Saturday, October 17, 2009

RP2IPBP solo pull into strong North Eastern...

Same old, happily surprised by some nice sun shine this morning. So he went out to see who is coming for the ride today. Not so many, he was some what expecting more, as Sunday does not look so promising. He waited until 9:02a looked down the road -- no one else, just Dou&Py.
Steadily putting power into the drive train moving into that strong North Eastern almost all the way out.

The water level of the Sound was high and unusual rough it was.

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Just started into the return -- how nice, some wind from behind -- Rick just turned into the Tanks as they went out... but he he eventually did not caught up on the fast return -- if he even tried, who knows.

A few view of Mill Rd in fall colors...

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The old route...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

TOSREC 2009

This Wednesday was the 4th annual TOSREC.

In short: 7am Orient Pt to New London Ferry, start and end at New London, Ferry Dock. 180km (113mi) / 2250hm (GPS Edge 305), 1763hm (Garmin web based analysis after post processing)?!?!?.

Day of Ride Report:

Just a John, Kris, Nick, Kevin and Py showed up this year for the 2009 TOSREC challenge at the 7am Ferry to New London, Orient Point. A nice sun rise while take off.

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And a smooth ride with second breakfast for Py on the boat, some pre ride route discussions -- looks like it will be a good one again, dry and clear sky -- only a bit chilly and not expecting much warmup at all for the whole day -- a warmer underlayer was good and not a bit too much at any time.

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Rolling off the ferry at New London, efficiently and at steady good pace they left the City boundary in a snap, over the bridge and almost out they were...

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Quick "tree" stop after the turn on 49/Ekonik Hill Rd (mile 28)... Water stop for a coffee and warmup at the Dunkin' in Canterbury (mile 42.5).

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From here they entered the most enjyable and scenic part of the route as they turned into N Society Rd -- some very quite back country -- following the pre programmed GPS.

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This was working great, with one exception, going North on Cherry Hill making a left on Old Kimball Rd -- this was supposed to turn int Windy Hill Rd very soon, but instead is was a dead end and all sudden entering private property and was chained up closed :-( However, having the detailed map of the area a alternative route around, continuing just a mile North on Cherry Hill to Wade Rd and crossing over on Kimball Hill now worked just fine.

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Great scenery and also a nice little climb...

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moving along one teh moste quite roads out there, smooth and colorful array of trees...

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and flying down hill...

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Entering 97 and following up back roads at Kenyon Rd and a nice climb on New Hill up to Station Rd. A little wondering where that so called "Air Line Rail Trail" was gone.. no sights of it even we should have been rigth on it now, so what, continuing on Station to Eastbrook to Section via James L Goodwin State Forest -- very nice and scening vistas down to Pine Acres Lake to the right -- did any one looked??? (I got a glimpse, but did not stopped)


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And making the long way back South on Brook Rd. Quick water fill up stop at mile 80 (Jewett City) and heading back to the Ferry. Little funny look on a new traffic routing on 2 going to 214 and nice fun moving over the rollign 214 to 117. Returning to the ferry at 4p. Soem time for a snack and a slice of pizza in New London Down Town.

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Actual TOSREC 2009 route by GPS.

Monday, October 12, 2009

TOSREC -- FYI and Ride PreView

For all details about the TOSREC visit SBRA here for: More Info

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Early Birds flying South

Sunday morning, around 6am, pitch dark, quite, no wind, not too chilly at the North Shore, but look at this temperature distribution -- most likely the South Route was on schedule:

... Py was still debating if he should ride to the start or not. A very nice day was expected later, would be nice to make the best out of the day and enjoy the ride home -- but the later and later rising sun is getting an issue. However, getting ready by 6:30a and thinking about putting stuff in the car -- but it was too tempting, the sky high up already got a bit bright, looks like this would work once more -- he knew he can make it to the start in under 40mins, may be 35' + some thing. OK, the decision was made -- leave that damn car sitting there and put the shoes and covers on -- ready to roll at about 6:45a, enough light + tail blinky to be seen. Also there is very little traffic that time on Sundays -- what is nice. However, he has to get moving not to be late. No room for any delays -- and he put in some TT like 11.5 miles this early morning -- his efforts let forget about the more and more chilly air towards South -- and made it in just under 35 minutes -- this must be his record for this part of the ride. (Split 1)

