Some deep, progressive grooves to accompany October’s cool down. This is also the first DJ mix I’ve recorded through Traktor using my Kontrol S4. Enjoy!
Bladerunner – “More human than human..”
Mortinare – Battlefield Flower
Erdi Imrak – Start Believing
Terje Saether – Blinded (Muui Paranoid Mix)
Marcelo Paladini, Alberto Blanco – California Sunday
Secret Cinema, Roger Martinez – Menthol Raga
Ricardo Tobar – Together (Fairmont Mix)
Scotty.A – Once More Into the Fray (Anthony Yarranton Mix)
2013 will be my third year riding the Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer treatment and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC is a 2-day bike-a-thon and the most successful athletic fundraiser in the country. Last year, through the generosity of over 70 sponsors, Kelly and I raised $6,120. If you like, you can read about our 2012 PMC journey here:
While I rode last August, Kelly volunteered with the PMC Medical Staff and made up her mind to ride in 2013. We decided we’d tackle the ride on a tandem bike, as a team. At the time, Kelly’s mother Beth was battling ovarian cancer — her second recurrence in nearly 10 years. We found out that Beth was terminal just after Thanksgiving. She passed away on March 2nd. She was 54.
Room for Mom is a tribute to the memory of my mother, Elizabeth A. O’Brien, who lost her long battle with ovarian cancer in March. Before she died, we talked one last time about the PMC. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to see Jay and I ride this year, she asked me to save room for her on our tandem.
Beth received years of treatment at Dana-Farber; years that she would not have had without their state-of-the-art care. Beth’s first bout with the disease was won on account of an experimental treatment available nowhere else. Watching the staff at DFCI try to save her, I came to fully appreciate the importance of the PMC: this ride gives families more time, and there is no greater gift in life.
One of the best memories Dana-Farber was able to give us with Mom.
In late July, Kelly and I will load our tandem onto the roof of our car and drive 26 hours from Naples, Florida to Massachusetts for a 2-week visit centered around the PMC. Our route is a 2-day, 180 mile ride starting in Sturbridge, down to Bourne, and then back to Wellesley for the Family Finish. Between now and then, we are training 2-3 days per week, logging as many miles as possible so that we’re physically up to the challenge. You can follow us on Strava to make sure we’re not slacking.
Since 1980, the PMC has given almost $380M to Dana-Farber. This year’s goal is $38M, of which Kelly and I are hoping to raise $10K. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to DFCI through The Jimmy Fund. If you’d like to sponsor us, please click the link below to view our PMC Team Page:
We are extremely excited to ride this year, to see our families and friends in Massachusetts, to remember Beth, and to help families who face their own struggles with cancer. With the PMC just two months away, we need your help to make our effort count. To all of you who will donate, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.
If you have not yet sponsored us and would like to, please click here.
You want to try tandem road biking without spending $3,000 on a Santana or $4,000 on a Co-Motion. Not that those products aren’t worth it, but that’s a big chunk of change to try something you or your riding companion might not like. You’ve seen the Giordano Viaggio on Amazon for as little as $500 shipped, but it has to be too good to be true.. What are you really getting for 1/6th the price of the real tandems? Is it the Huffy of tandem bikes?
Last year, my wife and I were in this exact predicament: I’m an experienced cyclist, she was a newbie. But for very personal reasons, she committed to riding a lot of miles this year. A tandem seemed like a great way to close the gap in our experience levels and enjoy the sport together. But good luck getting your feet wet for $1000. Enter the Giordano Viaggio from Kent Bicycles..
We were fortunate enough to find ours on craigslist, brand new, listed for $300. A woman had purchased it for she and her tween daughter to ride, but the daughter wasn’t feeling it. I figured, for that price, we couldn’t go wrong, so we shot over to the woman’s house to take it for a test ride. Now, when I’m not on the Viaggio, I ride a 2005 Felt F4C with Ultegra wheels and Dura Ace components — so I know what a proper road bike feels and rides like. Not to my surprise, my introductory ride on the Viaggio felt ..pretty awful. Out of the box, this bike is very heavy and slow, the saddles are modeled from some medieval torture machine, and the brakes feel like they’re made of wood.
