May 2003 Ride Report Page
Here you will find the reports of our exploits for the month May 2003 more or less as they happened. I will publish any ride reports that I receive. Please send them to bikebob@crocker.com and you too can get yourself published on the web!
Thursday 5/1: The weather report for tonight was for rain and possible thunderstorms, so I wasn't too optimistic about the ride, but at 3:00 the clouds blew away and the sun came out. By 6:00 it was a nice warm spring evening and I was greeted by a group of 17 riders for our ride down to Whatley. joining me for the Ride was Malcolm and several of the boys from Beermont. We left the shop and headed down to Deerfield on RT.5 &10. We all stayed together until Stillwater Hill, which strung the group out. I rode to the top of the hill and waited for the last rider to arrive and then I pulled a small group up to the main pack. We caught on just as the pack was crossing onto 116, which allowed the back of the group to catch their breath. I rode to the front of the pack on the descent to make sure that the group made the turn onto S0. Mill River Road. After the turn I dropped back to bring up the rear. I kept the group more or less together all the way down to River Road. At that point the pace picked up some and the group split up after we crossed 116. I rode with the front group and ended up riding back to the shop with Parrott.
Thursday, May 1st
B.U. Whately/River Road loop
Distance - 30.6
Average - 18.9
The group split on Stillwater (what else is new?) but Michelle really pulled us back up to the riders ahead, then Bob pulled the rear of the group up to us, so we were mostly back together by the time we got South of 116.
The rest of the ride was smooth. A few riders went off the front once we hit the first of two hills on River Road. The group never came back together after that. We all arrived back at the shop in ones and twos with our excuses ready to go.
Wednesday 5/7: I had a business commitment tonight, so Liam led the MTB ride up to the Rocky Ridge. I will do a report if I can get one from Liam.
Thursday 5/8: We got rained out on Tuesday but there was a good sized crowd for tonight's event even though it is cloudy and cool. There was a big group of Beermonters that came down to join in the fun with the usual crew of riders from the shop. I led the group out of the shop and over to Turners Falls where we headed up the hill on Third Street and made the turn onto Montague Street. At this point I was riding with the front group and I stayed with them until we got to the fire station. I gave the front group directions to finish the ride and then I waited for the second pack to catch up. I rode at the front of the bunch all the way to the turn onto Ferry Road where I dropped to the back. The group formed a double paceline with Curt and Jamie taking turns at the front. I took over the lead just before the town line sprint which Parrott won over Curt and Malcolm. After that I settled in to ride in the middle of the group as we made our way to Sunderland center. We all made the turn onto RT. 116 and continued over the bridge into Deerfield where we turned onto River Road. At this point we had a tail wind so I drifted to the back. I stayed at the back of the group and finished the ride with Young Kate. It was a nice ride and we all had a good workout on a chilly spring evening.
Wednesday 5/14: Tonight was my first MTB ride in a couple of weeks. Due to weather and business commitments I haven't been on a mountain bike in a while. It was a nice day today although it was a little on the cool side (60 degrees) and there was plenty of sunshine. I had planned a ride up to the ridge for tonight, but when the group arrived the riders asked if we could do something different, so I obliged with the ride to Mark Stotz's family land. There was a large group of riders that included Liam, Gregg (the new guy), Kip, Mark C., Lana, Brad, Chris U., Doug L., Wayne H., and myself. We left the shop and headed over to the trails behind Stop&Shop. I led the group to the trail head and over to the first turn. I stopped at the turn to make sure that all the riders went the right way. Mark and Liam were at the front leading the group and I brought up the rear. We re-grouped out on Canada Hill and then headed over to the Coke Plant. When we got to the truck turnout I decided to take a couple of the riders on a shorter loop over to Killer Hill while Liam took the rest of the bunch up Luke and over to the power lines. Gregg, Doug and I rode over to Red Rock on the Deer Run Trail and there we waited for Liam's riders to arrive. Some of us took a look at the drop off on the right side of Killer Hill and decided that the prudent way down would be on the left side of the hill. After everyone slogged through the swamp at the bottom of the hill, we headed over to the gravel bank to look for the entrance to the Stotz trails. I knew the general area where the trails start but there has been a lot of excavating in the area and the landmarks that I used in the past were gone so I went on instinct and selected a familiar looking trail. Well, after clambering over rocks and rubble to get to the woods, I discovered that I had missed the trailhead by about 50 feet. So, instead of going back we all hiked-a-bike through the woods to the trail and began the descent. We re-grouped at the bottom of the steep descent and then headed for the trail loop. We rode across the river on the bridge and then headed up the hill to the farm. The group had split up with the faster riders waiting at the top for me to arrive. I then asked Liam if he would wait for the last riders and lead them on the trails, while I took the lead and headed the group up the hill to the summit. I stopped a couple of times to give directions to the leaders (mostly Brad and Kip) and then waited for Liam to arrive before heading off to catch up with the main bunch. I did this procedure a couple of times before reaching the river crossing. After all the riders had arrived at the river bank I gave the now famous talk on how to cross the water. I always tell the riders that it is impossible to ride directly across the river because of the swift currents and slippery rocks. I also tell the light weight riders that they might want to walk across as the current will likely sweep their wheels from underneath them. Well, with myself as the exception, everyone tried to ride across and most of them got dunked in the process. It was great fun for most people, although a few people got a chill from the cold water, and after everyone was across, we all headed back to the shop via the roadway.
