Anyone know Hunter, from Lebanon? (i recognize a few of his followers) He is in the Jorba strava group, and has an attempt
http://www.strava.com/activities/163277622#3791031759
Moon Shadows are Evil
- Thread starter stb222
- Start date
Anyone know Hunter, from Lebanon? (i recognize a few of his followers) He is in the Jorba strava group, and has an attempt
http://www.strava.com/activities/163277622#3791031759
The Kalmyk
Well-Known Member
big ride! 8k climbing in 39 miles is no joke for a working man like myself? I'd still like to try that. I just don't know why you can't zoom into routes on Strava???
Both times I road Iron Bridge was on "epic days", the first one had Fiddlers too. Still the top of the mtbnj strava heep for those segments though 🙄. Kinda curious what I could do on a 30 mile loop with those climbs.
Iron Fiddles Can't Be Heard in the Wind
OK, Now the Babies Can Arrive. Well, Maybe a Few More Weeks
Iron Fiddles Can't Be Heard in the Wind
OK, Now the Babies Can Arrive. Well, Maybe a Few More Weeks
Mountain Bike Mike
Well-Known Member
I really liked that you did this ride right before the twins were born... For me, it was like a cyclist Dad's way of expressing how to cope with the pressure of having kids or MORE kids.
I think after that ride was when I started to really watch your posts...
They were born the following Wednesday at 34.5 weeks. Thought I was going to get the rest of August before they came but such is that baby lyf
rick81721
Lothar
This is the loop I came up with. But now I'm wondering if doing iron bridge last is a good idea - one climb to warm up is probably a good idea but maybe I should re-configure to do Fox Farm, then Iron Bridge, then the other two climbs.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5853465
@thatcher simpson son, hey guy who builds all those great trails at Nassau
Hot Irons in the Fire
In an unexpected turn of events, luck would have that I have parted ways with my beloved synapse and I am now on an EVO Hi-Mod, which I am just all giggles about. Thanks to @jdog and Halters for make it happen and tuning my fit on the new big boy size of 56. When I got the synapse I was still really upright and over 4 years dropped more than an inch lower and became more stretched out so being a tweener, I jumped to the bigger size and oddly enough a 130 stem from a 120. @ChrisG was there when I was building the bike and my 120 stem was the perfect fit for something he was working on so I gladly passed the stem to him. Oddly enough, I think Chris was there when I built my synapse over 4 years ago. Weirdness. Always good talking to him as he is one that just gets it.
So back in the spring I had earmarked this past weekend for the Stewart race. My wife and I had started using the apple family calendar and I put it on there, which means it is pretty much set. I was riding my mtb more in the spring and since I was at the OG 6-pack, I figured I would make an appearance for the new format. As the ride grew closer, I kept think about spending 4 hours in a car round time to ride for 4 hours. 50/50 trade off isn’t too bad but since my wife would be away that weekend, I would be burning some major in-law matches to make this happen. The tribe would already be sleeping there because of the early departure time and then at best there would be there until 4. Getting the EVO pretty much put a nail in the Stewart coffin as I was looking to do something big on the new whip
So I mentioned a new fit and the saddle went up, which feels excellent, but the bars went up also with the intention of riding the drops more. Sitting on a trainer is next to impossible for me to tell if the cockpit is good as so many factors are taken out with the trainer i.e., actually moving. After riding the next day I knew the bars needed to come down and I dropped them ½” and perfect. So making tiny adjustments over the last 3 weeks, I finally got the bars and hoods right. I tested the bike on a few segments and got on gimmie KOM that like 13 people did but took it from a local CX guy that is my local nemesis, so I will take it.
I started to map out a route for my ride and was at 145 miles and 12k of climbing. That seemed alittle aggressive so I backed down to 125 and around 11k. I wanted to ride a lot on the PA side of the river and hit some new stuff on the NJ side, as well as hit iron Bridge…
On Friday, I rode with @Mountain Bike Mike and 7 miles in my derailleur spring breaks and I am stuck in my 50-25. We were going to cut the loop short but decide to move on and still had a good time. That being said, it was the slowest loop at a 17.8. I really take for granted how nice it is to pedal on flats and downhills and how much it affects your speed. Either way, shit felt like we were walking as spinning up to 160 would only get me to like 22 mph. So this ride was “full talk”.
