Fat Bike Friday: First Snow

November 13, 2026

Woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise: it snowed overnight!

A Leafy Veterans Day Spin at Pine Hill Park

November 11, 2026

For the last few years, I haven't done any big Veterans Day rides, and today was no exception. I spent the morning running errands before heading over to the Veterans Day luncheon at the Rutland American Legion Post 31, which I recently joined. Finally, around 2:00 PM, I hopped on my Cujo and pedaled over to Pine Hill Park for a quick afternoon rip.

One of the things I love most about Pine Hill Park is how close it is to home. It’s less than a two-mile ride from my front door, and the last mile is entirely on a bike path.

Goldilocks Ride

November 6, 2026, delivered what can only be described as a Goldilocks day for cycling in Vermont—the kind of crisp, perfect 60-degree afternoon that entirely made up for missing a 75-degree window earlier in the week. For me, 60 degrees is the absolute sweet spot for a road ride. The challenge in the Rutland area, however, is piecing together a pure pavement route that avoids the heavy traffic of Route 7 and Route 4. I detest overlapping routes and overlapping loops, so I set out midday to test a brand-new circuit.

Indian Summer eRoubaix

Nov 4, 2026

As luck would have it, I found myself stuck at home all day on Wednesday, even though the high reached a gorgeous 75 degrees. We were having our chimney repaired, which meant I had to stay put to keep the dog at bay with workers constantly coming in and out. The moment they finished, I grabbed all my lights—knowing that with Daylight Saving Time officially over, this was going to be a true night ride—and jumped on the Wabash around 4:30 PM for my weekly e-bike escape.

Stick Season Indian Summer

Nov 2, 2026

Ann and I headed out for an afternoon gravel ride on Monday to take full advantage of a beautiful weather window. Leaving Rutland, the Garmin read almost 65 degrees, but out in the open sun, it felt a whole lot warmer.

Halloween Ride with the Doggo to Wallingford

Oct 31, 2026

On Halloween day, Ann, Kai, and I geared up for another cruise down to Wallingford. We wanted to make sure our furry co-pilot stayed secure and comfortable, so we tried a new setup: securing him facing forward with a dual-leash arrangement and lining the trailer floor with his favorite doggie bed.

Exploring Bald Peak: Fall Foliage, Ice Caves, and a Skijoring Debut

Oct 18, 2026

Ann, our dog Kai, and I recently headed out to Pittsford, VT, for a hike up Bald Peak. This wasn't just any regular outing—it was Kai’s first official hiking trip, and our first time testing out his new skijoring leash.

Fat Bike Friday - Back for more at Blueberry Lake!

Welcome to the inaugural post of Fat Bike Friday! My goal with this new series is simple: explore trail systems within a one-hour drive of Rutland, Vermont, and see how they handle two fat tires.

Chasing the Sunset at Blueberry Lake & Toasting a World Cup Champion

Ann mentioned that Lawson’s Finest Liquids in Waitsfield was hosting a celebration for local ski legend Paula Moltzan, she urged me to go and try to get her an autograph. Paula had just made history in October 2026, capturing her first-ever career World Cup victory by storming the giant slalom in Sölden, Austria. As is a massive fan.

Stick Season Roubaix

 Oct 28, 2026

I finally got my rear tubeless tire back from the shop after having it retaped, topped with fresh sealant, and fitted with a new valve stem because it stubbornly refused to hold air. I hadn't had a chance to test it out yet, so today I loaded up and headed out to ride some gravel south of Rutland.

Close Shaves, Big Climbs, and Battery Anxiety

October 24, 2026, turned out to be another perfect, cloudless autumn day in Central Vermont—perfect enough for another eBike adventure with my housemate, Bruce, though this one almost ended in a flat-battery failure.

Chasing the Last of the Fall Color

 Oct 19, 2026

Our vibrant foliage season here in Central Vermont is winding down, but there are still some incredible pockets of color hanging on. Today was absolute perfection—not a cloud in the sky, temperatures sitting comfortably in the 60s, and just another wonderful day to be out on a bike in Vermont.

