It happened!

The streak hasn't died!  Yes, while I didn't want to skip a year, I didn't put much time or effort into running the ride for 2018.  In fact, I spend more time riding the ride than planning it despite this being my fastest time around the loop yet (more on that later).

It was an intimate affair, a nice way of saying not many people showed up.  Ten of us rolled out together with more than half that number already planning on cutting the ride short.  All told, three of us rode the full loop in great conditions, with Sam doing at least that distance despite skipping the Meshomasic to ride home to Middletown and despite suffering whiplash just two days prior.  Maybe we should be checking him for brain damage as well!  A few others joined us en route here and there to stir the mix.  I was just overjoyed anyone along for the ride.

One of those people was Seth, whom I met for the first time last year on the ride and we eventually figured out we have mutual friend in Santa Barbara.  In 2017, he didn't have time for the full route, but impressed us with his crossing of the Mohegan Forest on a road bike with 23c tires and not a lot in the way of low gear.  For this year, he had a true cross bike and simply blew all our doors off, which went a long was to this being the quickest Detour ever.  If he hadn't slowed to ride with me after I cracked hanging onto his 24mph (I honestly thought he was kidding when he first said it--didn't think it possible) pulls on the Airline Trail, he easily would have finished under the 8hr barrier.  As it was, we made it back to the start about eight hours and ten minutes after leaving.  Phew!

Thanks to Susan from the Willimatic Historical Museum

We stop for water & she fed us cookies!

So thanks to everyone who rode some or all.  It was good to see Jessie as always, especially after he missed last years installment as well as the spring WeeTour.  Brendan as usual was a fixture, although the realities of having reproduced meant he couldn't manage time beyond the first pass into Willimatic.  Hopefully a good time was had by all.  Oh, and one last note: as comments point to the new start location being a rousing success with a better overall feel.  I'll hopefully have time to modify the GPX and cues for next year as well as a little promotion to get more in on the fun.
Until the next ride,
Cheers,
Salem

Game on!

Warning: If you are riding next to Maggs or Jessie after passing through a gate on the Airline Trail, don't utter the subject of this post, unless you wish to then ride really quickly in an attempt to stay on their wheels.  I learned this last year, much to the discomfort of some tired souls, but damn, it sure was fun!

Sorry, but I digress.  It's a habit of mine.  Anyhow, the meat and potatoes of this post is that the weather looks great for Saturday, so no rain date this year, we (or at least, I) launch at 8am on Saturday morning from the new start location in South Glastonbury.  Hope to see you, or at least someone, then.

2018 Detour de CT: Now more basic than ever!

Prologue: No, I haven't added a short time trial stage to the beginning, but rather I need to start with a few words.  OK, it's less than a month to the 1st of September, and I'm just now posting this year's ride.  That may tell you something.  I've been busy.  So, I still want to keep the streak going and ride the loop this year, but it's going to be an even more basic, show-up-and-ride affair for this year.  No sign up or anything, but it really will be great if some people show up to join me, thereby keeping me from doing something stupid like trying to break 8 hours.  Really, please, come ride.  Really.  Did I mention, REALLY?

When: Saturday September 1st for 2018 (with Sunday the 2nd kept as a rain date--final decision to be made Friday). Start riding promptly at 8am. That may sound early, but this will be a LONG ride. Add roughly 50% to your time for 118 paved miles; bring lights if in doubt. Sunset is at 7:24pm on Saturday.

What: The 2018 Detour de Connecticut, in its  third year moving to the fall, looks to destroy the last seven years of relative success. This year's "bow tie edition" (the rough shape of the route) looks like it will be 119 miles. Here's the kicker: about half that mileage is off paved roads, with maybe 5 miles tops on numbered highway routes, thus the Detour de CT. If you can handle passages less-buff than D2R2, adventures, mild orienteering, don't mind getting a toe wet (ankles should stay dry), short rough sections, not to mention loads of gorgeous back roads, this is a ride for you.  DO NOT THINK GRAVEL GRINDER!  This route, at times, is a rock crusher, stump stomper, and mud slogger.  Note: this is a self-led ride; you are responsible for finding your way from the directions.  

Route: Here's where my time constraints will sort of show.  I'm moving the ride start to the same location as this spring's WeeTour, which has us joining the regular route between miles 101 & 102 at the junctions of Coldbrook, Mott Hill, and Country Club Roads in South Glastonbury.  So, you can follow the same cues or GPX file (available HERE) as last year, but you'll just be starting about 17 miles from the previous finish.  Sorry for the extra convolution, but this does put the first pass through Willimatic at a better distance for a water stop.

The route exists as a single text document of cues  (there are 3 columns per page, use one page at time--complete full page before continuing to columns on next page).  The file can be downloaded from Google Drive HERE. 

Note, not all of the route has/can be mapped (you need the cues) and Maps 3 & 8 have been removed due to changes this year.  Also, Map 10 has one deviation from the cues (cues are correct) in the last 1/2 mile.  Again, trust the cues; the maps are just visual aids.

