Adirondacks, Rule 9, Serotta factory tour and other adventures.

It was pretty rainy while I was in the Albany area but on Tuesday it looked like there was a large enough break in the rain to get in a ride. I followed Gerhard's advice for a route that followed the Tour de Cure that was held a few weeks ago. I opted for the 62 mile route that starts at the high school but ended up starting from the elementary thanks to a bad conversation with Siri. No worries as I was near the route so I just rode over and hooked up with the route and started my journey.

 

At mile 20 I decided to push a 20 minute time trial which is a good test of fitness. I did 308 watts a month before I left but on the trip I really haven't pushed or trained so I suspected my power might have diminished a bit. I did my best ever 2 hours on the ride to Newport a couple of weeks ago but a twenty minute time trial is a much harder and more serious test in my book. I couldn't totally expend myself because I had 40 miles to ride afterward but I still managed 312 watts in spite of three 6 second segments that failed to register during the attempt. I felt great about that. While riding on that high, a dumptruck came up behind me. I watched him approach in my rear view mirror. He moved over right to the side of the road and just before he hit me I ran off the road and he blasted me with his airhorn. Easily the singular worst case of road assault I've ever experienced. His license plate was smeared with mud and my gopro was not running at the time. A bit later it started to rain and I took a detour I thought would shorten the route back to the car but it just served to lengthen it. I stopped when I saw a man standing in his garage to pull out my phone and figure out where I was. Anthony from Long Island informed me that he would be happy to give me a ride back to the car but he couldn't drive for two more months because he just got out of prison after five years and his license was still suspended. With direction in hand I bid Anthony goodbye and headed off into the driving rain adhering to rule 9 from the "rules of the velominati" that states, "

Rule #9

// If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.

Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather – be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot – are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work."

In the midst of the ride through the thunderstorm I came upon the tacks that I suspect were put out for the Tour de Cure riders so I got to change my first flat of the trip in the rain. Still smiling. ; )

Almost back to the car I spotted a sign in front of an old Victorian house that said Serotta.  Sure enough, it was the Serotta bike factory, makers of fine titanium custom bikes that rival my own Seven. By now it was late but there was one man left there and Scott gave me a quick tour of the factory and was quite nice. He may join Marko and I next weekend when we attempt the Vermont 6 gap ride. 

Scott's bike.

It was an interesting and event filled ride and Gerhard capped it off with dinner at a fine Greek restaurant. Tomorrow I head to Portland Maine to meet my sweetie.