Observation and Perspective
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Ride Stats |
Distance:
52.93 miles
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Time: 04:17:56
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Max Speed:
39.80 mph
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Avg Speed:
12.31 mph
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Temp:
Min: 70
Max: 82
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Category: general: touring -
group
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Route:
RBC # 176 -modified version
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Weight:
236
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Altitude Gain:
2,205 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 0
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Rolling
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Bike: Bianchi 32lb-Castro Valley Road
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Club: Southern Tier Bicycle Club |
Weather Conditions: partly sunny w/light breeze; |
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Distance:
6.58 miles
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Time: 00:20:00
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
19.74 mph
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Temp:
Avg: 78
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Category: general: testing -
solo
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Route:
Cheap & Dirty 10k
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Weight:
236
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Altitude Gain:
132 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 0
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: EG Zurich 350 IX Electric
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Club: team bikejournal |
Weather Conditions: evening ride |
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The ride back from Geneseo had its moment of challenge. A nice tour from Black Creek Park to Geneseo and back with Jerry, Bill, Dave, and Birthday Boy Gene. After tomorrow, Gene will be starting on a downside stint of his late-fifties.
This great ride is a tribute to the organizing efforts of Gene Ceccano. The challenge goal was for me to keep up with the other four guys, mostly I did well enough. But a few climbs were problematic. The downhills were nice compensation. Crossing Conesus Creek was a minor ordeal. Earlier, Jerry had questioned the name "Pole Bridge Road". How was the name derived? My logic thought of a bridge made of wooden poles. I supposed if at one time there was a bridge made of wooden poles it may have needed updating at some point. Funny how a thought can seem clairvoyant at times.
There we were being lead by Jerry along Pole Bridge Road. It was while on a nice "downhill" segment of Pole Bridge, when suddenly we came upon a "Road Closed" sign. I could clearly see about 1/4 mile down the steepest hill section that a bridge was out. That didn't stop Jerry. While the rest of us were stopped at the Road Closed sign, Jerry sped down to the bottom of the hill where some workers appeared to be starting a lunch break by a barricade. I thought no way do I want to have to turn around and climb out of that ravine, -so I waited at the sign with Gene, Dave, and Bill. It would seem as if a climb back up here would be Jerry's only alternative. But wait! Jerry is waving us down! Perhaps, he talked a crew worker into helping us ford the creek. Maybe he was looking for some backup muscle?
Down the steep decline sped the rest of us. We followed Jerry as he lead the way up a bank of anti-erosion rocks, then onto a narrow crosswalk over the creek. Halfway across Jerry got in a snag which halted our progress. The narrow cat-walk-like walkway had railings which gradually "narrowed" as we made our way across. The width of the space between the railings became so narrow that the handlebar on Jerry's bike became wedged between them. From our starting point, the narrowing appeared to be just an optical illusion, but it was a real narrowing, and Jerry's bike was stuck.
There we were partway across the aluminum scaffold which was being used as our footpath. I was right behind Jerry. Behind me was Bill, Gene, and David. From my vantage point I could see Jerry's predicament clear enough to suggest that he needed to raise the front of his LWB recumbent bike, and roll it through on its back wheel, in order to get the handlebar to clear the railing. One of the Bridge workers from the other side of the creek helped Jerry and guided the front of his bike. Finally, we made it across and up another bank of stone. Now facing a steep ascent out of the ravine on the other side of the creek, biking up Pole Bridge Road!
Climbing takes a toll on anyone but the heavier you are the tougher it is. For me, it's not the legs or the lungs. It's the Wrists, Elbows and hotspots on my little toes. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/883960471
photo by Bill K. shows a look back at the catwalk.
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