Hill of the North

Ah! Easter Sunday. For me the first warm ride of the year.

I don't know what it is; thin blood, warm heart, limp-wristed pinko-Euro liberal, whatever. But I am a cold mortal, or is it morsel? I just love to be warm. And today was the day, climbing to almost 27C/80F. My kind of day.

Pie time ...

Heading anywhere north of here means you are quickly into a climb. Stonybrook Road starts running alongside the Stony Brook (?) before climbing across Route 518 and up into the Sourlands Mountain.

Snydertown Road follows the contours across to Linvale Road where the climb recommences towards the outward summit of 145m/470ft around Mountain Road. The route undulates across the dissected plateau towards Lambertville, so there is no let up for the legs until the final 2km/1.5mile descent into the town.

It doesn't take much for me to pause for a pie stop and watch the Easter visitors explore the town before threading the back-streets and starting the ascent along Alexauken Creek towards Ringoes. I made a minor detour out of Ringoes until I realised I was committed to taking Route 31 south. This didn't appeal to me so I turned around and set off, instead eastwards along the Wertsville Road.



The Wertsville Road is possibly the most like an English country "B" road that I know of, so riding it is a bit of a nostalgic pleasure. Climbing the northern half of Linvale Road isn't such a pleasure, but I think it is one of the  easier Sourlands climbs which takes you up to the ridgeline road.

I met up with a cyclist who needed directions to Princeton at the junction with Mountain Road so we set off towards the Hopewell-Wertsville Road and over the summit of the entire route at 175m/570ft. The rider had the benefit of legs at least thirty years younger than mine so he sped off towards Princeton and I settled in for the final stretch diverted by the closed bridge in Hopewell and then home.

So, not a long ride, 52km/32miles, but 800m/2,600ft of climbing, so it was quality, not quantity. Next week should see me riding with a group, further, faster, but flatter ... I hope.

cHilly Sunday Outing

Winter drawers on ... Well, it wasn't that cold, but a taste of things to come, and I really am not a cold weather rider.

It's been several weeks since I have ridden regularly, but it was time to give my creaking knees a test, so I headed out on a fairly short, but rather hilly ride to Lambertville, 20 or so miles and 1000ft of climbing.

Bike route 760738 - powered by Bikemap 

I planned this via BikeMap.net and loaded the route into the Garmin and set off. For the first couple of miles my legs groaned and creaked. This wasn't helped by the first climb up Mine Road which was really a bit too soon into the ride - nb: this should really be on the return route for me. However, the legs did survive and it really warmed me up nicely.

The route to Lambertville turned out to be pretty hilly, but not impossible even after some time off the bike. However, the descent down Goat Hill into the town was very steep with plenty of potholes, driveways and residential streets leading off it, plus an absolute stop at the T at the bottom of the hill strewn with fallen leaves ... ride with care.

After a coffee and coconut macaroon I embarked on the ascent out of Lambertville up the Rocktown Road. This is a long climb, but not that steep. It just requires that you plod away at it until you reach the plateau. For some reason I missed my cue from the Garmin and ended up heading east on 518 when I had intended to head for Mountain Road and Lindale for the descent to Marshall's Corner.  So instead I cut back down Stony Brook to return to a nice warm home.

The knees and legs survived.

Like I said, not that far, but hard enough work.

Fourth of July : Old Cranks Rule ...

So, on the anniversary (more or less) of when those freedom loving English (largely) guys (totally), signed the Declaration of Independence, two Old Cranks, Gene and myself rode our own independent route across the Sourlands towards Lambertville, north along the Delaware to Stockton and then return across the Sourlands.

I'd sort of planned a route, but despite the Garmin bleeping at me to take a right turn - it looked like someone's driveway to me - we took a little detour after stopping for coffee and blueberry scones in Lambertville and ended up with a knee-cracking ascent of County 523 out of Stockton.

There was some relief when we turned into Grafton Road although that was tempered when the descent towards Brookville Hollow Road became a steep, loose gravel track for half a mile around mile marker 24.5. This put us pretty much back on course on a moderate climb alongside the stream towards Sandy Ridge/Mt Airy Road.

Bike route 574167 - powered by Bikemap 

The only other incident was that a couple of bridges are out for rebuilding on the Wertsville Road. We felt a little like cyclo-crossers as we negotiated the first bridge, but obviously the troll who normally lives under the bridge had taken temporary accommodation in a house beside the road and proceeded to complain about law-breakers ignoring traffic signs and what the Queen could do with her country, etc ... seemed somehow appropriate on this day of all days ...

