Meat Raffle

March 19, 2016

I got excited by the idea of the meat raffle but a sign just further along indicated that it's April 2, not today, so I rode on. Who knows what else goes on in the hills of Rutland? I was just passing through.

Rutland blue

Today the sky was BLUE. A blue ride, a blue sky, a blue degree of fly. Sail on. Wanting 30 miles today, colder than it looks. Blue cool, under-dressed; two rides in a row, wardrobe miscalculation. Today's ride proved colder than I dressed for; though it was 44 degrees when I left, it was a chilly 44 with occasional wind activity. Not gusts or bellows, and not steady, but periodic swirls of chilly air blowing right in the face. Winds are always headwinds, no matter in which direction you ride. I sweated, sopped a layer, hit downhills, cooled way down quickly, never quite warmed again. Would have like a thicker middle layer.

Several faces of BLUE:

Woo City Blue

A trio of giant oaks

Atop airport hill

Kettle Brook Reservoir, Number 2

Kettle Brook Reservoir, Number 2

Back at Team Shad HQ after two and a half + hours in the saddle, soak layered & chilled through, head straight to the hot shower. Dried and dressed in clean warm clothes, hungry & thirsty like a Visigoth after a day of rampaging; slake my thirst lust with the Framing Hammer, a Baltic Porter.

Recovery drink

34 miles, 1700+ elevation. On track to notch the 63 mile weekly mark dictated by Crusher. The nor'easter we were all worried about that was supposed to hit tomorrow, has fizzled. Any snow that occurs (a couple inches?) won't start until tomorrow evening. That means The Virginian and I are on for a cross bike adventure, dirt forest roads in southern New Hampshire, cracked pavement out of Orange, Mass.

Prime Days

It's prime time now. Terrific riding days. Pristine October New England days filled with blue skies, sharp sun, crisp air, clean vistas exploding in color.

Since nearly being taken out by the hawk on October 4th, I've ridden seven times. Fantastic afternoons after work storming the Reservoir, dancing up the cat 4 climb to the Airport, logging the Big Miles with El Virginian, noble Team Shad mate, on new roads in the Athol hills.

Unlike Herr Scrod in the German gloaming who suggests that "the season is nearing its end," here in the land of Shad we are gathering our tights and silky under things, our gloves and head warmers, our extra layers, we are clamping lights to our handlebars and celebrating the onset of autumn's capricious yet magical weather.

The truth is, I'm more than ready for colder rides. It's funny, when spring and summer comes and I can finally ride in shorts and a short-sleeved jersey, I'm always psyched. But then summer becomes a myriad of humid, sweaty rides and after a point I get tired of being slathered in a slick sunscreen sheen, perspiration running into my eyes. I want the crisper air, the snap and chill, the little shivery hum of setting out just on the edge of cold.

Plus, there is something about donning the layers of the cyclist's costume that appeals, a certain Boy Scout-ish or ninja-like sense of order and preparedness. I find plenty of satisfaction in assembling just the right kit, the perfectly-chosen layers to maintain a balanced, not-too-hot-and-not-too-cold temperature throughout a ride.

On the visual front, October marks the transition from the lush, green expanses of summery fullness to the psychedelic landscapes of orange, red, and yellow that presage the somber dun hues to come. October is the month of imps and sprites and woodland fairies, the last whimsical days of abundance when the great hoary hardwoods assume the garb of jesters for a few final weeks before shedding their whimsy and hunkering down for the long freeze.

Photo Gallery of the Last Seven Rides

Airport Paxton Loop October 5th

Woo City Airport Summit

Dubstoevsky falling into space

Holden Loop October 6th

Fecund but fading

Paxton Kettle Brook Loop October 8th

Getting out of the Woo

Lemonstar State Forest to Mt. Wachusett Summit Loop October 10th

Team Shad car

Lucas Rd, Princeton

Approaching Mt. Wachusett

Busy day on the summit

Team Shad Training Ride with The Virginian October 12th
Montague Shutesbury Wendell Orange Athol Warwick Northfield Sunderland

The Virginian setting the pace through Wendell

North Orange

October's bright blue sky

Sunderland, not Bordeaux

The French King Bridge

The final climb of the day

Shadows of the Dub

Reservoir Loop October 13th

On the fly

Reservoir Loop October 15th

Return to the Woo

Back on the Paved Roads

The D2R2 is always a welcomed event at the end of the summer, a chance to get off the pavement and into rougher terrain. And yet the abrupt transition from pavement to gravel, including the shift to a slightly heavier bike (in my case, the Crux Elite cyclocross rig vs the now-well-used-but-still-dependable Allez Comp racing bike), is always a little challenging.