Whatever, for a $280 initial investment, we decided to see just what we could get out of this thing..
As it turns out, for a total investment of about $1100 ($1300 if you pay MSRP for the bike), and a couple weekends of playing mechanic, you can get a lot. A word of warning, much of what I list here will require you to have special bicycle tools like cone wrenches, a freewheel socket, a chain whip, etc. And, as an entry-level tandem, the Viaggio will require mechanical attention a little more often than a high-end bike. Park Tools makes a great starter kit that I recommend picking up if you purchase this bike.
Here’s our list of upgrades and must-do’s to make this bike a competent road tandem for couples who want to log a few thousand miles per season:
Assembly
A raised adjustable polit stem makes the Viaggio much more comfortable.
Do not trust any of the bearing assemblies in this bike from the factory. They are often under-lubricated and over-tightened. I would recommend re-packing all bearings yourself with a high-grade grease. At the very least, pop the chain off and make sure the bottom brackets rotate smoothly. Cost: $4
Wheel manufacturing debris. The wheels on this bike are terrible, but I’ll get to that later on. What you need to know before you even think of taking this bike for a ride is that the stock wheels come full of metal shavings from where the valve stem holes were drilled. Remove the tires and tubes, blow out the wheels and reinstall. Failure to do this will result in numerous flats — be proactive and save yourself the headache. Cost: $0
Brake pads. The stock brake pads on this bike are a joke. Actually, that’s not accurate. There’s nothing funny about it. Replace the stock pads with something significantly better if you want to be able to stop. This is a safety issue, so I’m filing it under Assembly and not Performance. Cost: $12
Ergonomics
2.5 inches of adjustable dampening makes for a happy stoker.
Saddles. The stock saddles on this bike are about the size of a fist, and unless you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll want to change these out before your first real ride. You don’t have to spend a fortune; literally anything would be an upgrade. Ask your LBS if they have takeoffs from high-end bikes they’ve sold lately. They often have a whole box of these and will readily part with them. Cost: $50+
Pilot stem. Maybe Kent‘s test riders are chimpanzees, but if you’re a human with somewhat normal proportions, you’ll find the pilot stem on this bike far too low, and comically too long. For me, the bike was essentially unridable without an adjustable stem. Fortunately, the stock brake and shifter cables are lengthy enough to reach almost any adjustable stem you can find. Cost: $24
Sprung stoker seatpost. This is a common upgrade even on high-end tandems, because tandem geometry typically transfers a lot of upward road force directly into the toosh of the stoker (that’s what she said). Unless you’re riding on perfect surfaces 100% of the time, spend a few dollars on such a seatpost for your stoker. The stoker post is the standard 27.2mm diameter, while the pilot post is 25.4mm. Cost: $13
Padded bar tape. The bars on the Viaggio are of small diameter, and the stock tape is thin. After a few rides, even with padded cycling gloves, you’ll find yourself combing over the bar tape options at your LBS in search of something softer. The good news is, any aftermarket tape you buy will be much better than the stock stuff. You could even splurge on gel bar padding, tho I think that stuff is overpriced. Cost: $34
Clip-in pedals. Losing the pedals with your feet when communication breaks down is frustrating for both riders. You can avoid that and get more power out of your pedal stroke by installing clip-in pedals for each of you. The Shimano SPD-SL is a very popular, affordable pedal that even comes in white to match the Viaggio. Cost: $84
Performance
Handspun wheels and upgraded brakes make a world of difference.
