Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New Holland Meander

Lancaster County, PA, saw a meeting of Clydesdales as The Historian, vXhanz, and Bautieri met at noon today for a ride. It was a scenic but chilly 23 miles in and around New Holland, PA. The sun was shining, the temperature was a balmy 40 degrees, and the breeze was blowing. So aside from the breeze, and the slight rolling hills, it was all that one could wish for on a February day. The Historian was pleased to be told he's carved a corner at 20 MPH - the pleasant part was that he needed to be told, meaning it was something he didn't think about. Bautieri was constantly showing off his ability to ride without hands on the bars. And vXhanz repeatedly set the pace for the three of us.

Our total time was about 2 hours 45 minutes for the 23 miles. This included a couple of photography stops, a couple of "waiting for The Historian to climb the hill" stops, a few "what road should we be taking?" stops, and a stop at the only gas station in the free world without a Men's room. Our collective speed was slowed by lessened physical conditioning on the part of all participants, and The Historian carrying some excess weight. The other two riders both appeared to have lost weight, although they denied it.

The ride itself was well laid out, looping in and out of New Holland borough into the surrounding farm country. We rode by nearly as many Amish buggies as cars. And we passed a young Amishwoman using rollerblades - but she might have been a member of one of the more conservative Mennonite groups.

After the ride, the feast. The three Clydes spent an hour at a local Pizza Hut refueling. As usual when Historian, Bau, and vXhanz get together, good times are had by all.

Photos to follow - not of the Amish, of course.

Postscript on my battle with the water bottle....

I drank water before leaving my home. I had a full bottle of water on today's ride. I had two very large tumblers of water with lunch. I had another liter bottle on the hour-long drive home. And five hours after completing the ride, I had a small cramp in my right thigh.

This might be just muscle fatigue, however. I worked very hard riding at a 'club ride' pace, and not a 'touring' pace as I normally do. And I'd raised the saddle a little, putting me into a slightly different position on the bike. Still, I should drink better when riding, and after riding.

If your cramping perhaps try a drink with electrolytes, it could help prevent the cramping. I have a particular drink I like. I ride in the 80 degree heat, so I drink before my ride and after as well as during. It could help out with cramping as mild as they may be. I really prefer something with a real mild flavor. My stomache seems to get real sensitive when i do rides over a couple hours.

It was a very pleasant ride by all means, well, I could have done without the wind but at least it was sunny! I really enjoyed the ride and the company, much better than staring at the same wall in the basement while grinding out a trainer session. You really did well Neil, it's plain to see that your confidence must be up to take a 90 degree corner at 20mph. When I sit up and ride awhile without hands it's to give my back a rest, or to show off to those Amish chicks, I think I saw a little ankle this afternoon :lol:

Looking forward to the pics!

Yeah Neil, you're doing better at riding faster and taking corners at speed. I think as time goes on you'll get better at the hills, etc. Keep up the good work.

In retrospect I think the ride wasn't that bad... though next time I do something like that I'm getting tights and winter gloves vs. the leg warmers and Mechanix wear general construction gloves I wore :)

Thanks again to both of you for coming out and riding together.

V

Yeah Neil, you're doing better at riding faster and taking corners at speed. I think as time goes on you'll get better at the hills, etc. Keep up the good work.

In retrospect I think the ride wasn't that bad... though next time I do something like that I'm getting tights and winter gloves vs. the leg warmers and Mechanix wear general construction gloves I wore :)

Thanks again to both of you for coming out and riding together.

V

I thought it was a great ride.

Yes, tights are the way to go. I recommend bib tights, if only because fabric is less likely to get caught on the saddle nose. BTW, my windstopper tights were great - I was only cold when standing still.

I would wear wind stopper pants, but my thighs are too big to be honest. I checked out a pair at Ross that were XXL and they were too tight for cycling. Unless they make a tight that has a wind proof front?

V

I would wear wind stopper pants, but my thighs are too big to be honest. I checked out a pair at Ross that were XXL and they were too tight for cycling. Unless they make a tight that has a wind proof front?

