14.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Thursday, November 26, 2015
A SLOW RUN IN THE MOONLIGHT
6.3 Mile Run on the Erie Canalway Trail & Through Greece Canal Park
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Plenty to be thankful for, as always, but warm weather and a chance to run (albeit very slowly...) this evening while a full moon rose from just above the horizon to high in the sky... very thankful for that! I haven't run in about a week and a half, since I woke up last Thursday with my right knee hollering at me. Tonight Ann was working a shift on the ambulance, and the weather was gorgeous (temperatures in the mid-50's after sundown in late November... woo hoo!) so I decided it was a good time to see how well my grumpy knees would hold up to some running. Followed the canalway trail from Henpeck Park in Greece down to Long Pond Rd, then headed back west to Greece Canal Park and ran most of the roads in the park. Knees were grouchy at times but manageable, as long as I kept the pace slow.
What a blast to be running in shorts and shirt-sleeves in late November under a bright full moon!
JMH
6.3 Mile Run on the Erie Canalway Trail & Through Greece Canal Park
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Plenty to be thankful for, as always, but warm weather and a chance to run (albeit very slowly...) this evening while a full moon rose from just above the horizon to high in the sky... very thankful for that! I haven't run in about a week and a half, since I woke up last Thursday with my right knee hollering at me. Tonight Ann was working a shift on the ambulance, and the weather was gorgeous (temperatures in the mid-50's after sundown in late November... woo hoo!) so I decided it was a good time to see how well my grumpy knees would hold up to some running. Followed the canalway trail from Henpeck Park in Greece down to Long Pond Rd, then headed back west to Greece Canal Park and ran most of the roads in the park. Knees were grouchy at times but manageable, as long as I kept the pace slow.
What a blast to be running in shorts and shirt-sleeves in late November under a bright full moon!
JMH
1.5 Mile Walk on the Erie Canalway Trail (Palmyra)
Thursday, November 26, 2015
We had time for a short walk on the way to Ann's parents' house today... stopped at the canal park in Palmyra and headed east on the canalway trail. I like this section a lot because on one side of the path there's a short section of the Old Erie Canal with water in it, and on the other side is a large wetland. Between the warm temperatures and the sunshine I thought we might see a turtle or two but no... just a few ducks, a lot of squirrels, and a multitude of geese resting at Lock 29.
JMH
Thursday, November 26, 2015
We had time for a short walk on the way to Ann's parents' house today... stopped at the canal park in Palmyra and headed east on the canalway trail. I like this section a lot because on one side of the path there's a short section of the Old Erie Canal with water in it, and on the other side is a large wetland. Between the warm temperatures and the sunshine I thought we might see a turtle or two but no... just a few ducks, a lot of squirrels, and a multitude of geese resting at Lock 29.
JMH
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
10 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Another very chilly day. Headed west past Lock 7 and then up the hill along the old landfill... climbing that was tough enough that I turned around shortly after that. Stopped for a little bit at Blatnick Park to look at the several hundred geese that were crowded around the little pond there, then it was back down the hill and fighting the wind all the way back to the car. I had originally planned to ride more today, but between the wind, the chill, and wanting to get home so I can get stuff together and get on the road before it gets too late - I decided to wrap things up early.
The new freewheel is definitely working well, but the bike still feels sluggish. I think the next thing to try is regreasing the wheel bearings... I didn't do that this year, so they're definitely overdue.
JMH
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Another very chilly day. Headed west past Lock 7 and then up the hill along the old landfill... climbing that was tough enough that I turned around shortly after that. Stopped for a little bit at Blatnick Park to look at the several hundred geese that were crowded around the little pond there, then it was back down the hill and fighting the wind all the way back to the car. I had originally planned to ride more today, but between the wind, the chill, and wanting to get home so I can get stuff together and get on the road before it gets too late - I decided to wrap things up early.
The new freewheel is definitely working well, but the bike still feels sluggish. I think the next thing to try is regreasing the wheel bearings... I didn't do that this year, so they're definitely overdue.
JMH
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
TRYING OUT A NEW FREEWHEEL
15.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Lately I'd noticed that my freewheel didn't seem to be rotating as freely as it's supposed to when I'm not pushing the pedals, and closer inspection revealed that it was making some very mild grinding sounds... perhaps one of the reasons I've been finding pedaling tougher, though that's probably mostly due to my not putting in enough miles this year and especially this fall. Anyway, I installed that freewheel nine years ago and it's got something like 10k miles on it - so I don't know that it's all that surprising it's starting to act up a bit. Replacements are inexpensive, so the only catch was I had to order some tools (a 1" deep socket and a racthet that could extend to 18" for lots of torque) but once they arrived yesterday, it turned out to be relatively easy to unscrew the old one and put on a new one. And since I left work while it there was still daylight, it seemed like a good time to test it out.