@743power and Bicycle Pro saved the day (thanks!) with an old stock force derailleur and I got it up and going on Friday night. On Saturday night I dropped the tribe off at the in-laws after baby’s first trip to Chipotle. They liked it although Chipotle is about the least friendly infant place on the planet. There was also of bus load of @soundz types that flooded the place, which made for the quietest any chipotle has ever been, ever, because they all just communicated electronically. Straight haired one is made the curly one is getting some attention.
The ride was a shakedown for the bike and to open the legs a bit since Friday’s ride was basically recovery. It was hot and humid and got dark. I went fastly because I actually ate something before my ride (other than a 100 calories before a 5am ride) and stopped for ice cream.
Man some peeps get all upset when someone in spandex is walking ‘round their local ice cream joint.
Sunday
I had planned to get out before 5 and it just didn’t happen but I still needed to start with lights. Right away the route on my garmin was not showing the route so I had to stop and fiddle with that. Basically took the shortest route to my homeland and was all badass and rode across the Washington Crossing Bridge. I didn’t want to die early so I took an easier route to get to some of my favorite smaller climbs in that area. I had mapped out some new roads and found nothing but goodness. It was a steamy morning and I stopped to get a steamy sunrise picture over a field with an old mini copper in it.
Went up and down the river ridge a few times and dropped down to High Rocks and crossed the Tohicken Crick. Unfortunately the tree cover is so thick there that you couldn’t see High Rocks from the bridge.
Took my normal route from here up to the start of the covered bridges loop and rode the opening climb for that which is 2% for 3 miles so a nice climb without stressing the legs much. Bombed Bridgeton Hill and made a planned stop at the general store there where I enjoyed some coffee and the driest scone I though was a muffin top thing. I didn’t finish it. Who the F eats scones anyways.
Keep going north and hit Narrows Road, which is short but 13% and then Dogwood Lane which brings on the hurt and is 1.7 miles at 6%. The route I took takes me off of this climb and I see it goes up more. The road it takes me on is Fireline Rd (I think) and it has a sign that says Rough Road and has lots of gravel spots but is this awesome rollercoaster of a road with banked corners. Keep climbing and then start to drop down to endless views like this:
Drop down into Riegelsville and hit up a café for water and a cookie. Chill there for a min and cross back to NJ in the coolest bridge that crosses the Delaware, which is also the most northern bridge before I-78. Find a group ride on the other side that is going the opposite direction and see one dude wearing a vest, WTF. I could have done Adamic Hill but decided on Pinchers Point (0.6 @11.8%) because it was longer and steeper than Adamic (0.5 @ 11.2%) , according to strava anyways. I see Norm was the only mtbnj peep on strava that has ridden it and I should have taken a picture of the sign because the sign was a preview of what was come. Man did that shit hurt. I only rode Adamic once but this seemed worse as there is another 0.3 miles @ 9% before the 11% section for a total of almost a mile over 8%. It was hard at MP 75 and then Bellis Road at MP 78 made for some pain. The 10% switchback on Bellis is some good shit but put the hurt on. Excellent climb though and props to @Robin and @capedoc for riding that one. Anyways bombed down to head over to Bloomsbury to hit the 579 climb and starting here I was in the full sun. I was baked on the 579 climb and seriously thought about cutting out Iron Bridge. I went down Turkey Hill and was pleasant surprised at the cool tunnel at the end. I had a major hot spot on my left toe, like shit was on fire, but loosening the straps on my show calmed it.
So now it was chill time going over to Iron Bridge and took the mandatory selfie at the sign.
I chilled on the section to the bridge because I didn’t want to pull a @rick81721 on the steep section. After the bridge it is pain time and then after the turn, more pain. It hurts at mile 90 into this ride and the heat is really starting to take its toll but I turn the pedals nonetheless and find that I was only 2 seconds off the last time I rode this hill. I still wonder what I could do on this climb on a 30 mile loop as the 3 times I rode it was within a 120+ mile loop. Anyways, soon enough it is over and I fly down and have a 3 musketeers at the gas station by 78.
