BluesDawg

There will be reports and many photos regarding the incredible fun the small 50+ contingency had this weekend once we get home and have a chance to compose. My short take is that the people I met and liked online were just as nice, interesting and fun in person.

Here is my birthday ride with Jim from today.
Birthday Ride plus 2 at Adventure Fest - Huntingdon County, Penna

springs

I rode the 70 mile mixed surface route on Saturday. Anyone else ride that? Very scenic, but some segments were very treacherous unless you were on a mountain bike. I was on a road bike with 28mm tires, but I made it.

BluesDawg

I rode the 18 mile mixed surface ride on Friday morning to beat the rain. I found the surfaces on the unpaved sections to be easily rideable on my road bike with 32mm slicks, but a couple of climbs, one just a couple miles from the start and another later on Bunn Mountain Road to be too steep for my legs and road gearing. Most I've walked a bike in a very long time. But the views were worth the work.

springs

Yeah, that Bunn Mt view was great, and so was the descent on the other side.

miss kenton

I intend to post a ride report soon, but have been too busy to devote the time I'll need. I would like to mention that Blues Dawg was photographed by the sponsors of the ride and his picture appears on the Bicycle Times Adventure Fest Facebook page. He is wearing his 50+ jersey and representing our group very well!

BluesDawg

That's Jim's bike on the left.

freedomrider1

Great pic. you have really long hair.

irwin7638

Nice looking ride. I can't read the logo, which one is that?

Marc

BlazingPedals

On the other hand, always seem to have a telephone pole sticking out of my head. I think if given the choice, I'd rather have the long green hair.

Wildwood 

Just like I suspected -- it didn't happen

BluesDawg

It happened!

https://flic.kr/s/aHskmLKktU

50+members by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Wildwood 

And with the bonus of the 'oversized red plastic Dixie cup' beverages front&center, instead of bikes; therefore, we assume = 'A good time was had by all".

Nice smiles - a reflection of genuine fun and joy.

Jim from Boston

So I’ve been looking forward to this Ride since it was proposed by BluesDawg (BD) back in January. It’s the sixth of these events have attended, and rewarding as usual. I have written this report before reading any others, except for BD’s preliminary report, with the GPSMyRide data.


I follow a training program every summer, mainly for mileage, but emphasized speed this summer. Even though my training slipped during September, including by a week of rain preceding the Ride, I was in good shape for this mountainous Ride.

As is often the case in these Rides, many express interest, but the number of participants is always far less. I made my preparations late, in case of problems, so my motel was about 50 miles from the venue. I thought it was the foliage season that crowded the motels, but no, it was “Penn State Weekend.” The trip from Boston was about 500 miles, plus the 100 miles I added by getting lost.


This was the first one presented by Bicycle Times and they did a great job. It was like a festive religious retreat for zealous cyclists. The Resort was a very convenient focus, set on a scenic lake with a MUP lined with knowledgeable vendors, who freely chatted and gave advice. I even bought myself a seat bag with features I have been seeking for months.

On Friday and Saturday nights free beer and entertainment was provided, and everyone was of good cheer.

Our contingent of Miss Kenton, Mr. Miss Kenton, Sister Miss Kenton, Felix, and of course BD, was a happy gathering. The Miss and Mister and I have been together on two previous Annual Rides, and they are a fun couple. They graciously allowed me to hang out in their cottage, since my base camp (motel) was fifty miles away. After the festivities down by the lake ended, we took the party up to their place. As usual at these gatherings, it’s fun to chat face-to-face with BF subscribers, about the other subscribers on BF, whom we only know by their posts (or PM’s, but no confidences were revealed).




Of course the Focus of the Weekend were the Rides, of various lengths and road surfaces. Friday afternoon was raining. BD had arrived much earlier and did a route beforehand, but the rest of us hung out. The rains stopped early enough for the Friday night party, and Saturday was perfect. BD and I decided to do the 61 mile ride.

Now there are plenty of nice rides around Boston, but what made this ride special were the mountains; see BD’s Ride with GPS.

