Broke the String

I did not do much riding in October and November 2024, except for my monthly 100ks. I had several chances to ride a 100k in early December, but passed, for a couple reasons.

Then I got Covid (first time) mid-month, which kept me congested for over two weeks. When that had passed, I had one last chance to ride a 100k permanent with decent winter weather on the last day of the month (and year). But it no longer seemed important to me. Got the idea that I wouldn't continue my streak in the new year, so I just let it end after 47 months. Wasn't such a big deal not to complete another P-12. Not sure why; I just wasn't feeling it. I intend to continue riding, but not as frequently or for distance.

So now I have more time for running; I plan to get the frequency back up to three times a week (only 2.22 miles each). It is a more complete exercise (fully aerobic and weight-bearing), it keeps me closer to home, and it does not take up a half-day or more each time.

Over and out?

Jersey Devil Metric Century pre-ride

On Sunday 9.15.24, on the Spesh Roubaix, with four South Jersey Wheelmen friends I pre-rode the course that will be used Saturday 9.21.24 for our club's 40th+ annual Jersey Devil Metric Century open-to-the-public ride out of Parvin State Park in Pittsgrove Township, near Vineland NJ.

I wanted to ride at 8am Saturday, to encounter the exact traffic conditions that the public will face in the upcoming ride, but the schedules of my buddies didn't coincide. For one thing, some club members used Saturday to spray-paint road markings in preparation for the event. Rather than ride alone, I opted to ride with company on Sunday. And with only about 1600' of elevation, I had a good ride doing the 63-mile version with one buddy, while the others chose the 32-mile version. We had some 10mph headwinds on the return portion, but not too bad. I felt strong enough that it was not a slog, and the cramp monster did not rear its ugly head (until the 50-minute drive home on the expressway...).

For the public ride, I will be working registration and then driving my RAV as a SAG vehicle, combing the course to help out riders and food-stop workers as needed. Like our club membership (now down to 44), the number of ride participants goes down every year, but we remaining Wheelmen and women still enjoy working together to put on such an event, the last of its type in the area. With the reduced participation, it is possible that this is the final year we put on this ride. However, we said that last year too.

Fun with bikes.

SJ Wheelmen pre-ride · Ride with GPS

Burden Hill, 2023 Year in Review

I let this ride go until late in the month, 12.26.2023, and with Rixter, rode the Burden Hill 100k RUSA permanent route, completing my third P-12.

It's a good feeling, the P-12, keeping my consecutive-month streak alive at 36. 

Without really setting any goals beyond most miles ever, I accomplished a lot this year, including most miles ever, drawing up and getting approved by RUSA three new permanent routes (Burden Hill being one), riding two 200ks, two full centuries, five time trials (with varying results), one NJ Randonneurs' brevet populaire (Juneteenth 117k) and two bike-overnites (one using my tent at Bass River State Forest). I added a new old bike, a 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, purchased from a club buddy who purchased it from another club buddy who had bought it new. Plus I finally learned how to clear my nose while riding without a hanky. 

Map, route profile and pics here:

Burden Hill · Ride with GPS

Runnemede-Bridgeton-Runnemede randonneur ride 3.12.23

I rode a RUSA randonneur permanent route yesterday to get my monthly 100k+ ride in for the (27th straight) month. I picked a day with the forecast showing low winds (4-6 mph), which helped, as this route goes thru a lot of open farm country on NJ 77. Wind-chills were about 25F to start, but rose to close to 40F. Not bad.

One plus about riding solo, I can stop to take pictures whenever I want, so I do.

A couple miles into the ride, I realized I left my Clif bar in the glove box of my RAV. Riding solo, and without a good lock to use while I went inside a Wawa or some such, when I a saw sleepy little convenience store with just one car pulling away, I thought that would be a safe place to leave my bike unattended and pop in for some sustenance. A good excuse to buy a Reese's, I reasoned.

Saw about 20 turkeys together in a field, with a few of them showing their tail-feathers in all their glory. Must be mating season.

