Vermont: Twelfth State Line Crossing

Today was a great biking day.  Good roads (mostly), ideal weather, great riding buddies, plenty of low traffic conditions, and loads of climbing opportunities.  As a matter of fact, today is the fourth greatest climbing day of the Tour, coming in behind Prescott AZ, Flagstaff AZ and Topeka KS..  We had one 7.1 mile stretch starting in Bennington, VT during which we climbed over 1900 ft.  All of us are stronger after 3300 miles and it showed today.

Morning departure from Albany, NY

Let me make a brief climbing related comment for the bike techies.  While I haven't done a "scientific" study, there are almost certainly more triple front chain rings than doubles within the group.  Within the double chain ring population, they are all compacts (50/34) except mine, which is a "big gear" (53/39).  However, my 11/36 rear cassette setup is the beefiest of the bunch so my total gear ratios have been sufficient to get me up and over everything that we've encountered so far.  I have been in the lowest (granny) gear several times during the course of the Tour. 

Riding down a country road in eastern NY.  Doesn't this look nice?

With the end of the Tour drawing near, I'd like to briefly comment on my ongoing evolution from "bike rider" to cyclist.  Starting with the mechanical side, six months ago, I knew next to nothing about my bike.  Now I have at least a rudimentary grasp of how the gears and derailleurs work as well concepts like trying to minimize the stretch of the chain.  I've also become passably proficient at changing tires.

By way of a humorous anecdote to the above comment,  several weeks ago Chuck and I were discussing his new Zip wheels.  I asked him what they set him back to which he responded "Three".  I said "Hundred?" to which he replied "No, thousand".  I'm learning.

As for becoming a cyclist as opposed to simply pumping the pedals, I have made significant progress.  Cadence (the revolutions per minute of the pedals) was not even part of my lexicon six months ago, now I live and breathe it.  This is also the first time that I've ridden extensively in a group.  Mainly due to Tom, I have learned the use and value of hand and verbal signals as well as the ability to better anticipate potential danger.  He has been an excellent teacher.

This video clip was taken near the NY/VT border.

Tom was not standing on a rock this time.

At about the 36 mile mark, we entered the quaint Vermont town of Bennington.  There is a major monument there dedicated to the Vermont militia, the Green Mountain Boys, who so effectively fought the British during the American Revolutionary War. 

Very imposing monument that was visible for a good distance from Bennington.

This town has something for everybody!

Update on bike problems:  Today Chuck was experiencing what he thought was a broken brake lever mount.  When Tracy took a closer look, it was discovered that, in fact, his handlebar was split.  Since the bars are taped, this was not readily visible.  Tracy fashioned a wood splint as a makeshift repair so Chuck could continue.  Given that we were hitting speeds in excess of 40 mph today, compromised handlebars are the last thing you want to have to think about. 

Of lesser magnitude, Tom had his first "road" flat of the Tour today with less than 2 miles to go.  Like all of us, he has had slow leak flats which he has been able to change in the friendly confines of the hotel.  We call these "flats of convenience" or FOC's.  The FOC acronym has also been converted to a passive verb on occasion. 

River near Wilmington, VT

There is now a pervasive nervous excitement within the group that is almost palpable.  We all know that tomorrow is the last big push.  We started with 21 riders in L.A. and we have lived together for nearly 7 weeks.  We know that we are going to miss each other.  From the first day, the atmosphere has been remarkably free of any hostility.  There have been several riders who joined the Tour for a week or so.  While these riders have been, by and large, good people as well, the core of 21 has always maintained its identity.

For me, this has been a Huck Finn experience.  It's the end of summer vacation and time to go back to school.  It's been a wondrous sensation to taste the Inner Kid at my age.  How lucky am I?

Total Miles:  77       Total Vertical Climb:   6100 ft.