Lake 2 Lake with an unauthorized stop at Ovens of France

This year's Lake 2 Lake was moved to the fall so it could coincide with one of LOF's adaptive waterskiing clinics that was being held at their new location, the Southbury Beach. It's not really a beach but it's on the water and the ideal location for what they do. As with past years I once again helped get the word out and planned the routes, which were 100K and 50K routes.

It was a crazy start because the driveway is a 25% grade to the road that you had to walk. It was really foggy but the temperature was hovering around 60 degrees and you know that once the fog burned off it would be a glorious day and it was.

Unlike previous years, this route headed up Purchase Brook to Brown Brook and on into Roxbury. We broke out of the fog just before the climb on Brown Brook but once you got to the top Painter Hill at Topland Farms could you really appreciate it.

The best view on the ride was from Painter Ridge.  

The first rest stop was at the Murals after you turned onto Route 47 from Route 109. At 20 miles, it was the perfect point for a stop to get some food in you and top off the bottles.

We then headed up Route 47 towards New Preston. This section of road is a flat climb to Route 202 and a stretch that you can really hammer on. Then it was down Rt 202 and up Flirtation Avenue to Lake Waramaug.  

Apparently Brendan, pictured above, as well as Scott, have never ridden around the lake before and it was on their bucket list. 

The lake this morning was like glass.

The climb up to Warren was equally nice and then ripping down Rt 341 was refreshing. After turning onto Rt 202 we climbed up and then turned off onto Looking Glass Hill and climbed some more.  I had some reservations about this section but it wasn't that bad.  Then we rode over to Rt 209 and then to rest stop at Bantam Lake.  

At the rest stop we decided there was no way we were going to ride through Woodbury and not stop at Ovens of France (aka OOF) so when the route turned onto Transylvania Road we parted ways with Brendan and headed down to OOF.

Photo Credit: Gavin Arneth

I finally got to try the Sausage and Cheese baguette and it was delish! The French Roast was also a good pick me up.

The detour added a mile to the ride and a little extra time but it was totally worth it! When we got back to the beach I broke out the beer and we had BBQ hamburgers.  Brendan also won the free bike!

Photo credit: Scott Daviddow

Looks like someone in his family is getting a new bike

Photo credit: Scott Davidow

2019 Lake to Lake Charity Bike Ride

If you want to support a great charity that does adaptive waterskiing for Veterans and people with disabilities I would recommend that you register for this ride.

My son, who is visually impaired, tried waterskiing with LOF a few years ago. It cost nothing for the day and it included lunch, too. I was so impressed with their operation that I decided I wanted to help. When I learned about this ride that they sponsor I immediately stepped up and have been volunteering now for 4 years.

It's on Sunday, September 15, 2019

Registration is on Bikereg:  https://www.bikereg.com/l2l-charity-ride

L2L50: Just another excuse to stop at OOF!

It's been two years since I last rode at this event and it was great to be doing it again.  The past two years I always had a scheduling conflict but this time around the Lake 2 Lake event was scheduled for early June.

Compared to the day before when Steven, Paul and myself rode down to the Merritt Parkway and it was in mid 80s all morning, there were clouds of pollen billowing everywhere and I was drenched with sweat. No cramping this time around because I drank a lot of water. Sunday's weather, on the other hand, was down right chilly.

I met up with Gavin and Mike at the registration tent when another Newtowner, Scott, stopped by to say hello.  Scott had a bunch a friends meeting him and we all took off together. We stayed together for the first couple of miles but then some guy blew past us in a gold Audi and almost lost control and crashed. This seemed to distract a few of the guys and they missed the first turn.  We picked up one guy from their group, a guy named Abe from Norwalk. They all looked like really strong riders so I figured they would catch up to us pretty quickly.

On the climb up Carmel Hill Road (Rt 133) so of those guys Scott's group caught up while we passed a bunch of guys that probably came up from NYC. The overcast conditions gave way broken clouds but the wind kept it chilly.

