Jun-26-2021: Good-bye Hereford Rd

Typing this nearly three years after the fact, the only thing(s) I actually recall is visiting the site on Hereford Rd with the photos below.  And, now, nearly three years later, it appears that a decision has been made to essentially abandon Hereford Rd; that is, it appears that no effort will be made to repair the damage. 

As for the "path" - i.e., the route - that I rode to get to Hereford Rd that day, well, I don't recall any of the ride except for the decision as I climbed away from Falls Lake on Cheek Rd to detour onto Hereford and see what there was to see. 

 

However, this is what I recorded in my Excel ride log: 

• joined the TLC group to Grissom + Creedmoor to FallsLake counter-clock to a friend's 
• [that route seems a bit strange, but as I type this, I think I could re-create the route] 
• 0800 start, 1334 at friend's, i.e.,  5h34 elapsed 
• 64.5-miles, 4:43 in-motion, 13.7-mph avg pace while in motion 

Another boring / strange story, but I will be sticking with it. 

After all, the point was/is just to show WHY Hereford Rd was closed and remains closed. 

   

Jun-18-2021: "IvaHawk Special #1"

When Covid hit, IvaHawk went exploring (via motor vehicle) looking for roads with low-low traffic and the opportunity to avoid potential contagious interactions.  He "discovered" a series of "new roads" perfect for cycling.  ["perfect" meaning low traffic, up-and-down, back-and-forth, with some possibly interesting scenery or historic places or otherwise notable sites] 

 

Those that know the two of us best, that would be the "Irregulars," know that when Irregulars rides were sorta' regular Saturday events, Iva had at least one time indicated that although he grew up in North Carolina, I was leading the group onto roads and to places that he had never previously seen.  With the "IvaHawk Specials," Iva turned the tables and led me to roads and places I had never been. 

 

The main point of "Iva Special #1" was to introduce me to Rassie Crabtree Rd -- a road I had ridden past many times while doing the rando "Leesville - Leasburg - Leesville" Perm and other mostly non-rando rides.  My conclusion regarding Rassie Crabtree:  I love it!  [As for why, I invite you to join Iva or me some day or go ride it yourself.]  

 

The east end of Rassie Crabtree T's into Bowen Rd, which I had also never ridden AND which fits the up-and-down, back-and-forth criteria. 

 

When we got to the north end of Bowen (where it crosses Helena Moriah Rd and becomes Stoney Mtn Rd), I talked Iva into continuing onto Stoney Mtn even though he had intended to turn onto Helena Moriah.  Iva indicated that he thought Stoney Mtn was rather non-descript and perhaps boring, maybe even more-or-less flat.  In actuality, although not necessarily impressive, the climb up to the main elevation on Stoney Mtn does get up to at least a 5.6% incline, which is not something that either Iva or I would scoff at. 

 

I include this rather plain "story" because it is the first of the "IvaHawk Specials" that have become a staple of our non-rando rides.  And, for any rando that might read this, as a result of those "Iva Specials," all of which start and end at Gazebo Park in Butner, I hope to develop a brevet-pop or two that start and end at the Gazebo Park. 

 

My stats: 

• 23.6-m commute in 1:40 to Butner, 
• 43.6-m for the main ride in 3:19 w/ Iva, then 
• we had lunch at "El Rio" in Butner (or at least I recall we did). 

 

  

Jun-05-2021: virtual "Bay Leaf - Oxford - Bay Leaf" perm-pop

BobB, IvaHawk, and I essentially did the ole "Oxford" 104-km perm-pop, except that the route had not been re-submitted / reactivated, and on the return, we diverged from what was the official route to include Philo White and Flat Rock roads.  Doing that added approx 1.8-miles and (according to RWGPS) 197 ft of climbing. 

 

I insisted on taking a photo at the Oxford BP station (turn-around). 

Bob on the left in a PacTour Route-66 jersey (that originally belonged to Richard Lawrence, RIP) and IvaHawk on the right in I-don't-recall-the-what/why of his jersey. 

 
 

I usually accuse of Bob of trying to intimidate me whenever he wears any of his PacTour kit.  He stifles a chuckle whenever I do that. 

