Good Gravel on Good Friday

One of the founding fathers of the Newtown Lunartics wanted to start a Friday afternoon ride starting and ending at the Black Beard Bar - which is an extra room in his house that he converted, only he forgot that he promised his better half to take her to dinner. Mike and I decided to meet at the Roxbury Town Hall and ride dirt roads to Kent Falls Brewing Company instead.

Dirty, cold and wet, Thirty Roubaix

The weather boffins predicted a break in the rainy weather on Saturday around 3 PM and Mike and I were batting around different ride ideas earlier in the day but didn't come to any conclusions. I started rebuilding the CAADX and just happened to check my phone at 2:45 PM and discovered that Mike and Marshall decided to do a gravel ride from the Roxbury Market at 3:15 PM.  I told them I would meet them and got hopping.  Roxbury Market is a 10 to 15 minute drive from my house.

I threw on a pair of bib shorts, a long sleeve base layer and a long sleeve jersey, grabbed a vest and my cycling rain jacket and drove like a bat out of hell to the Market only to get stuck behind someone on the road to Bridgewater who decided they should drive the speed limit the entire way to Route 67.  I got to the Market at 3:15 and was rolling in 10. I love that I live so close to some of the best dirt road riding in the State of Connecticut.

Birthday Dirt

For my birthday this year I planned on riding my age in miles and I designed a mixed terrain route that was exactly 55 miles. However, 15 minutes prior to driving to Exit 14 in Southbury from where the ride was starting, Gavin texted me and ask if I could reverse the route so that we would initially end up at OOF (Ovens of France). I redid the course on Ride with GPS, sent out the link and headed out.

Elliot and the Ice Tunnel

The plan was to go riding and then hit Friendly's for dinner.  After dropping of his sister at a friends house I decided we should head over to Steep Rock Reservation and check out the old Shepaug Rail Road tunnel because I saw pictures from winter showing a lot of ice and it would be cool to see if there was any left.  I gave Elliot one of my many hydration packs I had laying around so he wouldn't have to stop to get off his bike to pull his water bottle out just to have a drink.  This way he could drink anytime he wanted.  He loves it and it was nearly drained by the time we were done riding.

Riding along the dirt road was fine for him but the rail trail was another story.  The bed is a lot softer and there are some muddy sections that we had to walk around.  I kept emphasizing how important it was to keep his speed up and try to concentrate on what was in front of him rather than just looking down the trail.  The rocks were proving troublesome and he hit a rut which sent him to the dirt.  He wanted to give up but I told him he can't because he needs to see this tunnel.  Somehow a shoe came off in the process so we shook off the dirt, got his shoe back on and continued pedaling.  After that, he sped up a little and it helped.

3rd Saturday of April means opening day of fishing season!

The north portal of the Shepaug Rail Road Tunnel was really damp and come to think of it, it's like this even in the summer to a lesser degree.  We parked our bikes at the mouth and ventured in.

The first thing you notice is the drop in temperature.  Must have been around 40 degrees in the tunnel compared to the 60 degrees outside.  About midway in there is a big flow of ice that stretches to both sides of the tunnel.  The picture I saw from the winter showed huge stalactites of ice coming down from the ceiling on both sides of the tunnel walls.  Now, the only thing left is a steady drip of water from whatever is percolating down from the Clam Shell above.  

I brought flashlights so Elliot could explore and see the ice better.

He was amazed at how solid it was and the shapes on both sides where it was the thickest.

We are now wondering how much longer will it last.

I think it could be around for another month.  

We are going to come back in a couple of weeks to see.

If there is no ice, then we'll ride the rest of the trail down to Tunnel Road.

Elliot pushed his bike and I rode up above the tunnel.

It was no bikes past this point to the Clam Shell so we walked a bit but Elliot wasn't prepared for a hike so we headed back to the bikes and started back towards the car.

