As you may have seen from my brief iPhone posts, I rode in the Will Bike for Food event this past Saturday.  It was grueling, but good, and I’m still marveling that I did it. The morning was a cold one – the low had been only a little above freezing the night before, and … Read more

I made it! My first ever century ride, and a very hilly, challenging ride, but I made it. I finished at 7:10 pm, an fortunately there were a few volunteers still around to check people in, and they had food. They gave me burritos. So now I’m eating and then I’ll head home. A full … Read more

I’m at the third rest stop now, having arrived here about 15 minutes ago. At this point I won’t make it back by 6:00, so I won’t get to have the meal they’re serving, but I can always get food in Easthampton. There’s still 27 miles to go, but it’s the easiest segment.

I’m at the entrance to the William Cullen Bryant homestead, at the second rest stop. According to the sheet I’m 55 miles in, and the entire ride is 103. My legs are feeling sore, as is my back a little. Less than 50 miles to go, and I believe there are still 2 serious climbs.

I’m at the first rest area, which is one fourth of the way through. It’s at the Middlefield town hall. It took 2.5 hours to get here. I need to make better time on the rest of the ride, but I think it should be a bit easier going forward, as the worst is supposedly … Read more

I’ve gotten over the first big hill, and am most of the way down the steep descent. Have only had to stop and rest twice on the way – I’m doing pretty well, endurance wise.

I’m about to get started on the ride. So far it’s chilly out, but I dressed in layers, so I should be fine.

I’m posting this from my iPhone, to make sure that I can do so on my ride tomorrow. Below is a picture of some fascinating fungi in our backyard. They’re a ways from the house, but were easy to spot from the house because of the rather bright color.

This past Saturday I went for my final training ride.  This time my goal was to head up to Brattleboro, Vermont. I got a reasonably early start and headed north into Amherst and through the UMass campus.  From there I went up the familiar route 63 just into Montague, and then diverted through Montague center.  … Read more

On Sunday of Labor Day weekend, I got another ride in, trying to avoid getting rained on.  This time I went in a general easterly direction (as well as north).  I went through towns I’ve ridden through in the past, but on some roads I hadn’t been on at all before. The ride started by … Read more