Blazing Saddles
Saturday I did the Blazing Saddles century put on by North Shore Cyclists (Georgetown or something). This is one of my favorites. Although fairly flat, there are one or two hills of note, particularly near Topsfield. They changed the route a bit this year and it’s much nicer. They got rid of the few high traffic roads that remained along the way and it’s much quieter now.
Are there some wealthy people who live in Essex County or what?!?! Whoa! The difference this time was there were actually people at home, outside, in some of these enormous mansions. Normally all I see is maybe a landscaping company. There were also people out riding horses.
Couldn’t have had a nicer day. Very cool in the morning, but the sun was out and it was dead calm almost all day. On one exposed highway there was a strange headwind, but that was about it. Got started around 7:45 and ended sometime like 3:00 or something. I took about 1/2 hour for lunch and another 20 or so at the 75 mile rest stop (which was also at a much nicer place than before).
Ran into Bela and a couple of other Westford folks. Bela was out on his new wheels having just had a failure. Also ran into a guy named Bob that I’d met several times both at this ride last year and at the Portsmouth ADA ride. Quite a few teams (ccb, ecv) and clubs do this ride as well, and while a whole pace line passes very closely with no warning, they blow through pretty quickly and that’s the end of them. There was also a guy doing the whole thing on a SS Surly Crosscheck.
Took one wrong turn, but the route was marked so well, I realized it right away. I was supposed to turn, but went straight. But when I didn’t see the confirmation mark within the first 50 to 100 feet, I knew I was on the wrong road. It’s just that well marked.
This is also the ride that I always forget something. Two years ago, I forgot my helmet and almost couldn’t ride. I found someone who could lend me one (thanks, whoever you were) and I got to ride. Last year I forgot something, but I forget what. This year I forgot to take my meds before hand (it’s hard to function normally when getting up early). It didn’t seem to cause any problem, or at least none that I could tell. But then again, it was a nice day and not too hot which might have been troublesome.
Beautiful ride. Will do again.
