An eerie feeling I haven't had in years, since living in the Pac NW, on a beautiful, warm day, low humidity, yet the air is thick, smokey. This morning I thought a neighbor was burning stuff, a perfectly normal way to spend Memorial Day here in Northern New England. Perhaps a lot of brush, or a lot of neighbors, like a neighborhood burn day, all burning big piles of brush and broken furniture. Turns out all the smoke is from Canada, which is apparently on fire in a serious way.
My good intentions to leave by 9am on this first day in weeks I've had time to ride, were thwarted by my efforts to install a newer generation VDO wireless cadence computer on the Langster. The computer was given to (the shop I was working at) in an effort to convince we at the front lines of bicycle retail, that they had taken care of all the bugs they had been known for in the past. At least that is my excuse. Without the manual, the confusing VDO set up proved to be a momentum destroyer. I started looking for support instruction PDFs or whatever online for the computer. Not finding that, I somehow ended up on Craigslist looking for all the answers to other questions. Add talking to Tom about his trip to Missouri, making a sandwich, making another sandwich and eating it, I rolled out at quarter to noon.
Remembering a ride I had to abandon just outside South Berwick this last winter, I decided today was the perfect day to hit it. Out past Spring Hill, to Blackberry Hill, Berwick, Long Swamp Road, etc. After that I was lost and can only attempt to reassemble my route looking at the maps. I got a little too lost, running out of water lost, wondering where the hell civilization was lost. I made a few good guesses and found myself back on School Road Rte 9 headed back towards Berwick. A few more guesses got me to North and finally South Berwick where I knew the Nature's Way market would most likely be open. I limped into town and sure enough the OPEN flag was flying. I ordered a sandwich, grabbed a banana and an orange juice. Out on the sidewalk at a table, I took my shoes and socks off and ate. It felt so good to eat.
With the bottles full, I headed back out towards Emerys Bridge Rd. I was pretty beat. Ogunquit Rd would have been easier on the legs and head. But Belle Marsh would cut miles off the final leg. Belle Marsh it was, climbing, dirt road, Belle Marsh. I did not allow the bike to scream down the descents. Instead, I held back, resisting the momentum of the pedals turning to keep things manageable.
Turns out I just got off a 74.25 mile jaunt through the countryside. According to the VDO, I averaged 24.5 mph with a max speed of 38mph. I know better though. At least the cadence was accurate: Average 75rpm cadence with a max of 158rpm.
Check out the route, click here!
Showing posts with label dirt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dirt. Show all posts
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Dark New Moon Coast Ride: 47 Miles
I left too late in the day to return home while the sun was still out. This was a cold, dark ride along the coast roads. Sketchy even with lights...
Later that night Eli and I woke to the alarm at 2:33 am. We drove down to Seapoint Beach where we watched the light show of the Leonids meteor shower. Cool.
Later that night Eli and I woke to the alarm at 2:33 am. We drove down to Seapoint Beach where we watched the light show of the Leonids meteor shower. Cool.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Epic Redefined, 83 Miles into the Unknown
It was 60 miles into this ride that I thought to myself, I really need to plan my attacks better with regard to the high-mile rides. My brother Andrew, also a bicycle mechanic, was performing in Cambridge later that night. So embarking on this ride that took me off the edge of the map I had with me, continuing to turn left, ever outward, further, ever seeking more, may have not been the best choice. But it was a blast. This route was pretty random. Three stretches of dirt starting with Belle Marsh Rd, McGovern, and Josiah Norton. When back on Tatnic Rd again in York, I thought about how most of those dirt roads were smoother than the frost heaves I was enduring heading east. Damn frost heaves.
37 graveyards total. Number 19 was just a lone grave in the forest, soon to be surrounded by rural suburban sprawl. I had to stop and consult the map at one point when the road forked at the Massabesic Experimental Forest near Alfred. "Massawhussa where the hell am I?" I thought. When I left the driveway, I had no inclination I would end up in National Forest land.
