Training Log Archive: PG

Long and leisurely mountain bike ride with Walter in the lower Conway and Whately hills. Was advertised as dirt roads (as opposed to stuff with rocks and roots), but then no one ever said advertising and truth have much in common. So for a good section in the middle it was a good challenge for my bike skills. But a whole lot of fun.

Also a bit humbling. Made it up one climb I figured I had no hope on, so to avoid any feelings that I could do this stuff, in the next minute I sent myself airborne by trying to execute a sudden stop by apparently using the front brake only (how was I supposed to know which hand connects to which brake?), and then not even coming close to making the next up. Fortunately no damage done.

Also was more than a good challenge for my navigating skills, as for quite a while we had no idea where we were or where we were going. To a point that is, pretty sure all along we were west of the CT river and still in MA.

Really fine outing.

Bike-O' at Hurd tomorrow. Hoping to be in the top ten.

C • brakes 10

Tried the same route as yesterday, this time on my road bike, plus rode up to Conway and back (at a leisurely pace).

Made it up the hills with something to spare, both the steeper paved one (14-15%?) and the dirt one (not as steep or as long). It's clearly faster on the road bike --

MTB: 21:15 out, 19:50 back
Road: 20:15 out, 17:25 back

The one place the MTB clearly was preferable was on the downhills, definitely more stable with the wider (and softer, for now) tires and also definitely better control with the disc brakes.

Probably should try the MTB with more air in the tires. They're at about 25 to deal with rocks and roots. For regular dirt roads could probably do 40-50 (or more?) and have less rolling resistance.

Testing out the mountain bike on a section of back roads up in Conway to see how it would compare to the same route on my road bike. Still need to do the route with the road bike, but mi guess is that the mountain bike is the better choice. Has a good bit lower gear, the brakes are much better, and the much wider tires are more stable. Disadvantage is it's a lot heavier.

Planning on doing an outing with Walter on some hilly dirt roads west of Brattleboro sometime in the near future...

Late afternoon on the mountain bike after most of the rain had stopped, though things were still wet. On the Montague sand plains to start, then wandered past some old spots I used to run in the winter, past the airport, then back across the plains trying out various trails that were much closer to bushwhacking than trails.

Quite fine, even if I got really hungry, should have had something to eat before I started. Had to compensate by just going slower. :-)

Very nice ride with Phil. He behaved himself remarkably well, took off a couple of times just because he can, but then waited up for me. Very civilized. :-)

Lots of back roads, little or no traffic, much of the time could ride abreast and chat without any risk nor pissing off drivers. Similar to the ride with Walter a few days ago, just extended it longer at the south end.

Set out with the goal of taking it easy and for once actually did so. Very enjoyable outing. :-)

Low 70s, S 5. Up the river, over the rail trail bridge and back down River Road. Lots and lots of cyclists out.

Now if I could just get Phil to ride at a similar pace tomorrow, then life would be fine. Can always hope.