Northeast - N VT Randonneurs, Long Distance Folks

Anyone out there?
Looking for routes with lots of length, and lots of climbing.

I'm a bit disappointed having moved to Burlington - it now seems I have to travel to climb. When I was in S. VT. I had routes with lots of climbing right out my door!**

Point me in the direction of some climbs... share some routes...
Any Brevets in this neighborhood? Upstate NY? Montreal?

I did the Middlebury and App a few weeks ago:

70 miles in a loop starting in Waitsfield, VT.
7,500 feet of climbing - including the 2 passes, with gradients tipping to 20% on Appalachian Gap.

The Green Mountain Stage Race climbs over Middlebury and states in the race bible that the highest grade E-W is 18%.


http://mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/midl-app.jpg

**disclaimer - I'm not a great climber - just looking for challenges and to ride some incredible scenery and get the HR up - and repeat that over and over again...

That last climb (Mile 45 to about Mile 63) must've been a real *****....

How are the road surfaces? Where I've ridden in the Berkshires, if it's not a major route, the roads are beat to hell. Makes riding those really steep grades even more difficult.

Even though I'm still working on getting better at climbing, I wanna go up there sometime for a nice ride.

That last climb (Mile 45 to about Mile 63) must've been a real *****....

How are the road surfaces? Where I've ridden in the Berkshires, if it's not a major route, the roads are beat to hell. Makes riding those really steep grades even more difficult.

Even though I'm still working on getting better at climbing, I wanna go up there sometime for a nice ride.

App Gap is nicely paved all the way up. I did it sitting / standing in a 34x26. I was pretty beat at that point. 3 gents came from behind and glided past me. They were working hard - but much better climbers than I. Not sure how long they were out for - they were cooking though.

Road surfaces here are failrly nice, from what little I've ridden.

I can't say I'm a good climber - you'd probably do fine - and the scenery is great!

http://mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/IMG_1650.JPG

http://mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/IMG_1654.JPG

That last climb (Mile 45 to about Mile 63) must've been a real *****....



If you want a real treat, Lincoln Gap is for you!




Lincoln was a monster. 1800+ feet of climbing in the 4 miles from Rt. 100.
I stopped once, and ended up walking the last 1/4 - 1/2 mile or so.
I didn't bring enough gears...

Switchbacks and sustained grades of 22%, maxing at 24% - Ouch! I blew up hard on the last steep bit. Walked, recovered, then pedalled a bit to finish. I came down SLOWLY... back to Rt. 100, cutting my day short - but I did get the heart rate cooking, and have a goal of doing Six Gaps (http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html) this fall. Northeast Cycling recommends going to 1:1 for Lincoln. I made it nearly to the top (with 1 stop) in 34x27, not even close to 1:1... so I need to look at my gearing.

The road was so STEEP!
I cut the ride short, going down the way I came up... that was tricky as well.

This doesn't do it justice - but I tried to keep the tree vertical:

http://www.mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/linc-gap-road.jpg

App Gap is nicely paved all the way up. I did it sitting / standing in a 34x26. I was pretty beat at that point. 3 gents came from behind and glided past me. They were working hard - but much better climbers than I. Not sure how long they were out for - they were cooking though.

Road surfaces here are failrly nice, from what little I've ridden.

I can't say I'm a good climber - you'd probably do fine - and the scenery is great!

http://mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/IMG_1650.JPG

http://mikebeganyi.com/webimages/ride/IMG_1654.JPG

I'd be all over that.....

And Lincoln Gap....Holy ****......

Info on Six Gaps

http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html

Info on Six Gaps

http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html

Thats a great site...

My buddy informed me earler that he doesn't think that Lincoln Gap climb would be "all that bad".....

He thinks he could do it in a 39x25.

My buddy informed me earler that he doesn't think that Lincoln Gap climb would be "all that bad".....

He thinks he could do it in a 39x25.

He might do very well.
Some of the club guys have done it on traditional road gearing.


Riders cleaning Lincoln Gap: four, the rider with the biggest low ratio (30x25) walking... again. Smaller ratio next year? (http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps_2006.htm)


Lincoln gap from the east has sustained 20% grades, max’ing at 24%. It is perhaps the hardest climb in all of New England. (http://www.northeastcycling.com/Gap_Climbs.html)


I, on the other hand am a mere mortal.

I blew up in 34x26 and had to stop as I thought I would fall over.
When I restarted I barely got moving and clipped in. Stayed low on the hoods - when I sat up it felt like I could pull the front wheel off the ground. I stood a bit, got into a good rhythm, then had to stop again and walked to the top.

You guys should come up and ride.

Info on Six Gaps

http://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html

This ride is definitely in my future, how far in the future is the question.... I was up at a meeting near Brandon this past April. I was going to ride the Brandon gap to Rochester and back but it was a damp cloudy day with threats of showers in the valley. I was afraid to get up to 2200 feet and have freezing rain. Could you imagine trying to descend in freezing rain....I did a 45 mile loop about Orwell instead....I found it odd to see how flat the Champlain Valley. I am used these very tight closed in valleys down here.

I blew up in 34x26 and had to stop as I thought I would fall over.

I ride a triple and was contemplating getting a compact double. On a recent ride, I decided to stay with a triple. I have nothing to prove and I need it!!!