The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Mount Desert Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series #11)

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The Mount Desert Time Trial is a 13.7 mile out and back time trial held in Tremont, Maine, which located on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island. It is the eleventh race in the Maine Time Trial Series. The course features sharp and short climbs, fast descents and some rough pavement. Conditions were calm and cool and temperatures were in the 70s. About 35 riders turned up to race. Frame and Wheel tracked the event with a smartphone and posts some of the details of the ride in the labels on the map above. Total distance (including rolling around the start area) is 16.2 miles, total moving time is 48 minutes, average moving speed is 20 miles per hour, maximum speed is 39 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 42 feet, total elevation gain is 688 feet and maximum grade is 6 percent.

The officials and all the riders are savaged by clouds of mosquitos during staging, such that it is a relief to get going. Frame and Wheel negotiates the Fairpoint work site without trouble, but has a close call with a truck emerging from a driveway further up the road. The pavement is rough and Frame and Wheel concentrates on holding on tight and choosing a smooth line. The hills are tough and recovery opportunities are short and limited. There is one section where there is a long, gradual downhill, and Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear here and make some time. Frame and Wheel avoids a cat that dashes across the road.
The turnaround goes smoothly, but the section right after it is a gradual uphill. Frame and Wheel is not  in the right gear here and loses some time here. There are no more 30 second riders for Frame and Wheel to chase. The final hills are hard and sap momentum. Frame and Wheel pushes through to the fast finish and is pleased with a time of 30:42 which is fast enough to win the day. Frame and Wheel spends the rest of the day being a tourist in the shops of Bar Harbor and the wharves of Barnard, features that make this event a pleasant one to attend. Frame and Wheel congratulates all the riders on their efforts and thanks the Downeast Cycling Club and Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop for organizing and sponsoring the event.

Bass Harbor is the real deal

Bar Harbor display boats

The one on the right looks pretty fast

The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Tour of Islesboro (Tour de l'Isle)

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The Tour of Islesboro (Tour de l'Isle) is a new Grand Fondo or Sportif event located in Islesboro, Maine. The route is a 25.3 mile loop that features rolling terrain, dramatic views of Penobscott Bay, narrow but generally peaceful roads and the Sprague's Beach climb. Riders can ride one lap (beginning at 9 am) or four laps (beginning at 6 am). Conditions were dry and calm with temperatures in the 70s. About 30 riders turned up to ride the single loop. It was indeed a "stacked" field and included young children, parents, cycling enthusiasts, juniors, masters, one pro and Deval Patrick, the Governor of Massachusetts. Frame and Wheel joined two other riders for the century ride and brought along the Android smartphone to record the event. Total moving time is 330 minutes, total distance is 102 miles, average moving speed is 19 miles per hour, maximum speed is 36 miles per hour, total elevation gain is 5,288 feet, maximum elevation is 144 feet and maximum grade is 16 percent. 

Frame and Wheel's primary observation about this century ride is that it would be very difficult to do solo. There is a lot of repetition and doubling back, and although the scenery is very nice, its novelty begins to fade at around mile sixty. Having other riders to talk to and then rotate with makes all the difference. Frame and Wheel congratulates all of the riders who turned out for the event and thanks Bikes and Java of Rockland for providing mechanical support, and thanks Chirstopher Choa and his family for organizing and championing the ride. Frame and Wheel looks forward to participating in 2012.

 Race official outlines the course

 Father and son category at the finish

Recovery

The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Tour of the Catskills

The Tour of the Catskills is a three day stage race located around the upstate New York towns of Windham, Hunter and Tannersville. The event features a 12 mile time trial, a 65-mile "Devil's Kitchen" stage and a 60 mile epic mountain stage. The event is in its third year and is already established as one of the more difficult stage races in the region. The event does not feature prominently on the race calendar of the OA / Cyclemania Masters Cycling team calendar because it is a long drive and there are other events closer to home. Frame and Wheel has family in nearby Germantown, New York and thus is able to formulate excellent reasons for participating in this event. Frame and Wheel entered the 40 plus category along with fifty or so other riders.