I like how the No Bike sign is covered in wire mesh so it doesn't get torn down.  That must have happened a lot in the past because back in the day Steep Rock was a popular mountain biking destination and when the association took over they outlawed bikes on the trails for some stupid reason.  Too bad they did this because they could get a lot more help with their trails because mountain bikers understand that it's important to do regular maintenance in order preserve access as opposed to hikers and walkers who just take the trails for granted.

There are few remnants of history still lying around, like this stream tunnel under neath the rail bed.

While it was a short ride, it was still fun to see a part of history and mother nature in action.

Awesome day to be out on the bikes!

D2R2 Prep: Big Fcuking Ride

My biggest ride to date and what a ride it was!  A few things made it interesting, starting in the early afternoon, knowing that I will probably getting home after dark, and the possibility of running out of water along the way.   Saturday's are reserved for kids activities and events and depending upon what's going on throughout the day, I can either go out really early or later in the afternoon for a 1 or 2 hour mountain bike ride.  This Saturday, however, was my last opportunity to prepare for D2R2, the Deerfield Dirt Road Randone.

I wasn't quite sure how far I would be riding because the initial course I mapped out on Garmin Connect was a distance of 62 miles but I also wanted to do two laps around Lake Waramaug, one in each direction but didn't put that it into the course routing.  For some reason I had it in my mind that once around the lake was 6 miles but it turns out it's actually 8 miles.  Another thing I wanted to try is riding up Shriver Mt Road in Roxbury (without walking).  I have ridden up this hill 3 times in the past and the first two times I took a few breaks along the way.  The last time I was on my mountain bike with much easier gearing for climbing.  So this time around was to see whether I could do it on the Cannondale.  I found it was very doable yet still challenging!

While I planned for more sun exposure by putting on some SPF 50 sunscreen it wasn't really as sunny as I thought it would be, but it was a lot warmer than the last time I rode through last weekend.  Big difference between a morning and an afternoon ride.

A big change for me, for the better, was a new helmet, a road biking helmet to be exact and my head was much cooler this time around despite the warmer temperatures of afternoon riding.

Riding around Lake Waramaug is a treat.  It's like a huge Velodrome with great scenery. 

And there always quite a few cyclists.

After riding twice around the lake and seeing that the light was starting to fade I toyed with the idea of taking a short cut down Rt 47 straight rather climbing Whittlesey Road but I changed my mind and kept pushing on it was worth it because this section adds a nice component to the ride.

However, next time I want to hit Turner Hill because it's dirt and it will reduce my exposure to Rt 109 where some out-of-stater violated the 3 rule and passed me within 12 inches of my handlebars.  I gave him the one fingered salute and renamed him accordingly.

It was 6 PM when I got to the Washington Food Market and even though they were technically closed they let me in to buy a bottle of water.  I probably could have picked up a bottle of water at the Packy in the back but my first inclination was to hit the market.  Roxbury Market also closes at 6 PM.  The only places open past this time around here is the new gas station in Roxbury on Rt 67 and the South Britain General Store on Rt 172.  I lucked out.  I recharged eating my last banana, another guu, that whole bottle of water, and my last granola bar.

Of course, I can't ride through this area without riding through the Steep Rock Reservation on the abandoned Shepaugh Railroad bed and through the tunnel.  Pictured above is the approach to the North Portal and below, the south portal.

Hitting the tunnel after 6 PM was pretty spooky.  I think this was the latest I have ridden through the tunnel and the unnerving thing is riding into it with very little light because the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is much further in than normal.  That is only way you can through the tunnel without a light because there is a bend in the middle of the tunnel so that when you enter it, you are completely enveloped in darkness.

 

At the intersection of Judd's Bridge and Battleswamp some guy came down the hill, stopped and got out of the car while I was taking pictures of the bridge and my bike.  He then asked me if I dropped any money because he found $5 bucks laying in the middle of the road.  I said it wasn't mine but it was probably from a cyclist and since I was cyclist he should give it to me.  He didn't see it that way and drove off!

