Leaf Peeper

What is now becoming a yearly event, this years Leaf Peeper was all it was billed as and then some. Last year Bruce and John came up with the idea to ride from Scottsville to Letchworth Park. This is the prettiest park around. A large canyon cut into the shale by the Genesse River over thousands of year. Great to ride through (which I've done a few times this year) and lots of hiking trails too. Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the East...I just call it Letchworth. Last year I saw Bruce's post on Bike Journal , so signed in. Besides I wanted to meet these two as I've followed their adventures for a couple of years on BJ ( if only I knew then what know now about these two clowns.......hehehe ). Having helped with the routing last year, I suggested a slightly different route this year that would include steadier climbing to Perry than last year, where all the climb was in the last 6 miles before the village. The plan was to meet in Scottsville and meander on from there. I went out a few days prior to the ride and marked the route which helped everyone stay on course.

Bruce rode in from his home near the art gallery in Rochester,and I rode in from LeRoy (It was still dark when I left the house). So we both had a nice warm up of 15 miles or so. John drove in from Spencerport and was raring to get some miles in. Bruce has been under the weather with some congestion issues for a week or so. He wasn't looking to chipper when we all hooked up. It is good to hook up with them for another ride. There usually isn't a lack of wit or zingers with this crew.

The first 12 miles were rather flat with a couple of small rises...a nice warm-up.... Well Bruce was struggling some and contemplating doing a 180. But he hung in there...(what a trooper) ..... Actually I got pretty scared when we were on Steward Rd and encountered a flock of buzzards. Normally they don't bother me cuz they are circling overhead. That's a good very sign when there circling overhead, usually it means that I'm moving faster than road kill. Well this time... with John struggling along, and Bruce wheezing and geezing, the buzzards (seeing very little movement and thinking we were carrion) were on the ground getting ready to ambush us. Fortunately I sped up just enough to show enough movement thereby spoiling their plans of a mighty feast.

We arrived in the thriving metropolis of Corbits Corners. There was once an old style bar/hotel, and a grain mill along the railroad . Now it's nothing more than stoplight at two main roads. This is where we met up with Shelly (Handyhanna...how did you get that moniker anyways?). Davis Trailer sales was kind enough to let her park there. This is also where we encountered our first hill of the day. A nice easy 3-5% at 2 1/4 miles long. Piece of cake .... right...! One thing I did enjoy was seeing how Shelly, John and Bruce's climbing abilities shook out as the ride unfolded. Overall the days climbs were not difficult, yet they did seem to be at the outer limits of my cohorts limits. Thier abilities ebbed and flowed all day. We then rode thought the hamlet of Linwood. We are now encounter my Red Route 1 area. This is were I ride most every day, where I do my endurance and candance intervals. There is a nice deceptive climb for the next two miles, accumulating up on a ridge overlooking the Village of Geneseo and Suny Geneseo college. On the calmest of day's there is a strong breeze out of the west at the top of this ridge where the road curves to the left. Monday was no exception. But travel 1/2 a mile down the road and the woods blocks the wind and we were back into calm winds again.

Down hill makes everyone smile. This is what the doctor ordered. We fly down Peoria Rd onto Old State Rd, and start heading south again on Simmons Rd, this will take us all the way to Perry. Simmons is a good, steady climb for the first 2 miles then it levels out some while still moving upwards for the next 6 miles.

Funny, the things you hear on a ride like this. Now Bike Journal is a place where you log you miles and also has a place to place comments about your rides. When you read some of these comments, it often makes me wonder if Lance Armstrong resides in each and every rider. Tales of great speed, and climbing abilities sure bring me a big chuckle mainly because the auther has neglected a few details...such as a tremndous tailwind, downhill grades, or the total distance covered is less than most time trial distances. Both John and Bruce are flatlanders ( a fancy way to spell Undulating), who normally take a 2-4 hour break in the middle of a 20 mile ride (they commute less than 10 miles each way to work). It really is comical watching them wear down as the miles and feet climbed added up Monday. Made me chuckle again thinking of all the posts they have written in BJ about thier previously riding escapades. Shelly on the other hand may not rack up the yearly mileage the other two have, yet she has a great endurance ability. I've witnessed her do 2 centuries and a metric in less than 30 days. Way to go girl!!!!! And you were worried!!! I'm a bit concerned that I may have ridden to much (over 300 miles) in the week leading upto this ride...but that turned out to be a non-factor........On the way up Simmons Road. I'm hearing all sorts of compliments about the route, how nice it is compared to last year, even tho they have tripled there climbing to this point mileage wise ....Yup ... great route!!!! .........How soon they forget and turn ugly on you.

