Found a trail on the hillside above north Troy, NY

Found a trail on the hillside above north Troy, NY It was the oddest moment.

I happened upon it on a Saturday ride with no one to accompany me . . .

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/736128381945358764

and a map to look at :

What is this route?

I had never heard about it.

I took a standard route east to cross the Hudson near Peebles Island, then up into town, north a bit to 112 th or so, then east across some neighborhoods, then up the hill to find a trail or a pedestrian way. Is this cyclable? We'll see.

I bump along to find that there is a real trail, then a chance to go back down near a park. So I rejoin the city streets, turn north, back to 112 or 114, to make it back across the bridges to the western side of the flowing waters.

I return home.

Beautiful Saturday afternoon ride

'Round about 10:30 am I left for a quick one out to Shaker Bay.

http://www.mapmyride.com/add_route_to_blog.php?r=639126868617564418

Air is cool and the sunny day turned a bit ominous just as I got started. Clouds started gathering, but only along the river as far as I could tell. No rain, or threat, but dark, blue, angry grey clouds were dripping into view.

Roads have been worked on, so the ride is smooth and fast. Wind was at my back going out or east.

I took the River Rd. out and tried to follow the Mohawk-Hudson trail in but there were too many pedestrians, so had to leave the trail at the train station and follow the road back up hill near Lock 7 Rd. then on into Edison Woods development. No one could be seen; spooky place on the Labor Day holiday weekend. School starts on Wednesday, so everyone will be out of town until that evening beforehand.

Made it back in well under an hour.

Odometer: 400 km at season's beginning; today: 5280 km, so over 3,000 miles since we started riding in 2010.

Finally, Sterling Rd. uphill

Finally, I got my chance to go up Sterling Rd. . . .

On a hot day, with plenty of sunshine, thus it was yesterday, Sunday, 29 August 2010.

www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/pattersonville/842128321601954636

I drove over to the Rice Rd. parking spot near Lock 9. Not too many fishing at 9:30 or 10 am Sunday morning. It was hot and getting hotter. I debated what exactly to do in the way of a ride, but opted for a "two hills +" and was getting ready to do a Schermerhorn or Crawford, mighty Crawford, when I got the inspiration to do a Route 160 up the hill onto the plateau and then zoom down Rynex-Pattersonville to cross over to the Glenville Hills.

That even seemed a little boring, so I pulled the gear out of the back, clipped in, checked the water situation, and set off without being entirely convinced I knew what I wanted to do.

Soon I was hooked into a 25 mph zone then took the old Erie Canal towpath from the standard 5S route through Rotterdam Junction. I came out of the trail in time to see the rail cars parked right in the way. Someone had put up cement wall sections to discourage traffic like me. I walked through, up and across the rails, down the other litter-strewn side of the path to come out on the 5S . . . LEFT to go west and I passed Rynex-Pattersonfille Rd. thence on to Rte 160.

Left or up or south and you're into it immediately. Every time I encounter this hill I want to go off on Florida Rd. which seems to be very inviting, because it's flat. I gain elevation. Then it flattens out as the road gains an altitude it likes. I pass a couple of roads to the east that I've taken or thought about before. Then, I see it . . . Sterling.

Doesn't look that bad . . .

Then the switchbacks start and grade increases, but if Ti Man were here, he'd just switch to a lower gear and hammer. Not me. Nope.

The sun is hot. I haven't had enough to drink. I am beginning to weave across the road so I don't stop!!

Pathetic.

I'm at the top, finally, and find I'm going to turn left onto 160. I just turned off of 160 and now I return to it. I have to take a map on these trips -- that's it.

I DO have a compass, knowing how well I orient in the hills above the Rotterdam, so I check and the shadows are sharp; I'm not too lost. Yet.

159 looms, and I turn left again and find myself at Mariahville Lake!! I'd just spoken to a colleague who lives up here 'Stop in any time. Really. We'd love a visit from a tired and worn out rider.'

I fit the description. But it was one hour into it and I had to get back for lunch. . . . so I hammered a way and it paid off. I kept up a 30 mph+, 40 mph in spots, ride down from the plateau. To eventually turn left at Rynex Corners. . . to roll up the infamous Rynex hill to Upper Gregg Rd. and Crawford intersections.

Then DOWN hill for minutes, honestly, it was superb!!

But NO!!

I'm dreaming. I took Ennis and had to battle the little rollers, residential spots, intersections, and finally, after ablastdown that hill, I connected up with 160 again, again, and rolled on to the down pipe into Pattersonville.

Nice Ride.