An Island in the Storm: Testing the Wabash (and My Legs) in the Taconics

While rain was forecasted all day on Friday, a sudden break in the weather around 2 PM gave me the perfect window to head out on the Yamaha Wabash RT. It’s the only bike in my stable equipped with full fenders, and since it’s a Class 3 e-bike with pedal assist, it was also the perfect candidate for a wet-weather shakeout. Funnily enough, I hadn't ridden this bike in almost two years; an issue at my old office building had prevented me from recharging the battery in the garage, which ultimately put an end to my bike commuting.

PHP a la nuit

 

Yesterday, a mountain bike ride hosted by Rutland City Bikes popped up in my Strava feed for 5:30 PM at Pine Hill Park. I RSVP'd, but what I found funny was that when I swung by the shop earlier in the day to pick up my back wheel for the CAADx, I asked JT about the ride and he was completely clueless. His exact words were, "I don't social media anymore."

Big Santa Metric

 Oct 9, 2026

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that instantly brought back a wave of nostalgia. It turns out that Big Santa from the historic Danbury Fair is now residing up in Wells, Vermont! I had to go see it.

Shrewsbury Fall Foliage Tour

Oct 7, 2026 

Originally, I was going to explore some gravel roads between Cold River and Wheelerville Road but the rear tire on the CAADx was flat so I decided to ride to Shrewsbury on the Waltly. The foliage in this part of Vermont is exploding with color and this was the perfect afternoon to take in it's beauty.

Fest Bier Roubaix

 Oct 6, 2026

It was a perfect fall day in Vermont and after job hunting all morning and then cleaning up around the house I decided that I needed to get out on the bike. Ann wasn't feeling up to a ride but her brother, Bruce, on the other hand was.

Raptor Lane Trails

 Oct 2, 2026

This morning, I made the drive to Dorset to ride the Raptor Lane Trails, a network that caught my eye while browsing Trailforks. Beyond the great riding, I discovered an incredible piece of history hidden right next to the trails: the Gettysburg Quarry. This mountainside site once supplied the marble used for prominent buildings in Philadelphia, as well as the solemn tombstones for soldiers who died at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Riding with the Doggo

 Sep 26, 2026

Ann & I took Kai in the trailer today down to Wallingford and he was a little more work than the last time. He was whining a lot more this time, especially if he couldn't see Ann.

Fletcher Farm Trails

 Sep 25, 2026

A new trail system just opened in Ludlow, VT called Fletcher Farm Trails and I thought I would check it out. I replaced the rear brake pads on the Cujo and loaded her up on the MINI. It's kind of a bittersweet day as I will be trading in the MINI for a pick up truck and this is the last time I will carry a bike with the car.

Go Dog, Go!

 Sep 21, 2026

We have an onery, Corgi and Australian Shepherd mix and hate leaving him in VT when we come down to Connecticut. We brought him down with us this weekend and decided to get him a kid trailer so we could take him on rides with us. I looked around Craigslist and FB Market Place and found this InStep Trailer over in Naugatuck. On Sunday, we tested it out with Kai.

Hidden Dirt Roubaix

 Sep 18, 2026

I was looking at the maps the other day and I happened to notice a few roads/trails that appear to go through to other roads on the routes that usually ride so I decided to check them out today.

Another camping trip with bikes

Sep 12, 2026

We drove down to Buckland, MA on Saturday and boondocked at Ann's friend's house. We were in the heart of D2R2 land but we were there to help her friend celebrate her engagement and couldn't ride Saturday. In fact, we didn't ride at all due to the weather and our time table.

2026 D2R2 Edge Hill Metric+

 

Team Karl's Sausage Kitchen is off on another D2R2 adventure.  Since it was Will's birthday today, I did some map recon the night before and found some dirt roads that we hadn't ridden yet that would add a few more miles to our route and give Will his birthday milage.

