In early April I traveled to Austin to ride with my cousin Brad at the Gran Fondo Texas. I rented a Trek from Mellow Johnny's bike shop, and ran into Lance while I was there. Texas was a nice break from Connecticut Spring temperatures but did some rain on my last day there. The Gran Fondo Texas was a well run event and the route was pretty nice with gentle rolling hills and well supported rest stops.
This year I’ve been riding with a new club that has been focusing on Gran Fondo events. We did our own “big ride” into the Berkshires of western Massachusetts along the historic Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway from Westfield to Stockbridge, then returning through Great Barrington, and Salisbury, CT, then back on Route 44 through Norfolk, CT
It has been 10 years since I had last ridden the Shelburne Falls 200K in 2006, and since that time the amount of cycling I have dome year over year has been pretty up and down.
Last October after a year of very little riding and a lot of weight gain, I set a goal of getting back in shape and was successful in training consistently over a mild New England winter.
The Shelburne Falls 200K was a ride I was a good early Spring long ride to shoot for. I drove up to Westfield, MA for the 7:00 am start, and met Stephen and Patricia for the Andiamo Team, and Saw Chris and Dan from EBCC at the start.
The weather was a high chance of rain, and in the high 40s to start, but forcast for the high 50s. I had arm and leg warmers, plus a vest, but decided to skip shoe covers or an extra rain jacket.
Stephen and Patricia were a little late getting ready, so I waited after the official start to ride with them. We caught the main group, not far out of Westfield. Chris, Dan, and one or two other riders surged ahead at one point, and I increased my pace, but backed off knowing that there was still a long way to go.
I eventually left Stephen and Patricia to go my own pace and caught a small group before the first checkpoint in Shelburne Falls. I made a quick of a stop as possible, filled my water bottles, go my card signed, grabbed a cookie and was off again.
The middle section of the ride into Vermont was very scenic and some some good pavement. One rider caught me before the only significant climbs of the ride, and I couldn’t match his pace. I think I still got a top 10 Strava segment for the climbing section.
On the way back to Shelburne Falls the skies opened up with a downpour and we got soaked. I waited at the store in Shelburne Falls for at least 30 minutes for the rain showers to pass and dry out a little. I took a few plastic bags to wrap my feet and for some extra insulation.
I left the same time as another group of riders and Steve and Patricia showed up at the checkpoint just as I was leaving.
I got ahead of the group I was with for a while, but eventually they cought back up to me, and I hung with them the rest of the way back.
My ride time on the bike ended up being 7:17 for 125 miles, and although my shoulders and neck were a little tired, I felt strong the whole way.
Charly Gaul, Rik Van Looy, Gastone Nencini, Ercole Baldini, Miguel Poblet, Vito Favero and Jacques Anquetil competing in the 1959 Giro d’Italia on the cover of the Italian weekly La Domenica del Corriere which was famous for its cover illustrations. Thanks to Carlton Reid’s Twitter stream for this one.
Up through the dripping green forest, pushed to the side by a crown of mud: double track pavement. My little version of heaven. | I love this @ashleygruber shot from Exmoor - that’s me in the picture. :-) (at Exmoor National Park)
It is the strong preference of the proprietors of Breadwinner Cycles that the handle bar tape and saddle color must match- always. ALWAYS! #breadwinnercycles #lolo #breadwinnerlolo #steelisreal #madeinportland #workhardridehome by breadwinnercycles http://ift.tt/1XQIGhl
Francesco Moser and his 2nd place finish at Ronde Van Vlaanderen in 1976 #cycling #biking #cyclist #touring #bike #bicycle #roadbike #getoutside #rideabike #beactive #hizokucycles HizokuCycles.com
Plant Fueled Cyclist @plantfueledcyclist - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
germansingergirl
blakekathryn
gummygunk
gamechangershow