Alcove from Voorheesville by way of Coymans Hollow

I was all set to ride with the guys this morning at 7 am . . . run up to Thacher S.P. when the alarm went off at 6:21 am, I went back to sleep and finished a couple of bagels, as a result, at 7 sharp! Ha. too late for that ride.

So I planned a quick run south to Alcove Reservoir, near the town of Alcove, NY, itself.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/voorheesville/768128302851272911

As you can see, it starts at the New Scotland town park near Voorheesville, on Swift Rd. Nice place to start. Always lots of parking and you can pick shade at 7:30 am, there aren't too many there barring the occasional runner out for a couple of km in the early morning cool.

So I went over to (east to) 306 that will take me south to Feura Bush, thence to Old Quarry Rd. or 102. Nice ride. It stays level with the terrain for some time. Later, farther south, it takes on a rolling up and down, follow-the-terrain aspect, and 'countryside' is the word that comes to mind. The route becomes Starr Rd. and goes past Joraleman Park near the intersection with Route 143. West on Route 143 quickly gets you to the turn-north on Stanton Road. . . although staying on 143 takes you into the burg of Alcove, NY, itself. It's Route 301, I can't find the map ref., but it is a less used road.

Historical markers have started sprouting up everywhere. Most of the names are Dutch or nearly so. The folks from Europe who settled here were from the Netherlands. The pavement is cracking a bit near 143. Residences line the route and one finally rips down a 5 or 6% downhill section (on which it is easy to go 40 mph, and you CAN go 45, I tried) and T's into 396. Go left, or stay on 301, either direction will serve. You cross 32 or Indian Fields, but if you stay on 301, the payoff is worth it. It is a pretty road and it is in good condition.

I reconnected with 443 in Clarksville. Left takes you up to the intersection with 85 at the Stewart's Shops and home (Voorheesville) by the regular route. I chose to stay on 85, something I'd not done in a while if ever. I rolled up to the town park after 1 h 55 m on the road. The count on my odometer was 60 km for an average a little better than 30 kph. Nice ride. Pretty country.

More rain, like last Sunday's Tour de Cure

More rain, like last Sunday's Tour de Cure . . . in Saratoga Springs, NY

"Great idea", S-man comes up with. Including Michael, who was out of town for the ADA Tour de Cure and didn't do the century, "Let's do the northern reaches loop of the century ride." This northern bit for the 2010 ride leaves Middle Grove, NY, tools up through Porter Corners, Corinth, 9N to the cut-off to Stewart's Bridge reservoir dam route, across that and runs next to the Hudson to return to Corinth.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/saratoga-springs/783124122314448901

Great idea, everyone agrees, so we're planning like maniacs, exchanging cell numbers and it's set for 8 am at Starbucks St. James Square. I'm there at 8 but no one else in sight. Clients come and go; no one inside. Next: call Yaz. He's ready to go anywhere--apparently, the agreed-upon time and place is no good, so we reconvene at Michael's place. By 8:20 we're off. Two cars cause Yaz will detour to Saratoga Springs following the ride.

Weather report: no rain until after 11 am maybe as late as 2 pm, then it will rain for six hours thunder and lightning later.

Ha. We're not half way up Highway 50 to the route 59 (Middle Line Rd.) turn-off when the pitter patter of drops starts to add to the noise of conversation in the car. I'm taking Michale and bike, so we keep looking backward at Yaz's vehicle. No wipers.

No wipers.

Finally, at Route 29, where there is a left hand turn, quick right onto 104 to go to Middle Grove. . . wipers. It's raining. Yaz has accepted it. He says it is the first step to getting right with the idea he's going to ride in the rain some MORE this weekend.

We start well by taking the wrong turn and start to do the route backward. My fault. Then we're turned around, reoriented and off up the hill to Desolation Lake. Two miles later we're on Coy Rd. heading north north east. We're in the Daketown forest and the houses become a bit more scarce and the trees grow closer to the road. The rain is persistent but not a downpour and for the most part everything is dry.

It takes a while but Porter Corners arrives and we're still together, riding well. Michael is speeding up moments from time to time keeping an eye on his odometer trying to do what? The rain starts to pick up in this section, but the odometer works and clothing is OK . . . it's damp.

Miner Rd. comes up then a turn onto a straight slightly falling section that rolls past Brookhaven GC. No one out there swinging at any golf balls. Too damp. Too much dew, mist.

