BikeRide.com Cycling Blog

3 a.m. the alarm went off. I had gotten my things together the night before, so I quickly got ready, packed up my things ate a bowl of cereal, and got in the car to make the 40 minute drive to Westfield. A couple of miles down the road I realized I forgot my camera, so I turned around and went back home to pick it up, and I was soon on my way again.

I made it to Westfield in good time, and found a place to park next to the bike shop about 4:15. Others were there in the dark parking lot getting their bikes ready. I went into the shop to sign in, and use the facilities.

I was going to meet EBCC members Beth and Coleman, but I didn’t see them before the ride started at 5 am. I figured that the weather forecast scared them off. The forcast was for rain, so I took the bike with fenders, and packed my rain gear.

At 5 am we were off. I followed a lead group of about 15 riders, just cruising along for the first 20 miles until the climb of Jacob’s Ladder on route 20. I saw another rider in an EBCC jersey named Chris, who I didn’t know. He said he was using the ride to train for 24 hour MTB races.

I lost contact with that group as the climb started. I just wanted to take it at my own pace. I didn’t see anyone else until the top of the climb when I stopped quickly to take a photo.

On the downhill portion heading to Lee it started to rain, but it only lasted 5 or 10 minutes, then stopped, and the rest of the day was great. So much for packing that rain gear!

As I was heading downhill into Lee, some dude was walking right down the middle of the road coming toward me with his fist in the air. I’m not sure what the guy was doing at 7 am, but I went to the other side of the road to avoid him.

Passing through Stockbridge the town was still quiet as the route took to some side roads on the way to Great Barrington. The first checkpoint was at the GB Dunkin Donuts. There were a few other riders there when I arrived. I bought a donut and bagel, had the cashier sign my Brevet card, and I filled my water bottles in the restroom sink. I rode off still eating my bagel as I headed south on route 7. I had to pay attention to the route sheet as the ride turned onto route 7A, and a few other backroads before connecting back to route 7 where I saw a fox run accross the road.

A few riders caught me as I crossed into Connecticut. The ride south on 7 is really nice. A smooth road, with great scenery along the Housatonic river, that crosses the Appalachian trail in places. I stopped quickly to take a photo of the West Cornwall covered Bridge, and then got going again as a group passed me. I hung with them for a while, then pushed on ahead to Kent. Kent is a great town that I have been to a few times. A popular town during the fall folliage season.

The checkppoint in Kent had sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and tables to sit at. As I was getting ready to go again, Coleman and Beth rode in. I waited a little, but didn’t want to stop too long. I made a phone call from a pay phone to let Melinda know I had made it to the second checkpoint, then kept going.

The route headed west into NY, then north again skirting the CT/NY border. The town of Sharon, CT has some huge old mansions and also nice scenery, although some lady in a BMW decided she could pull next to me as I was stopping at a stop sign and turn right even though I was going straight. I could tell she was clueless, so I just let her go. I didn’t want to get run over. That was the only problem I had with traffic all day. The roads had very low traffic, and it seemed like miles would go by without seeing any cars.

Just after the town of Sharon, Beth and Coleman caught up to me, and I rode with them up to Bash Bish Falls. There is a country store, and a bike shop just before the climb starts near the park entrance. I stopped in the state park to use the restroom and fill my water bottles.

The climb up Bash Bish Falls is very steep, up to 15% in places. Just when you think you may fall over, it levels out a little, and there are a few places where you can recover. Beth and Coleman waited for me near the top, and the descent was very fast down the other side back into Great Barrington for the third checkpoint where there was a tent set up, with more sandwiches, fruit, cookies, etc. I took off my shoes, as my feet were hurting from my spd road pedals. I need to look into pedals with a larger platform for these long rides.

Beth and Coleman went on ahead, and I settled into a pace I could manage. I was pretty wiped out after Bish Bash Falls, and was suffering. I stopped to call Melinda again near Stockbridge to let her know I was surviving. I slowly made my way back through Stockbridge, and was not looking forward to the climb back over Jacob’s Ladder.

I stopped at a store in Lee to buy some powerade to top off my water bottles, and I bought a coke for some quick energy. That gave me the lift I needed to get over the climb. The downhill was great, but the final 20 miles along the river into Westfield was very tough. The road is very bumpy. and there was a headwind. It seemed like I would never get there. There was still a good distance to go after seeing the “Entering Westfield” sign.

I made it back to the bike shop and turned in my Brevet card. Beth and Coleman were waiting in the parking lot.

The 300 k was more than I was ready for, but I made it. I think the mental challenges are just as big as the physical on a ride that long. This was a great route, and I’d do it again, but I think the 400k would be too much for me.

Hopefully next year I can do this again and get in better condition before this ride. I had read alot about Brevets and thought it would be cool to get into this type of riding, but It is really a big commitment to put in the type of miles to get ready for these long distances. I think for the rest of the season I will focus on shorter rides, work on my speed, and try to get a good result in the club Time Trial.

Notes:

According the my HRM I burned 11,000 calories.
On bike time was 11:48 with a total time of 13:35 with stops.
Average speed was just over 16 MPH.
Next year I’d like to take my lighter weight bike and carry less stuff.
I used a Carradice Super C Saddlebag, and carried extra food, and rain gear.

Photos