PFW : Etra Lake to New Egypt : 20100502

Just logged the weekend's ride from Etra Lake to New Egypt, NJ.

Thanks to Gary for leading ... looking forwards to next weekend.

Bike route 473784 - powered by Bikemap 

I'm sticking with BikeMap.net for the moment. RideWithGPS.com is promising, but currently seems rather slow. When I checked this link it was having trouble. The site does a lot of processing of uploaded GPS files, so maybe it's looking for more power. It'll be good when it's working properly.

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PS : ad hoc Griggstown Grinder this week before Diane starts next week ... usual time ... usual place ...

First of the Year

Well, I managed to get out on Saturday ... about 45 miles from Etra Park Lake to New Egypt and back.

All in all, I didn't feel too bad. In fact, pretty good, although I was glad to see the car park at the end. I felt a bit of a fraud. Some riders have done over 1000 miles already this year and are completing 100 miles/day in preparation for a double century ride. I'll be happy with the upcoming 5 Boro Bike Tour ...

Anyway, the bike ran well, very quietly in fact. I like a quiet bike. Most tick and whirr ... mine's nice and quiet ... mmmmm ...

SRAM Compact Chainset : Progress Report

Due to one thing and another it's been a week or two since I last rode on road, as it were ...

... And with the Twin Lights Ride looming next weekend, I really needed to put a few miles under my belt.

Discretion played the better part of valour, this morning as I set out on a C+ ride from Etra Park.

Well, things weren't too bad, and I rode quite strongly considering. It was nice to see a couple of acquaintances and catch up. We pootled on a circuitous route down to New Egypt where we stopped at a local deli for coffee and muffins, or whatever your poison is.

I settled for a regular coffee ... fair ... and a blueberry muffin ... middling ...

Anyway, the thing is; how is the migration to a SRAM compact double chainset from triple fairing on my gleaming Giant OCR C2?

Actually, I quite like it. I was apprehensive at the thought of losing my granny-gear and being reduced to claiming I had stopped to pick blackberries half-way up the hill, but in reality, this hasn't happened.

Now this is partly due to my new-found hill-climbing ability, but more likely to the fact that central and south New Jersey do not have a climb which can even compare to the most modest Devon hill. But whichever, it hasn't really impinged on my ability to get to the top.

The big difference has been in the snappy and positive gear-changing, and slight weight benefit.

Coincidentally, another rider had just taken delivery of a Cannondale with a Shimano compact chainset. He wasn't quite convinced but I hope I was able to allay his fears. Certainly we were amongst the strongest riders on the way back.

I know too there has been a deal of controversy on the 50+ forum on BikeForums.net, but I think anyone of a certain age who is riding regularly, without any motor issues will adapt well to a compact drive.

Now all I have to worry about is 75 hilly miles on the Twin Lights Ride ...