From here until the sourlands I was straight up cooked by the sun. I could have taken a different route near the river and stay in the trees but I wanted to hit the sourlands and this was the way strava route creator took me. Bombed Thatchers and was disappointed I didn’t top 50mph #nexttime. In Flemington some DB with a Cannondale road bike on his car was annoyed he couldn’t get around me where there was parking on both sides and the road is skinny so he sped around when he could only for me to pass him at the next light #dicklips. Between Flemington and sourlands it was a death march. I was getting a steady headwind and combined with the heat, I was done. One of the ways I was going to extend the loop was going up Zion but f-zion at 120 miles in, not to mention I have to go a few mile east to get there and that would put me more in the wind on the way home. I know the sourlands well and I kept think through the easiest way up and over and decide on Lindbergh as it is very shaded and “easy”. After riding all this steeper stuff, I reaffirmed that the sourlands are “feel good” climbs as you can motor up those bitches. There are longish but just not all that much steepness to be had and almost enjoyable, at least next to grades I rode today. That being said, some of you (you know who you are) have some embarrassing times on this climbJ.
I decide to turn onto Ridge Road and cheat the wind a bit and come across this:
I am seriously going to write the person a thank you note. The bike gods have blessed me in this moement. I buy two bottles, one gets dumped on me and the other is for colder water on the way home. This reinvigorates me and I feel better for awhile but still limp my way home. I take this picture to show the salt stains on my shorts but it just looks like nothing, but there was some serious salt-age in the crotch-age region.
I get home with just under 135 miles and 8 hours in the saddle and over 10k climbing.
I shower quickly and then off to get the tribe. As much as I would like to sit around, it just doesn’t happen. I stopped for a Slurpee on the way because I rode fucking 135 miles in temps above 80.
In the end I achieved my goal, I was looking to beat my previous one-day record and I did it by only 0.1 mile but I had almost 3k more climb and that longest day before was my covered bridges to and from so 60 miles was with people. I rode some new roads that were excellent and had a healthy dose of self-reflection. I more or less nailed water and food and I only lost 2lbs during the ride so felt that is not too bad with how hot it was. Over 15 hours for the week is an achievement in my book and in the end, I think I served my time better being all on the bike. Can’t say I want to ride much more than this in a single day but you never know.
RIP synapse, a new whip will do right by you.
In an unexpected turn of events, luck would have that I have parted ways with my beloved synapse and I am now on an EVO Hi-Mod, which I am just all giggles about. Thanks to @jdog and Halters for make it happen and tuning my fit on the new big boy size of 56. When I got the synapse I was still really upright and over 4 years dropped more than an inch lower and became more stretched out so being a tweener, I jumped to the bigger size and oddly enough a 130 stem from a 120. @ChrisG was there when I was building the bike and my 120 stem was the perfect fit for something he was working on so I gladly passed the stem to him. Oddly enough, I think Chris was there when I built my synapse over 4 years ago. Weirdness. Always good talking to him as he is one that just gets it.
So back in the spring I had earmarked this past weekend for the Stewart race. My wife and I had started using the apple family calendar and I put it on there, which means it is pretty much set. I was riding my mtb more in the spring and since I was at the OG 6-pack, I figured I would make an appearance for the new format. As the ride grew closer, I kept think about spending 4 hours in a car round time to ride for 4 hours. 50/50 trade off isn’t too bad but since my wife would be away that weekend, I would be burning some major in-law matches to make this happen. The tribe would already be sleeping there because of the early departure time and then at best there would be there until 4. Getting the EVO pretty much put a nail in the Stewart coffin as I was looking to do something big on the new whip
So I mentioned a new fit and the saddle went up, which feels excellent, but the bars went up also with the intention of riding the drops more. Sitting on a trainer is next to impossible for me to tell if the cockpit is good as so many factors are taken out with the trainer i.e., actually moving. After riding the next day I knew the bars needed to come down and I dropped them ½” and perfect. So making tiny adjustments over the last 3 weeks, I finally got the bars and hoods right. I tested the bike on a few segments and got on gimmie KOM that like 13 people did but took it from a local CX guy that is my local nemesis, so I will take it.
