Conference noted::bicycle

    Thanks for the update on conditions.  Barring any more significant
    snow, what's your guess as to when I can ride my road bike up - and
    down?  Need a good hill after the long winter.
    
    rob

    They'll be plowing through it around April. Even though the road
    remains closed, there is usually an 8' to 10' pile of snow across the
    road (even though all the rest of the snow is gone).
    
    Chip

    The south side is probably clear now for a road bike.  The only
    problem is you can't get any speed on the way down due to the
    condition of the pavement.  On the other hand, the backroads leading
    to Mt. Wachusetts aren't much better.  If it doesn't snow this
    weekend, I'll give it a try with (Ron Pleva's) old Trek 1200.
    Kratz

    You're not kidding - some of the back roads I generally take to the
    park entrance aren't the greatest, even in the summer.  Thanks for the
    update on conditions.  With the cold back again, and snow forecast for
    the weekend, looks like I'll be staying put for now.  Tuesday was too 
    good to be true.
    
    rob

    As of last Saturday it was possible to take a road bike up the
    south side to the top without dismounting.  The north side road
    probably has another couple weeks.  K

I took a ride up last night using the main entrance and the main roads. You can
ride up the regular roads. They're pretty clean (I said up, mind you).

I started down (the down road) and I was letting it out (35-40mph). As I came 
to the first real corner (a left-hander about half way) I was me with a big
suprise. Lots and lots of snow in the road! I had to really get on brakes to
stop before doing a face-plant  into about 5"-6" of snow. I walked over this
first trail section. TIME shoes and Speedplay cleats really stink for snow
hiking. The a small bare section, then the next section of trail. If I had 
looked at the down road on the way up I could have noticed the snow.

So, if you go up, be careful coming down.

It still felt good. Oh yeah, I got rained on by one crummy balck cloud section.

Chip

I took a spin up yesterday. Great conditions. There is still a
little snow left on the trails next to the road.

I ran into 3 people cycling on the mountain. I should
say three "not so bright" cyclists.

There was one older gentleman screaming down the "up" road 
on a mountain bike. There are certain parts of the road
where he could have easily hit me.

Two guys were going up the "down" road. I told one guy
what he was doing.

People need to realize that these roads are one way for a
reason. There are other cyclists and pedestrians obeying
the traffic flow and even though the road is still closed
to traffic, there are still park vehicles that run up
and down regularly.

I run into these people every year. It will only take
one idiot getting hurt to close the mountain down to
cyclists. It's already closed to roller skates, in-line
skates, skateboards, and roller skis.

Interesting note... On the way home I was heading west 
on Rte 2A just coming into Westminster center (by
the Cracker Factory) when I say this young lad
flying down the sidewalk (heading east toward the
Cracker Factory). I also saw a woman driving into
the intersection where their paths would intersect.

I could see this thing developing a mile away. He
continued and she continued. He was about 30yds.
from the intersection (on his brand new TREK 7000)
when he realized that there was a problem. He locked
up his brakes and went ramming into the front right
fender of the woman's car. He launched over the hood
and came to rest in the next lane. 

I went flying over to see if he was okay. The bike is
a total loss, Rock Shox twisted, front wheel pretzled,
frame bent and dented, just a mess. He didn't look
too bad, The usual scrapes and bruises. I could tell
he was hurting but kept insisting he was all right.
This is the prescribed response from cyclists who've
crashed :-). The cops came over, the rescue truck
and an ambulance showed up. I told the EMT's that
he needed to be checked out even though he said he
was okay. He really slammed that car. I told the
officer what I had seen. He took my name and thanked
me for sticking around. 

The boy's name is Mike McCarthy and he is 14 years
old. A clear case of the cyclist in the wrong. 

All in all, a pretty exciting ride home.

Chip

I hope the boy is alright and modifies his riding a bit!

I am glad the down-the-up-road bikers and the up-the-down-road bikers did 
not run into you!  Sometimes things can get a little too exciting.  Like 
the time I missed the down road turn . . . not paying attention!  The road 
was open to traffic and going down the up-road was as interesting as I care 
to have it!  Needless to say I will not miss that turn again!  Going down 
the up road would be fun if it were a down road.  Going down the down road 
on a road bike would be more fun if it were smoother.