Frame and Wheel tracked the event with and Android smartphone and posts the details of the race in the labels embedded in the maps. Although the Android worked fine (it was kept dry) and produced believable data, the process of putting in labels in the maps is pretty granular and time consuming for Frame and Wheel, and perhaps quite boring for the reader, if there are any. Additionally, Google My Tracks is sometimes erratic; it can be difficult to place the labels and to save the map that has the labels as well as the tracks. Frame and Wheel is unable to make progress on a fix for this. This highlights another weakness of The Internet of Bikes: a fair amount of time is required to manage, review, edit and share the data originated. Frame and Wheel recently observed that Garmin technology produces similar results more quickly and easily than the current arrangement and will investigate that further. 

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Frame and Wheel sets out at 3:29:00 pm after a lighter than usual warm up (Frame and Wheel is exploring recent assertions that warming up less vigorously results in a better ability to sustain power. So far, it seems to be working). The start gate is loud with music and the announcer and it is difficult to hear the officials calling up numbers. Frame and Wheel is relieved to get going and be away from the noise. The road is smooth and the wind is light and the temperatures are cool at the start. A young shirtless father is pushing a stroller with an infant in it along the shoulder and in the direct path of the race. This breaks Frame and Wheel's concentration for a moment (Frame and Wheel has encountered obstacles such as ducks, rabbits, squirrels and dogs during time trials, but never before has Frame and Wheel encountered a parent with infant). Frame and Wheel feels very good and catches the 30 second man on the hill before the turnaround. Frame and Wheel is cautious on the turnaround and sacrifices some time in order to make a smooth and controlled turn. There are skid marks on the road near the cone from previous riders. Frame and Wheel catches two riders on the way back and has a third in sight, but is unable to close the gap before the turns begin. It has quickly become very hot and Frame and Wheel realizes that a short sleeve skin suit would have been a good choice. Frame and Wheel pushes hard up the final climb, losing some momentum on some gravel on the road, and completes the race with a time of 25:26. This is eight seconds off the winning time set by time-trial specialist Jonny Bold (Corner Cycle / Jonny Bold Coaching Services), but good enough for second place. Frame and Wheel obtains the King of the Mountain jersey for the effort and joins Mr. Bold for a podium ceremony attended primarily by the announcer. Frame and Wheel is pleased with the result and ready for recovery.

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Stage 2 begins in Tannersville and the field sets out at 9:30am. The pace is brisk up Scribner Hollow road as riders position for the fast descent that follows. Carl Reglar (Verge Sport) is a strong King of the Mountain (KOM) candidate and attacks repeatedly on the following sections. Frame and Wheel is lured into defending this distinctive jersey and counters these efforts in the hopes of breaking Frame and Wheel's long standing tradition of being King of the Mountain for a day. Frame and Wheel bridges up to a break that is going for the first KOM finish. This is a big effort. Max Lippolis (Team Danbury Audi/Pedal&Pump) takes the first KOM points and hands the scraps to Frame and Wheel and Dan Staffo (The Handlebar Company). Frame and Wheel and two other riders have open road for most of the following descent that is very fast. The field catches up and then whole field blows by the correct turn, which is unattended by marshals and thus unnoticed by the pace car. The moto neutralizes the race and the filed turns around and gets back on course.
The race grinds along rolling hills and some steep ones and eventually arrives on the flats of Route 32. A seven man break forms and is soon out of sight. Frame and Wheel is doing more work than intended and is feeling the effort. The Devil's Kitchen climb arrives and Frame and Wheel locks on to the wheel of the worryingly fresh-looking Erin Kroff (CRCA/Axis). The compact gears are doing a great service and Frame and Wheel is able to spin nicely (the front wheel occasionally lifts off the ground which is an indicator of the steepness of the pitch and the torque obtainable from a 34 x 28). The climb is relentless and very steep and Mr. Kroff is keeping the pace very high. Frame and Wheel is approaching the maximum limits very quickly. Frame and Wheel gets through the switchback, but cracks on the rise that follows. Jonny Bold and David Taylor (CRCA/Fluoriclasse Racing - Discover Chiropractic) seem to float by effortlessly.
Frame and Wheel is wobbly and dizzy and makes a supreme effort to catch on to the nearest wheel. A chase group forms and Frame and Wheel hangs on through the remaining rolling hills. Frame and Wheel finishes in seventh place and is now two minutes back from the new race leader, Dan Staffo, who is has turned in a legendary performance. Frame and Wheel is very tired and knows that energy management was not so fine today. Frame and Wheel also knows that were it not for the compact, the time loss would have been much greater. Some data from the Android: maximum speed is 52 miles per hour, total elevation gain is 5,286 feet, maximum grade is 29% (somewhere in the Devil's Kitchen if this measure is accurate), maximum elevation is 2,274 feet. Please see the map for all the data.