We hit Comstock, cross 9N, it's all a bit of a blur, but one recollection is not. By the time we're on Main Street south of Corinth, we are taking a pelting due to the increase in the rain. It's coming down so hard, we can't avoid puddles that are growing in length, width and depth in the ruts of the road where tire use is greatest. Bits of the shoulder that slope away and off to the grassy borders are not sloped enough and sailing through rivulets drenches everything we're wearing. My shoes begin to feel sopping and wet. Crotch of new Italian shorts is wet and cold. It's beginning to be a PAIN.

Michael calls for a cessation in hostilities and we pull into a spot underneath an awning of the local Grange building to wipe clean our glasses and riding shades. THEN we hear the thunder. I ask Yaz about the predictions on the weather. Six hours of rain. It came three hours too early.

The thunder convinces me that Hadley is out of the question. Too bad for the nice views and all that; it's getting colder, the stop has cooled us off, all three, and I'm worried that getting farther from cars is not the most intelligent thing to do. We turn around at the entrance to Corinth where the long stone fence is . . . not far from the point of realimentation that was erected for the T de C on Sunday past, no one there today!!

So we're cutting it short, but I think it's best.

It's still raining hard, but we're no longer on the well-traveled roads around Corinth. The route plunges into the surrounding area, residential and rural mostly, south of town. We cross 9N again, Porter Corners again! before coming into Middle Grove from the road I almost had us take on the way out. We don't go through the Corners itself, but the Fire Station nearby, thence on to Squashville Rd. and a look at the house someone's working on (stripped of its siding, new windows recently, pile of detritus to the left of the front door) then turn onto Route 19 that takes us down the slope into Middle Grove and the park.

I strip off my soaked clothing between open doors on the other side of the lot, Yaz in his car, Michael in the bathrooms that belong to the Greenfield town park. There was a birthday going on out of reach of the rain.

The drive back was 'heater on' de rigueur. The rain, meanwhile, had stopped!!

How's that?

Repetitive Week, all in all

It seems like we did the same routes this past week, but I know differently.

We twice went out by Ballston Lake for BugLine routes and twice we went out across the Rexford Bridge to turn right at the Stewarts Shops onto Riverview Rd. We've done these routes so many times it seems like all the same rides.

We did one the normal rotation, as seen from above the earth's surface, looking down, clockwise.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/452125600004410784

It had been a while since we'd been to Jonesville, so we did this one late in the week . . .

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/596894329717

One regular route, much like many weeks in harness.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/-niskayuna/886127333331216373

And a trip around the lake, Ballston Lake:

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ny/niskayuna/174127397365749209#success

Sweat N Fall century

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Bien, au revoir, bonne journee, bonne route

Maniacal Chase after Dave

Noontime ride, no sweat, right?

Ha.

We planned to do the standard http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/us/ny/niskayuna/886127333331216373 but with the twist that David was back from his business travel . . . Ohio? He was glad to be back and to show us how happy he was he left us all in the dust. The route takes us up onto the bluffs above the Mohawk and once up there we have flat to descending, with rolling terrain until one reaches Sugar Hill Rd. (L) and the access road to the Vischer Ferry Power Station.

He felt great to be back on the road, and to celebrate he wound it up to 29 or 30 mph on that well-worn section of pavement. We spread out as the speed increased, and folks fell off the back. By the time we made it to the left-hand turn, we had 1, then 1, then 2 then 1 last one. 'I don't have that gear,' someone screamed into the noisy background of rushing air past the helmets. I laughed. No one has that gear. And crank.

We turn north at the intersection and mosey on up the little approach bit to peak out in front of one of the apple farms, then drift down past Ray Rd. (to the right), to approach Grooms or Rte 91.

Once there, I look down at the moment when everyone else moves across the busy road. I fumble for stance and apply a push on the pedals, not yet engaged in clipless, and so we rejoin the fight.

Again the pace is increased as we go north along Miller Rd. to the Waite Rd. left-hand turn, just on the other side of the residential developments, the old farms, onto the downhill stretch we always do at 26 mph. The old house on the right at the intersection with 146 is now gone, and in its place since the work began last fall, are new apartments. They stand three stories tall and well help relieve the housing pressure due to the slowing pace of home building, and reduced job opportunities, but won't beautify the route!

Once across 146, we're on the rise, down the hill, and around the bend to cross the railroad tracks. We are occasionally prisoners of the train schedule and from time to time, there are some train spotters.

Left onto 146A to wind up the hill past the seasonal gardening store, named after the two proprietors, no doubt, and roll on down to Ashdown's left at the light. We all keep an eye on the oncoming traffic from down below at the village Ballston Lake.

