We did that thing.

So yeah, a few of us went for a ride this past Saturday.  It was pretty long, over ten hours to finish the entire kit and caboodle, which is just fine with me.  After trying to hang onto Seth slipstream for a record time in 2018, I needed a recovery year.  This year, Seth went easy on us, keeping his monster pulls along the Airline trail in the low 20mph range.  Thanks Seth, it's always a pleasure to witness smooth, steady power, especially when it is just slow enough that one can keep witnessing it.

 

Our new favorite watering hole on the first pass through Willimantic, THANKS!

 

So yeah (to heck with good paragraph transitions), we had another beautiful day of almost fall temps, toping out with a gang of seven riders.  Admittedly, I've been doing less then the bare minimum of advertising the last couple years since I'm no long quite local, and running a little busy to recon the route before the event, so lucky seven it was.  The small group stayed mostly together, which was fantastic, especially when we found the Mohegan Forest beyond passably overgrown with briars, and I had to devise a quick reroute with only one trip down a dead end!  A little more exploring and I should have a Detour worth detour of the forest for next year.

 

Free ride, with free veggies!  THANK YOU.

 

So yeah (what, you're still actually reading this?), I still really like this ride and have a blast sharing it with new and old friends every year.  We'll do it again the first Saturday in September of 2020, and maybe we'll see you there.  Ride fun.

Let's do this thing!

Hey all six of you, weather is looking good for Saturday, so no need to invoke the Sunday rain date this year.  We'll roll at 8am on Saturday!  I'm looking forward to the ride and seeing any hearty souls that are game for the challenge.

As always, this is a free ride, and while I strongly put NO PRESSURE on anyone, I've mentioned that if you feel like you've done a great ride, you can make a donation to the cycling charity of your choosing.  For this year, I'd like to direct that donation, if you are so inclined.  An old racing buddy of mine, Matt Domnarski, had his wife die in an accident earlier this year.  Matt, being an energetic force of nature, is raising money to renovate the local high school track in her memory, so please, if the feeling moves you, please chip in to that specific worthy cause.  You can read more, with links for where to give HERE.  Thank you.

2019 Detour de CT: Big Sister's Birthday Edition!

Here we go again: So, interestingly, the primary ride day falls on my older sister's birthday for the first time.  Also, this will be the first year that the fall event doesn't coincide with with the Labor Day weekend, despite the fact that my sister was born on Labor Day.  I'll leave it to others for further delving into numerology.  Anyhow, yeah, here we go again, the ninth general invitation Detour de CT, so by now everyone knows to avoid this ride like an Ebola infected village with lots of guns, but if you haven't heard, sure, come out and ride!

When: Saturday September 7th for 2019 (with Sunday the 8th 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 2019 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 2018's WeeTour & Detour, 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, and last year Willi's Textile and History Museum (at 411 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226) was very helpful to that effect.

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.  All that said, I did a dirt road ride up in MA this year on my (ir)regular 26" rigid mountain bike, and it was really comfortable, so who knows.

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.

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!