Had a yappie dog hanging out a car's back window yapping at me as I was going by close, negotiating a tricky traffic spot of bad road surface. I yelled at him, Shaddup! Just shaddup! The cur yapped even faster, but at least I stuck up for myself.

Had to pop 200mg of ibuprofen when my left knee started protesting, but it was enough to get me thru.
A good day on the bike.

Map, route profile and pics here:

Runnemede-Bridgeton-Runnemede - A bike ride in Runnemede, NJ (ridewithgps.com)

Gibbstown-Springtown URR rando ride again

Rode a rando route solo yesterday (26th straight month), Gibbstown-Springtown Underground Railroad, and happened to pick a day when the wind really favored me; it was mild in my face going South in the first half, then picked up a bit to become a nice tailwind on my return.

Still, I struggled, with my legs protesting the effort, which surprised me, as I had gotten a lot of miles in during January. Maybe it was the amount of up and down today, or the fact that I didn't get a lot of sleep last nite. Or maybe it was my lowered tire pressures, as I was trying 65/55psi, rr/fr. Dunno, but coming back thru Swedesboro with less than 7 miles to go, I did an unusual thing: I stopped for a big slice of pizza at Mama Francesca's. It was great, I ate it standing up and I felt revived.

I saw an eagle in a tree watching over a distant pasture along Kings Highway. Thought I captured it in a picture, but I must've aimed at the wrong tree.

Heard a big bunch of blackbirds carrying on near the Salem County landfill on McKillup Road. They were trash-talking, I guess.

At home later, I got a call from riding buddy Geo, who said he saw me riding as he drove by. Cool. As it turns out, the last time I rode this route, it was with Geo!

Map, route profile and pics here:

Gibbstown-Springtown rando ride - A bike ride in Gloucester County, NJ (ridewithgps.com)

Atco Gravel Dabble 100k permanent

For this month's 100k permanent, I decided to ride buddy and frequent co-rider Rick's new-ish route without letting him know. I figured it would surprise him. And I wanted the flexibility of doing an early start without having to coordinate with anyone else, so I drove my car to Atco NJ a little before sunrise, and commenced to ride solo.

My younger brother let me park at his house, and I joined the course en route at roughly the midpoint less than a mile away in downtown small-town Atco.

At the start the temp was 32F, and felt like 26F due to 6mph winds. After my halfway point in Vineland, it was 41/36F, winds 7mph. It was cold enough.

I had a little fun with Rick, texting him a couple pics of where I was early on, knowing he would recognize his route and realize I was riding it.

I liked the course, especially early on a Sunday with little traffic on some nice country roads. It is one I would ride again.

Before halfway thru, I felt my thigh muscles protesting again, like they did during last month's 100k. Hmmm. Not riding enough?

The course has 'gravel' in the name, and there is a good 1.5 mile stretch of gravel road, complete with some full-road puddles after the previous day's rain. But it was no real problem, and a nice change of pace. Around that same section of the route I sensed a bit of a 'tobacco road' vibe. 'Nuff said.

My front derailleur was a bit balky early, then flat-out wouldn't shift to the big chainring. I futzed with it roadside for 15 minutes, to no avail; the cable adjuster and the ferrule/cable housing wouldn't move independently of each other to hold an adjustment. I found I was able to perform 'manual' shifts while riding along by reaching under the downtube and pulling the cable. Then I mostly tried to leave it in the big ring. Thank goodness I have 10 cogs in the rear to give me some range, and the route is in South Jersey flatlands.

Later in the ride I stopped to pee at a construction site porta-pot, and surprisingly, while walking alongside the bike I sank in wet sand, as did my bike wheels. It wasn't really convenient to clean the bike off, so I had crunchy rim brakes for a while. I tried to ride going easy on the brakes, and I finished fine. 

A good day on the bike, and my 12th month, completing my second RUSA P-12.

Route map, profile and pics here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/108924802

Gibbstown-Springtown NJ 107km randonneur ride 7.10.2022

 I rode with rando George B on this Underground Railroad route (#4391) on a nice summer Sunday.
George is a stronger rider, so I was riding above my normal pace, getting a bit of a workout and keeping up my Saltstick capsules intake to avoid cramping.