Tires. The stock tires on this bike are 32mm with a trail-friendly tread. Great for a beach cruiser, not so much for a road tandem. The quality of the stock tires is also questionable; ours had some deformations in the center tread line. Replace them with Gatorskins from Continental, because these things are bulletproof. 700c x 28mm will fit the stock wheels while shaving contact area, rolling resistance and rotating mass. Cost: $80
While you’re replacing your tires, go ahead and install high-end rim strips to minimize flats, and convert your wheels from Shrader to Presta tubes with a pair of these adapters. Cost: $20
With Kool Stop or comparable brake pads installed, you’ve probably managed to make your Viaggio stop. But the stock brakes are the same single-pivot garbage you’ll find on any Wal*Mart bike, and they lack a quick-release mechanism. Upgrading to a set of TekTro R539‘s is a tremendous improvement and an easy job. You may need to shorten the rear brake cable housing, so be sure you have access to cable cutters too. Cost: $50
Wheels. This is a big-ticket item, so if you’re unsure, hold off on this one. In fact, ride the spokes off the stock wheels to be sure you like the sport. They lasted about 500 miles for us, with frequent truing. When it’s time, upgrading to wheels from Handspun with Shimano Velocity DYAD rims and tandem hubs will completely transform your Viaggio. It’s like riding a whole new bike. The spacings for the Viaggio are 145mm rear, and 100mm front. I recommend purchasing from Tree Fort Bikes and taking advantage of their free shipping. Cost: $455
And there you have it. These are the modifications and upgrades we’ve made to our Viaggio, which we just logged 75 miles on this weekend. Overall, we are very satisfied with our budget tandem. It’s comfortable, and while we’re not keeping up with the local Cat 3 crowd, we’re able to complete long rides in reasonable times with minimal mechanical failures. What’s more important, we’re enjoying cycling together without breaking the bank.
Addendum
I wanted to acknowledge another rider’s review of the Viaggio that I found helpful when spec’ing out some of our upgrades. For a second opinion, please check out John McCutcheon’s review Great Budget Tandem.
Update, October 2013
Looking rather chipper for 7am. Only 178 miles left!
Kelly and I completed the 2013 Pan Mass Challenge — a 2-day, 200 mile ride across the state of Massachusetts — on our Viaggio back in August. We had a fantastic weekend, with no mechanical issues, and averaged a respectable 17mph for the duration of the ride: sufficient proof that this bike can be made into a serious road platform with a little effort and incremental upgrades along the way. Here are some further changes we made leading up to the PMC:
Chains. When our factory chains were up for replacement, upgrading to the lighter weight and higher quality Shimano XT HG91 series proved well worth it. The bike shifted smoother and pedaled a little easier. The synch chain can be made by joining two of your standard 110 link chains, so you’ll need 3 chains and a chain tool in order to complete the job. Cost: $90
Cables. It turns out that the rear derailluer cable on the Viaggio is actually a brake cable; meaning it is heavier than it has to be. Its housing is of relatively low quality, too, meaning that you’ll likely adjust the derailluer all day long and still not get consistent shifting performance from it — especially if the stock cable has seen a few rainy days. We replaced the cable with a proper coated shifter cable and our Viaggio now shifts like a dream. Cost: $40.
Thudbusters from Cane Creek. Kelly’s $13 sprung seat post helped take the bite off of short rides, but we were both still uncomfortable on any ride over 30 miles. We decided to “spring” for the top-of-the-line Thudbuster posts from Cane Creek, which finally gave us the comfort and stamina to tackle 60+ mile rides. As the stoker, she has a long-travel 27.2mm model, and I’m on the short-travel 25.4mm version up front.Cost: $320
Having just completed 200 miles for charity.
Our total investment in our Giordano Viaggio from Kent Bicycles now stands around $2000 — 4 times MSRP, yet still cheaper than a Santana or Co-Motion! Unreal. As an upgrade-ready platform, the Viaggio gave us an opportunity to ease into the sport, ramping up our investment as our experience and love for tandem riding grew. Our bike is a complete joy to ride, it’s been reliable, and easy to repair. It passed our grueling PMC test with flying colors. With over 2000 miles logged on ours, I wholeheartedly recommend this bike to other aspiring tandem teams.
