Berkshire Boondoggle 2017

[PJ McQuade]

I have kid daycare drop before I skip town so 8:30 will be too early. We're back to 8:45 start. Final time change! Thanks. Dave Dz is also in, he's carpooling with me.

[rvancleef]

Count me in.

[cbusick]

here's the route kevin translated to ridewithgps last year if you'd rather download a tcx https://ridewithgps.com/routes/7982236

[Mkidd3]

Good Lord... lots of fast legs in the group.

[slisab72]

I'm up for carpooling. Thoughts on whether it's too close to Killington welcome.

[mfwestbe]

My thought is that it is not... 8 days still to taper, and it's an awesome prep for stage 2. Skinnyphat can correct here.
But in any case, Robbie, (Dave if he is able on Thursday), and myself are all heading up to KSR.

I'm just glad we won't be trying to chase pcollins.

[djming]

Yes I'm now back to definite and yes I think it's okay for KSR (well, better be). Just listen to your body the following few days and take it more easy.
I'm actually more concerned with the insta-summer temps over the effect on KSR. Will be keeping it a bit more cautious.

[oscarp]

sharon im driving rt 2 straight out and can pick you up

[oscarp]

scratch the offer, my kid apparently split milk bottle in the car last week and the smell didnt come in till yesterdays heat. Not a good smelling car this morning. Cant win.

[Mkidd3]

scratch the offer, my kid apparently split milk bottle in the car last week and the smell didnt come in till yesterdays heat. Not a good smelling car this morning. Cant win.

[mfwestbe]

scratch the offer, my kid apparently split milk bottle in the car last week and the smell didnt come in till yesterdays heat. Not a good smelling car this morning. Cant win.

Sounds worse than my old car with a flooded back seat every time it rained...

[slisab72]

okay, i'm now trying to figure out if I'm a definite. my back is killing me b/c my seat post slipped again. freaking bike.

i'm going through all these posts trying to figure out:

how many are we? who is going? (sorry, i don't know everyone's screen name!)
-mark, oscar, dave, chris, pj, rvancleef (?? - sorry!!!!), mfwestbe (?? - sorry!!!!)
thoughts on pace?
are we riding together as a group or kinda on your own? climbing separately, waiting at the top?
final start time 8:45?

carpool options:
-oscar is out
-any others?

[mfwestbe]

Final start time = 8:45
mfwestbe = Mike Westberry (I'm still not sure on rvancleef)
Pace = your own on the major climbs. Recollecting at the tops of each (3 - Kingsley, Greylock, Housic). In between is light to medium if flat. Some of us may hammer on a couple descents but you don't have to.

I can probably fit another person and their bike in the bike seat/cargo area of my Outback. Will be traveling via Route 2 w/ Mark.

So - I'd say it depends on your back and how you feel!

[Mkidd3]

RVC is Roy VanCleef

[slisab72]

I thought you were Mike but wasn't absolutely sure. Okay, will decide this evening and let you know. So are you leaving from Leominster? That would be perfect.

[djming]

So this is the lineup from what I can gather. PJ can chime in more later if I've missed someone and/or to clarify Mike's comments on pace/regrouping.
I'm not available for carpool as will be heading to CT direct from after the ride. Sharon, can't help with your decision other than to say these hills will be that much more difficult if your back is acting up.

If anyone listed below is out, post up otherwise we'll expect to see you ready to roll for 8:45.

PJ McQuade (you get "ride leader" label)
Sharon Benedict (still a maybe)
Mark Bernard
Chris Busick
Dave Dzikiewicz (per PJ)
Dave Mingori
Oscar Purwin
Robbie Raymond
Roy Van Cleef
Mike Westberry

[Mkidd3]

To quote Stefan "When you look around at who the slow rider in the group is, it's probably you". See ya'll at the top.... Gonna be some fireworks on the climbs!!

[cbusick]

5 serious climbers, 5 Rouleurs. You won't be alone Sharon.

[PJ McQuade]

Confirming everything from above. It's a fun ride, not a hammer-you-to-the-ground outing. The elevation on the day is pretty heavy and the climbs are serious, but we regroup. Hydrate lots before. 8:45 roll out. Looking forward to this very much!

[slisab72]

I want to do this ride, love climbing, love W. Mass, would love the group, and the opportunity to chase you down - but there's something going on with my bike that I can't quite seem to get figured out. So, unfortunately, I'm out. Too risky. I'll be there next year though. Count on it.

[Mkidd3]

Bummer!

[djming]

That was brutal conditions today in the heat.
One casualty - Mike Westberry went down extremely hard on the 8A descent. As of 8:45 he was still in Baystate Franklin (Greenfield) awaiting x-ray results. He never lost consciousness and was alert but pretty badly banged up.
He had driven out with Mark B who went back for his car and to the hospital with him.

At least it was close to the finish and a police officer just happened to be driving up 8A within minutes so were able to get an ambulance out there fairly quickly

**Update from Mark at 10:20. Discharged soon. Nothing broken. All road rash (and probably lots of it)

[KTeves]

**Update from Mark at 10:20. Discharged soon. Nothing broken. All road rash (and probably lots of it)

Good to hear. Take care Mike and hope your back on the bike soon. It's been a bit of a rough stretch for you.

[mfwestbe]

Hey guys,
Many thanks for the well-wishes and care, and especially to Mark and co for helping me get home. It was great to be out riding with awesome people yesterday. While it has been a bit rough with getting hit last year, I'm hoping for an even speedier recovery. Doesn't feel great right now, but as soon as the bruise on my tailbone is healed, I think should be able to get back on.

Chris said we were hitting about 43mph at the time, and I'm glad my helmet did its job. Everything could have been a lot worse. So, watch out for road ruts! It's our best estimation of what caused me to go diving on asphalt.

[cbusick]

I hate that road.
Good to hear there wasn't any more serious damage.