Map 1

Map 2

Map 4

Map 5

Map 6

Map 7

Map 9

Map 10

The Bicycle: Minimum 32c tires are good for the soft soil sections, although I would avoid knobbies as there is still a lot of pavement, but an inverted tread tire might be nice. Some woods roads on the loop are very rough, but nothing a Model T couldn't handle. There is one uncontrolled rail road track crossing where I had to walk as well as some potentially wet woods roads in the Mohegan State Forest. Some sections have significantly more vegetation than in the past with the fall date.

I'm not trying to impress anyone, but in choosing your equipment, keep in mind this is the evaluation of a retired pro mountain biker who is generally disposed to riding the wrong bike for the situation. If you consider a cross bike just a dirt-road-bike, a mountain bike might be a good choice. There are sections rougher than D2R2.  There is no perfect bike for everything.  Except maybe a late 80's Technium.

Lastly, there is a bike shop in Willimantic, but they are open only on Saturday, so if rain date is used, you get the idea. Regardless of the day, there are LONG stints with nothing resembling support, so plan for self sufficiency.  Also, it can be quite hot still at the beginning of September.  Be prepared for LONG stints without water available.

The Cost: I like free things, so this ride is free. If, on Monday, you feel like you did a fantastic ride, I'd encourage you to donate $5-10 to some bicycle organization of your choice. Again, this is completely voluntary; there is no cost for riding this loop.

Again, keeping it simple for this year, no sign up on BikeReg.  Just come out and ride with me.  Please.

Food: The center, or knot, of the bow tie is Willimantic, CT, and the route passes through at roughly 1/3 and 2/3 distance. These will be opportunities to buy food. I recommend the coop in town which is not far off the route. Also, on the second pass through town, the loop will go by a roadside natural water spring.

Parking: The ride will start from the gas line clearing (look for the yellow "candy-cane" vent pipes) on Coldbrook Rd in South Glastonbury.  This is just past house #618 when coming from Country Club Rd, but do not pull into that driveway.  Park against the treeline on the gas line clearing.

Questions: Given the way I'm slapping this together, there's probably at least a thing or twelve I've forgotten to mention.  When you find what that is, please ask any questions in the form of a comment to this posting, and I'll answer with a new post for everyone.  All two and a half of you.

One more plug: Why am I doing this? I like riding a bike, and I like riding bikes with other people. I like back roads. I like dirts roads. I like woods roads, and I like sharing what I've found with others.  I'm cruel like that. This loop is not for everyone, but I love it. It's challenging, frequently beautiful, and comprises so many of the reasons I enjoy spending time on two wheels.

Disclaimer: This is just a possible route. I will be riding the loop at the specified day and time. If other's choose to do the same, they do so at their own risk and choosing. To my knowledge, there is no restricted open public access sections of the route, but I do not guaranty this. Obey all no trespassing signs. Route is not solely on maintained public roads.

The WeeTour never happened!

I remember people showing up; I remember riding; there was scenery and some dirt.  Someone performed the most comprehensive instant removal of his rear derailleur I've even seen, and there may have even been a few smiles and good time here or there, but I have no pictures.  

So, apparently, it never happened.  

I'm told that's a rule now in the "Age of Instagram."  Anyhow, I was too busy having a blast to document it, so I'll just have to live with the happy memory of something that never really happened.

Thanks to everyone who did or didn't show up.  Hope to see you in the fall for the big daddy Detour!

Game On!

I need to be careful using those words, "Game On," after they encouraged Maggs and Jessie to open a couple big ol' cans of whup-ass rolling back into Willimantic on last year's Detour.  I'd meant it in more of a Wayne's World street hockey sense, but that nuance didn't translate, and next thing I knew, I was hanging dearly on their wheels, thinking maybe I should reign them in, but grinning too much to do so.  Anyone who was wondering what the hell was happening there, sorry, my bad.

So anyhow, that long winded introduction is my way of saying there really isn't much to say.  No changes that I need to announce, weather looks great for Saturday, and the parking has dried nicely, so no Super Swampers required.  Make sure you have your cues (regardless of having GPS, you'll need the few notes from the ride introduction 2 posts down the page) and GPX file set, or a thusly equipped friend, or at least a good sense of adventure.  Really, it's a good area in which to be lost with a bike, so you can't go too wrong.  Please arrive early enough that you're ready to roll at 10.

Not sure there's anything else to add.  More cow bell?

I'm not dreaming of a white WeeTour

Hey, anybody notice the climate has been doing funny things of late?  Almost like it changed or something.  So, today's scheduled for another late March Nor'easter, just like the ones we, well, never really knew.  Yeah, something is different.

Messy Meshomasic Motorway Monday

Anyhow, as of yet, none of the white stuff has actually made it to the ground in central CT, but the route does head south from there, so may touch into the projected heavy snow band.  That said, yesterday was the first day of spring, so when it's not actually snowing, the stuff on the ground has been melting quite quickly, especially once the sun can hit on any dark earth, so I'm optimistic that conditions will be fine for the ride in a week and a half.  How bad could it be?  We'll answer that question more completely in 10 days.