2026 D2R2 Pre Game to Treehouse Brewing

 

I arrived at the Franklin County Fairgrounds around 1:30 PM, registered, and set up my tent. Will was running late so I went back to the registration shed and bought some T-Shirts. Having the event at the Fairgrounds was a definite plus. The place is pretty much self contained with plenty of camping and RV Sites, chow hall, food venues, showers and bathrooms. Next year, I am bringing the camper and hopefully I can get Ann to come with me.

Rochester Gap Roubaix

 

I crossed another item off my Vermont Riding Bucket List, Rochester Gap. While looking at possible routes I found quite a few dirt roads that encompass the gap so I worked in some dirt roads to add to the fun. Also, there is an old railroad line here known as The White River Railroad. A historic 19-mile shortline railroad in central Vermont running between Bethel and Rochester. Known locally as "The Peavine" because it closely hugged the winding path of the White River, the line operated from 1900 until 1933. The foamer in me is always looking for old railroads.

Brandon Gap Metric

 

Now that I live in Vermont it's about time I start hitting some bucket list items.  The list includes the Six Gaps of Vermont but with trying to find a new job and other responsibilities in my new home I have to approach them in a more segmented fashion. Also, I want to hit them in both directions to see which approach is harder.

Canoeing Lake Bomoseen

 

Before breaking camp Ann & I took her canoe to the boat launch and headed out on Lake Bomoseen for a little paddle at 8 in the morning. It was a beautiful morning and the lake was very still.

Lake Bomo Roubaix

 

On Monday we headed back to Brandon only this time to visit Foley Brothers Brewery and the Nashobe Valley Winery.  When we got back to the KOA, Ann wanted to rest so I headed out on the bike again, only this time for a more scripted ride.

Lake Bomo Randonee

 

Ann & I loaded up the camper Saturday morning and then drove over to Hubbardton to the Lake Bomoseen KOA where me our friends from Sandy Hook who also have a camper and we set up camp together.  We did a little sight seeing in Brandon and then returned to the KOA. Ann wanted to take a nap so I headed out on the bike. I set out riding counter clockwise around the lake, following no particular route, to just explore around the lake a bit. 

Busted Spoke at PHP

 

After yesterday's gravel ride I wanted to take it easy today so I rode over to Pine Hill Park. Since it was Thursday, I brought my lights, hoping to meet up with the Down Valley Bikes Thursday Night Ride but when I got there they weren't in the lot.  Not sure if I got there too early or too late.

Two States of Gravel

From l to r: Dave, Tom, Malcom and me

When my friend Malcom reached out that he was camping at Lake Saint Catherine State Park and asked for local gravel recommendations, I immediately shared my Ride with GPS (RWGPS) library of Vermont dirt road routes. He suggested we plan a ride together starting near the campground. Having camped there last year with Ann, I knew the absolute perfect staging spot: The Cluckin' Cafe & Cones Point Country Store (which conveniently serves the best creemees in the area). To make the most of our meetup, I mapped out a brand-new route for us to tackle: Two States of Gravel.

Morning Gravel Ride

Ann & I were supposed to do a Friday night gravel ride when she got back from work but she ended up getting back too late so we went out Saturday morning. This was a new route that I wanted to test out for future night rides and routes that are easily memorized. Unlike Connecticut, especially in Fairfield County where I spent the last 21 years riding, Vermont doesn't have as many paved roads to chose so moving forward I am create a collection of routes that I can quickly pull up and ride.

There's nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend

Before heading back down to Connecticut for the weekend Ann & I headed out for a ride to Pittsford and back.  There is a great view of Killington Mountain from West Proctor Road. 

Riding with Bruce

 

Ann invited with her Brother Bruce to ride with us Thursday afternoon.  Due to an early childhood accident and not the best reconstructive surgery, it was the 1970s afterall when he had his bike accident, Bruce rides an e-Bike.  He has ridden with us before but has declined more recent invitations due to poor health. Today, however, he was feeling really good and joined us.

Maple Creemee

Ann & I were on vacation for 10 days and severely jet lagged upon our return so we took an extra day off before starting our daily rides again. Our first day back on the bike, we road down to Wallingford and stopped at Kelly's Snack Shack because I had heard they have really good Creemees.