Turning west we enter Perry, and that means one thing ....LUNCH.... After a hearty feast it is on to our destination... Letchworth Park. The best part about entering at Perry is the 3 mile downhill with -8 & -9 % grades. I get up in the high 40's mph down this one (I lost my downhill muscle this year, last year I hit 53 on the downhill). Keep in mind the whole ride we have been blessed with great weather, and the most spectacular array of colors one could ever imagine. This is fall at its best. I'll let you in an a little secret.....it gets even better. You can't believe how gorgeous the park looks.

One of the few breaks bicycles get is free admission to State Parks. As we fly past a long line of cars waiting to pay their 6 bucks, you can feel the leers and bad vibes coming from the drivers.
The Columbus day weekend is a huge craft show at the park. This is one reason why we enter at Perry. I suggest heading south to get over near the Big Bend, a great area for photos with the leaves being near Peak color, then for us to exit at Castile, that way we can enjoy the gorge (ous) views., Shelly asked me if that was before or after Wolf Creek. I tell her, I think it is after the Castile exit. We are well over 40 miles at this point, and one thing Letchworth is not... is FLAT... Short quick steep hills are abundant. Our first stop is St Helena's overlook, where a town was moved prior to the Mt. Morris dam being built. In 1972 hurricane something or other, came through this area. It rained hard for a few days and the dam did its job. Then on to Tea table for more photo's, followed by Wolf creek cascade.

Oooops .... I was mistaken about Wolf Creek. Guess I was thinking about coming in from Portageville. There is an ittsy bittsy, teensie weensie climb up to the Wolf Creek Overlook. I've done this 3 times already this year so it's tough, but not earth shattering....Unless, of course, your a flatlander, or a car badly in need of a tune up. One driver missed a shift and the way he was grinding the gears and almost stalling the car was comical. The average grade was near 9-12%. There was so much traffic on that skinny road, the drivers were afraid to pass us riders up this 1/2 mile hill. Did I mention that Mr.Garmin read 21% grade at one point. As the three arrive at Wolf Creek overlook, you could see where that hill really kicked thier butts. As each one reached the top, the looks and comments I recieved were something else.... I guess all the kudo's about a nice route just flew out the window ( or into the gorge)...See how quickly they turn!!!!

Leaving Letchworth is bittersweet. This is truely such a wonderful place to be on such a picture perfect day. But if I hope to be home before dark, then it is time. The climb out of Castile exit is far eaisier than from the Perry exit. We leave the village of Castile on a nice easy grade for 3 miles.Yet I can see where everyone is worn down at this point as we are well past the halfway point of the ride. Through out the ride I have circled back to ride alongside each rider as a way to motavate them along. It does help pick up their pace as they become involved in converstation rather than thier own personal cycling pain and stuggles. Out of Castile, one of the riders has fallen considerably off the pace so I circle back and attempt to pull them up to the top of the rise. village of Castile on a nice easy grade for 3 miles. In the typical fashion of this rider I get an earful afterwards about how poorly I pulled them back to the group, rather than this rider reflecting on thier own personal abilities , and lack of experiance in the draft. I guess it doesn't pay to be helpfull. But it is cureable with more seat time.

Now the fun begins.....downhill for the next 6 miles. What faboulios views of Genesseo and the Salt mines of in the distance. As I mentioned earlier , my downhill muscle has diminished but I still get into the low 40's on this stretch. From here on out it is flat ridding through the Genesse river valley back to Corbits corners. Shelly is overwhelmed to see her truck again, as sure sign that she has completed another grueling task. John and I hook back up with Bruce for the final 11 miles back to Scottsville. Both of them are pretty well spent for the day. Bruce haveing achieved his 2nd lifetime century, opts for a ride home with John. I continue on to LeRoy, arriving home after tthe sun has set with a little over 4000ft climb, for a total of 125 1/4 miles for the day. My first double metric.

I do enjoy distance riding. There is something about the freedom of movement, challenging your minnd and body to endure and overcome the obsticales in your path. A few of my goals being at least 3 week long supporrted rides in '09, more randonneuring ( the 200K is now in the books), unsuported multiday touring,and an Atlantic to the Pacific adventure before 2012. I still need to work on my climbing speed and overall ground speed. These two items are what I will address this winter on the trainer in the gym. I had great results from my efforts last winters sessions in the gym. So I'm excited by the anticipated results from the upcomming winters training sessions. As I get stronger as a rider, this is what propels me to work harder. As I have seen the fruits of my labors.