Winter ride during the January "thaw" allows for much needed base building.
After a long week on the road, Sunday brings the opportunity to take the Lemond out on the road. Wanting to get in a longer effort, I chose about the flattest route I could in our neighborhood. The ride breaks down to 6 nearly equal 25-minute, 7-mile legs. The first is down CR-47 to the start of the Cassyunna Lake encircling roads. The second leg is to continue south and circle the lake counter-clockwise, coming back to the one-lap mark and reversing for a clockwwise circle is leg 3. Repeats are legs 4 and 5, and then finally, the return up CR-47 to home is leg 6.
Four times around the lake for a total of 2:42 of saddle time at a "blistering" 15.3 MPH with my heavy cyclocross bike and tires works for base building and fun in the sun. No wind, but 36 degrees works too - a total of 42 miles. Anytime I can get more miles in than degrees F, I win!
This morning it was back to the Trek Y-Foil on the trainer for an hour of intervals before work. S'all good.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
MidWeek Winter on the Road
After a good weekend of ridn, life at work and on the road takes over. The road trip begins Tuesday morning and ends Saturday at noon; all of the ridn takes place on Thursday.
After a day and a half of sitting, eating, listening and talking non-stop, I awake on Thursday determined to get some blood pumping and air moving. The decrepid stationary bike in the hotel basement serves the purpose. An hour of intervals with short warm-up and cool down is all I can get in before having to do another half a day in the meeting rooms.
After lunch I hit the road and travel north to the NY border and stop at the welcome center. The NY Winter Recreation brouchure gives me the choices of where to go tonight for the second leg of my day of activity. I use the GPS and look at the map of ski centers in Central and Western NY as I head west on 17. I finally settle on Bristol as the destination and Penn Yan as the place to stay that would be central to both Bristol and Naples, my meeting place for Friday morning.
Bristol boosts the greatest vertical of all the ski centers between the Rockies and Adirondacks, and the 1200 feet provides good runs. I realize I am spoiled rotten by Killington, so took what was offered and got the most out of it. Plenty of snow base, but very little loose on top of hard pack machined snow. The runs were pretty straight and wide, and the bumps were hard and close together. I had fun finding the hilled up loose stuff along the sides and did a lot of runs right under the lift. It seemed like the ride up was three times longer than the ride down. The high speed lift had a long line until the last hour of my stay at around 8 pm. I got a great workout and lots of fun.
My lack of attention to maintaining the edges and base of my LibTech Darkside board started to bite me hard, however. I always have trouble with night riding. The shadows hide bumps and depth perception is altered, so I hit the deck a few times right at the start. After getting used to the lighting and getting warmed up, I started pushing the limits of my abilities, and as it turned out, my equipment. On the last run I opted to cruise a longer run that I had only gone down once before. On a long sweeping heel side curve my edge slipped out from under me at high speed and lean. As a result I dropped hard onto my ass, back and head and somehow twisted my right knee in the process. Combined with the earlier upendings, I now had aches and pains in my thumbs, wrists, knee, neck and ass. All in a good night's work.
The next morning I met Scott and we hit a couple of farms and then hooked up with Tim and Jim. All of them complained how tired they were on Friday after having just sat for the 2 1/2 day meeting. I told them I felt great -- and I did. Despite the aches and pains, I felt invigorated by the day of activity and had more energy than they did as a result.
At the end of my drive home on Saturday I stopped to see Jeff at Olde Saratoga Bike and Board and dropped off the snowboard to have him give it a much needed tune-up. With my knee needing a rest and the board needing a tune, plus it being MLK Weekend, I will not be using it on Sunday. Next week may be a similar deal with having to swing up to NNY and then over through VT. No excuses with the board this time; Jeff assured me he knows how to properly tune the magne-traction edges.
After a day and a half of sitting, eating, listening and talking non-stop, I awake on Thursday determined to get some blood pumping and air moving. The decrepid stationary bike in the hotel basement serves the purpose. An hour of intervals with short warm-up and cool down is all I can get in before having to do another half a day in the meeting rooms.
After lunch I hit the road and travel north to the NY border and stop at the welcome center. The NY Winter Recreation brouchure gives me the choices of where to go tonight for the second leg of my day of activity. I use the GPS and look at the map of ski centers in Central and Western NY as I head west on 17. I finally settle on Bristol as the destination and Penn Yan as the place to stay that would be central to both Bristol and Naples, my meeting place for Friday morning.