Lots of nice country along this route. We enjoyed seeing an eagle take flight from the ground along McKillup road.

George has done a lot of randonneuring, and tells good stories, such as riding thru the night until he started hallucinating other riders coming up behind him.
Or when he thought he had gone over the time limit on a ride, and, riding along at a leisurely pace, was surprised to find people cheering him across the finish line with only seconds to spare.
And the route where his nature break is usually bothered by attacks of green-head flies.
And there was the time he was cold from riding, and at a bar full of bikers ordered hot tea.
Good times. Thank heavens for rando-nesia. 

Now 7/12ths of the way to my second P-12.  On the Spesh Roubaix. 

Pics and route profile here:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/96111012

Underground Railroad in South Jersey 117km randonneur ride 4.01.2022

Today I was the first to officially ride a new 117km Permanent I created and submitted. It was recently approved by RUSA as route #4411 (kinda like that number).

Temps were forecast to be in the 50s, so I wore shorts, which was okay, but I was glad I wore latex gloves under my fingerless ones. The route is mainly north-south, but the 10-18mph west winds pushed me around quite a bit, slowing my pace considerably. It had my cue sheets flapping up over my GPS at times, and apparently it was the reason I couldn't vocally enter Notes on my phone. On the plus side, I was able to work on my elasticity by spending a lot of time riding in the drops, trying to cheat the wind.

There was a lot of overcast, but at times the sun was out and it was glorious; the country roads looked great with plenty of signs of spring. At one point I caught a glimpse of something gleaming below, and looked down to find the sunlight was bouncing off my chain rollers. Nice.

Happy to report I didn't encounter the nasty cur on Compromise Road that chased me recently (and got an attack-stopping water-bottle squirt in the face for his efforts). I did see a couple friendly dogs with their owners, with whom I exchanged brief pleasantries. 

Saw a yard full of maybe 15 wild turkeys and a small field with a similar number of guinea hens. Saw a hawk soaring just overhead, and a great blue heron coming in for a wet landing, until it saw me and turned the maneuver into a touch-and-go takeoff.
Used a new app to identify a saucer magnolia coming into bloom.

Made my first-ever stop at the little store in little Canton, because I heard they were nice people, which I found to be true. Bought a Coke and (coincidentally?) had a serious case of the pees, so by necessity I discovered a number of new spots for nature breaks. One involved making a last-minute decision to turn off the road onto some damp ground; in a bit of a late-ride brain fog, I didn't get fully unclipped and went down, softly but quickly, which gave me my first chainring tattoo in a while.

I am now 1/3 of the way to my second P-12. All in all, another good day on the bike (Spesh Roubaix, solo).

Route map, elevation profile and pics here: 

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/86129088

EDIT: This route was used as a New Jersey Randonneurs Populaire on 6/19/22 (Juneteenth).

Gibbstown-Springtown Underground Railroad 107km randonneur ride 3.05.2022

Unusual for me to ride on a Saturday, but I wanted to be the first to officially ride the route I recently submitted to Randonneurs USA, which was just approved Thursday. Named Gibbstown-Springtown Underground Railroad, it has lots of good-riding country roads (and some nice long stretches), along with URR historic value. Until I read the book Parallel Communities (by Dennis Rizzo, The History Press), I had no idea the URR was so active 'down Jersey.' I have at least two more URR-related routes to submit for RUSA approval soon.

The ride started out pretty cold (wind chill 29F at the start, but up to 40F by the turnaround point in Springtown/Othello), and my hands felt cold inside of latex gloves inside of light leather gloves, but they warmed up after several miles. Headwinds weren't bad until they picked up across some open fields an hour before the turnaround point, but they were glorious tailwinds coming back.

Saw my first daffodils of the season pushing up thru the leaves while I took a Clif-bar break by the cemetery at Head of Greenwich.

Saw a Burger Fence truck and thought of buddy FFrank's line, A dog would eat right thru that!

Solo, on the Spesh Roubaix.

