Ride Reports and News

Great weather tonight. Temps in the mid 80's and a gentle variable wind. We had a mere 4 riders at the 5:30 start. Madeline did the TT earlier and our old friend from a while ago, Scott Green (who was seen all decked out in his pro TT setup warming up as we started, thinking the TT started at 6 pm). came back to set down a blistering fast time.

The best news, at least to me, is that this is the last long TT of the series!! 

Here are the results:

Not an actual ride report, because I didn't actually ride. I brought home a broken collarbone as a souvenir from my RAGBRAI trip a couple weeks ago, and I still have a little bit more time before I can get back on the road. Fortunately, Ari has been doing a superb job filling in for me on the Monday night intro rides. Since this is his last week before he heads back to school, he wanted to celebrate by taking the crew out for ice cream, and he invited me to meet up with the group there.

Ari arranged a shorter route to account for the steadily-diminishing mid-August daylight and to allow some extra time for face-stuffing. He rode most of our Easthampton route in reverse, calling an audible early on to remove the Park Hill climb after Kavi got a flat early in the ride. He rolled into Mt. Tom Ice Cream at about 6:30 PM, with a group of eight or nine riders. It was great to see a bunch of familiar faces, and a couple of new ones as well. It was my first time at Mt. Tom, and I have to say the ice cream (Mexican Chocolate) was superb.

We all scarfed down some ice cream and chatted a bit before Ari and the rest of the riders hit the road for the return to NoHo, while I took the easy way home in my car. Not sure how the rest of their ride went, but I'm sure Ari did a great job guiding them home.

I told the group tonight that we had two more rides scheduled before the end of the season, but I mis-spoke -- we're actually on the calendar through the end of August, so three more rides, on the 17th, 24th, and 31st. I will miss next week again, but Adam has stepped up to lead that one. Hopefully I'll be back on the road after that to finish out the season. Hope to see you all then!

At the start, 8 AM (trying to avoid some heat of the day), we had four riders. Madeline, Mark D, John M, and myself. It was already quite warm and (self described) gross. We met up with Wendy K on Elm St. 

It was a rapid pace on River Rd all the way out to the East Deerfield bike path trailhead. Our strong two woman team took massive pulls. I am grateful! We paused at the bike path trailhead for a quick rest. I noted that the railroad depot here recently received upgrades to transfer goods from train to truck for “last mile” connections, improving access to intermodal rail services in the region and opening new economic opportunities.

The bike path took us along the always calm and interesting Turners Falls Canal. I did a quick hydration check, and we were good to climb up through Gill’s Main Rd all the way to the end where it meets Rte 10. Wendy set the mood wanting to try to blow up some segments. Madeline put in a massive effort to chase her, and us guys, well, we did our own thing. Main Rd through Gill is always scenic. It is mostly up, but there are some fun descents, and we pass the Northfield Mount Hermon School campus.

We turned off of Rte 10 to head to the main climb of the day, Gulf Rd. It hurt. It was hot. It seemed to never end.  At the top, we paused briefly to dump water on our heads and I learned there was a “who is out of water first” competition.

Luckily, it was mostly down hill (and an enjoyable one!) to our refueling station, at the end of the road where it meets Rte 2 in Erving. Well, we apparently had been riding too fast and the store, Fils Market, did not open until 11 AM. Those of us who needed immediate hydration were in luck because they had an outdoor faucet. We hung around 15 minutes or so to gain access to ice cold beverages and salty snacks. We learned that the owners had only planned to be there for five years, and it was past time to sell the business, partly because they work 80 hours a week and have young children. I do hope they stay open, as it is really only place for miles to fuel up.

Unfortunately the store lacks public bathrooms (also seemed to lack air conditioning), but someone recalled across the street, in the Erving Waterfront Park there was a porta-toilet. Indeed, there was, and not just that, but a very nice park, complete with a bike fix station. We hung around here, maybe too long, but it was surely an enjoyable place to rest.

And of course, we needed to document the group.

It was tough getting going again, especially since there was a small climb up Rte 2. My least loved section, as Rte 2 is so busy. Lucky, just over two miles, we turned on to Farley Rd. And…..

I promise that I do not plan rides with bridges out!  I apparently have a reputation on rides I have led- I always seem to “find” bridges out on the routes, and we have had various levels of “fun” hiking around or under them.

We carefully traversed the closed bridge. It has seen better days for sure. Most of us walked our bikes- the planks were very wobbly and there were exposed nails. The bridge was built in 1889, and sure seems like not much maintenance has been done on it. It was closed in the fall of 2025 and the two towns it connects – Erving and Wendell are looking for over $780k needed to repair it.

With that crossing complete, Farley Rd was a treat with fresh pavement. The climbing up into Wendell was not so much a treat. When it is hot and humid, that pavement so hot, every hill looks bigger.

We got some relief on the way down to Lake Wyola where it sure looked and smelled (the cookouts!) like a hot August day. I suddenly had a craving for a hot dog.

We continued to enjoy the speedy and cooling descent to Rte 63 and crossed over Rte 47. Instead of going directly down Rte 47, we navigated some shadier back roads, eventually dropping us out to the town line on Falls Rd.

