The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Catskills Training Camp

Thomas Friedman proclaims that The World is Flat in his eponymous book about globalization, which Frame and Wheel is currently laboring through and hopes to complete by the end of this year. However, if your world is Germantown, New York, as it was for Frame and Wheel for four days last week, the world is not flat at all because this wonderful little town along the Hudson River is bracketed by the Catskills to the west and the foothills of the Berkshires to the east. There is some flatness to the riding here, but only a narrow strip on either side of the mighty Hudson. Frame and Wheel brought an Android smartphone on all the rides and tracked the rides using Google My Tracks. The maps are posted below and Frame and Wheel encourages viewers to review them, especially the terrain charts.

Frame and Wheel rides about 25 hours over four days during this solo training camp. Total elevation gain on three of the days is more than 10,000 feet. The pace is typically 15 miles per hour on average. Frame and Wheel is on the road around 7 am every morning. The weather is fine each day: dry, calm with temperatures in the 70s around Windham and Tannersville (much warmer at lower elevations). The roads are mostly quiet and in good condition and the terrain is very mountainous and challenging in some places. The flora is lush and green and almost tropical and the fauna is out in strength: cats on their morning prowls, rabbits, deer, grouse, guinea hens, but strangely, only the occasional cyclist. The residents are friendly and one individual on a moped enquires if Frame and Wheel will be racing at the 2011 Tour of the Catskill, to which Frame and Wheel replies with a thumbs up.

The bike is outfitted with Mavic Aksium clinchers which increases the weight of the bike to about 16 pounds, but provides a sense of confidence when it comes to durability and ease and speed of repairing a flat tire. Frame and Wheel uses an 11-28 with a 39 x 53 crank set. Navigation is a paper map which on the first day has a habit of flying out of the back pocket and ultimately becomes soaked in sweat. Frame and Wheel suffers no mechanicals, just a slow leak on the front wheel on the last day.

Frame and Wheel rides variations on the 2011 Tour of the Catskills course during this camp. Frame and Wheel learns that the most efficient thing to do is to drive to Tannersville or Windham and start the ride from there. Route 23A into Tannersville is too narrow and busy for bikes (unfortunately because it would make a great climb) and Route 9G must be the worst road for a cyclist in New York State if not the northeast: very bumpy, no shoulder and very fast and scary traffic. Negotiating the town of Catskill on a bike causes unnecessary stress too and the roads are not so fine. In addition to a solid breakfast and dinner, Frame and Wheel eats about three or four peanut butter and strawberry sandwiches and drinks about a gallon of plain water per ride.

View Milan Elizaville loop in a larger map
The first ride of the camp is an afternoon ride that heads east and features flats and rolling hills. The terrain gets more challenging east of Route 9. Traffic is light for the most part although on some rural roads, cars drive very fast. It is very rural and agrarian territory. Frame and Wheel spots Grieg's Farm and returns later to obtain blueberries by the quart. Total duration is 150 minutes, total distance is 43 miles, maximum elevation is 688 feet, total elevation gain is 2,522 feet and maximum grade is 11 percent.

View Tannersville Devil's Kitchen Windham Loop (Stage 2 2011 Tour of the Catskills) in a larger map
The second day is the Epic Ride. This loop begins in Tannersville and follows the 2011 Tour of the Catskills Stage 2 course to the mountains to the west of Windham and back to the Devil's Kitchen climb. Following that, the loop returns to Windham and then heads back to Tannersville on the diabolically steep Route 23C. The descent on Route 20 is very fast, but with good sight lines. The turn in Durham comes up fast and the rollers back to Acra are a grind.  The flats around Suagerties are hot and relentless. The Devil's Kitchen climb is steep and very difficult and features insects that persistently buzz around the mouth. Frame and Wheel has a moment of doubt about getting up this monster followed by a moment of clarity about compact cranksets. Frame and Wheel gets to the top, recovers, creeps down the narrow road and  repeats the climb to "understand" it, as Lance Armstrong once said about Alpe D'Huez. The second time up Frame and Wheel fully understands that a 39 x 28 is not sufficient for this climb, especially after what will be 60 miles of racing and climbing. Total duration of the ride is is 460 minutes, total distance is 122 miles, maximum elevation is 2,290 feet, total elevation gain is 10,696 feet and maximum grade is something more than 13 percent (probably 20 to 30 percent). Frame and Wheel is  tired after this ride but the weather is great and the sense of accomplishment from finishing a ride like this is exhilarating. To the cold bath directly.

