D2r2 2024

[marciero]

Originally Posted by NHAero

How many miles did you end up with?
I didn't see rain. My start at 7:20 was misty. I rode 650Bx38 Gravelking slicks and in the early steeper stuff i was a bit concerned because I had a fair bit of slipping, but I'm not sure if small knobs would have helped, because it was just small stones (pebbles really). It made me concerned about Patten but I had zero issues on that climb. There were definitely some sketchy downhills, both paved (patched and bumpy) and dirt. My brakes got a workout.

I wound up with 101 miles, so about 4 miles extra and probably about a 15 delay minute total. Its all good though.

Originally Posted by NHAero

The 105K course was really amazingly unpopulated and i was hardly passed by a vehicle all day. I had my Varia on and for the first time it alerted when other riders were coming up on me.

I had heard 100-ish distances are popular but on the other hand there are more route options- most recently the 92 which was new this year I think- so that has served to keep the density down.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by type2sam

Camped with Tellyho and did the 105k for the second year with the same group of friends - this was our 9th or 10th year at the D2.

Agree with NHAero on the conditions...really nice weather for a hard ride. The Orcutt Hill/Clesson Brook/Labell climb was tough - had trouble keeping the front wheel planted on that 16% right at the start of Orcutt. I found Patten easier this year for whatever reason. Hawk's Road was interesting as always...thankfully I avoided ditching in that beach sand section near the start.

Not as much classic/handmade bike porn as in past years, however there were several standouts including an immaculate orange Ebisu with impossibly high gearing (at least for this guy) the big double top-tube Sam Hillborne that Sandy and I were both scoping out, and a couple more lugged masterpieces with all manner of color-outside-the-lines shifting, braking and gearing combos.

Equipment-wise, rode the Tsunami with SOMA Supple Vitesse 700x42 (measuring 38mm on my ancient - just ask Tellyho - wheelset). Was going to go with the 700x43 Rock'n'Roads I bought here but too lazy to do the swap.

Camping vibe was good. The new food vendors had me scratching my head at breakfast (no scrambled eggs or frittata and the coffee was gone) but the Rowe lunch and dinner were great.

And...that Waterford is lovely...wish I saw it in person.

I would have noticed that Waterford for sure!
I agree that the climb that started at Orcutt felt like the toughest of the route.

Shoot, bummed I missed you all.

[Elmer]

Many thanks to all of the riders to which my wife and I had the opportunity to meet at the Heath checkpoint on the 180K. You guys and gals are awesome and we both had so much fun talking to some of you and seeing the ride from a completely different perspective. I highly recommend volunteering at least once. Truly a very rewarding experience. Hats off to all of the organizers, volunteers and riders.

[eippo1]

This year was great. My buddy came in from Utah again and we decided to do the 100k because neither of us rode much this year. We did the 105 last year but both of us trained less this year and he hadn't done it yet either.

Parking in the mini cornfields was interesting and gave us a laugh. Weather was perfect and if was any sunnier I would have turned into a cramp statue and still be out there decorating the course. As it was, I still went through a dozen bottles of Nuun water and as much pickle water as I could get.

I had warned my buddy about Hawks Rd in advance and he laughed at the first paved section then we hit the pasture area (where I once had to stop for a herd of cows), and then we got a bit further down and he understood. We're both mountain bikers too so pretty much made it into a bunnyhop game through that section.

Food was good and always enjoy the noms as well as the BBC beer. We'll be back again, but this time I'll try to get more than one 30 mile ride in as my longest training ride. Brought my Lynskey GR300 with lightning bolts along for the ride this year with 700s and 36mm Gravelkings.

[mickey.d]

Mystery Ride with a crew of adults who all used to be kids in Amherst, good times. 20 years living in Western MA, and the crew always manages to find a few roads i’ve never been on.
I ran into Sandy at the lunchstop in Rowe- the way the numbers work out, each participant this year paid for one acre of preservation- or 3 full time equivalent employees. Keep going folks, you all make such a difference!

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by eippo1

This year was great. My buddy came in from Utah again and we decided to do the 100k because neither of us rode much this year. We did the 105 last year but both of us trained less this year and he hadn't done it yet either.

Parking in the mini cornfields was interesting and gave us a laugh. Weather was perfect and if was any sunnier I would have turned into a cramp statue and still be out there decorating the course. As it was, I still went through a dozen bottles of Nuun water and as much pickle water as I could get.

I had warned my buddy about Hawks Rd in advance and he laughed at the first paved section then we hit the pasture area (where I once had to stop for a herd of cows), and then we got a bit further down and he understood. We're both mountain bikers too so pretty much made it into a bunnyhop game through that section.

Food was good and always enjoy the noms as well as the BBC beer. We'll be back again, but this time I'll try to get more than one 30 mile ride in as my longest training ride. Brought my Lynskey GR300 with lightning bolts along for the ride this year with 700s and 36mm Gravelkings.

Man, where'd you get that blue sky at Apex Orchards? Were there peaches this year?
My tally of Nuun water bottles was six of the 750ml size. About one per hour of riding.

[eippo1]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Man, where'd you get that blue sky at Apex Orchards? Were there peaches this year?
My tally of Nuun water bottles was six of the 750ml size. About one per hour of riding.

The sun was out for about half an hour or so for the staircase climb and at the top. Perfect for pics and to enjoy some peaches, which they did have.