| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
41.03 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,632 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.34 mph
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Route:
Buffalo Valley
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 160 bpm
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Avg HR: 124 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Steep
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Bike: Look Blade RS 795 Iconic Ltd Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Overcast\Drizzle 62 F Wind East @ 5 mph |
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Headed down to VA for a century on Saturday that I most likely won't do as it is forecast to be fifties with rain. Today though I stopped in Lewisburg, PA to try the legs out though didn't have much hope as health and numbers are still in the cellar. Started at the trailhead of the Buffalo Valley rail trail and thought I would spin easy and see how the body responded. It had rained most of the morning but supposedly the rainfall had ended. First half mile of the trail is paved and remaining eight or nine miles used to be packed cinder. Only got a half mile before it started to lightly rain, but fortunately it didn't last long or get me very wet. Was pedaling along at thirteen miles an hour when I was passed by a gravel bike. My competitive instincts kicked in and increased speed enough to keep even with him. After a couple of miles, the trail was closed but we kept going regardless. The trail frequently crosses side roads, and all the approaches had been dug up and surface replaced with large loose rocks. Followed the gravel bike as best I could through the intersections but had to slow down drastically to protect my wheels. Got into a rhythm of slowing and accelerating to keep pace but we stopped after five miles to walk by paving equipment blocking the path. On the far side of the equipment the trail had been paved. The gravel bike guy said that they didn't want anyone to ride on the new surface until it cured, so I headed off the trail onto parallel SR45. Legs felt good so headed west. Had to do some speed work through one of the small towns that had no shoulder for a couple of miles. Had to ride in traffic so tried to go hard to have as little impact as possible. Traffic was heavy but speed limit is only twenty-five with several stop lights so hopefully didn't cause any ill will. Headed out to the foot of a mountain climb I have been planning to do but couldn't find the route in my computer that I thought I had uploaded. Got to the climb with near twenty miles in and felt good but had some reservations about doing the climb as I had aa tailwind and it was getting late in the day. Was concerned if the legs gave out or had a flat, I would be riding in the dark in unknown terrain. Did check out the start of the climb that is over a thousand feet over two miles averaging eight percent. I had been punching some small hills with some success though I was sucking air over most of the tops. I was recovering quickly and that was at least encouraging but not so much I wanted to do a long possibly steep ascent. Turned around and rode mostly flats along a river on the way back. It had low traffic good scenery and great riding. Got to New Berlin and decided to head back over to SR45 to complete the ride. Turned out there was a mile long climb of five hundred feet that had a section of fourteen percent. Went into the granny gear and climbed okay and was actually happy to see my heart rate pegging. Lately it has been reluctant to rise above eighty percent. I was happy to survive the climb and with the decision to bypass the earlier mountain pass as didn't know how much I was straining by damaged body. The reward was a screaming descent that probably was as steep as the climb. I had no fear of holding up traffic on it as the speed limit was only forty miles an hour. Remaining five miles was slightly downgrade and finished off the ride in fair shape. Didn't feel very well after the ride but legs felt good while on the bike that makes for decent riding.
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