What a day
Yesterday was a pretty good day in the saddle. There were a few SNUFU's along the way, but they couldn't stand in the way of all the accomplishments that were achieved. Having ridden this course the past 4 years, I'm familiar with the challenges that lie ahead.
Up at 4:30 am, out the door before 5:30am,the morning was starting out foggy, misty, and extremely humid. It is the humidity that wouldn't quit at all during the day. I arrived at
Bristol Mnt in good time thanks to a post on Bike Journal from Breaker49K who pointed out some road construction on Rt 64. After picking up my numbers I ran into my first snufu. The front tire was very soft. Hmmmm, and wouldn't you know it I left my floor pump home . I use CO2 with the bike, so I borrowed a pump so not to waste a cartridge while still in the parking lot. Now at last I'm ready to start the ride at 7:05. As I'm leaving the parking lot, BikerJohn is arriving. The first climb is about 4 1/2miles up the road. keep in mind that most of these climbs are not that long.... they are
STEEP. A right turn onto County Rd 32 presents the first challenge. A 1 mile long climb that has an average grade that shoots up to 8% then plateau out at 10 - 12 % the rest of the way. It's the lowlanders way of saying .... Hello!!!! There was a lot of broken glass, not only along the edge, but also out in the road also in the middle of the hill. I spin up this pretty easy, feeling this will be a good ride. Don't get me wrong, the hill is still a hard climb. In years past I haven't been in this good of bike shape. I've really struggled up this hill poorly in the past, as well as struggling over the entire course. But so far things are dramatically different.
Cheshire is the first sag, I roll in grab some fruit, check the front tire, all is well. Normally when I ride distances, I don't stop except for nature calls. On most 50 - 70 mile rides I'll carry a sandwich, and what not to eat while pedaling. So these sags are nice, but I try not to spend more than 5 minutes at one so I don't stiffen up. I meet handyhanna (from
Bikejournal) here for the first time today. Then off I go looking forward to a couple of nice rollers and Millers hill. Time for the second snafu, Rear tire starts hissing up the first roller on Duels Rd. I find a slit in tire casing, Repair that, and were off again. Millers hill is 1/10 mile short of 2 miles, It immediately kicks up to 9 % grade, has a false flat of 5% for a few hundred ft, then reverts back to between 9% about 12%. So far so good, I alternate between spinning and standing (dancing on the pedals) up Millers. The biggest decision is will I be standing or sitting when I pass the photographer? I chose to be dancing on the pedals.
At the summit I feel great, not tired, or wasted , as in previous years. Then on to
Bristol Harbour for a sag, arguably one of the best views of Canandaigua Lake...if not the Fingerlakes.
From here its a couple of rollers, past the top of Bopple hill and then.......Hisssssss. Oh sh(oo)t. Rear tire again, different spot this time. Up and rolling again, I decide to stop at the return sag on County Rd 12, to use their pump and check the tires over again. I find another slit in the rear casing, so I break that down . This sag has the most gorgious view of the lake. Sitting up on the bluff, you can see across to Vine Valley, or down to the Hi Tor swamps. This morning there are huge fog banks of clouds rising up off the water. which has hidden the lake.
Moving right along, the next challenge is to the top of Gulick Rd. The highest point of the Lowlander. That's 9 miles up with an average grade of 5 to 8.5 %. There is a series of unending rollers which I decide to attack each of tops so I can gain great momentum to attack the next one. The top of each roller, of course, is higher than the previous one. So far this is working nicely. I still feel strong, and have plenty left in the tank. It may take have taken 40 minutes to climb the 9 miles up Gulick,but coming down was a scream...45 mph.
After a brief stop in Honeoye,were I run into a fellow
FANY rider, its on to Naples. He leaves before I do, and I chased him down after a few miles. We had a good chat on the way to the next sag. One of the joys of this ride is to look over your shoulder and see some of the most beautiful lakes around. Surrounded by the hills all left behind when the glaciers retreated. We ride past
Hunt Hollow and start to climb again. This little hill seems to have more bite than meets the eye. After being lulled asleep with some relatively flat ridding the past 6 miles, the legs and mind aren't ready for this. Once again I meet up with handyhanna as she repeats her mantra
..."
It's all about the grape pies..." A brief stop at the 50 mile sag and its all downhill to Naples.
Being at the half way point, having climbed over 3200 ft, I'm pleased with my performance up to now. I'm motoring up the hills, overtaking and passing many riders with ease. There are a few that are overtaking me, but this year I'm not the slow fat guy struggling to mash up the hills. I feel there is plenty of gas in the tank. What I'm not happy with, and cannot do anything about, is my overall time. I lost a good hour with the 3 flats. Oh well, it sucks but nothing I can do about it now.
After leaving Naples, the road is pretty flat again for the next 7 miles, and a slight tailwind to boot. As I approached the climb out of Middlesex, you can see the hill looming ahead as it curves to the left and disappears. For some strange reason, whenever a hill goes around a bend,
it always seems to get steeper. This hill was no different. The next 2 miles are at 5 to 8% with a 10% kicker added in for good measure. I come up on a young lady who is struggling near the top , so I get her to repeat handyhanna's mantra..."