I got home around dusk. I stuffed my face with pasta, took a shower, and as soon as we were able, Eli and I were headed to Cambridge to see Andrew. Needless to say, we missed his performance. We had dinner, a few beers, and said our goodbyes as he and the band headed out for an all night drive.
Check the route here at my new Map My Ride account..
37 graveyards total. Number 19 was just a lone grave in the forest, soon to be surrounded by rural suburban sprawl. I had to stop and consult the map at one point when the road forked at the Massabesic Experimental Forest near Alfred. "Massawhussa where the hell am I?" I thought. When I left the driveway, I had no inclination I would end up in National Forest land.
I got home around dusk. I stuffed my face with pasta, took a shower, and as soon as we were able, Eli and I were headed to Cambridge to see Andrew. Needless to say, we missed his performance. We had dinner, a few beers, and said our goodbyes as he and the band headed out for an all night drive.
Check the route here at my new Map My Ride account..
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Berwicks, Dirt, and Dead People, 74 Miles Indian Summer
I tried leaving by ten. I did! So I finally rolled out at 11. Which often means a mad dash home while the sun is saying its bedside prayers. What a freaking beautiful day it was Monday too. Sunny and warm, I was overdressed in two layers. The arm warmers and gloves came off and stashed away. The oak leaves seem to be just about the last ones in the trees and even they're losing their grip.
First I ran into Peter walking his adorable dog Bean. We talked about work, lack of it, lack of motivation, and making the most of our free time. Then I pedaled on in the rare instance of clockwise order. Eliot, South Berwick, and then out. Up almost to Berwick, then right at Blackberry Road. And that's where I ran into Brian. Geez, everybody's out on a beautiful day like that. I talked to Brian for a bit next to graveyard no. 16. He knows those roads out there better than I and suggested a general direction. So what do I do as soon as we part? Hang the next left going waay out further, totally away from his recommended route.
Ultimately I saw 35 graveyards on this ride. This is no exaggeration, I counted every last one and only once. I am certain I missed at least two on top of this confirmed number.
I also went by a rock quarry, and a plastic sign in front of somebody's house that read "Protect America's Freedom, Leave The United Nations!" Wow. To think we have to share this patch of dirt.
Speaking of dirt, the first bit I got to roll over was just 6 miles into this thing, on Bartlett Rd. Mile 55 or so found me once again on Cheney Woods road climbing and then descending the rocky dirt. And finally, mile 60 or so, I was on Josiah Norton, pedaling over the dirt again. Addicted to fixed gears and dirt roads. Sick in so many ways. Once again the sun was hanging low by the time I rolled up the driveway. At least I could still see the ground. I need to start leaving earlier.
First I ran into Peter walking his adorable dog Bean. We talked about work, lack of it, lack of motivation, and making the most of our free time. Then I pedaled on in the rare instance of clockwise order. Eliot, South Berwick, and then out. Up almost to Berwick, then right at Blackberry Road. And that's where I ran into Brian. Geez, everybody's out on a beautiful day like that. I talked to Brian for a bit next to graveyard no. 16. He knows those roads out there better than I and suggested a general direction. So what do I do as soon as we part? Hang the next left going waay out further, totally away from his recommended route.
Ultimately I saw 35 graveyards on this ride. This is no exaggeration, I counted every last one and only once. I am certain I missed at least two on top of this confirmed number.
I also went by a rock quarry, and a plastic sign in front of somebody's house that read "Protect America's Freedom, Leave The United Nations!" Wow. To think we have to share this patch of dirt.
Speaking of dirt, the first bit I got to roll over was just 6 miles into this thing, on Bartlett Rd. Mile 55 or so found me once again on Cheney Woods road climbing and then descending the rocky dirt. And finally, mile 60 or so, I was on Josiah Norton, pedaling over the dirt again. Addicted to fixed gears and dirt roads. Sick in so many ways. Once again the sun was hanging low by the time I rolled up the driveway. At least I could still see the ground. I need to start leaving earlier.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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 act
ually 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.
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 act
ually 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.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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.
View Larger Map
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.
View Larger Map
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