Bikes & Beers: The Perfect Combination

This event popped up in one of my social feeds last month and I knew I had to be there. I even created a team for our self proclaimed riding club and surprisingly almost everyone joined up. We had Gavin, Mike, Marshal, Andy (honorary member and Gavin's future son-in-law) and myself. Having it at Two Roads was great because they have such a variety of beer but the only thing I didn't like was the course because to get to 45 miles you had to do another lap of the top most section of the course.

2005 Jamis Xenith Pro Build

I finally finished building up this Jamis Xenith Pro last week!

It all started when a friend of mine gave me the frame for $10 Starbucks gift card. Originally, it was just supposed to be a Caramel Macchiato but due to Covid I ended just sending him a gift card.

Selling the Sex Machine

After purchasing the Waltly I found myself in a bit of conundrum - do I need three gravel bikes?  With the CAADx now my most favorite gravel bike since giving it a makeover and the Waltly being an any road bike, did I need my REI Adv 3.1 anymore? 

Afternoon Dirty Delight

I made those changes to the Waltly that I talked about in my July 21 post and picked up my new tires from the Bicycle Center but didn't put them on. I did go out for a test ride Friday afternoon only to discover that the saddle was canted downwards too much. I finished the ride and then fixed it so it was right. 

Lemonade and Ice Cream

I was driving home work on Wednesday when at the bottom of Church Hill Road in Redding I noticed a Lemonade Stand so I stopped. Unfortunately, the kids were in the process of cleaning up so I couldn't get a cup but I told them that I would be coming by with my riding group tomorrow and I was sure they wouldn't mind a cold cup of lemonade. 

Photo Credit: Scott Davidow

We ending up starting later than I wanted and I wasn't sure they would still be open but they were and really excited that we showed up.  We all got our cup of lemonade and tipped them, too. 

A Badger sighting in Roxbury

I went out early Wednesday morning on the Waltly and rode north into Roxbury. I went for something a little different instead of just riding up to Topland Farms and then zooming down Painter Hill. That route is also my preferred solo route to Ovens of France but they were on vacation for the week and closed. So I chose to climb up Davenport Road to Painter Ridge and then try something different, like work my way over to to Upper Grassy Hill and then head home via Rt 172.

She cleans up good but buyer beware!

Two weeks ago I took my Synapse off the trainer, cleaned it up somewhat and put it up on Craigslist (see add below), Offer Up and Facebook Marketplace for $600. There was quite a lot of interest and many low ball offers but I finally sold it $550 to some guy with a heavy accent from Hartford. As I am always looking at and looking for bikes, the other day I was searching Craigslist for Cannondale bikes and look what I found!  That's my Synapse that I just sold and the guy is flipping it for over double of what he paid for it!

The Dirty Wachusett

Will from Mike's Boston area D2R2 crew, suggested last week that he wanted to ride the Dirty Wachusett route. Apparently Mike, Will and few others of the D2R2 crew did it before and Will thought re-riding it would be good to prep for this year's D2R2. There was interest from everyone at first but then they bailed leaving just Mike, Will and I. We met Will at the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail head and headed down the rail trail. 

Annual Mt Riga Pilgrimage

Every year I try to combine Mt Riga Road and Sunset Rock Road into some sort of a ride that is different every time. Mt Riga Road is known for its length and steep sections, combined with the fact that it's a dirt road that spans both CT and Massachusetts. According to Ride With GPS it is a Class 1 climb that is 6 miles long, a max grade of 15% and average grade of 5.4%. Sunset Rock Road is just steep. 1 mile long with an average grade of 12%.  My Garmin said there were sections that were 22%.

Troubling Times in Tubelessville aka Trampy's Hangover Ride

One of the original Lunartics that moved to New Jersey last year came back up to Newtown for a party and got really wrecked the night before but still made it to our weekly ride to OOF. It was a cold morning after a storm came through the night before and we were dressed with long sleeves in summer.