View Tannersville Windham Pratsville Jewett Loop (2011 Tour of the Catskill Stage 3) in a larger map
The third day begins in Tannersville and makes its way along the 2011 Tour of the Catskills Stage 3 loop, which features a long tough climb out of Durham. The first part of this climb is abrupt and steep, and its followed by less steep but longer rises until the switchbacks and final two bumps to the first King of the Mountain (KOM) finish. The climbing and the King of the Mountain competition continues after a few fast but straight descents that hopefully this year will not include horses or horse trailers. The loop features a climb on Route 23C that is very steep and long and could easily be titled the Devil's Dining Room as an allusion to the time that will be consumed here by Mr. Bill Z. Bubb. The climbing continues or Mervin Street and Route 296 will act as the final test for riders as they return to Windham. Frame and Wheel returns to Tannersville and repeats the Devil's Kitchen Climb again, marking the various sections and hoping that the legs will have what it takes when faced with the competition. Total duration is 420 minutes, total distance is 108 miles, maximum elevation is 2,239 feet, total elevation gain is 10,671 feet, and maximum grade is 14 percent (which does not seem right. Minimum grade, perhaps measuring  the descent at the Devil's Kitchen is a more believable 21%). Frame and Wheel is ready for a cold bath after this ride.

View Windham Durham Prattsville Jewett Loop in a larger map
The final long day returns to the climb out of Durham and the part of the 2011 Tour of the Catskills Stage 3 course that goes to Pratsville and Jewett. Frame and Wheel repeats the Devil's Dining Room climb to improve "understanding". It remains as difficult as before, as does the section on Mervin Street (the downhill section of this street is freshly paved), but the climb is now familiar. Frame and Wheel finishes the day and the camp with the climb up to Windham on Route 23. This is a long, steady climb followed by a gradual downhills that invites big gears. The view is great and the weather is fine, but Frame and Wheel is done and ready for some recovery. Total duration is 340 minutes, total distance is 92 miles,  maximum elevation is 2,151 feet, total elevation gain is 10,102 feet and maximum grade is 29 percent (perhaps the Devil's Dining Room).

View Milan Elizaville Loop II in a larger map
The final day is an early ride out to Milan and back through Elizaville. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort and is yawning loudly. Frame and Wheel realizes that there is excellent terrain on this side of the Hudson River and looks forward to exploring this area further on future Catskill training camps. That is for a later date. Frame and Wheel winds back to Germantown and the prospect of a hot breakfast and some recovery.

The Internet of Bikes: Brunswick Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race # 7)

View ime Brunswick Time Trial in a larger map

The Brunswick Time Trial is a 15-mile time trial held in Brunswick, Maine. The course if a 15 mile loop that features short sharp hills, some rough pavement and some tricky turns. Conditions were dry and calm and temperatures were in the 70s at start time, It was a beautiful morning. Frame and Wheel joined about 50 other riders. Frame and Wheel is off site an unable to elaborate on the terrain of the course in great detail, but will observe that the course is challenging primarily because of the short but abrupt hills and the twists and turns in the road. Half the battle with this course is knowing the course. Frame and Wheel suffers throughout this ride, makes the correct turns and finishes with a time of 39:21, fast enough for tenth place. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizers for putting on the event and congratulates OA/Cyclemania team mate, Ron Bourgoin, on his victory.