We made a second stop at the Sunderland country store, which did have awesome air conditioning, and we drank gallons of water and soda and ate anything in sight that was salty. We were in no hurry to head back home into a headwind with no shade and 95 degrees.

As we set out, Mark informed us it was an 8 MPH headwind. We took turns pulling, and at one point when I was on the front, Mark told me that wind had picked up to 11 MPH. Lucky me! As they did all day, Wendy and Madeline were impressive, pulling the rest of us for long periods.

I was quite happy to see the bike path and relax a bit and get some shade. We all split off from there, and at that point I had 76.07 miles, averaging a very impressive 17.5 MPH and 3533′ of climbing (per Garmin). Whew!

I was too close to booking my first century this season so I ended up riding another hour or so, looping around close to home to grab the extra miles for a 100. Double whew!

We were treated to a great surprise today - a Tuesday afternoon without violent thunderstorms, locust or the plague. Because of this, the Pelham to Shutesbury hillclimb was held as planned.

With Jonathan OK out on the injured reserve list (maybe one too many pieces of pie during the RAGBRAI week that may or may not have resulted in a broken frame or a broken something else), it opened the door for a few contenders to close the points gap.

Here are today's results (everyone did the HC at the 5:30 start this time):

1. Ryan Davis; Time: 18:36; 19.03 mph; 10 points

2. Garret Theberg; Time: 19:27; 18.2 mph; 9 points

3. Carson Poe; Time: 19:38; 18.03 mph; 8 points

4. Andy Reagan; Time: 21:02; 16.83 mph; 7 points

5. Andy MacDonald; Time: 21:35; 16.4 mph; 6 points

6. Madeline Nagy; Time: 22:59; 15.4 mph; 5 points

7. David Goodwin; Time: 23:40; 14.96 mph; 4 points

8. Melissa Warwick; Time: 24:09; 14.66 mph; 3 points

9. Shawn Lakota; Time: 24:22; 14.53 mph; 2 points

10. Jake Poirier; Time: 24:24; 14.51 mph; 1 points

Quite a large group amassed at Pulaski Park for the 9 AM departure of the SMR.  I think we had a dozen at the start, and we picked up Wendy K. at NHS, for a baker's dozen.  We went out to Burgy using the old TNR loop route- Audobon to South St.  Then, up Ashfield Rd to Ludwig.  Several regroupings along the way to keep us all together as much as possible.  Muggy conditions and some damp roads, but no rain.  We zoomed down Brier Hill to Creamery, then a short jaunt on 112 to 116 (aka Spruce Corner Rd).  I think that we lost a couple of riders along this stretch (Tim Pitken, Big Mig Hempstead, and then, Tim Cary), and we turned left onto Pleasant, which was aptly named- a little climb, then a sweet descent.  

We detoured off piste to refuel at the Cummington Creamery, and we were both surprised and delighted to find Big Don W. Frank there!  He had started the ride with us, but took a more direct route to Cummington.  Next, we took Fairgrounds Rd, and we were treated to a pastoral view of a doe and her fawn crossing in front of us.  The descent from the Fairgrounds to the Chesterfield Gorge was fun, but the climb up to Chesterfield Center wasn't.  Then, a right on South St with a nice descent followed by a couple of painful hills.  Finally, down the lower part of Chesterfield Rd to Reservoir Rd to Leeds, to the Rail Trail.  Most of the group was flying on this final portion.  I had 53 miles, about 3:45:00, and about 3650 feet of elevation (I was having Wahoo issues, so the numbers are estimates.)  It was a solid ride.  A nice photo of the group which a nice woman kindly took for us when we were at the Creamery:

I want everyone to know that I will be away this weekend, so I won't be able to lead an SMR.  Joe L.

We had 7 riders brave the heat today and complete the 12.2 mile time trial. I remember a few years ago when I cancelled it when the temperature was around 100 degrees. By comparison, today was 93 at 5:30 so it was downright manageable.

No PRs and the Strava times were surprisingly inaccurate but here are the results:

1. Scott Yarosh; Time: 32:17; 23.42 mph; 7 points

2. Andy MacDonald; Time: 32:46; 23.07 mph; 6 points

3. Jonathan O'Keeffe; Time: 34:16; 22.06 mph; 5 points

4. Madeline Nagy; Time: 34:55; 21.65 mph; 4 points

5. Melissa Warwick; Time: 35:33; 21.27 mph; 3 points

6. David Goodwin; Time: 36:51; 20.52 mph; 2 points

7. Tim Pitkin; Time: 39:07; 19.33 mph; 1 points

Tight race for 1 and 2. Jonathan is now leading the TT series over Andy (44 vs 43 points) and also leading the overall series over Andy (108 vs 102 points). I'm thinking I shouldn't have moved away from Butterfield Terrace in Amherst (where there are 7 or 8 houses and Jonathan and Andy both live there in case I haven't mentioned it frequently enough) as maybe I would now be sitting in third.

Next week is the Route 143 hillclimb from Williamsburg to Chesterfield.

