HAMBURG, NY TO CANANDAIGUA, NY

Hamburg, NY to Canandaigua, NY

93.4 miles in 5 hrs 6 min

19 Jun 2010

Another beautiful day with another tailwind. This 2010 group is blessed so far. This ride across the top of some of the finger lakes is really nice, with good roads, large farms, picturesque small towns and wonderful green fields. Lots of bogs, reeds and cat tails in the bogs.

Some of the group starts earlier than others so that the entire group does not get too spread out. That makes it difficult for the staff to support everyone and starting some earlier keeps it more compact

The land was rolling with giant rollers, also called HILLS pretty much the entire way. All in all a great ride with 5,300 feet of climbing

We are passing Doug from England who is in his

70's and has ridden virtually every mile.

I don't know why he has the Illinois jersey on

The reeds and cat tails seen along the route.

You may be wondering why so much pavement.

I am taking these pics while rolling along about 20-25 at

the tail end of a pace line and it is easier to shoot

a picture to the left than the right and keep the bike straight

and steady.

Many of the barns up here are enormous as are the

granaries

"Big Ring" Sam and I drinking the recovery drink
of choice, "chocolate milk."

ERIE, PA TO HAMBURG NY

Erie, PA to Hamburg, NY
81.36 miles in 4 hrs 40 min
18 June 2010

Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day. Wonderful and easy ride up the southeast side of Lake Erie to Hamburg, NY just east of Buffalo. We had a police escort out of town. Two riders side by side and rolling right through red lights with the motorcycle cops racing out front blocking traffic and then stopping while the other one raced forward.


The ride had moderate rollers all the way. I rode mostly by myself and really enjoyed it. Tried to make it as much of a recovery ride as possible. Passed numerous vinyards on the right side of the road and across the road were small farms and numerous houses right on lake Erie. There was an occasional inlet and marina and one old light house near the road.


Notice that I didn't mention the 17th, the rest day in Erie. It was the usual laundry, blog, email, rest, buy toothpaste etc.

Lining up for the Police Escort

Big group of riders clustered around the New York
border Sign. Why?
Never saw that before

Jim by Paula, by the light house, by the
marina, by Lake Erie


One of the marinas by lake Erie

NILES, OH TO ERIE, PA

Niles, OH to Erie, PA
91.03 miles in 4 hrs 38 min
16 June 2010

Nice tailwind today. We flew with Rick pulling most of the way. He loves the flats being from northern Texas. My legs wern't too bad, but my body is really tired. Wrists and arms sore from getting beat up by the roads yesterday. Roads much better this this county.



Sometime Crossroads sets up a SAG stop at a store or ice cream shops. The riders can get extra treats there. We had two SAGs on this ride and at the first we had fruit to dip in chocolate. It is wonderful, except that I get it all over my face. Everyone has a great time teasing me about that.

Tracy (Crossroads owner) gets them to open early for

us each year.

Lovely young ladies to take care of our ice cream needs.

How about that!

WOOSTER, OH TO NILES, OH

Wooster, OH to Niles, OH
96.74 miles in 6 hrs 15 min
15 June 2010

One of the worst days riding I have ever had on tour. The country was beautiful here in noeth east Ohio, BUT the roads were the worst I have ever had to ride any distance on. In addition the terrible portions were unpredictable. Crossroads has change this route 4 time, but the roads deteriorate so quickly there are many, many patches that would be better or being gravel than supposedly paved. I was worried about injury not only to myself, but the bike. We felt like we knew what the European pros go through on the cobbles. So rough you could not eat on the bike.


That said, Rick, the mechanic, (and a great rider) rode with Jim H and I and did a great job of guiding us as best as possible. On to better things.


Time to talk about the SAGS (support and gear) Crossroads provides. It starts with great transportation equipment. That is two vans and a truck. The truck carries all the bags (and can get to the hotel ahead of the riders and get the bags in the room before the rides get there), and the vans support the riders with bumps (rides) if needed, plus snacks, bars, gels, water and gateraide. There are a great variety of all of the above, plus they get fresh fruit, cakes, and good snacks from the grocery store every day.. In the last three days we have had carrot cake, pineapple dipped in chocolate, apples dipped in carmel, strawberries, etc. You get the idea. Really nice when added to the bars and gels. Gels are small packs of high energy stuff that you can shoot in your mouth in about 5 sec and contain about 100 cal. These are to be eaten while riding as are the bars.

Our truck with Zack (the best truck driver and bag handler ever)

He is holding my bike, also great and alot better than me

Our two support vans. Wait till you see as SAG stop
as we call it. Uaually two SAGs on rides longer than 80 miles

Oh, boy! Fresh grapes, small donuts, carrots with dip,

bannas and various bars at this SAG

Now you see the whole SAG set up.
Coolers with gateraide and water, and between them

more bars and jels.

We are definitely spoiled.

MARYSVILLE, OH TO WOOSTER OH

Marysville to Wooster
89.28 miles in 5 hrs and 25 min
14 June 2010

Riding across central Ohio today. Beautiful coountry side. Some really large prosperous farms and some really rundown poor ones. After about 72 miles the hills really begin. Most people don't know that Ohio has some really big hills. We climbed over 5,000 feet today. Weather was overcast, but no rain AND we had a nice quartering tailwind for most of the ride, hence the fast speed (18.3 mph)

One thing we have noticed. Many of the nicer places have HUGE lawns (I would say 2-5 acres) and they mow them regularly with great big riding mowers. We were wondering how many barrels of oil go into this every year. Must be at least millions. What about the polution from the mowers?

Just and example of a side yard.

Many yards also double cut

Yes, Martha that hill really is long and steep.

Goes around the corner to the right
and continues up


Yep, I am talking hills and old and new barns
The bicyclist's favorite sign.
And away we go.

RICHMOND, IN TO MARYSVILLE, OH

Richmond IN to Marysville, OH

108.16 miles in 5 hrs and 46 min

13 June 2010

A long day, but not too much climbing until the last 25 miles and then not severe. Legs not too bad. We had alot of fun in the pace line particularly when the whirling dervish (Tracy, the tour company owner) joined us for around 40 miles. She doesn't get to ride much, but really enjoys it when she does and is a great cheerleader out there.

We entered obvious Amish country today and saw our first buggy clopping down the road. They really live their faith. Still it is strange to see them working in the gardens and fields with hand equipment. Laverne, who knows alot about the Amish, says they reject machines, cars and electricity because it tends to break up their community which is paramount to them

Amish buggy on the road

Amish farmstead. Note the clothes line

The pace line with the tour director pulling (leading)

followed by Rick W (the mechanic), Sam W, and

Jim Hall.

Tracy really gets low in the drops.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN TO RICHMOND, IN

Indianapolis to Richmond

86.05 miles in 5 hrs and 2 min

12 June 2010

Not a nice day. Started riding in a real down pour. Going out of Indi with cars splashing on us and not being able to see the bottom of the puddles. You don't know if they are a real pothole of just a dip in the pavement. Several pinch flat have occured this way. Also possible to break a rim.

Cleared a little after 20 miles but spit or rained most of the day. Still, NO WIND, NOT BLINDING HOT, so the day had its good points. Rode with Jim H, and that was very smooth and easy

This Jersy is filthy with grit even though you can only

see the dirt on the lower portion. Can't wear glasses on

a day like this