 

My ride stats on the day: 

• 5.7-mile commute in 24-minutes to the gathering at PUE. 
• 66.5-miles in 4:47 in-motion for the "Oxford with Flat Rock: route.  

 

That's the story for this ride, which I only blogged in order to publish that photo. 

 

May 15, 2021: Morrisville - Siler City 300k Brevet

Short rando season for us as concerns regarding COVID-19 remained high, esp. among elderly and/or immune compromised individuals. 

RBA Alan viewed through the looking glass at rider check-in / route start.  Well, okay, viewed above/beyond the handlebars and helmet of my steed.  [timestamp 0622; I actually got started about three minutes later, meaning I started at least 10-minutes after my plan of 0615 -- didn't really matter since my official start time would be the timestamp of the photo (or at least that is what I recall)] 

 
Although it has taken almost 3 years for me to post something about this 300k brevet, I much enjoyed my completely solo adventure. 

 

Due to limits that enterprises were still employing, combined with some concern on my part about lingering or renewed COVID variations, I had prepared some food to carry with me to eat en route -- actual food such as some boneless, skinless chicken thighs. 

 

I ate the first half-thigh at the Andrew's Store (original location at the intersection of Andrew's Store Rd and US-15/501.  While that was only 20-miles into the brevet, it marked the ~ 40-mile mark for me since I had cycle commuted ~ 20-miles to the start.  While nibbling on that half-thigh, and possibly removing some clothing, a rider-not-to-be-identified rode swiftly past the store.  I doubt that rider saw me.  [Later, when we should have crossed outbound vs inbound, I again did not see that rider.  Seemed rather strange at the time; still seems rather strange.] 

 

I stopped some 16 or 20 miles later at a side-road off of Castle Rock Farm Rd to consume the second half of the above referenced chicken thigh and definitely removed long-sleeve and knee-warmer kit. 

 

The timestamp on the photo indicates that I got to the first intermediate control at Snow Camp, approx 50-miles from the start of the 300, at 1044 -- indicating ~ 4h20 to cover that ~ 50-miles -- I judge that quite reasonable given the two extra stops before getting to Snow Camp (I have traditionally only paused at stop-lights and stop-signs between the start and Snow Camp outbound).  I'm sure I ate another half-thigh and acquired some cold beverage to replace that which I had consumed to that point. 

 

I apparently was "feeling good" between Snow Camp and the "100k control" in Siler City as, according to the timestamp on the Siler City photo, I arrived there exactly one hour after previously arriving at Snow Camp.  I ate another half-thigh (or maybe an entire thigh) at Siler City before shoving off for Seagrove. 

 

I stopped in the shade somewhere along Old Coleridge Rd to consume another half-chicken-thigh.  Or maybe, by the time I completed the impromptu stop, I had consumed all three chicken thighs I had with me.  My recollection is that the three fast-dudes indicated below in the ride results overtook me shortly after I had resumed pedaling after the impromptu stop on Old Coleridge. 

 

I calmly continued my ride, but perhaps I was slowing a bit, as the timestamp on the photo at the Seagrove control is 1425.  Well, the difference in time between the Siler City and Seagrove controls suggests that I covered that 50-kms in approx two-and-a-half hour in-motion:  I cannot complain about that.  As I approached Seagrove, I decided that I was going to order a large chocolate shake at the control -- I did do that although I was surprised at the price -- as I type this, I think I recall that I actually ate the last of the chicken thighs while at/in Seagrove. 

  

I took my time to eat/drink the chocolate shake and to eat ... whatever.  I also decided to call RBA Alan to let him know where I was and to clue him in that the fast-dudes were well on their way back toward Morrisville.  [And now that I type that sentence, I wonder if what I typed earlier about where/when the fast dudes overtook me is correct.  Oh, well.] 

 

Alan indicated that Chet had returned to his place shortly after starting to report a DNF due to a drive-system failure on his bike only approx 6-miles ito the route.  Alan asked it I had seen Cyndy VdW -- nope.  I suggested that perhaps Cyndy was also DNF because the failure would likely have been on their tandem.  Alan was convinced that Cyndy was not DNF and was therefore somewhere on the course.  I agreed to keep an eye out for her on my return voyage to Siler City. 