Update, May 2014
With our Viaggio still rolling strong, Kelly and I are gearing up for another Pan-Massachusetts Challenge ride to raise money for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. And due to the influx of comments this post has received, I decided to put together an Amazon Wish List containing nearly all the parts needed to transform your Viaggio into an asphalt-shredding steed:
Remember to sort the list by priority, and add a healthy can or two of elbow grease. Lastly, while the Handspun wheels are available through a handful of vendors on Amazon, you really can’t beat the price and service over at Tree Fort Bikes. If you’re going all-in on the wheelset, let them sort you out, and mention this page when you place your order!
I hadn’t recorded in a very long time, so that’s partially where the title for this one comes from. The music also spans quite a long period of time (for house); about 7 years. I hope that, somewhere in the middle, you find yourself moved. And by the end, maybe you’re bobbing along to the beat in your chair.
Derek Howell – Make a Run For It (Chris Fortier’s Melody Tool)
If you have not yet sponsored us and would like to, please click here.
Scott looks ready!
As the emotional high of 2012’s PMC journey gives way to cherished memories and renewed hope, my thoughts hang on the friendships I’ve gained or strengthened through this year’s PMC effort and the woman for whom I rode, Kelly’s mother Beth O’Brien.
I made a promise to our sponsors this year that if we met our fundraising goal of $5,000, I would start my ride a day early at the New York state border. As the event drew closer, I was touched and relieved that our sponsors had come through. And weeks before the ride, my friend Scott called me to share some news: he wanted to ride Day 0 with me. Scott didn’t own a road bike and, by his own admission, he was not physically ready for a 93 mile ride that packed in over 4000ft of climbing. He knew that he would be seriously tested to finish the ride, but that didn’t phase him.
Scott and I have been friends for over 10 years, but it’s rare that we spend time together 1-on-1. Without many words, he made it clear that the goals of the Pan-Mass Challenge had resonated with him. As I made our lodging arrangements for the overnight stay in West Stockbridge, I realized that our friendship was deepening through the PMC. Kelly and I picked him up the Thursday before the PMC as we made our way west to start the following morning. Scott’s signature blend of optimism, enthusiasm and humor was, like always, a welcome addition to the weekend.
Friday, Day 0
Welcome to New York!
Just after sunrise, my dad and his wife scouted out a breakfast diner near the NY border and flagged us down. They had driven out with us and stayed overnight so that my dad could see me off on this trek. It was pretty special to give him a hug and hear him say that he was proud of me before we rolled out. Not that my dad is shy with that sort of thing, but it did confirm for me, on every level, that I was doing something worthwhile. At 7:00, we snapped a picture under the Welcome to New York sign and PMC2012 was underway. Briefly.
Barely 7 miles in, a rear wheel I had been nursing along through a foolish series of partial rebuilds finally cried “Uncle!” A spoke snapped, sending the wheel horribly out of true. It wouldn’t even rotate through the rear stays of the frame — my bike was unridable. What were we going to do? We were riding these first 93 miles unsupported. My dad and Kelly were already miles down I-90 at this point. Who could repair my bike in Stockbridge at 7:30 in the morning? A toxic mix of disbelief and frustration began to set in. I had momentarily forgotten that this was the Pan-Mass Challenge; that my duty was to “commit, and figure it out.”
And that’s when a key lesson about the PMC so justly punched me in the face: do your part selflessly, and others will have your back. 20 minutes after my bike called it quits, a fellow PMC rider who would join me in Sturbridge the following morning recognized our situation and came to our aid. He drove us 7 miles to the local bicycle shop, making himself late for work in the process. And what were the odds that, when we arrived at the LBS, a manager of Berkshire Bike & Board in Great Barrington was there early and willing to help us? In no time I was back on the road with a brand new rear wheel — a $500 part loaned to me for no more than a promise to send it back when I was done, and best wishes for the 3 day ride ahead. Our 93 miles for the day had just become an even 100, but our spirits were high once more.