 

I know the Roxbury Market is exactly 16 miles from my house if I go through Southbury so this was the first time I realized that I would be hitting 70 miles on this ride.

It was dusk when I crossed the Housatonic River on Glenn Road and back in Newtown with 5 miles to go.

70 miles when I hit the end of the course that I was following!

And a well deserved beer post ride!

Wear-a-mug 100K

I needed a big ride this weekend to prepare for D2R2 so I decided on riding to Lake Waramaug and then try some new stuff around New Preston.  By new stuff, looking for more dirt roads to ride.

While I had planned to leave around 6:30 I finally got on the bike at 7:45 and it was actually better that I left a little later because it warmed up.  Still, riding in cooler temperatures I opted for an extra layer under my jersey that was perfect for some of the descents earlier in the morning and helped wick more sweat when it got warmer.

There were some spectacular views from Hut Hill Road that I never knew existed, then again, I don't think I have ever been this route before, I always take 133 to get to Bridgewater.  I went this way to keep off the main road.  It was well worth the detour.

This new route took me the back way into Mine Hill and subsequently Judd's Bridge for a very cooling descent and then up one of my favorite gradual ascents, Walker Brook.

Dropping down into New Preston I chose a route to Lake Waramaug that I probably should have reconnoitered better because it was an insane climb, Finlay Road.

It was a bitch but I made it.

A nice, fast descent off this hill (probably should have just ridden up through the center of town) took me into the top of New Preston and then I was on West Shore Road and enjoying the scenery of Lake Waramaug.

There was an equal amount of cyclists as there were runners on East and Shore Roads, as well as people out for a morning stroll.  Runners were pretty good, staying two abreast but some were far out in the lane, posing a hazard to cyclists (me) and cars who might be coming around a blind corner, but the walkers were the worst.  I had my bell and gave them warning but they seemed reluctant to make room.

I noticed someone pacing me into 3 mile but when I hit the headwind I lost it and he passed me.  Of course, he was lean and mean on a TT bike but he liked my Cannondale!  The majority of the cyclist seemed to be destination riders on flat bar and comfort bikes.  There was one couple on a tandem and another guy on an hold school Cannonale mountainbike with a Headshok.  We high-fived each other because we both new we were riding vintage Cannondale bikes.

I got screwed at the end of the lake because my Garmin, which is supposed to have turn by turn directions, doesn't tell me when to turn so I missed the turn off to Filtration Rd, which by the way coming the other direction is a much more suitable climb that I might have to try sometime.  Also, the next time I ride up to Waramaug I might try doing a few laps, too.  And of course, there is a Strava Segment for that, too.

My time is way off so I am going to have to work on that.  Maybe on my next ride up to the lake I will pick a more direct route and then ride a few laps, as well as try the route in the opposite direction.  Might have to bring the bar cam and get come video, too.

The highlight was finding Whittlesey Rd, which started out as an oil & gravel road but at the top of the first climb turned over to dirt! 

From the top of that climb is an awesome descent in which to pass by some ultra chi-chi private school.  I went right on this road called Sabbaday Lane which turned into another monster climb.  Then it was Rt 109 down into Washington and on towards Steep Rock.

Crossing over the Shepaug at the entrance to the Steep Rock Reservation is a great spot for a little bike porn.

Then ride the rail trail down and through my favorite Rail Road Tunnel, out to Tunnel Road and then up Judds Bridge for a pit stop at the Roxbury Market for another bottle of water and black and white cookie.  The market is 2/3s of the way through the route and a great place to recharge.  It turns out that Roxbury Market gets all of it's pastries from the Blue Colony diner in Newtown.  

Then I rode down to the Southbury and over the I-84 pedestrian bridge only to get lost in the rabbit warren of small streets near Lake Zoar.

I decided not to stop at the Village Perk because I was running out of time just pushed towards home.

My third 100K ride this year and I am really starting to like this distance!  Riding to Lake Waramaug is definitely happening again, probably with some variation.