I started to map out a route for my ride and was at 145 miles and 12k of climbing. That seemed alittle aggressive so I backed down to 125 and around 11k. I wanted to ride a lot on the PA side of the river and hit some new stuff on the NJ side, as well as hit iron Bridge…
On Friday, I rode with @Mountain Bike Mike and 7 miles in my derailleur spring breaks and I am stuck in my 50-25. We were going to cut the loop short but decide to move on and still had a good time. That being said, it was the slowest loop at a 17.8. I really take for granted how nice it is to pedal on flats and downhills and how much it affects your speed. Either way, shit felt like we were walking as spinning up to 160 would only get me to like 22 mph. So this ride was “full talk”.
@743power and Bicycle Pro saved the day (thanks!) with an old stock force derailleur and I got it up and going on Friday night. On Saturday night I dropped the tribe off at the in-laws after baby’s first trip to Chipotle. They liked it although Chipotle is about the least friendly infant place on the planet. There was also of bus load of @soundz types that flooded the place, which made for the quietest any chipotle has ever been, ever, because they all just communicated electronically. Straight haired one is made the curly one is getting some attention.
The ride was a shakedown for the bike and to open the legs a bit since Friday’s ride was basically recovery. It was hot and humid and got dark. I went fastly because I actually ate something before my ride (other than a 100 calories before a 5am ride) and stopped for ice cream.
Man some peeps get all upset when someone in spandex is walking ‘round their local ice cream joint.
Sunday
I had planned to get out before 5 and it just didn’t happen but I still needed to start with lights. Right away the route on my garmin was not showing the route so I had to stop and fiddle with that. Basically took the shortest route to my homeland and was all badass and rode across the Washington Crossing Bridge. I didn’t want to die early so I took an easier route to get to some of my favorite smaller climbs in that area. I had mapped out some new roads and found nothing but goodness. It was a steamy morning and I stopped to get a steamy sunrise picture over a field with an old mini copper in it.
Went up and down the river ridge a few times and dropped down to High Rocks and crossed the Tohicken Crick. Unfortunately the tree cover is so thick there that you couldn’t see High Rocks from the bridge.
Took my normal route from here up to the start of the covered bridges loop and rode the opening climb for that which is 2% for 3 miles so a nice climb without stressing the legs much. Bombed Bridgeton Hill and made a planned stop at the general store there where I enjoyed some coffee and the driest scone I though was a muffin top thing. I didn’t finish it. Who the F eats scones anyways.
Keep going north and hit Narrows Road, which is short but 13% and then Dogwood Lane which brings on the hurt and is 1.7 miles at 6%. The route I took takes me off of this climb and I see it goes up more. The road it takes me on is Fireline Rd (I think) and it has a sign that says Rough Road and has lots of gravel spots but is this awesome rollercoaster of a road with banked corners. Keep climbing and then start to drop down to endless views like this:
Drop down into Riegelsville and hit up a café for water and a cookie. Chill there for a min and cross back to NJ in the coolest bridge that crosses the Delaware, which is also the most northern bridge before I-78. Find a group ride on the other side that is going the opposite direction and see one dude wearing a vest, WTF. I could have done Adamic Hill but decided on Pinchers Point (0.6 @11.8%) because it was longer and steeper than Adamic (0.5 @ 11.2%) , according to strava anyways. I see Norm was the only mtbnj peep on strava that has ridden it and I should have taken a picture of the sign because the sign was a preview of what was come. Man did that shit hurt. I only rode Adamic once but this seemed worse as there is another 0.3 miles @ 9% before the 11% section for a total of almost a mile over 8%. It was hard at MP 75 and then Bellis Road at MP 78 made for some pain. The 10% switchback on Bellis is some good shit but put the hurt on. Excellent climb though and props to @Robin and @capedoc for riding that one. Anyways bombed down to head over to Bloomsbury to hit the 579 climb and starting here I was in the full sun. I was baked on the 579 climb and seriously thought about cutting out Iron Bridge. I went down Turkey Hill and was pleasant surprised at the cool tunnel at the end. I had a major hot spot on my left toe, like shit was on fire, but loosening the straps on my show calmed it.
So now it was chill time going over to Iron Bridge and took the mandatory selfie at the sign.
I chilled on the section to the bridge because I didn’t want to pull a @rick81721 on the steep section. After the bridge it is pain time and then after the turn, more pain. It hurts at mile 90 into this ride and the heat is really starting to take its toll but I turn the pedals nonetheless and find that I was only 2 seconds off the last time I rode this hill. I still wonder what I could do on this climb on a 30 mile loop as the 3 times I rode it was within a 120+ mile loop. Anyways, soon enough it is over and I fly down and have a 3 musketeers at the gas station by 78.