I'm pretty sure I spent at least 30-minutes at the Seagrove control, and probably closer to 45-minutes (because I recall thinking that I was spending a lot more time there than I ever had (on the 300)). 

 

No memory or recollection of the return journey to Siler City except that I did not see Cyndy.  I called Alan to let him know that I had not seen her, and therefore I figured that she and Chet had DNF'd together on their tandem.  However, Alan again indicated that Chet had only referred to himself as DNF'ing and he was still adamant that Cyndy was somewhere on the course.  

Siler City control on the return.  Timestamp 1733 -- only 3h08 after the timestamp on the Seagrove control photo.  Conclusion:  either I didn't spend as much time in Seagrove as I now think, or I rode relatively quickly (for me) on that 50-kms, or perhaps there was a nice tailwind that pushed me along (except that RUSA #12 explains that there is no such thing as a tailwind in cycling). 

 
I reached Snow Camp on the return at 1838 (according to the timestamp on the photo).  1h05 after arriving at Siler City.  I was perhaps slowing down or maybe the phone chat with Alan (and maybe others ??) took some time before I lsft Siler City. 

 

No recollections or current thoughts about the 50-miles from Snow Camp to the finish.  I arrived at the finish at 2333 (according to the timestamp on the photo taken at the finish control). 

 

I rested sitting on RBA Alan's front steps, and then made the ~ 20-mile cycle commute up NC-54, along Hillsboro St past part of the NC State community, skirted Cameron Village, walked up the steep part of Lassiter Mill Rd (I'd rather walk up that at 2.1-mph than risk falling over at 3-mph), skirted North Hills shopping center, and soft-pedaled the rest of my way to my hovel. 

 

The above is my extremely boring story for the 2021 Morrisville 300k brevet, but I will be sticking with the above. 

 

My results on the day: 

• 20.4-mile commute to the start, with 1:30 in-motion, i.e., an 13.5-mph pedal. 
• 187.8-miles for the brevet route, with 14:30 in-motion, i.e., 12.9-mph avg. 
• 19.7-mile commute back to north Raleigh, 1:47 in-motion, i.e., 11.0-mph avg. 

 

Official RUSA results: 

Region	Club	Type	Distance	Date	Finishers	DNF
NC: Raleigh	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	ACPB	300	2021/05/15	5	2

Cert#	RUSA#	Name	Club / ACP Code	Time	Medal
266481	6176	H__, Ian Page	Asheville International Randonneurs / 933011	12:37
266482	3095	J__, Wes	Randonneurs USA / 933095	12:30
266483	####	not to be ID'd	xxxxx	12:30
266484	6218	S__, Martin	North Carolina Bicycle Club / 933045	17:11
266485	64	T__, Mark	Seattle International Randonneurs / 947018	12:37

 

 

 

Apr-17: Raleigh Region 200 Pre-Ride

So ... I had a good "training" ride on the 10th, 

But I didn't ride anything the next day??? 

[That may have been because during the ride on the 10th, 

My hands hurt, my butt bothered me, and I got hot-foot / feet for the the first time in ... a long time.] 

 

Most every day between the 10th and the 17th would have been 

A good day for a short (25 - 30 miles) ride, but
The only rides I did were a couple errand rides
[But at least I did those 8.3-miles in 39/13 gearing and standing the entire distance]. 

 

Part of the reason for not doing any rides AFTER the afternoons of the 13th + 14th 

Was that my friend Bob contacted me to ask if I would be interested in doing a pre-ride 

Of the upcoming brevet (because Bob was going to be out of town on the 24th). 

 

So ... change of plans. 

No additional "worthy" training rides. 

It would be straight into the frying pan. 

 

Commute to the Ride  

 

As usual when I cycle-commute to the brevets that start in Morrisville, 

The plan was to take it easy, expending "no energy" on the commute. 

"Recently," several of the commutes have turned into adventures themselves: 

• click here for the most adventuresome commute -- scroll down to the commute section. 

