Western Mass: 2007 Great River Ride, 10/7
09-26-07, 11:32 AM
#1
purity of essence
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NH
Posts: 2,260
Bikes: 2018 Giant Trance 2, 2019 Trek Farley 7, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
11 Posts
Western Mass: 2007 Great River Ride, 10/7
Anyone going next weekend? I'm doing the metric century since I'm not quite ready for the big one yet. If anyone has ridden this event before, I'd like to hear your thoughts/advice. Info here:
Reposted from the Road room.
Reposted from the Road room.
09-26-07, 01:04 PM
#2
Cycling Skier
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 620
Bikes: 2019 Moots Vamoots DR, 2008 Pedal Force ZX3, 2006 Jamis Eclipse, 1997 Marin Indian Fire Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll be there! Doing the full 170 km, like I did last year.
Lessons learned from last year:
- Be prepared for a wide range of temperatures. Last year's ride start was in the upper-40s, and the day topped out over 75, so layers were a must.
- Bring adequate tire repair provisions, as there are some fairly rural stretches of road where SAG support is slow to come (especially if you're riding off the front of the bigger group of riders). Last year, I shredded a front tire on a glass field and only had a spare tube (the tire was beyond bootable) - fortunately a fellow rider gave me his spare Krylion and I could continue.
- The rest stops are well-equipped, but bring your favorite energy drink if you don't want to be surprised by the organizers choosing something different.
- Some of the hills are fairly severe, so make sure your gears are suited for some steepness.
Otherwise, it's one of the most well-organized and beautiful rides of its kind.
If you want to meet up, I'll be there on a blue/carbon Jamis Eclipse, wearing a Potomac Pedalers jersey and sporing a long, salt-and-pepper ponytail.
Lessons learned from last year:
- Be prepared for a wide range of temperatures. Last year's ride start was in the upper-40s, and the day topped out over 75, so layers were a must.
- Bring adequate tire repair provisions, as there are some fairly rural stretches of road where SAG support is slow to come (especially if you're riding off the front of the bigger group of riders). Last year, I shredded a front tire on a glass field and only had a spare tube (the tire was beyond bootable) - fortunately a fellow rider gave me his spare Krylion and I could continue.
- The rest stops are well-equipped, but bring your favorite energy drink if you don't want to be surprised by the organizers choosing something different.
- Some of the hills are fairly severe, so make sure your gears are suited for some steepness.
Otherwise, it's one of the most well-organized and beautiful rides of its kind.
If you want to meet up, I'll be there on a blue/carbon Jamis Eclipse, wearing a Potomac Pedalers jersey and sporing a long, salt-and-pepper ponytail.
Last edited by songfta; 09-26-07 at 01:12 PM. Reason: Eye kant spel
09-26-07, 02:42 PM
#3
Keep on climbing
I'm still thinking of doing it if it's a reasonably nice day. I've only done GRR once, and the temps were in the mid-20s that morning. Stayed ridiculously cold all day. I'm not doing it again if it's like that -- freezing my ass off on all the descents and roasting on all the climbs is not my idea of fun.
But if you see a guy on a navy blue Calfee Tetra with a white helmet (complete with MTB visor) -- it's probably me. Say "hi". I'll be the slow one.
But if you see a guy on a navy blue Calfee Tetra with a white helmet (complete with MTB visor) -- it's probably me. Say "hi". I'll be the slow one.
09-28-07, 05:03 PM
#4
purity of essence
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NH
Posts: 2,260
Bikes: 2018 Giant Trance 2, 2019 Trek Farley 7, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
11 Posts
Excellent. Thanks for the replies. I'll be the guy on the red Torelli Corsa Strada with the high viz, plain yellow jersey. Hope to see you there!
10-05-07, 11:17 AM
#5
Cycling Skier
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 620
Bikes: 2019 Moots Vamoots DR, 2008 Pedal Force ZX3, 2006 Jamis Eclipse, 1997 Marin Indian Fire Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A weather update for this wonderful ride: looks like a slightly chilly, possibly damp morning will be followed by a lovely day for riding. See the forecasts at Weather Underground, WWLP TV22 and Weather.com. The consensus seems to be lows in the upper-40s, highs near 70.
I'll be there in my cool weather layers, come what may. The bike will be the Jamis. The jersey may change, though - I might wear my long-sleeve yellow or my PPTC wool jacket.
EDIT: I also have long-sleeve provisions that will allow the red/white/blue PPTC jersey to be used.
I'll be there in my cool weather layers, come what may. The bike will be the Jamis. The jersey may change, though - I might wear my long-sleeve yellow or my PPTC wool jacket.
EDIT: I also have long-sleeve provisions that will allow the red/white/blue PPTC jersey to be used.
Last edited by songfta; 10-06-07 at 09:49 AM.
10-07-07, 05:06 PM
#6
Cycling Skier
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 620
Bikes: 2019 Moots Vamoots DR, 2008 Pedal Force ZX3, 2006 Jamis Eclipse, 1997 Marin Indian Fire Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, it was an adventure. Cool weather for the first 70 miles, and then the sun broke out. I had a blast - you can read my write-up here.
scotch: I don't think I saw you. Did you make it? And did you enjoy the ride and the scenery? And how did East Hill treat you? It's a bugger.
scotch: I don't think I saw you. Did you make it? And did you enjoy the ride and the scenery? And how did East Hill treat you? It's a bugger.
10-07-07, 09:51 PM
#7
purity of essence
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NH
Posts: 2,260
Bikes: 2018 Giant Trance 2, 2019 Trek Farley 7, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
11 Posts
Well, it was an adventure. Cool weather for the first 70 miles, and then the sun broke out. I had a blast - you can read my write-up here.
scotch: I don't think I saw you. Did you make it? And did you enjoy the ride and the scenery? And how did East Hill treat you? It's a bugger.
scotch: I don't think I saw you. Did you make it? And did you enjoy the ride and the scenery? And how did East Hill treat you? It's a bugger.
Yep, I made it but was running a little late and didn't get to the Sons till just before the start for the metric group so I didn't have much time to look for BFers like I wanted to. And by the time we got to the buffet I was totally spent and couldn't remember your description to look for you. Plus we were frantically trying to find the results of the Pats and Red Sox games.
Your weather report was dead on and I made sure to layer up, but I was peeling things off pretty quickly after the start. I kicked butt on East River Hill, surprising myself because I didn't feel all that strong this morning, and the cool, damp air didn't help. But once I got started, my legs kicked right in. A whole summer of doing hills here in NH definitely paid off.
The scenery in western Mass is amazing, and when the sun came out it was just glorious. Riding through little New England mill towns in October is about as good as it gets, and the ride just had a really good vibe about it. All in all, the route didn't kill me as much as I thought it would, so next year I think I might try the full century, but - as you say in your ride report - it sounds like the real big ones don't show up till after the end of the metric.
Sorry we didn't hook up. Next year for sure!