Route map, elevation profile and pics here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/84230634

Bow Tie Metric 100km randonneur ride 2.09.2022

I went back for a repeat of this Permanent course, ridden in November, but this time I brought along two buddies, and I even remembered to bring my camera! Having the camera along meant I didn't have to do (non-)artist's renderings at the photo controls this time. Much more convenient. And Rick and Jim coming along meant I had cyclists to watch in the far distance ahead of me. Thank goodness they use blinkies.

Just as in last month's metric century, my thighs were protesting along the way. I'm not riding enough, I guess. Plus there was a fair amount of elevation on the course for this flat-lander - over 2100' of climbing. On top of that, I had changed out my rear derailleur cable recently, but hadn't run the shifting thru all the gears when finished to see if I got it right. I found out during some hill climbs today, no, I didn't get it right. I couldn't shift to my two lowest gears, and I wound up walking up a couple hills! *urk*

[Edit: Seems the problem was I hadn't tightened the rear derailleur pinch-bolt to spec, and the cable loosened up.]

The Garmin behaved itself today. Also, I learned how to lock the screen so it doesn't jump around to other views for no apparent reason. Nice. And Rick had an allen wrench that fit the Garmin mount, so I played around with different angles in order to get more ambient light on the screen at times. My Lezyne multi-tool has allen wrenches, but not the size I needed today. First time that brand has left me feeling let down.

At one point I saw laying on a quiet country road a fresh clean baggie with something in it. Shortly thereafter I saw another, then a third. It looked like the contents were a few smooth stones and a piece of paper with green printing. It occurred to me that maybe these were religious tracts to be found and read, with the stones added to keep the baggie from blowing away. I might have stopped to satisfy my curiosity if I wasn't already off the back.

It was a chilly day to start, around 33F, but the wind was light early on, and then it warmed up some. Pretty good riding day for February, actually.

Pics, route map and profile here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/82865464

Millville 100km randonneur ride 1.19.2022

Rode the Millville 100k today with Rick, Dawn and Jim (stronger riders all).
Jim created the course a few years back, and Dawn was the recent owner under the previous Permanent system (now RUSA owns all the routes, in order to make the rides insurable).
This is the fourth time I've done this one; last February I rode it less than 48 hours after my first Covid-19 vaxxing, and had a bout of dizziness near the end. It went better this time. Mid-ride I did have a bit of soreness in my thighs (unusual), so I popped an ibuprofen.
It was nice having these good folks to pull me along and keep my pace up, otherwise I might have dogged it on that last 16-mile straight stretch on NJ 49.

Early on, a policeman pulled alongside me and said I should ride on the shoulder. I said I was avoiding the rumble strip, but in truth there was room to ride to the right of it, so I moved over. I thought I was within my rights to ride on the road, but I've always felt respect for a New Jersey State Trooper, and this time was no different. (I like seeing them on TV, in their distinctive 'kit' in the end zones at the NJ Meadowlands football stadium during New York Giants and Jets games.) He then pulled ahead, and said the same thing to my co-riders. Everyone complied. We saw him at least 3 more times on that long stretch of Fairton Road, driving back and forth and pulling over a couple cars.

A lot of this 'down Jersey' route is on straight, quiet country roads, so there were plenty of chances to ride two-by-two and shoot the breeze. Rick and I did some joking and punning, as usual, after seeing a sign outside a fire hall for meatloaf. [EDIT: Meatloaf's death was announced 1.21.2022]  I learned that Jim once got frostbitten fingers while racing his motorbike, and had to have help removing his hands from the bars at the finish. (He now has chronic issues with frostbite.) I enjoyed hearing Dawn talk about her Paris-Brest-Paris plans; she rode that 1200k/744-miler in 2015, missed 2019 due to knee problems, but is hoping to repeat in 2023 (it takes place every 4 years). In order to qualify, you have to record some long rides, including a 600k/372-miler. She plans to do that plus go longer this year and do a 1200k in preparation. Godspeed, Dawn. You are the only person I know and ride with who has done P-B-P, the oldest and most prestigious randonneur brevet. Kudos and cred.

Not a bad riding day for January, with temps 39-48F, winds a bit strong at 14-16mph but out of the South/Southwest, which meant they were mostly crosswinds on this particular route, thank Buddha.

