July 2020 – peaceonabike

July 23, 2020November 6, 2020

Strava KOM: Dam to Waterway

MONTCLAIR, VIRGINIA

Unlike Phil Gaimon who captures KOMs (King of the Mountain segments) on Strava then makes videos of his efforts, I can barely sniff one. And at my age, everyone is younger and faster than me so I realize that I might see another.

But only five days ago I saw I was 2nd overall on a segment called Dam to Waterway at 1:20. That was accidental – I was just riding along with no idea this was a segment. And yet, here I was second overall. But the top of the leaderboard was a 0:59 which looked pretty unobtainable.

The leader was a rider named Sam Kristy. Don’t know if that’s a real name or not. Can’t tell his age but his Strava profile picture makes him look to be quite young – in the 15-25 age range. Figures.¹

My 1:20 came without knowledge so three days ago I decided to improve my own time. I got it to 1:10. At that point, I just put more separation between me and third place (HokieQB Athlete).

Two days ago I tried again and finished at 1:07. Although the record was 0:59 when I first looked, I will swear on this day the record was 1:05 – my time to beat.

Yesterday I came through in 1:03. Garmin showed I had a new PR but no KOM. I checked later and, sure enough, the time to beat was 0:59, not 1:05 which is what I thought.

At this point at least I can say I wasn’t getting slower. I thought I was on pace for another PR when a car saw me coming and pulled out anyhow. It slowed my momentum.

The late Paul Sherwen, on the Tour de France broadcasts, often said “you don’t need good luck (to win the TdF), you just have to avoid bad luck.” And on this attempt, I had bad luck.

I took my granddaughters for some bike riding/training. On my way home I did the dam segment again. This time I came in at 1:01. Another PR but those two seconds were alluding me.

There always seemed to be a breeze in my face. I was resigned to the fact that I would need a helpful breeze – a tailwind. Hey, most PRs or KOMs come with a natural assist.

This morning, I came through in 1:01. Ugh. The segment itself is on a slight rise about 2/3 of the way and then a slight downhill. What makes it more difficult and even dangerous, is it appears that it ends right at the intersection with Waterway Drive. There is a stop sign there and a blind intersection coming from the left. One cannot see if the intersection is clear and maintain the speed into the intersection. A handful of brakes is necessary.

After I got home and showered, my granddaughters decided they wanted to go for a bike ride. I rode to Forest Park High School and we rode about six miles before I rode home. I had decided I would try again. I thought this time I would stand and sprint at the beginning before settling into a sitting position. I kept in my big gear heading the voice of Fränk Schleck yelling out “bigger gear, Barry, bigger gear!” (He did that in France, last year.)

Only when I was losing momentum did I downshift a little. Once over the rise, I was pushing it. I could see I was 0:04 seconds ahead of my PR (which was 1:01). I kept the push until the end although grabbed the brakes a second before I had to.

I looked left and saw no cars and rolled into the medium of the intersection before nearly collapsing on my handlebars. And up it came – KOM – 0:58.

Wow. I got a KOM. Those are so rare that I will celebrate and even blog about one. And now I hoped that it held.

With Strava Live Segments, what is on the screen needs to be verified. It’s almost as if there are cyber-referees with the real time. But at 0:58, I figured the worst it could have been was 0:59 which was tied for first.

When I got home and uploaded the ride, the official time was displayed – 0:57. I got it and with two seconds to spare. So I’m going to be proud. I don’t expect it to hold. If Sam Kristy sees he’s no longer the KOM he might go and destroy the record. Oh to be young. I wish we had Strava when I was young. But even if he does, I am still the Local Legend (according to Strava).

Distance: 0.34 miles
Speed: 21.9 mph
Weight: 199

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¹ There is a Sam Kristy on Facebook. If it is the same Sam, he is almost 19, is a bike racer, and will destroy this KOM if he wants it. I am sure his 0:59 was set just riding along. You can have it back, young man, but thank you for letting me dream young for a day.

July 19, 2020September 11, 2020

Sugarloaf Mountain – The One in Maryland

POOLESVILLE, MARYLAND

All the years I’ve been riding and I’ve never been to Sugarloaf Mountain – Maryland. I’ve seen group rides in Montgomery Co. (Md.) organized for Sugarloaf and decided it would make a nice ride. And it was so nice I would do it thrice.