Rode the bike path between SCCC and Rotterdam Junction - I would have liked to have hit the short section of path on the west side of RJ, but as has been the case every time I've been there recently, there was a train parked on the tracks at the crossing. Heading west was challenging because of a slight headwind, and this was probably the coldest ride I've done this fall. There was even a thin layer of ice on some parts of the old canal.
The freewheel worked fine and seems quieter than the old one when I'm coasting. I can't tell yet if it's making a difference in the effort needed to pedal - maybe that is going to turn out to be just me being in lousy riding shape.
JMH
15.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Lately I'd noticed that my freewheel didn't seem to be rotating as freely as it's supposed to when I'm not pushing the pedals, and closer inspection revealed that it was making some very mild grinding sounds... perhaps one of the reasons I've been finding pedaling tougher, though that's probably mostly due to my not putting in enough miles this year and especially this fall. Anyway, I installed that freewheel nine years ago and it's got something like 10k miles on it - so I don't know that it's all that surprising it's starting to act up a bit. Replacements are inexpensive, so the only catch was I had to order some tools (a 1" deep socket and a racthet that could extend to 18" for lots of torque) but once they arrived yesterday, it turned out to be relatively easy to unscrew the old one and put on a new one. And since I left work while it there was still daylight, it seemed like a good time to test it out.
Rode the bike path between SCCC and Rotterdam Junction - I would have liked to have hit the short section of path on the west side of RJ, but as has been the case every time I've been there recently, there was a train parked on the tracks at the crossing. Heading west was challenging because of a slight headwind, and this was probably the coldest ride I've done this fall. There was even a thin layer of ice on some parts of the old canal.
The freewheel worked fine and seems quieter than the old one when I'm coasting. I can't tell yet if it's making a difference in the effort needed to pedal - maybe that is going to turn out to be just me being in lousy riding shape.
JMH
Sunday, November 22, 2015
TOUGH RIDE ON A GREY DAY
12.4 Mile Ride on the Zim Smith Trail
7.2 Mile Ride on the Ballston Bike Hike Trail
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Today was an even tougher ride than yesterday. Started out with at best hazy sunshine and that soon turned into mostly grey... not very motivational. The ride out of Shenantaha Creek Park toward Round Lake wasn't too bad, but that was mostly because it's pretty much all downhill.
Of course, that means uphill all the way back, and to add insult to injury - a headwind. Once I got back to the park it was very easy to convince myself to skip the Zim Smith trail in the opposite direction - pedaling three miles uphill into the wind held no appeal - and instead I drove over to the parking area at the north end of Ballston Lake and rode the bike-hike trail. It was still tough going, but at least the wind wasn't quite so direct, and it seemed to be more at my back on the way back.
Tomorrow, I think, will be a day off from the bike.
JMH
12.4 Mile Ride on the Zim Smith Trail
7.2 Mile Ride on the Ballston Bike Hike Trail
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Today was an even tougher ride than yesterday. Started out with at best hazy sunshine and that soon turned into mostly grey... not very motivational. The ride out of Shenantaha Creek Park toward Round Lake wasn't too bad, but that was mostly because it's pretty much all downhill.
Of course, that means uphill all the way back, and to add insult to injury - a headwind. Once I got back to the park it was very easy to convince myself to skip the Zim Smith trail in the opposite direction - pedaling three miles uphill into the wind held no appeal - and instead I drove over to the parking area at the north end of Ballston Lake and rode the bike-hike trail. It was still tough going, but at least the wind wasn't quite so direct, and it seemed to be more at my back on the way back.
Tomorrow, I think, will be a day off from the bike.
JMH
Saturday, November 21, 2015
21.8 Mile Ride on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Saturday, November 21, 2015
It's been over a year since I rode the entire length of the Ashuwillticook Trail, though Ann and I rode a lot of it this past August. Since my plans to run in Maine this weekend fell through (actually, my plans to run, period, fell through) it seemed like a good opportunity to ride the trail, especially since it's not at all clear I'll have another chance before next spring.
