| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
53.53 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,594 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.89 mph
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Route:
Capitol Rail Trail
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 152 bpm
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Avg HR: 114 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: custom built Cipollini RB800 Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny 78 F NW wind @ 5 mph |
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After two day riding in the rain today looked like a big improvement. Sunshine with light winds and a temperature in the seventies. Had to drive nearly an hour to get to the Herring Creek trail head that was close to my turnaround spot yesterday. Goal today was to finish the trail to Richmond and return. This end of the trail wasn't quite as flat as the previous section and there was quite a bit more traffic, but it does run into the center of the Capitol. Started off a a leisurely pace but figured it would be a good touring day and had gotten a good workout on the century on Saturday. My fancy computer told be I should take four days off the bike after the mountain ride so another easy day was in order. I was cruising along at around fourteen when two guys quickly passed me. Decided to up the pace and stalk them for awhile. They were moving in the low twenties but only went a mile or so until they slowed down back to fourteen. Passed them and held my pace in the twenties for a couple more miles then went back to touring speed. Unlike yesterday there were a couple of hundred people on the trail today as well as dozens of pedestrians as the trail approached the capital. Didn't see too many riders drafting on the trail. It appeared most riders were stalking other riders like I had done. Just hold the same pace but at a short distance away. Passed another rider talking on a phone alongside the trail. A couple miles later he flew by me. Started stalking this guy and again moved the pace up into the twenties. Unlike the other riders I had stalked, this guy looked like he was out of my class. He had that Cat 1 build and looked fast fast. I had to do some work but held on to him for a couple of miles until we came to a section were the trail had to follow a section of road before continuing. Pulled up behind him at a stop sign and he noticed I was there and seemed surprised. When traffic cleared he took off down the road and continued back to the trail. I had let a large gap open up and was perpendicular to him as he started back on the trail into the wind. He kicked in the afterburners, and he was gone. Pure acceleration and into the wind. I spun along as best I could but was totally outclassed. I just watched him keep pulling away until he disappeared into the mass of riders ahead. I went back into touring mode but by now was entering the capitol. There was a short descent to a waterfront and the end of the trail. There was another trail that made a loop around the center of the capitol, but I didn't go on it as it was packed with joggers, strollers and cyclists. The waterfront was really nice but it was interspersed with derelict buildings covered with graffiti and homeless nests visible in the burned out basements. This was side by side with small beautiful community garden plots that were well maintained. Doubted they would harvest too many vegetables in that neighborhood, but it did look nice. Talked with a couple other cyclists as we waited to cross some intersections but we didn't ride together though they did stalk me for a few miles until they turned around and headed back to the city. Felt pretty good today and while I rode about the same miles as I did yesterday, that ride seemed to take forever and today was over too soon. Rode back to Herrick Creek then went to yesterday's turn around point to complete the trail. I can highly recommend this trail but would not recommend doing it in a cold rain.
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