A quick look to the right reveals a northeast direction view of the Glenville Hills. Once along past the bridge over the railroad spur headed east from Schenectady to Mechanicville, we are on to the Blue Barn itself. Left up the hill to get us out of the last bit of the valley or low stream conduit, we look over Hyde's wares. Boats, mostly, and of course the consignment shop outside in better weather.

Down the hill at well above 30 mph, the sport is to keep up with traffic headed south to the Rexford Bridge, into Niskayuna, from Clifton Park. He hit all the lights while green and break some sort of modest record for steaming past the another garden center, post office, fire station, Dunkin' Donuts (where we never, never stop during the Tour de Doughnut de Cidre event in the fall, to my surprise), Stewarts Shops, Rexford Mansion, to the bridge itself.

The city of Niskayuna is working on the bike trail and so passage by familiar right hand turn past the boat house, left onto the trail across the Aqueduct Rd. traffic is not NOT an option. We don't want to do the Rec Center, either, so it's across the Balltown Rd. traffic. What a mess. What a risk!

The rough gravel still lies in wait for the unsuspecting and it will be there all summer, goes the TiMan's prediction. He isn't out today but we can remember his words.

Blown out by the ride's three big pushes, we stand at the top of the hill huffing and puffing.

Westerlo from Voorheesville and back

So it's getting hot and humid, for the first time this season, it's around 80 by 10 am. I head out in the car with the bike stashed in the back. I don't want to do the commute via King's Road, it's a mess, bumping and icky, so I zip up to the Voorheesville town park just off the path headed up the hill to the Thacher State Park turn off.

New Salem is left in the dust at the base of the hill and I take on the climb up to 85 and Thacher Rd. turn off. I keep going. From here all along the approach to the 'T' with 443, one can see cuts in the road that shows off the shale. The sedimentary layers are open for all to see along the road cuts, and where the stream Onesquethaw cuts through.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ny/voorheesville/237127283759430278

I continue climbing once past the Stewart's on the corner, following 443 and 85. Angle off on 85 and the climb peaks out at Co Rd 11 and the flat begins, then starts to drop. It's a note of hope that one day I'll finish. 45 minutes by this time. I come to the intersection with Route 1 or Switzkill and see the sign post for the Rent Wars.

History noted, I turn left or south and head down hill. I start looking for Westerlo. And got there! Quaint place. Public Library museum and post office on the corner with the main street and the route I was taking. http://www.townofwesterlony.com/museum.html

Onward on 143 south and east now with climbs and rollers. Fun. Just before Dormansville I see my turn off for 312 going north. It's getting late, as planned outing was to be 2 hours. It's 1 hour 10 or so, already. It's flat then a dip into the stream / valley, then up a hill. A long one. At the peak of the hill, Dunbar Hollow or Tower Rd. as in microwave tower hill top installation . . . I take a snap of the view to the north mostly toward Clarksville.

I look down at the odometer halfway down the hill: 80 kph!! Damn. 50 mph. I roll into the intersection with 443, turn left for a short stroll up to the Stewart's at the 85 intersection. Right and down the approach I just did uphill! toward Voorheesville (the town park is marked New Scotland Town park on the map).

Next trip, farther west to the Schoharie town and river valley, the return via Route 7 perhaps. Nice ride.

Nice, well-paced spin around the bridge loop

The day started well with weather warm enough to bring out the dandelions, les pis-en-lits, partout! We had breakfast, bagles, cream cheese, then went out to root around in the garden. Remove some dandelions, repair an aneurysm in one of the hoses, fix the drip at the spigot to the garden, and dig up some sod. . . getting ready for the path.

Lunch came when Gisele came home. . . then we were off for a 30 miler around the bridge route. Familiar to all (http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/ny/niskayuna/690127276684917184) it is still a nice ride. We took it at a two hour pace. We had a chance to look through stuff at garage sales along the route, check out the state of the construction going on just outside the development Shaker Bay (new sewage treatment plant facility), and find something new at most junctures. The old Saratoga Winners tavern / venue is settling into ashen dark remains. The riverside land is drying out. All the docks are in at the two or three marinas we can see along the Mohawk. I saw a duck sitting on a nest to the north of Clamsteam in a big of low swampy land next to the road. A couple of fishermen graced the northern side of the road, closest to the Vischer Ferry wetlands. The 1880 in slate still stands near the entrance to Vischer Ferry, the village. The riding clothier's shop was open for business. David's white bike had been repainted "6-29-2004" marked the tragic date.

We cross Rexford Bridge and turn left, of all things, to avoid the construction on the trail up near the crossing point uphill from the boathouse. Thomas crabs at me. 'Nuts' by way of assessment of the route.