But it's only for one day because while the D2R2 sort of marks the end of summer, it also serves as the harbinger of autumn - and autumn road riding with its cooler temperatures (generally) and incipient psychedelic foliage is ever a joy. Since the D2R2 10 days ago, I've returned to the tarmac and enjoyed several rides, including a spirited Monday night ramble with the Barney's Bikes guys last night (August 31).

Indeed, yesterday was hot and that may have limited the number of riders on the evening group ride; earlier this summer there'd been upwards of two dozen and more but last night we were probably around 15 in number. Not having ridden in a few days, I was fresh and eager to get the blood pumping and the heart firing. That I did.

Regardless of how I'm feeling, I try to stay toward the front of these rides, try to keep up with the better, stronger, younger riders (of which more than half the group usually fits that description). On good days, I'm right there with them; on off nights, I labor mightily but get dropped.

Last night, I jumped away with three other guys on the uphill run to the reservoir, even managing to hold the wheel of the first place guy as we hammered up the slight but considerable incline to the beginning of the long freshly-paved shoreline wrap-around. My advantage, if I have one, is climbing. Smaller than most of the other guys, I can generally keep a steady pace on the climbs, even if it's not super fast, while other guys labor and lose momentum. But in the flats, particularly on long, moderately rolling runs, I cannot generate the necessary power to hang with the powerhouses.

As was the case last night. After my (self)-impressive wheel-shadowing up to the reservoir, our foursome revved up and, despite my best effort, fairly quickly became a threesome. I brought up the rear about thirty yards behind.

Pulling away from Dubstoevsky

I enjoy the Monday night group rides, though I haven't really bonded with anyone other than Peter, the organizer and the owner of Barney's. Thankfully, the competitive spirit seems to be all in good fun, no one taking themselves too seriously, so you can challenge each other and not have the testosterone flare into an angry thing. Just a chance to test yourself against others.

Plus, I push myself harder when riding with others. Not that my solo rides are easy or that I cop a lazy attitude toward them - it's just that there's something about trying to hold the wheel of someone storming uphill at 16 or 17 mphs that pushes the body to give the extra oomph and thrust. It's a healthy thing.

In addition to last night's ride, I've done three other solo jaunts since the D2R2, two of which included the Cat 4 Worcester Airport climb (another stretch of sweet new tarmac, black and smooth and flawless).

Nearing the top of the Airport Climb

It's been a pretty dry summer, perfect days for cycling but not so perfect for the water supply. Here are a couple shots of one of the Kettle Brook Reservoirs, taken August 27th.

Kettle Brook, looking north

Same reservoir, looking south

The Holden Reservoir isn't quite as low. I snapped the following pictures last night as I trailed after the leading three.

Holden Reservoir, Monday night August 31

Holden Reservoir, looking south

Ennui, Adieu

Be gone, ennui! And just like that, two good rides in three days turned things around for El Dubstoevsky.

Sick of being sick, I said "fuck it" and saddled up on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon for a dash up past the Airport to Kettle Brook and on to Paxton and South Rd and a run back along the reservoir. Note that the climb up to the Worcester Airport from Mill St ranks as a Cat 4. It's newly paved, and awesome.

It doesn't look like much but this climb builds into a Cat 4
June 18, 2015

21 miles for the 39th ride of the year, 15.6 mph, not bad for a Shad kicking the grippe. I felt alive again, eager, hungry. I drank in the Kettle Brook visage as I raced past, thoughts straying to raptors, mileage, fresh pavement, the wonders of dinner.

Kettle Brook, June 18, 2015

Kettle Brook Reservoir (which one I'm not sure, there are several)

Then Saturday, today, June 20. Another beauty - low humidity, warm sun, 70+ degrees, no breeze. And a weekend! Nothing to do but quaff a rich 16 oz latte (made in-house at Chez Shad), eat some eggs and toast, perform some minor maintenance on the trusty Specialized Steed, done the Steal Your Face jersey, and set out.

A BIG day. I set my sights on the Mountain and powered north toward Princeton and toward the Mont Vontusett. Felt good for the first half of the ride but flagged some during the second half. Not quite back to Full Cry mode; the time off the bike and the illness over the last two weeks definitely impacted my stamina.

Not to mention the fact that today's ride, 47 miles including a Cat 4 climb to the summit of Mount Wachusett, was hard as hell anyway. Tired legs, sore forearms, sun-weary, and dirty, I embraced it all. 3500 feet of climbing.

Deer in the road, nearing the Wachusett upswing

I've said it before but it's worth repeating; the climbing required to reach the visitor center and the actual road up to the mountain summit is arguably harder than the summit climb itself. True, the mountain does offer a Cat 4 sequence but the relentless, and steep, roads leading to it provide their own considerable challenge. For me, it's old known territory; no surprises, just the steepness and the need for focus.

