Better Route Mapping with Gmaps Pedometer

Much easier to use than the standard Goodle maps, this is a "hack" of Google Maps somebody did to map their running routes. Looking at the route close up, the route is marked at each mile to get an idea of how far each transition is from the last. Not only that, but you can view the elevation gain along the entire route. There are three modes including runner specific, bicycle specific, and manual, which allows you to route terrain where Google Maps hasn't acknowledged a road (See Cranberry Rd. south or Rte. 9..) I haven't figured out how to post the maps here. But here's a link to yesterday's 69 mile ride. I found this on the AKFixed blog, fixed gear riding in Auckland, NZ.

68 Miles Into The Darkness...

I was slackin' this morning, not sure if I was going to ride or not. But it is beautiful East Coast fall outside right now and too soon it will be followed with slush covered ice. So around noon I suited up, filled the water bottles and rolled out for North Berwick. There are three Berwicks and North Berwick is the furthest north of the three. It seemed like an exotic destination because nobody ever has an excuse to go to North Berwick. I haven't been there in the two years I've lived here. I've actually only been there once, on a bike ride about 8 years ago. Prior to departure I had looked up espresso joints in North Berwick. They have a Dunken Donuts. But there is also Carpe Diem coffee roasters on Rte. 9 just north of North B. So I headed there to see if they actually served coffee, or just roasted. There is a reception room where there is coffee, hot water for tea, and other stuff you can buy. The people there were really nice. But the coffee was 'eh. A blend of two S. American coffees, and French roasted Sumatra. Its' a strange choice of beans to blend. But I couldn't really tell the result as the brew was too weak and tasted as if it were made that morning. They do roast some good coffee. My guess is the coffee station in the reception room is sort of an after thought.
Coffee down, and onward. I had passed the ET Eastern Trail bike route on Tuesday's ride. So this time around, I headed out on it, further north. My instincts were telling me to turn around and start back south. But the road kept calling and I was powerless to ignore it. I was within 10 miles of Sanford before I started making my round about way back south bound.
This whole time I had a map I copied out of the Maine Gazetteer that I referenced frequently. In fact I lost this map out of my jersey pocket. But I thought I'd heard it fly out of the pocket. So I back tracked a mile searching the side of the road until I spotted it. Good thing I did! I was in uncharted territory. I would have had to try to head left from the sun's trajectory to make it home.
The Gazetteer marked Cranberry Rd as continuing as dirt south of Rte. 9. So for some unexplainable reason, I decided that was my route. I'd already done about 3 miles of dirt and gravel roads form Bell Marsh and Emery's Bride (road construction). Looking across 9, I saw what looked like a drive way behind a trailer, that ended in a pile of tree trunks. I took a left, and a quick right. And there, by the entrance to a school, was what looked like a wide single track through the woods, Cranberry Road. I got in about 1/2 mile before the first pond taking up the width of the "road" for 5 meters. The rest of the way until the final 1/4 mile was swamped with deep puddles. I was forced to portage most of that way. Turns out this section of Cranberry Rd. doesn't show as connecting on Google Maps. Pretty wild.
Finally back on pavement, another New England road without a name. I guessed and went right which actually worked out. Now I was finally getting close to South Berwick.
By that point the sun was sitting pretty low. I got a little panic. No lights, 30 miles to go. I put the hammer down and started cruising south bound. By the time I was leaving Eliot, it was just about dark. The moon lit up the dark sections of road. It was pretty sketchy.
I counted 24 grave yards on this ride, not counting repeats. I counted 6 fake or plastic graveyards in Halloween decorating fashion. I think it's odd in an area where every house that's a hundred years or older, has a small very real graveyard on the property, the styrofoam graves in the front yard are still a popular way to show one's holiday spirit. The mockery of death, an odd means to try and quell the fear people have about the part of the life cycle which is death. This one here was in North Berwick. It was actually painted plywood, obviously the work of a crafty holiday decorator, replete with names of the imaginary deceased and birth/death dates. Perhaps the real 150+ year old graveyard across the street made for a good model.
Check out this video, you'll get a brief sense of the ride.

Old Trek Bikes

I came upon this cool site that chronicles the Trek Bicycle Company, with serial numbers referencing to date a bike, and a gallery of photographs ofolder Trek bikes sent in by the riders. I found out my fixie's frame is a 1979 Trek 910, built in March. It had been sent back to Trek for repairs and came back to the person who I bought it from, with new paint. Thus the sexy salamander blue/purple pearl paint. Check out the Vintage Trek web site link to the right. Cool stuff.