We're home by 3:30 pm so we can make it to Marche 74 for dinner early by all civilized standards.

Restaurant Week Albany!!

Saturday's Run

So, the default arrangement was: we're going Saturday morning, but when Saturday morning rolled around, there was a series of activities getting in the way, with higher priority. New time: 3 pm. Unless the game went extra innings.

I was OK with this. There was gardening to do. I was doing it. Removing grass, turf, really, in preparation for expanding the veggie garden rows. Work underway, lunch over with, I was by myself in the backyard . . . with one eye on the watch to make sure I leave in time to get to the Filkinos spread for the launch.

No extra innings, we are off at 3 pm.

So the standard exit of Old Niskayuna, down Hillside and out onto Maxon . . . whip around to the right to cross Freeman's Bridge, Cuthbert, eventually, and out onto Route 5, headed west.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/231127224500834049

Rector is the first hill, the easiest, according to Ti Man and Juan the mountain climber. . . in terms of the number of steep parts. Johnson, and others, have all these plateaus and stuff. Longer, too, and so the most direct way up is Rector Rd.

I timed it: 9 minutes or so. Definitely shorter than 10 a new record! (for me). Trimming weight of bike + rider and technique is paying off.

So Filkinos has go home so he goes right on Ridge, TiMan and I go left. And we pick up some speed and start the long slow climb out Ridge to W. Glenville where we turn left, to my surprise, thinking we'd take a right, left and dance our way into Charlton that way. NOPE.

We go out, left, east to the church, cemetery, and fire station where we hand a quick right to go DOWN North Rd. and we are really sailing. I look down at the 'compte tours' and see a 51 kph!! Yahoo. We pass Potter on the left, angle west and look ahead for the junction with 147 up ahead. I am going too fast to really negotiate the turn properly and so wind up way over the line, swing back into the lane, then hang a left onto Charlton Rd.

Locust Farms on the left, we blast on into the village. There was the standard swale pick-up & slow down as the miles to town center approach. The burned down Italian place on the right warns of approaching Stage Rd. turn.

This part is fun, flat, gently sloping south all the way to the 'T' junction past the homes, school, it turns into Lake Hill Rd. after the Stage cut-off, thence on to the reconnect. Left right and we're on familiar close-to-town roads leading to Route 50. We spend all of 30 seconds on 50 then left onto Hecheltown.

Hecheltown is fun this direction because of the down hill tour, you can tool along at 35 or 40 mph, with no problem. It passes a polo field, of all things, garden plant center, old folks home, Indian Kill Preserve entrance and trail head. Plenty of tall cool deciduous trees that offer shelter during the summer runs. Today it's kinda pointless, it being too early in the spring.

Waiting for the light to turn, we tear off to avoid being caught underneath the narrow bridge passageway, I miss the clip in and open a nice little gash that doesn't bleed but 'what a pain!' I limp the remainder of the trip through Alplaus, across Rexford Bridge, up the hill, through Niskayuna's settled areas, to Nott, left, Van Antwerp, right, when Ti Man splits off to the left, I go home.

I have a concert (Charles Ives and the Goldberg Variations, by Jeremy Denk, at Union) to attend, so clean up and dinner, before blasting off.

Nice day.

Ridge Road Run and Aftermath

Thomas is in town, so we are off Saturday morning for a ride! Great idea if only the weather would cooperate.

So we are out the door by 10:30 am, and 1000 yards north on Regent we start feeling rain drops. Ha! So much for planning. We continue into the 44F spring air. My fingers begin to freeze.

Old Niskayuna whips past at an ever-increasing speed approaching 14 mph, we cross Nott, spin down to the left on Hillside Ave, to spill out onto Maxon Extension to the Freeman's Bridge. We swing right onto the white line protected bike lane and take advantage of the westerly wind blowing down the Mohawk to propel ourselves to the left hand turn lane lining up for the turn onto Sunnyside. The traffic parts, the only cars are still near the last light, so we roll on through.

It's getting colder, if that's at all possible, without snow, and my fingers now hurt. The thumb is numb.

We spin out onto Washington, past Bill's place, onto the Cuthbert. We admire the smooth pavement, shovel-ready, and turn right onto Vley. As usual there is the 18 mph discussion on what to do next . . . Ridge Rd. notoriously steep, right past the former 'Tavern' historical sign OR 147 a little fast, shoulder is OK, or continue on the road to Route 5 and its windy fast traffic, and do the Glenville Hills climbs from the lowest possible altitude, like real men! We go for 147 north, the lesser of the several climbing evils.