I'm in it for the grape Pies...
I'm in it for the grape pies... " It seems to work, as she picks up her pace . After a left turn there is this little 1/4 mile wall of 15%. Beyond that it is all down hill to Vine Valley.
Now there are two cruel jokes that the organizers of the Highlander provide for us. One is a sag point in Vine Valley. Hmmm, your wondering what is so bad about that? Well first off valley stands for a low spot, second they entice you with food (read cookies here) and beverage so you will stop. Third when you remount.......within 200 ft you get to start climbing at 7% to 9% for the next 2 miles. This was the first time my legs started to scream at me. It was only for the first minute or so, until the lactic acid flushed it self out. At last everything starts working again as the legs start to pump away and all is well. Once at the top of South Vine Valley Rd, its a fun drop into Middlesex again, followed by a fairly flat 5 miles to the base of my Favorite hill ...."County Rd 12"
County rd 12 is the second joke that the organizers play on us. At the 90 mile mark there is this itty bitty hill.... OK...OK.... its a quad buster. This puppy seems to go on forever!!!! Actually it is only 2 1/4 miles long , yet it starts out at 8% and gets steeper after that. By this point, most everyone is a bit worn down. I've suffered immensely up this in years past. This time, although it is still a hard climb, I spin up it at a steady clip... Mind you, I'm not setting any speed records here, yet I'm able to maintin a comfortable spin thats not stressing me .....repeating handyhanna's manta..."It's all about the grape pies"...! at the top is a sag, so gathered up a few refreshments and headed off for the finish, hopefully ahead of the rain cloud that was rapidly approaching from the south.
At last the ski slopes are in view....but the problem is that Mr Garmin only reads 98.5 miles. I'm here to do a century, so I turn around to head back the way I came for a little then turn around again heading back towards the finish. I end up with 100.45 miles. After packing up I go inside for my post ride meal, which was wonderful with the new vendor. Now I have to wait until after 5pm to get my bottle of wine ( you didn't think I would leave without my grapes....)
I'm very happy with my performance this year. Losing 60 lbs has been a blessing. Its was hard to do and will be hard to keep it off, but if I can keep this up , it's all worth it.
Recap
Miles 100.45
Moving time 6h47m 02s
I did the lowlander in less that 7 hours. I'm elated.
That's 45 minutes better than last year. I thought I did pretty good last year.
My goal the past few weeks has been a sub 7 hour Lowlander. I didn't think it was possible , but I did it. YESSSSSSS. I didn't really push that hard throughout the ride. I used a steady comfortable pace that the terrain allowed me.
The Highlander (lowlander) cycle tour has been my measuring stick as to how well my season has progressed. The first year I attempted it was a real eyeopener ( on my old 12 speed Raleigh). I had ridden less than 500 miles in 2 years, yet when I completed it the elation was overwhelming. In subsequent years my riding skills were not always something I worked on very much or very proud of. In '06 I had a disastrous ride. My awaking came in late June of '07, when I decided to ride the FANY ride. That ride invigorated my passion for cycling to new heights. I've always need a challenge to set my sites on. The Highlander (lowlander) has, as a late season ride, provided it.
All that training , the hours spent in the gym last winter working on my core, legs and shoulders. The major weight loss, the miles ridden this season but most importantly, was the helpful coaching from Mike C about 3 weeks ago. His tweaking of my riding mechanics which made a such huge improvement in my abilities.
Thanks Mike C.....
life, the satisfaction of adding on another year is still met with eager anticipation. The past couple of years Cheryl has tryed to find a new unriden destination is a way to accent the day. This year would be no different. 
a little west of Bemus Point. This is a nice park with a large shoreline and public boat launch. We had the place to ourselves as we could count the other people there on one hand. Oh the joys of a Thursday, when the rest of the world is off at work. Chautauqua lake is shaped like a hour glass. After a hearty picnic lunch ...It is time to pedal !
The first resort we encountered is Bemus Point, which has created a very nice, pretty shoreline area. Next on to the bustling of the BIG city of Jamestown. Like most small cities here in the northeast, Jamestown is showing signs of urban despair. Some way, some how these once thriving cities need too find a way to figure out how to lure back a manufacturing base.
Without a strong manufacturing base creating jobs, they will continue to decline......That's a whole new thread for another day..... Chautauqua lake,as a whole has tried to base it's economy as a resort, tourist and second homes, such as Bemus Point and the other small hamlits along the it's shores.
Climbing out of Mayville we are given one last majestic view of the lake. 
I'm thinking this is the same road we drove in on. I'm thinking... if I remember right there was as HUGE downhill........ wait...Hmmm .... if I'm now going in reverse , this is now a HUGE up hill. Yup, around the bend there it looms. It's a good thing I warmed up last Saturday at the Highlander. This sucker was longer than Millers hill, and steeper than County Rd 12.
After 400 feet of climb in 2 miles of what felt like a going straight up a ladder, I reached the summit located in downtown Ellory Center. Yup ........ Church steeple and all. A few very strong rollers latter , I'm back at the park, enjoying a recovery drink, having exceeded my milage goals for the day.