The first rest stop was exactly 25 miles from the start and I wasn't really hungry.  At 1 h 30 min into the ride I tried one of the protein bars that I got at the start. It tasted like compressed cookie dough with chocolate chips in it. We headed off and wound up on the paved road that cuts through White Memorial and then found ourselves in the middle of a Triathlon. Those riders were all going in the opposite direction and we were surprised that a few of them actually waved at us. They had a ton of support from CT State Troopers who were blocking all the intersections and directional markers made with pink tape on the roads. Our course was marked with little yellow arrows which were challenging to find at times but I am not complaining.  I had the course in my Garmin.

We arrived at the last stop but didn't even bother going to it because it was co located with Ovens of France (my idea from last year).  I was really hungry by the time we got here and so I had something a little substantial and my favorite croissant, the Ham & Cheese.

Arriving back at the Shepaug Recreation area I cracked open a Maybe Both, Pale Lager from Kent Falls Brewing Co, that Mike gave me because he is not a fan of Lagers.  It tasted great!  Gavin had one, too.  All in all, it was a great ride and I look forward to doing again next year.  Maybe we'll do the 70+ ride next time.

Here are all the routes.

2018 Lake to Lake Charity Bike Ride

6th Annual
Lake to Lake Charity Bike Ride
June 3, 2018

Registration begins on April 1 at https://www.bikereg.com/lake-to-lake-charity-ride
More Information: http://lofadaptiveskiers.org/lake-lake-charity-bike-ride

Lake to Lake Charity Bicycle Ride, June 19,2016

On Sunday, June 19,2016 the Fourth Annual Lake to Lake Charity Bike Ride will take place at the Shepaug Dam Recreational Area (click here for directions), Southbury, CT.  All proceeds will help fund the LOF Adaptive Skiers programs for children, adults and military veterans with disabilities.

LOF Lake to another Lake Ride

The weather was not cooperative on Sunday, June 28th, for the third annual LOF Adaptive Water Skiing Charity Ride.  I poured from 2 to 5 AM Sunday morning and the wet conditions scarred many people off.  I had been asked earlier to lead a group of hand cyclists on a 50K ride but none of them showed up so I waited around at the start point and then took off at 9:30 on the 75K ride to Long Meadow Pond.  Fortunately, I loaded the track in my Garmin the night before so I was prepared.

On Westwoods Road in Woodbury I had my first flat while riding.  I have had my tubes go flat right after a ride, or after a day or two, but this was my first, out in the middle of no where flat tire!  It took all of 5 minutes to fix thanks to CO2!  Boy, do I love C02 inflators now.

Food stop before the 75K and 100K routes split off from one another.  Had an orange, a banana, and got my water topped off and chatted with the Wolf's of Newtown.  The 75K route splits off up the road from the rest stop and immediately starts to climb West Mountain Road, which starts out at a 13% grade.  While slowing ascending the hill I said hello to a woman walking down who offered my free food and water further up the road!

While the weather was overcast it was a little cool and really pleasant for riding.  I have never ridden through is part of Litchfield County before.  The climbing was great and the descents even better.  

I am loving the new glasses!

On the south west side of Morris, CT I was supposed to take a right but the road had been recently chip sealed and didn't want to take my skinnies down a gravel road so I detoured around.

I confirmed a dirt road on my Tri State Gravle map, too, but I wasn't going to ride it.  Eventually, I came out south of Bantam Lake and then headed south.  At the turn onto Rt 61, it started to rain and foturnately, I had my rain slicker with me so I put it on.

When I got back to Morris I stopped off at a deli for potato salad, salt and vinegar chips, pickles and a chocolate milk.  All fueled up and ready to ride some more I headed back.  Tried to pick up the course again, only to find more chip seal on that section so I kept detouring until I finally found it again.

It finally stopped raining about 15 miles out from the starting point while I was on Weekeepeemee road.

I got back the Shepaug Dam and I was the last one to return and it started raining again!

The post ride libation was perfect!