Rolling into Sturbridge
Friday’s ride would include more trying moments, especially for Scott. Jacob’s Ladder on Rt 20 and the 3-mile 6% grade at the beginning of Rt 66 got the better of him. But when I asked if he wanted to call it off, he protested vehemently. The slower pace we kept wore on me too; it meant hours of extra saddle time in 90° heat and peak sun. I knew that I’d feel these effects for two more days, which made me anxious. When we reached a grueling hill on Rt 20 in Brimfield, I took off. Scott assumed I had abandoned him, but we shared a happy moment when he found me 1 mile before the finish, waiting so that we would arrive together. After a meal, a couple of beers and a few introductions, Scott left the Sturbridge Host for home. I hope that he’ll be back next year.
Saturday, Day 1
Entering West Stockbridge
Friday night was hectic, as riders from 9 different countries poured into the Host hotel for their registration packets and to watch the opening ceremonies. Kelly and I were so busy preparing logistically for my ride and her volunteering that we unfortunately didn’t get to see them. We finally made it to bed just after 10pm, alarm clocks set for 3:45am. I got to be lazy and sleep in until 4:30. An hour later, the event she and I had been preparing for since April officially began. As I pushed towards the front of the pack during the first 20 miles, looking for Ornoth, I felt shaky. I had skipped breakfast. My heart rate was unjustifiably high and I was sweating too much. I would have to pace myself, hydrate rigorously and ride smartly. I couldn’t afford to blow up.
I eventually found Orny, and we rode about 30 miles together on Saturday. The highlight of Day 1 was Cherry St in Wrentham, affectionately referred to as The Smile Mile. The street is known for its supportive residents who line the road with signs, live musical performances, refreshments and cheering kids. As Orny and I cruised down their shaded lane, hands in the air to clap for these families, their gestures of gratitude and support made me temporarily forget the oppressive heat and humidity. I high-fived a group of boys who were eagerly offering to anyone who take them up on it. Awesome.
Joe & Jay @ Lakeville
The remainder of Saturday’s ride was hot but, because of the hard work of the rest stop volunteers, manageable. At the Lakeville stop, my personal favorite, Kelly’s father Joe was waiting to welcome me and cheer me on. He had driven down that morning from Quincy to see the riders and volunteers he’d listened to me talk about for almost a year. It was great to see a familiar face, and I could see in his that he was touched by the sheer scale and combined good will of the event. He got a kick out of watching me recline on the massive bags of ice set aside for just that purpose, too.
Sunday, Day 2
Throughout the evening on Saturday, I had been dealing with mild heat stroke and dehydration. When I couldn’t fall asleep by 10pm, Kelly set out from our tent and returned with bags of ice to pack me in. That worked, and I finally got some sleep. We awoke at 3:45 to break down our tent and haul our gear to the road crew van that Kelly was assigned to. After seeing her off, I returned to the main tent for some breakfast, which I ate while seated atop a manhole cover — it was the only dry seating to be had. There is no mass send-off for Day 2, so when I had finished breakfast, I found my bike and cautiously pedaled in darkness towards the Bourne bridge. By the time I reached the far side, the sun was up and the ride was on!
Like Saturday, Sunday morning was shaky for me as well. More elevated heart rate, more unjustifiable perspiration, irregular breathing. It was not my strongest start, but after 15 miles or so I settled into a rhythm. I made a quick stop at one of the medical vans early on to tape my nipples up, as they had started to chafe somethin’ fierce from the humidity. Ornoth rolled by just in time to witness my mummification, which he found amusing. But this was perfect: my body felt capable, the weather looked favorable, and my good friend had just arrived to finish this journey with me. This was going to be a day to remember.
The Barnstable rest stop is known for its popsicles, which really do hit the spot — odd for 7am, but I refuse to question it. Shortly thereafter, I was treated to a sun shower like I hadn’t seen in years. Gentle rain fell despite almost blinding morning sunshine and blue skies. As I rode through rolling sand dunes and sea grass, I took stock of how lucky I was to be there at that moment, healthy and active. This had to mean something. I thought to myself, maybe we’re closing in on a cure. It was time to start thinking about Beth. She would occupy my thoughts for the rest of the ride. This was for her.