The grind begins, and Greg Lemond is doing OK but panting some. It's the spring and he's been working on Long Island with its alpine sections measured in feet gain in elevation not 100s to 1000s like around here. . . or the Battenkill. Ha.

On the right, we pass the Beukendaal 1748 sign along with the one about the Old Sacandaga Rd. Cool historical markers. Makes the ride seem worth the wait.

So we top out near Snake Hill Rd. turn but opt for a little longer ride north, before ducking down Bolt Rd. Everywhere trees are beginning to leaf in, buds are everywhere and a few of the earlier flowers are out. I can hear a mower or a leaf blower going in the distance.

We go to the end and turn right onto Swaggertown. We are both a bit lost on which of the roads parallel what--Ridge, Rte 147, Swaggertown and Rte 50 is the correct order we remember. Tool on in the generally southerly direction declining options on taking Onderdonk (primarily for the name of the road), Droms (for the chance to go around the Indian Meadows Park piece thinking about the connection to Maple Ave and the Rexford Bridge way back) and settle on following Swaggertown all the way back to Horstman cut-through to the parking lot of the new Honda dealership, may the Chevy dealer rest in peace, to Hwy 50.

The first piece is a wreck but around the new Lowe's home and garden center, the pavement is smooth and well-marked, with fair room for bikes on the shoulder. In no time we're back on the bridge itself, and go up Seneca past the new industrial/warehouse all bricked in a lawn planted the weird green of the turf-builder spray stuff. Nice building. Wonder who's moving in?

We wiggle around through the back streets out onto Nott, onto Grand, past the high school holding a lacrosse game. 'Rough sport' says Greg Lemond, as we cruise past. We're up to 1 h 30 m for a little outing and now beginning to think about hot chocolate and wiping down our bikes and behinds.

Fingers still hurt.

Why did we go out so early?? The cloud cover is lifting, the sun is peeking out and it's actually looking rather nice.

Now we have to clean up the bikes.

B-kill aftermath

It was, in the end, an exciting, nice Battenkill ride, with another will-he-arrive-in-time to sign in properly and leave with the field?? drama early in the morning. The 2009 Battenkill started approximately 20 minutes after the field left. This year it nearly repeated when I discovered I'd missed my I-87 exit, ran up to Saratoga's exit 15, used Route 29 East through Greenwich, making the error of taking 40 south, turn around, back to 29, then into Greenwich to find 372 south into Cambridge. In a moment of clarity, I followed the 'Event Parking' signs to the immense parking lot/field where everyone of the 2,200 riders had come to rest their vehicles to exercise their bikes. Ran to Men Cat 5 45+ Black table and was greeted by 'just in time!' Signed in, collected the rf id chip, look at the demo bike "how to attach your chip."

Outside I was surprised at how warm the air felt. It was warming from the earlier 35 F, or so, but it was still low-40's. Suited up, bike together, rf id chip strapped on, loaded up with water, hydration fluid, food, watch . . . I'm off for the staging area start line. I'm there three minutes before the field pulls forward on signal from the starter, and we're pedaling into a 14 mph wind from the WNW, as predicted. No gloves, as I'd expected I'd need, no knit cap beneath the helmet, either.

My gears sound smooth and quiet (thanks to the early-morning wash, degrease, and lube right after walking the dog!). Others around me look good on expensive bikes, nice togs, and jackets and jerseys from all over the NE. The parkng lot testified to the wide appeal of the race: Connecticut, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, of course, Ontario, Montreal, Maine, Vermont, Maryland, and even a Pennsylvania . . . in fact I met one, while in the neutral zone, and he said "Yeah, about a four hour drive. But life is about moments, you know what I mean?"

This will be one of them.

I'll make it as far as the first of the longer hills before being dropped by the group. I caught up on the down side of the hill, but was tired enough to have a tough time altogether of staying with the main group after that when the next incline begins. The separation is achieved and I began the tour of singleton riding.

http://www.tourofthebattenkill.com/Course%20Map%20MJS.pdf

Later I was passed by two or three fields Cat 3s and Cat 4. Pretty fast groups. One is really small with the wheel car following afterward. Saw no real crashes or mishaps, but learned later at the picnic table that there was one who took a bad fall, was advised by medical / race staff to take an ambulance out of the woods to the hospital. Rider shook them off and got back on the bike and rode!!

Amazing.