From the first pedal-stroke of the commute, approx 5:15 am (maybe 5:20 am ?), 

I was perplexed and disappointed by the amount of light coming from my headlamp. 

I was concerned the lamp had gone into a failure mode. 

I knew it was fully charged (rechargeable battery via USB connection). 

 

Luckily, my usual commute to Morrisville from north Raleigh 

Is primarily (exclusively) on city streets / roads with decent street lighting. 

However, about 7-miles into the commute, just after I had crossed Glenwood Ave, 

I realized why the lighting from the headlamp appeared to be sooo dim. 

I HAD MY CYCLING GOGGLES / SUNGLASSES ON !!! 

As soon as I took them off, everything became much more visible. 

 

I completed the 19.6-mile commute in 1:24 in-motion equating to an avg of 13.9-mph. 

Bob was at Alan's putting the finishing touches on prepping his bike (and himself). 

Alan appeared and (under pandemic protocol) accepted the waivers that we had printed. 

[We had also printed our own cue sheets and brevet control cards to limit interaction with Alan.] 

 

Bob and I may have left on time (at 0700), but I think we were actually a few minutes late. 

Bob and at least one of the bikes at the start.

 

The Brevet 

  

 

Outbound 

 

In the prelude, I mentioned "straight into the frying pan" -- but that is a misplaced metaphor. 

I had "The Weather Channel" on the TV while I was getting ready to ride. 

TWC indicated that the temp in Raleigh was 47 or 48 F. 

I chose my old, old knit cotton long-fingered running gloves under my short-fingered cycling gloves. 

During the commute, my hands and fingers had gotten chillier than I preferred. 

THAT got worse early in the brevet ride. 

 

My hands were cold and hurting and I was changing my hand position every few seconds. 

Luckily, just as we reached Falls Lake, I needed a natural break. 

Bob held my bike as I found a discrete place to do my task. 

And when I returned to my steed, put on the two pairs of gloves, 

And started riding again, my hands were warm!  

 

I commented on the phenomenon to Bob -- he indicated that he was having the same experiences. 

[I later learned that the actual low temp that morning in Raleigh was 42F -- 

I reckon that there is a big difference between 47 / 48 versus 42. 

IF the Weather Channel had indicated 42, I would have chosen a different pair of long-fingers. 

Here is a kicker -- comparing TWC to the local TV stations, 

TWC always reported a low temp this past Spring and Summer 2 to 5 degrees higher than the TV!] 

 

Eventually, somewhere on the outbound, I don't recall where, 

Bob and removed some of our chilly-weather kit. 

Snow Camp outbound control.

 

Nothing much happened on the outbound leg until: 

• about 4 miles before reaching the Siler City control / turn-around, me leading, an unseen bug or piece of dirt zipped under / around the bottom the of the cycling goggles / sunglasses, and zoomed up between my left eyelid and eye. 
• I immediately uttered one work.  Either "dang" or "darn" -- Bob might know for sure.  But one thing I do know about myself:  when something actually bad happens, I don't use any cuss words (but I acknowledge that I sometimes let out a few when the "bad" thing isn't actually serious -- what kind of personality flaw is that?) 
• I pulled over onto a convenient side-road; Bob followed and inquired as to what had happened.  I'm pretty sure that I wasn't all that responsive. 
• I tried to flush my left eye with water from one of my water bottles.  You might know what happens when your right hand tries to surprise the left eye with a sudden squirt of water.  The left eye knows and reacts by closing before the water reaches the open eye.  I was not able to flush the eye. 
• OR, if I did manage to flush the eye, the eyeball was already scratched (and painful). 
• I rode most of the remaining way to Siler City with my left eye closed.  I did manage to open that eye the last mile or so -- I figured things were improving / would improve. 
• At the Siler City control, I again tried to flush my left eye.  Not successful. 

Siler City.  Bob in the background.  My steed making an appearance in the lower right corner.  --  Also, given what Bob is still wearing, maybe we did NOT remove any clothing on the outbound leg.