As with the big Detour, there is a Sunday rain date reserved for the WeeTour, so I'll plan on confirming the ride day by the end of the day next Thursday, so check the blog for that and any last dire warnings, important tips, or more of my general rambling blather.  Stuff like that.

Speaking of speaking, I didn't specifically mention in the ride's introduction, that this is a self led ride, or at least you need to follow someone who is self leading.  The general idea here is to get enough people out there that everyone has someone to ride with at a comfortable pace.  Also, Pete needs people to talk to.  So download the GPX file from MapMyRide AND the copy the cue notes from the ride posting.

For those of you riding without a GPS unit, you are wonderful people, or maybe not since you have something in common with me.  For this ride, cues are a little tricky: Click on "Directions/Notes" on the left side of the MapMyRide page, and that will give you cues for "most" of the route, but for some reason, it is showing the later part of the course, after leaving rt149 as an offroad section.  I'll see if I can fix this, but if not, you'll need map sections, or your own written cues, or to follow one of those magical modernist with the GPS bling.

That should cover the ride for now.  I did have some questions about what 8spd parts I need, so I should clarify, the last thing I need is more bike parts, but I would be happy to give a home to any 7/8spd chains, cogsets, or shifters you never got around to tossing.  I also use worn out 34 tooth chainrings with the 110mm compact road BCD, and I love old narrow, racy saddles with torn covers so I can mistreat my bum on hard plastic.  Please no medications to help me with these issues; I'm perfectly happy the way I am.

(Re)introducing the WeeTour De Connecticut 3/31

A few years back, after requests for a shorter option of the big daddy Detour, I proposed people joining the ride on the first pass through Willimantic, but it was a convoluted action of guessing arrival times, much akin to riding Amtrak and their counter-positive train controls.  I dubbed this option the WeeTour, but my heart wasn't really in it, and I suppose sensing that, nobody took me up on it.  Just as well in all likelihood.

But anyway, I'm bringing it back!  Now that the Detour is a fall event, I miss organizing a ride for cyclists with a still pasty spring complexion, which to me, is the perfect excuse for a shorter WeeTour De CT.  Well, that and I did a really neat ride yesterday that I thought would work well for it.  Honestly, that's more or less how the original Detour came into being.

So, the route, at about 56 miles is roughly half the length of the Detour, and I'm going to make an effort to put about half the effort into running the ride.  You know, KISS (keep it simple stupid), but hopefully not the KISS of death.  With that in mind, this will be both the introduction and basic ride information, with updates to follow as I think of things.  Again, it's a good area to ride, so even getting lost should work out pretty well.

When: 10AM roll-out March 31, 2018 with Sunday April 1st (no fooling) as a rain date.  The 2nd is my birthday, so this is also a birthday ride, please, no presents, unless you have old 8spd parts you really don't want.

Where: The ride will start from the gas line clearing (look for the yellow "candy-cane" vent pipes) on Coldbrook Rd in South Glastonbury.  This is just past house #618 when coming from Country Club Rd, but do not pull into that driveway.  Park against the treeline on the gas line clearing.

Route: What can I say, I'm getting soft, especially since it is easier than writing cues.  The route can be viewed here at MapMyRide.  THREE VERY IMPORTANT NOTES/CUES:

1) (between markers 11 & 12) At the end of Aldens Crossing, just before the T with Rt16, turn left onto the crushed stone Airline Trail bike path.
2) (between markers 27 & 28) At the paved dead end, follow the blue trail blazes onto singletrack.  Continue straight on the old woods road when blue blazes depart to the right.
3) (between markers 34 to 37) Follow brown street signs into Day Pond State Park.
-Once in the park with the pond on your right, continue STRAIGHT through yellow gate onto the woods road.
-Descend to the large powerline clearing & turn left on powerline.
-The worn path will depart the powerline twice.  Shortly after the 2nd departure, continue straight(right) to follow blue blazes.
-WARNING: After a large clearing with expansive view, the blue trail drops down a STEEP rooty descent.  I have seen people on mountain bikes walk this section.  Use extreme care and walk as needed.
-When the blue trail reaches the covered bridge, cross it.

More about the route: Lots of well groomed, car passable dirt roads, but also some rocky woods roads and even singletrack.  You'll want a bike on which you're comfortable riding trails and shoes in which you're comfortable walking them.  That said, there are no long slogs and I expect 4-5hr ride time at a good clip.

Questions: As usual, if you have a question, post it as a comment on the blog and I'll answer in the form of new posting for everyone.  Sort of a preemptive FAQ, if you will.  Or even if you won't, so there.

So yeah, I think that's the basic nuts and bolts for now.  And to clarify, wee, as in "small", not urination (as a dear friend automatically assumed).  So, we hope you'll come out for this wee dirt road ride, and at the end, you'll maybe say "Oui, oui, give us more.  That was fun, wheeee!", instead of crying "wee, wee, wee" all the way home.

Hey, it's spring in New England,

things could be wet.