Thursday 5/15: It was another unusually warm sunny day today and we had 18 riders show up for the trip to Plumtree Road and back. I led the group out of the shop parking lot at 6:15 and headed down to River Road in Deerfield. I kept the pace pretty easy until we got to the first hill, and then I pulled off and let the riders set their own pace. Pretty soon the faster riders pulled away and I stayed at the back and rode at a steady pace with Kate, IP and QN. We could see the group just ahead of us, but I told the girls that if we set a steady pace, we would catch up with the rabbits soon enough. The girls settled in behind me and we headed for the bigger hills at a mellow pace. I kept the pace steady on the hills, while the girls rode at their own pace downhill and when we got to the flat land near the river, we saw a group of riders just ahead. Leading the bunch was MB and he was pulling the bunch along towards the RT. 116 turn. I picked up the pace a little and we caught the group as they waited at the stop sign. At this point we had a pack of 12 riders and we all headed across the Sunderland Bridge to RT. 47 where we turned right. The group headed into the wind and we had several riders take turns at the front. I took my turn and kept the pace at 20 mph, but when Mark Newton took over the pace went up to 25 and the group split up pretty quickly. I told MB to go up to the front and then I dropped back to bring the riders that fell off back up to the front. When I got back up to the front with my bunch we were nearly at the turn to Plumtree Road. We all made the left turn onto Plumtree and then we rode out to RT. 116. After we crossed the highway we headed back towards Sunderland where we turned onto Silver Lane and headed over to RT. 47 where we took a right and began the route back to the shop. Parrot tried to speed things up with a sprint on Falls Road, but everyone was able to catch back on when the sprinters sat up. We all stayed together for the rest of the run up to Turners Falls Road. Some of the riders got dropped on the Ferry Road hill, but we managed to catch back on after the left turn onto Turners Falls Road. The group made it to Greenfield Road together and at that point MB and several others took off to ride the rest of the way back to the shop at a higher speed. I stayed with QN, Jamie, Curt and IP and we each made it up to Poet's Seat at our own pace. I followed IP to the top and she really let out a yell after cresting the hill at the front of our group. IP and I then rolled down the other side of the hill and we then headed back to the shop, where we were greeted by MB and several of his group. I ended the 35 mile route with a 19.5 mph average, which was great for me at this point. I really need to get more rest, but until that happens, I will be happy with my results as they are.