I mapped out a ride and downloaded it to my Wahoo bike computer. I prefer “loop” rides to “out-and-back” so I made this a loop that would begin and end from Poolesville although from Poolesville to Leesburg would have to be out and back because there’s no other way.

Every ride needs a ferry. It’s so relaxing to cross the Potomac River at White’s Ferry. Bikes are last off the boat and one advantage is you know for the next 10-15 minutes there will be no cars behind you.

On June 16th I parked in Leesburg and headed for White’s Ferry. After the climb out of the valley, I turned on Wasche Road. It is a country road with very little traffic. It connected with Martinsburg Road which is this cool one-lane looking road in a canopy of trees.

Rte 28 to Dickerson is not so good (traffic) but it’s only a mile and a quarter. Once on Mt. Ephraim Road one can see this hill (mountain) that pops up out of nowhere. On my first attempt, I was going to ride in a clockwise direction but discovered that was the wrong way. So I reversed course and went counterclockwise.

The high point in this picture is Sugarloaf Mountain

The road itself is not good pavement and it is completely wooded until one reaches the overlook. There is a small picnic area here as well.

On my first trip down I turned right on Comus Road. Gravel. Then it was a left on Mt. Ephraim Road which was also gravel. It became W. Harris Road which was also gravel. I took that to Barnesville where I picked up pave. Beallsville Road was lightly traveled but no shoulders and some blind corners – I was not comfortable and would not recommend it.

Just 10 days later I invited Tim Casebere to ride with me. We went to the mountain the way I had gone before but this time came back on pave. At Martinsburg Road, we stayed on the road which gave us a really nice descent followed by a nice climb. Wasche Road is a better choice if your legs are hurting. But Martinsburg Road was very lightly traveled. And we saw a wild canine – thinking it may have been in coyote as it was too large to be a fox. Pretty cool.

Finally, on July 19, Eryn was visiting from New York and she joined Tim and me to see what the deal was with this ride. It was very hot with temperatures in the mid-90s. We altered our route slightly first going into Poolesville then taking a busier road to Beallsville. But here we caught a break because there was a detour on Rte 28 because of a bridge out at the Monocacy River so we had Rte 28 to ourselves.

,We had planned, and stopped, on the way back at the Dickerson Market for water. but before I went in I spotted a cold gallon of water (partial) on the porch. I know this was purchased by a cyclist, used to fill water bottles, then left on the porch for the next cyclist to use. I’ve been on both ends myself – sometimes I bought a gallon and left it behind, today I used it. Thanks, cyclist!

The entire time you are in Maryland you can’t quite believe you are in Montgomery County, the same county with Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Rockville. This section is rural, and while the mountain is not that much of a mountain, it feels more like you are in Frederick County. But what a nice ride.

July 7, 2020August 30, 2020

Skyline Drive – Front Royal

FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA

Without looking, and I’m not, it has been a while (years) since I have ridden on Skyline Drive. The forecast looked favorable enough, which simply meant – no rain.

I was going to park at the library but saw a park – Burrell Brooks Park – and it was nearly perfect. It had a port-a-john, a clean one, in fact. But there was no shade. It did give me an opportunity to take a shortcut over to Skyline Drive but I guess you’re not supposed to use it. At least cars.

I waited in line at the entrance station in among cars. The ranger had pleasant words for me as I handed her my senior pass for free admittance.

And then it was pedal and sweat. The temperature was a reasonable 84°. Who wouldn’t take that for a July day in Virginia? But the humidity must have been close to 100%. The sweat was pouring off me.

I wanted to rub my eyes, or at least my right eye which was burning, but that often makes it worse. I just kept pedaling.

I reached the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center at MP 4. I pulled in. I went in the restroom and found some tissue and water. I cleaned my (1) eyes; (2) glasses; and (3) camera lens. I was soaked including my shoes. I had squishy feet.

My plan today was simple. Ride until climbing stopped. Then turn around and coast back home. But at MP 6 the road goes downhill. And that was too early to turn around. So I enjoyed a 1.5 mile downhill before I started climbing again.

I came to an Indian Run Overlook at MP 9.5. Took some photos and decided that was a good turn around point. I wish it was all downhill from there but there was the 1.5 descent I enjoyed on the way up and I got to climb that back. But once reaching Dickey Ridge Visitor Center it truly was all downhill from there.

Great roads. Great pavement. Sweeping curves. No shoulders but, generally, this is tourist traffic and drivers respect speed limits and cyclists.