Route map, elevation profile and pics here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/81740404

Hancock's Bridge 100km randonneur ride 12.05.2021

I wanted to ride a RUSA Permanent metric century each month for 12 consecutive months (a P-12) without repeating any routes. But I ran out of desirable choices after 11, so I decided to repeat this one, created this year by Rick, who agreed to ride along with me (again, as he did in June). His idea to ride the loop clockwise this time appealed to me, as it kinda made it a new route.

The weather forecast was pretty good for a December day, temps 39-53F with winds not exceeding 8mph (but they still fought me across the open fields late in the ride). The route around Cumberland and Salem Counties goes from the edge of Millville thru Fairton, the county-seat city of Bridgeton, historic Greenwich, Canton, Harmersville, historic Hancock's Bridge, Quinton, Rosenhayn and little Carmel, with lots of low-traffic country roads thru farm country and wooded areas.
We took one short diversion onto New Bridge Road to check out the closed old bridge over swift-moving Alloway Creek (incoming tide), which was a good place for my nature break. And the following stop at Bud's Market in Quinton was a welcome place, as always, to sit on a bench out front in the sunshine and munch a treat. There I learned that Rick once tore down the top of the engine to replace a head gasket in a second-hand 1980s Dodge Daytona he owned. Major props for that.

We rode and talked (never a problem when riding with Rick), and for once I even beat him to the punchline of one of his pop-up jokes. It was a "wrenching" experience. 

I was dragging a bit with an achy knee on the last long stretches (of 7, 5, 7 and 4 miles).
At the end, I was congratulated for completing my P-12. Thanks for the support and company, Rando Rixter.

Course map, elevation profile and pics here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/79572965

Bow Tie Metric 100km randonneur ride 11.17.2021

 For my monthly metric century, I rode the Bow Tie Metric out of New Egypt NJ, about an hour's drive from home. I was solo, so with no time constraints and colder early temps, I took my time getting to the start, only to discover I'd left my phone at home! *urk* Well, no pictures today. 

I started riding, making a right turn out of the Wawa convenience store; after some miles of the Garmin's Off Course warning (nothing new), I saw a sign saying I was entering a military reservation. That's not right, I realized. So I turned around and after 8+ miles I was back at the start, making another right turn out of the Wawa, but a different exit, that put me on the correct road. My bad for not checking the road name on the big intersection signage previously. Bonus miles, right off the git-go. *urk again*

It turned out that four (4) of the controls wanted a picture to prove I had gone the correct route, no short-cutting. But I didn't have my phone / camera. When I had first discovered my phone missing, I thought to bring paper and pencil that I had in my vehicle, so at the controls I sketched out what I was supposed to photograph, using the saddle (working around its cutout) to support my paper 'canvas.' I don't know that my artist's renderings would hold up in court, but they were the best I could do in the circumstances. Along with the electronic file from the Garmin, there should really be no doubt I rode the whole route.

And the route was a nice one, with lots of roads thru woods and farm country. Worth riding again, for sure. However, with the bonus miles at the start, the ride was more distance than I am used to, and my legs felt it. But I experienced none of my dreaded cramping, thanks to dosing myself with the 2 Saltstick capsules every 20 miles or so.

I had a Garmin hiccup again, rearing its ugly head after I had stopped at a deli control for about 15 minutes (and enjoyed sitting in the sunshine eating and drinking). But with the cue sheets hanging off my handlebar, I was able to work things out. Again, the belt-and-suspenders approach paid off.

Fought headwinds toward the end of the ride, just as the forecast showed. Worst when riding by open fields, of course, but not too terribly bad. I saw a few autumn scenes that made me miss my camera. There were a number of times I thought, what a beautiful fall day to be out riding my bicycle.

On the Spesh Roubaix, as usual.

Route map with elevation profile and artist's renderings here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/78708289

Half Dirty Metric 100km randonneur ride 10.19.2021

Rode the Half Dirty Metric route out of Flemington NJ today for my monthly rando metric century. I was lucky enough to have Rick and Walt riding along. Those gentlemen are strong riders and good bike mates. I'd forgotten to load the route into my Garmin GPS (Doh!), but remembered the paper cue sheets, so today I had just a belt, no suspenders. Fortunately, Rick had the route loaded onto his phone; that made all the difference.

