Yet another Detour de CT

While we thought maybe it was the tenth annual Detour de CT, it may in fact only be the 9th. According to the historic documents, the first one was fall of 2010 (when no one died). That first was one was invitational and all since then have been public affairs.

Nevertheless, Saturday was another running of the Detour. I don't think I had ridden a hundred miles in a clip since the Detour in 2017, so I was a little nervous about survival. I had ridden down to Milford the other day and averaged 18 something MPH, which is pretty quick for a slow piece of shit like me.

Since Salem has stopped really publicizing his ride except on his blog and no one reads blogs, the number of riders has shrunk to 7. There's no a and b group anymore, and the canvas bag contingent doesn't come.

Anyway, we did not ride the whole thing, since Mohegan State Forest is now impassable. First year the entire ride was left unfinished. We did, however, ride almost the whole thing and even stop for lunch. Everyone is getting soft.

The day before, I crashed and totally abraded my hand. Riding on the hoods hurt, but it was other ok.

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Bad tubes

As much as I try to avoid buying bike parts off of Amazon, from time to time I do. There had been a bunch of deals of tubes like 8 for $25 or something like that. That's a good deal. So I bought some road tubes. They keep failing next to the valve stem. Very frustrating. So anyway, that's my PSA.

Tomorrow is the De Tour. Hope my tubes don't fail somewhere in Mohegan State Forest.

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Here they come! Fair weather bikes join the party.

Hey y'all.  Wanted to share the following, since you're starting to think about bikes again.  The Spring Bike Frenzy is a seasonal disorder in CT.  Bikes are assumed by many to be seasonal, unless one happens to be poor.  We do love our fair weather bicycle compatriots, and understand that it's only a matter of time until the seasonal disorder deteriorates into a year round chronic illness.  Once that fabulous day comes, we'll have less S.A.D. and better cycling conditions for all - year round.

NEXT WEEK - The Connecticut Bike Walk Summit.  Thursday (4/23) is for city employees and Friday (4/24) is for advocates and ordinary cyclists.  This year the summit is nearby in Wethersfield.  You have to register online, and it's only $45 for Bike Walk CT members.  The summit includes lunch and an optional afternoon ride.  I've been to past summits, and I always come away on fire to make change.

NEXT WEEK - Bike (and Walk) to Work Breakfasts in Hartford and East Hartford.   On Wednesday (4/22) an informal group will be meeting before work to chat and socialize at friendly local diners.  Both establishments are "cash only" and have an ATM onsite for your convenience.  By the way, this is Earth Day.  What better day to promote healthy and sustainable transportation.

• 7:00AM-8:30AM at Maddie's in East Hartford.  On Main Street right across from P&W.  Next to Subway.
• 7:00AM-8:30AM at Ashley's in Hartford.  On Main Street just South of Downtown, adjacent to the Hook and Ladder restaurant.
• Discussion Topic - Let's keep talking about the East Coast Greenway.  How do we keep this on the front burner? East Hartford projects and the I-84 redesign can make significant progress towards closing the gaps.

Can't wait for the East Coast Greenway to go down Willow Street!

NEXT SATURDAY (4/25) - Detour de Connecticut.  This FREE, informal ride has been happening the last Saturday of the month for several years now.  If you go the whole distance, it's about 118 miles with half the distance on dirt and trails.  More info and cue sheets on the website.  If you like the D2R2 or other gravel grinder type rides, this is for you.  Bring lights, cash, and energy dense food.  The rain date is Sunday, and you can keep an eye on the blog to see if the date shifted.  Personally, I'm hoping for the rain date because I'm otherwise engaged on Saturday.

After finishing my first Detour in 2013.  

For those with a long attention spans, I want you to put this on your calendar now.  Last year was the first year for the Wethersfield Bike Swap, and we're excited to see it return.  Saturday, June 6th.  Save the date.  If you're interested in vending or displaying show bikes, contact Tom Brown.

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Mountain biking in New Haven and the Detour

I'm working on a secret project in Keney Park. In order to do research on it, my friend Marko invited me to go mountain biking in New Haven. Actually, it had nothing to do with Keney Park or research. We'd been planning on riding at West Rock for like six months and it never happened until Thursday. On the way to the West Rock, we rode through the East Rock, which has a mountain bike trail. And, this mountain bike trail has signs indicating its use by New Haven Parks and Recreation. Ratcheting of the New Haven/Hartford war, they've got a legit mountain bike trail in a city park with fancy signs. Not to mention, they've got that huge skatepark in Edgewood Park. I know we have cricket fields and some parks with a lot of roses, but we need to bring our parks in the 90's with some skateboarding and mountain biking. We don't want to lose to New Haven. I know we've got the state capitol, but all that does is not pay property taxes.