Bristol boosts the greatest vertical of all the ski centers between the Rockies and Adirondacks, and the 1200 feet provides good runs. I realize I am spoiled rotten by Killington, so took what was offered and got the most out of it. Plenty of snow base, but very little loose on top of hard pack machined snow. The runs were pretty straight and wide, and the bumps were hard and close together. I had fun finding the hilled up loose stuff along the sides and did a lot of runs right under the lift. It seemed like the ride up was three times longer than the ride down. The high speed lift had a long line until the last hour of my stay at around 8 pm. I got a great workout and lots of fun.
My lack of attention to maintaining the edges and base of my LibTech Darkside board started to bite me hard, however. I always have trouble with night riding. The shadows hide bumps and depth perception is altered, so I hit the deck a few times right at the start. After getting used to the lighting and getting warmed up, I started pushing the limits of my abilities, and as it turned out, my equipment. On the last run I opted to cruise a longer run that I had only gone down once before. On a long sweeping heel side curve my edge slipped out from under me at high speed and lean. As a result I dropped hard onto my ass, back and head and somehow twisted my right knee in the process. Combined with the earlier upendings, I now had aches and pains in my thumbs, wrists, knee, neck and ass. All in a good night's work.
The next morning I met Scott and we hit a couple of farms and then hooked up with Tim and Jim. All of them complained how tired they were on Friday after having just sat for the 2 1/2 day meeting. I told them I felt great -- and I did. Despite the aches and pains, I felt invigorated by the day of activity and had more energy than they did as a result.
At the end of my drive home on Saturday I stopped to see Jeff at Olde Saratoga Bike and Board and dropped off the snowboard to have him give it a much needed tune-up. With my knee needing a rest and the board needing a tune, plus it being MLK Weekend, I will not be using it on Sunday. Next week may be a similar deal with having to swing up to NNY and then over through VT. No excuses with the board this time; Jeff assured me he knows how to properly tune the magne-traction edges.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Ice bike / Snowboard Weekdend
A perfect winter ridn weekend.
Saturday the temperature stayed below 17 all day and the local dirt roads were snowpacked and icy - perfect conditions for getting out the Epic with its studded tires and doing the 15-mile 90% dirt road circuit I first did back in December. With the wheels/tires and all the gear I must weigh over 40 pounds. When combined with the high resistence and give of the tires into the snow this 15 miler at 10 mph is a good 1 1/2 workout. By the time I get back the gear weighs 10 pounds more with all the sweat soaked in.
Sunday and the temperature is about 0 degrees but Alix, Adam and I are insistent on getting a day in at Killington. The wind was not adding much chill all day except for the top of Skye and Bear, so I was not cold. Alix needs better snow pants and Adam had hand issues that he didn't realized until we packed to go home, but it was a great day at K. Wildfire and Cruise Control were the best runs with good soft but steep bumps and grippy carving curising, respectively.
Ice biking for aerobic and Snowboarding for core/leg strength - and both are FUN.... hence, a perfect winter ridn weekend.
Saturday the temperature stayed below 17 all day and the local dirt roads were snowpacked and icy - perfect conditions for getting out the Epic with its studded tires and doing the 15-mile 90% dirt road circuit I first did back in December. With the wheels/tires and all the gear I must weigh over 40 pounds. When combined with the high resistence and give of the tires into the snow this 15 miler at 10 mph is a good 1 1/2 workout. By the time I get back the gear weighs 10 pounds more with all the sweat soaked in.
Sunday and the temperature is about 0 degrees but Alix, Adam and I are insistent on getting a day in at Killington. The wind was not adding much chill all day except for the top of Skye and Bear, so I was not cold. Alix needs better snow pants and Adam had hand issues that he didn't realized until we packed to go home, but it was a great day at K. Wildfire and Cruise Control were the best runs with good soft but steep bumps and grippy carving curising, respectively.
Ice biking for aerobic and Snowboarding for core/leg strength - and both are FUN.... hence, a perfect winter ridn weekend.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Murdock Mountain Madness
First weekend of 2010 spent at home and active on "our" Mountain. It was a snowy weekend at that, with over 12 inches of snow accumulating from Friday to Sunday and still coming down.
