Pics from a few rides

[Jisch]

Hope everyone got out this weekend - is this nice weather or what!?!?!?!?!

Last weekend Bicycle Rider was up in CT for a weekend and posted up on the local board looking for a guided tour. We set up a meet point and did a nice 3.5 hour ride. Slider joined us, suffering under the influence of Lyme. He seems to have turned the corner now, as he was back to his normal self on yesterday's ride...

I have become overly cautious of people's assessment of their abilities. I have to apologize to BR for grilling him on PM prior to the ride. I just hate leading death marches, and that's happened too many times lately when I'm leading "intermediate" riders, that label has a lot of leeway in it. BR is probably a much stronger rider than I am, so in this case, I was the one slowing the ride down. Its funny how you do a quick assessment when you first meet another rider - BR's ride was obviously well used, its a Ti rigid SS, which made me instantly comfortable that he was a good rider. The choice of SS and rigid was a bit concerning given where we were riding, but BR is a strong rider and handled it no problem.

A few pics from the ride. You can see just how humid it was on this ride, though we lucked out and the cloud cover really only cleared at the very end of the ride. So while it was humid, it wasn't overly hot.

Slider and Bicycle Rider on a slick rock passage:
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Bicycle Rider riding down a rock wall - note his use of switchbacking to manage the descent - its pretty steep.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04330.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04331.jpg

Yesterday Slider and I rode at the local spot. We did a few variations on the normal route, which worked out really well. We're in the middle of a mini-drought, August had the 3rd lowest rainfall total on record, its real incentive to be in front, riding behind someone tends to be pretty dusty. The lack of rain is causing some of the trees to turn colors early and drop their leaves, lending a decidedly fall-like feeling to the rides. Amazing weather with dry, cool air.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04338.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04341.jpg

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http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04365.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/Jisch/DSC04366.jpg

John

[Slider]

For me, that ride with BR wwas definitely a death march. Off the bike, the Lyme was mostly minor discomfort, at least this time around. On the bike, even the downhills took all I had. Gotta thank you two for your patience. I was very glad to bail early and almost passed out in the car when I got back.

That made the Snip a real test for me. The three week run of Doxycyclene ended on Friday, and I was worried that it, as much as the Lyme, was the cause for last week's pain. Glad I wasn't nearly the slug I was last week. Dry cool weather played a part, too.

Fine ride, Jisch. Thanks.

Slider

[splat]

Nice pics where was this ?

[Jisch]

Nice pics where was this ?

First ride (with BR) is at Middlesex, second is at Shenipsit/Soapstone.

John

[MtnBkr]

wo crap! I have to get out there! Those trails look sick~ nice pics man!~

[Jisch]

wo crap! I have to get out there! Those trails look sick~ nice pics man!~

Anytime you want a tour let me know. Snip is in northern CT, Middlesex is in central CT. Both good rides in their own way.

John