I posted on another thread,

There were also some steep backroad hills, and I occasionally got stuck in too high a gear, saying to BD, “I gotta learn to respect these hills.”

The other terrains were pleasant wooded back roads, and a long stretch of unshaded farm lands looking very much like the rolloing Midwest, but with mountains far in the distance on either side.



BD was a great riding and weekend companion. I have read his posts over the years and knew he was certainly an enthusiast. Turns out he is a part time bike mechanic, and his custom made bike was photographed by one of the Bicycle Times representatives at a rest stop. Later that night he held forth on bike design at our après-cycle party at the Kenton’s.

I don’t use GPS, and I’m not familiar with grades, so he would indicate how steep (%) were various grades. This was the first time I had ever looked at an elevation profile of a ride I have done, and since elevations were a key feature of the ride, I could re-visit every segment of the 61 miles.

I also especially appreciated that he demonstrated taking pictures while riding, and I got confident to do likewise. We held together pretty well nearly the entire length of the Ride. At the top of the first mountain he said "I’ll see you at the bottom." Being heavier, I said, “No, because physics will determine arrival.” Well, actually fear determined arrival, because after about 30 mph, I started riding the brakes as they chattered. 34.5 mph is the highest maximum speed I have recorded.

I drove back to Boston on Sunday, feeling myself a much better rider than when I arrived, for conquering the mountains and learning from BD, with renewed enthusiasm to continue riding as much as possible to keep up my conditioning from this summer. After I post my description, I'll enter this Ride in the A Chronicle of the 50+ Annual Rides

Jim from Boston

Trick photography…that’s a tree behind BD’s head. I couldn’t recognize him when I first saw the photo.

Here’s the real BD:

Great photojournal, BD.

Zukas. A custom frame builder.

BluesDawg

I had a long report with pictures going and I messed up and lost the whole thing. I'll try again without so much double tasking.

BluesDawg

After driving 770 miles in two days, my wife, Lori and I arrived at beautiful Lake Raystown Resort on Thursday with just enough time for me to take a short ride before dark.
https://ridewithgps.com/trips/6759620 Looks like I'm in for some climbing!

Our cottage is just across the road from the event area.
P1000040 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Seeing that rain and possible thunderstorms would arrive by early afternoon, about the time the event would officially begin, I went for a morning ride. Later I met Jim from Boston and Miss Kenton and her family as they checked in in the rain. Lori and I drove into town for supplies and then met the others for the evening's activities.
I think we all hit it off well instantly. We had the shared background of the BF50+ forum, but much of the fun was in meeting real people with such common interest and yet different experiences.

50+members by Benny Watson, on Flickr

IMG_7666 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Waiting in line for free beer. Good, local craft free beer.
beerline by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Beer leads to pizza and there was a vendor on hand with a portable brick oven, ready to satisfy that need.
pizzaline by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Saturday night we heard a very good Bluegrass band, shared stories about the day's rides and headed back to the Kenton's cottage to keep the party going. The social lubricant surely helped, but I found it very easy to talk with these old/new friends. It was amazing finding out how many things Jim and I have in common despite our different locations and professions.
P1000230 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Here is Jim at the 1st rest stop on Saturday, about 10 miles in and about 10 miles before the first mountain. The hooded character at the corner of the table is Maurice Tierney, publisher of Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times and a genuinely cool dude.
IMG_20151010_101044856 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Here is a picture of me and my Zukas custom bike taken by the Bicycle Times online editor who was manning the 2nd rest stop at 40 miles. Feel free to be one of the few people who have seen this picture and not commented about how the tree behind me looks like long curly hair.
rest stop by Benny Watson, on Flickr

Here is Jim after topping the second mountain. It was 2 miles at a very steady 9% grade.
IMG_20151010_143554166 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

BluesDawg

Friday Ride

IMG_20151009_092736485 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000050 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000066 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000067 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000068 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

IMG_20151009_102138253 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

IMG_20151009_105420409 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000094 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000108 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000118 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

BluesDawg

Saturday's Ride with Jim

It was a real treat having Jim join me for my 60th Birthday Ride.