View 2011 Tour of the Catskills Stage 3 in a larger map

Stage 3 begins in Windham and the field starts out at 9:30 am. Frame and Wheel had a nice cold bath, plenty of sleep and a good dinner, but is nevertheless feeling very tired. The priority is on conserving energy today. Frame and Wheel believes that many in the field are not aware of the steepness of the second KOM climb and thus plans on conserving energy for that climb. The race descends Route 23 through the mist to the valley below. The course twists and turns and after awhile arrives at the climb out of Durham to the first KOM finish. The pace picks up and the field begins to stretch. The temperature is also much warmer. The climb continues and the pace remains steady. There is a final surge at the KOM finish and for a moment the field is in two. Frame and Wheel concentrates on staying in contact with the lead elements of the field and manages to do so. 

The race negotiates the fast descents which this year do not include horses or horse trailers. The pace picks up again at the old KOM section and the field once again breaks up, only to regroup on the following descent. The field races through the Platteville and the pace picks up again on the flat section leading up to Route 23c. Frame and Wheel is fully fueled with food and drink and moves to the front.

The steepness of the climb takes many by surprise. Frame and Wheel deploys the lowest gear (34 x 28) and is thus able to keep up with Dan Staffo, David Taylor and Erin Kroff without detonating the system. Other riders are in trouble here and struggling to turn over the pedals. The decisive break forms.

The four man breakaway works together to hold of a chase group that is not far behind and in sight. A short and sharp hill on Route 23 breaks the resolve of the chase group and the four riders are away for good. The break enters the final climb to the finish as a group and the sprint is on: it is Staffo, Taylor, Frame and Wheel and Kroff. The race is over. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the day's effort and has moved up to fourth place in the general classification.  The result is testimony to how a not so fine day can be followed by a great day in this sport and it is an improvement over the sixth place finish in 2010. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizers for putting on such a great race and is very grateful to be able to compete in a category that is characterized by such fine competition.

Some key data from the Android on this stage for what it is worth: maximum speed is 48 miles per hour, total elevation gain is 5,906 feet, maximum grade is 14 percent and maximum elevation is 2,170 feet. Please see the map for all the data.

 King for a day

 That is where we are headed

 Don't fail me now

Stage 3 podium

The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Tour of the Hill Towns

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Tour of the Hill Towns is a late summer road race held in Windsor, Massachusetts. The course is 60 mile loop through Savoy, Hallockville, Hawley and Cummington among others, with a 30 mile extension that passes through Kenneth M. Dubuque Memorial State Forest. The race features long gradual climbs along Route 9, fast descents through winding narrow roads, some rough roads and the three mile climb on West Hawley Hill Road. The race is classic event and a regular feature of the OA/Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team calendar. It also doubles as the Massachusetts State Road Championships. Given the length of the car drive (4.5 hours), the length of the race (97 miles) and the early start time (10 am), Frame and Wheel traveled the night before the event with team mate Joe Lynch and stayed with  "Auntie" Lynch, who kindly put us up at a very nice summer camp by a small lake. The promise of 90 degree weather made the idea of staying at the camp and spending the day swimming in the lake very compelling. Frame and Wheel joined 65 starters in the Pro12 category racing 97 miles.

