Conference noted::bicycle

     Steve, I work in WMO and there is a small informal group here
    that gets involved in rides. You might want to send an A-1
    message to @CYCLING@WMO. I'll be doing the HOLLIS, N.H. Road
    Race Saturday (weather permitting) so I'm out.
    
       Chip

Steve,

Sounds good to me. I'll do it.

Any other takers....Com'on it will be a FUN ride

Tom 

    Can you describe the hilly parts as I'm quite unfamiliar (on the whole)
    with the area. I though that Barre and parts of Worc. are real hilly?  
    
    				Kicking around the idea,
    				Russ 

    I've never ridden the route, so I can't describe it first hand. 
    Perhaps someone else here has actually ridden it and will share
    their thoughts.  I did drive it, however, and I remember thinking,
    "Good Lord, this is a long hill" a few times.
    
    rsb

    Well, Rt. 122 out of Worcester, past the Worcester airport up into
    Paxton is one heck of a climb.  Granted I've never done it on a
    bike.  It is one of those hills that has 2 lanes with a sign that
    says "slow moving traffic keep right".  Definitely a drive for 3rd
    gear.  I am unfamiliear with the rest of the roads.
    
    	-Nancy

Leaving Worcester on Rt 122 is probably the worst (part of the) hill. It's
basically one big hill (with a few dips and flat spots) from the starting point
to Rt 202.  I haven't done all of this on a bike, but I've done the section
from the start point through Paxton and into Rutland.  I don't know what I can
give people as a standard to compare it to.  The hill may look terrible, but
I have gone up shorter hills that give me more problems than that one does.

Rich

    You'll encounter rolling/hilly terrain out of Worcester, into Barre
    on Rt 122 and down 202.  This is not a flat century!
    
    Rt 32 and 202 are quite beautiful roads.
    
    have fun
    
    steve

     I've done part of it on an 87 miler starting on 2A going into
    Athol and picking up Rte.202 there. From there, we travelled through
    New Salem, Shutesbury and Belchertown (all on 202). Then we hooked
    on Rte.9 and headed through Gilbertville into Barre. There are some
    monsters. Especially on 202 on the west side of the Quabbin! We're
    talkin' steady 5-6% grades for 2-3 miles. It is hilly. Even 9 is
    hilly, but most of it is low gradual grades. Barre can kill ya unless
    you stay on Rte.122. It is a nice ride though. The roads are good,
    traffic not bad and the scenery is worth it.
    
      My $.02
    
                  Chip

>>    Well, Rt. 122 out of Worcester, past the Worcester airport up into
>>    Paxton is one heck of a climb.  Granted I've never done it on a
>>    bike                                                        

	I have and its not that bad, yes it is a long hill but it isn't as bad
as it looks. I remember the first time I rode up it and I kept saying,"Oh good
this must be the top", only to round a corner and see the hill still
continuing. A real mind game. Since then I have climbed this hill with no
problem, I just settle down and know in 4 miles I'll be able to coast again.
This is not a killer hill like Mt Wachusett or "Dead Horse Hill". This course
is hilly but has a lot of flat in between the hills.

Tom

    	For NEAR '83, I set up the Metric Century to start at WSTC and
    go out 122 to the north end of the Quabbin and return by the same
    route. 122 is a beautiful road with wide sholders most of the way
    and nice country. The hills are moderate (this comming from a
    hill-wimp) with no horribly steep sections (probably nothing over
    10% on this part), certainly nothing like parts of 62 going into
    Princeton and Barre. The section around the Quabbin, on the other
    hand, does get steep. You could wimp out at the 202/122 intersection
    and enjoy a mostly downhill return and still do a Metric Century.
    Gee, I could almost be interested in that!  - Chris

    >>    Well, Rt. 122 out of Worcester, past the Worcester airport up into
    >>    Paxton is one heck of a climb.  Granted I've never done it on a
    >>    bike...
    
    After reading that, and remembering driving up that hill, I decided it
    might be a good idea to give it a try before Saturday.  So after work
    last night I rode from Vernon Hill, out 122 past the airport and beyond
    Paxton a bit.  Tom's right, the hill keeps going on and on with a
    couple of flat spots strategically placed to fool you into thinking
    it's over.  However, it's not that steep - I only had to use my lowest
    gear for a small section.  I rode up Mt. Wachusett a couple of weeks
    ago and there is no comparison.  The worst part of the 122 ride was
    Chandler Street in Worcester - there's more broken glass on the side
    of that road than I've ever seen before.  Fortunately, it's pretty
    much off to the side enough to get by safely.
    
    -rsb

    
    I live in Maryland but this could be a chance to kill a few birds
    with one throw...
    
