Hills, Hills, Hills

Last year, the weather was not cooperative for getting enough long rides in before the 100/200. I felt that I just made it in terms of preparation. This year's spring was even worse. In January and February, I rode less than 200 miles each month, and March and April were under 300 miles, each. May was much better, but it was the final week of May before I got in a ride over 100 miles. I stretched this to 130 miles last weekend, and hoped that this would be enough preparation to do a true training ride this weekend. I don't think it's wise to put in an extreme effort the final week before the big event, so this was really my last chance.

The weather cooperated with temps in the 70s and light wind. I had ridden most of the northern and middle sections of the 100/200 route and thought it would be wise to cover the southern section. I prefer to ride the route backwards, so the actual ride won't feel like a re-hash of something I've just done, so I mapped out a different route to Readsboro, with the return leg on the 100/200 route. The problem is, it's darned hilly in the southern part of the state and there are only so many places one can put a road, so the options are sparse and full of climbs.

Windham Church sits at the top of the hill

I started in Ludlow a little after 8 am, and headed down VT-103 through easy Proctorsville Gulf to Chester. Luckily, they had laid the pavement in the ongoing road construction, leaving a very smooth surface. I started the climb up VT-35 towards Grafton, turning onto Popple Dungeon Rd. just where the climb really kicks up. After 2 miles, this road turns to dirt, but it was firmly packed and quite smooth in most places, with very little traffic as it presents a long and not difficult climb, passing over one-lane bridges. At the end, I made my way to steep Hitchcock Hill Rd, crossed VT-121, then another steep, but short climb up Windham Hill Rd, before dropping down to VT-30 in West Townshend. The final drop is like a precipice, and the rough pavement lit with mottled sunlight through the trees made for a very sketchy descent. I wonder how many vehicles slide through the stop sign into Rte. 30 in the winter, it was that steep.

Williamsville covered bridge still carries all traffic

I rode down Rte. 30 past the Townshend Dam to Grimes Hill Rd, and started the climb to Williamsville. spotting the first of two, similar, light-duty steel truss bridges. I also unexpectedly crossed a covered bridge I hadn't known about. Then, it was a steep climb to Dover. It's actually 1,600' in 10 miles from Rte. 30 to Dover, but the last 1,000' is climbed in only 2 1./2 miles. The pavement was much better, likely due to a larger tax base, judging from the upscale homes I passed.

These light truss bridges were once common
replacements for covered bridges. This one's in
Williamsville and is still in use.

A quick drop to VT-100 and then south to Wilmington, where I took a right onto VT-9 and headed west for Searsburg. I wanted to take Sleepy Hollow Rd, which I had seen on the map, but had never been able to find the

The Medburyville truss bridge has been bypassed
by a concrete bridge, likely due to the need to
carry truck traffic.

southern end. I knew where the north end came out on Rte. 9, so I tuned onto it and was surprised to see signs indicating that it didn't go through. Undaunted, I forged on past the barrier, slogging up the soft, but smooth gravel on the steep grade. At the steepest section, near the top, I had to hoof it past a washout and around downed trees, and as I progressed, I was surprised to hear what sounded like voices off to the east. I figured there must be some kind of park or swimming hole over there, but I had thought it was just a hilly forest.

I eventually came out at the wind farm at the top of VT-8. This answered the question of why I hadn't found that end of the road, as the gate blended into the fence at the wind farm entrance. It also explained the voices, which were actually the noises coming from the turbines, slowly turning in the light breeze. I doubt it was groans coming from the nearby tenants of the ancient cemetery that shares the top of the hill. I don't really think they care at all.

The gate at the lower end of Sleepy Hollow Rd

Washout on Sleepy Hollow Rd

Graves & turbines share the peak in Searsburg

I enjoyed the descent to VT-100, though annoyed by a truck that insisted on passing me at the top, only to slow my descent on the way down. Dumb drivers. I had previously noticed on maps an abandoned bridge behind a barn as the road dropped to Readsboro, and I took the time to stop and check it out. Sure enough, it was there, and in much better condition than I expected, though closed to vehicle traffic. Judging from the number of cars parked on the other side, it is a popular swimming hole, and there were signs of an old dam, indicating that there was once a mill there.

South Branch of the Deerfield River Swimming Hole

Remnants of an old dam

I enjoyed the rest of the descent into Readsboro, and headed down Tunnel Rd, though I only went as far as the spring to fill my water bottles. I was concerned that the delays caused by all the climbing and the slow ride up the Class IV road were putting me behind schedule and I was starting to get both tired and sore. I had over 70 miles and a whole lot of climbing to get back to the car and only one way to get there. The climbs up out of Readsboro, and up the south side of Mt Snow took most of my reserves. I recovered a bit on the 12-mile descent through Wardsboro to VT-30, but I was pretty much running on empty on the long climb out of Jamaica. I learned a lesson about saving the cold Coke until after the ride is done, after a rest stop in Rawsonville and I probably should have skipped downing one more cereal bar, as my digestive system had pretty much shut down by that point. I popped a spoke climbing out of Londonderry, the second in that rear wheel, which means I should give it some attention. The break to get the wheel rideable was actually appreciated. I slogged through Weston with sore butt, sore feet, and too much sun conspiring to take all the "fun" out of the 2-mile climb up Terrible Mountain.  I will say that the IceBug insoles did a decent job addressing the hotfoot issues I had experienced on last week's 130-mile ride.  I was happy to have the long descent back to Ludlow, and briefly tipped 50 mph on the final 12% drop.

The 100/200 is only two weeks away, and I am hoping the suffering of this ride will be enough to prepare me for it. There is 1,000' more climbing in that route, but it's spread out over 60 miles more distance. It's not going to be a walk in the park, but I think I'll be ready.