not be able to trust the map for road surface conditions.
In Minto I hop on the Old Post Road and immediately regret not taking the Cedar Rd/ Iron Bound Cove option as there is now church going traffic with no shoulder – but still a back road. At IBC I take the Mine Road to Pleasant St. it shows as a dark solid black line on map but on the ground it is a mud road packed with rocks by mine trucks then cured in the sun on a hot dusty day. Makes European pave smooth by comparison and I gather I will not be able to trust the map for road surface conditions.
The Chipman Bridge is uneventful and I make a quick stop at
the tiny Irving gas station next to the largest Irving lumber Mill in Canada to
refuel/water. Next to the mill and the
3-story-mile-long lumber pile is a small
park with a few benches and even less shade from the miniature Lindens. I ask the only person who walks by if they
know if there is a bridge at the end of Dufferin Rd. Since my Frederickton disaster I have been
debating not taking the 22.7 mile short cut across the Canaan Bog from Dufferin
Rd to Forks Stream. … as I need two
bridges in place to make the route work but I have no idea if either bridge
exists. Otherwise it is 70 miles of scary
shoulderless roads: rt 10 down to Youngs
Cove and 112 up to Salisbury. Fortunately this first person happens to be
Paul Campbell, one of two employees working this weekend at this gianormous mill
(not counting the security guard) He
hasn’t been out that way in a while but knows
there has been no bridge since the coal mine closed. He says it is probably shallow enough to
cross with it being so dry. And adds in
that Canada now buys its coal from China.
He loves the idea of my adventure and is confident I can ride all the
way to Monkton on snowmachine trails… just ask someone on an ATV if I get
lost! He also offers the services of his
twin brother who is RCMP – oh he’ll fly the Chinook out into the bog to find
you! We have a great time on the bench
together; Paul’s wife stops by and is excited to introduce me to her young
blond single friend who’ll be driving her A4 convertible and the mayor in the NB day
parade tomorrow .
Wishing I had the Pugsley for this trip. From Cross bike in 2009 to wishing I had the
Pugsley in 2012. Ever aware of minor decisions
made during low probability events that have potentially big negative consequences
fatal situation with mortal consequences (“Black
Swan”)
Monkton – Sackville.
Going into Monkton City shoulderless road with polite
traffic (2xRC MountyP sighting) turns into nice bike lane in road dumps you in
nasty free for all traffic circle then tight Main St through city. Civilization!
2013 note: There is a velodrome in Moncton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With many opportunities for real food… I choose the original Crusty Crab – certainly the inspiration for Sponge Bob Square Pants. Alternative along river – red stone dust multi use path all the way south of city ends on rt 106 with, again nice bike lane in shared road. At city limits dumps you with no shoulder to Miramacook. Possible to take light green (ATV?) trail. I stayed on shoulderless 106 until Folley Lake and then saw ATV trail/road which I took To Little Dover. Possible in Fox Creek to take road south of Leblanc Backroad direct to the Folley Lake ATV trail or continue to Meramcook West with the goal of reaching the Woodhurst /Baseline Rd a blueberry/coppermine/ cell tower road. With Baseline being the steepest climb in all of New Brunswick.
2013 note: There is a velodrome in Moncton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With many opportunities for real food… I choose the original Crusty Crab – certainly the inspiration for Sponge Bob Square Pants. Alternative along river – red stone dust multi use path all the way south of city ends on rt 106 with, again nice bike lane in shared road. At city limits dumps you with no shoulder to Miramacook. Possible to take light green (ATV?) trail. I stayed on shoulderless 106 until Folley Lake and then saw ATV trail/road which I took To Little Dover. Possible in Fox Creek to take road south of Leblanc Backroad direct to the Folley Lake ATV trail or continue to Meramcook West with the goal of reaching the Woodhurst /Baseline Rd a blueberry/coppermine/ cell tower road. With Baseline being the steepest climb in all of New Brunswick.
My bivy on the last night:
Sackville to Confederation Bridge to Charlottetown.
Stopped at info center.
Info lacking about trail to bridge.
Recommended route is to go back around the Tim Hortons under highway
past Irving onto path… but shorter and possibly less dangerous* to cross four
lane highway on rail trail.
Took about 20secs for me to find a break with zero cars as far as eye can see. * The Foursquare App has 8 comments about this particular Tim Hortons – all of them commenting on how dangerous the entrance is with bush and fourway stop light. I’ll also add that it is a typical info center on a bike trail that knows nothing about the trail… they have no idea it does not go all the way to Cape Jourimain as pictured on the map!
