Chills, Thrills and Hills, Covered Bridges 2016+
For the past few years, I have made two events a priority to be on my riding schedule and that is Hell of Hunterdon in the spring and Covered Bridges in the fall. I have also made a point to ride to and from these events to make for
epic days and in the end, is an opportunity for me to get some longer hours in around organized rides, which makes it easier to plan for food and such. This year, I convinced
@Mountain Bike Mike to tag along for the entire day, not just for the CB loop proper, which is what he did last year.
Building up to the event, I had been averaging 12-14 hour weeks since the beginning of September and the week before the ride was no different, however I did rest on Saturday because I wasn’t quite ready for 40’s, wind and rain on Saturday morning (we have all winter for that jazz). In September, I was also going for 60 hours, which always seemed to allude me in the past, usually getting stuck at 57/58. I was successful in reaching the 60 hours mark so was just chilling at the beginning of October.
The closer Sunday came, the higher the forecasted winds were, so I kept modifying the route to try and keep us out of the wind on the way up, even though it would be more of a cross wind. In that process, I found a few new climbs to try.
On Sunday morning, I met Mike at 6AM at the park and ride in Yardley and on the way there the legs felt heavysaurus rex, but not too worried at the start of an 8 hours day, plenty of time to warms up. One thing that is a plus or minus about the Bucks County area is that it is basically always up and down unless you are right at the river. So from a warm-up perspective, that is kinda stinky. So to warm up, we rode on the River Rd for all of a mile before going up. Nothing crazy, just rolling stuff but always seems more of a chore going up right away. Hit some of my normal stuff and go up Eagle Road, which is the meanest of the stuff right here, well other than the Bowman’s Tower climb, but like most hills around here, less than 5 min. of discomfort.
We make our way through our first covered bridge and up and over the hill west of New Hope. Aquatong Road is almost a straight shot NW but for the most part is fairly protected from the hard west wind. Even though it is straight, it is a great road with constant up and downs. Somewhere on this road, Mike is admiring the dawn light and rides off the road and barely saves it going 25-30 MPH. I tell him he used one of his 9 lives for the day on that one. #lucky (1. because he didn’t die and 2. because he didn’t have to leave me in the awkward position of leaving his broken ass right there, I thank the man jesus for not having to make that choice).
We made our way into Carversville and normally I would have went up Wismer Road, which is a bear of a climb that is fairly exposed to the wind, so I knew it would be death on this day. I found another climb, Fretz Mill, which goes up the same ridge but in the trees. Strava segment was in the 11%-14% range so it looked to be a nice one. Looking at the rock face on the way there, I told Mike that somehow we will be up there in a min and soon enough we found the road and immediately go up. Steep to start, leveled out and was a straight up tunnel through orange trees. Tons of leaf cover on the road (which was about 10’ wide) would have made for a great picture, but I wasn’t stopping for that noise yet). Can’t say I felt particularly good here. We continue to gradually climb to Ferry Road, which is a ripper of a descent into Point Pleasant. I tell Mike to be careful because there is a steep / sharp turn and if there are leaves, it will be sketchy. Not sure if he heard me because he is bombing this thing and I come around said sharp corner to find him almost hitting the guiderail on the opposite side.
Calm down there cowboy. We climb Tohicken Hill, which is a gem of a hill and go down and up by High Rocks and eventually come to the start of the Covered Bridges Ride.
As usual, the start is great for people watching from the pro looking people to people that look like they never rode a bike. It is somewhere in the low to mid 40’s, which is a good temp to see people in a range of clothing from shorts and short sleeves to full on winter kits with booties and balaclavas. I snap this, just general picture.
After looking at the picture later, I see dead center is one of 1,000 people wearing their
yellow jacket’s of authority. A definition for the ill-informed (don’t get mad of the source,
@jShort):
YELLOW JACKET OF AUTHORITY // A fluoro yellow wind/shower jacket
In the wild, this is sported by many commuting cyclists and gets its moniker from the
smugness and perceived aura of invincibility that seems to emanate from wearers of this garish garment. Also comes in sleeveless version the YVA.
I slam 2 Krispy Kremes, a cup of hot cider, half a cup of meh coffee and top off a bottle. Within maybe 10 min, we are off and weave through the CF of spandex at the start.
The first 5 miles is basically a gradual climb and even though we are already loosened up, we are just chillin. Maybe a mile in a guy on a florescent synapse and all pro’ed out and someone with him that is anything but, come zipping by. I tell Mike, what’s the bet on when we pass them. The synapse dude would randomly sprint away and on a gradual downhill, was sitting on the top tube to be super aero. Typically, the guy would sprint up and eventually Mike and I would catch them just riding a normal pace. At some point, they are drafting us until synapse guy come sprinting around, out of the saddle, in the drops, his friend looking less than pleased he has to keep up with him. And again, we ride consistent and catch up. This goes on for 12? Miles. Somewhere in there, I see this yellow suit of authority, which deserves a picture:
That is one lit-up ass.