Getting Fat at PHP

 

It's been a month since I was last at Pine Hill Park and after doing work around Ann's house in the morning, making some adjustments to the bike shed I rode out to PHP and the first thing I noticed was the new sign.

Riding after the Storm

 

Unbeknownst to us, as 4th of July celebrations were kicking off and intense wall of thunderstorms, wind and rain ripped through the area. This part of Connecticut seems to be a magnet for intense weather that results in downed trees, blocked roads, and the power being out for days. We didn't lose power in Sandy Hook but large swaths of Newtown did. 

OOF on the 4th of July

 

Ann & I got out before 7 AM on Saturday and rode from Sandy Hook to Ovens of France (aka OOF) in Woodbury.

Sherburne Trails from Base Camp

 

I had to run an errand up to Killington this morning so I brought my mountain bike to ride the Sherburne Trails, this time from Base Camp. For a blue trail, it was really buff to start, super flowy and some fun features along the way.

Florence Road Ride

 

Tuesday morning we decided to ride out to Florence and Ann wanted to try riding the Ridley. She got this bike from a friend last summer but it didn't fit her well because this particular model, the Helix, had a seat post that was part of the frame. We tried it last fall but it was just too tall for her so I cut it down and put a very large seat post clamp on it.  

TNTT

 

We got up too late Saturday morning to do our customary Wallingford for breakfast ride because Ann had relatives in town visiting. When we got back to Rutland later in the day we headed out for another night ride.

Rutland Gravel Night Ride

I spent Friday running errands around Rutland and was going to ride at Pine Hill in the afternoon but a thunder storm ripped through the area and stayed in and cleaned up the basement.  Ann got home from work around 7:15 PM and she really wanted to ride so we headed out before the sun had even set at 8:00 PM.

Night Riding with Ann

 

Ann got back from work and wanted to ride and who am I to say no to that, even after riding a 40 mile gravel grinder earlier in the day.  The sun had already set and the temperature was perfect.

Some dead ends go through and some do not

Originally I had planned to head out when Ann left for work and I had my smoothie for breakfast but for once I actually fell back to sleep. I wanted to ride the CAADX again but discovered a broken spoke so I waited until the bike shop opened and dropped it off to get it fixed. I finally got out around 12:30 and while it was sunny the temperature was in the low 70s and in the shade it was downright chilly.

Sunrise in Southbury

 

Saturday afternoon, Ann & I drove to Connecticut, after we rode down to Wallingford from Rutland. The following morning we were both up really early so we headed out at 5:30 AM for a ride to Ovens of France in Woodbury.

Slate Valley Trails - Fairgrounds

 

There are 8 trail systems managed by the Slate Valley Trails organization with 60+ miles of trails. On Friday, Juneteenth, I headed over to Poultney, about a 30 minute drive from Rutland, and parked at the Slate Valley Fairground Trailhead to ride this trail system. 

802 Single Speeding

After working around the house all morning and big storm moved through the area with tornado warnings across the spectrum going out and I slept through it all during a midday nap. A tornado actually struck in Woodstock, VT and caused quite a bit of damage. I awoke to blue skies and sunshine and went out for a ride on the single speed.

The Ride for our Vets

 

Team Abrahammer

Since 2012, The Connecticut Veterans Legal Center puts on a charity ride for Veterans to support their ongoing efforts to provide legal representation at no-cost to low-income Veterans. I have been meaning to do this ride over the years but there was always some conflict but this year I was wide open so I joined Team Abrahammer for the ride. Being a Veteran myself I have seen very few organizations in the area that support Veterans and I was proud to be invited to ride with my friends in support of this organization.

Summer Fat Biking at PHP

I had three interviews on Tuesday and the last one went into extra innings. Afterwards I needed to clear my head so I got kitted up and headed out on the Tracker towards Pine Hill Park.  I headed to another entrance to the park because I new there was trail work going on and I didn't want to feel guilty that I was riding and not helping.