Looking toward Woo City from the summit

Overall, we're having an incredible summer weather-wise so far. Numerous sunny days, none of them overly humid, many in the 70s. Ideal, really. I just need to stay healthy and not over do it; I need to work toward the D2R2 at the end of August. That ride demands peak fitness.

Mired in Ennui

Almost two weeks since I've ridden. First, there were visits from friends and family, and various social commitments. Then, I came down with the grippe. Respiratory issues, congestion, weird topical tenderness on the neck behind the right ear, a throat just sore enough to be noticeable. Throw in some odd weather, both cold and hot, and the combination manifests in the form of ennui. Lackluster. Pedestrian in the most banal, uncreative way. Television, a trashy rock star memoir, New York Times crossword puzzles. Actually, the crossword puzzles were the most intellectual endeavor of the period. Oh, yes, and Downton Abbey. And I am still in the grip of it, of ennui. Still not 100% recovered from The Malaise of illness either.

But on the positive side, I rode today. The first in twelve days. 17 miles. A Reservoir Loop. Overcast, humid, the Dew Point high. Thick air. And I felt surprisingly good, almost powerful. I guess lay offs can be like that. You return to the saddle and feel really good. Turning the cranks returns the universe to balance.

Tonight the clouds have disappeared and the pale blue white-gauzed sky hosts a buttery sun on the slide down. The sunlight enlivens the dazzling fresh green leaves in the towering oak outside the window.

Anyway, going back to the end of May and early June, I had some good rides and was feeling strong. I branched out on June 3rd and rode into Paxton via the Kettle Brook Reservoirs on a beautiful day. Following are some images from the last three of four rides. But not today's ride; I was so unmotivated and filled with dispassion that I deliberately left the camera behind.

May 27, 2015

Rt 56 North, Kettle Brook, June 3, 2015

Rt 56 North, Kettle Brook, June 3, 2015

Rt 56 North, Kettle Brook, June 3, 2015

June 3, 2015

The weird beech tree at WPI

June 4, 2015

Week in Review Monday April 20 to Sunday April 26

Three rides; Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday. A cold and blustery week. Tights, layers, gloves. The threat of snow showers. Bright sun and blue skies. Windy, sometimes harshly so. But all rewarding. The grit and gnaw and grind and spit, the dazzle and the shine. 

Tuesday 4:43 PM, April 21, 2015

Saturday, 12:05 PM, April 25, 2015

Bancroft Tower stalwart in all weather conditions, a rocky testimonial to loyalty and the Generous Spirit. A Beacon of Whack. And on top of a giant hill, let's not forget. The last time I visited it (the 25th), as I started descending the other side, the driver of a car coming up gave me the thumbs-up sign through the windshield as if to say "Nice job, dude, that's a fucking steep hill!"

The Tower is one constant and so are the Holden Reservoirs of the oft-titled "Reservoir Loop" on Strava. I zipped by them with the Niceness three times this week.

Reservoir Style. Tuesday, April 21, 2015

From the northernmost point
Sunday, April 26, 2015 

Saturday's bright sun dappled the pavement with branch shadow, an ever-changing spasm of cosmic dendrites patterning the road ahead.

Cosmic dendrites

Classics on William St
Saturday, April 25, 2015

Sunday was another story. The day dawned in full sun, a last-day-of-the-week promise of Brightness and Warmth. Illusion! By 10:00 AM huge gray-puff clouds in steely phalanxes crawled across the horizon in what seemed like an orchestrated assault on my little patch of the Cosmos, and though the thermometer suggested 54 degrees, the morning grew into nip and snarl.

The thing is, with these sorts of changing weather conditions, figuring out the proper riding attire is always a challenge. I chose well today, opting for the winter-heavy neoprene neon lime top over two layers of riding jerseys, one short sleeved and one long sleeved. And a brown paper shopping bag lining the front. Full tights. Full fingered liner gloves over biking gloves. Perfect! Not cold once, and never too hot either.

I had no time constraints so I decided to ride out of Woo City via Holden St alongside Indian Lake, up Bullard St to Malden St then down to Bailey Rd and into the reservoirs, the climb up South Rd to rt 31 and on to Paxton. Kettle Brook Reservoirs, rt. 56, Mulberry St along the back of the Worcester Regional Airport, then up through Worcester Airport proper, passed the state police vehicle parked in front of the terminal, and out the other side, down to Mill St. Then rush back toward the Woo, a turn onto June St and along to Pleasant, all the while pedaling furiously, and finally into the Elm Park area and back to Shad Rides HQ.

Out in the rough somewhere

Just past Kettle Brook

Approaching Worcester Airport

From Worcester Airport

Elm Park Edge, Woo City
Sunday, April 26, 2015

Sunday was thirty miles when all was said and done, an honorable day if not remarkable. On the week? A little over 70 miles.

Birds seen: Turkey vultures, Canada geese, robins, house finches, crows, hawks, blue jays, starlings.