Team Fernandez Bike Blog 2010

Bike At The Dawn dance

Pearl Hill Campsite

I’m sitting in a bakery/cafe in with a perfectly presented Cobb salad, a patiently produced multigrain sourdough loaf, and a view of the Connecticut river. Lunch options are numerous in Brattleboro on a Sunday, but the offerings are satisfying. Arrival in Brattleboro was a two stage process. Friday night I left Londonderry with some camping gear, including the storied hammock, and my dancing shoes packed on the bike. I rode about 30 miles to a campground in Townsend, MA where I was greeted by a cozy site and some familiar friendly faces with food! Saturday was a day of exploring the park and cooking on the campfire. View full article »

Yesterday was the last day of National Bike to work week and, thanks to a busy schedule and viral induced exhaustion, I had yet to commute by bike! It was time to get on the bandwagon. More importantly, the Friday one week before Memorial Day is the anniversary of the start of the 2009 Fernandez Brothers Bike Tour, and I was out to commemorate it.

I packed up three changes of clothes in the morning and started the day with a ride to work. After work, I rode past my house and continued along the route we took on the first night of the tour, excepting that my gps kept me on course. I rode under the train trestle bridge where we agreed that Lowell is a terrible place to ride and past the dark, forested, intersection where the first and only crash of the trip resulted from Isaac’s infamous videography. I rode past the bars where some girls asked about my reflective bracelet and ended in Auburndale at Debbie’s. I didn’t renact the crash, but I did score a flat tire.

I really enjoy riding at night when it’s warm. The roads are quiet and the breeze is cool. It’s rare to even see another rider after dark. You feel like you own the road. There is less to think about. Since you can’t even read your own speedometer, just focus on the patch of road lit by your headlight and keep pedaling. I trust the gps to light up and beep at me if I need to do something. Plus, it justifies the ownership of a 12 hour headlight system and clear sunglass lenses.

47mi Support Stop

This early season Charles River Wheelmen event that took place Sunday rolls from Wakefield through forests and upscale residences in MA and NH. The course is well marked with painted arrows. Sunny and just a touch cool, the weather was perfect, and I even had a friend interested in riding at about my pace. What more could I ask for in a ride?

I don’t like the inefficiency of driving to a ride, but I’m warming to the fun social aspect of an organized event. There’s safety in numbers too as motorists are more aware of groups of riders. The noisemaker ING cowbell, a spectator handout at last year’s Hartford marathon, that hangs from the corner of my day bag has drawn more comments than ever expected. My favorite: “More cowbell!” It gives a certain finishing touch to my beater bike motif. While I was surrounded by carbon fiber containing road bikes worth more than my car all day, I might have been piloting the only rig in the event without drop bars or with a bag on the rack. View full article »

Bike At Peterborough Town House

It was a no pressure Saturday morning and I awoke to find the air outside an honest-to-goodness, don’t-even-need-to-think about the temperature warm! This alone would satisfy my yearnings for the day. I haven’t been hot outside of the shower since before Halloween and two days ago it was snowing! Amazingly, much more was in store.

I ate way too much 10 grain cereal, practiced my 2010 campfire songs, packed up my bike in/on my car, stopped by the gym, and arrived at the carpool location in Bedford, NH around 2:15pm. In a few minutes, I got geared up, reminded myself that sunblock had been preapplied, and rolled out of the parking lot. For the few miles, as far as I can determine, I was propelled the sheer glory of sunshine. It’s 35 miles from Bedford to Peterborough, hardly a noteworthy distance, I might have to ride around town a few times to be satisfied I thought. Then again, I did remember some hills on the road going out there…

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More Pizza Than Three People Should Eat

Ever wonder how to ride your bicycle 65 miles in a day and still feel guilty? Here it is folks: enough Pepe’s brick oven pizza to fill a six foot table. A small white clam, a small mozzarella, and a large chicken and garlic. Preceeded by two house salads. Yes, it took the assistance of two other guys, including my brother who rode with me, but we were proud of this digestive feat. For the record, our waitress recommended one medium for the three of us. I still prefer my own pizza, but this was easily the best restaurant pie I can remember.

Isaac Completes Holiday Hill

Oh, you came to hear about cycling? Ok, here’s the ride: 65 miles round trip from Hartford to the New Haven suburbs. Aside for a few miles of city traffic and one notable hill, this was mostly a flat trip through moderately settled neighborhoods. At the farthest excursion after a 30 mile warm up, was about a mile of climbing with the inaccurately auspicious moniker Holiday Hill. While far from the toughest climb we’ve ever encountered, this hill has sections as steep as you please. Consider that even riding my brakes (which need some service) most of the way down I still exceeded the 25mph speed limit by 18.6mph!

Acceptable riding weather is becoming dependable and riding season is now in full swing. This weekend I covered about 70 miles including a noteworthy Sunday ride around the Goucester and Rockport MA. It’s too bad this coastal island is such a drive away, because the local route that travels the island’s circumference makes for a great ride on a warm day. The 20 mile loop features a couple sections of rugged, rocky beaches not unlike the Maine coast, and a handful of other sea views. It’s interesting enough to make multiple laps enjoyable for a full day’s ride. The town centers of Rockport and Gloucester are perfect for hopping off for a break and grabbing a bite to eat. This island’s bakeries get my stamp of approval. A cue sheet from “Pocket Rides” pointed out that some additional good views are available on side roads, but be warned the condition of secondary roads in this area may be poor. As an added excitement, dood location is beat out this weekend by the chance to participate in Debbie’s personal weekend record of 57 miles!

An inspection of my rear wheel at the end of the weekend found a broken spoke before it was able to cause a flat. This is the second broken spoke I’ve had on the rear wheel in less than 1000 miles. Does this mean my wheel is reaching the end of it’s service life? Time for a stronger wheelset? For now, I’ll have this one strung back up this week and see what happens next. Since I can steal the identical wheel off the back of my trainer bike while I’m waiting for the repair, this failure won’t prevent any riding at all.