Messed up right foot. Docs, acupuncture, x-ray, – its not broken – but it hurts to walk. Have a specialist scheduled for next week. And my back is torn up from lugging suitcases around during out holiday trip. Last ride was a week ago – when my back crumbled on [...]
Quiet lake. Quiet ride. No grand route, nor an epic tale, just an everyday adventure near town. Gray and cool. Mind and legs slow to adjust to the changes in season, weather, temperature. Body wants to eat sweets and hearty food, then sleep sleep sleep. Time [...]
Beers, homemade chili, bike talk, and testing my homebrew free motion rollers. The things I get to do when the wife and little one leave me home alone for a week.
Jim styling no hands...
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Just south of the Winooski... lots of driftwood.
Explored near home this afternoon after working this morning. Took a quick post lunch ride to check out a stretch of beach on lake Champlain. Part 1 turned into hike a bike [...]
I know larger tires work against you when comparing rolling resistance, gear calculations, and overall effort… but since putting on the Kenda Nevegals I’ve felt like I’ve been riding with both front and rear brakes dragging. Sure, they certainly are not the 28s I ride on the IF, nor the [...]
Soma Juice 29r
The Juice is coming along. Front wheel ready for disc brakes, bar padded and taped, levers pretty close to finalized. Steerer tube cut to length. Gearing will be an ongoing challenge. Adding those fat tires certainly changed things – it takes some [...]
My brother found this image of me while rummaging at the homestead. While I do have a crush on specific BMW all road motorcycles, I’m glad my two wheeled fun revolves around the pedal variety.
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Morning sun comes a bit earlier now with the fall back in time… which means I can actually see the woods I’m riding on one of my morning loops.
~56 miles, some favorite quiet dirt roads, 3 covered bridges, a great stop at the Red Brick Store, and met with the wife, little one, and extended family in town for lunch at the park.
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The last of the fall color - an alley of yellow.
Recent snaps. The Soma is coming along. Proper stem is on the way. Steerer will be cut next week after it arrives. Bars will be left [...]
Grape Juice... 29r.
New monstercross / bikepakcing / ss fg mountain bike platform. Soma Juice 29r in ‘midnight silver’ (dubbed the ‘grape ape’ by a Sunday ride friend). I retired and traded off the CrossCheck and did a parts transplant. I’ve also cleaned [...]
The little one is as excited about new gear as her dad. If the weather is reasonable this will get a test this weekend. Big Agnes Fish Hawk 30 degree down bag and a Big Agnes insulated air core pad. The bag stuffs down to 6×8 [...]
I wanted to write a longer post about our recent trip to Montreal… in lieu of the post never happening – here are some snaps from a bike friendly big city.
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Rainbow over the big lake... and then the rain came!
We curtailed a planned run of my now ‘Fall Classic’ mixed terrain route. Rain, cold, and a late start conspired against us. Patrick just returned from the [...]
Flat this morning in the rain. 35 degrees and dark. Of course I needed to be home so Jen could get in her swim workout. Pulled the wheel tire and tube. Sloppy mess. Got the new tube on with no issues. Pump pump. Unscrew the Lezyne from the valve – [...]
Bags. They have arrived and they are wonderful. Check out more of Eric’s work.
Standard seat bag stuffed with tools and extra layers.
I’ll try to get a full review after I get some time with them. [...]
Sunrise over the big mountain. Been quiet. Family worked through being sick starting with the little one, more travel, and a bathroom model. More to come – lots of fall riding in VT planned…
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A fall hike from a month ago in the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. The little one will be adventure racing before we know it.
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From Westfield to Paris back to Vermont...
Our flèche ride has been accepted and certified by the ACP. Exciting in a bureaucratic / paperwork filing way.
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A snap across the lake to the ADKs this morning. Early fall in the north country – my favorite time of year.
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Quick trip north to Montreal. Jen had a training session at her company’s Canadian office. Ava and I wandered town while I worked virtually – answering emails and phone via a fast data connection and the magic of international calling on a cell phone – while [...]
Took some reinforcements and managed to make the Rogers ‘Road’ connection work. We took off in the dry on some familiar roads, then tackled Coon Hill, Galvin Hill, and Austin House dirt in the pouring rain. The usual suspects were wet, tired, cold and hungry by [...]
Mansfield in the distance as we roll towards the sun.
Chill in the air this morning. Quick loop around the bay. Wanted to take on some dirt climbing – but chilled in the hollows enroute – rolled it [...]
Bakfiets.nl kid / cargo bike.
Update – our Bakfiets is moving to a new home. The bike has been sold. Thanks for all the interest.
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First annual Cafe Grand Prix – ~60 miles, 3 cafes*, 3k of climbing. Tolerable paved sections, dirt, a bit of single track. Classic VT views. BTV to Richmond via Mountain View and Gov. Chittenden. On the Rise Bakery. Cochran’s to Stage Road. Up up up to [...]