Knowing the route, I know there is a nice downhill into a longish climb up to the first rest stop, so at the downhill, Mike and I bomb it, make the light at the bottom and synapse dudeman is gone. Climbing the hill to the rest stop, there is a box truck that is waiting to pass and I am on it ready to draft but he accelerates away too quickly and Mike and I miss a free ride.
We end up seeing synapse dudeman as we are leaving the rest stop and Mike
brags, talks to him and I say HI and we are off. We never see Vendu again.
After some wind exposure, we are on the tallest part of the route with the longest climb proper. Mike seems to go out harder on climbs than me so I left him go a bit and I am saving a little for a steeper section that never came and at the top I zip off to avoid being C-blocked on the downhill, which I was successful in doing. At the next intersection, we find a group of 5 or 6 riders that are stopped. We pass them but they soon pass up back and we hop on. I see Halter’s bottles and socks, so I know it must be a good crew. I let Mike ahead of me because he died in the last position at HOH.
This group was moving well, but some of the guys were yo-yoing and it was killing me as I am a steady state guy. I take a long pull and then Mike is up and BOOM, break away time! Mike is like 6 lengths off the front and I think the group was like, f-it, let him go. I was at the back wondering what he was doing. I bust his balls when we catch him at a light.
Calm down there cowboy.
We stick with this group for a long time, through the next rest stop, through some off-courseness and most of the guys are solid. It appears Mike knows some of them from a ride at Clayton and he can comment who they are as I couldn’t pick their names from a word bank. The middle of the route was changed in a few places but nothing special. It is good to be with the group through the field part of the course. It is mainly a cross wind but wheels to follow is nice. At this point only 3 of 6 are taking pulls, and I am on the front a bit more than I would like. I tell Mike not to kill himself when he is up again and he doesn’t.
At the final rest stop, Mike is taking his 6th pee of the day and the group leaves us. I find the Kandy Cakes at this stop (which is the reason I do this ride) and treat myself to 3 and we finish the route. Only things to note is the bunch of retards taking a group photo in front of the second to last covered bridge, taking up ½ of the roadway in the preferred line, with zero knowledge that they may be doing so. Also, this is where you pass all of the 33 mile route riders, so people watching is in full effect again.
At the end of the CB loop, we top off bottles and head toward Uhlerstown Road. Can’t say I was feeling the best and could have skipped it, but also wanted Mike to ride it, we went over and I took a picture where I always do. Sun gave me nice feels:
I took a picture of the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge on the death side
And then another one with Mike where the gods were shinning down on him
Mike goes out hot and I let him go and do my typical catch at the top. After I can see straight again, we talk about how it isn’t that bad because so short and bomb back down Jugtown and make our way across the river through a sea of the 10 mile riders on the bridge with the jackass in front of us think it is a good idea to try and ride with people passing on foot.
We take Horseshoe Bend Road up the ridge, which is a fine road but seriously feels like it goes up forever. Down Warsaw and up Tumble Falls, a favorite of mine and take a little tail wind flyer off the top. Bomb Bryam Kingwood and cross over at Bull Island and take in some pictures on the bridge.
Bridge selfie where I couldn’t see the phone screen
Just a tad windy 'Merica!
From here, I was not sure if PA 32 was open and if we could access one of my favorite climbs out of the river as it has been closed for a while. Turns out it is open and we climb up on the ridge again and make our way over to Peddlers Village for a tail wind almost all the way home.
Nothing much else other than we starting see a bunch of cool cars and Mike had to make sure he didn’t stand on a climb for a while. He can chime in on the details (of the cars, not his boner). I am feeling ok and am in
the “only 10 more miles” zone, but the little rollers we have to do hurt, but I still have some kick on the flats. I peel off about a mile from where we started so I don’t have to climb back up from the river to my house and roll into my house at 140 miles and just over 8 hours, a new longest ride mileage wise.
All-in all was a great day, good roads, good scenery, good treats and good company. In the end, Mike didn’t die, which I know he mind f’ed seven ways to Sunday before the ride and probably more since he didn’t die. I know he put in some serious hours to avoid what happened at HOH this year and honestly, I think he was feeling better than me at the end, so chapeau to that.
Chills, Thrills and Hills: CB 2016+
End of an Era
So earlier this year, I had big hours months in January, February and March that kicked started my year mileage wise. I have always loosely wanted to go for the 10,000 miles in a year milestone, but I never want to be a slave to the mileage. In May, I was a few hundred mileage ahead and I told myself, if I was close after I moved in June (only 38 hours that month! Rest month!) then I may go for the 10,000 mark. So I just barely was on par and after June so I loosely committed. After a low hours August due to work and that f-u humidity we were having, I was barely keeping ahead, but 60 hours and over 1,000 miles in September and 49 so far this month, I have a few hundred mile cushion. Sooo, that is the goal. I am not sure why, I think it is more, just because I am able. But once I reach it, if I reach it, it will largely end the
mileage milestone portion of my riding life….
look out for a strava invite from him.