Tuesday 5/20: Today was one of the nicest days we have had in quite a while. It was sunny and warm with as slight breeze at 6:00 when the riders arrived at the shop. We had 21 people show up for the ride to Cave Hill in Leverett. MaryEllen took a group of 5 riders on a shorter trip while the remaining 14 people went on the longer route. I led the group over to Turners Falls and onto the Third Street hill where Brad and Kent Webster took over the lead. That duo along with Dan Laroche and Jim Hayssen then rode off the front and continued on ahead to do the route by themselves. I then took up the rear of the bunch and headed the group over to Montague Center. As we passed The Greek's restaurant I went to the front and kept the pace at 21 mph until I got to the fish hatchery. When I turned around to let someone else (presumably Jamie) pull through, I found that I was all by myself about 100 feet in front of the pack, so I slowed down and headed for the middle of the pack. Next on the front was Kip, who promptly brought the pace back up to about 23 mph and we went zooming through the village and out onto Leverett Road. We went to make the left turn with Jamie "Corner Cutter" Laurin in front and the group all made it around the traffic island without any auto encounters. After crossing RT. 63 we began the climb up North Leverett Road. I rode near the front for the first leg but dropped back when QN told me that Kip had fallen off. I went back to see if he was OK and he signaled that he was fine so I rode on ahead to catch up with the group. I got onto the back of the bunch just as they were making the turn onto Cave Hill Road. I made my way up the line and ended up riding just behind Todd Amato and Lana Courtney all the way to the top of the hill. When I got near the crest I decided to go back and motor Jamie and Kip back onto the group. Jamie, Kip and I rode to the bottom of the hill where the rest of the riders were stopped, waiting on our arrival. I did a slow roll through the stop, and soft pedaled up to Lana and Brad (Brad had left the other three riders and ridden back up the hill to join our group.). When everyone was back on I got in behind Brad and we rode over to Leverett Center. The group kept a pretty good pace as we headed down to Bull Hill Road and soon we were all out on RT. 116 riding a double pace line. We kept a 25 mph pace into the center of Sunderland and after a brief pause at the light the race was on for the town line. Mark Newton got a good jump on the group and he won the sprint just ahead of Homer, who came out of the field to try to nip him on the line. The group rolled over the bridge and then up to Sugarloaf Street where we made the right turn to ride through the town of So. Deerfield. The bank clock said it was still 73 degrees at 7:30 when we rode past, which was the warmest temperature that we have had on a evening ride this year. The group headed out onto North Main Street and eventually we crossed the highway to Mill Village Road. Everyone stayed in the group until we started down the hill to the farm lands. About half way down the hill Mark and Curt picked up the speed and soon were off the front going 35 mph around the corner at the bottom. They continued that pace past Melnick's farm so I went to the front to see if I could pull the group up to them. I got the group behind me to gradually pick the pace up to about 28 mph and we held that speed until we flew past Mark and Curt just before the hill into Old Deerfield. At that point I was getting a little pooped so I sat up and the group split. I ended up riding out to the highway with Jamie, John Gustin and Lana. The four of us rode back into town together and made our way up to Hope Street. At that point we caught up with some of the others ahead and I sat up and started to spin back to the shop. I rode with Lana back to High Street and she dropped off at her house while I continued on back to the shop. I arrived at the shop a little before 8:00 and climbed off my bike. We had done the 35 miles at an average speed of 19.5 mph. It was a great ride on a beautiful spring evening.
Wednesday 5/21: Tonight we had a ride to the Pocumtuck Ridge in Deerfield. It was a little chilly tonight, but at least it wasn't raining, and I was met by four riders at the parking spot on Keets Road. I had expected a larger turnout tonight and after waiting for a few minutes for late comers, we decide to head out. Riding with me tonight was Liam, Homer, Kip and Chris Koh. We took the hardtop road up to the Crystal Cave Trail and after crossing the plank bridge we hit the singletrack. I was at the back of the group on the climb and managed to make it almost to the top before running out of gas.