Went on through the two feed zones picking up nothing since I had enough. A Jim from New Hampshire and I fought the ferocious wind coming out of the W, it seemed, and S, it seemed, as it appeared to follow us around for an hour and a half staying in our faces. I led and pulled the most, and he almost fell off, but we persevered. He caught up with me later, just before entering Cambridge and crossing the line and pulling much harder than before, said he couldn't precede me across the line after that helping hand offered back in the wind.

Nice guy.

Spectator barriers made it feel like any one of the finishes we watch on television, Versus or Universal Sports, from Italy, France . . . Kind of fun.

I nearly run over a pedestrian watching a cyclist tip over onto the ground, trapped in her pedals by the slow motion due to pedestrians . . . just before the rf id chip clip-off zone. Those babies, we are told, will cost us $200 if we don't turn them in.

Yikes.

3h 45m

http://www.tourofthebattenkill.com/2010ProAmResults.pdf

I stripped of the damp gear, slipped back into jeans and a hoodie, and walked back into town for a look at the pageantry from close-up. Pulled pork sandwich in one hand, ale in the other, I sat down to recuperate. Bought another rider a bottle of water; he was looking a bit shaky, asked for water, was handed one out of a shaved ice-laden barrel then started drinking before he was told it is $1/bottle. He stopped drinking long enough to ask if he can come back and settle. I handed him a green back, and called it even. Our rider was feeling woozy.

My legs felt funny yesterday afternoon, coming home to see Gisele, after five and a half weeks gone from home, but I slept well, and am thinking about a little 30 miler to clear out the ol' lactic acid . . .

A 38 F windy Battenkill this morning!

I was worried this was going to be a wuss Battenkill. Too hot, even. The past several days have been in the 60s and 80 F was registered in town not long ago.

Ha!

It's currently 3 F above freezing in Cambridge, NY, and when I get up out of my chair, pull on my cycling gear, gloves, boot wind covers, and drive up to register in the Cambridge Schools building, it should be much much warmer; perhaps 5 F above freezing. The wind, however, is another story. It will blow WNW nearly all day.

My field leaves at 11:15 am so the wind chill might have backed off a bit, say 38 or 40 F but there will be a beautiful frost rime on everything once we're tooling through the valleys and lanes outside of the village.

Battenkill: http://tourofthebattenkill.com/

Read it and weep.

Filkinos, one of the ResearchRiders of greater renown, has run the race in snow and rain, I believe, and that was when it was earlier in the year.

. . . and a different route with more climbing! America's Queen of the Classics was tougher then and more fun!

We'll see today what it brings for riders.

I will take my gloves, a hat, handkerchief, for those drippy moments, and one more cup of coffee before I leave.

As always, the Battenkill should be fun.

Bracing for full recovery after the 75 miler, I left the lower altitudes and thicker air for the rare, clean and steep heading up onto the Helderberg plateau. The King's Road is in terrible shape; I'm not taking it again . . . if I can help it. The turn at the golf course, brings back memories of getting completely lost with a save from Siavash's PDA. Around the swooping dip on the short connection to cross Route 20 then into the countryside. Past the NY military reserve, up the hill, what a grunt, past the road cuts and shale.

Once past that, into the Voorheesville area, through town, into the approach to New Salem. Right up the hill (20 min) to the State Park sign. The temperature had reached 75 or so and there were tons of folks up at the parking lot next to the overlook. A crew of bikers on motorcycles. Families. Couples. What a Saturday!!

I kept moving along the park road, to Ketchem Rd., then Thompson Lake Rd. to 156 to return downhill at 45 mph to Altamont. Whahooooo.

There's no nice way back, and I take the standard Dunnsville Rd. to Five Corners, thence along Broadway, through town, up Union to home.

What a blast. I'd forgotten how fun that ride really is.

Next week the Battenkill!! Taper!

Spring Classic * 1.5 OR The Amazing 75 miler So Early in the Season

http://sports.webshots.com/slideshow/577212415LKHvpp

For a slideshow of photos taken while out on a 75 miler Friday 2 April 2010. Perfect weather for the trip--48F in the morning at the start: SPAC parking lot in Saratoga Springs, NY. We went west and south to Charlton, north on Division Street to connect with traditional 100miler at Eastern, thence into Greenfield, NY, past the Stewart's Shops. We passed the 'Desolation Lake' sign, turned up the route, but turn right into the northern stretches in rural almost-Adirondacks. . . with warming temperatures and lengthening miles acquired, comfort climbed and speed averaged a bit higher.

At Corinth we turned right onto Stark instead of left to climb West Mountain Rd. We weren't ready for that--it's early in the season, really. On to Main Street, the right to go south to return home! Once we were into it for 65 miles, we were beginning to think 'it's time for this to end, now' . . . soon.

