6 Mountains in 2 Days

I'm a big climber. I like steep pitches that make me wonder if I'll be able to push my legs over for another pedal revolution. I also enjoy the steady uphill grades that are better suited to gearing down, and letting me hit the rhythm that allows my mind to space out of the moment. So, its no surprise that I would take advantage of my weekend and go for 2 rides over some of the best hills the local area in Washington County has to offer.

The first of these is the climb to summit lake from Rt. 40. This climb begins with a steep section right after you make the left hand turn. But, it soon levels out to begin a smooth ascent to the top of the Mountain to Summit Lake. The climb takes about 15 minutes of effort, with a few switchbacks offering beautiful views off to the west.

A second beautiful climb in the region is North Rd. This hill fits nicely with the others on this list, and begins almost directly after you make the fast descent from Summit Lake. North Rd. doesn't have a steep, or long, climb to boast. (It is a quick 5 minute groove) But, it offers some beautiful views of rolling farmscape as you cruise at high speed into Greenwich, NY. After the first major climb at the beginning, it features small rollers that keep you in and out of the saddle.

The final climb is by far the hardest, yet most rewarding. Cruising out of Greenwich, you get the chance to make a right hand turn onto Burton Rd. and head up to Willard Mountain. This climb is both long (taking more than 20 minutes of straight climbing), and features steep and smooth climbing sections. It also offers the possibility to reach the summit via a smaller dirt Rd., Mountain Rd. Attacking this same route 2 days straight allowed me to try out both ways. And, believe it or not, I'll say that the dirt road way is easier than the paved way.
The climb has recently also been paved, offering smooth travels for cyclists. The view at the top of the mountain is also beautiful, offering views up to the north. The descent is fantastic, offering speeds in excess of 55mph. Hold on tight.

I did these three Mountains two days in a row, making for six nice climbs. In the process also accumulated more than 200 miles of riding. A good weekend.

August 10th, 2011

I would like to, first and foremost, say a warm welcome to another sponsor of dgUltraCycling: Handlebra Handlebar Tape. Ray has offered his handlebar tape for my use. I received some black leather tape from him just the other day, with some purple and titanium cords. It is of the highest absolute quality, reminding me of the beauty leather brings. I highly recommend this product for quality, looks, and performance capabilities. I will be posting pictures as soon as I have the chance to clean my bike.

In other news, I came across some Biopace chain rings at a neighborhood garage sale, and seeing the increased research in ovoid chain rings, I decided to try them out. So, I went, removed the binder bolts and crank from my bike, and swapped out the large chain ring. The ovoid shape isn't as noticeable on the big ring, but at close inspection, you can see its there.
I attended the Monday night ride at Bike and Board to try out the new chain ring, and was surprised how well it performed. Even though it had an extra tooth on the large ring (54 teeth vs. the old 53 teeth), I was able to stay in the large chain ring longer and more often. I sure was able to make Greg hurt the entire way. Next week is Greg's last Monday before heading to school out in Utah, so we've planned a great hill ride. Can't wait to test this bad boy ring further.

Saratoga 24 Hour Race - Maybe I should report...

Well, about a month after the Saratoga 24 hour, I'm finally sitting down to write this race report. I do have to say, the race wasn't all I hoped for, but I certainly was much stronger than many other racers.

The weather was picture perfect, with highs in the mid eighties during the day, and lows in the mid sixties at night. After a rather apprehensive morning, I arrived at the starting line with 30 minutes to warm up.

The first 100 miles were very smooth. I held pace with most of the stronger men, and felt completely inside my confidence zone. My small aerodynamic body was key at this stage of the race.

Then we began the next 100 miles. I started feeling sore around 150 miles or so. It began to hit me how much riding I was going to be doing...oh how many miles I would be doing. My thighs began to ache a little, and I had other coming pains.

By the double century mark, pain was coming on harder and harder. This time, though, it wasn't physical pain. It was the breakdown of my mental toughness. I was sick of doing the same 32 miles. When I finished a lap, I would stop not because I was thirsty, but rather because I was reluctant to start the whole process of another lap.

By 250 miles, I was physically fine. My mind was starting to flounder a little with the lack of sleep, but I was physically okay. Time between laps was increasing, and I was losing motivation around 3am.

When the sun began to rise, I felt better. I felt as though I had slept all night. My legs were "comfortably numb," and I felt like a million bucks.

I only completed 320 miles, for 9th place. (1st in age group.) But, looking at the fact I wasn't physically exhausted, but rater tired of the same 32 miles, I see this as a great victory. I know that I'm ready to go farther than 24 hours. As Spongebob says: "I'm READY!!!"

Again, thanks to my sponsors, especially Saratoga Bike and Board. Their continued support of "that crazy kid" has provided invaluable. Your Monday night rides are excellent.