38/19 + 700×40 CrossTires + Burley + LittleOne + Gear + CSA Pickup + Errands = 42/16 + Saddlebag + 700×32 Slicks
Gear is still too tall to play in the rocky and rooty woods without hike a bike(ing) and my MTB skills need work. I do suspect [...]
Sun over the Intervale. Mornings are crisp and dark. 38 x 19 fixed combination + 700 x 40 tires is still a bit tall for playing in the woods – but seems perfect for pulling the little one about in the trailer.
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Fall is in the air. Quick trip through the woods and along the lake. Legs still sore from our hike.
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Solo adventuring today on some favorite roads. Household stuff to do – so I kept it short to 38 or so. Shot some video descending Governor Chittenden Road – but the bar mounted camera bouncing around makes it nearly impossible to watch.
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Three years ago next week my (then soon to be) father in-law had a stroke. Yesterday Jen and I hiked him to the top of Camel’s Hump via Forest City, the Long Trail, and Burrows. Impressed and proud that he made the trek – he has [...]
Trying to get a long ride in before some family travel sans bikes. Looking to be a wet one.
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Stumbled on this secret granola ninja training camp this morning while exploring the local woods. Camo painted extension ladders locked to trees, steel cable slack lines and rigging, climbing wall, tire swings, tree platforms and some sort of zip line. All minutes from downtown Burlington… just [...]
Recent snaps – bike parking in front of Outdoor Gear Exchange and my morning spin.
I wish the parking was designed a bit better – you need to get to the sidewalk to park – instead of having access from the street. And if it had 2 [...]
Morning on the lake with coffee and breakfast from the neighborhood cafe. No fire this morning. Nagging bug working its way through the family has me down – spinning a low gear and being a bit of a tourist in my own neighborhood.
Sunday dirt exploring and scouting for new links to my favorite roads. The usual suspects were at D2R2 baking and sweating in the heat. I spent the weekend with the family enjoying the water at the beach.
Sunday morning I explored some dirt in Colchester. Was [...]
Recent riding has been great. Dirt, fixed gear mixed, and towing the little one in a recently acquired Burley to preview a tri course.
Jen finished her first Olympic distance triathlon this weekend. The girl is an endurance machine… and is only getting faster on the bike, and stronger on the swim. Since Ava’s birth she has completed a Sprint Tri (7 months postpartum!), a half marathon, [...]
Updated and nearly dialed in for flat(ish) bar use. Stem length is something that I’m adjusting – from the 11cm to a 12cm, both with about the same rise. The 11cm OS will allow me to swap to my drop bars by popping the plate – [...]
A boat towing tandem?
Lots of touring cyclists out today… in the wet wet rain. Most have been more heavily loaded than this pair.
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The rain has returned after a short break. With the wide(r) semi knobbies the fixed xc is sporting my old mtb tail fender. The Showers Pass jacket continues to impress.
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Early start with a misty rain.
Great ride this past weekend. Bordering on burnout I opted to head out on the century route and adjust as I felt necessary. John and Jim felt the same, Patrick went off the front to [...]
Testing the WP for BB app. and posting via my BB Tour.
Update – the text portion works well… photo control needs work.
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Crossing the MUP.
A wet friend this morning, as the rain comes down again. Oddly enough, I’ve been thinking about single speed and fixed gear bikepacking while out on the Surly. Perhaps I’ve channeled Kent ‘The Mountain Turtle’ Peterson to Vermont? (Kent is [...]
Camper Longflap and Surly CrossCheck, fixed, with recent additions of 2 rings up front and a dingle cog on the rear.
The Camper Long Flap after [...]
Modified from last year - a bit of dirt and some new roads.
Sleep, then 200 miles through the ADKs from BTV to New Hartford, NY. The wife and little one will be waiting.
A view to Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield.
The 300k ride I started organizing this spring has morphed into a century, 200k, and 300k. Check out the information page I just finished for the Cycle and Celebrate Champlain ride [...]
Heading for the Roscoe Bridge.
Three of the usual suspects got some mixed riding in this Sunday. An absolutely stunning day after weeks of rain and gray – blue skies, mild temps, and the dirt is in fine condition. I logged ~52 with [...]
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With the exception of a few local spins along the lake I’ve been off the bike. We have ramped up our Bakfiets mileage these last two weeks… and I feel we are just getting into our summer rhythm of farmer’s markets, lakefront festivals, and utility riding. [...]
I DNF’d on the Boston 400k this past weekend. A lingering stomach bug crippled my morning, as my average speed dropped and dropped along with my caloric intake. I logged about 100 miles before pulling the plug, and added another 20 or so to make it to a safe and [...]
