February R-12 - NJ Transit 200k - Revised Route

Photos:  Top - Jon trying to stay warm waiting to depart Budd Lake.  

Bottom - Al with a grim look of determination preparing for the next leg.

I'm starting to get the hang of this R-12 deal. I watched calmly as two major snow falls came through the area leaving over two feet of heavy snow on the ground. Fortunately, the January R12 ride was in the books before storm number one showed up at the end of the month. Storm number two was very early in February, leaving me optimistic about my chances of getting a break later in the month. None the less, I spent some time on the RUSA web-site researching permanents in the warmer climates. A permanent in South Carolina looked particularly inviting. I admit to being seriously tempted. However, before making travel plans I had a bit of an epiphany. I reasoned that earning an R12 might be a sweeter accomplishment if done in one's own back yard, dealing with whatever nature dishes out. Perhaps the real challenge is picking the right opportunity, the right route on the right day. I've become quite proficient at analyzing the weather with quick links to weather.com and NOAA on my laptop. I've kept any non-work related commitments to a bare minimum keeping myself free and ready to go when opportunity comes knocking. Having gotten this far into it I've decided to make it or break it at home.

While waiting for the road conditions to return to some semblance of normal. I did three things. Shoveled snow, rode my indoor trainer, and worked on changes to my permanent route. The proposed new route would start/finish in my hometown, instead of Raritan. Also, proposed were some significant changes to three of the segments. I submitted the changes to RUSA for approval. The approval was granted and coincided with a reasonable weather outlook for Sunday 2/21. Given that the route would need an initial test ride it seemed prudent to ride the February R-12 on the revised course. My friend Al agreed to ride it with me despite an epic battle with the old route still fresh in his mind from the prior month. In addition, my buddy from the Bronx, Jon, would join us. Jon would be working on an R-13, or a second R-12.

Sunday morning at 6:30am I departed home on the Salsa Caserole for the less than three mile ride to the new start at Mountain View Plaza. It was the first time I ever rode to the start of a brevet from home. The temperature was in the upper twenties with a light wind from the west. My legs were a little stiff from the commute the day before. I'd only logged 75 miles the prior week and no road miles the week before. I was feeling a little under prepared for a hilly 200k. None the less I was mentally determined to get around it somehow. I arrive at the plaza and immediately spot Al behind his SUV preparing for the ride. Jon arrives moments later. We stop at the convenience market at the corner to document the starting time of our ride. We get underway about 10 minutes passed the 7:00am starting time, which seems to S.O.P. for Permanents. I've not done one yet where we departed on time.

Hillsborough to Summit - 28 Miles
This first section features significant changes. The route now starts about eight miles further to the south. We use a north east approach to the Watchung Mountain Ridge and join the original route quite a bit further to the east than before. The initial 11 miles features mild terrain as we ride next to the canal on Weston Canal Road to South Bound Brook. We then cross the Canal and the Raritan River into the town of Bound Brook. We cross US hwy 22 which brings us to the first significant climb of the day, Morning Glory Road. With fresh legs the climb presents no problem and serves to warm us up. Once at the top we join the old route which follows the lower part of the ridge through Warren and Watchung to deliver us to our second major climb of the day, Sky Top Drive. Again, we have no problem negotiating the three mile ascent to the top of the ridge. Once to the top we quickly reach the town of Summit and the first control at the East Side Deli. The deli is a waiting place for landscape crew workers. The food there is Spanish/Mexican. Jon enjoys a piping hot tamale. I would have tried one but it was not the vegetarian variety. I settle for half a PBJ and a Gatorade. Al, also passes on the cuisine eating a Cliff Bar. Soon we are back underway,

Summit to Budd Lake 33 Miles
This section is unchanged, which some will consider unfortunate given as it is arguably the toughest leg of the route. A relentless succession of sizable rollers serves to take a severe toll on the riders energy level. There is no let up until the control at Budd Lake is finally reached. Additionally, there is generally a head wind. True to form the wind is present today. I notice it most just as I crest the top of a hill. It feels like my brakes are rubbing holding me back. The miles are ticking off quite slowly. About half way to the control Al says that he is considering abandoning the ride at the Budd Lake control. It's kind of a deja vu moment as he made a similar statement on this section last month. I tell him that he doesn't have to decide now, he can wait until we get there. He says he would like to call for a ride in advance so he doesn't have to wait too long to be picked up. Jon encourages him to give it a few more miles before making the call. He agrees with this plan. The topic never comes up again. As we near the control Jon amps up the watts dropping me on one of the bigger hills. I'm feeling beat up and do not even give a thought to chasing him. Al has fallen back a bit so I wait up for him at the next turn which is about a mile from the control. We roll in together both of us happy to be at the Dunkin Donuts for a much needed rest. Jon is waiting for us at a table inside. After a coffee and bagel I, for one, am feeling much better. Al seems to have recovered as well and prepares to continue. I take a photo of Jon and Al outside the store as we prepare to leave. The wind chill is making us feel quite cold.  As the photos show no one has a happy face at this moment.

Budd Lake to Hampton 25 miles
This leg of the route is unchanged to the point the information control is reached at Changewater. With rested legs we undertake the few remaining hills which come about right away, then the terrain eases for awhile. It is a short 17 miles to the info control. We make pretty good time having no knee breaking climbs to contend with. We find ourselves in front of the church at Changewater. We provide the required information on the brevet card and prepare to follow the new eight mile section of the course to Hampton. I had fully intended to come out and ride this new stretch while waiting for RUSA to approve the revisions. Unfortunately, with the distance from home, and the relentless bad weather, I wasn't able to get it done. So, the three of us would be test pilots venturing into the unknown. I'm hoping the roads I selected using Google maps are at least paved. Jon decided at this point that he would pick up the pace to the finish as he needed to be done at a specific time. Knowing we would not keep up we say goodby. I was glad that he could ride with us for as long as he did. Getting back to NYC on a Sunday night is no easy deal. Immediately after leaving the church we hit Forge Hill Road which is quite a climb. I would estimate at least a 15% grade. Fortunately it is not terribly long and it is nicely paved. As an added bonus it has some scenic value. It's a keeper. We watch as Jon motors up ahead. I marvel at his climbing ability and energy level. The rest of the route to the Hampton control is mostly flat, or downhill, and features nicely maintained roads. Jon is still at the Tiger Mart/Dunkin Donuts when we pull in. He is just preparing to leave so we say goodbye once again not expecting to catch back up to him on the next section. Al and I spend a leisurly half-hour refueling and resting at this control. There are still some big climbs in front of us and I admit to feeling sub-par at this point. None the less we end the break and depart headed for the town of High Bridge.

