When Pete and I first conceived of the blog I did not understand the commitment required to nurture, raise, and complete the blog. Now, after neglecting the blog for several days I hope that it can forgive me.

I last left the blog when we finished our NYC ride. It was a successful trip and Pete stayed in NYC while I traveled home via train to New Haven and bike to Wallingford. We both took several days off to rest and recuperate. Our knees have been the main problem and we are taking corrective action to better fit the bikes to our bodies and alleviate this issue.

It is amazing how many variables are present when fitting a bike and the necessity of a good fit. Imagine pedaling at 90 RPM (the average recommended revolutions per minute). Now imagine pedaling at 90 RPM for approximately 8 hours a day. This means that each joint: ankle, knee, hip are rotating 43,200 times every day (90RPM * 60 * 8). Now imagine that one or two variables are slightly off. Your seat is too low or the cleat that attaches your shoe to your pedal is skewed too far left. These issues get greatly magnified and can create lasting damage to the many joints in your legs. You get the point. A properly fitted bike is necessary and it is important to monitor and pay attention to pain and aches.

After several days of rest and recovery I decided another long ride would help me adapt better to the trip. My beautiful girlfriend Julie graciously gave me and my bike, White Lightning a ride to Boston. I spent a night and then planned a 100 mile ride back to Hartford for a visit with my sister. In order to better replicate the conditions on the trip I packed my panniers with approximately 30lbs of weight and set off at 10 am.

This trip proved a bit harder than the first for a variety of reasons. The late departure combined with cold weather and heavier equipment slowed me down from the beginning. Instead of being able to follow a single road, route 1 to NYC, I had to follow a variety of winding and hilly roads. I followed 9 to 16 and eventually made my way through the back hills of Connecticut to 44 west and down to Hartford. Although the added weight is less noticeable on flat terrain the uphill sections were increasingly hard to complete at a pace above 10 mph. At an average of 10mph it would be a long day.

I ended up riding from 10 am to 8pm with a short stop for lunch in East Douglas, CT and a stop to fix a flat in Woodstock, CT. The last two hours were completed in the dark and rainy back roads of Connecticut without streetlights. I had my LED lights on the front and rear of my bike but these only allowed cars to see me. They did not provide much visibility when there were no cars around. On several sections I found myself zooming down dark hills in excess of 35mph with the white side line guiding me through the countryside of Connecticut. Although exhausting I made it 104 miles to Manchester, 5 miles from Hartford before receiving aid from my sister to get across route 84 and to a warm couch.

When I awoke the next day for my 25 mile ride to Connecticut it was pouring out. In retrospect, I must have thought I was already in Florida because I dressed lightly and braved the rain. It was another rough ride. Instantly I found myself wet and cold. Zooming down the Berlin turnpike I could not avoid the rivers flowing on the sides of the roads and I wished more than ever that I had warmer clothing and a set of fenders. After getting slightly lost and hypothermic in Meriden I made it home after two exhausting days. I believe it has prepared me for the big ride. We leave in 2 days!