My max speed going back (or going up on the one descent) was just 42 mph. Would have liked to have gone faster but what a great ride. Need to come back here soon.

Temperature: 84°
Weight: 205

July 5, 2020September 11, 2020

A Birthday Bonk

ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA

The heat had come to west-central Pennsylvania the past couple days at the temperatures were up in the 90s. My planned ride was a 65-mile ride around Altoona. It was already near 80º when I hoped to be rolling at 9:00 a.m. But my stomach told me to seek a pre-ride comfort break so I drove to a local Sheetz to use their restroom.

My actual roll-out time was 9:30 a.m. That meant I would be out in the heat 30 minutes later than I planned. I had two water bottles on the bike and hoped to find a Sheetz, other gas stations, or country stores for additional water. And then just as I started I got a warning my Di2 (electronic shift) was on low battery. I hoped it wouldn’t fail.

The climb to Horseshoe Curve went off as normal. I have a feeling with each passing year I am just a tad bit slower. Once through the tunnel under the Curve, the road turns up. And it sure is beautiful. Only four cars in four miles passed me. I’m surprised more locals don’t use this road but maybe it’s too steep.

The tunnel at Horseshoe Curve. There is a portal on the left to carry water – not traffic.

I thought of my friend, Scott Scudamore, who climbed this with me in 2010 with some friends. Across the top on Gallitzin Road, I passed through Tunnel Hill. I was glad to see the once-closed Country Store re-opened but it was too soon into the ride to stop. The ride down Sugar Run Road was great. Again, I thought of the two times Scott and I rode this in 2010. We had such fun on the descent.

In Duncansville, I passed a Sheetz. I checked my bottles and I was only down 1/2 of one. It didn’t make sense to stop for water. It was still too early to refill because there wasn’t anything to refill. I hoped I’d see another Sheetz.

In Hollidaysburg, I went off course when I saw a canal historic site. Here was the end of the Pennsylvania Canal and the beginning of the Allegheny Portage Railroad. I could spend more time here but needed to ride on.

I had mapped out the course for today’s ride and took off on Loop Road. I crossed Reservoir Road and turned on Locke Mountain Road (going down, not up). But up ahead I came to a Bridge Out sign. When I saw the sign I thought I would go down the road anyhow because most bridges that are out can be walked with a bike.

Not this bridge, It had a locked fence and there was nowhere to go. It looks like this bridge will never be repaired.

They really don’t want you crossing this bridge. Out of battery. Out of water. Out of road.

I saw a sign which stated Hollidaysburg-2, and Altoona-4. I was surprised I was so close to town because I knew I still had 25 miles to ride. And here I made a critical mistake because I needed water. I needed to find water and then readjust everything once I got hydrated. But I also wanted to finish the mapped course and I prioritized that above finding water, which was stupid.

I was suffering greatly when I arrived at Canoe Creek State Park. I went in their admin building and their fountain was there – an oasis that I would kill for. But it was covered up – Sorry, it was closed due to COVID-19 even though the transmission by touching objects had been ruled out by the CDC months ago. They had a restroom and I filled my water bottles there in the sink.

Lemonade and pulled port. And ice water.

After I left the church, I went back to the park and found the concession stand open. I wisely bought some food and drink and took 20 minutes to refuel. I had bonked. My body ran out of fuel. The heat, combined with running out of water, and I had no energy left.

I made some critical mistakes. I hadn’t researched the presence of stores or gas stations on the route. I used to believe that a Sheetz gas/store was everywhere near Altoona. Well, not on this route. I had some great products by Skratch Labs – sitting at home. I grabbed two Kind bars and had them in my pocket but they were a chocolate nut mess. At the intersection of US 22, I should have gone searching for water. Instead, I followed my planned route.

The Di2 low battery had already disabled my big gear so on the rolling roads I could not pedal in the big ring, I spun, if you call it that, on Scotch Valley Road back to Altoona. I would say I was going nowhere fast but more properly, I was going nowhere slowly.

Food at Canoe Creek. Pulled Pork was $2.50.

The heat really took its toll on me. Or heat combined with dehydrating because I ran out of water. And fuel. I did not carry the right fuel with me and I paid for it. Never did find another Sheetz until I was 0.5 mile from the mall where I started. And not having my big gears also hurt. It was a difficult ride but I am thankful to have finished it.

Miles: 65
Temperature: 90°
Weight: 210