At the parking lot a few riders were already preparing. Looks like a good group, a bunch of the faster birds. Moving out pretty well... just very little or no wind this early. Some grass looked just like it was on the edge to been frosted over o-) But the rising sun was feeling nice on the sun exposed spots. (Split 3) Approaching Dune road at warp speed and smoothly flying out there, basically no wind -- just there own efforts to cut the air. Py took his share with a few not too long pulls.

A few more splits today -- on Dune Road (Split 4) they averaged little over 40km/h (~25mph).

Quick reassembly after the bridge (Split 5, just over the bridge) proceeding to and flying over the little rolling section (Split 6, 7) arriving at the Seven Eleven. Finishing with some good fast move (Split 8) and some power bursts up this little short steep and full speed ahead back. A few seconds gap opened, but he manage to catch that up again... but some how on the edge, the extra morning efforts seam to be payed now.... part of the group was already further behind. However, just a few seconds behind together with Rick who got a slow flat on a bad road section (under that bridge) but just made it back with a soft back tire.

If Py got this right -- it took just 2 hours 15 minutes to finish the South route today!

Little chill'n with a Cappuccino at the Starbucks across the road -- before riding back home. He took it a bit easy and enjoyed the nice weather. Good decision to ride out early. Even North Country was a bit pain after that.......

Click for Split details

Full stats and South Route.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Just Like that

RP2IPBP -- NNW Wind

Saturday morning brought a little wet roads from some showers at night, but more open roads were already dried up just fine. However start at 9am at Tildas. Today a different composition since a long time, Craig&Owen haven't been on this one for a while and Doug showed up again as well. Flying out East with some good tail wind most of the time was just nice -- a decent pace of almost 36 km/h. A Iron Pear Beach Park it should happen once more that Rick rolled in there just a few minutes later - nice, one more for sharing the work back...

A full-size photo is available to those with permission.

On the second half of Mill Rd (the nice paved section) they passed by a bigger SBRA group of Ron... and cut back into the NNW Wind returning to the Wading River Duck Pond and North Country back to Tildas tackling a few more rollers.

Nice ride :-)

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Early Birds North - wetisch warm & fast

After a all day rained out grey Saturday, finally it stopped raining some time at night. Looking good for the Birds on Sunday. Early up and ready, it justs did not wanted to get some Light outside... putting on clear lenses and waiting 10 more minutes, it just was enough to see and hopefully be seen with his red blinky tail light. Getting to Manorville around 7:15 the sun was visible the first time just coming up -- nice -- however, it was comfortable warm compared to lasty days, but this comes together with high humidity and almost never drying up roads.

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The North Route was on schedule... a nice group assembled of some of the usual Birds and with a slight late start they flew out.

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Tribute of wet roads, por what so evere, flat fixing stop and sone again to do it right (as it sounded like)....

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The sun felt nice :-) Good moving over the tanks and a fast run down to the reassembly, proceeding further east on some Shore Rd passing by wine fields -- a very quite setting -- cutting back in South quite fast as well and starting the return towards Cutchogue for a Deli & Coffee stop.

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From there flying back at warp speed finishing with the usual high speed section on 51. Good ride. Returning part way home w OC. Total today: 80mi.

Stats in brief -- averages of the three group sections: 22.5mph -- 22.0mph -- 23.7mph

Friday, October 02, 2009

Lake Panamoka

Lake Panamoka Panorama on Py's favorite morning route to the Camp after a cold night and chilly morning some low fog sitting over still warm water and looking really pretty.

Click to view full size image