Hampton to Bedminster 24 Miles
This section of the course is unchanged. It features some flat terrain passing by the Spruce Run Resevoir then gets pretty gnarly for about seven miles after that. I'm not feeling tip-top on the first few miles and am worried about the big climbs. I've had some leg twinges, which for me is genrerally a warning that leg cramps are not far off. We turn onto Route 31 for a few hundred feet before turning off on Creegar Road, which is a short steep kicker. We then descend into the small town of High Bridge. We pass through the downtown area and head for the biggest climb of the day, which is Wilson Ave. I'm nervous about getting up this hill. If I'm going to cramp this will be where it will happen. As I make the turn and see the steep pitch to the roadway I drop into my lowest gear. My intention is to climb very conservatively. Al gets ahead of me and is climbing at a faster pace. I block out the impulse to try and stay with him. I have to let him go and concentrate on keeping myself together. I make it up about halfway when my left inner thigh cramps up. I manage a quick dismount and immediately begin walking. The muscle continues to cramp while I'm walking up the hill. I see Al make it over the top of the hill as I continue my painful trek up. Once I am almost to the top I remount and begin spinning in my easiest gear, the muscle finally relaxes. I start down the descent knowing full well that the road pitches up once again shortly. Herman Thou Road is the second phase of this climb. Same road, different name, similar elevation profile as the first. I have the same trouble with cramping only this time it's less painful when I walk up the last section of the hill. I take that as a good sign. After another descent I meet up with Al. He's been waiting at the next turn. There are still two more climbs ahead of us. Neither as severe as the twin hills of Wilson and Herman Thou, but substantial enough, especially given my situation. We quickly make the turn onto Haytown Road, the first of the two remaining hills. As soon as I hit the upgrade I gear way down spinning up the hill as gently as I can. I make it to the top without cramping. Next up Cokesburry Road, the final climb of the day. I use the same technique and have a similar cramp free experience. I now know there is nothing else ahead that can hurt me. With plenty of time still in hand I'm feeling confident of a finish. The remaining few flat miles to the control pass by quickly. We pull into the Burger King just as daylight is leaving us. A short break for coffee and apple pie and we are back on the road for the final leg.

Bedminster to Hillsborough 16 Miles
The roads on this final stretch are unchanged to the town of Raritan. From the Burger King control we head south on Country Club Road for seven miles into the small train station town of Raritan. We pass by the Quick Check Market, which was the former start/finish control.  The revised route then continues south along the river into Hillsborough Township.  With the exception of a couple of small hillocks the terrain is mostly flat to the end.  I'm feeling fully recovered and am pulling us along at a nice pace. It is fully dark and there is little traffic.  The temperature is falling, but I'm still feeling comfortable. There are only a few turns and a few miles left to the finish.  I check the time noticing we have a chance to finish in under 13 hrs.  I tell Al I would like to pick it up a bit for these last few miles.  He admits to feeling pretty beat up but agrees to give it a try.  I take the front and notch it up maintaining between 19-22mph.  I'm surprised at how good I'm feeling despite working hard I'm in no distress.  Al hangs in on my rear wheel right to the finish where we pull up in front of the Pizza Shop.  Our finish time is 12hr 58min which is more than a half hour faster than our time last month using the old course.  Inside Joe's Pizza we collect Jon's brevet card which he left in the care of the counter guy and order a couple of slices.  Jon finished in 12hrs picking up almost an hour on us in the last 40 miles.  I send a text message to my wife letting her know we finished and I'll be home soon arriving the same way I left.......on my bike.

Epilouge

Overall I was pleased with the newly revised NJ Transit route.  I think the spacing of the big hills was better and the removal of the ridiculously difficult Ludlow Station climb was a plus.  Although I wasn't able to make all the hills today without walking I will on a good day.  The cramping was disturbing but I'm prone to it when I haven't trained enough.  It might have helped if I kept up with the Endurolyte tablets that I normally take at each control.  I took two at the first control at Summit and accidentally dropped the container spilling all the pills on the ground.  None the less, I will make an effort to ramp up the training and get back to consistent commuting.  Hopefully, there won't be too many more winter storms to contend with.

Eleven down - one to go.  Stay tuned! 

 

January R12 - New Jersey Transit 200k Permanent

Al by the frozen Watchung Lake



Yours truly - same location - wishing I had my mittens

This month's ride would serve two different purposes. One would be to fulfill my January R12 requirement. The second would be to erase the scar from an old DNF for my friend Al which occurred on this same route. The DNF was a result of a crash which happened 110 miles into the ride. Al and I were pace-lining on a slight downgrade when he suddenly went down. He suffered a concussion and was unable to finish. After seeing he was in the hands of capable EMT's I went on to finish the remaining 15 miles alone. That was almost three years ago and it was Al's first attempt at a 200k. I knew it bothered him that he didn't get to finish it. When I learned of a favorable weather forecast for Thursday, which coincided with a day off from work. I contacted Al asking if he wanted to take another crack at it. He quickly agreed and we were on for an 8:00am start.

Raritan to Summit 28 Miles
It was a chilly 20F at 8:00am in the quaint little town of Ratitan. We grab a cup of coffee at the Quick Check Market while we were getting our brevet cards documented. We get underway about seven minutes late which doesn't really bother me since we have 13 1/2 hours to finish the 126 mile course. Little did I realize how close it would be.

The early miles are fairly easy as the route heads north to Bedminster then turns to the east towards our first control in the town of Summit. The initial six miles are on Country Club Road which features a few small to medium rolling hills. The little hills help me warm up my core and legs. However, after a few miles my fingertips are quite cold. After the turn onto Washington Valley Road the terrain is fairly flat for the next sixteen miles. Even though the sun is starting to warm me up my fingers are going numb. As we pass by Watchung Lake I notice it is frozen solid. I can't resist the photo opportunity. We stop for just long enough to take a photo and push on. After about three miles we come upon Sky Top Drive, the first substantial climb of the day. This is a reasonably gentle three mile incline to the Top of the Watchung Mountain Ridge. I usually enjoy it, but today I absolutely love it as it serves to totally warm me including my fingertips, which were wavering between stinging cold and numb. Once to the top we are just a few turns to the control at the East Side Deli. We arrive feeling quite comfortable and with plenty of time in hand. I get my card signed, have a Clif Bar, a Gatorade and we head on to the west.

Summit to Budd Lake 33 Miles
This section wins the award for the most relentless leg of the course. There is no major climb just a seemingly never ending succession of large rollers. One would think that a town named Summit which is atop the Watchung Mountain Ridge would be at a higher elevation than a town named Budd Lake, but that is not the case. Budd Lake is 700 feet higher in elevation. The first of the big rollers start coming as we go through Madison, Chatham Township and Mendham. Some are more tolerable than others, but all them serve to tap the energy reserves. Al begins to falter a bit, starting to fall back. Having ridden with him for a fairly long time I can tell he is suffering. He really hasn't trained specifically for this type of ride. After all I did just contact him four days before. About halfway through the segment I start looking at the time. At our current pace we will make the control in time, but there will not be much of a cushion. While in my opinion this part of the route is the most punishing there is still much climbing to be done further on. At the top of one of the hills Al mentions that he doesn't see how he can finish. I sense he is regretting his decision to take the ride on. In the last mile to the control he asks if this is the town with a train station. Time for a white lie. I tell Al there is none. The truth is I really don't know if they have one, but I do know they don't have one on the line that runs past our starting point. I don't want Al to pack it in here. I feel he still has a chance at finishing. We arrive at the control 45 minutes ahead of the closing time. I'm also feeling the effects of the previous thirty miles. I will need to take in calories and fluids before moving on, but time is something we need to keep on a eye on. We spend about 20 minutes refreshing ourselves at Dunkin Donuts before continuing our western trek.