Thursday 5/22: Tonight we had a group of nine people show up for the ride to Tyler Hill. It was another cold, cloudy night and we had a little breeze blowing from the north. The group left the shop with myself at the front and we headed over to Turners Falls. We made the left turn onto Ave A and then we crossed the bridge together. At the first climb I went to the front and hit the hill at a pretty good clip. I felt good at the start, but as I neared the top of the hill, I ran out of gas. My heat rate was really low and I knew that I was not going to keep doing the ride at that pace for long, so I slowed down and settled into a better rhythm for me and we all made the turn onto West Gill Road. Stu King got dropped off the back on the first hill, but he was all set to do the ride by himself. The group headed up to RT. 10 together and we were joined by Tom Terrific and John Bentley just after the golf course. The group rode up to the RT. 10 crossing and we all then turned onto RT. 142 to begin the ride up to Tyler Hill. The boys from Beermont were doing the lion's share of the work at the front and they took us on a couple of detours off RT. 142. We all stuck together as we passed by the nuke plant and soon we were on the climb up Tyler Hill. Jessie Four Sticks and John Bentley led the way up the hill and I finished with Tom in the rear of the group. At the top of the hill we all waited to re-group and then we headed down the other side of the hill to RT. 5. At this point Tom and John turned right and headed back to Bratt while the rest of us headed south back to Mass. I rode tempo at the front of the group for a while and then the boys from Beermont took over and the sprint for the state line was on. I didn't see who won, but I was sure not going to contest it. We all rode down RT. 5 to Barton Road where another sprint was on. I saw Jessie Four Sticks take that one and I again was happy to just keep onto the back of the bunch. We all rode back to the shop together. It was a better night than I thought it would be and I was glad to have gotten out on the trip.
Sunday 5/25: Due to the unpredictable weather this week, I had scheduled the Memorial Day ride for today with Monday as the rain date. It rained a little during night but the roads were dry at 10:30 so I went over to the shop to get ready to do the ride. It was a cloudy, cool day with no winds and temps in the 50's. Curt called at 11:45 to see what time the ride was going out. I told him that we were leaving in a few minutes. Curt said that he wanted to ride and so he was coming down and he would meet us out on the course. As it got closer to noon, Parrott showed up and then John Bentley and Tom Terrific arrived together for our ride. We left the shop at 12:15 (right on schedule) and headed out towards Turners Falls. MaryEllen was right behind doing her own 25 mile ride. We all rode together up to Scotty's Store and then the four of us pull on ahead. I rode at the front to keep the pace mellow because I was still tired from the last few days work at the shop and I didn't want to get dropped right away. As we rode along I knew that I was in trouble today, because I could hear the boys chatting away behind me, meaning that I was going so slowly that nobody was working hard except for me. We road at a pretty mellow pace down to Meadow Road where we encountered a couple of groups of riders going pretty slowly. When we got to the town line the boys sprinted for the line and Parrott got the first one. I was kind of egging the boys into doing the sprints, so that maybe they would get tired out and not kill me on the hills that were coming up. I stayed mostly at the back of the group as we headed on towards Sunderland, and I kept telling the boys what a marvelous job they were doing. When we made the turn onto RT. 116 the boys sprinted for the town line and I was again off the back. Tommy won the sprint and we all made the turn onto River Road. John Bentley was at the front and he kept the pace pretty high as we headed up to the first hills of the day. I had stayed at the back of the group for most of the way up to the hills, so I was able to stay with the group on the climbs. As we got near McClelland Farms Road, Curt came along towards us and then turned to join us. At that point we all rode up the final few hills and back into Greenfield. After the town line sprint we made the turn onto Montague City Road to begin the northern loop of the ride. We rode through the town of Turners Falls and across the bridge into Gill. I was at the back of the group as we made the steep climb up Main Road and after the turn onto West Gill Road I was in a world of hurt. I kept getting dropped off the back of the group and finally I told the boys to go on ahead without me. They said that they wanted to keep the group together and would wait for me, so I gave it the old college try, but by the time we got to the town line sprint into Bernardston I was ready to go home. I again told the boys to head on out but they insisted on waiting for me so I kept on going. I rode across RT. 10 and headed up RT. 142 with the group. I was dangling off the back most of the way up to the VT. line and at that point I just decided to try to tough it out and stay with the boys for as long as I could. We rode up Pond Road to Huckle Hill and began the climb up the hill. This hill is really a tough challenge even when you are going really well. The climb starts pretty mellow but quickly the road gets steep and I downshifted to my 26 and settled in to a slow cadence that I knew that I could sustain. It was really hard to keep going at times and I considered getting off and walking, but as the road steepened for the last climb, I remembered what I said to IP on the same climb. I remembered that I told her that riding was a lot like walking and that all you had to do was push the pedal over one stroke at time and that you can get up any hill that way. Well, it worked for her and it also worked for me. I made it over the top just behind Curt and I was really glad that I had tried. After we crested the last hill Curt and I pedaled down the hill at a steady pace and when I caught up with the rest of the group I felt suddenly, much better. I rode along at the back of the group all the way to Barton Road where I saw the sprint wind up. Since it was only three miles to the finish, I decided to catch the boys by surprise and I came from the back to take the last town line sprint, just ahead of Parrott. I could have been officially declared dead at that point, but I resurrected myself enough to follow the boys back to the shop. I was really whipped but I made it the whole 55 miles.