There is a running race up Mt Wachusett at 10 am Saturday.  I was planning 
on riding out there Saturday morning.  Does anyone know if the road would 
be open to bikers prior to 9:45?

I have this crazy thought that keeps coming up in the back of my mind that 
I could ride out there, run in the race and ride back.  It would be an 
interesting personal duathlon, B25m, R4.3 Uphill, B25M. . .  Nah, too much 
planting to do.  But if anyone from the Northboro area is thinking along 
these lines I might be talked into it.  (DTN 244-7407)

Rick

I talked with someone from CMS who is sponsoring the running race up Mt 
Wachusett Mt along with Polar Copr.  The road officially opens for the 
season after all the runners reach the top.  But on a bike he was sure that 
as long as we got there before the race there would be no trouble going up. 
 

Rick

Even if the gate is closed, just skootch under it. Get there 
early and it should be no problem. The runners shouldn't
catch you anyway.

Chip

    re: .10
    
    That's the great thing about Mt. Wachusett.  As long as you get there
    before 9:00 a.m., you have the place to yourself.  As Chip said,
    skootch under the gate.  It's great not having to breathe exhaust, and
    all you hear are the birds and your heartbeat, at least on the way up!
    
    rob

I did get there before the running race.  So, I entered the running race.  
They took my bike up to the top.  After running I ate some and rested a 
little before heading back down.  It took me about ten miles before I even 
felt like I belonged on a bike!  It was a fine workout and I had a good 
ride home after that first ten miles.  Actually, I went down from Princeton 
to Sterling along Rt 62 and I had a great time from Princeton to Rt 140 
(this is a great run!).

Rick

    I rode to the top on Memorial Day...  well, OK, I had to walk a couple
    times.  My own fault for not eating enough breakfast.  Coming down was
    interesting.  My legs were so shaky from bonking that I was not too
    confident of my bike-handling!  The brakes got a workout as a result.
    
    Next goal - reach the summit without getting off the bike. :-)
    
    Karl

I rode up Mt Wachusetts but stopped to chat with a group from 7 Hills at 
the entrance to the ranger station.  Nice folks! 

Anyway I was favoring my knee and used my third chain ring from time to 
time.

Conditions were like riding through a cloud!  At the top there were a few 
cars doing a Ham radio thing.  I took it very carefully on the way down due 
to the moisture and there was some sand & rock washout across the road in 
places from recent rains.

On the way home things lightened up and my knee made the trip in good 
shape.  I increased the intensity somewhat and felt pretty good.

I would say that it was MUCH better than riding in the basement, Chip :-)

Rick

-1 I would agree wholeheartedly, Rick. :-)

    Chip

    Has anybody been up the mountain yet this year?  I'm wondering if the
    road is clear yet.
    
    (The Landmark reported in the police log that on April 1st - the day of
    the blizzard - there was a report of "a dozen youths snowboarding down
    Mile Hill Road".  I'll bet *that* was fun.)
    
    Karl

    I've been up several times this year (most every Sunday), but that's
    on the south side roads... dunno if the north side roads with the ski
    trails crossing are clear or not.
    
    Assuming you're coming from the east, take Rt 62 to Princeton center,
    hang a right on Mountain Rd, then in 1 mile bear left up Westminster
    Rd, then in 1 mile take the paved road with the gate.
    Kratz

    That would be Administration Rd?  Didn't know it was paved (not that I
    necessarily insist on pavement).  I looked at Echo Lake Rd on previous
    trips, but it looked rather washed out.
    
    Karl

    Yup!  There's really only one section where the pavement is
    *totally* chewed up (just above where Echo Lake joins it), but
    you can get by on either edge.  The only drawback to Admin Rd
    is that you can't come screaming down it on a road bike like
    the main road, but a mtn bike with a front shock is kinda fun.
    
    For a rush on a mtn bike: from the top of the mountain, only touch
    the brakes in 3 spots: making the turn at the very top to go down the
    "wrong" way, the switchback just above the bog, and making the
    turn onto Admin Rd (and, of course, at the bottom before taking
    out the gate!)
    Kratz  
     

    Sounds like I'll just have to try that, when a weekend becomes
    available.  I'll watch out for that gate :-).
    
    Karl