Inbound 

I choose to finish this blog post by copying in the pre-ride report that I sent to the NC-rando-list-serve: 

 

The following may seem long, but it should be a quick read, and the contents of the post scripts have been noted previously either here on the list-serve or on Facebook, and Alan may repeat similar instructions in the next day or two, but I think it is worth repeating the information. 


BobB has a LIFE conflict re the 24th, so he inquired if I would be interested in joining him for a pre-ride on the 17th.  I said yes, and then we contacted Alan who agreed to same. 


One amusing item before the ride-proper and the associated report.  I pushed off from my sleep quarters at about 5:25 am for the approx 20-mile cycle-commute to the ride start.  You'll understand that it was quite dark.  I was disappointed with the lack of illumination coming from my headlight, but even on the low setting, which is what I have always used in non-mountain situations, I could see the road / street surfaces well enough to avoid debris, etc..  I'm riding along, just over 30-minutes into my soft-pedal commute, when it suddenly dawned on me that the reason the headlight appeared to be so dim was that I had my tinted cycling goggles on!  I took them off and suddenly everything was much clearer and better lit! 


On to the report, which will be entirely about road conditions, with just one exception: 

1.  Bob and I encountered no free-range dawgs anywhere along the route!  (I did, however, notice there was a warning about Free Range Eggs at one spot -- no eggs came out to chase us.) 

2.  The first thing to be aware of / prepared for, you will notice even before you arrive at the start location (see Alan's website if you don't know where that is -- either the page with the directions or the RWGPS map should ID said place), is the road construction and hazard barrels just outside Morrisville Square.  Bob and I started our ride at 7 am and found it easy enough to ride through as there was no car traffic that I can recall -- although I'm confident there was likely more than zero vehicles. 

3.  Castle Rock Farm Rd, the chip-seal section is as it has been since the beginning of time -- the last eleven years , anyway.  Instant drop of ~ 2 mph in pace for the same effort.  There were two notable inadequately filled-in potholes along the first "half" of that chip-seal -- they were easy to skirt around, and I do suggest that you do the same. 

4.  Still on Castle Rock Farm Rd, there is one 20 or 30 foot section of the westbound (outbound) lane that is a patch-work quilt of pot-holes.  I don't recall how I got around them -- probably by sliding over to the double-yellow -- Bob apparently followed my line. 

5.  Old Switchboard Rd -- Veteran riders will recall that the surface of the road as one approaches the stop-sign at and turn onto Lindley Mill Rd has been sliding down the slope, leaving annoying holes in the surface. GOOD NEWS!!  There has been significant well-done patching on that downslope and the surface down to the stop-sign is smooth! 

6.  Lindley Mill Rd.  Immediately after the turn onto Lindley Mill, one encounters the first of the two bridges on that road.  That first bridge has (what I deemed) some significant gaps at the abutments -- I got out of the saddle to help my steed and its wheels better deal with gaps. 

7.  LONG-time veterans will recall that in 2010 (and prior), Siler City - Snow Camp Rd was rather rough -- I recall that it was infested with Tar Snakes.  Then, unexpectedly for 2011, the road was re-surfaced and we had many seasons of smooth riding.  However, the Tar Snakes have now returned.  As double-L might say: "Ugh." 

About 5 miles before reaching the Siler City control / turn-around, some tiny thing came in under / around my now appropriately in-place goggle and zipped straight into my left eye, under the eyelid.  I ended up riding the last 70-miles of the route with my left eye closed.  After that incident, I did not look around at any scenery, and I was likely not the best of company.  I concentrated on the road and pedaling -- our avg pace for the entire ride slowly crept up all during the return leg. 

8.  Lindley Mill Rd (on the return).  These are the only things I noticed on the return leg.  First, immediately after passing the large, blue grain silos at Lindley Mill Farm (?), the bridge is worthy of attention and careful choosing of your line.  There were chunks of surface missing next to the abutments.  I do not recall noticing a similar situation outbound -- perhaps only the southbound lane is affected?  Second, I don't really recall the second inbound bridge just before the turn onto Old Swithboro Rd, but I'm rather sure that I stood to cross that bridge just as I had done when outbound. 