Celebrating @ Provincetown with Orny
I don’t always have the courage to hit back in life. But when cancer threatens someone you care about, you hit back, and that’s what the PMC is — it’s hitting back with everything we have. Our sponsors pack the real punches, but as Sunday’s ride drew to a close, it was my turn to hit. Through the hilly, wind-swept dunes of Race Point, I pushed until my legs burned, and then I pushed harder. Tucked in the drops, I ramped my cadence up with each breath. A few cheers from fellow riders spurred me from the saddle, and I sprinted for the final mile. Of the 2500 miles I rode this season, I know that it was my finest. At the turn for the Provincetown Inn, I sat up and waited for Ornoth so that we could cross the finish line together.
Reflections
Not pictured: Paul’s bull whip
2012 was not my strongest year as a cyclist. A late start to my season so that I could finish a project long overdue put me well behind the prior 2 years. Planning our move to Florida took away more riding opportunities. And, ironically, several good biking weekends were spent in my living room, writing fundraising emails for the very ride that would test me the most. So I have to thank my good friend Paul Demers for kicking my ass to the summit of Wachusett Mountain on no less than 6 century rides this summer. Every time I asked him to come be my motivator, he showed up at my doorstep with a smile on his face and more energy in his legs than I had. I have no doubt that my PMC would have fringed on failure without Paul’s consistent support. Yea buddy!
Ornoth salutes the camera
It’s hard to say if I would have found the Pan-Mass Challenge before this year if it weren’t for Ornoth. I think it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t have volunteered in 2010 or ridden in it last year if not for my quirky pal. In fact, Orny has had more positive influences on my life than he probably realizes. I’m saddened to know that, in moving away, I won’t have my oldest cycling companion to shred asphalt with in 2013. But I won’t soon forget closing out a 300 mile epic trek across Massachusetts wheel-to-wheel with him.
Finally, we are so thankful to each one of our sponsors who helped us not only reach our fundraising goal, but exceed it by over $1,000 — a total of $6,120. Through their generosity and compassion, our 3-day effort held significance. And with continued support like theirs to all of the families who face cancer, we will conquer this disease.
Everyone has a reasonWe rode for Beth
If you have not yet sponsored us and would like to, please click here.
On August 4th, at 5:00am, 5500 cyclists and hundreds of volunteers will flood the Sturbridge Host Hotel parking lot and lobby to kick off the 2012 Pan- Massachusetts Challenge. For those not familiar with the PMC, it’s the most successful athletic fundraiser in the country, benefiting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through The Jimmy Fund. It accounts for half of The Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue ($35 million last year). The event itself is a 2-day, 192 mile bicycle ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown.
On August 5th, I will complete my second Pan-Mass Challenge in honor of Beth O’Brien, who is battling ovarian cancer for the 3rd time. Her daughter, Kelly O’Brien, my fiancé, is volunteering with the PMC Medical Team.
I became involved with the PMC in 2010 through my close friend Ornoth Liscomb. Orny was training for his 10th Pan-Mass that year. To mark the achievement, he was starting a day early at the New York border, and riding 93 rugged miles to the Sturbridge start. This would make it a “true Pan-Mass,” he reasoned. Fellow PMC’er Paul Demers and I decided to go with him on his Day 0 ride, and I registered to volunteer for breakfast duty in Sturbridge the following morning. I thought this would be a good way to see what the event was all about, and it was. During the opening ceremonies, I promised myself that I would ride in 2011.
If there’s one particular image in my mind that captures what the PMC is all about, it came to me on August 7th 2011 (Day 2), at around 8am. A storm had blown in overnight. Having slept in a tent, I was soaked to the bone before getting on my bike at 4:50am to cross the Bourne Bridge. Rain continued to fall as daylight broke. The course was no longer lined with cheering supporters. Somewhere between Eastham and Wellfleet, the second long day in the saddle started to wear on me and I began to feel a little sorry for myself. As I approached a hill, my heart sank. My legs hurt, I was cold, hungry, tired, filthy..