My legs were definitely feeling my recent lack of riding... even with the overall downhill into Adams, it was a struggle at times to keep going. At least the path wasn't particularly crowded... one advantage to riding at a time of the year when more and more folks are staying indoors.
Actually, the real struggle was the trip back to the parking lot at the edge of the Berkshire Mall. Uphill most of the way (with a good climb out of Adams, followed by a gentle uphill grade for about six miles after that) and my legs let me know they weren't pleased. Fortunately I wasn't looking to set any speed records - just plodded along and was really happy to see the end of the trail when I finally got there.
It would have been nice to get in a walk somewhere on the way home, but by the time I got my act together, headed over to Pittsfield, and rode for a little over two hours, I would have been walking in the dark, and I didn't feel like doing that this time around. So after a side trip to Price Chopper (oops, I mean "Market 32" - apparently they've been rebranded already, and I continue to think the new store exteriors are hideously ugly) I made the same drive home that I've done a couple of hundred times before, and was reminded of how much I miss spending time over in the Berkshires. I love some of the places right near Albany... but sorry, in the end there's just no comparison.
JMH
Saturday, November 21, 2015
It's been over a year since I rode the entire length of the Ashuwillticook Trail, though Ann and I rode a lot of it this past August. Since my plans to run in Maine this weekend fell through (actually, my plans to run, period, fell through) it seemed like a good opportunity to ride the trail, especially since it's not at all clear I'll have another chance before next spring.
My legs were definitely feeling my recent lack of riding... even with the overall downhill into Adams, it was a struggle at times to keep going. At least the path wasn't particularly crowded... one advantage to riding at a time of the year when more and more folks are staying indoors.
Actually, the real struggle was the trip back to the parking lot at the edge of the Berkshire Mall. Uphill most of the way (with a good climb out of Adams, followed by a gentle uphill grade for about six miles after that) and my legs let me know they weren't pleased. Fortunately I wasn't looking to set any speed records - just plodded along and was really happy to see the end of the trail when I finally got there.
It would have been nice to get in a walk somewhere on the way home, but by the time I got my act together, headed over to Pittsfield, and rode for a little over two hours, I would have been walking in the dark, and I didn't feel like doing that this time around. So after a side trip to Price Chopper (oops, I mean "Market 32" - apparently they've been rebranded already, and I continue to think the new store exteriors are hideously ugly) I made the same drive home that I've done a couple of hundred times before, and was reminded of how much I miss spending time over in the Berkshires. I love some of the places right near Albany... but sorry, in the end there's just no comparison.
JMH
Thursday, November 19, 2015
DUCKIES IN THE DARK
2 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Thursday, November 19, 2015
I had originally planned to go for a run tonight and see where my legs are at after last weekend's Stage Race and before this weekend's much less strenuous Turkey Trot... except this morning when I woke up my right knee was griping up a storm from something I did to it during the night (seriously... it was fine when I went to bed.) So all running in the immediate future is questionable (most likely I'll cancel my planned brief trip to Maine for the Sanford Turkey Trot) and I ended up walking three laps around Buckingham Pond in the dark instead. Only saw a couple of other people, which was nice, and it was interesting listening to the ducks and catching glimpses of them out on the water. They've definitely reclaimed the pond after being mostly absent this summer.
JMH
2 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Thursday, November 19, 2015
I had originally planned to go for a run tonight and see where my legs are at after last weekend's Stage Race and before this weekend's much less strenuous Turkey Trot... except this morning when I woke up my right knee was griping up a storm from something I did to it during the night (seriously... it was fine when I went to bed.) So all running in the immediate future is questionable (most likely I'll cancel my planned brief trip to Maine for the Sanford Turkey Trot) and I ended up walking three laps around Buckingham Pond in the dark instead. Only saw a couple of other people, which was nice, and it was interesting listening to the ducks and catching glimpses of them out on the water. They've definitely reclaimed the pond after being mostly absent this summer.
JMH
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
GOING FOR THE HOODIE...
Regaining Distance 2015 - Race #29
Dirt Cheap Stage Race Part 2:
Devil's Bathtub 5mi Trail Race
Saturday, November 14, 2015
2015 Event Totals
Run 220.5 mi, 55 hr 9 min
Bike 54.0 mi, 4 hr 6 min
Snowshoe 33.4 mi, 8 hr 56 min
Kayak 3.0 mi, 56 min
states visited: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VT
Regaining Distance 2015 - Race #29
Dirt Cheap Stage Race Part 2:
Devil's Bathtub 5mi Trail Race
Saturday, November 14, 2015
2015 Event Totals
Run 220.5 mi, 55 hr 9 min
Bike 54.0 mi, 4 hr 6 min
Snowshoe 33.4 mi, 8 hr 56 min
Kayak 3.0 mi, 56 min
states visited: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VT
Friday, November 13, 2015
GOING FOR THE HOODIE...