Budd Lake to Washington 23 Miles
The first few miles of the leg feel the same as what we just finished, but then things soften. There are still some hills later on but more of the kinder gentler variety. I'm hoping we can pick up a little time on this segment as we have no room for error. A flat tire or other mechanical issue will be a show stopper. Al is making the good effort to pick up the pace a bit. I'm sure he is still hurting but trying hard not to show it. Initially, he was following along on the cue sheet, but is now focusing all his effort on riding. Which is fine. I'm fairly comfortable navigating us around the route. We roll through Schooley's Mountain, fortunately we are already at the top and only need to descend into the valley and the town of Califon. We stop briefly in Changewater at the information control which is a church sign. At the outskirts of Washington we climb Skyview Drive, a short but steep little kicker. Finally we hit Route 31 and roll on that for a mile into the control at the Bagelsmith Market. We did pick up a little time as we are 48 minutes ahead of the closing time. I suggest to Al that we be brief as the next section is only 11 miles long and features two major climbs. We keep it to about 20 minutes including setting up for night riding. Sunset is in about a half hour.

Washington to Hampton 11 Miles
After only a mile of warm up on Route 31 we turn off onto Buttermilk Ridge Road. This is a fairly substantial climb, but not the worst we will be facing. Al climbs right with me as we both opt for our small triple chain ring to grind our way up. Once on top there is a long descent as we drop into the quiet little town of Asbury. After another two miles we approach the toughest climb on the route, Ludlow Station Road. The steepness of this grade has forced almost every rider who has passed this way to walk, for at least a portion of it. I only know of two who have managed to stay on the entire way. We are in full darkness but I can still manage to see the wall of the hill up ahead. I've been meaning to get my bike in for a tune-up as the chain will not stay on my 27T cog. All day it has been jumping off onto the 24T. The bike sat idle in the garage for much of a year while I rode the recumbent known as Mellow Yellow. I start up the hill in the small ring, which also requires some finesse to get the chain to drop on to. I get about 20 percent up thinking that maybe I can make it all the way, joining the ranks of the select few who have done so. It doesn't take long for that dream to fade as I find a driveway to bail into and clip out. I start the trudge up, which is almost as hard as riding. I see Al just behind using his two foot gear as well. When we reach a less severe section near the top of the hill we remount and continue on. There is only one more, not so bad, climb left before the control. I look down at my computer to check the mileage and notice it is not registering. It was working fine all day but now it is displaying 0 miles per hour and the odometer appears to be stopped at 85 miles. It must have stopped working shortly after leaving the Washington control but I didn't notice until now. From a practical standpoint we can't afford to take any time to diagnose and rectify the problem. I'm figuring I can navigate the rest of the route without a working odometer given my familiarity with it. But, on the other hand almost any navigational error would prove to be fatal. We climb the final bump with Al hanging right in there with me. From here it is a flat three mile roll into the control which is the Tiger Mart/Dunkin Donuts by I-78 in Hampton. We arrive 18 minutes before the closing time. The course has taken a toll on the both of us. It takes about five minutes to get documented and we spare a few minutes for a fast beverage. Al has not mentioned wanting to pack it in since the one time in Budd Lake. He's making every effort to stay ahead of the clock, and appears determined to finish. I've ridden with him long enough to know that when he decides he wants it he'll get it done.

Hampton to Bedminster 25 Miles
We depart the Tiger Mart with just a few minutes left in hand. To make matters worse after a few miles of gentle terrain passing by the Spruce Run Reservoir we will be dealing with some major climbing. I tell Al we need to somehow find a second wind on this stretch to make it. We tackle the first easy miles quickly. We turn onto busy route 31 having to make a quick left onto a steep upgrade, Creager Road. We catch a break in the traffic and grind up the steep climb. We then have a long descent into the town of High Bridge, which does have a train station on the Raritan line. Al makes no mention of it as we pass right by the depot crossing the tracks. We wend our way through the small downtown section of High Bridge on our way to the killer climb which is Wilson Ave. Just outside of town we make the right turn onto the hill. It pitches up quickly getting steeper as it goes up. I select my easiest functioning gear and grind up about halfway remaining in the saddle. After my legs really start to tire I stand for a bit and then resume the seated position. This is a tough hill to take on at mile 106. Once at the top it drops down for a bit. I don't see Al behind me, but am confident he is somehow getting up the hill. I descend conservatively in the dark as the road surface is not the best. At the bottom of the descent the road starts up again under a new name; Herman Thou Road. I wonder if Mr Thou and Mr Wilson are aware of all the pain caused to cyclists by the roadways that bear their names. It's kind of a crazy thought, but I am tired so it's acceptable, at least to me. After the climb and subsequent equally conservative descent. I reach a stop sign intersection where the cue sheet has us making a left and then right. I wait there for Al. In a few minutes he appears by my side and we continue. With the two turns complete we find ourselves on Haytown Road which unfortunately is another substantial climb. Once at the top we descend for what seems like a very long way arriving at another stop sign. I know by memory that this is Cokesburry Road a major climb. But, the good news is it is the last serious climb on the route. We grind up it together, but ever so slowly. It takes quite awhile to reach the turn off to Bissell Road which for the first time in awhile is more downhill than up. I've not been bothering to check the time during the hilly parts as I figured there is nothing much we could do to change anything. Once we are on flat ground I will calculate what we need to do to make it to the control in time. After descending Bissell we turn right on Rockaway Road which runs along the river. We are headed down stream so the terrain is now in our favor. We run this for the next two miles and then deal with a few smaller hills on Femely Road. After which we knock off two more flat miles and then make the turn onto Burnt Mills Road. From here it is a four mile run to the control on all flat road. I do the math and tell Al that we need to average at least 15 miles per hour for the next four miles to arrive 15 minutes before the closing time. I put what I have left into the pedals and take the lead. Al is right on my wheel. I can't tell how fast I'm going with my non-working computer but my guess is about 17mph. Not great, but it is night and I am tired so it will have to do. After about two miles my Dinotte headlight goes out. The battery has run down. I have a spare one in my pack but can't take the time to change it now. I ask Al to take the lead which he does. He holds the pace I was keeping and I follow behind a little to the left to use his light to see ahead. We arrive at the control 18 minutes before the cut off. Our control here is a Burger King. We need to order something so we have a printed, time stamped receipt. I gamble that it can't take very long to get a piece of apple pie so I order that and coffee which is self serve. Al duplicates my order. Pie and receipt in hand I sit at a table for about one minute wolfing down the warm dessert. Then I take my coffee outside with me to change my light battery. With the new battery in place we start the final 6.5 miles to the finish.