9.  Castle Rock Farm Rd -- the aforementioned patchwork quilt area.  I recall noticing the outbound quilt while riding a smooth surface in the inbound lane -- well, what passes for smooth on that road. 

Finally, there were many small potholes scattered along the route.  Each was dry and had no debris surrounding it (on our journey).  Most of those potholes seemed to be in-line with where a cyclist would likely be riding their steed.  Keep your eyes open and stay aware and you should have no problems with those small potholes, nor with any other less than perfect road conditions. 

Yes, although I rode 70 miles with one eye closed -- my stronger eye, btw -- I did just type "keep your eyes open." 

 

To the above, I add two photos 

Snow Camp inbound.

Back at the finish.  Bob, parts of both steeds, and "someone's" front door captured.  Alan appeared a minute or so later to collect our signed cards.

 

I also note that the ride back, with the eye closed, and me not letting Bob lead for even one minute, was faster, both in-motion and elapsed time, than the outbound ride.  I guess that I was concentrating on the riding / pedaling to help block the pain in my left eye and that led to keeping the cadence, etc. effort at a higher level. 

 

The above is my story for this ride, and I reckon I'll be sticking to it. 

 

Apr-10: Pseudo Bahama Beach 4 Training

Two weeks until the Raleigh Region 200 brevet, 

It seemed a good idea to do some "serious" training. 

 

I left my abode, not sure what I wanted to ride:  to Oxford, a modified Denny's Store route, or Bahama Beach. 

My Excel log indicates that I started my ride via: 

• Honeycutt Rd to 
• Durant Rd (to Six Forks Rd) to
  
• Mt Vernon Church Rd. 

That I turned onto Durant and then onto MVC indicates to me that although I might not have been sure, 

I had decided by the time I got 2.1-miles into the "start" that I had decided upon Bahama Beach. 

 

The standard Bahama Beach route (previously a 103-km Perm-pop) has the most climbing per mile. 

The Raleigh Region 200 is rather hilly -- or maybe I should type "filled with rollers", but

Some of those rollers can take a toll. 

So ... the Bahama route was probably my "back of the mind" choice even before I made my first pedal stroke. 

 

Since the route was not yet re-submitted, and I was therefore not riding the route for RUSA credit, 

It was not incumbent upon me to start and finish at the START / FINISH. 

I decided to use the corner of MVC and Norwood Rd as my start & finish for the day. 

 

I noted the time-in-motion and the time of day when I got to the aforementioned corner. 

But I did not record those times anywhere, and esp. not in my Excel log. 

[Sometimes I do record intermediate times and distances in the Excel log.] 

 

Once on the BB route, riding in the standard clockwise direction, 

All I did was pedal, 

Trying to keep a decent cadence, 

But perhaps I was careful to not overdo it on the climbs (?). 

 

Not sure when I made the second decision on the day, 

But I decided to ride the standard route rather than one of the many variants.  

I'm not sure what the driver(s) behind that decision was. 

 

[I'm typing this late on Sep-20-2021, five-and-a-half months after the ride.] 

I recall that the riding was not-too-hard, but not-too-easy, either. 

I paused somewhere en route to take a pee. 

And when I got back to the MVC / Norwood Rd corner, 

I checked the total in-motion time and also checked the actual time of day. 

Result? 

4h35 elapsed with 4:34 in-motion. 

[The in-motion time equates to an average 14.1-mph while in-motion.] 

 

My conclusion(s) at the time: 

• I was pleased with the ride, and 
• Doing another training ride, perhaps the 138-km Denny's Store route, the next weekend would be sufficient to be ready to produce a decent 200 brevet ride. 

Happy days ahead? OR 

Happy days ahead ! 

 

Apr-09: Two Errands -- One Ride -- Again

Apr-09 

• -> ATM -> friend's -> E.MineCrTrail -> 
• purposes: 
• get some $$$ 
• probably helped friend do some simple yardwork 
• 8.7 total miles in 42-min in-motion    12.2-mph avg pace in-motion 
• standing the whole way, of course 
• (probably) 39/13 gearing 

My Excel log notes this:  "pollen today    --    POLLEN yesterday"