I rode my 1974 Raleigh Super Course Mk II with the 32mm tires, because there are plenty of unpaved roads (hence the route's name) where the larger rubber is desirable. There are also lots of hills up there in Central Jersey; having ridden this route in 2018 as part of a brevet group, I was concerned about one tough climb up to the QuickChek control in Chester, but gritted it out in first gear, which is not that low on this bike. No walking was required, I am pleased to report. The old-school, balky friction shifters (both under- and over-shifting!) were an ongoing adventure, tho, and added an element of uncertainty on the climbs. Wouldn't do it again.

In a Hunterdon County park at Landsdown Trail we came upon a fence-closed gravel road ("Weather damage. No trespassing. Violators will be prosecuted."). Rick worked his phone and found an alternate way, bless him.

A long stretch of this route (about 15 miles, from High Bridge thru Califon and Long Valley to Mount Olive Twp) is on the Columbia Trail, an old railroad right-of-way that now has the Columbia Gas pipeline buried beneath it. In good shape, it made for easy riding, along with walkers, runners, other cyclists and piles of evidence of horse traffic.
Some other gravel stretches of this route were washboard. My bike was bouncing, and my head was hurting. No fun to ride. Later I found my bike's headset had worked loose.

We traveled along the Raritan River a lot (the Columbia Trail parallels it, as did the rail line, apparently), and passed a long driveway of a place labeled Raritan Headwaters. 

Saw some wildlife, including a fawn, a snake and a praying mantis on the road; all survived. Walt (former state game warden and park ranger) pointed out Osage oranges, which were lying by the side of the road in a number of places.

We met a guy at the QuickChek control in Chester, Corey Degree, who chatted with us and handed out his Orbit Energy & Power business card to all three of us, in case we are interested in going with solar for our homes.

For some unknown reason, I had to stop for many nature breaks. We made one unscheduled nature/food stop in Long Valley (Rick gave me half a toasted cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese), and with all the slower, gravel road riding, we thought we might miss the time cutoff, but we finished with almost 40 minutes to spare.

Besides the half bagel, I ate a That's It mini fruit bar and a Clif bar along the way. As usual, I also downed 8 Saltstick capsules to stave off cramping. I had a Clif caffeine gel with me, but like last time, I felt strong enough that I didn't feel the need to partake.

Weather was pretty near ideal, with clear blue skies and temps from the high 40s into the 60s by the end. There was some 10mph+ wind out of the west/northwest, but we didn't feel it much, often being among the trees.

All in all, another good day on the bike with good buddies for company.

Route map with elevation profile plus pics here:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/77323738

Sourlands 100km randonneur ride 9.10.2021

The Around the Sourlands RUSA permanent was my choice for this month's randonneuring metric century (100km), using a Hopewell NJ start (instead of Piscataway, as originally drawn up by the route's creator). Starting in Hopewell, besides being a much shorter drive from home, meant the route's real climbs, along the Sourland Mountains ridge, took place early in our ride when we were fresh, which I preferred.

I rode with bike-club buddy Rick (who is the main person responsible for my giving rando a go). Again, he was good about my stopping to take pictures; some riders might not be as patient.

We saw some people setting up, marking roads etc, for tomorrow's Sourlands Spectacular, a big annual fund-raiser ride out of Montgomery Township that spends more time on the ridges. I am thinking about going back to ride that route on my own some time. Nice country. I gotta say, calling this a Sourlands route is misleading. It starts out in that vicinity, but soon becomes mostly urban/suburban. 

A lot of water runs thru some of the areas we traversed, including the Raritan and Millstone Rivers, Bound Brook and other feeders. We were surprised to see the aftermath of flooding caused by the rains from Hurricane Ida last week; there were numerous road detours (none that affected us). There was debris as high as our heads in the trees along one road, and one ('closed') bridge we crossed had a lot of stuff washed up, filling the walkway. In one area there were a lot of water-damaged household items sitting out along the roadside, awaiting trash pickup.

