Early Winter Training road ride INSIDE

Phil, Keith, Rob + Steve - Sweating on Sat AM 12/29/07............. Two 60 Mim DVD rides one in the Fall roads of Maryland , the 2nd in the desert of Arizona. Very cool all from Simbsbury Conn.

Hey where did those rollers come from ?????????

BUTT, BUTT, BUTT , BUTT

FUN - FUN - FUN 5 days no work

Gary, Kristina , Don + I did sone Snow shoe hiking Sat 12/22/07 at Bigilow Hollow

Christmas Day with Casey + Family.



Meadow + Jeff on left + Shannon on right front of group.

Shadow
Jon, Gary, Mike + Steve

Gary + I getting ready for our failed attempt for a ride late Christmas Day. The snow was deep + soft and un-ride able. Gary used some chains JACK gave me before he moved to Florida . and I used the NOKIEN studded tires.

We went out again Wed AM for a long hard Mtn bike ride - see report I sent to the Mtn bike list:

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Hi all,

I guess I should post a report on case conditions. My son Gary + I did a large loop @ Case Wed 12/26/07 Am.

I had Studded Nokien tires + Gary had some wacky chains I forgot I had. The icy sections I had a huge advantage with the studs, but he used brut power when needed, and just got sideways a few times.

We started at Case pond on Birch Mtn road we went around to Spring Street 95% ride able, then we went up the main carriage road to the summit 100 % ride able. We then took the I guess it’s the grey trail past the Old Stone foundation except the steep uphill at the foundation all ride able till Hair pin JCT where we come up from Line street 100 % ride able. Then we headed out towards the Fort trial and took the trail (right) we take to the reservoir. It was 80-90% ride able, and then we took the double track to the low steel bridge 100 % ride able. WE rode to coop saw mill road + right to high steel bridge and past to Chain ring trail (Red/ blue) From here on this was mostly un ride able for me ( My hard core very strong + younger son rode a lot of this - I was getting very fatigued at this point) with deep snow ( it was getting warmer and things were not frozen from this point) and same with Blue all the way back to where the blue + Blue Yellow join up top, We got to ride from that point back to carriage road then to car ( it was 99% downhill and mostly south side ) The Carriage road has a set of truck tracks from the town of Manchester clearing snow from all the benches.. This is not ride able with out studs or chains very ICY. But with studs the down hill to case ponds was a screaming blast.

It was a very strenuous ride about 3 hours.

Steve D

Gary I got my presents - Thanks

GARY,

See my new Pack you got me and two Ice screws. I had to load the pack up to make sure the fit was correct.

It's GREAT - Thanks

Training week 12/8/07-12/14/07

Number of Bike rides: 3 - Two Mtn Bike rides - one ride on road bike /rollers.
Riding time: 4.5 hours
Best ride of the week: Sunday Mtn bike ride was a blast. I'm getting used to the cold a bit more each week.
Other: Car accident Thursday messed up my week BAD... !!!!!!!!!
Notes: Walked 3 times @ Lunch this week

First Powder of the season - XC Ski day with Don P

Don + I did 3.5 hours of X/C sking Sat in Barkhamstead Ct. crossing over into Mass. The snow was fantastic dry powder!

Gary these trails were at the top of the reservior or at the bottom of the climb from HELL on the road race course you did this past summer.

State line marker in the middle of nowhere - standing in MASS.

Standing in Ct for this Pic.

CRUNCH - OUCH MY NEW CAR

My almost brand NEW Altima. After I was hit today on the Highway from behind.

Sunday Mountain Bike ride 12/9/07

Sunday I rode with Gary's friends Don + Kristina + Jon ( who left before the ride was over + I took this Pic).

We cruised around Grayville for a 2.5 hours with snow on the north sides and just wet leaves on the south sides of the trails. It was fun with the crunchy snow and a bit of ice. No falls so a good cardio day and no injuries.

