D2R2 100K Report, 2006

I took a half day from work on Friday to finish my preparations for the D2R2 on Saturday. After getting opinions from several people I had decided that I would ride my Rambouillet but it needed some modifications. It is equipped with Open Pro rims, Ultegra hubs, 27mm Ruffy Tuffy Tires and a12x27 cassette. The tires weren't quite big enough and neither was the 27 tooth cog. My daughter’s Surly Cross-Check had 32mm Passella Tourguard tires on Maverick rims, with LX hubs and an 11X32 cassette. Here is where the beauty of a versatile bike like the Rambouillet lies. First I pulled off my rear wheel that had a 130mm hub and inserted a wheel with 135mm hub. The bike has an Ultegra long cage rear derailleur and I figured I would have to replace it with a mountain derailleur. Before I replaced it I checked and in the 24 tooth chainring I could shift into the 32 tooth cog although there was absolutely no extra clearance. Due to the large derailleur hanger on the bike it just made it and I saved time by not having to change derailleurs. I also decided not to change my chain and just had to remember not to use my large chainring with the 3 largest cogs. Next adjust the brakes, clean and wax the bike, lube the drive train and then a quick twenty miles to make sure all was well. I was as ready as I could be.

I was riding the 60mi Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee with three friends and we all made it to Old Deerfield by 7:30AM. We had to be ready to ride by 8:00 so we hurried to get ready. The 100mi ride started at 6:00AM two hours before our ride. We signed in and were ready to go just before 8:00 when one member of our party realized he brought the wrong shoes and the cleats did not match his pedals. None of us had spare cleats so we were trying to figure out what to do when Don Podolski, the owner of New Horizon Sports (who was helping with the event) handed my friend his shoes and said he could borrow the cleats for the day. This was a great gesture and saved our day. We hung out at the start line until 8:20 talking with Don and Saunders Whittlesey (the mastermind of the event) while the borrowed cleats were installed. Finally we were off.

After an easy 6 miles with just one small hill which barely got your heart going we turned into the Berkshires for the first serious climb of the day. The weather was clear and cool with the temperature around 60 degrees at the start and was ideal for a hard day of riding. The queue read "Very narrow, stony dirt lane - begin tough climb". We started up a 2.5 mile climb that was tough often climbing at a 10% to 14% grade. The dirt roads wound through woods, fields and orchards, gaining about 700ft before we reached the top.

We got a slight reprieve as we hit paved road and an exciting 1mile drop where we could let the bikes go.

Next we turned onto another small dirt road and started the second major climb of the day, this time about 3 miles climbing grades up to 10% and 12%. We were climbing through woods so we had good shade and managed to spin our way up the hill. We finally broke into some open farm land at the top of Patten Hill where Saunders Whittlesey was waiting at the first check point. As we came into the clearing the sight of the support vehicle was a welcome relief but behind it was a view up the valley into the heart of the Green Mountains that was nothing less then awe inspiring.

After taking in the views, chatting with Saunders and other riders, and refilling our water bottles we pushed off on the next leg of the ride. We had a good downhill stretch where two of our riders stopped to take pictures while I continued on with the other. Right after this was a quick drop followed by two quick lefts. We almost missed the second left but we caught it and continued on down for a couple miles until the road made a short climb and ended at a T intersection. We waited there with a 3/4 mile view back up the road. No signs of the other two members of our group. After about 5 minutes we guessed that they missed the second turn and would figure it out and catch up. We headed off at a moderate pace until we came to one of the biggest downhills of the day and it was on paved road. We let it fly and then made a quick turn onto a flat stretch of paved road for several miles before turning back into the woods on a dirt road.

The route at this point was shared by the 60mi and 100mi rides and we mixed in with some 100mi riders as we started the next grueling 4 mi. climb. Shortly after that I heard a bell ringing and our two missing riders caught up. We were all in low gear riding a steady and maintainable pace up a 12% to 14% grade when we heard a bike approaching from behind. It wasn't just a bike but a tandem being powered up the hill by John Bayley and Pamela Blalock. Shortly after that the routes split again and we continued the grind to the top reaching a height of 1540 ft which is the high point of the ride. We took in the views and then started a great 3 mi. downhill run to the Green River where the 2nd checkpoint and lunch were waiting by a
covered bridge.

After eating and talking with the other cyclists and admiring the many styles of bikes we were feeling good and ready to go. Based on the queue sheet we were half way there based on miles and had climbed about 3000 ft of the 4300 listed for the ride. The rest of the ride should be a snap.

The next section started with about 10 miles of slight downhill running along the river that was occasionally broken by small climbs. The temperature was in the low 80’s in the sun at the lunch stop but as we cycled through heavily shaded woods along the river we felt the air cool. The most interesting part of this section was about a half mile stretch where someone had made a hundred or more stone cairns in the river. We later found out this was done by a local Buddhist group.

After this easy stretch we came to a hair pin right turn that started the last climb. On paper this climb did not look as bad as the previous ones but it was worse then it looked. After 5 miles of 10% to 12% grade we came to a queue that said "Left onto Peckville Rd - tough stair step climb. The queue didn't lie this was a tough climb often hitting 14% grade, but the views of the hills and farms to the left took our minds off the climb and after a mile we were at the top of the last major climb.

While it was basically downhill from here there were still some short climbs. At mile 54 we started a quarter mile up hill that wasn't steep but was washed out with ruts, sand and loose rocks. My three friends were ahead of me on mountain bikes and got up this section with minimal problems. I was riding on 32mm tires and managed to pick my way through the maze of obstructions to the top of the rise without stopping and got kudos for the performance from the other three. The next queue said "Caution, begin gnarly descent - large stones and washouts next mile". This was the toughest section for me. The three mountain bikes took off but on my skinny tires I had to control my speed and pick my route carefully. I made it without incident but my hands were aching from working the brakes for so long. Now we were home free with a down hill grade on mostly paved roads. The last three miles were on flat dirt roads through the cornfields and then back into Old Deerfield and at 4:25PM we rolled into the last check point.

This was a difficult and beautiful ride that I would recommend to anyone. It contained some of the most challenging climbs I have been on in quite some time and some of the prettiest scenery in New England. The queue sheet said we would face 4300 feet of climbing but when I checked my computer I had clocked 5400 feet and this was confirmed by several other riders. We were fortunate that the weather was dry the day of the ride and for several days prior. The route would have been much more difficult with mud and wet rocks in many places if there had been rain. This is a ride I am looking forward to doing again next year and with a little more training I may go for the 100mi ride.

The Rambouillet handled well and some people even finished the ride on racing bikes with 23mm tires. Being more interested in enjoying the ride then going fast I think my friends on mountain bikes with 1.6 tires had an easier time of it then I did. On the paved roads I could take advantage of the lighter bike but on the roughest roads I was at a disadvantage and there was more rough road then paved on this ride. I have an Atlantis frame waiting to be built up and Next year will try this with some nice wide cross tires.

Thanks again to Saunders Whittlesey for creating a classic New England brevet.

Ride report by Larry Powers.