Weather was outstanding, sunny and 60-72F; a few times we felt the headwinds, NW at 8-12mph, but usually we were shielded by the trees. 

Pics, route map and elevation profile here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/74987817

Breakneck 100km randonneur ride 8.10.2021

For this month's metric century I rode the Breakneck 100km Permanent route with Rick, its creator.

We arrived simultaneously for a pre-ride breakfast at the Lamp Post Diner about 6am, its opening time per its website, only to find it dark. The sign out front said, Open 7am.
We left our cars there, geared and saddled up, then rode a short distance to a Wawa, where we ate breakfast sandwiches, turned on our recording devices, and headed out on a grey, humid morning. Forecast was partly cloudy, 72-84F, winds out of the south at 5-8mph. Pretty good riding weather for August.

This route starts in Gloucester Township (not far from Camden County College), heads over to Mullica Hill, down to Vineland, up to New Brooklyn and Sicklerville, across the highest point, in downtown Erial (part of the same alluvial ridge that runs thru Pine Hill and Pine Valley Golf Course), then back down to the starting point. A bit of the early part of the route was on a bike path in Blackwood NJ, but the rest of it was on roads. Several of them were a bit sketchy, with car traffic and minimal shoulders (can't imagine doing it without my helmet mirror), but most of the ride was enjoyable, especially in the farm and orchard country.

This was the first loaded-in course ridden while using my new Garmin 830, which replaces my 820 (possibly a defective unit). I only growled at it once.

Rick was game to accompany me for this monthly metric, even tho he had ridden the route with someone else just a few days (nights, actually) before. I welcomed his good company. We were never at a loss for conversation, and the ride went well and safely.

 Another month, another metric century. Rando-lite, I call it.

 Pictures, route map and profile are viewable here:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/72995974

Knapp's Cranbury 100km randonneur ride 7.20.2021

Had a pretty nice Summer day for this month's solo metric century - sunny, temps 70s to mid-80s, very low winds.

Just one Garmin hiccup, and, surprisingly, one cue-sheet error. Not bad. Between the two, I got the route sorted out. The belt-and-suspenders approach paid off again.

This was the first time I went by the Monmouth Battlefield, so I picked up a park brochure (while taking a nature break). Upon reading it at home later, I learned that the June 1778 battle was an important political win for the home team, with lots of Continental star power: Washington, Lafayette, "Mad" Anthony Wayne, and General Charles Lee (uncle of Robert E.). It is also where the myth of  "Molly Pitcher" originated.

I ran out of water, so I went into a Donkey coffee shop and grabbed a bottle out of the cold case. But some super senior ahead of me was holding things up big-time trying to prove to the bewildered counter-person that she was entitled to something extra according to whatever she had in her gold shopping bag. I got so frustrated waiting, I put the bottle back and left, finishing the ride with empty water bottles. I hope I never get old. Hey, wait a minute...

At one point, a driver in a car headed the other direction on an otherwise quiet country road yelled out something to me, not sure what, but it ended in the syllable "-ole." I wasn't affecting his drive in any way; guess he just needed to express himself.

Route map and pics here:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/71626509

Hancock's Bridge 100km randonneur ride 6.08.2021

"And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days..."
-James Russell Lowell

On this nice, hot day in June, I rode the new Hancock's Bridge 100km Permanent route with its creator, Rixter. Rick is a stronger rider than me (I've called myself "Mr Slowski") but he is good enough to wait for me up ahead, sometimes out of view. At one point I saw two riders coming toward me, with one wearing a jersey that reminded me of Rick's. Wait a minute - that IS Rick, and with him is fellow club-member Gary, out for a solo ride. Pure happenstance, meeting up on the road. Funny.