Tuesday 5/27: After yesterday's rain the sun came out briefly to reassure us all that it is still up there in the sky, but the clouds returned by mid-afternoon. It looked like it was going to rain as it got near the start of the ride, but the rain held off and we had 14 riders show up for the 6:00 start. Tom Ballard led a group that included ME, Peter Truesdell, and Rob Macks on a 18.5 mile loop, while I rode with the ten remaining people. It was a little cool when we left but I went out with just shorts and jersey, while some of the folks had jackets and arm warmers. Brad led the group at a fairly mellow pace up to the Bernardston town line, where I snookered Curt for the sprint by coming around Brad on the right side and sneaking past Curt, who was looking over his left shoulder. The group mellowed out some on the run into the center of town and after the turn onto RT. 10 we again picked up the pace. Brad and Mooseboy were the main engines for the train while the rest of us just got pulled along. We rode at a fairly good pace all the way over to the entrance to NMH, but half way down the hill, Homer took off for the town line with several riders in pursuit. This pretty much split the group in two and shelled Peter and Rob off the back (they had tailed onto us for the first half of their ride). I rode along with Michelle L, QN MB and IP as we crossed the Bennett Meadow Bridge. At the turn onto RT. 63 we caught up with Curt and some of the other's, but Brad, Lana and Dan were up the road quite a ways. As we were riding along I had noticed that IP had opened her jacket and rolled up the sleeves, which was like riding with a parachute on your back. I rolled up along side of her and asked if she wasn't a little warm. She looked positively poached! She said that she was a tad warm so I suggested that she stop and take off the jacket. She agreed and I rode up to the front to get the group to slow down. After a quick word to MB, he put on the binders and everyone slowed down to a coasting speed. After the group slowed down, I went back to pace IP back onto the group, and shortly we were back on our way. I stayed near the front and rode up the hills with Curt and MB with the rest of the group following close behind. We rode through Millers Falls and headed towards Montague at a moderate pace with myself, MB and Curt doing the work at the front. After we made the turn onto RT. 47, Michelle L., took the lead and brought the speed up sharply. She likes this road and wanted to rip it up, so we all obliged her and we hopped onto her wheel for the trip into town. After getting through the rough pavement near the common, MB took over the lead and pulled the bunch up to Mark C's house where QN took over. QN saw a rider out in front of us and she set out after the rascal. Well, after a good chase we caught up to the guy, but he did not want to get a whippin' from QN, so he wisely headed off towards Turners, while we went left onto Hatchery Road. Curt took over the lead as we headed down the hill and out to Montague City Road. After taking a left at the end of the road we all headed over to Mountain Road where I got ready to get spanked on the hill to Poet's Seat. At the Bottom of the hill MB and Homer headed up the group and they were followed by Curt and then myself. Only QN, IP and Michelle L., were nice enough to let me lead them up the hill (although Michelle went right by me near the top.). After cresting the hill, I coasted down the hill and then rode back to the shop. I was tired, but it was good to get out and get a ride in, since so many of them have been rained out recently. I ended the ride of 32 miles with a 19.5 mph average, a pretty good ride for me!
I had serious doubts about my decision to go for a ride tonight as I drove
down Route 63 in a downpour. The sun was shining but the sky was falling. The
rainbow over Northfield Mountain was amazing. Anyway, Penny and Doug were
already in Montague by the time I got there. We saw the clouds off in the
distance and rode up the Telephone Trail. Once we got up to the place where we
always stop, Penny declared that we should have a flat ride. We all seemed
agreeable so we headed out towards the toilet bowl trail. We went over to Red
Rock and took the left turn partway up. The trails to this point were quite dry.