Took about 20secs for me to find a break with zero cars as far as eye can see. * The Foursquare App has 8 comments about this particular Tim Hortons – all of them commenting on how dangerous the entrance is with bush and fourway stop light. I’ll also add that it is a typical info center on a bike trail that knows nothing about the trail… they have no idea it does not go all the way to Cape Jourimain as pictured on the map!
Trail starts out beautiful and fast with 30mph tail wind –
avg 21 mph . lots of farms, good stone
dust two track. First glimpses of
ocean. At Allyns store 5? Miles from
end? Trail becomes very loose 3” gravel chunks – very difficult to ride even
with 29 x 2.1 tire. Deteriorates from there… no more ATV packing trail down
grass growing. I bail to road which has
wide shoulder and same tailwind but 100km/h speed limit. Jerk blocks shoulder to make cell phone call. Last section before nature center does not exist at all – given
up to beavers. Looks like you are trapped
into going over bridge but suddenly exit 51 appears with small sign directing
cyclists and god-forbid, pedestrians off the highway to the Cape Jourdain
Nature Center/gift shop/ rest stop.
There is a manned booth at the entrance with an adorable island accented
high school gal.. but cars don’t seem to
bother…
Bridge shuttle phone inside to left of info center. Take bakery number slip and lift hotline
phone.
I am first to call although two other bikes await outside. When shuttle arrives there are three bikes and five pedestrians… I am only one who took number – someone will have to wait. From phone call to removing bags to ten minute drive and bags back on is close to two hours! Bags must be removed and I still don’t have my carousel bar bag inquick detach mode. Shuttle drops you off at bridge management company… I thought it would be info center on other side – instead looks like an immigration detention center. Clean bathroom and water cooler not bad. But I skip the ticky tacky tourist trap and scoot directly onto PEI Path with one intersection barely a few hundred meters on the road.
From there I knew it would be easy sailing right into Charlotte town. Rolling rail grade I average 13mph up and 22 mph down so make good time on perfectly consistent stone dust trail – mostly two track with grass and gorgeous farmland into Charlettown. I see two child size ATVs driven by grown men with their knees in their ears, two touring couples heading the opposite way and one yellow jersey-ed bike patroller! Who seems to want to stop and chat but I blow by with my white iPod buds in the aerobars with a determined goal on my face. Cars politely give right of way to me on path except for one x-ing with is a 3 –laner and car to left stops and car to right but car to right in furthest lane cannot see me and thus refuses to stop until last moment. Lots of pedestrian traffic – seem aware of rules and cyclist on multi. I stay on track in Hunter River hoping I can beat my ride home to C’town. Don’t want to get off here at the site of AES final ride. One nasty two light pedestrian style crossing of the rt 2 and then it is through the center of UPEI and shopping zones to the Tim Horton’s at the bottom of the Hillsborough River bridge.
My new bridge x-ing friends:
I am first to call although two other bikes await outside. When shuttle arrives there are three bikes and five pedestrians… I am only one who took number – someone will have to wait. From phone call to removing bags to ten minute drive and bags back on is close to two hours! Bags must be removed and I still don’t have my carousel bar bag inquick detach mode. Shuttle drops you off at bridge management company… I thought it would be info center on other side – instead looks like an immigration detention center. Clean bathroom and water cooler not bad. But I skip the ticky tacky tourist trap and scoot directly onto PEI Path with one intersection barely a few hundred meters on the road.
From there I knew it would be easy sailing right into Charlotte town. Rolling rail grade I average 13mph up and 22 mph down so make good time on perfectly consistent stone dust trail – mostly two track with grass and gorgeous farmland into Charlettown. I see two child size ATVs driven by grown men with their knees in their ears, two touring couples heading the opposite way and one yellow jersey-ed bike patroller! Who seems to want to stop and chat but I blow by with my white iPod buds in the aerobars with a determined goal on my face. Cars politely give right of way to me on path except for one x-ing with is a 3 –laner and car to left stops and car to right but car to right in furthest lane cannot see me and thus refuses to stop until last moment. Lots of pedestrian traffic – seem aware of rules and cyclist on multi. I stay on track in Hunter River hoping I can beat my ride home to C’town. Don’t want to get off here at the site of AES final ride. One nasty two light pedestrian style crossing of the rt 2 and then it is through the center of UPEI and shopping zones to the Tim Horton’s at the bottom of the Hillsborough River bridge.
2009:
Hillsboro bridge is a hairy proposition in road -way on windy
bridge. Shoulder widened since my 2009
ride by moving painted white line closer to center at the cost of a bucket of
paint but not without taxpayer complaints.
Iona to Murray Harbour very loose and slow for road bikes need >700c
x 32 tires. Needs packing by patrol
vehicle or atv.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Great Vermont Bikepacking Route
 |
| The Vermont Bikepacking Route. |
Riding it September 2012... not writing about it... yet.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Big train a coming....