Starting near the Union Lake dam in Millville NJ, the route heads past the southern edge of Parvin State Park and up to Anderson's Store in Centerton, over to Bud's Market in Quinton (good breakfast sandwiches), down to historic Greenwich (site of a pre-Revolution tea party), up to Bridgeton, down to Fairton, then back to the western edge of Millville. It is an enjoyable course, a lot of long runs on quiet country roads with some elevation due to a few rollers (by South Jersey standards). Route, elevation profile and pics here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/68856358

We rode past some foot-high corn; it would be nice to ride the route again when the corn is tall. I saw my first mountain laurel in bloom (Millville-Fairton Road), and heard a couple different cocks crowing. A number of dogs barked hello, but seemed to be kept on their property by invisible fence - except for 3 little dogs that together came charging right out onto the road. I predict short lifespans for them.

As usual, I had a Garmin GPS hiccup, where it told me I was off-course and needed to make a U-Turn. Fortunately the ride-creator was with me to keep me on the correct path.

I am now halfway to a RUSA P-12.

Clamdigger 104k randonneur ride 5.03.2021

 Rode a Permanent randonneur 'metric century' route, officially 104km, out of Toms River NJ.
I got an early start for the 1h 15m drive, arriving at the first Control (a Wawa, no surprise) just a few minutes after the 5:57am sunrise.

Early in the ride I pedaled thru the Ocean County College campus, which was wooded, spacious and quiet. There were signs for Covid testing, but I wonder if that is still happening.
Later, the route went along Toms River and Barnegat Bay, which was enjoyable on a quiet, off-season gray May morning. Temps 60-73F. Winds were not much of a factor, 6-8 mph.
In some watery reeds near the shore, I saw a couple red-winged blackbirds, first I've seen in months (altho I just learned they don't migrate). Also saw a young osprey, egrets, a swan and a turkey-ish bird which I did not recognize, plus a dead hawk, frog and crab on the road.

The route used the Barnegat Branch (rail) Trail for one mile-plus, a cinder path.
An interpretive sign mentioned that the area once hosted a large Atlantic white cedar forest, but after being logged it did not regenerate. That wood is good for birdhouses. Later the route was on gravel (Good Luck Road) for a short distance. The non-paved sections were fine for my 28mm tires.

Both coming and going along a stretch of US 9, I passed the de-commissioned (2018) Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. I believe when it was coming up for its re-licensing, it was the oldest such plant in operation in the country, operating since 1969. Rather than try to come up to code to pass inspection, the company struck a deal for an extension and an agreement to close at the end of the term. Two of my brothers, a pipe-fitter and a welder, worked there over the years as members of United Association union Local 322. At the entrances there are signs for Holtec, a company which now has a big chunk of riverfront real estate in Camden NJ, lured there by huge incentives from a state economic development program. A major road was even re-routed to give the plant the sizeable plot of Delaware riverfront land it desired.

There were a couple long, quiet pine-country roads (Lacey and Dover) which I also enjoyed. Plenty of spots for 'nature breaks.' And there were a couple full-service restrooms along the way. Such relief.
Have to mention that there were also several busy stretches with too many cars and too little shoulder. Had to have my wits about me; the helmet mirror was essential.
As usual, my Garmin gave me several erroneous 'Off Course' warnings. Glad I had printed out the cue sheets to double-check myself.

Pictures, map and route elevation profile here:

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/66622712

Millville 100km randonneur ride 2.24.2021

 2.24.2021

With Rick L (a strong rider). Emerging from "the land of the ice and snow," the weather today was good for a change: mostly sunny, mid-40s to low 50s F, and the winds at the start were only 6mph but got to 12 mph by the end. Mostly they were crosswinds, but there were some unexpected headwinds (in the second half, of course).

Startled a guy with his dog (not close, he just didn't realize anybody was nearby), but he recovered enough to courteously return a friendly hello.

Even tho the distance has been no big deal in the past (including last month), I struggled mightily today. My thigh muscles and my knees hurt, and I even had a short spell of dizziness (very unusual). Lots of cramping, too, even tho it was not warm and I was diligent about taking my Saltstick capsules. Then Rick suggested it might be related to my first Covid-19 vaxxing, which took place less than 48 hours prior. I hope that's it. I'd hate to give up these 100kms, but I have no intention of continuing if they are going to be suffer-fests.

Pics, route map and elevation profile here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/63025197