We took the left turn and headed out towards Willis Hill. It was a little wet,
but not too bad. Once we got to Willis Hill, we had to negotiate the swamps. PJW
showed us where she gave her foot a mudbath yesterday and suggested that we
could make it if we walked and carried the bikes. I assessed the situation and
thought that it was ridable and Doug agreed. Doug went first and almost made it
- he had to put one foot down, but it wasn't into mud so it was all good. I went
next and luckily made it through without incident. PJW then had to ride through
since Doug and I did. She almost made it and she avoided a repeat of her
previous mudbath. We went through the swamp and then headed down the hill. Penny
went first and Doug gave her a little space so as not too crowd her. After a few
moments Doug went down. Just as I started down the hill, I saw Doug put the
brakes on pretty hard and stop. I rode down to where he had stopped to find PJW
sitting on the ground next to her bike. It seems that she stayed left when
perhaps it may have been a bit wiser to stay right. She went over a little drop
and her wheel went into a hole and she was airborne.
Thursday 5/29: Tonight was the first really hilly ride of the season. It was a cloudy cool evening with a brisk wind blowing from the west. I have not been riding all that well lately so my plan was to stay near the back for as long as possible and then make it over the big hill as best as I can. The route that I selected for tonight was a 35 mile loop over to Millers Falls and then a return through Northfield and Leyden. I led the group of twelve riders from the shop at 6:00 and headed over to Turners Falls. I kept the pace pretty mellow for reasons of self preservation rather than some ultraistic kindness. I rode to the top of the Third Street Hill and headed left onto Millers Falls Road and then sat up to give the riders that dropped off a chance to get back on the paceline. I stayed near the front for most of the trip out to Millers Falls and I was not even a little tempted to chase Parrott for the town line sprint. I rode to the top of the first hill on RT. 63 near the front of the group, but I was not going all that well, so I did not push the pace when the bunch headed down the other side. Todd Amato, Curt, (on his new Kestrel) MB and Parrott were the major players in the peloton and the rest of us were just along for the ride. I rode near the back of the group as we headed for the Northfield town line, but I must have lost my mind as we neared the line, because I picked the pace up to 35 mph in a futile effort to catch Parrott. After the line I dropped back into the group and tried to recover before we hit the next hill. I rode in the middle of the bunch as we headed down the last hill and out onto the wider highway that runs into the center of Northfield. We rode a double paceline on the trip to the RT. 10 turn. Since traffic was pretty light we all made the left turn together and then we headed towards Bernardston. After we rolled down the hill the group began the climb up RT. 10 at a moderate speed. I stayed near the back and rode with IP and Michelle L., but Jaap got dropped about half way up. After we got to the top of the hill I saw that the bunch ahead of us had sat up, so I gave a good pull and soon the three of us were back in the group. We rode down RT. 10 to the center of town and then took the left and headed south. Jaap caught on just as we made the turn and I suggested that he might want to take Barton Road back as the hill ahead was long and steep. Jaap agreed and he went straight when we turned. I stayed near the back of the group and when we made the turn onto Mountain Road, I sat up and got a little rest before the climb. I rode at the back of the group to the turn onto the Eden Trail and then I began the ascent. It wasn't very long before the group pulled away from me and soon there wasn't anyone ahead of me anymore. I just stayed at my pace for most of the steepest section of the hill and got a little rest on the more gradual sections. I managed to reel in Curt and IP just before the top of the hill. After I crested the top I pushed it a little before the descent and I got my speed up to about 50 on the first slope. As I rounded the last curve, my speed went up to 53 mph and I caught up with Michelle L., at the bottom of the hill. Michelle and I made the turn onto Greenfield Road and I looked back and saw Curt coming up. When Curt arrived I asked him if he had seen IP and he said that she was right behind him at the top of the hill, but when he got to the bottom she was nowhere in sight. At that point I sent Curt and Michelle on ahead and I turned around and rode back to pick up IP who was just making the turn as I came along. IP got in behind me and I paced her along until just before the last descent where we caught up with Michelle. I ripped down the last hill at 50 mph and the girls were just behind me. IP and Michelle seemed to be going good together so I headed on and finished the ride at my own pace. It was a perfect night to do this ride, sunny and a little cool, and everyone seemed to enjoy the trip.