About 1/3 of the way up the hill, I noticed another rider ahead of me. He was in his 40’s, riding a tandem bicycle by himself. A picture of a child’s face was on the back of his jersey. The child must have been his son. He was riding in his memory. Alone on this stretch of road, I watched him labor to pull the heavy bike up the hill. I’d never felt so humbled, so full of purpose, so determined to put myself to good use and finish this ride, to earn the gifts my sponsors had given. As I completed my first PMC later that morning, an unshakable sense of peace took hold of me. This was the best thing I had done in my entire life.
I’m hopeful that, in our lifetime, we will be able to prevent or cure all types of cancer. But that isn’t going to happen without institutions like Dana-Farber, which is leading the world in cancer research and treatment. And Dana-Farber couldn’t exist as it does today without the PMC. Kelly and I have set a fundraising goal of $5000 for 2012, and we need your help to reach it.
So here’s the deal: I’m promising to all who donate that if we meet our fundraising goal before the PMC on August 4th, I will start at the New York border on August 3rd and ride those 93 rugged miles again. That’s 3 days, nearly 300 miles, 24 hours of saddle time, about 15 peanut butter sandwiches, 9 bananas, 30 gummy worms, 6 gallons of Gatorade and water, at least a dozen hugs, a few tears, and 1 really sore ass.
I’m asking for your support. 100% of your donation goes directly to Dana-Farber. You can sponsor Kelly and I online via our PMC Profile page:
Lastly, this video by Newburyport Pedicab recaps the 2008 PMC, and illustrates the importance of this event far better than I could. Please take a moment to watch, and thank you for reading.
Today my friend Ornoth and I cycled some 70 miles around Jay Peak, Vermont. The route included both of Jay’s highest peaks: Big Jay and North Jay, and at our highest point, we were 2300ft above sea level. With over 6100ft of climbing in total, and two Category 2 ascents, it was in some ways the most challenging ride I’ve ever done. It was also the closest I’ve come to riding in a foreign country; at times we were less than one mile from the Canadian border!
Ominous but beautiful cloud cover, pre-Jay Peak.
Our ride started and stopped in the town of Newport, Vermont, which sits at the southern end of Lake Memphremagog. The weather today was less than ideal: low 60’s with dense cloud cover and a stiff 17mph easterly wind during the good parts, and low 50’s and wind-blown downpours during the bad. Still, we both had an excellent time and enjoyed the scenery, challenges, and fresh air that northern Vermont offered.
We started out heading south / southwest from Newport towards Big Jay. We must have passed a dozen dairy farms, and by mile 18 we were turning onto the road that would take us to the summit of Jay’s largest peak. That first climb was a serious test, and the most difficult ascent I had completed to date. A false summit approximately 85% up the mountain made for a heartbreaking realization: the last 0.6 miles to the real summit pitched up to a 13% grade. Some raindrops began to fall as I reached the top and waited for Orny to make his way up.
The final kick to the top of Big Jay.
Due the the cloud cover, there wasn’t much of a view from the top, but it was still very satisfying to reflect on the climb and talk about the impending descent. The next 5.5 miles were going to be a free ride at 40mph+. As we clipped in to begin our way down, the skies opened up and a steady rain quickly developed — adding an increased element of danger to our high-speed departure from Big Jay.
Just a half mile into the rainy descent, I encountered my first ever wild black bear. He was standing in the middle of the road, on all fours, about 200 yards downhill from me. Between my nerves, high rate of speed, and the wet pavement, a controlled stop was a pretty ambitious goal. I locked my rear wheel at least once; the thought running through my mind, “If you go down, you’re going to be a bear snack.” Luckily, I managed to stop upright, and the subsequent “Holy shit!” that escaped my mouth sent the bear lumbering into the woods along the side of the road. I only saw him for 10-15 seconds, but I’ll probably never forget that encounter.
