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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

3100.0. "GREAT QUABBIN (MASSACHUSETTS) RIDE THIS WEEKEND" by STOWOA::SWFULLER () Tue Jun 11 1996 12:45

  The ride below is put on by the Seven Hill Wheelmen, it deserves special
  mentioning.  Typically 80 to 100 people show up for it.  Don't forget
    to leave a bit of energy on the way back, Dick likes to put a few 
    Oakham hills in near the end.
    
    
Saturday, June 15, 1996
Activity:  Quabbin Challenge  100K (62 miles), 100 miles or 200K (124 miles) 
Location:  Naquag School, Route 122A (Main Street), Rutland
Time:  100K 9:00 a.m.; 100 miles and 200K, 8 a.m.
Leader:  Dick Avery  791-2131

This is the one we've all been training for!!  No fee. No sag.  Drinks and
snacks available upon your return.  New double metric route this year!
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3100.1Ride report.PCBUOA::aki1005.ako.dec.com::rehbergMon Jun 17 1996 15:3389
Here is my ride summary.  This was my first century this year and my second 
ever so this may be a bit lengthy reflecting my newness to this sort of 
thing.

I thought I would report that I did elect to do the 100 mile route.  I had 
twisted my knee a couple of weeks ago but after completing my 60 mile ride 
the week before I felt that I could do the C if I stayed in low gears up 
the hills.  

The ride is very well marked and very scenic.  From Rutland there is quite 
a bit of downhill and flat before the climb into Barre.  Turning southwest 
out of Barre there is another section of flat and downhill which goes 
through a nice rural area.  I stayed near the lead of the main group till 
the rise into Barre where I backed off to spin lower gears but caught them 
again on the section leaving Barre.  There is a right turn and a steep 
uphill followed by a longish uphill and I decided to use my third chain 
ring and take it easy to conserve energy for the entire ride.  I was still 
uncertain about my knee at this point.  This section is quite scenic 
alternating between some farms, some vistas and some woods untill the 
entrance to Quabbin at Gate 43.

At the end of the ride in from Gate 43 is a beautiful point with very nice 
views of the resevoir!  This is a good spot for a break and a snack.  Upon 
returning to Gate 43 Dick Avery was there with water, bananas, sports drink 
and good cheer!   Much thanks goes to Dick for a very well organized ride! 
 From here there is a bit of a rise till the long down hill into Ware.  The 
scenery is very pastural along this route.  

In Ware the route starts going along route 9 and by this time of the day it 
had become hot.  This section is not very nice until leaving route 9 to 
re-enter the Quabbin for the ride up to the tower.  There are some nice 
views along the way and I stopped at the tower along with a lot of other 
riders for a snack, the view and some rest.  I even walked up the tower 
which provided for even nicer views.  This was probably a mistake since I 
noticed my knee was a little shakey on the way down the steps.  After 
leaving the tower the route crossed by the Windsor dam and returns to route 
9 for a while before turning right (North) onto Rte 202.

I was riding pretty much by myself since the steep hill coming going over 
toward Quabbin.  Along 202 I connected with a couple of riders who were 
basically going a similar pace.  I was riding more slowly up hill and a bit 
faster on the down hills.  One of the riders was feeling hungry so I gave 
him a box of raisins that I had with me.  I think this helped him but he 
needed to stop badly and I wanted to keep going to the pastry shop up the 
road.  Route 202 was hot and with few views to speak of and the auto 
traffic is going quite fast along here.  It is also "rolling"  that is to 
say there were 8 mph uphill sections and 40+ mph downhill sections!  I was 
overjoyed to finally come to the pastry shop!  The pastries are very good 
here.  I had two different kinds of biscotti's and chatted with some of the 
other riders.  At this point I felt that I should not rest for more than 20 
minutes thinking my knee might stiffen up.  I told the other riders to say 
hello when they passed me and started out along a nice downhill to Rt 122.

(BTW there was some discussion about a rider who did not make the US 
Olympic team since the coaches selected people who had been riding for/with 
Lance Armstrong.  This particular rider had done very well.  Does someone 
know who this rider is?  I would be interested in finding out more about 
him.)

Rt 122 was nice with several views of Quabbin and various other water and 
woods scenery.  It continued in the rolling mode.  Once the route turned 
onto some backroads where it would stay till reaching Barre once again, it 
was rural, quiet and hilly with some nice scenery.  There was one downhill 
with a bridge at the bottom and some sand on the road just before the 
bridge which was a little tricky.  I rested on Barre common and had a snack 
before setting out for the last 15 miles or so.  

After riding along for a while a group of three people passed me in a pace 
line.  So, I decided to tag along.  Wow, this was great I was rolling along 
and resting at the same time!  Now came the inevitable long hill on 
Colebrook Rd.  I started spinning and noticed that I was not losing much 
ground on the other three so I decided to go for it and pushed a little 
going up here both spinning and out of the saddle.  I was actually feeling 
pretty good and made it to the top.  I started down the other side figuring 
I needed to keep going while they gathered waiting for the slower climbers 
in the group.  It was not long before they passed me and I caught on to 
their wheel for the ride back.  This worked fine till coming to Rt 122A 
which is a long gradual uphill to the finish/start point.  I knew I could 
not keep up with the two stronger riders who went on ahead each separately 
and the other rider bonked at this point.  So, I rode on in feeling tired 
and yet good.  Overall time: 7:45, rolling time: 6:27, rolling avg: 15.7.

This is a very nice ride and my knee still feels ok today two days 
afterward.  

Gotta go now for a lunch time ride!

Rick

3100.2WMOIS::GIROUARD_CMon Jun 17 1996 16:523
Congratulations Rick! How is the knee doing now?

 Chip
3100.3Thanks. The knee continues to get better!PCBUOA::aki1005.ako.dec.com::rehbergMon Jun 17 1996 17:3116
Thanks, Chip.

The knee continues to strengthen.  I got back from a lunch time ride and 
was able to pull pretty well on the flats!  The knee did not bother me on 
the slight up-hill sections today but fatigue did!  I cut out after about
9 miles and just did a cool down for a couple of miles back.  

The knee still bothers me going up and down stairs or running and sometimes 
while I am sleeping it gets in a bad position.  I think I'll continue to 
stick to cycling for the next couple of weeks and not push hard up any 
hills.  After that I think it will be fine.

Rick

ps.  Ok, so I'll probably run a little before two more weeks is up. ;-)