The Internet of Bikes: Portland Velo Club Saturday Morning Ride with extension

View SMR Hollis Loop in a larger map

Back from vacation and eager to regain some form that evaporated at the beach, Frame and Wheel joins the Portland Velo Club Saturday Morning Ride. Temperatures are in the 60s and there is fog. About 60 riders join the ride. The pace is fast and Frame and Wheel can only sit in. A small mishap at the fire hydrant slows things down for a bit and fortunately everyone is fine. The highlight of the ride is lawyer and masters cyclist Graydon Stevens drafting an ambulance on Shore Road to the shouts of "ambulance chaser" from the peleton. The weather becomes clear, dry and in the 70s at the end of the ride and Frame and Wheel extends the ride to Hollis. The legs are feeling the effort of this ride, but the mind is fresh. Total duration 326 minutes, total distance 108 miles, average moving speed 20 miles per hour, maximum speed 40 miles per hour, maximum elevation 187 feet, total elevation gain 3,614 feet and maximum grade of 10%. Frame and Wheel notes that for longer rides, Google My Tracks is unable to track the entire ride on a single map. 

The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Housatonic Hills Road Race

View Housatonic Hills Road Race in a larger map

The Housatonic Hills Road Race is road race held in Southbury, Connecticut. The course is a 27 mile route through the craggy and wooded hills surrounding Roxbury and Southbury. The course features long climbs, short and sharp hills, fast descents and the switchbacks of Constitution Hill Road. The race is an epic, mid season classic event that like a siren song, beckons riders from the O/A Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team and elsewhere to participate. Frame and Wheel rationalized the long drive and the overnight by calling this race the last event before a mid season break from racing and training. Frame and Wheel joined about 70 other riders in the Pro 123 category racing 81 miles or three times around the loop. 

Frame and Wheel tracked the race, or the part that Frame and Wheel managed to complete, with an Android smartphone, and posts the terrain version of the map with some labels so that the viewer can get a better sense about the details of the race. Total moving time duration is 157 minutes (includes a short warm up), total distance is 52 miles, average moving speed is 19 miles per hour, maximum speed is 49 miles per hour, total elevation gain is 4,630 feet, maximum elevation is 916 feet and maximum grade is 30% (Frame and Wheel is not sure if this is accurate, although there is one very steep but short section that feels like thirty percent).
Frame and Wheel includes the details in the labels on the map. The main observation about this race is that it requires great strength and endurance for the climbs, very good energy management technique and  good judgement. Frame and Wheel clearly lacks all of these things on this day: Frame and Wheel is frequently riding in the open off the back of the field, especially on the downhills,  and is lured into a few accelerations that create some gaps, but no breaks. A savage surge up Constitution Hill on the second lap, led by Cameron Coughburn (Jelly Belly Kenda) burns up the matchbook, and the following accelerations prevent any opportunity for recovery. At the bottom of Hunt's Hill climb, the resulting 20 man break is caught by the rest of the field and Frame and Wheel's huge effort is for naught. Frame and Wheel watches as the field steadily moves up the road.
The race is over for Frame and Wheel. Unable to catch on to the stragglers, Frame and Wheel spends the next hour and a half or so creeping through the woods of central Connecticut. Frame and Wheel ruminates on the race and marvels at the cycling excellence of the riders in this category:  Frame and Wheel notes the technique of Mr. Coughburn, who sits at the back of the field (familiar territory for Frame and Wheel) and then advances on the climbs at high cadence. Frame and Wheel looks forward to some vacation time.
Frame and Wheel abandons at the beginning of lap two just as four team mates are finishing in the 40 plus category. A terrible crash in the last kilometer claims a team mate. Frame and Wheel and the rest of the OA/Cyclemania Masters Cycling team spend the next few hours managing this catastrophe and the   usual Shoulda Woulda Coulda post race analysis is ignored. Frame and Wheel sees more of the emergency room than is desired and feels like a bullet has been dodged. The sirens of the Housatonic Hills Road Race have had their way again.