Bedminster to Raritan 6.5 Miles
We have about 30 minutes to work with. There are no hills larger than small rollers which won't slow us much. On the other hand it is night and there are three highway intersections with long traffic lights. One of which can take up to three minutes. We make a solid effort at a brisk pace. At least it feels fast to me, but I don't have a working speedometer. Whatever it is it will have to do. We are both right together and I'm impressed with Al's cadence. He is managing a fast spin on these final miles. On one of the little rollers it was all I could do to stay up with him. Unbelievably my headlight goes out again. Al agrees to take the front again. My spare battery apparently was not charged up very well which is another stupid mistake on my part. When we hit the first of the three highway intersections I check the time. We have a 1.5 miles left and close to fifteen minutes. We should make it. Upon pulling into the control we lay up the bikes and rush in to get documented. I grab a bag of chips on the way to the register with Al following suit. Fortunately, there is no line and we quickly have documentation showing us in six minutes before the cut off. I hear a familiar voice behind me and turn to see my wife. She was following the Tweets I'd been posting to Twitter throughout the day and decided to surprise me by meeting us at the finish. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Epilouge
I never remember being happier at the finish of a ride. I'm actually happier for Al's accomplishment than I am for having gotten my January R12 on the record. I felt if he had not finished it would be a sour experience for him. After a number of years trying to recruit him into randonneuring he was just now starting to get a true appreciation for it. It's hard for anyone to understand this type of riding until they have a finish under their belt. Al now has two. With hopefully, many more to follow.

Things I've learned while undertaking the R12 this year is that I've become too casual with preparation. Starting the ride with bike and equipment in top working order is a key element to successful randonneuring. The last two rides I've had to work through various problems. I later discovered that my malfunctioning computer was because of my new Dinotte headlight. One of the cardinal rules of brevets is to not use anything you haven't tested on a long ride before. The new light somehow interfered with the wireless computer and I didn't know it would happen. Also, I wasn't counting on the battery life to be so much shorter than that of my former light. Worst of all starting a tough ride with wonky gears is just stupid.

In addition, I'm giving some thought to softening my permanent route. Since many permanents are undertaken during the winter season, when we are not as well trained, it seems foolish to feature one with 8500 feet of climbing. I've reviewed the maps and have a modified route in mind that will take out the short extremely hilly leg from Washington to Hampton. In addition, the Washington control can be removed eliminating over two miles of riding on a busy highway. The third bonus to the change is a relocate of the start/finish closer to home. Preferably, at a spot that has more available parking then the busy train station town of Raritan. I'll be working on this over the coming months. Stay tuned!

Ten down Two to go!

December R12 Ride - PBP - with a twist!

Welcome to December in the wonderful eastern US. This has been one of the coldest months I can remember. Every weekend has just been insufferably cold, wet, or both. As the end of the month neared I was extremely nervous about getting this ride in. My friends Paul and Jon managed to get their December R12 requirement fulfilled on the second Saturday of the month. Originally, we had hoped to all ride together on the Sunday of that weekend. But, the forecast called for freezing rain, snow, or both. I encouraged them to take advantage of the dry day on Saturday, even though I was obligated to work. Unfortunately, I would not be able to join them. I was glad they decided to go on Saturday as freezing rain did fall on that Sunday morning. The conditions would not have lent themselves to a long ride, or any road ride for that matter. I targeted the following Sunday for my ride. Paul put me together with another rider who was scheduled on the same day so we would both have company. A major snow storm hit the night before dashing that opportunity. I waited somewhat anxiously as the days went by for my opportunity to present itself. Finally with just a few days left in the month I noticed a stunning forecast for Sunday December 27th. The temperature range was predicted to be 32F - 48F with some sun. That sounded like a winner to me. I decided to use the PBP route again as my friend Paul, the route owner, suggested the openness of the course should have allowed any residual snow to melt. As the day neared my friend Al agreed to join me. He has yet to finish a 200k, although he has started a couple of them with me.

Now for the twist in the plot. I decided to give the ride a try on my Salsa Caseroll upright in lieu of Mellow Yellow. I've been doing some commuting, and other rides, on my DF bikes for a couple of months, but I still considered Mellow Yellow my brevet bike. None the less I've had this overpowering urge to try a long ride on the Salsa. I was quite nervous about my ability to ride this bike 129 miles given that my longest distance on it year to date is 40 miles. Even the night before as I lay in bed waiting to fall asleep I considered changing my mind and taking the recumbent. Once morning arrived I stayed true to my plan and loaded the Salsa in the car and headed for the start. No turning back now.

While waiting at the starting control, the Dunkin Donuts in Princeton Junction, another rider rode in. It was not Al. I recognized Christine from our local rando rides. She was also doing the permanent to keep her R12 going. Al arrived a few minutes later. We agreed to ride as a group. We had coffee then the three of us pushed off towards the first control in Belmar. The sun was just starting to come up as we set out on the quiet streets heading southeast. There was a light to medium tail wind. The temperature, in the thirty's, was quite tolerable. We made steady progress for the first 15 miles, then I rolled through some broken glass causing a flat on the rear. With Chris and Al's help the offending glass shard was removed. The hole in the tire was large enough that we decided to use a boot. We inserted a new tube, re-pressured with a quick fill, then struggled but succeeded in getting the rear wheel back on. Off we go again smoothly sailing along through the New Jersey countryside. After another fifteen miles I felt the rear tire getting soft. I stopped to pump it up a bit hoping the leak was a slow one and we could make the control in Belmar before addressing the issue further. Unfortunately, that plan went out the window when after about a mile I felt the rim against the pavement. Flat tire change number #2! We could find nothing puncturing the tire, but there was a slice in the tube. I assumed it was a faulty seam and replaced it with my last spare tube. Back underway we soon pass through Wall Township and approach the outskirts of Belmar. In the final mile to the control I notice the rear tire feeling wonky. Sure enough it is almost completely flat. Again! I make it into the control, the Dunkin Donuts on Ocean Ave, and pump the tire using a mini-pump. I can hear air leaking out rather rapidly. I am telling Christine that basically I think I'm screwed unless I can find a nearby bike shop that is open. A couple of guys standing outside the DD overhear the conversation and inform me of a bike shop 1/2 mile away that is open right now. Chris calls the shop to confirm they will help me. They agree to help and she tells them I am on my way. We agree to try and meet up at the next control in New Egypt. After pumping as much air into the tire as I can I set off for DJ's Cycles. Once there they immediately put my bike on the stand. Given that I can't spare the time of any more flat tires I ask them to please just replace the tube and tire with brand new. The whole job takes about a half hour. While I'm waiting I adjust some layers of clothes, as the temperature has really come up to almost 50F. I eat a peanut butter sandwich which I had in my pack and procure some water from the market next door. After paying the bill I head out to resume the ride from the Belmar control.

