Ride #84, the Sholan Loop

Friday of a long weekend and I took the day off from work. That was a good thing to do. It allowed me, after spending the morning doing necessary tasks, to take the afternoon for riding. Ride number 84 this year. A gusty, wind-blown day with giant ominous puff clouds and occasional sun.

The Other Side of Town Heading into the Hills

I did the usual loop. West of Lemonstar, out the other side of town actually, meaning that I have to cut through neighborhoods and cross a few busy streets to get to the place shown in the photo which is across the last busy street. You cross a small brook that's the outlet of the small reservoir on the right and keep going around to the right and you start climbing. And if you're destination is the summit of Mt. Wachusett then you are in for A LOT of climbing. West of town is mostly hills.

I wasn't headed to the mountain today, though there was still plenty of climbing. I thought to keep it reasonably mellow in advance of what I hope is a pretty big ride tomorrow with The Virginian. Planning on getting out the Crust for a cross bike ride around Lake Mattawa, Wendell, Erving. Today was more about just keeping the tone, the rhythm, getting loose, getting the heart rate up, burning some calories. It's the beginning of a long weekend, as I said, and that means there are some big meals ahead so I seized the opportunity to get myself moving.

The Sholan Loop I call this ride because, whether early in the ride or near the end, I pass by Sholan Farm, a community-held apple orchard and community gardens. It's on a long stretch of open ridge that offers terrific views to the east but that is also consistently buffeted by west winds racing over across and around Mt. Wachusett and the surrounding hills. Today the wind has nearly stripped the last leaves from the maples. It's a day of pure autumn elements; wind, leaves, gray clouds, it even at one point spits tiny snowflakes.

The key to riding on days like this, with blustery wind and the temperature in the high 40s (8 or 9 C), is to dress correctly. I'm on a roll. I've cobbled together the perfect ensemble of cycling jerseys, zippered tops, tights, gloves, head gear, etc. for dozens of consecutive rides. Today was no exception. Polyprop under top, short sleeve full zippered summer jersey, long-sleeve woolen bike jersey atop, and all contained within a super thin orange windbreaker. Full finger gloves and, beneath my helmet, the pull-over near-mask-like head topper, the kind that ovals your face and that comes down covering your neck and gets zipped inside the top covering layer. Warmth on any ride in the elements is paramount. If you're warm, everything else is tolerable, even the annoying & relentless head wind. You push ahead. And marvel at the tumultuous swirl.

On the Sholan Loop

Ride Stats: 19.66 mph (31.6 k), 14.1 mph (22.69 km), approximately 1 hour 23 minutes of pedaling time. Friday, November 8, 2013, roughly from 1:40 pm to 3:00 or so.