The second bridge looked more of an obstacle and we also didn't want the troll to prove his NRA membership, so we took a diversion north and then parallel to the Wertsville Road rejoining it just before we took Rileyville Road back up into the Sourlands on the basis that it's an easier hill than Lindberg, which it is, but not in the blazing hot sun ... but we made it back; a very nice 47 miles before noon.

So Spring Really Has Sprung

Well, the nice weather is here, so there's really no excuse.

What better than a season opener than a nice ride to Lambertville, NJ, on the Delaware? Only 40 miles there and back, but hilly miles, so they really count.

Bike route 316479 - powered by Bikemap 

Everything worked well and smoothly and suitable clothing kept me warm, but not too toasty.

As I crossed Route 31 I was surprised to find an old-school English Woodrup pull up along side. It was piloted by John, originally from Leeds, UK, who was working his way to Frenchtown, NJ, to have lunch with his missus. Small world, huh?

We rode on to Lambertville, then John turned north for Frenchtown, and I headed for the coffee shop.

It was a great ride for a season opener; clear blue skies, beautiful sunshine, plenty of other riders on the road. Okay, my legs felt it a bit as I approached home ... but what did I expect after 3 months without a serious outing?

NB: there was still ice across the road just after Mountain Road crosses Linvale Road. It was gone by the time I returned. More seriously, Zion Road, between Long Hill Road and Lindbergh Road is in a very poor state after the winter with potholes across the road in some places, eroded surface and raised ridges.

Hollow Road also has deteriorated since last year. Some stretches are white-knuckle inducing at 30-35mph on the descent, so ride carefully.

Okay ... Another Year Older ...

... so I'll resolve to start posting again ... yes, really.

Well, time is relentlessly movin' on and today sees 57 years since I came into this world. What better way than with a bike ride which, now I've just finished it, I realise I should have made 57 miles, but is now cast at 45 plus miles.

Oh well. That's my resolution for next year; a 58 mile bike ride.

That's me, taking a rest in Lambertville, NJ. Do you like the jersey?

Anyway, the weather here has been appalling, but today was nice enough. So I planned a route on MapMyRide.com, loaded it into the Garmin and pedalled out into the New Jersey countryside, which whilst not quite Devon and Cornwall, is nice enough, believe me.



Hopefully the script above will enable you to see the route. Otherwise go here.

If you have Google Earth you can get a really good look at the countryside. There's a link somewhere on the MapMyRide page so you can do this.

Bike 05 : Princeton FreeWheelers - Wednesday Evening Ride

Many years ago I joined the Cyclists' Touring Club. I managed two rides with them.

It must have been like that riding with the Clarion Cycle Club in Victorian times ... military style, discipline, follow-your-leader.

I don't suppose either organisation is like that now. But it was with some trepidation I set out on my first ride with Princeton FreeWheelers. I mean, the logo for a start, bears a startling resemblance to the CTC's ... and the ride gradings and rules???

The club magazine listed a large number of rides for the month of May. While I had some confidence from the NY event, I didn't fancy the prospect of cycling inline with a peloton of shaven-legged Tour de France wanabees, nor go gathering Nuts In May.

And so it was that I turned up in Lambertville's CVS car park at 5.30 for 6.00. Lambertville is a nice old town situated on the banks of the Delaware river opposite New Hope, PA.

Shortly, other riders turned up, mostly by car; Mike, Agnes, Marilyn, Steve ... everyone seemed friendly enough, and no shaved legs ... well, except for the women. This was a combined club ride. There were several riders from the Central Bucks Bicycle Club too.

Michael was leading the ride and made sure we signed our disclaimers. This is America after all ... And after the ride was pronounced as equaling the club record attendance for a Wednesday evening ride - 23 - we set off.

It was a nicely mixed group; maybe a half dozen women, another half dozen around my age. And really it was quite informal. No riding in files. Riders diligently pointed out potholes, glass, car up, car down, etc. Stronger riders encouraged weaker riders up hills and supervised road junctions. People were fascinated by my accent. It was all jolly friendly.

The back lanes around Lambertville are beautiful; secluded valleys with babbling brooks, covered bridges and picturesque farms. The actual lie of the land reminded me very much of my native Devon.

The route was just right, hilly, but not too extreme. I was glad to get to the top of each one of them, but still had enough in reserves to tackle the next. The sky threatened rain, but did not deliver although it was darkening quickly by the time we got back to the cars.

Stats: T: 1:39:00 | D: 38.10km | A: 23.1kmh

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