Passing the Dunkin Donuts I continue south on Ocean Blvd. After a couple of miles the route turns to the west. I immediately feel a strong head wind after making the turn. Basically, I am mostly into the wind for the next thirty-five miles. There are a couple of minor climbs on this section which I thoroughly enjoyed because they provided some wind block. Otherwise it was a relentless grind all the way to the control. About half-way through I had to have a gel and energy bar to keep turning the pedals. Most of the time my forward progress was between 12 and 14 miles per hour. Only occasionally did I see the computer register a speed of 15 or above. I felt a profound sense of relief when I reached Main Street in New Egypt. I was even more elated when I spied Al and Christine at the Wawa control. They said they hadn't been there very long, so I grabbed coffee and a snack before heading out with them for the next stretch to Pemberton.

The wind would continue on this section but fortunately it was only a fifteen mile run to the control. We pass through the Fort Dix/Maguire Military installation and into the town of Browns Mills. We are rolling smoothly. My new rear tire appears to have ended my mechanical difficulties. We pass through New Lisbon and Pemberton Heights at which point we turn to the north. The control, another Wawa is quickly reached after the turn. We are now at mile 95. The total route distance at 129. A quick coffee is all I need. We are soon off to continue our northerly trek towards the next stop in Cranbury.

The wind is far more tolerable in this direction. In addition, there are a few small hillocks to break up the terrain a bit. I enjoy small hills or rolling terrain in the latter part of a longish flat ride. It feels good to work the legs a bit differently. I seem to gain energy and strength at a point when I should be tiring. I am also amazed that I've done this well on the upright bike. Frankly, I was in doubt that I would make it asking my wife to please be available in case I needed to be picked up off the route. I may wind up hurting for the next couple of days. But, at mile ninety I am feeling like King Kong. Also, I am impressed with my riding companions. Christine is a very confident and steady rider. She maintains a constant pace and appears to be in a comfortable zone all the time. As for Al, I am delighted he has made it this far. Long rides are not typically his cup of tea. He appears determined to finish this time. I have little doubt that he will. If he is doing any suffering he is keeping it to himself as I've not heard a single complaint. Darkness creeps up on us as we approach the small town of Chesterfield. Traffic is light, the weather is cooler, but quite tolerable, and we continue to make good time. We cross over I-195 just past Allentown. Then the NJ Turnpike just prior to Hightstown. Our next control is just six miles to the north. We cross US-130 and arrive at the pizza shop in Cranbury, which is the penultimate control. We decide to treat ourselves to a sit down meal. We enjoy slices of pizza and hot soup. The mood is jubilant as we all know the finish is but 7 short miles away and there is little that could prevent us from making it.

We step out of the Pizza shop into the chilly night air. It is starting to feel much colder. But, with just seven miles to the finish I'm not concerned. I've ridden in far colder this year. This short section is quite familiar to me as I've ridden through here literally hundreds of times. I don't bother turning my cue sheet as I could probably navigate these roads blindfolded. The cold is a bit more penetrating but given the short period of time I have to endure it I'm sure I can manage. Once I start smelling the barn I have trouble maintaining an easy pace. I always pour it on to finish quickly ending the ride on a high note. In the last few miles I kept distancing myself from my companions. I then back off, soft pedal for a bit, to let them catch up. We regrouped for the last time just a hundred yards from the Dunkin Donuts control. Pulling up in front at the same time. I'm feeling very pleased to have completed this ride overcoming the mechanical issues in the early miles and riding a bike I wasn't sure I could go the distance on. Christine was also happy to have gotten in the December R12 ride leaving only two remaining months for her. As for Al, although he was quite stoic about it he had to be thrilled to have completed his first 200k.

I definitely was sore and tired for a few days after the permanent. The muscle set used for upright riding is different from the recumbent. My quads and calves were very tender requiring a few days rest. I'm somewhat confused as to what to do going forward. The Adamo saddle has helped me make a come back to DF bikes, but I'm not sure it's a permanent solution I will try to continue commuting on the Salsa and the Trek Mountain Bike. The latter is now equipped with studded winter tires. Also, if I'm up to it I will try to complete January's R12 on the upright. Paul has a new permanent route approved. I've ridden some of the sections with him while testing the cue sheet for accuracy. The route features a nice mixture of terrain and scenery. I am very much looking forward to riding it.

Nine down - three to go. Stay tuned.

November R12 - Eight Down, Four to go!

The beach at Belmar, NJ

The month of November arrives on a Sunday this year, coinciding with day light saving time. Combine those two factors with a reasonable weather forecast and all forces seemed to be aligned to get the required monthly 200k in the books on the first day of the month. After numerous discussions with my friend Paul, and an equal amount of visits to the online weather sites we settled on the Princeton-Belmar-Princeton 200k. Since I have written two prior reports on this ride (Jul. '09, Sep. '09) I will not go into much detail this time.

The morning of the ride arrived with an extra hour added to the clock. The additional sleep was appreciated, as was the daylight which arrived at about 6:30am, one-half hour prior to our 7am scheduled start. The only problem was that it was most definitely raining. The forecast called for rain to end by 5am. While loading the car at 6am it was still raining steady. Fortunately, it was not a downpour. Additionally, the temperature was about 50F, which didn't feel too bad for the moment. However, I do remember a with rain and low fifties temps a few years back where I was absolutely soaked through and hypothermic. That is an experience I don't want to go through again. I make some changes to my choice of wardrobe to accommodate the possibility of spending at least some of the ride in the rain. I reason that wool base layers, wool jersey, wool socks, wool skull cap, full tights, full fingered gloves, and my Showers Pass rain jacket should keep me warm enough. The ability of wool clothing to keep one warm, even when wet, is a well known fact among randonneurs.

With all the last minute scrambling to prepare for different weather than expected we started out one-half hour later than our planned start time. It rains steadily, but never too heavy, for the first two hours. Then rains intermittently for the remaining miles to Belmar. The clothing worked well. I vacillated between comfortable and a tad too warm for the first one-third of the ride.

It was not raining upon leaving the beach at Belmar, so I strapped the rain jacket to my pack. The skies still spritz on us a few more times, but never heavy or long enough for me to put the jacket back on. The temperature stayed in the low to mid fifties for all of the day. I remained comfortable with my two wool top layers, tights, and full fingered gloves.

We wound our way smoothly along the route with variable winds, albeit light as well. I felt strong and was able to take a number of hearty turns at the front. Paul also took some good pulls mostly through the pine barrens area around the Fort Dix/Maguire military installation.