Regaining Distance 2015 - Race #28
Dirt Cheap Stage Race Part 1:
3.3 Mile Trail Time Trial
Friday, November 13, 2015
2015 Event Totals
Run 215.5 mi, 53 hr 57 min
Bike 54.0 mi, 4 hr 6 min
Snowshoe 33.4 mi, 8 hr 56 min
Kayak 3.0 mi, 56 min
states visited: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VT
Regaining Distance 2015 - Race #28
Dirt Cheap Stage Race Part 1:
3.3 Mile Trail Time Trial
Friday, November 13, 2015
2015 Event Totals
Run 215.5 mi, 53 hr 57 min
Bike 54.0 mi, 4 hr 6 min
Snowshoe 33.4 mi, 8 hr 56 min
Kayak 3.0 mi, 56 min
states visited: CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VT
Thursday, November 12, 2015
A NIGHT RIDE... INTO A MONSOON!
11.7 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, November 12, 2015
The rain seemed to be holding off and it was still fairly warm (at least for November) so I loaded the bike on the car and got over to the bike path around 7 PM. My first night ride of the season, and the first time I actually needed a light. I lucked out and had a tailwind on my way over to Lock 7 and the base of the old landfill... of course, that meant I was heading into the wind all the way back, and I was getting spattered with occasional raindrops too. I turned around at Onderdonk Ave and was enjoying a fairly pleasant ride back to the car... until about a mile and a half out it started to rain harder... and harder... and harder...! When I pulled into the parking lot it started coming down in buckets... I pretty much tossed the bike on the rack and strapped it down, then jumped in the car without taking anything off, pretty well drenched. Good thing I had worn cold weather gear - even wet it kept me warmer than I would have otherwise been on the ride home. Riding in the rain isn't much fun under the best of circumstances... riding in a downpour at night in November isn't even remotely the best of circumstances. But at least it held off until I was almost done...
JMH
11.7 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, November 12, 2015
The rain seemed to be holding off and it was still fairly warm (at least for November) so I loaded the bike on the car and got over to the bike path around 7 PM. My first night ride of the season, and the first time I actually needed a light. I lucked out and had a tailwind on my way over to Lock 7 and the base of the old landfill... of course, that meant I was heading into the wind all the way back, and I was getting spattered with occasional raindrops too. I turned around at Onderdonk Ave and was enjoying a fairly pleasant ride back to the car... until about a mile and a half out it started to rain harder... and harder... and harder...! When I pulled into the parking lot it started coming down in buckets... I pretty much tossed the bike on the rack and strapped it down, then jumped in the car without taking anything off, pretty well drenched. Good thing I had worn cold weather gear - even wet it kept me warmer than I would have otherwise been on the ride home. Riding in the rain isn't much fun under the best of circumstances... riding in a downpour at night in November isn't even remotely the best of circumstances. But at least it held off until I was almost done...
JMH
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Sunday, November 08, 2015
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Friday, November 06, 2015
THE DUCKS HAVE RETURNED...
1.4 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Friday, November 6, 2015
Actually, there have been increasing numbers of ducks at the pond for the last few weeks... a bit of a surprise after seeing very few of them there this summer. There's a pair of what I suspect are domestic ducks (they're a good deal larger than the mallards, and have slightly different colors and calls) hanging out with the oodles of mallards, but the big surprise today was a male wood duck mingling with one of the groups, initially snoozing on the shoreline but then swimming a bit later. It will be interesting to see if he sticks around... given how nervous wood ducks tend to be, I won't be surprised if he's gone the next time I go there.
1.4 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Friday, November 6, 2015
Actually, there have been increasing numbers of ducks at the pond for the last few weeks... a bit of a surprise after seeing very few of them there this summer. There's a pair of what I suspect are domestic ducks (they're a good deal larger than the mallards, and have slightly different colors and calls) hanging out with the oodles of mallards, but the big surprise today was a male wood duck mingling with one of the groups, initially snoozing on the shoreline but then swimming a bit later. It will be interesting to see if he sticks around... given how nervous wood ducks tend to be, I won't be surprised if he's gone the next time I go there.
JMH
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
Sunday, November 01, 2015
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