Fifty Plus (50+) - Our Cape Cod Metric

Last Weds, during our vacation on Cape Cod, Ms HH and I decided to do our metric. The temps were in the 80's with a stiff breeze blowing from the south when we left the house around 10:00AM. We started from Chatham and rode to the Rail Trail heading out toward the Harwich Rotary, yes we even have rotaries on our rail trails. At the rotary we headed north toward the trail head at Wellfleet. The 30 miles to Wellfleet were pleasent and uneventful. Except for the brief detour to Coast Guard Beach. We rested a bit at the end and started back. About a mile into it my rear tire went flat. No big deal, we carry spare tubes. I pulled over flipped the bike, removed the rear wheel and went to work. The first thing I notice is that the tire is really tight on the Fulcrum rims, drew blood getting it off. Got the new tube in, tire mounted and started to pump it up. Now I have a really cheap mini pump that I've never had to use before. The presta valve to pump connection was very poor. Everytime I got to the point of having enough air in the tire to ride, the connection would start to leak. The closest bike shop was about 10 miles away in Eastham. So I ended up riding the 10 miles on a rear tire holding about 40 lbs pressure and the headwind had now picked up significantly. It was like riding through sand. I would be lying if I didn't admit it beat the heck out of me.

Made it to the LBS and pumped up the tire. We had now burnt about an hour we hadn't planned on so decided to pull into a clam shack for a late lunch. Fried clams and lemonade, Ummm. Got back on the road and fought the headwind for the next 25 miles back to Chatham.

The path has been recently repaved and is in great shape but can be very crowded around the several parking areas and towns where there are plenty of tourists on rental bikes. Away from the town centers however are stretches were you can crank it up a bit. However, don't plan on setting any records on this trail.

Back in Chatham we stopped at the highlight of the trip, Marion's Pie Shop, best pies in the east. I had a piece of strawberry/rhubarb.

Went to the LBS the next day and bought a Topeak Mountain Morph pump. Good thing, because on Fridays ride, my wife had a flat. The pump worked like a charm.

BTW, the new Sidis I got a few weeks ago are great. Sixty miles and no hot spots, numbness, or any other foot discomfort.

Here are a few pics.

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185471208-M.jpg
One of the rest areas along the trail. I think this one is near Orleans.

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185468674-M.jpg
The salt marsh near Coast Guard Beach.

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185468162-M.jpg
The bike bridge at Coast Guard Beach

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185469985-M.jpg
Best pies in the east

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185470531-M.jpg
Notice I wore white in honor of Gee's bike

http://timothyv.smugmug.com/photos/185469142-M.jpg
Back home at Stage Harbor

Outstanding. Thanks for the ride report. Cape Cod biking is as good as anywhere in the country.

Its also just about as windy as anywhere in the country.....:eek:

It's lunch time as I read your post and you put in photo's of Marion's Pie Shop. You are not a nice person!

Despite the tire problem it looks like a great ride.

Even with the flat, that sounds like a great day. I'm looking forward to some upcoming days where I just take off on my bike and cruise to wherever it takes me, however long it takes me. Your ride sounds wonderful. Congrats on the metric.

I'm headed up there next week and really looking forward to it. Makes me want to blow off work a week early.

So, when do (the rest of the) tourists leave?

George

That looks like a great place to ride.

Good choice on the tire pump. I have the Topeak road morph and love it.

So, when do (the rest of the) tourists leave?

George

Labor Day..It's really alot quieter after that and still good riding weather. I'm lucky in that I live only an hour away and can go often. I don't consider myself a 'tourist', more like a 'regular'. :)

Very pretty, I like that part of the country, thanks.

Labor Day..It's really alot quieter after that and still good riding weather. I'm lucky in that I live only an hour away and can go often. I don't consider myself a 'tourist', more like a 'regular'. :)

Thanks, Tim. The "tourist" bit should have read "future tourist" aka me.

George

I know that sometime around Columbus Day they pick up the toilets from the Cape Cod Canal trail and store them for the winter. Between Labor Day and then however the riding is good.

After Columbus Day they only sweep the canal road once a month. During the summer they sweep the broken shells every week.

Nice report and pics...thanks.

Nice report. Have done that ride a couple times and really enjoyed it. Great pics. Pie....mmmmm.....

Pie - there is pie! :eek:

Nice story, and GREAT pix. Very nicely done!

... Brad

That was an enjoyable report, and looks to have been an enjoyable ride as well.

I've got a Mountain Morph as well. Mine is good to at least 120 psi.