The skies remained overcast for almost the entire day. The only real appearance of the sun was about one-half hour before sunset at 4:30pm. By this time we were not far from Hightstown, which we had predicted to be the point we would have to switch to night riding gear. We stop a few miles before the town to use a port-o-john and take the opportunity to go into night mode. The sun sets just after we pass Hightstown en-route to the final control at Cranberry. An ATM stop takes care of our documentation and we are on to the finish. We arrive at 5:55pm for a total time of 10:55. If we were to adjust for the late start it would be 10:25.

Over a cup of coffee at the Dunkin Donuts we agree that although it didn't turn out to be the sunny 60F day predicted it worked out just fine. We were both happy we did the ride. The rest of the month is pressure free. My rides can be for the sheer pleasure of riding, or purposeful in commuting to work. No brevet cards or store receipts required, until December rolls around. Sooner or later, I expect this R12 quest will get tougher. I hope to be ready for that.

Four to go! Stay tuned!

Princeton - Belmar Princeton -200k Permanent. - October R12

Paul, owner of the permanent route prepares at the start in Princeton Junction

Paul sipping coffee, and Jon in background at Belmar.

Paul, displaying Oregon Randonneurs Jersey and Jon at Pemberton Wawa

The very Friday after my annual century ride I get an e-mail invitation from Paul and Jon to join them on the Princeton-Belmar-Princeton 200k Permanent. A second consecutive Sunday away from family was not an ideal situation, but the weather forecast looked favorable and I needed the ride to keep the R12 streak alive. The same route was used to secure my July R12 requirement, and was reported in detail here. Therefore, I will keep this report somewhat brief covering the highlights rather than the blow by blow account.

On Sunday morning at 6:45am I am sipping coffee in the Princeton Junction Dunkin Donuts waiting for my two friends to arrive. It is dark and a very nippy 40 degrees outside. They arrive a few minutes prior to the 7am start. Unfortunately, a large group of young cheerleaders proceeded their arrival. It takes quite awhile to get through the long line and get brevet cards documented. We start out about ten minutes past the planned starting time, but no matter the course is flat. We should not have any time pressure on us throughout the day. We set out into the crisp morning air as daylight is just beginning to break. Paul is fresh off the Last Chance 1200k so Jon and I get him to give us a run down on the ride. We listen intently to his story as we pedal smoothly towards the first control at Belmar on the Jersey Shore. The captivating tale of Paul's adventure in Colorado keeps us occupied until the outskirts of Wall Township, just prior to the control. We arrive at another very busy Dunkin Donuts on Ocean Blvd. The day is warming up quite nicely. We all remove some layers for the next leg to New Egypt.

As we ride alongside the ocean heading to the south I come across a guy riding a Bacchetta recumbent. We talk for a minute about the bikes. It's always a novelty to see another 'bent rider in New Jersey. I wish him well as our route takes us away from the ocean front. There are a few hilly spots on this section. Nothing really to speak about, but I realize that I am feeling kind of beat up. Since the century last weekend I've commuted to work all but one day, and rode a somewhat hilly 60 miles on Thursday. I'm struggling a little to match the pace of my companions. The small bumps feel larger than they actually are. None the less we manage the 35 miles to the New Egypt Wawa in relatively good time. A small bag of pretzels, oatmeal cookies and coffee recharges me a bit.

Soon enough we are off to the next stop, just 15 miles to Pemberton. Our heading is south right through the Fort Dix/MacGuire military complex. Usually I'm fairly strong on this type of terrain. It is routine for me to take a few strong pulls, but I'm just barely hanging on. I'm glad for the company of friends, but I feel bad that I'm not contributing more. To add to my misery some of the miles on this section are into an increasing north/west wind. None the less we arrive at the big super Wawa in Pemperton for a quick break. All I need here is a bathroom and a small coffee which I quickly procure while getting my brevet card validated by the clerk. When I return outside to the bike a customer approaches me, he's looking at Mellow Yellow, and he says, in a rather demanding tone: "Tell me the advantages of riding this type of bicycle." Now, I'm not really in the mood, nor do I have the time to go into a long dissertation on the merits of recumbent riding. So I simply say: "See the big comfy seat on this bike? Now, look at the tiny little seats on those bikes." I point to my friends uprights. "Which would you rather sit on all day?" To my surprise he points to the upright bikes, obviously looking to start some kind of debate. "Suit yourself." I say, as I proceed to totally ignore the guy until he walks away.

Back on the road we are headed pretty much to the north to the penultimate control in Cranburry. I'm still feeling pretty tired struggling with the wind, which comes in and out of play. When we wander a bit toward the west we feel it more than due north. If we jog a bit to the east it gets easier. Paul and Jon continue to ride strong, although Paul admits to feeling somewhat tired. We pass through Allentown and Hightstown before arriving in the quaint village of Cranburry.

We decide to use an ATM to document our passage rather than stop at the designated Pizza shop to save time. Paul, who happens to be the route owner knows exactly where one is, just one block off the route. ATM receipts in hand we turn right into the west by north west wind for the final 7 miles. The mental boost of knowing we are close to the end takes the edge off the difficulty factor. We grind our way through without complaint. We pull into the DD at the finish in 10hr 14min. Not surprisingly, somewhat slower than my prior time on this route. My disappointment is tempered by the fact that my 7th R12 qualifying ride is now in the books, and, despite feeling a little rough I did enjoy the day on the roads in the company of good friends. I make a mental note to take a couple of rest days soon. Hopefully, that will bring the snap back to the legs.

The five remaining R12 rides should no doubt be the hardest with the weather rapidly turning colder and the hours of daylight shrinking. Stay tuned!!

Pumkin Patch Pedal Century - A Fall Classic

Costumed volunteers put out the goodies. The pumkin pie is a big hit on this ride.

Taking a short break from my R12 quest I decided to enter the annual Pumpkin Patch Pedal for the fourth consecutive year. This mostly flat 100 mile tour of central and southern New Jersey is my one annual century of the season. Generally, I don't bother signing up for anything other than brevets. If I feel like a 100 mile ride I usually just ride one from home, either on my own, or with a friend or two. This event stands as the sole exception to the rule. The scenic route and the spirit of the SIBC club hosting the ride seems to draw me back each year. The first year I rode it on my Felt carbon fiber bike. Year two I was on the Specialized aluminum frame fixed-gear and last year I used my Salsa steel framed fixie. I remember the fixed-gear bikes drawing a lot of comments from the other riders, I am imagining the recumbent being quite the spectacle as I've never noticed another one there. That prediction would prove true. As I am pulling into Thompson Park in Jamesburg I notice people eyeballing Mellow Yellow while still on the roof rack of the car. While I'm setting up several others come by to ogle the bike and ask questions. I really dislike the attention I get riding an out of the ordinary bike, but, the comments are all friendly and supportive so I take it all in stride.