The East Rock trails aren't really that long, but they're pretty fun. West Rock is also pretty cool. I really like that road that runs along the top of the park. I am jealous of New Haven and it's rocks.

Also, Salem's Detour, which goes nowhere near any cities, is happening again this year (Apr. 26, 2014, 8am, leave from the beginning of the Hop River Trail in Manchester) and it looks like the snow will be melted in time. I think it's the same route as last year, which is a great route. I had some friends living in Hampton, but now they live in Lebanon. It's nice that they stayed on Detour route, so that I have a place to spend the night when by constitution gives out.

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PTDD

That stands for Post-Traumatic Detour Disorder, but I kid. The route of this year's De Tour de Connecticut was the same pleasant route as years' past (mostly) and the weather was beautiful, but the pace was bordering on traumatic at times. And since I don't ever want to consult a cue sheet, I hung with the lead group all the way until we rejoined the Air Line Trail in Goodwin State Forest. I probably would have hung longer (despite my growing opposition to the pace), but I got a stick in my wheel and didn't have the fortitude to sprint back up to the group. I rode the airline trail back into Willimantic in solitary and found about half of the lead group at the spring. We also picked up two riders and I couldn't figure out how they got to the Spring before me, because they never passed me. Shortcut.

We got some quasi-substantial food in Willimantic center, Lance smoked a cigarette and we were off once again. We rode the new section of the Airline Trail that a farmer had tried to appropriate by adverse possession for several years (can't acquire property from the state by adverse possession (public policy reasons) & the state can't acquire property by adverse possession either (that's a taking under the 5th Amendment)). The false flat into East Hampton never gets any easier.

We stopped at the library to fill water bottles, pee and wash faces. I was eating WAY better this year and finally conquered Champion Hill without blowing up. I was surprised to discovered that it's not actually that steep of hill when you still have some energy in your body. I parted ways in the Meshomasic and rode home.

I'm not sure who ended up finishing with Salem, but they must have beat last year's time by like a half an hour. According to Strava, even my laughing group (after my leaving) finished in under 9 hours. It took me about 10 hours because I rode out to the start.

Then, I showered and drove to New York to go run as one on Sunday.

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Busy Bees, Removing a Stinger

While spinning around with Brendan after work a couple Fridays ago, I managed to catch a stick between the ground and my shin.  Just minutes after rolling up my pants to enjoy the warm weather.  I realized that there was a sizable scratch, but kept on riding.  Later in the ride I realized the scratch hadn't stopped stinging.  A piece of the stick was embedded in my shin, stubbornly refusing to come back out.  Finished the ride with plans to deal with the wood chip later, but heading home would make me late for the Hartfolk Festival.  I stopped at a bench in Elizabeth Park and improvised with a flashlight clip and multi-tool to pry out the unwelcome hitchhiker.  Glad that shins are light on nerves and major blood vessels.

This is your heads up for upcoming awesomeness.  Its time to come out of your hives and put the tires back on the road (or dirt).  Beat Bike Blog is your source for the best bike buzz.  Go get some.  Ha!

• Reveal the Path - Tuesday, April 16th.  7:30PM at the Wadsworth.
• Happy hour socializing beforehand at Arch St Tavern.
• $11 online, and $15 at the door.  This show is coming back because it sold out in February.
• Part of the proceeds go to Bike Walk CT.
• Trashion Fashion Show and After Party - Saturday, April 20th.  6PM at Hartford City Hall.
• The theme is recycled couture.  Wear your duct tape pants and represent.  I built a couple of tree stumps to add to the cardboard forest that will be transforming Hartford City Hall.
• acTrashion Fashion Show starts at ??.
• After party, Welcome to Bohemia, is at the Hartford Bicycle Studio right next to Arch Street Tavern.
• Tickets on sale now!  - If you get tix for both events, you save a couple bucks.
• Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington - Wednesday, April 24th
• Let's be welcoming as Tim Johnson and crew grace our state on the way to DC for some advocacy.
• Reception for the cyclists at Hartford Bicycle Studio around 7PM on Wednesday.
• The route - LINK.
• Bike Walk Connecticut Summit - Saturday, April 27th
• Want to help make things better and get up to speed on what's already in the works.  This is your chance.
• The Detour - For those that prefer pain and pursuit of the bonk to engaging bike / ped advocacy seminars.  Salem is touting the Wee Tour for those that can't stomach the full 118 miles (1/2 road, 1/2 dirt)

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