~67 miles with Jim and Patrick. Most of the dirt is in smooth and wonderful condition. Plenty of climbing from steep rollers to Brigham Hill Road. I wanted for a century to scout a 300k route… but we opted for close in and backroads. We never ‘race’ on our Sunday [...]
Recovering from my non-ride and adventures in home ownership and repair I met Jim this Sunday for a casual cruise. We had planned a hilly route south and east… but the weather shaped our plans as much as the terrain and my legs. I felt strong from the go, but [...]
After a recharge nap I set out to fix the leaking faucet / pipes / drain / sink in the kitchen. A turn of the shut off valves ended in a crumbled mess, so I had to get at the main water line in the basement. Hunched over, working under [...]
Mt. Philo in the early morning light and fog...
I awoke at 2am to prep for a double century through the Adirondacks to Utica to visit family. Left the house by 3:30am and rolled slowly through town letting [...]
The IF at the top of the drive...
I spent three days in the Berkshires teaching at the Heartwood School. I managed two short rides to explore the local dirt. Lots of steep climbing on gravel and sand and loose [...]
Some things I learned on my longest ride to date this year:
I’m in better long distance shape than I’ve been giving myself credit for. Yes, I’m still 20 pounds over my ideal event weight, and I had a tough winter with adjusting to fatherhood and medical issues – but I’ve [...]Flèche NE 2009 was a windy and wet affair. Our team of three departed City Market in Burlington on Saturday at 8am. We left with partly cloudy skies and a wind out of the south - southeast. That wind would never stop - and the partly cloudy would turn [...]
Our Vermont team for Flèche NE 2009 is ready to roll. We met up with our return driver (an original teammate who had to drop out of the event) tonight over pizza and a few beers, rigged a roof mount bike rack to fit in the back of the cargo [...]
A few snaps from the last week…
Sunny morning cruise along the lake, the ADKs in the background.
Our trusty steeds from a recent Sunday [...]
Brevet cards, maps, and a cue sheet...
Less than a week to the NE Flèche 2009. Our team is down to 3, we swapped some gear and ran through a pre-ride checklist last night. Brevet cards have arrived. [...]
The pig rode, he didn’t fly.
SyCip flying pig...
Custom SyCip delivery bike from Boccalone at the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace. A more traditional rig with porteur rack is parked to the left…
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Misty morning and puddle jumping and sitting.
Spent the day out and about in SFO. Enjoyed the Zoo, for the most part. Plenty of exhibits closed as I’d guess were still early in the season. Food was terrible at the Lemur [...]
No bike, but hopefully the little one and I will get a good dose of the BART. We’re in San Francisco all week so mom can participate in client meetings. I’ll keep up with my clients with my not so smart phone and the laptop - and Ava and I [...]
Chatting on Baldwin, heading into the wind...
70+ miles - Mountain View out of town, Governor Chittenden Road (dirt, and a ripping descent) down to Rt. 2, Kenyon Road up and up (dirt) drop down into Richmond on the pave, then [...]
I'm sold on the front bag... descending @ 30 mph, hands free, stable!
Flèche Teamate Patrick and I rode the Westfield 200k in the heat on Saturday. 126 miles, limited traffic, plenty of climbing,' [...]
Main map interface screen with options on the right.
I just discovered Bike Route Toaster. So far I love it - the two main features I was looking for was the ease of use of GoogleMaps and a [...]
When I lived in Putney, Vermont the West Hill Shop was my local bike shop, hangout, volunteer sales job, and generally fun place to be. I just started to get to know the owner’s and mechanics quite well before I chased my bride to the big city of Burlington. [...]
Jim brought the camera out this weekend. These are a few of my favorites snitched from his photostream.
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Jim brought the camera out yesterday… added a few pics to his photostream. These are a few of my favorites. Spring riding in Vermont - dirt, closed roads, blue skies, sunshine, … and a slow return of green.
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The view from Govenor Chittenden Road
Spring ride with lots of dirt - a mental boost and a gear shakedown for next weekend’s 200k. We rolled out of town from our usual start along Mountain View and the always fantastic [...]
What fits into an overstuffed Acorn Boxy Rando Bag?
Bag of pretzels...
...Lezyne pump, carrots, and kryptonite lock...
...cucumber, strawberries, fresh ravioli, and two baked [...]
I’ve been working on mudflaps for my rando rig on and off for the past two years, never really coming up with anything I liked, or that was durable. The stair tread / scrap rubber version works well enough - but on narrow fenders the rubber doesn’t quite conform to [...]
Shower's Pass Elite 2.0
Spirited 36 mile ride with the boys this morning. Snow flakes and cold cold wind. New rain gear proved good at shedding the wind - we’ll see how it does when it gets wet - but so far the [...]
Google Streetview has covered some of our fair city. I discovered this completely by chance today when I clicked a link to a map of a local business I was trying to find. I saw some bikes… so I started wandering around in virtual Burlington - when I came across [...]
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