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.

We finally made it to Wallingford

Don't Take the Box!

Before leaving Connecticut this week we got in another ride to Woodbury yesterday.  This morning we left Connecticut at 6:30 AM for Vermont and after unpacking and getting some lunch at Gils, we decided to try to ride down Wallingford again. Given that is was later in the day we didn't think there was going to be anything keeping us away from getting there this time.

Sunday Morning Ride to OOF

I went out Sunday morning to ride to Ovens of France with Gabby and Marshall, who I haven't see in quite some time. With ski season over and Ann spending weekends in Connecticut I took the opportunity to ride to OOF with the guys. Ann actually went on a solo ride at the same time. I had invited her to join us but she felt she would slow us down and didn't want to ride the distance we normally do.

Resuming our weekly Wallingford Ride

Ann & I went out early Saturday morning before driving to Connecticut to resume our weekly rides to Wallingford - our Vermont equivalent of an OOF Ride. Heading out at 6:00 AM on our quasi gravel route - there is one section of dirt - it was a nice morning and didn't really feel like it was 50 degrees, which was the temperature showing up on my watch. We ride to Sweet Birch in Wallingford for breakfast and then ride back. Sometimes, if we do this ride on the weekend, we might get lunch and then stop at Rutland Beer Works on the way home for a beer.

Green Mountain Trails - Fat Bikes don't Ford well

 

I drove over to Rochester (VT) on Friday to pick up my fat bike after I had it tuned up and some issues fixed and then on the way back to Rutland stopped off at the Green Mountain Trails. I should have checked their website first to see what would have been the best approach for a first time ride because the route I took wasn't the one.  Starting off, I looked at the map it said there was a ford you had to cross to get to the trails. I figured there would be rocks everywhere and crossing would be easy.  Much to my surprise it was not.

Hubbardton Battlefield Roubaix

 

One of my bucket list items when I first started coming to Rutland was to ride the dirt roads in and around Hubbardton and to visit the battlefield. It's the only battlefield of the Revolutionary War that is on Vermont soil.  There was another one called the Battle of Bennington but it was actually fought in Hoosic, NY. What interesting to note about the Hubbardton Battle, though, was that it was more of a delaying action so that the main body of the Continental Army could reorganize and eventually defeat the British at the Battle of Saratoga.

Back to Pine Hill

 

Got back to Rutland yesterday and couldn't wait to head over to the PHP on the Cujo after getting the rear wheel fixed by JT at Rutland City Bikes. Originally, I was going to convert the Cujo back to tubeless last year but then I got sidetracked and bought the fat bike.  The last time I rode at the Park I had to take the full susser because I re-discovered that I never did anything about it.  

Woodbury Hippie Ride

Since I am not working Ann & I are splitting our time between Sandy Hook and Rutland and she wants to ride as much as possible now.  After returning from our camping trip we had things to get done at both our houses so we couldn't ride Monday so before heading back north we rode up to Woodbury and back.

Lake Waramaug Camping & Cycling

 

We took Ann’s new camper out to Lake Waramaug State Park for two nights of camping. It was my first time with a camper and I was pleasantly surprised at how fun it was. 

The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything

 

Ann & I got a late start for our final day of skiing for the 2025/2026 ski season.

Spring Double Header

 

I got in line before Superstar started spinning this morning and I brought my mountain bike because today was Killington's Mountain Bike Park pre-season opener.

Mother's Day at The Beast

Ann & I were running late Sunday morning and missed first chair by 15 minutes but we still got some decent parking.  Superstar was mostly groomed and it looked like it was going to be a great day of spring skiing.

Third from First

 

Since my Fat Bike was down due some shifting issues and the rear wheel is out of true, I pulled the Cujo out of stable and I discovered a broken spoke while putting air in the rear tire. I pulled off the wheel to take it to the shop later and then I pulled the Stump Jumper out of the stable. Of course it had a flat tire, too. I put air in it and hoped it would hold air.

Ann is back on the Bike

Before heading back to Connecticut on Monday, Ann & I went out for quick spin around town. It was her first time riding outdoors this season.  She had a bit of a set back last fall with a ski injury and has been slowly coming back and cycling is part of her rehabilitation.

Apres Ski with Ned Flanders

Driving down to Rutland I took care of a few things before hopping on the fat bike and riding over to Pine Hill Park.