Training week 12/1/07-12/7/07

Number of Bike rides: 5 - 3 Mtn Bike outside - 2 on Rollers Road bike inside
Riding time: 5.5 hrs
Best ride of the week: Icy Mtn Bike ride with 1'" of snow - Wed Night that was cool even though the guys wanted to cut it short I was having a blast. Not crashing was a chore.
Other: Ice Climbing strenght training going well - see work sheets for notes .
Notes: First Ice Climbing day 12/8 --felt good/ Climbed hard -I was happy!!!

DAY 1 of the 2007-08 ICE season - 12-8-07

Today was day one ice climbing for this season. We met at Thomaston Conn. for a day of top roping. The Ice was thin - so lots of finese type climbing vs. bashing your way up. It was a blast and I met Veronica's Boy friend Jeff and two of his buds and climbed with them for a few hours. Durring this time Frank + Carol-ann, Jonathan, Alex , Olga, Natasha, Paulina and another guy I forgot his name showed up and set up ropes. I think we had 7 or 8 ropes set p today. I did about 8 climbes and for a first day my armes are smoked + I'm tired.

Bike Trainer broken - So I did the rollers tonight

After 10 years not using my rollers I did 35-40 min's tonight. No way I'm riding no hands or any of that other stuff. I'm just happy I did not crash off. Road riding in Ct is done till March - April they have already sanded for snow + Ice twice so it's like slippery dirt roads. I still Mtn. bike a few times a week, But I think I will throw a bit of rollers into the mix. for a few weeks between rock climbing season ending and Ice Climbing season not quite ready yet.

Mountain Bike Weekend of Dec 1-2 2007

Early Sat. AM I got new studded snow tires on the Altima and then put the snows from the cellar on the Eurovan. Then it was off for a Mountain Bike ride. No one was around so I did a late afternnon 90 min solo ride @ Case. It was cold just below 30 I think 28-29 degree's the ground is getting all thet wierd frost stuff where the Ice crystals stick up and your tires sorta sink as you hit this stuff and its Ice + slippery as snot. Anyway I had a great ride a few snow flurries were falling very nice COLD fresh air.

Sunday after a few chores it was out for another ride. This time it was Grayville @ 1:30 with Darrell I know from EMS and Darrells freind Neil. We did the left side of Grayville, the trails are very nice + dry. But the leaves leave a bit to be desired on the climbs and fast corners as they are like ice. At the 1/2 way point we ran into two more of Darrells friends Kristina + Sue. I find out Kristina knows Gary and his gang from the D/H racing days + MOAB trips Cool - Small world. Any how we then went up the back side climbing to the top. This is the trail Kenny + I have gotten crazy on a few times decending so we call it the race track. Darrell calls it the slalom trail as it weaves back and forth so much. I was good and warm at the top and was happy I could keep up with this young crowd. Who said I'm 54 ( I'm not admitting to this ) .. We then did the playground and looped across the top and took the Jeep trail out to below the Mini golf course - much nicer way out . I need to talk with Scott + the gang for our next ride to do this on the way out.

I need to keep riding a lot till the ICE Climbing season consumes me as I need to stay strong and in good condition for the steep verticle ice I plan to climb starting in a few weeks.

ROCK + ICE CLIMBING STATS for 2007 season

With the rock season basically over night time lows in the 20's and the ICE season a few weeks away - At least for me. I decided to add up my climbing days for this year.

I got in 22 - Rock trips ( nice mix of trips and some local one day stuff on the weekends). I don't count the Wed night local climbs in this number.

Total days rock climbing 2007 including the Wed night climbs = 85 days ( Nice year).

Total days Ice climbing 2006-7 season including the Wed night climbs = 17 days ( last year had a late start first Ice climb 1/13/07. Some winters I start Ice climbing as early as the first week of Nov.

I started my 2007/08 training program for ICE climbing last night. I need to create an Excell Chart and get religious.

Seneca Rocks West Virgina - Tyler + Steve 11/23 + 11/24

Tyler & I are leaving to WV in the Am for two days of climbing if it's not to cold - Forecast is for low 40's. Hope the white rock reflectiong the sun will make it warmer.

Report in two days..