The morning is on the cool side, but warming quickly. I start out with a long sleeve base layer under my jersey as well as knee warmers on my legs. It is a bit foggy and misty as I head out on the course at 8:00am. I'm not intending to use the cue sheet as the bike club marks the course with painted pumpkin arrows on the road surface. The roads are quiet through Monroe Township as I am pedaling smoothly at 19mph. I am passing a few riders along the way exchanging pleasantries. The mist is a bit annoying, fogging up my glasses, but mostly I am enjoying the ride. The route follows Perrinville Road for quite a few miles making the navigation easy. I settle in to a nice rhythm. I am planning on riding past the first rest stop at the twenty-five mile mark, hoping to make my first stop at the the fifty. True to plan as the first rest stop appears, in the small town of New Egypt, I pass right by. The road is congested with bike traffic and I need to weave through some groups of riders who are just leaving the stop. A few miles past things thin out, but I am passed by a paceline of five riders. They move ahead a bit then change leaders. The new leader is not as strong so they slow below my pace and I quickly catch back up. I decide to sit on the rear and see what happens. I recognize the jersey on one of the riders as being from a local central jersey club. I know a few people in the club so I start a conversation based on mutual acquaintances. The guy's name is Neil and he happens to know one of my the people I mention. We turn onto Route 539 which cuts through the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens region. Up ahead we notice a large crowd of cyclists, perhaps 30 to 40 standing in the road. They are blocking the entire right lane. As we squeeze by the crowd on the left there is a cyclist laying in the road being given CPR by another cyclist. The scenario did not look good. Not wishing to add to the melee of gawkers already gathered at the scene we decide to continue. An ambulance and police car pass us from the opposite direction. Shortly after the emergency scene the lead rider peels off the front heading to the rear of the line. He decides to cut in front of me to keep the same order. This is repeated by the other riders on the next few exchanges. I was hoping to be able to contribute to the progress of the pace line by taking a turn at the front. The fact that they wanted to maintain their order of riders made me feel unwelcome. Their weakest rider was at the front again so I take my opportunity to leave them behind. I work hard to put some distance between me and the group knowing that their stronger riders will pull them some. After a few miles I see them in my mirror again. They have gained back some ground. I push the pace up another notch. I am rolling between 19 and 23mph depending on the grade to the road. The 50 mile rest stop is now 6 miles away and I'm determined to hold the pace until there. I pass a number of solo riders and a few small groups, the recumbent almost always drawing a comment. The most common being; "Wow! Now that looks comfortable". I have a few sarcastic responses depending on my mood such as: "Oh yeah! I have trouble staying awake", or "Hey! Do you know where I might be able to stop for a six-pack?" I successfully resist the temptation, simply smiling and wishing my fellow cyclists a nice ride. I enter the town of Browns Mills where the rest stop is located just up ahead. I make it in, park the bike, use the rest room, and am removing leg warmers and my long sleeve under liner before I spot the group come in. It doesn't count for anything but I accept it as a small victory. I hang around the rest stop for awhile watching the bike club group depart. Soon after I head out this time at a more relaxed pace.

The next rest stop is at the 80 mile mark. I plan on keeping a comfortable steady pace until there. I pass by the main entrance to Fort Dix after which the route begins to head to the north for the return to Jamesburg. The final rest stop is at Clayton Park near Allentown, New Jersey. The winds have picked up a bit, unfortunately, not in my favor. But, for the most part, I have no complaints. The temperature, in the low seventies with sunny skies, is most enjoyable. A little head wind into the mix does little to dampen my spirits. The route takes a turn to the east for five miles or so going through the heart of New Jersey horse farm country. The scenery is grand and the easterly direction provides a break from the wind. Soon the turn back to the north puts me back in the wind, but dead on course to Allentown, and the final rest stop before the finish. It arrives without incident. The bike club is there, seemingly having recently arrived. I have a brief, but friendly conversation with Niel before heading over to the food table to intake some calories. The apple and pumpkin pie look real good, but I resist the temptation and stick with what works for me. I feel like salty foods so I eat a handful of pretzels and make myself some peanut butter topped Ritz crakers. A refill of water bottles and I'm off for the final 20 miles.

I work this last section rather hard. Despite being mostly into the wind I hold a good pace. I'm passing groups of club riders with matching jerseys that have little left in the tank. For many club riders a century is their longest ride of the year. A real challenge to their endurance. From the prospective of the randonneur it is practically a day off. There are a few hills on this last section, although nothing of any consequence. I'm enjoying the upgrades. The variance in terrain makes these last miles more interesting. With about ten miles to go I pass a young lady riding a carbon fiber Trek. She looked to be struggling up a small upgrade as I sped by. Half a mile later I notice her on my back wheel. She asks if I mind her riding with me. She explains she is pretty cooked, but trying to break her previous time for a century. I agree to help and proceed to gradually increase the pace keeping her on my wheel. She hangs in just fine on the flats, but fades a little on the upgrades. I delicately try to set a pace that is just close to her breaking point. She stays on to the end and beats her old record by two minutes. She is ecstatic at the achievement. I congratulate her and peel off to my car. My overall finish time is 6hrs 40min with 5hrs 58min of riding time. The two approximately twenty minute rest stops account for the additional 22min. The headwind slowed me some, but no complaints. It was a great day to be on a bike.

Focus to switch back to the R-12. Stay tuned!

Bear Mountain 200k - A New York State of mind!

The view from the top of Bear Mountain

Todd enjoys a late breakfast at the deli in Stony Point

This ride always has me singing the “I Love New York ” theme. The challenge of the route and the great scenery gives this 200k just the right mix of everything. This being my fourth time taking the start at the foot of the GW Bridge on the New York City side. My friend Todd, also a loyal customer of this New York offering, rode with me in the car from Somerset County . We parked on Hudson Terrace in Fort Lee , which is the New Jersey side of the bridge, then rode our bikes to the start. The George Washington Bus Station serves as the start/finish point. It is just a couple of blocks from the entrance to the bridge bike path. Leroy Varga (RBA) and Laurent Chambard (Ride Organizer) handle the check-in details smoothly. At 7am sharp Laurent sends the group of 34 riders on our way.

New York City to Stony Point :38 miles

We head for the south side bike path of the GW to work our way across the massive span into New Jersey, Navigating the tight turns on the bridge network is no easy task on the recumbent. I’d gotten a preview of this on my way in struggling to get Mellow Yellow around the tight turns at the block houses and the ramp down to the city streets. Imagining it being much worse in a large pack of riders I decided to hang back and let the bulk of the group go ahead of me. Todd not knowing what I was doing got across way in front of me. I found him waiting on Hudson Terrace for me to arrive. Now at the very back of the pack we start off casually through the quiet streets of Bergen County . This section is perhaps the easiest of the ride with only minor gradients and short steep hills. It gives one the opportunity to warm up, settle in, and establish a rhythm before the heavy climbing begins. We follow county route 505 to Tenafly, then 501 up to Piermont , New York . We pass under the Tappan Zee Bridge , all the while enjoying pleasant views of the Hudson River to our right. We go through Haverstraw after which we pick up the popular Route 9W. We work a little harder on the rolling terrain as we pass the Indian Point Nuclear facility, which is emitting gentle puffs of steam from its cooling towers. Soon we arrive at the first control in Stony Point , which is a quaint Italian Deli. Laurent and Leroy are there to greet everyone and handle paperwork. The day has warmed up pleasantly. We get coffee and muffins and sit outside to enjoy the break.We make quick work of the stop leaving a few riders behind as we set out.