I Bought A One Way Ticket to Epic, 75+ Miles

Oh Google Maps, where will you take me next?
Eli was working near Biddeford this morning. So I loaded the bike into the back of her pick up and hitched a ride to the Biddeford Park And Ride. It was c-c-cold at 9:15 this morning at the parking lot. I stuffed the directions and map I printed down my jersey to cut the wind, which was a life saver. It wouldn't be until over two hours later that I decided to do the same for my cold toes; wrapped them in directions for the roads behind me.
Lots of riding 3 miles to a dead end like when I decided to check out University of New England University and Hills Beach Road. Two miles down the beach road to the end of the Pavement. No way to continue without a boat. I u-turned and cut a left down supposedly "closed" road Old Pool Rd. The work crew let me pass. Then down Mile Stretch Rd. only 20 minutes later. Another down and back road on the other side of "The Pool".
Lots of stopping and looking at the map and directions fer sure. I had accidentally printed the backwards, from KP to Biddeford. So every time I had to figure out the next step, I'd have to stand on my head to read the directions in the right order.
This ride included three awesome dirt road sections, two of them unexpected! Apparently Cheney Woods is dirt for about a mile of climb and dissent. It really was awesome: dirt, rocks, pits and all. I ran into a mountain biker stopped and tinkering on his IPhone. He was decked in SAFETY ORANGE, which I thought was smart, given we were standing there on Cheney Road at the beginning of hunting season. The next dirt came along on Josiah Norton Rd. which I had been curious aboout while studying the maps. Turns out it goes to dirt about 1/2 mile in from either direction. Pretty well groomed, clay, with just a bit of washboard.
What a haul. It was Freakin sweet.
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Memorial Bridge CLOSED to Cars

This news isn't so fresh. This happened like a week ago. The Memorial Bridge is the span across the Piscataqua River that connects low income service workers living in Maine, to their Portsmouth jobs. It's an old "through truss lift" bridge, completed in 1923, painted institutional green, and rusting away to dust ever since. The Memorial Bridge was inspected last week and shut down to automobile traffic immediately.. It's that f'd up. Lucky for two wheelers and walkers, it is still passable by bike or on foot. There is something really free feeling about being on a bridge without cars.
Word is the bridge will open in 3 weeks. But so far I have seen no work having started on repairs. I'm sure it involves going to the DOT and allocating funds, declaring a call for bids, accepting a bid.. yadda dadda ding dong.

Mission Complete: First FIxie Group Ride

How could somebody be late to their own event? It was strategic. I figured if I was 15 minutes late, not only would that give some time for other straggling riders to show up, but when they arrived a little late, they would be spared the humiliation of being late because I hadn't arrived yet! The only thing is, nobody else beside Josh Pierce showed up. Never mind that, though. We had a blast. Josh showed me the sneaky way to get from Papa Wheelies over to Pease, including some nice wide abandoned roads perfect for sprint workouts. We headed over the abandoned bridge and out to Dover. We tagged Dover and bounced over to Rollinsford. A stop in Black Bean Cafe for good coffee and some food, bathroom, more water. Then a fast descent followed by the inevitable climb up to Rte. 4. S. Berwick tag and then down Underhill Rd to Eliot, Kittery, over the Memorial Bridge and back to Papa Wheelies. A sweet, quick ride. All you sad suckers missed out. There's always next time. Write in preferred days/times to join in the next ride...

Celebrate The Nuts! Tricycle Racing in the UK!

I was looking for information on common bottom bracket shell heights, honestly! That led me to an ex frame builder's blog which led me to the Tricycle Associations official web site and now my concept of this sphere we all share has expanded like blowing into the balloon of knowledge. Tricycle racing! See pictures of decked out tricycles with CARBON DISC WHEELS. Horray for the nuts! The link is to the right under "People".

Across The Great Bay Again: Clockwise for 50+ Miles...

The problem with this time of year, is getting the warm layers right. Today I was sure I would be shaking in my booties. Within 15 miles, I peeled away 4 heat conserving items cause I was too freakin hot. I was wearing a Specialized Deflect Trail jacket I had bought earlier in the year. I don't know who it was designed for. But there is waay too much material in the upper arm. It becomes quite annoying when the arms get to a-flappin in the wind like a flag atop a ship's mast. The jacket also turns out to breathe about as well as any other "breathable" water resistant material I've come across. That is to say, about as breathable as a plastic bag. It was dripping inside. I tied it around my frame and kept going.
Checking out this loop south from Portsmouth, through Greenland, back up to Pease, across the cool abandoned bridge, Dover Pt. Road, tagged Dover, back through Eliot. I forgot to count the grave yards! I'm going to guess over 15. 4 hours and 50 plus miles. I have a hard time believing it was only 50 miles. Whatever.

Descending Upon The Earth

Snow, mixed with rain. Nice ride home from Portsmouth in falling slush. 30 miles earlier before getting downtown by 12. This loop is short, but not short of graveyards. I'm counting 11 graveyards on this ride. I think I'm missing at least two more that don't come to mind...New England is full of dead people.