P1000137 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000159 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000160 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000164 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000166 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000168 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000174 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000186 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000198 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

P1000211 by Benny Watson, on Flickr

miss kenton

I am a little late for this party, but as the only other 50+ member having participated in this 50+ meet up, I feel it is my duty to add my perspective of the trip, if only to testify to the Roadwarriorness of Blues Dawg and Jim from Boston.

I came with my husband Tom, my sister Laurie, and her beau Felix to Raystown. It was the first time Laurie and Felix had attended a cycling event like this, and I am certain I won’t have any difficulty talking them into another one. We all had a great time. The resort and surrounding areas are truly beautiful. Moreover, there were a lot of activities offered at the resort. My group took a steamboat ride on the lake on Sunday.

Jim and I have both previously posted that an organized weekend event like this one may be the best way to plan a 50+ meet-up/group ride. I hold to that belief. This event featured accommodations from camping, to cottages and cabins and even a motel on the premises making it easy for participants to gather before and after the rides to plan and socialize. Additionally, the event offered a number of different rides enabling riders of varying skill levels to participate in rides in which they would feel comfortable.

Jim and Blues Dawg rode the 61 mile ride. Blues Dawg had some great photos, but it is really hard to capture “grade.” I bow to them. Those two are some serious cyclists.

On the other hand, there was my group. We planned to do the 31 mile ride in Raystown. Let me preface this. About a month before this trip, my group had taken a 35 mile Tour de Farms ride together after which, we jointly persuaded my sister she had no choice but to trade her box-store hybrid in for a road bike before this trip. Through some delays in shipping, she didn’t receive her road bike until a week before the Raystown event. Well, we all know how that would pan out.

Secondly, because of other duties, none us got to spend as much time on the bikes as we should have before a cycling trip to the mountains. Furthermore, we are from South Jersey. It’s blueberry bogs and beach. I consider my driveway a hill, but I can still set a picnic table up for dinner on it and the iced tea is level in the glass. I had no idea. My eyes began twitching when I realized I’d probably have to walk my bike up the hill that was the road into the resort.

However, we still agreed on tackling the 31 mile ride. Before we left, we had a lovely breakfast at the Marina Cafe. This is my sister and I right before the ride:

We were just getting our legs and feeling giddy and had just hit the five mile point when we encountered some other cyclists who smiled and called out, “Good Morning,” to which my husband responded, “PHHHHHTTTT.” Actually it was his tire that responded:

It turned out not to be his tube, but his tire. Apparently, he had run over a shard of granite and cut the sidewall. We needed to call SAG. The man came out and was able to cleverly repair the hole with some rim tape, but strongly suggested we limit ourselves to the 14 mile ride.
I wasn’t going to argue, especially based on my sister’s lack of “butt time” on a road saddle, my husband’s propensity for bike drama on 50+ trips,(See prior 50+ ride reports), and my anxiety about those hills. So, basically, we drove 420 miles to cycle 14.

Regardless, this was a great trip. I always enjoy spending time with Jim; we always have a good time with him. I was thrilled to meet BluesDawg. I really enjoyed his company. He’s got that same bit of snark in him in person, but is also very warm and funny. Additionally, his wife, (and I don’t mention her name here only because he never does) is a lovely, interesting, and charming lady.

My only regret on this trip is that, had I known we would be the apres-ride host house, I would have prepared better snacks!! Next time.

redcon1

Wow, looks like you guys had a great time riding and hanging out. I hope to talk my wife into attending this type of event.

By coincidence, I was in Raystown on Thurday 10/8 and rode the Allegrippis Trails with my 29er. Beautiful area and awesomely maintained trails, if you're inclined to ride MTB.

freedomrider1

Looks like everyone had a great time. Thanks for the updates.

irwin7638

Wish I had been there.

Marc

miss kenton

We wish you had been there, too. You'd have had another great post for your blog!

Jim from Boston

As I was climbing the first Mountain, and possibly the second, I was thinking nice ride, but I won’t do this again. Soon afterwards, I lost that thought.

There was sone talk that Bicycle Times may do this again. As commented previously on this thread

Sounds like a nice venue for an Eighth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride.