| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
69.47 miles
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Altitude Gain:
4,048 ft
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Avg Speed:
16.69 mph
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Route:
Ithaca-Lodi
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Cloudy\Heavy Rain\Hail 78 F S wind @ 6 mph |
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Headed over to Ithaca to stalk riders on the Bon Ton route that was going from Ithaca to Watkins Glen today. Had twenty five miles and a couple of thousand feet of climbs and descent to get to the start of the ride and didn't leave the house until eleven so I doubted I would see many riders on the course unless they made very long rest\lunch stops. Had a good climb up Old Odessa hill and had another puncture that was sealed up automatically. Not sure what it is on the that hill and am assuming it is sharp stones as I am not traveling at a high rate of speed and should be able to see road debris. A good tailwind kept me going good on the climb out of Odessa to Mechlenburg and climbed comfortably on 79 to Ithaca. Picked up the trail of orange markers that I found out later was for the short course on SR 89 on the south end of Cayuta Lake. Ride out this way quite often but have always taken 96 to T-burg rather than 89. 89 was a beautiful ride with the highlight being a the state park ten or so miles north of Ithaca. Was almost to Interlaken before I encountered a sag bike for the tour and soon after a half dozen or so riders strung out in small groups. Didn't think I would see anyone before the climb to Lodi. Appeared to be only the one long climb from Interlaken to Lodi and one short climb out of Valois on 414 South included in today's route. Had a nice climb to Lodi but a massive storm front was approaching from the west as I crested the hill. At first I thought I might be able to outrun it since it is twenty miles of downhill from Lodi to Watkins but wasn't even close. Saw a few lightning strikes on the lake and then a very heavy rain started. Rode a couple of miles in it but had to stop as the rain was washing the salt from my head into my eyes making it difficult to see. Took shelter under an oak tree until the rain had washed off most of the salt and let up a little. Saw a few people ride by in the downpour as they tried to get to the rest stop at Wagner's winery in Caywood. Got back on and rode in the steady rain until I got to Hector when the storm got violent. Heavy winds were ripping branches from trees and driving the rain drops into me to the point it was quite painful. Had to seek shelter again as I was pelted with marble sized hail stones which were also doing some minor damage to my body. Found shelter with another rider in a garage that a homeowner had opened up. Started out again after the wind and hail died down but still had to do another dozen miles in the rain. Had to dodge quite a bit of storm debris in the road and didn't see any other riders after leaving the shelter of the garage. Think most of the Bon Ton riders probably got to Watkins before the storm but for the ones that didn't I think it will be a ride they remember.
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