After a somewhat damp excursion last Monday night, we enjoyed perfect weather for tonight's edition of the Monday Night Intro Ride. Clarissa, Karl, Kavi, first-timer Jack, Rachel, Audrey, and Shelby joined Ari and me for our Easthampton loop. Shelby somehow managed to collide with a bird on the bike path in Easthampton. She appeared unscathed; no word on the bird.

Rachel had a minor mechanical on Glendale Road, a softening rear tire. My efforts to help by adding some air backfired when my pump removed her valve core, deflating the whole tire. Fail. Fortunately, Ari's mechanical skills are a lot better than mine, and he quickly had her back on the road.

We climbed Park Hill Road to the orchard at the top for our usual photo-op. The pavement seems to get worse every time we do this climb, but the views from the top are worth it. We finished up by rolling down Route 66 and through downtown Northampton, getting back to Sheldon Field just before 7:30, with 18 miles at around 11.8 mph.

Next week we'll be on our Hadley loop, guaranteed to be (almost) 100% flat. Hope to see you there!

The weather was a bit sketchy today -- I was watching the giant green blob on the radar covering Connecticut all afternoon, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it wouldn't creep up into our neck of the woods. As ride time approached, it did a little creeping, but it was moving slowly enough that it seemed like we would mostly be clear.

The questionable conditions kept many of the regulars away, but intrepid riders Jerome, Kavi, and Rachel joined Ari and me for our Hatfield loop. During the pre-ride discussion in the parking lot, it started raining lightly, causing me to pull out my phone and take another look at the radar, where the green blob was still slowly creeping northward. It still seemed like it was moving pretty slowly, though, so we decided to give it a shot.

I was questioning this decision as we pushed north on King Street in increasingly heavy rain, and came close to pulling the plug, but another couple miles further north brought gradually diminishing precipitation, and a bit of a tailwind, until it was almost dry by the time we got to Cronin Hill Road. We settled into a nice paceline rotation as we moved south through Hatfield, with the group working well together. The rain started up again as we moved further south, but never really got beyond a sprinkle on our way home.

We rolled back into Sheldon Field at a near-record 6:45 PM after a very speedy ride of around 15 mph. I told the group that we would have to do some laps around the parking lot to eat up the rest of our allotted ride time, but nobody seemed interested in joining me for that.

Next week we're back to our Easthampton loop, come out and join us if you're up for the challenge of the giant Park Hill Road climb!

I was around this holiday weekend and nobody had posted an NCC Saturday ride, so I decided to do so. I admit, I was hesitating a bit because of the terribly humid and hot weather plus not so many riders are around, being on the actual 4th of July date. But being lazy for those reasons was not an option for me! I posted a note tossing around an earlier start time to beat (some) of the heat. I decided on an 8 AM start. I chose the route up to the Patten are of Shelburne not only because it is beautiful, but, the major climb is in the shade, and we got the open fast, part out of the way early.

At the start we had four riders, including myself.  Notably, Ari was among us.  Ari co-leads the Monday intro rides.  I have not ridden with him since he was a young teenager and hardly recognized him!  It was so awesome to have him along and to catch up (literally and physically) with him!

It was already greasy and gross feeling at the start Around 77 degrees, sun beating down and humidity somewhere at 80%!

We headed out of town over to Hatfield and Whately’s River Rd at a fairly brisk pace for a Saturday… but I was happy to get this part out of the way early before the sunshine really beats down, as there is no shade here. Somewhere in north Hatfield, we picked up John M. He told me that he parked at “a watering hole so shave off some miles”. Once we crossed over Rte 116 to the north segment of River Rd, we also found Brent, A Kinda cool picking up unplanned riders, so now we were at six!

It was on to Greenfield and our hydration stop. I had wondered if Colrain Rd was still closed over I-91. Mike H messaged me and confirmed yes,  and suggested we take the bike path to avoid it. (thanks, Mike!) I have only been on the Riverside Community Path a few times before… it parallels the Green River and the interstate. It is pretty, but the pavement is showing its age and needs some love.

We fueled up at the Harper’s store, where Wendy and Keith met us. 

And so we ascended the main climb- Brook Rd. Not an epic climb, but it is work. At least it was mostly in the shade. Ouch. I couldn’t chase.

And not to be done, there still was the ascent up… and up. Where we took a quick photo op at the Wheel View beef farm. I do not have long enough arms for selfies!

It was a rapid descent to the Bardwells Ferry bridge (with a few quick punches). I was unable to grab any wheels. But I enjoyed the scenery.

We stopped on the bridge and pondered our choice of activity for the day- so many folks enjoying the cool water of the Deerfield.

After the (what seemed) grueling climb back up out of the ferry, K & W peeled off back for home. The rest of us headed to Conway center, where Brent split away on 116 for home.

We slogged up through Conway and Whatley- somewhere there John also peeled off, leaving Tim P, Madeline, and I to conquer N. Farms Rd climb to get back home.

A great route- another of my favorites, and fine crew of riders to keep me motivated and pushed to my limits. I loved that we picked up riders on the way!

I arrived in downtown Northampton about 12:15, ~60 miles, 15.8 MPH average, 3274′ climbed. Good times, as always!