"Battenkill East" flash ride
 

For Boston-area riders going to Battenkill, or just those interested in pain and suffering, there is a flash ride on Saturday, April 3rd, which is designed to mimic Battenkill as best as possible Southeast of Boston.

This is a flash ride. There is no organizer. There is no support, no recognition, no fee, no authority. There is no responsible party. I am a small flying mammal for crying out loud. If you get arrested, injured, or break your bike in a pothole, you have to deal with it as you would on any training ride.

Why do it then? To ride with as many good riders on as tough a route as possible without going to NY. It is probably the toughest ride you will find before Battenkill itself the following week. It contains as many dirt sections as I could find in the area. They are not long, as there aren't any long, unpaved roads in this area. But they do contain ascents, descents, and bomb craters. Oh, there are a few little hills as well.

You can find the route here:
Part 1
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...c02275392&z=12
Part 2
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...9,0.75325&z=11

It is in two parts because the route crosses itself, and even uses a dirt section twice (once in each direction) and would be confusing as hell if put on one map. The total distance is about 69 miles. The route is not marked, and is complex. Unless you can memorize well, or can download the route to a good GPS, then you will probably want to ride with someone who does. The people who can navigate the route alone should stick a red dot on the back of their helmet. If you can't, follow someone with a red dot.

The ride will happen regardless of weather conditions. All riders should depart by 7am, so as not to interfere with the local bike shop (Landry's Bicycles) rides that start from the same location. The shop has nothing to do with the ride, and doesn't open until 10am anyway; it is just a familiar location with parking for riders in the area. There are no bathrooms; take care of things before you arrive.

I heard on a ride today that the part of Causeway St that goes over the Charles River swamp on Part 2 of the route has been washed out. Not just flooded, but gone. I hope to get up there to check it out tomorrow.

I took a group out to Causeway St on Sunday, and discovered the Charles River flowing over the road, but not by much, and my group passed it. The bridge itself was dry and intact, so the rumor of it being out was false. I also went up there yesterday and the river had retreated. The only remaining problem is that jersey barriers are being used to block the road and they can only be passed single-file. But I suspect they won't keep them there for another week.

Attachment 143375

Well, the god's conspire against this ride. This image is from the Boston Globe. This is the same road section seen in the prior post.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=144385
I could be wrong, but it looks like the road and bridge are under water now.
Because several other areas of the route cross low-level areas near the Charles River, this may not be the only place affected. I hope to get up there tomorrow to do an assessment.