The Internet of Bikes: Dick Williamson Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #5)

View Dick Williamson Memorial Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #5) in a larger map

The Dick Williamson Time Trial is a 13.6 mile point to point time trial held on Route 4 just outside of  Auburn, Maine. It is the fifth race in the Maine Time Trial Series. The course features flat to gently rolling terrain, strong winds and a long and quite steep hill at mile eight. Temperatures were in the low 50s and conditions were wet, windy and cold. About 30 riders started the race. Frame and Wheel tracked the race with an Android smartphone and marks some features of the course in the labels above. Total duration is 34 minutes (including the parking lot repeats), total distance is 14 miles, average moving speed is 25 miles per hour, maximum speed is 40 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 375 feet, total elevation gain is 452 feet and maximum grade is 9 percent.

Frame and Wheel is required to be "present and sober" back home by late morning and thus decides to park the car at the finish and ride the 13.6 miles to the start. This serves as the warm up for the race and allows Frame and Wheel to skip the 40 minute warm down ride that most riders are required to do in order to get back to the start. The warm up ride is wet and cold and blustery and there is a lot of traffic heading into Auburn. Surprisingly, it seems to be just as effective as the more rigorous rituals conducted on the trainer.  Frame and Wheel arrives with ten minutes to spare.

Frame and Wheel sets off and gets up to speed. The rain has stopped but the road is still wet. There is a tailwind on some sections and the terrain has a series of mild downhills. Frame and Wheel gets caught on the wrong side of a short stretch of rumble strip and is forced to ride the strip for a moment in order to get to open road. There are some cracks in the pavement and debris on the road here and there. Frame and Wheel concentrates on form and keeps an eye on the road and the terrain. 

Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear on the sections where there is a flat or mild downhill and a tailwind. Streams of traffic racing up Route 4 seem to help too. The RPMs are low but gradually increasing. The legs protest, but the heart rate drops. Frame and Wheel soon encounters the only dog in New England that is off its leash and in the vicinity of a bike race. The creature miraculously bounds across Route 4 and cheerily investigates the rider ahead. Frame and Wheel senses that this dog is not an interceptor. Ears perked, the dog sees Frame and Wheel bearing down, but it remains still and off the shoulder. Fortunately, the creature is more intent on enjoying an illicit holiday than chasing bikes on Route 4. 

Frame and Wheel attacks out of the saddle the hill at mile eight. It goes on for half a mile, but there is a big downhill afterwards that allows for some recovery. Frame and Wheel is still not certain that this technique is any faster than staying in the saddle with higher RPMs, but has seen it done with great effect at other time trials. The final four miles of the course are flat and rolling and they are the hardest part of the race. The mind believes that the race will end soon because obstacles like the hill at mile eight usually occur towards the end of the race. Not the case on this course. Frame and Wheel makes one last effort out of the saddle at the line. This time Frame and Wheel can tell that some time was gained. The race is over. Frame and Wheel completes the course with a time of 28:43 which is fast enough to win the coveted apple pies prepared by Amber Waterman (Unfortunately, Frame and Wheel is unable to attend the award ceremony, but hopes that the organizers helped themselves). Frame and Wheel is relieved that the warm down ride can be avoided because on this day the warm down ride will not be very pleasant. Frame and Wheel thanks the Maine Cycling Club for putting on this event and taking the trouble to provide electronic timing and fine tasting prizes, and congratulates all the participants for turning up on such a cold day to race a very tough course.