Golf Courses and Graveyards, 59 Miles of New Hampshire

I had been reluctant to delve into mileage rides in NH because from Portsmouth, it all just seems like a bunghole of freeways and fast 4 lane roads. I know there are some sweet two laner 35mph'ers out there somewhere. So I consulted the maps, donned 5 layers of protection against the 41 deg. damp air out there, and headed for Exeter via the Great Bay.
Things started out just fine until I was riding on Rte. 33. I usually don't prefer to ride on busy roads like Rte. 33. Today I was despising it. Things got better as I found my way around the south side of Pease Air Base and the great abandoned bridge over the north end of Great Bay. Then back to the suck for a ways on Rte. 4 until finally hooking a lefty at Durham Point Rd. That road was beautiful.
Before I could ride victorious into Exeter, I was sick of riding on 33/108. I stopped at Sweet Dreams Bakery for a sandwich, espresso, and directions. Good food, very nice people. They helped me figure out an alternate route dodging Exeter all together in favor of turning back towards Portsmouth.
I passed at least 5 golf courses and 15 graveyards on this ride. This route had some nice sections along Durham Point Rd., the bridge closed to cars, and Bunker Hill Rd back to Portsmouth. I think if there were a way to dodge Rte. 33, 108, 4, it would be a sweet ride.
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It's On: Group Ride Thursday October 22nd

I've set a date. I came up with this day because Josh Pierce can ride that day. So there's two of us. We'll go for at least 50 miles with an caffeine/carb stop somewhere. Ride is limited to fixed gears only cause any freewheeling flounders can join any old group ride, OK??. Helmets and front brakes STRONGLY recommended. Some money for a coffee, food to eat en route, at least two pints of water, warm riding gear and flat repair stuff also strongly recommended. I'm thinking we'll be in for partly sunny under 50 degrees f. But I'll update as we get closer. Check back here for a route as well. Or will it be a surprise? I'm not sure yet!
We're meeting at Papa Wheelies at 653 Islington in Portsmouth. Why? Cause us two Joshes work there, that's why. Plus there's food, coffee, and any bike related stuff anybody might need right there. No "oh, I have to go ride to the bike shop for a tube. Can you guys wait here?" funny business. Got it? Cool. Please comment to RSVP.

Lost And Delerious, Going Clockwise 57 miles

I had to beat the rain predicted to arrive by 3pm. So I figured only 3 hours this time out. To mix it up a bit on the same old roads here in Southern Vacationland, I opted to go the same route I posted below, only backwards. That seemed fine. Until I entered the obscure suburban maze off 238 that is The Old Mill suburban community. Suburbs are like vortexes, mind fucks of modern living. I was looping around the same "Lanes" and "Drives" over and over until I began to curse the inhabitants. Who would choose to live like this? In a manicured system of oversized hampster habitrails that go nowhere? And what sick mind would continue to design them?
Once I made it out, I was again in familiar territory, Agamenticus Road. Easy, right? Just go right, take another right at Emery Bridge Rd. and you're homeward bound. Unless you happen to take a left at the Meeting House church instead of continuing straight. If you take a left, you end up on a 45 minute loop that finds us back at the entrance to, you guessed it, the same suburban hell. Now I'm an hour off schedule. On that dreadful loop I was challenged by a bull dog who had not been tethered to the trailer he guarded. The fella got across the yellow doubles toward me as I picked up the pace. I yelled Fuck You, which in these moments, sounds more like "Fugeuh". But he slowed down as he found out I barked louder. He also was a pretty slow fucker and couldn't top 28 miles an hour.
The rain never really materialized. But I was out of water and food about an hour and a half from home. The last 45 minutes were a bit delirious.
Another observation about clockwise, was the frost heaves. They were way worse on the side of the roads going clockwise! I have no idea why. Every time I entered the astroid field of frost heaves, I'd take a look across the double yellow stripes at pristine pavement. So I guess it's counter clockwise from here on out. In some places, the pavement had cracked and split into chunks of squares, loose but still held in place. Riding through these sections creates a popping, crackling sound as each chunk shifts beneath the weight of the bicycle's wheels. Sort of strange, sort of eerie. 57 miles, a few less than Monday given that I didnt' end up on Tatnic Rd. this time around. That's ok too.

60 Miles on the Squeaky Cleat Trail

I tried greasing the bolts and bolt plate of my SPD cleats before I left. They still creaked like a mo'fo for all 60 miles. I didn't lose my map this time. But I did discover that some road names used by Google Maps are incorrect. In fact, there is one road in Kittery on Google Maps that no longer exists! I know because I bushwacked it with my fixie last spring. It's overgrown poison ivy patch boardering a swamp. Scenic, yes. A road, definitely not. And near by that chicken path is a distribution warehouse Google Maps labels as a shopping plaza. But it's not just Google Maps. I also had problems with incorrect road names on my Maine Gazetteer atlas. Thus, I needed to stop repeatedly to get my bearings. Apparently, Maine is so primitive as to not been mapped accurately or not recently.
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