Friday Donna and I headed out on a normal dog walk. Which is normally a around the block afair on Bain, Coach and Brennen Extension - about 1.7 miles of mostly dirt road. We started on the new trail I recently hacked out and Donna headed to the exit onto Bain. I said, "where are you going?" "Around the block," was the reply. I politley described my distaste for walking on the road and timidly suggested a walk that stayed on the trails and in the beautiful, snowy woods. My meek suggestion was met with quick acceptance. We started and continued on the trail I recently made with the dogs on leash. Chance in the lead with me or Donna, and Harry bringing up the rear. We went up the trail past the waterfall and then just kept going up the various trials that led up to the pet cemetary and beyone into the man-made pond near Summit Lake Road.
We considered returning by road, but opted stay in the beautiful snowy woods. We were all enjoying the outing. It was decided to get to the top or "our" mountain and sign-in the register which is inside a 3-inch PVC pipe attached to a tree and lebeled "Murdock Mountain." Donna started to climb straight up the grade to get to the top. I asked her what she was doing and indicated that I was scouting possible single track lines for making a mountain bike trail to the top. Finnaly she realized my alterior motive. Picking a circutuitous route, we got to the canister and signed out names under our previous and first entry on April 4, 2009. We continued heading east and picking a path/line through the trees and stone fences that could be riden very easily until we hit the 4-wheeler path down to Rick and Wendy's house. We cut across on another bushwack that avoided coming out behind our neighbor's house and brought us back over to a pair of tree stands. From there we took established bushoged 'roads' back to our original foot prints and home. A good day by all and the dogs were proud of their summit!
On Saturday we started out intending to repeat Friday's adventure since we all enjoyed it so much. Chance was especially anxious to get out there again. So was I. And the two of us were in the lead, but Harry was hurting. Donna eventually had to offer to take him back and she encouraged me to continue on with Chance. Which we did. In a sort of reverse route, we recreated the hike of the previous day. There had been so much new snow that our boot and paw prints from the 24 hour previous were nearly wiped out. And at key critical points, there was very little evidence to give a clue as to which we we should go. Chance seemed to have a sense of the right way and was successful in picking the right direction most of the time. I had to over-ride his choices sometimes, being correct on some of them.
We reached the cannister at the top and headed back. Choosing not to follow the circuit that we did the previous day we headed straight down the grade doing very short switchbacks to decrease the momentum forced by the pitch. We came out in the meadow just above the pet cemetary and at this point I noticed what nice lines you could make for riding a snowboard down through meadows and 6-foot wide pathways cut between them. With the snow plenty deep and building, this was an enticing possiblity for tommorow instead of traveling to Pico Peak as currently planned. Chance and I continued until we found the boot/paw prints of Donna and Harry. We returned home and Chance, unlike yesterday, was completly exhausted and proud of his second summit.
As indicated above, a day of snowboarding on Sunday is planned - but of a different than normal variety. With high winds and low wind-chill temperatures predicted for Pico, I chose to try the backwoods-style snowboarding I always thought possible at our new home. After snowblowing another 6 inches of light powder off the drive way I started getting gear ready. At first I was going to use my old Gnu Classic board, not wanting to damage my Burton Malalo or Lib Tech Darkside. But after thinking about how deep the powder would be, I opted for the Malalo. Using my old Forum boots, old Columbia pants and shell and old Burton gloves, I was not risking my good gear on this potential thorn, stone, tree tangled adventure.
I tried some preliminary runs right in the backyard while waiting for Donna, who offered to stomp some trails with her snowshoes. With not enough vertical and more than 15 inches of snow, the first "run" was not much. However, the second time down I was able to stay close to my previous attempt and it wasn't bad. After the third time I climbed up to see Donna sipping on a cup of tea in the living room and I signaled to here, "WTF?" She thought I was already gone. I did one more run and then set off on my own. I got to the top of the meadow next to the waterfall and tried going down. It was great! The snow was so deep it was difficult to get any speed, but with the greater pitch and some effort to get the nose up on top, it was a nice glide.
I started to climb back up and got half way before deciding to head for the higher meadows. That meant taking a four-wheeler path up a steep grade and then through some tangle "pucker" brush and over a smooth three-strand wire fence. From there it was up the meadow and over to the next one through another four-wheeler path. And up again to the top of the meadow that boarders the pet cemetary and the tree line that goes straight up to the Murdock Summit. My plan from this point, as envisioned the day before, was to glide down this meadow, hit the four-wheeler path with low over-hanging trees with enough speed to make it to the next meadow and take that to its downhill conclusion. And that just about worked. I had to do about a half dozen all-four crawl/hops to get through the flat four-wheeler path, but then continued down this middle meadow until I could go no further in a tight squeeze of trees and brush. It was a trip!