OK - This is Seneca Rocks from the parking lot.

This is me looking down on the town and the parking lot where the previous picture was taken from.

Picture is taken fron North Summit ( Right sideof cliff). Left botton of picture is the National Park Visitor center parking lot. Note Eurovan in on right side of the lot

Rock Climbing in Virginia @ the Trestles 11/21/07

The Day before Turkey day Tyler my nephew & I did some climbing in Goode VA at some old abandoned RR bridge trestles. What is so cool about this place besides the climbing is the HISTORY read here:

http://www.lynchburgclimbingclub.com/trestles.htm

http://www.lynchburgclimbingclub.com/pics/trestles_rev5.pdf

We started the day on Peir A with some Top Rope routes around 5.5 - 5.8. This Trestle has Gym Type Holds bolted to the 150+ year old structure. You can also get your fingers between some of the bricks to help you get up. It was steep and finger burning on a few of the routes. This place was set up quite a few years ago so some holds were broken or spinning making upward progress difficult . But wee had fun !!!

Next we did some sport routes Reason for living 5.9 was the first route. It was sunny and warm and bees were swarming all over the place. These trestles are very steep with most of the holds where the 150 year old cement has eroded away.

The second route I lead was Ledges from Heaven 5.9 also Sport as all but one of the routes are on the 2 big trestles. There is one Trad route 5.10 that said pro was marginal, It looked OK to me but I did not climb it.

Gary Cycle Cross Race - Cheshire Ct. 11/17/07

Gunks Rock Climbing Trip #20 - day trip 11/11/07

Yesterday was another day @ the GUNKS . Won't be many more as winter is fast approaching and it's cold in the AM with frozen mud on the approach carriage road. The sun did a good job of warming things up but around 2:00 when it went away it got real cold. Hope to be ICE climbing around this time next month.

So early winter rock climbing - No SUN stay home I say............

GARY - if your reading this bring warm clothes back east this week for your Cyclocross race Sat it will be cold for sure if you want I will bring the gas Guzzeling Eurovan so I can pop the top and turn on HEAT for before + after race comfort. Guess I better get some food also . Who else is going ???

Anyhow back to climbing - Had a great day climbing with Jonathan we did 7 pitches I lead two Jonathan did the rest.

We started with BABY 5.6 JDW did P#1 + I did P#2, next we moved to Arrow 5.8 JDW did P#1 and I got the $$$ pitch#2, them JDW did P#2 of Limelight + P#2 of Three Doves 5.9 ( fantastic route) , we rapped off ate lunch around 3:00 and did one more Route -- Absurdland 5.8+ / 5.9 JDW lead it in fine style . It was hard for a final climb of the day+ the rock was cold as were my feet !!

I'm working to get my back to normal after tweaking it out WED AM and suffering BAD all last week. It's still not right !!

I think I will attempt the Tue night group Mtn bike ride and see how I feel as I hope to be able to do the Friday afternoon CASE Mtn bike ride with Gary + Cliff .

2008 ALTIMA 2.5 update -10/29/07

I took this car for it's first highway trip Sunday. All it's previous 2000 miles for the last 11 weeks I have owned it were mixed backroads + very little highway. I have been averaging 30-31 MPG .

This highway trip yesteday was about 250 miles total and I got 35.5 MPG . This is twice what I get in the 7000# VW Eurovan so I'm very happy.

Back to sleep..........zzzzzzzzzz

KICK A$$ day @ the GUNKS 10/28/07

CCK - CASCADING CRYSTAL KALEIDOSCOPE 5.7 ***

The guide book sais : A very Popular route with a spectacular final Pitch ...

Pitch #3 Make the airy traverse right to the flake/crack and follow it ( CRUX) to the Jugs under the big overhang, escape right uo to a belay.

See Below !!!!!!!!!

CCK - I have been wanting to lead this route for years . Well I did it today. Exposure you bet - The most Photogenic Route @ the Gunks for sure - Great fall weather the best - the trees were about a week past peak but still nice scenery.










What more could you ask for !!