The Internet of Bikes: Portland Velo Club Tuesday Night Ride / Saturday Morning Ride

View Portland Velo Club Tuesday Night Ride in a larger map

The Portland Velo Club Tuesday Night Ride (TNR) is a 50 mile training ride that occurs on Tuesday nights from April to September starting and finishing at Cyclemania on Federal Street in Portland. The loop features among other things a long grinding climb on Blackstrap Road, a relentless climb up Dutton Road, a steep and not exactly short climb up Depot Road, a long climb on Orchard Road and a fast sprint finish on Route 88 in Falmouth. It is a fast and challenging training ride. For the past two years, the route has been altered to avoid some very rough pavement at Depot Road and instead has included a dirt road section, which has not lessened the challenge of the ride in anyway (and if anything has made it more difficult). Frame and Wheel joined the ride for the first time this year with perhaps twenty other riders and team mates. Conditions were dry and calm with temperatures in the 70s.  Frame and Wheel tracks the ride with an Android smartphone and adds some labels to highlight the key features of the ride. Total distance is 50 miles, total duration is 140 minutes, average moving speed is 22 miles per hour, maximum speed is 41 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 460 feet and total elevation gain is 2,500 feet and maximum grade is 10% (perhaps somewhere on Dutton Hill Road). It was good to be on the ride again.

View Portland Velo Club Saturday Morning Ride in a larger map

Frame and Wheel joined the Portland Velo Club Saturday Morning Ride for the first time since perhaps March, taking advantage of an opening in the race schedule. Conditions were dry and temperatures were in the low 60s. Frame and Wheel estimates that there were between 80 to 100 riders on this ride, and thus the pace was fast all the way through. Frame and Wheel tracked the ride with the Android martphone. Total distance is 48 miles, total duration is 142 minutes, average moving speed is 20 miles per hour, maximum speed is 38 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 67 feet, total elevation gain is 1,717 feet and maximum grade is 6%.

The Internet of Bikes: 2011 Belfast Time Trial (Maine Time Trial Series Race #4)

View Belfast Time Trial Maine Time Trial Series # 4 in a larger map

The Belfast Time Trial is a 16 mile out and back time trial held on Route One just outside of Belfast, Maine. It is the fourth race in the Maine Time Trial Series. The course features rolling hills, very long sight lines, some tough hills and a glimpse of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Conditions were dry and calm with temperatures in the 70s. About 50 riders started the race. Frame and Wheel tracked the race with an Android smartphone and added some labels with details about the race. Total duration is 49 minutes (including creeping around the parking lot), total distance is 18 miles, average moving speed is 22 miles per hour, maximum speed is 41 miles per hour, maximum elevation is 124 feet, total elevation gain is 759 feet and maximum grade is 7%.

Frame and Wheel sets out and soon begins to feel the previous day of racing. The first part of the course is a false flat and goes on forever. Frame and Wheel concentrates on staying aerodynamic and not getting bogged down in a big gear. Frame and Wheel tries the technique of shifting down a few gears and attacking the steeper climbs out of the saddle. Recovery from these efforts becomes very hard later in the race. The first respite comes on the big downhill that leads to the turnaround. Frame and Wheel is very slow in the turnaround. The marshals and the police have done a great job of halting traffic, but there are lots of cars and it is Route One.

The return trip is characterized by the climb up to the hill by the over pass. Frame and Wheel attacks out of the saddle on the climb, but suffers badly on the false flat that follows. The terrain is increasingly a mild downhill to the finish and Frame and Wheel tries to push the big gears, but this is very hard to do. Frame and Wheel pushes through one last rise and heads for the finish. Frame and Wheel completes the course with a time of 35: 24, which is fast enough for second place, but well behind a truly inspiring performance by time trial expert Tim Mitchell (CCB Racing), who after a win on Saturday in the 70 mile Lake Auburn Road Race, completes the course in 33:35 and sets a new and surely indelible course record. Paul McMahon completes the course with an impressive time of 36:54, which is fast enough for third place. Frame and Wheel is pleased with the result, given that in 2010, Frame and Wheel suffered a flat and spent some twenty minutes walking along Route One in the rain. Frame and Wheel thanks the Belfast Bicycle Club for putting on and managing a great time trial and congratulates all the participants on their willingness to race a tough course and on their results.