Half way up I saw Donna walking her way over to the pet cemetary meadow. She waited for me and I told her what the plan was. She followed me and I got to the starting point for run two of Pet Cemetary - Middle Meadow. This time I had more speed entering the gap, but not yet enough to carry me through (I scrubbed too much off before I got there). Just 3 crawl/hops and I was out the other side and down again. Donna offered to be my Sherpa and carried the board up. The aerobic benefit aside, the climbs up were part of the deal and I enjoyed this difference to lift-served boarding. The enjoyment and physical challenge and benefit were to be had both ways. However, it did mean resting at the top and waiting for the heart rate to come down some. You can see our house in the distance (right-center) in the photo above.
We decided to just stop at the top of the Middle Meadow and not go all the way back to the Pet Cemetary. I made another 4 runs from here and each was new and exciting. Using the previous run track allowed for more speed and with that was starting to do some carving, throwing up huge flumes of light powder. With my legs starting to feel the effort from both up and down hill action, I decided to start back. The tight, steep four wheeler down to the first meadow was not made without falling and sitting to control speed. With another run, and better legs, I could do it better. Next time!
 |
| Murdock Mountain Madness |
We considered returning by road, but opted stay in the beautiful snowy woods. We were all enjoying the outing. It was decided to get to the top or "our" mountain and sign-in the register which is inside a 3-inch PVC pipe attached to a tree and lebeled "Murdock Mountain." Donna started to climb straight up the grade to get to the top. I asked her what she was doing and indicated that I was scouting possible single track lines for making a mountain bike trail to the top. Finnaly she realized my alterior motive. Picking a circutuitous route, we got to the canister and signed out names under our previous and first entry on April 4, 2009. We continued heading east and picking a path/line through the trees and stone fences that could be riden very easily until we hit the 4-wheeler path down to Rick and Wendy's house. We cut across on another bushwack that avoided coming out behind our neighbor's house and brought us back over to a pair of tree stands. From there we took established bushoged 'roads' back to our original foot prints and home. A good day by all and the dogs were proud of their summit!
On Saturday we started out intending to repeat Friday's adventure since we all enjoyed it so much. Chance was especially anxious to get out there again. So was I. And the two of us were in the lead, but Harry was hurting. Donna eventually had to offer to take him back and she encouraged me to continue on with Chance. Which we did. In a sort of reverse route, we recreated the hike of the previous day. There had been so much new snow that our boot and paw prints from the 24 hour previous were nearly wiped out. And at key critical points, there was very little evidence to give a clue as to which we we should go. Chance seemed to have a sense of the right way and was successful in picking the right direction most of the time. I had to over-ride his choices sometimes, being correct on some of them.
We reached the cannister at the top and headed back. Choosing not to follow the circuit that we did the previous day we headed straight down the grade doing very short switchbacks to decrease the momentum forced by the pitch. We came out in the meadow just above the pet cemetary and at this point I noticed what nice lines you could make for riding a snowboard down through meadows and 6-foot wide pathways cut between them. With the snow plenty deep and building, this was an enticing possiblity for tommorow instead of traveling to Pico Peak as currently planned. Chance and I continued until we found the boot/paw prints of Donna and Harry. We returned home and Chance, unlike yesterday, was completly exhausted and proud of his second summit.
As indicated above, a day of snowboarding on Sunday is planned - but of a different than normal variety. With high winds and low wind-chill temperatures predicted for Pico, I chose to try the backwoods-style snowboarding I always thought possible at our new home. After snowblowing another 6 inches of light powder off the drive way I started getting gear ready. At first I was going to use my old Gnu Classic board, not wanting to damage my Burton Malalo or Lib Tech Darkside. But after thinking about how deep the powder would be, I opted for the Malalo. Using my old Forum boots, old Columbia pants and shell and old Burton gloves, I was not risking my good gear on this potential thorn, stone, tree tangled adventure.
I tried some preliminary runs right in the backyard while waiting for Donna, who offered to stomp some trails with her snowshoes. With not enough vertical and more than 15 inches of snow, the first "run" was not much. However, the second time down I was able to stay close to my previous attempt and it wasn't bad. After the third time I climbed up to see Donna sipping on a cup of tea in the living room and I signaled to here, "WTF?" She thought I was already gone. I did one more run and then set off on my own. I got to the top of the meadow next to the waterfall and tried going down. It was great! The snow was so deep it was difficult to get any speed, but with the greater pitch and some effort to get the nose up on top, it was a nice glide.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
