Ride # 35: Mostly Pavement but Plenty of Miles

Sunday, April 15, overcast, rained earlier
damp roads, cool, 48 degrees
11:00 AM

A weird one today. Yesterday was warm, I rode in short sleeves. Today? Rain earlier in the morning, damp, everything cool, no sun, could rain again at any moment. 40s. To ride? Or not to ride?

RIDE!

Back to the limon heavy duty top layer, booties, gloves, skullcap and bandana. Back to the edge of winter. Threat of rain or sleet. Or not. A fake weather pattern. A falsity, a feigned aggression. Nothing develops. Nothing, except moderate clearing, skies become lighter, the temperature goes up a few degrees. I'm dressed perfectly once again, secure in my dauntless garments.

As if I woke to find myself in Ireland

From Cork to Donegal County

Lemonstar to Lunenburg to West Groton to Townsend to Pepperell to Shirley to Lancaster and back to Lemonstar. Old haunts, a quick jaunt down a forest road to the edge of the Squannacook River where I swam as a youth.

Token off road jaunt
To the river and the childhood swimming hole

Many summer days spent swimming here

Laborious pedaling on pavement. I am so ready to be done for the season with the Crux Elite, I am READY for the road bike and the long ramble on thin, snake-like tires. But first things first. There's un-tended-to business near at hand. The Northeast Kingdom on Friday. Newport, Vermont.

Plenty of birds these last two days. Flickers spotted twice, lots of crows, robins, sparrows, nuthatches, a few hairy woodpeckers, mourning doves, pigeons, a big hawk being harassed by two crows, four geese low flying overheard.

Not exactly a great training day for the Rasputitsa because I only rode about a mile on dirt roads. But much spinning anyway, a fitness ramble, that counts for something.

This report just in from the founders of the Rasputitsa. Posting on Facebook, they say:

"We know you have all been eagerly awaiting course conditions updates. 

In general, things have been warming up in the Northeast Kingdom. With expected temperatures, this week, in the 60s and 70s, we are thinking a 23mm or 25mm width tire will be sufficient but cross tires aren't a bad idea either. There will be mud but things are drying up and roads are looking perfect.

This applies to most of the course but excludes Cyberia. Cyberia is a 1.5 mile section of Class 4 roads. This section, which is changing daily due to the weather, will remain a secret until race day. Though we will share with you the following: be prepared to shoulder. This portion will be epic but we promise good things to get you through."

Mystery. But also the affirmation that conditions might not be that grim. It's going to be a mad ramble, that seems certain. Great vibes, great energy so far. A wild leap of faith into the void of reason.

Ride Summary: Began in cloud cover post-rain, ended in sun and clear skies. From the high 40s to the upper 50s. 42.40 miles (67 K), 14.1 mph, almost three hours in the saddle. Too much pavement!

Road Kill: One rabbit squashed into bloody & furry pancake smear (no photo), and one porcupine.

Porcucpine