This great news from Vt Bike and Ped coalition:
Yesterday, some great rail news came to the bike/ped community. It was announced that passengers will be permitted to roll bikes onto Amtrak trains in Vermont. This change is scheduled to take place in spring or early summer. Amtrak cars, equipped with racks, will allow bikes to hang and be locked. Still to come are the exact starting date of this service and whether or not a fee will be charged. Imagine being able to take your bike in this manner to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC or other Amtrak destinations on this route.
Additional great rail news: Note that anyone who travels within Vermont on Amtrak can take advantage of a same-day 50% discount. All that is required is that you reserve 24 hours in advance and that you refer to promotion code V383. When making a reservation, skip the automated attendant and speak with an agent. Don't be discouraged if the agent is unaware of this particular promotion. Be persistent and patient. Remember, though, that the discount applies for same-day travel within the state of Vermont in 2012. This discount may carry over into 2013 but it will likely have a different promo code.
With the options to purchase a ticket at a 50% discount and roll your bike onto the train, many travel possibilities open up. Thanks to Bob Atchinson of VTrans' Rail Division for this news and to all who sent letters lobbying for this change, including Governor Shumlin, Commissioner of Tourism and Marketing, Megan Smith, and Vermont Rail Action Network executive director, Christopher Parker.
We will now be able to participate in the Western Mass Fleche rides by riding our bikes to Westfield Mass and then taking the train home... Perhaps even a NYC Fleche! This has been a long time coming... and always painful to see those empty Amtrack trains rolling through Vermont with no bicycles allowed. ( not even folders!)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Washington 55 with Dave B
Ok... it has been a while. Obviously the Tour Divide followup will be a long time coming. Meanwhile - I gotta kick some life back into this web log. It has been a miserable winter for a snowboarder and even worse for an ultra endurance Nordic skier. I quickly put aside my dreams of skiing Canadian Ski Marathon as a silver level skier. Instead I've been going through old ride notes and planning the 2012 cycling season.
I came across this little email exchange with Dave Blumenthal. He and I both worked on this training route for the Tour divide. We never got a chance to ride it together... in fact when we did ride it, his opinion was to ride it counter clockwise - while I went the other way around. I have since done some variations of this ride with local trail guru Carl D as well my dear ol' 650b pal Randy. It hurts not to be able to ever do this ride with Dave B, but I am eventually beginning to understand that reality. I also know that he isn't going to be an easy friend to replace ... it has been 2 1/2 years now :(
David E. Tremblay wrote: I did it... I did the Washington 47 today - Clockwise. It was great. I started a Woodchuck Hollow - saw that the first geocache wasn't even on the fun part of the road and decided not to bother and tried to get down to business. Dead camera battery helped. I shot straight across Woodchuck Hollow - if riding in a group it would be nice to have the first person stop and give the all clear sign as this is quite the gravity dip. Threshold Rd -is perfect. I took a picture of two pumpkins sitting in the river by the old mill on Gristmill rd. Magoon Rd was nice - got chased by a dog up the hill - but not too bad as it was a dachshund (named Coco) the last bit looks like someone's driveway but isn't, trail goes to right of their house. Rowell made the trip down to Vershire worth it. Got a flat going too fast down Taylor Valley - ripped a hole in the tire tread and lost pressure so fast bead came off rim. I could not get the valve stem nut loose. Cut it from inside then filed it with swiss army knife. 30 min operation - my pump got about 25 psi in the tire. realized I did not have patch kit or another tube. decided to ride very gingerly the rest of the way. Skipped Holt hill and took a right onto County to Jenkins. Cows in the road at Braman Farm on Doyle Rd - beautiful. Too dark to see left off Doyle onto Sky Acres. My gps indicator arrow was moving sideways to my motion, and it was dark and the map showed more roads than there were. Seemed like I was suppose to turn near abandoned camper and I was trying to figure it out when this lurking man stepped out of the shadow of the dark camper with another lurking figure behind him. He gave me bad directions so I went up the driveway instead of the road. Asked directions at the house at the top of the hill and they let me cut through their hay field to Sky acres. Almost popped down rt 110 but took Richardson to see what the fuss was about. Had to walk to the top of the hill. Poor Farm to the right is nothing special. Not sure if that section is worth it or if we could change this a bit. So: 47 miles in 4:24 of riding, plus 1:26 stopped with 8mph avg speed total. Elevation 3291up 2550 down ? Something is wrong with the elevation... nowhere near your 9,000. lessons: patchkit - always turn valve nut into real nut - bring tool to remove, use a real tubeless rim could use more light
From DaveB:
Cool!I merged our data to create the attached: 50.5 miles. 7300-7900' gain, depending on what you look at. Also edited the waypoints to make them good for either direction.I understand why you had trouble at Doyle by the camper. Clockwise, you go around the turn by the camper, go maybe 50', then left uphill on a left track. 50' more uphill, then bear left again to stay on leafy track. The attached file has the "correct" way, I also added some clarifying waypoints there. With adequate light you wouldn't have a problem. Certainly going the other direction its more clear Braman Farm is very cool, reminded me a lot of the farms we hiked through in Austria: http://www.studiozoic.com/adventures/2007/almenweg/index.htmThe only part of the route I'm not that thrilled about is the long road bit through Chelsea. However, after looking at the maps and quads, I don't really see that there is an alternative. I'd call it good.How did you patch the tire? I have some Park Took tire boots, some kind of self adhesive thing, never used one. I understand the nut issue. What if instead of some kind of hex nut you filed a z-axis groove or two in the nut so that you could spin it with a straight blade screwdriver? Already have that tool in the kit probably.One of us should put a cache on the County-Quarry link....Dave
But now I am getting some bigger ideas.....