May 1st at The Beast

 

Today was kind of a bittersweet end of the week. After 10 years working at HomeServe I decided to turn the page on a new chapter of my life by selling my house in Connecticut and move to Vermont. Friday, I headed to Killington to get a few runs in before heading to Rutland and I couldn't have asked for a better day to be on the slopes.

14.8

 

Tonight's ride was the Bunny Route. There was a previous attempt to ride this route but it was sort of unsuccessful so we were trying it again.  Scott brought a new initiate to the group, a guy named Rick from Newtown, whom he met at Newtown's Earth Day celebration last week. 

Cold as OOF

 

As the ski season winds down and I found myself staying in Newtown this weekend I joined the Newtown Lunartics for their weekly ride to OOF (Ovens of France) from Sandy Hook to Woodbury and back. 

Rejoining RC Ilumenati

I kind of fell off the face of the earth with RC Ilumenati, , my local night riding group, due to the Give-a-Shit meter being pegged with all the cold weather and snow that this winter brought. Tonight, though, I came back. I thought it was going to be warmer evening, but it was far from it  

When life gives you lemons you make lemonade

Due to a midday appointment, I was working from home today and as I was 30 minutes into something I had to get done and then the Internet goes out! I called my Internet Provider and they gave me an 11 AM ETA so with nothing better to do, I went for a bike ride.

Relive: Yellowstone Snowmobile Tour

Yellowstone National Park Snowmobile Tour

Ann & I went on a snowmobile tour with Scenic Safaris to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

FBBS

 

Fat Biking Before Skiing!

40 degrees in Rutland this morning and I hit PHP for a quickie before going skiing. I am wearing just a sleeveless base layer and my old Angler Pub Sweatshirt and it was the perfect combination of clothing.

Birthday Fatty Ride

 

The Nor’easter in southern New England effectively stranded me in Vermont Monday and the word from the office was don’t even bother to come in on Monday. I worked from Ann’s house and then borrowed her truck to drive over to PHP for a quick ride at lunch. I needed a break from putting the bike on the MINI.

First Tracks on a Fresh Groom

 

I drove up Thursday night after work knowing that if I didn’t leave when I did I wouldn’t have made it to Vermont on Friday. Friday’s snow forced the cancellation of the 4th Annual Cold Rolled Fat Biking Festival here in Rutland which I was planning on attending. I did get a little skiing in after work on Friday, 12 runs in 2 1/2 hours.

President’s Day at PHP

Snow Dog, PHP’s grooming machine got an upgrade - it now pulls the driver on a metal sled which is heavier and compacts the groom even more. That was evident today. Just about everything I rode on was perfect. 

Be my Fat Valentine

 

It has been over a month since I last rode at Pine Hill. Last weekend, I brought my son up to Killington to go skiing for three days and I could have went Monday because he was too sore to ski after 14 runs on Sunday. Went equipment shopping instead and I bought him a new pair of boots and rented skis for the rest of the season. Ann was riding on the trainer today so I headed out to Pine Hill.

Fat Bike on the MINI

 

My fat bike is almost as big as the car!

I decided to try the Thule ProRide Fat Bike Adapter for my car, again. Back in ‘19, when I first got the MINI, I put Fat Amy up on the roof racks in the very same manner. I got rid of the roof racks in favor of the MINI Cooper bicycle holder, however, I could never get Fat Amy never to fit/hold onto the rack well. Also, I don’t like using the rack in the winter time due to all the salt spray that accumulates on the back of the car. 

Buttah!

We got around an inch of snow overnight in Rutland and I waited till noon on Sunday for the temperatures to warm up a bit. I got to PHP around lunch time and it was still around 19 degrees. Heading out I was making the first tire tracks on Escalator. 

19° at Pine Hill Park

I wanted to ride Pine Hill Park on New Years Day but the high was 15 degrees and I thought it would be prudent not to ride in such cold temperatures. After today's ride I am don't think it would have mattered. Headed out to the park after grocery shopping. The sun was out and it was a blue bird day only by the time I got on my kit, put the bike in the truck and drove out to the park I had sun for all about 5 minutes.

Chez Cyclesnack North

My future forever home, aka Chez Cyclesnack North, is a bit smaller than my southern location, but its one advantage is a big basement. Getting bikes in and out of the basement can be challenging at times, especially with those bikes with really wide handle bars.