    1. I could have a real short visit with my family in Connecticut
    ("can't stay just came up for the ride." you know?)
    2. My wife wants me to mow the lawn, by the time I got back someone
    in the family would have done it.
    3. I'd like to see what everyone else is talking about with a "moderate"
    century.
    4. I'd like to meet some of you people who I read about all the
    time in this conference. 
    
    By the way whats Vernon Hill? Is that something I can ask directions
    for?
    
    I'll be the old overweight guy on a black TREK 1100.
    
    Fred Mudgett

    RE: .12:  The first thing you need to do is get your system manager to set
    up your mail object correctly - I get "network object is unknown at
    remote node" when I try to send you mail.
    
    In any case, I plan to post an update (as well as mail it to all
    who have sent me mail) with a count of who's going and decent
    directions to the start (Vernon Hill is the section of Worcester
    where I live).  There's plenty of street parking in my neighborhood
    for those of you who plan to drive.  Since I'm taking the day off
    tomorrow, the update will be either late Thursday or Friday.
    
    -steve

    	I was looking at the Worcester map last night - the Vernon part
    of town appears to be south central Worcester. You go thru the middle
    of town on the 122 route. About 3 miles out, after clearing downtown,
    is Worcester State Teacher's College.  I plan to start from there.
    If you guys get a 8:00 start, I expect to see you come by at 8:15
    or so. I'll be on a recumbent. - Chris (who dislikes urban areas)

    Fred, are you really planning on this?  Since I never made it to
    BRAG, it'd be great to see you at this.
    
    I'm planning on starting with Chris from Worcester State.  We are
    both just planning on riding a metric.
    
    	-Nancy (who'll be in pink)

I'll be starting from my house (which is about 4.75 miles from Worcester State),
and I hope to meet with the rest at the college.  It seems like the college
will be the first (and probably only) checkpoint.

The weather reports that I'm hearing are favorable.

I'll be wearing my digital jersey (though it may be covered by a wind-breaker if
it is cool in the morning.

Rich

Okay, here's the update:

If you want to go, but haven't sent me mail, please do it now and say where
you plan to meet.  I've made up directions, and will send you a copy.  I've
already sent the directions to everyone who sent me mail, but some of
the nodes were unreachable, so I used nmail.  It'll get there.

The weather report sounds good so far for Saturday, but you all know
how New England weather is - we won't know until we go.

A few (3) people have said they'd like to do a metric century, perhaps
out 122 to 202 and then back.  Of course, this option is open to everyone,
decide when you get there.

We plan to leave at 8:00 from my house, and will meet up with those of
you starting from WSTC at 8:15.

Wear 'em if you got 'em! (Digital jerseys, that is)

-steve

Well, here it is, the results of the ride.

Over the course of the day, a total of 11 people participated,
representing three states (Mass, Connecticut, and Maryland).

The weather was perfect for biking, clear and cool, and eventually
warming up enough to make the tights and windbreakers unnecessary.
Indidentally, those Digital jersey's look just great tooling along in
the bright sun.

To say the course was hilly would probably be somewhat of an understatment,
but after the 50 mile point really flattened out (relatively speaking).
Some great views out there on the other side of the Quabbin.

We got off to a smooth but chilly start promptly at 8:00 from my
house and we met up with everyone else at 8:15 at Worcester State College
for introductions, map distribution, and a group picture.

The first, and last, true checkpoint was 2 hours later on the green in Barre.
By that time, we had experienced all the minor incidents we were to see for
the rest of the ride (one flat tire, a couple of chains off, and a spill in
the grass).

As planned, Chris and Nancy opted for the metric century and turned back
near the 202/122 intersection, but not before Norm experienced a close
encounter of the car kind (the only major mishap of the day).  According
to eye witness reports at the scene, a motorist passed Rich and Norm (who
were going better than 30 MPH down a hill) and then stopped short halfway
into the berm.  Norm was unable to stop gracefully in time, and dumped his
bike.  He sufferred a few healable road rashes and his bike a broken chain
and derailler (sp?).  His tire pump resembles a letter from a three dimensional
alphabet.  Glenn and the rescue truck were summoned to take him home.
Incidentally, the motorist was quoted as saying something along the lines
of : "You're hurt?   Good, I'm glad you're hurt.  You bicyclists shouldn't
be on the roads."  Obviously, a man of limited vision.

Brad (who was only along for a section of the ride), after carefully adjusting
his seat for the optimum fit, completed a 50 mile route up 122 and back.

Fred called to say that he had met his goals for the day, and was on his way
home.

Tom, Rob, Rich, Steve, and myself finished the course without incident at
varying times.  I think Tom (as in "Rocket Tom") made it back in time to
do it again.  For all I know, he may have done it.  I finished the 102.5
mile ride in the middle of the remaining pack in 9:23, for an average speed
of a little better than 10 MPH.  Hardly a record pace, but one that got me
home before dark.