I came across this little email exchange with Dave Blumenthal. He and I both worked on this training route for the Tour divide. We never got a chance to ride it together... in fact when we did ride it, his opinion was to ride it counter clockwise - while I went the other way around. I have since done some variations of this ride with local trail guru Carl D as well my dear ol' 650b pal Randy. It hurts not to be able to ever do this ride with Dave B, but I am eventually beginning to understand that reality. I also know that he isn't going to be an easy friend to replace ... it has been 2 1/2 years now :(
 |
| The smooth section of Taylor Valley Rd. |
David E. Tremblay wrote: I did it... I did the Washington 47 today - Clockwise. It was great. I started a Woodchuck Hollow - saw that the first geocache wasn't even on the fun part of the road and decided not to bother and tried to get down to business. Dead camera battery helped. I shot straight across Woodchuck Hollow - if riding in a group it would be nice to have the first person stop and give the all clear sign as this is quite the gravity dip. Threshold Rd -is perfect. I took a picture of two pumpkins sitting in the river by the old mill on Gristmill rd. Magoon Rd was nice - got chased by a dog up the hill - but not too bad as it was a dachshund (named Coco) the last bit looks like someone's driveway but isn't, trail goes to right of their house. Rowell made the trip down to Vershire worth it. Got a flat going too fast down Taylor Valley - ripped a hole in the tire tread and lost pressure so fast bead came off rim. I could not get the valve stem nut loose. Cut it from inside then filed it with swiss army knife. 30 min operation - my pump got about 25 psi in the tire. realized I did not have patch kit or another tube. decided to ride very gingerly the rest of the way. Skipped Holt hill and took a right onto County to Jenkins. Cows in the road at Braman Farm on Doyle Rd - beautiful. Too dark to see left off Doyle onto Sky Acres. My gps indicator arrow was moving sideways to my motion, and it was dark and the map showed more roads than there were. Seemed like I was suppose to turn near abandoned camper and I was trying to figure it out when this lurking man stepped out of the shadow of the dark camper with another lurking figure behind him. He gave me bad directions so I went up the driveway instead of the road. Asked directions at the house at the top of the hill and they let me cut through their hay field to Sky acres. Almost popped down rt 110 but took Richardson to see what the fuss was about. Had to walk to the top of the hill. Poor Farm to the right is nothing special. Not sure if that section is worth it or if we could change this a bit. So: 47 miles in 4:24 of riding, plus 1:26 stopped with 8mph avg speed total. Elevation 3291up 2550 down ? Something is wrong with the elevation... nowhere near your 9,000. lessons: patchkit - always turn valve nut into real nut - bring tool to remove, use a real tubeless rim could use more light
 |
| Local politics. |
From DaveB:
 |
| Beautiful world |
 |
| Braman Bros. Farm |
 |
| Upper Village Pastures |
But now I am getting some bigger ideas.....
 |
| The route (in purple) on an old VMBA map. Starts in Washington proper, at the upper left. |
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Type Two Fun - day 2
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
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.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Type Two Fun epilogue
.
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.
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! |
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Climb - on
South Hill (start) Moretown Mt, Herring Brook, Hog Hollow, Perry Hill, Camel's Hump, Sharp Shooter, So Hill
Thursday, May 20, 2010
I'm training for TD really
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
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Selle Anatomica lives on
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!
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
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!
Thursday, April 01, 2010
the perfect bike for the Great Divide
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!
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Letter of Intent - Tour Divide
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.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Braintree Gap training ride
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)
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.
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.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Waitsfield Gap
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.
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