At mile 28, we were out of Jay State Forest and arrived in the town of Montgomery. Freezing cold from the long, wet, brisk and bumpy descent, hot coffee from the general store was well-deserved and totally hit the spot. We were out of the rain, for the time being, and began the most enjoyable stretch of the ride along routes 118 and 105. Gentle rollers with river views, smooth surface, and a strong tail wind were welcome rewards. Our average speed increased to 18mph for this section of the ride, and we were able to do a little drafting work while sharing our observations on the scenery. Then came climb #2..
Canada. We`re only open from 8-4.
On mile 42, the rollers we had been enjoying for the last 14 miles were swallowed by a massive 6% grade furnished with some terribly neglected surface. It was the first leg of North Jay, that would prove to be the more difficult of the two major ascents we undertook today: 7.5 miles in total, 1900ft of vertical climbing, and an average grade of 6.5%. What really surprised me about this climb, aside from the duration, was the consistency of it. The last 5 miles had absolutely no breaks, rests, etc.. nothing shy of a 5.5% reprieve from the 7-9% norm. Too long to sit the entire time, and not quite steep enough to warrant being out of the saddle, this was a marathon and a definite test of stamina. The summit offered no scenic view, no visitors center, not even a porta-potty. A small dirt turnaround on the side of the road, huddled in low clouds, marked our achievement. We were less than a mile from the Canadian border. My phone picked up an international tower and prompted me to select roaming rates, as confirmation.
Just like the descent from Big Jay, once we started down the back side of North Jay, the rain moved in once again — much heavier this time, too. For the first mile, we were shrouded in clouds and fog and had only a couple hundred feet of visibility. I actually had a blast, having conquered my fear of descending at 40mph on wet, unfamiliar roads. But I think Ornoth didn’t enjoy it as much; I finished the descent several minutes ahead of him. Completely drenched and in the middle of nowhere, we joked about our decision to do the ride in the first place as we turned onto Rt 101 North with about 16 miles to go.
The final leg of the ride was unfortunately not as enjoyable as the previous sections. No major hills or rough surfaces challenged our spirits, but a steady rain and a stiff head wind made for a slow, cold slog back to Newport. The rain did subside as we crossed the Newport town line, and the final 1.5 miles around the southwestern shore of Lake Memphremagog were dry and scenic. Arriving back at my truck parked at the waterfront, we happily changed out of our wet kits and into some dry street clothes. Ride complete, bikes in tact, riders tired but uninjured. Success!
I will ride Vermont again next weekend in the Harpoon B2B, but I’m really glad we made the trip to Stowe and conquered Jay Peak.
My grandfather turned 82 a couple of weeks ago. For his birthday, I took a stab at a continuous mix of music that he’d like. Half of the songs are known-favorites of my dear old Gramps, and the rest are ones that I really wanted to share with him. It was very enjoyable to mix some music that I normally never would have compiled together or even thought to listen to. So thanks, Gramps, happy birthday, and I hope you enjoy!
The other night, I was looking around at the Quake2World videos on YouTube, and I realized how horribly dated they all were, so I figured I’d make a new one. I actually recorded a much more interesting segment than what I was able to upload, but YouTube had a hard time processing it (3 times in a row). Anway, here you go:
Lately, I’ve been beat-mixing again, prompted by a very irresponsible purchase made around Thanksgiving (see right). I can’t say that I didn’t miss doing this for the last few years. I’ve also really taken a liking to Drum & Bass music, and have started to build an almost-respectable catalog of it as well. It’s a little more interesting to beat-mix than Progressive House (shorter tracks, wider variety, ..), and hey, who can argue with 120hz hitting you in the chest at 140db?
Tonight I’ve recorded two 30 minute continuous DJ mixes for you to share and enjoy. I would like to start playing out again at some point soon, so if you or someone you know has connections at any local venues, please let me know!