Stony Point to Monroe : 17 miles

We leave the control and continue north on 9W. Just a few miles beyond the control we hit the first substantial climb of the day. A sizeable bump with switchback turns. I manage it in the middle chain ring grinding my way up. High speed traffic zooms by on my left making my slowness more obvious. Normally, the descent on the other side is a real screamer, but today it is somewhat hampered by an increasing head wind. I work the down hill by pedaling hard to try and catch up to Todd who put some distance on me during the climb. It takes a long time before I see him ahead. We re-group at the turn off to Bear Mountain State Park which begins a five mile climb fest to the top of Perkins Drive . Todd again starts gapping me on the first part of the climb.I come across John and have a short conversation with him about recumbent riding, the sixties, Vietnam , etc. I’ve seen John on all of the New York rides I’ve done. I’m climbing a bit faster than him, for the moment, so soon our conversation ends and I continue the grind up. The turn off for Perkins Drive arrives beginning the 2 mile final segment to the top. It seems to take forever this time. Each switchback I come to feels like it should be the last one, only to be followed by another. The disappointment each time is becoming unbearable. I start to imagine I have arrived in some type of cycling hell where this will go on for all eternity. The thought gives me the creeps, but when I snap back to reality I realize this will end. I just can’t tell when. I suppose it would have been smart to check my odometer when starting the climb. Then I would have a pretty good gauge on how much distance to go before the top. I am relieved when the end finally shows itself. The tower at the top of the drive looms into view with just a couple hundred feet to go. There is an information control at the tower itself so I dismount and walk Mellow Yellow up the gravelly path to seek the information needed. Todd is waiting there for me and provides me with the answer to save me the trouble. We decide to walk over to the scenic overlook which is just the other side of the road. The view is quite breathtaking. We can actually see the skyline of New York City way off in the distance. It is hard to believe that we started off there just a few hours earlier. I can’t resist getting the digital camera out, Todd and I take each others photo with the view in the background. The descent down Perkins goes a lot quicker than the ride up. The fun is moderately hampered by rough pavement here and there, but it is still enjoyable. After the descent we continue traversing the park. The climbing keeps up as we head up to the Tiorati Circle and the turn off on Arden Valley Road . Arden Valley is a series of ups and downs including one nasty little uphill that catches me off guard. I thought I could climb it without engaging the small triple chain ring, but halfway up I realized it was too steep. With no way to shift down while on the hill I am forced to dismount and walk up a bit until the grade lessens, then start again. Meanwhile, Todd is putting quite a gap on me.I try to make up some ground on the downhill sections, but the road surface is poor battering me and the bike if I descend to quickly. I find Todd waiting at the end of the road where we turn onto Route 17. We pass by the train station in the small town of Harriman , we then continue on to the control in Monroe . The control is manned by Janice who signs us in and offers us water to refill our bottles. After which we head into the café for a lunch break. The place is busy with riders from our group, as well as some local folks. We place our order and are quickly served. We waste no time getting back on the road for the next section.

Monroe to Congers: 36 miles

Upon leaving the control it is less than two miles before we encounter the first lump on this section. Pine Tree Road shoots up rather abruptly from Route 17. This hill has been a tough one for me every time as I am always tight from the time off the bike at the control when it is encountered. As has happened in the past my leg muscles threaten to cramp as I am climbing. I ease off a bit so as not to aggravate things further. After successfully cresting the top there is another short reprieve and then climbing resumes on East Mombasha Road . There is a good bit of up and down in the miles that follow as we cut through Harriman State Park . Shortly thereafter we enjoy a fast descent on Route 98 which features some of the smoothest pavement of the day. I find the descent somewhat rejuvenating and don’t seem to mind the remaining hills to the control. We arrive at the Dunkin Donuts in Congers, New York with organizer Laurent waiting for us in the parking area. Brevet cards updated we head in for a coffee and bagel. A few other riders are milling about the place and words of encouragement are exchanged. This is the last control before the finish so our day is close to done. Food and beverages consumed we head out to undertake the final 25 miles back to the city.

Congers to NYC: 25 miles

On this final leg we get a chance to warm up a bit. We re-connect with Route 94 for a few miles and then turn off to go through the quaint town of Nyack . They are having a street bazaar today so traversing Main Street is a bit of an adventure. The road is blocked to car traffic but they let us pass by the barricades on our bikes. Dodging the throngs of people milling about the many vendor stalls is the challenge. Fortunately we soon turn off and within a few blocks we pick up Piermont Avenue for another run along the Hudson River. After several miles of fairly pleasant riding, the only negative being the head wind, we turn again to climb our way up to Route 94 for the final time. This ten mile section of the highway features some substantial climbing early on. The most notable is the last section of pavement in New York State . The climb culminates with a large sign welcoming all to New Jersey. The terrain becomes less severe, although a few good size rollers still remain. In the past this section has always been a fast dash to the GW Bridge. Today is somewhat of a struggle as the wind is not in our favor. I mention to Todd that we haven’t caught a break with the wind all day. No matter what our direction of travel we faced head winds throughout. I mentally prepare myself to grind out the remaining miles. While undertaking one the larger rolling hills a cyclist with full racing kit passes me while going up.He also passes Todd who is just a bit up ahead of me. After I crest the top I’m motivated to work hard on the down side to try and pass him back. I catch up to Todd. He jumps on my rear wheel and together we start reeling in the rider. We use our momentum to fly over a smaller roller and scream down the other side. The racer seems surprised to see Mellow Yellow go by with a very classic looking LeMond in tow. Despite the wind we are managing to range between 20-25mph. I am loving this section. We keep the pace up until the turn onto Sage Road which wends us around to Englewood Cliffs and Hudson Terrace. Any suffering over the course of the day is erased from my mind. I am feeling great as we turn onto the bike path traversing the huge span to the end. Leroy is waiting for us at the bus station to sign us in. Job done! We quickly head out to ride across the river one final time.

This ride delivers on all its promises. There is plenty of challenge and a lot that is pleasant. Our finish time of 11:32 is a bit slower than the 10:20 I posted back in 2007, but that was a different time, and done on a 17lb carbon fiber upright. Mellow Yellow hits the scale at a solid 30lbs without an ounce of gear. Call me silly but I’m really beginning to love it. The completion of this ride puts me half way to the R12 with the toughest months of the year ahead. What will October bring?

Stay tuned.