Frame and Wheel will digress first onto the topic of The Tronski. A Tronski is a small  error of commission or omission that has exponentially larger but typically harmless ramifications and consequences than the error itself. It is a small mistake that results in a major headache. For example, Frame and Wheel in a moment of distraction left the Android smartphone used to track these races on a beach where it was soon covered by the rising tide. Small oversight, significant and ongoing  consequences (all phone numbers, pictures lost, no mobile communications etc.). Frame and Wheel was thus awarded a "T". Tronski users can award each other "Ts" over the course of a period of time and at the end see who has the most. That person is the winner (A Tronski that involves a digital piece of equipment such as a smart phone or a music player is known as an iTronski).

Frame and Wheel managed to find another smartphone to track this event and wisely wrapped it in a plastic bag (Frame and Wheel was soaked with water and sweat). The episode with the smartphone highlights another weakness of the Internet of Bikes, which is the vulnerability of the the technology to the elements. Clearly, an easier and better way is to deploy a more sturdy Garmin Edge 800 or something similar for tracking rides. Additionally, it is sometimes a chore to upload a route to the Internet and then label it and describe the drama of the event (it can be a chore to read these posts too). The two weeks that it has taken for Frame and Wheel to post about this event demonstrates that the process requires some work and time. Nevertheless, here's the data from the race: total duration is 274 minutes (4 hours 34 minutes), total distance is 100 miles (including warm up), average moving speed is 21 miles per hour, maximum speed is 49 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 1,974 feet, total elevation is 6,723 and maximum grade is 20 percent. Frame and Wheel includes observations about the race in the labels and uses the terrain setting to provide a better sense of features of the course. Frame and Wheel is unable to figure out why Google My Tracks shows the map in two sections rather than one. 

Frame and Wheel concentrates on conserving energy, drinking regularly, dousing water, eating real food and energy foods and avoiding the temptations of being lured into pointless attacks. There is a break up the road right from the start and after it is away, the pace settles down. The temperature is in the 90s. Frame and Wheel is burning through the water and the food. One rider has a water bottle cage mounted under his saddle. Everyone seems to have Gatorade straight up. Frame and Wheel second guesses the choice of regular water and a protein drink. There is neutral water along the road and in a chase car. Frame and Wheel obtains a refill and extra water from the car and is very pleased with this service. 

There are rough roads on this course and some diabolical cracks in the pavement on the big descent. The field rides sensibly through these sections but it is rough going and the bike and Frame and Wheel is  punished. Frame and Wheel manages to hit one of the cracks in the pavement with a sickening carbon crunch and is surprised and very grateful that the tire does not flat. Frame and Wheel executes a mobile pee for the first time on the latter part of the descent and is very pleased with having finally been able to do this although improvements in aim are required. 

The field arrives at the steeper sections of West Hawley Road and things begin to stretch out. Frame and Wheel is in the back and rises through traffic, but can see that the pace of the lead group is very fast and that the gap that is forming is getting bigger and insurmountable. Frame and Wheel is alone at the switchback with only some stragglers from the lead group in sight. After a few miles of solo chasing, a chase group of a dozen or so riders catches up and Frame and Wheel works with these riders all the way to Route 9. It is very hot now, there is no more neutral water and Route 9 grinds on relentlessly. Frame and Wheel is feeling very good and joins Andy  Lytwynec (MVP Health Care Cycling / Farmington, NY) who makes a bold break in perhaps the final ten miles and soon the chase group is out of sight. Frame and Wheel is pleased to be away from the chase group and the rider with the creaking bottom bracket, a noise which over the past 20 miles has become a comparable to water torture. Frame and Wheel and Mr. Lytwynex pass through riders from other categories and stragglers from the break. The end of this race is at hand and Frame and Wheel is keen on simply finishing strong. Mr. Lytwynec fades on the last hill after some great efforts and Frame and Wheel anonymously and individually crosses the finish line with an official time of 4:12 minutes or seven minutes off the winning rider (Robin Carpenter / Bike Reg Cannondale). Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result. The drive home seems short which is a sign of satisfaction with the outcome, although Frame and Wheel is very tired, and only now, two weeks later prepared to write about this race.