Photos from your rides.

[Beldar77]

@Bumblebeedave I think I spy a Black Butte Porter Jersey. I have it too. But then again although a MA native I live in Bend, Oregon - home of the Deschutes brewery.

Sorry about the wound.

[scoobydrew]

Ouch. Gravel-induced wounds are the worst.

[phoenix]

Overcast weather this morning was a welcome reprieve from the California heat wave. 78 degrees, some rain and a nice light breeze. Should be 108 in a few hours once these clouds burn off.


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[weisan]

let me take a look....

AHhhhhhhhhh.... according to the Chinese almanac, it is the symbol of GREAT PROGRESS!

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by weisan

let me take a look....



AHhhhhhhhhh.... according to the Chinese almanac, it is the symbol of GREAT PROGRESS!

I used to mountain bike with this friend from work. He was a skier and subscribed to the notion that if you didn't crash, you weren't pushing yourself hard enough to improve your skills. I tried to explain that dirt and rock ain't the same as soft snow! I used to kid around that if he didn't draw blood it wasn't a good ride, and had to admonish him not to bleed on the upholstery if I was driving. Live to ride another day, was my moto.

[BikeAdirondacks]

Weather was perfecto as my friend Paul and I rode the 55-mile virtual "Ididaride!" route for the annual event sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK).

We were greeted with stunning scenery spread out under perfect blue skies. We took almost seven hours to do the whole thing, stopping for photos, lunch at The Hub in Brant Lake, and sometimes just to take a moment to enjoy the view and talk a bit. This new road route replaces the former 75-mile loop that had lots of climbing and no roads across the middle to make a short cut with if needed/desired. This new one is a big figure-eight that has moderate climbing and a convenient way to cut the total miles if you find that works better for you. I’ve ridden all of these roads before, but not quite in this exact route. It also offers convenient rest stops at the Adirondack Store in the hamlet, The Hub in Brant Lake, and Sullivan’s General Store in Olmstedville. There’s also a Valero store just off the route in Pottersville, and Stone Bridge Ice Cream on Rt. 9 within sight of one of the major turns. So lots of chances to fuel up.

They are taking registrations through August 28 and you can get more info HERE.

BBD

[BikeAdirondacks]

. . . over to Saratoga Battlefield Park. Back in June I ordered this patriotic themed kit to wear for July 4, but I ended up not getting to wear it for the holiday. It was part of Urban Cyclewear's "American Freedom Ride" event. I wanted to christen it properly, so I rode from Spa Park in Saratoga over to and around the battlefield park, then through the national military cemetery just north of there.

On a weekday both places were pretty much deserted, but it was ultimately very thought-provoking to ride through them consecutively. The nine-mile battlefield park loop road is a popular local place to ride and I've been through there many times. But it's easy to get jaded and just ride past all the various exhibits and stops that tell about this pivotal battle that really created our country.

In the 1700's the British had the most formidable military in the world. But their defeat here by the "amateur" Continental Army was the turning point in the American Revolution, convincing the French and others to back our cause and actively assist the fledgling United States. It's one thing to read the exhibits that talk about how many died at Saratoga, but it's quite another to ride through the national cemetery and see individuals' names on the hundreds of headstones. It really made me think about the years of their lives that each of these veterans had given to serve their country and how their service helped make it possible for me to go out and enjoy a bike ride on this day.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend that you stop at both places to see the value of what all these people in the past have given to us today.

BBD

[BikeAdirondacks]

. . . for the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club's "Virtual Gravel Gobbler" in November that will benefit our local food bank.

My buddy Chet led us on a great day exploring the 25 mile "Dirty Bird" route from S&S Farm Brewery east of Nassau. This year's Gravel Gobbler will be different because it will be a virtual event because of Covid 19. But once again the event will raise money for the Regional Food Bank of Eastern New York, supplying food and other vital items to families all over eastern New York. You can help while having a great time on your bike!

Register HERE, then do it on a Friday or Saturday and loiter afterward at S&S.

S&S website is HERE.

BBD

[Matthew]

Did a 42 miler today near Lake Michigan. US 393 ship museum, Muskegon river, and a casualty of the pandemic, a closed Michigan Adventure amusement park. Sad to see it empty. Hopefully next summer it's filled with laughter and people.

[AngryScientist]

Just got home. Big weekend up north.

more to come!

[teleguy57]

Wow, life can be tough. Just when you're really pumped to ride one of the crappiest road surfaces around channeling your inner Spartacus, Tommeke and other flahutes what do you find?

That several miles of your route have been recently paved -- so recently that the barricades are still up, side stripes haven't been painted yet, and the side drop offs still are waiting for their gravel backfill. Sigh.

So what's a hardman to do? Suck it up and make do with the surface so pristine every pedal stroke hurtles you silently further and further, and you feel like you're floating just above the surface rather than riding on it. I focused on not glancing at my stem top cap, so that helped too.

Nice payoff for all four of my main routes out of town being closed for construction at some point this summer, with several of them still under construction. This wasn't one of them, but I had planned this as an alternate route once out in the country.

[rides2slow]

Originally Posted by weisan

let me take a look....

AHhhhhhhhhh.... according to the Chinese almanac, it is the symbol of GREAT PROGRESS!

ouch - hope you are doing okay

[rides2slow]

Originally Posted by BikeAdirondacks

. . . over to Saratoga Battlefield Park. Back in June I ordered this patriotic themed kit to wear for July 4, but I ended up not getting to wear it for the holiday. It was part of Urban Cyclewear's "American Freedom Ride" event. I wanted to christen it properly, so I rode from Spa Park in Saratoga over to and around the battlefield park, then through the national military cemetery just north of there.

On a weekday both places were pretty much deserted, but it was ultimately very thought-provoking to ride through them consecutively. The nine-mile battlefield park loop road is a popular local place to ride and I've been through there many times. But it's easy to get jaded and just ride past all the various exhibits and stops that tell about this pivotal battle that really created our country.

In the 1700's the British had the most formidable military in the world. But their defeat here by the "amateur" Continental Army was the turning point in the American Revolution, convincing the French and others to back our cause and actively assist the fledgling United States. It's one thing to read the exhibits that talk about how many died at Saratoga, but it's quite another to ride through the national cemetery and see individuals' names on the hundreds of headstones. It really made me think about the years of their lives that each of these veterans had given to serve their country and how their service helped make it possible for me to go out and enjoy a bike ride on this day.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend that you stop at both places to see the value of what all these people in the past have given to us today.

BBD

+1 - nice post

[MikeD]

[Julien]

Lovely Friday evening sunset ride. I did gulp down a few flies though.