Speaking of dark, Kevin, who later reports indicated showed up a bit late
(11:00 or so), also completed the course, but must have rode the last 3
hours or so in the dark as he didn't show up at the end until close to
10:00.  I hope you were equipped for night riding!

All in all, a great ride (I would have rated it excellent if it wasn't
for Norm's spill).   A number of participants celebrated their success
back at the start with beers of varying brands and barbequed chicken.

Hope to see you all (and others, too) next year for the second annual Mass
Central, Quabbin Reservoir, Ride For Your Own Life, Fall Foliage, Century.

-steve                                             

    
    Thanks for the ride Steve,
                       
    Now for my personal report, (like anyone cares)
                       
    I made it to the gas station at the 50 mile mark. Boy was I wiped
    out! The previous 10 miles of hills just killed me. When I passed
    Chris and Nancy before the split I was wondering if I should just
    do the metric because I was feeling kind of out of sorts, then both
    brain cells kicked in and I figured...
    
    1. I've done tough hills before, heck I live in the mountians.
    
    2. Someone in this note called those who were doing the metric were
    hill-wimps, of course I could never be one of those.
    
    3. The bad hills were all at the start of the ride, right and what
    do Chris and Nancy know that I don't?
    
    Well alot as it turned out. By the time I had dragged into the gas
    station in Phelan (or whatever the town was) (you were right steve
    its the only thing in the town) I was perfectly content to call
    it a day. By the time my wife showed up I would have kissed anything
    and often whatever was necessay to get a ride home. (I'm not proud)
    The flaws in my thinking were, I've done tough hills but never with
    50 more miles to go. I should have ignored the hill wimp business.
    Besides all my other reasons I needed to visit my family in Conn.
    We are going to have a baby (a boy if the sonagram opinions were
    correct) and wanted to tell them in person. 
    
    I really enjoyed the ride and meeting all of you. We love the names
    of the towns in Mass like "Ware are we?" and "Mom is it okay to belch in
    Belchertown? Next year I'll know what I'm in for.
    
    Oh Nancy you were probably wondering what my cyclemeter said when
    I was done? 52.43 miles, 6:*&;%$ hours,mins,sec, 8.4 mph average
    speed and max speed 34. For the rest of you who don't know Nancy
    H. doesn't use a cyclemeter! I thought everyone had one, heck I've
    used three of them this year! 
    
    Fred Mudgett
     
    

    	Well, as #1 hill wimp, I guess I should report.  My mistakes
    were two: thinking it was all downhill back to Worcester, and trying
    to keep up with Rocket Tom (thanks for the jersey) leaving Barre.
    I found the faint remains of the turn-around arrow from my '83 NEAR
    ride and refused to go another foot up 122 (this at the north end
    of the Quabbin). Nancy arrived a bit later (the group had paused
    at the scene of the accident) and became the other non-macho rider.
    (She said that she usually got dropped by Larry and his friends
    - darn, they must be Fast, cuz she't Not slow!)(Welcome to the real
    world of recreational riders, Nancy.)  We said goodby to the rest
    and started back, quickly meeting Fred. We couldn't convince him
    the the worst was yet to come and bid him good riding.  We then
    started to fix flats (and do some riding): two for Nancy and one
    for me.  Coming down the airport hill into Worcester was a relief,
    and a revelation: for the first time, I got passed on a downhill
    by someone who was not: pedaling, or very heavy - Nancy gets into
    a tuck that has to be seen to be belived, and she flat screams down
    hills!
    	Sunday I did a hilly 40 miler with AMC from Concord. Boy, were
    the roads filled with bicyclists yesterday - much more than I had
    ever seen before.
    	A severely fried - Chris (the hill wimp)

    Good to hear all the reports about the century. 
    
    Chris, the reason (besides the incredible weather) that you might have
    seen so many cyclists in the general area of Concord on Sunday is that
    the CRW had a 25 and 44 mile ride that originated from Burlington. I
    happened to be in that one. I opted for that one as I felt that I was
    only ready for a relatively flat 40-50 miles. Previoisly, I had
    considered the Worcester century or metric century with you folks, but 
    it wasn't in the legs this week. Next year I'll be ready. 
    
    My 2 year goal of doing a century is coming up somewhere at the end of
    this month. So far, my max trip has been a 3 hour half-century as my top 
    time/distance. Wish me good luck with my century goal. Hopefully, I'll
    get it in before the bad weather sets in. 
    
    				Russ                                   

   
    So, where do I get my copy of the group picture?  I can't even remember
    who had the camera.
    
    Fred, just so you know my stats - I left my house around 7:15 AM,
    got back home at 5:00 PM.  It's about 80 miles round trip on the
    car, plus the 62 for the metric on the bike.  Meaning a total of
    142 miles in 9:45, meaning an average pace of about 14.5 mph!
    