Once back into Milton, we knew we weren't far. Then the familiar sights of Saratoga near the Park. We turn into the park to find it overrun with residents out for sun and a picnic. Not the sight we saw upon launch. The grass is dry, the sun high in the sky, and the air is warm--75F.

A tour through the geyser springs, but no stops at the water sources, brings us back to the car. Still there!! SPAC parking lot is a great spot. No events. No parking tickets!

The registration table for the Preview of the Battenkill, March 21. This was taken 10 minutes before scheduled launch time. 10 min after and the organizer began speaking. 10 minutes later he was still at it so the participants started talking louder and louder . . . Soon we couldn't hear any of the safety updates, reminders, advice to first timers.

He gave up and sent us on our way.
We were off into the cool morning air -- it wasn't warmer than 42 F. Folks were bundled up and I was beginning to wonder if I hadn't underdressed. My fingers began to hurt.

First turn off the 313; we braked in succession and nearly all piled up in the road. What a mess! This is a quiet, friendly ride, let's all remember.

As the speed picked up and the hills arrived, we lost more and more of the front group. Those folks had a bit of a head start since the light at the turn onto 313 cut the group in two.

Photo above shows the peloton at the beginning, heading north.

Soon we are spread out all over the place, but there are still a few around me as I tool on into Salem. There is a traffic light, and we were warned to obey all traffic signs and conventions, but we were in no mood to stop when so close to the first feed zone and rest stop. We didn't, and ran the stale orange light, and moved right on through.

I skipped the rest/feed spot and continued west moving out of Salem. It's warming up and I see folks stashing wraps into back pockets. We'd been up and down some terre battue routes and I keep thinking about the rip in the side wall just next to the "T" in Bontrager, front tire.

I took a third bottle of water and stashed in my back pocket so I wouldn't have to stop. I was making good on my little promise to myself and suffered no ill effects. In outings past, I would develop cramps around mile 60 to 70, but not this time! It is cooler, and I think I'm spinning at a higher rate.

I got the water bottle out at mile 75, ate the third of the crispy bars, swallowed some water and attacked the hills following Bunker Hill. It includes the really steep sections, the uphill, downhill, uphill . . . and the very last hill of unpave after the red covered bridge. See photo.

On that last hill, a team of four passed me for the third time on the ride. I guess they were taking advantage of the stops. A groupetto of four tooled into town from that last turn off from the dirt onto smooth pavement. Nice!

First Glenville Hills run of the 2010 season

I couldn't go cycling at noon, others left at an appointed time. I returned home, saddled up (after tightening a couple of screws in my pedals), set the emergency pump into its holder, re-set the time on the odometer, zeroed out the distance reading, and left.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/-niskayuna/899126896069984094

Everything's so grey and icky, left over from the snow melt. There is no more snow anywhere except on the roadsides and parts of routes in the deep shade. I headed out to Sunnyside by way of the Freeman's Bridge, in the vague hope of stopping by Adirondack Bicycle to see Bill. I changed my mind once out there in the interest of getting on with the ride. There is still a funny resistance to taking on the slopes, n'est-ce pas?

There was a stiff headwind, so the average speed wasn't anything to write home about. Traffic was fairly heavy; it's going-home time. By the time I was out on Route 5 there was plenty of cars passing on the way to Amsterdam. After 30 minutes on the trail, I turned uphill on Washout; Rector seemed too wimpy.

Middle chain ring in front, largest number of teeth in the back. I started breathing hard. Up the steeps bits, flat, steep again, then the rather long piece almost lulling me into this and 18 minutes later I crested the hill to find myself sailing down the twisting road to Ridge, which I too whipped to take (to the right) so on to West Glenville. Then down to 147, Route 147, then right to go home. The view from the high point is particularly clear so I can see the mountains, blue, in the distance.

Now with the wind at my back I am tooling along at a nice clip! 30 mph. Automobiles pass, but not quickly.

The shadows cast by the bare trees reach well across the road, and I've noticed a bit of a chill on the bare arms in the wind. Someone crosses me climbing Ridge, dressed fit to build an igloo. It wasn't that cold, criminey.

Soon I'm back into the residential section near Scotia-Glenville. Closson Rd. comes in the from the right. So I turn left down Snake Hill Rd. Standard drill follows: right onto Spring, left onto Baldwin, right onto Swaggertown, Route 50 through the failed Chevrolet agency, now Honda auto sales, then past the new Lowe's (on some nice smooth pavement).

Across the bridge, up Seneca Street, the home by way of Grand Avenue.