V

A company called Foxwear will custom make tights for you:

http://www.foxwear.net/products_tights.html

If your cramping perhaps try a drink with electrolytes, it could help prevent the cramping. I have a particular drink I like. I ride in the 80 degree heat, so I drink before my ride and after as well as during. It could help out with cramping as mild as they may be. I really prefer something with a real mild flavor. My stomache seems to get real sensitive when i do rides over a couple hours.

Possibly a reaction to all the sugar in the energy drinks. Energy drinks and bars are loaded with them.

The fact the mild cramp took place seven hours after riding leads me to believe I simply worked too hard, rather than that I was dehydrated.

I'd love to do some light touring in that area. Preferably in slightly warmer weather. I've been there before and I know how picturesque it is.

New Holland? I was looking for a picture of a swather:D

Ahem.

This thread is worthless without pics of Neil ambiguously sexually assaulting a deer cut out. :D

:eek:

Ahem.

This thread is worthless without pics of Neil ambiguously sexually assaulting a deer cut out. :D

I was riding it, but not as you think.

It may be another day or so to get the photos up. I'm having problems with the Easyshare software.

Sounds like you guys had a good time riding together. Thats great. I dont think there are any forum members around my neck of the woods, so I usually crank out the miles alone, unless my "cinnamon girl" wants to ride, which is not very often. :rolleyes:

Still, Pa has some great riding areas that "The Historian" has graciously posted on his fabulous exploits.


Cant wait for the pics either. :D

I was riding it, but not as you think.

It may be another day or so to get the photos up. I'm having problems with the Easyshare software.

Riiiight, now it's a "problem" with the camera! It's all fun and games until someone takes a picture of you "riding" the deer! You just don't want people to see how close you were with it. :lol:

V

Ahem.

This thread is worthless without pics of Neil ambiguously sexually assaulting a deer cut out. :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3299092144_ea589cd75b_b.jpg

It was a very pleasant ride by all means, well, I could have done without the wind but at least it was sunny! I really enjoyed the ride and the company, much better than staring at the same wall in the basement while grinding out a trainer session. You really did well Neil, it's plain to see that your confidence must be up to take a 90 degree corner at 20mph. When I sit up and ride awhile without hands it's to give my back a rest, or to show off to those Amish chicks, I think I saw a little ankle this afternoon :lol:

Looking forward to the pics!

I took fewer photos than usual this ride, for two reasons:

- I was too much of an anchor on Bau and vXhanz already without slowing them for more photos;

- and since I live in farm country, I see barren fields all the time. No need to snap more pics of them.

That said, here's Bau and vXhanz at the midpoint, stopping at an old mill to drink.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3298248739_81eecf4d8b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3299079638_de59d668ae_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3299081492_8b5827dda9_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3298258433_416f64e506_b.jpg

Oh deer, just what is The Historian doing? Well, it's an inside joke. My housemates ordered a quarter of a cow from the farm across the street, and this company was the one that did the dressing. We still have 200 pounds of Black Angus in the freezer.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3299089868_67ae77986a_b.jpg

With about five more miles to go, my companions are getting a trifle impatient.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3299094100_8629be77b2_b.jpg

Nice pics Historian thanks for posting them, you always do a great job at photo's.

Don't be so hard on yourself about the ride and being an "anchor", you ride at your pace and you hold your own all things considered. You make for a good riding companion and you provide good conversation as well.

V

With about five more miles to go, my companions are getting a trifle impatient.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3299094100_8629be77b2_b.jpg

Naw, we were staring down that rather menacing looking farm dog who was a bit upset we were so close to "his" chickens that escaped the coop.

Great pics Neil!

Yeah, I forgot about that freakin' dog! It was a little too interested in us at that point in time for my liking.

V

Looks like a beautiful, and chilly day in PA. Hats off to the 3 of ya for getting out there & riding.

Groundhog time: 3 weeks of winter to go!!! With all the work I'm doing restoration wise on the house, it's passing by quick.

Denny