    Well, I better start training now so that next year I can act like
    the rest of you real men and do a real century.
    
    	-Nancy

     Re; <22> I didn't participate, but I can tell you they are more
              "real men" who can't do a century that can. Congratulations
              to you, Nancy and the rest of you who participated. BTW,
              148 is a lot tougher than 100. People need to know that :-).
    
              Chip

    
    Well, I did participate, and finished a few hours late and in the
    dark.  You picked a great route, Steve - the far side of the Quabbin
    Reservoir was a bit hilly but a lot of fun.  
    
    Sign me up for the 2nd annual fall classic!
    
    

It was the perfect day for doing a Century ride. Sorry I wasn't more social. I
have to blame my speed, on the BASSO, after flatting a tubular on mile 20 and
having to ride the next 80 without another spare, I wanted to get home as fast
as I could ;^) Actually I did take my time and enjoy the sights. I even stopped
to say hi to an uncle of mine in Barre. I ended up going past Worcester State
at 3:55 and road to my father inlaws house in Shrewsbury for a grand total of
111 miles for the day. When I got there he asked me and my wife if we wanted to
go out for Italian food. A perfect end for a perfect day of cycling :-) Lets do
it again...

Tom

    Nancy (and others) - I'll send you a copy of the photo, assuming
    it comes out.  On a beautiful course like that, a camera probably
    should have been required!  
    
    By the way, among the five who finished the whole course (during
    daylight anyway; I can't speak for the Nightrider), I belive it
    was the first century for three.
    
    Great ride.
    			Rob         

It was the first century that I have done.

I've got listed as one of my "rainy day" projects to drive the course with and
altimeter and record the differences in altitude at various points.  That way
we can know home much we climbed.

Rich

    sounds like it was fun, sorry I missed it.  I had reservations
    elsewhere.  Perhaps next year.
    
    ed

    This was a good idea I too wish I could have been there. Maybe next
    year with a little notice I could drive up. Or even better maybe some
    of us could meet some where in the middle of the east coast.
      
     Hey,I know!! We can meet at MT. Mitchell.

        If anyone else wants a copy of the group picture, send me your
        mailstop, and I'll order some more copies.
        
                                                Rob

    I drove the route yesterday with an altimeter to get an idea of how
    much climbing we did.  I set the altimeter to zero at Worcester State
    College for my base elevation.  In Paxton Center (5.5 miles) we've
    climbed 500+ feet, we loose all of this by the time we get to the Barre
    line, but then climb another 300 feet just before the center.  This
    rise continues another 100 feet, after which we descend 300 feet by the
    time we enter Petersham.  From there we climb another 300 feet by the
    time we get to the five corners.  From here, the altitude decreases by
    500 feet (putting us 100 feet lower than we started) by the time we get
    to the intersection of 122 and 202.  From there there's a climb to 400
    feet, a descent to 150, a climb to 350, a descent to just below 0 as we
    enter Shutesbury before we climb to 500 for the overlook.  There is a
    benchmark on the stone wall there that says the elevation is 1144.660
    MSL.  From here to the intersection of Rt 202 and 9 it is a descent to
    -200, with a little more downhill by the time we get to the entrances
    to the Winsor Dam.  There is a climb to 0, then we descend to -250
    again in Ware center.  From there we climb to 0 in Gilbertville center,
    and 250 when we cross Rt 67.  A little later we hit that high point of
    500 again, then descend to 250 when we get back to Rt 122.  One last
    climb of 250 feet as we get into Paxton, then it's downhill from there.

    Total climbing = 3600 feet.

    Some of the people that I've been riding with lately have done the Mt
    Greylock (3491 ft above MSL) century, in which all the climbing is on
    two major hills.  The steady climbs made me think that it wasn't for
    me, but now I'm starting to consider trying it.

    Rich

    RE: .-1:  The Greylock Century has 4 climbs for a claimed total climb
    of 9898 ft.
    
    ed

    
    Is there a standard route for the Greylock Century?  By that I mean
    is there some specific route that "everyone" rides when doing this
    century?
    
    -steve
    

     <<< Note 1320.33 by SOUR::BERGEY "Double your IQ or no money back." >>>
              -< Just exactly what is the Mt. Greylock Century? >-

    
>    Is there a standard route for the Greylock Century?  By that I mean
>    is there some specific route that "everyone" rides when doing this
>    century?
    
Yes, it is a real century, with a route sheet and a reasonable turnout (50+).
At least it was in 1988, the only time I rode it.  I don't remember the route, 
other than after climbing Mt Greylock (from the west... the long way up) and 
the most white-knuckle descent I've ever done, the route goes up thru North 
Adams and climbs UP the road that the famous "Hairpin Turn" restaurant is on.
This is one challenging C!  

Will have to go back next year.

Kevin