From here until the sourlands I was straight up cooked by the sun. I could have taken a different route near the river and stay in the trees but I wanted to hit the sourlands and this was the way strava route creator took me. Bombed Thatchers and was disappointed I didn’t top 50mph #nexttime. In Flemington some DB with a Cannondale road bike on his car was annoyed he couldn’t get around me where there was parking on both sides and the road is skinny so he sped around when he could only for me to pass him at the next light #dicklips. Between Flemington and sourlands it was a death march. I was getting a steady headwind and combined with the heat, I was done. One of the ways I was going to extend the loop was going up Zion but f-zion at 120 miles in, not to mention I have to go a few mile east to get there and that would put me more in the wind on the way home. I know the sourlands well and I kept think through the easiest way up and over and decide on Lindbergh as it is very shaded and “easy”. After riding all this steeper stuff, I reaffirmed that the sourlands are “feel good” climbs as you can motor up those bitches. There are longish but just not all that much steepness to be had and almost enjoyable, at least next to grades I rode today. That being said, some of you (you know who you are) have some embarrassing times on this climbJ.
I decide to turn onto Ridge Road and cheat the wind a bit and come across this:
I am seriously going to write the person a thank you note. The bike gods have blessed me in this moement. I buy two bottles, one gets dumped on me and the other is for colder water on the way home. This reinvigorates me and I feel better for awhile but still limp my way home. I take this picture to show the salt stains on my shorts but it just looks like nothing, but there was some serious salt-age in the crotch-age region.
I get home with just under 135 miles and 8 hours in the saddle and over 10k climbing.
I shower quickly and then off to get the tribe. As much as I would like to sit around, it just doesn’t happen. I stopped for a Slurpee on the way because I rode fucking 135 miles in temps above 80.
In the end I achieved my goal, I was looking to beat my previous one-day record and I did it by only 0.1 mile but I had almost 3k more climb and that longest day before was my covered bridges to and from so 60 miles was with people. I rode some new roads that were excellent and had a healthy dose of self-reflection. I more or less nailed water and food and I only lost 2lbs during the ride so felt that is not too bad with how hot it was. Over 15 hours for the week is an achievement in my book and in the end, I think I served my time better being all on the bike. Can’t say I want to ride much more than this in a single day but you never know.
RIP synapse, a new whip will do right by you.
Last edited:
Mountain Bike Mike
Well-Known Member
That is some GREAT chit mang!!!
Props to you! Maybe one day, you could drag me around one of these rides.
Props to you! Maybe one day, you could drag me around one of these rides.
Covered bridges comes to mind. Not all that much climbing but hits some good styff
bigW
Well-Known Member
Massive ride. After seeing your pic I know who the other maniac on Iron Bridge in the scorching heat was. I came around the corner at the base of the hill just as you popped out of sight. Given the heat I was trying to ease up and not blow-up but I got a PR anyway. I would not add IronBridge into a century unless it is HTT. Might take a more serious run at it in cooler weather and see if I can propell my bulkiness up in a quicker fashion.
you picked a tough day for such a huge ride.
http://www.strava.com/activities/349646710
🙂
-W
you picked a tough day for such a huge ride.
http://www.strava.com/activities/349646710
🙂
-W
Sorry I know Regilesville bridge it isn't the best! That would be Dingmans bridge...
IDK, looks like a standard steel truss with a fancy entrance.
Coldblock son. Or whatever it is called. Honestly not sure it made a difference. I had the white but to easy to get dirty.
I think @phillychris498 rode it too. I would have been around 1130?
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
Yeah, that's a burly ride for sure, the heat takes it to another level.
I knew you'd be stoked on the new bike, it's cool to see how things have progressed for you since putting that Synapse on the road.
On a side note, I'm hoping to finally hit the track on the Thunderdome this week. Last three weeks have been cancelled for track repairs and weather.
I knew you'd be stoked on the new bike, it's cool to see how things have progressed for you since putting that Synapse on the road.
On a side note, I'm hoping to finally hit the track on the Thunderdome this week. Last three weeks have been cancelled for track repairs and weather.
It's what comes after the crossing, you would never believe your in Jersey...