Did anyone do the Prattsburgh Rambler? Anyone thinking about doing the D2R2 again?

[mf...@rochester.rr.com]

Chet and I did the full D2R2 last year, it was a very tough ride. This year I would do one of the other shorter routes since they all go to different areas. D2R2 was a unique experience.

Also thinking about doing the two climbing routes I missed last year, Vermont 6 gaps some summer weekend and the Devil's Kitchen climb in the Catskills.


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Mark
www.quadzilla.us

[Dan McKenna]

I did it and my initial thought is how did they ever get insurance for this event.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the event, nicely organized, and great volunteers.  The up hills were the easy part.....however the down hills were fast and chatterling. There were some huge 5 ft rollers just after mid point that enabled me to do a cart wheel over my handle bars.....and survive! The weather played a big roll and the water station was a relief....did I say great volunteers! It was nice to have it in our back yard and the paved roads being a part of weekend rides for me.  I was able to get the houseboat in the water on Saturday, so had a place to stay.  My plan is to ride some of the route again this summer.  I would recommend it for folks to try next year!

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[Charles Richter]

I did the 30 miler last year on a 29 HT and the 15 this year on a rigid tandem.  It's a great event, with challenging climbs and fast fun descents.  The single track is pretty tame (tame enough for a tandem).  

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Charles Richter

[Sara Ture]

Otto, Bill, & I were saying last night at Show and Go (Slightly slower) that we'd like to try riding more of the dirt, backcountry roads down there.  Great riding, low traffic volumes (although sometimes increased methane), and delightful scenery.

Mrs. T
Sent from my iPhone

[Charles Richter]

I would be up for rides down there on the unpaved roads.  That hard packed clay can be quite fast and fun.  

[Mark Mallette]

Prattsburg was a blast.  I did the 30 miler on my mtn bike.  From a race perspective I did quite poorly but that doesn't matter, I had fun.  In my opinion, I wouldn't want to do that ride on a cross bike.  I was very comfortable on my mtn bike and I had no worries on the downhills, they were smooth and fast; plus the granny gears on the mtn bike left me clipped in for the entire course (there were many walkers on a few of the steep climbs).

 

For sure, if you like the back country roads on your road bike, then if you take to the dirt on a more appropriate 2 wheels machine you'll love the back back country roads where the pavement ends.  There is some gorgeous country right in our back yard that you just cannot explore with skinny aero 700c wheels and slick 23's.

 

I'd definitely be interested in some dirt road rides (and maybe some real single track too).

 

Mark Mallette

[mf...@rochester.rr.com]

You all would luv the D2R2! I rode my mtn bike there and would suggest that although a lot of riders were on cross bikes and touring bikes with fatter tires. The downhills were tough for me with old cantilever brakes, my hands took a beating.

Last week while scouting the QZ route I rode my Kestrel road bike ( !!! not recommended :-) ) through the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management area outside Ithaca. The dirt roads were pretty good up north where I entered and worsened as I headed south but the only real prob was coming down the final descent back to civilization.

I still haven't cleaned Wolfanger or Viewboard on The Dirty Vertical. Also check out Marrowback Rd west of Hemlock, it's a long dirt road.


Mark

Mark
www.quadzilla.us

[jwowk...@rochester.rr.com]

You guys are all barking up the wrong tree. Dirt roads are nothing more than dusty paved road.
:-O Boring

If you really want to have fun riding dirt, get out your fat tire bike and do real dirt riding - single-track trails are the only way to ride dirt.

We rode Ellicottville single-track last Saturday and I have it on good authority from people who road the Ramble course the week before, we had alot more fun at Eville :-)

Steve W

[erob...@rochester.rr.com]

As my HS swim coach used to say....different strokes for different folks.

I did ride the Ramble course, D2R2 and Ellicottville. D2R2 had fantastic scenery and challenging hills, it's a great ride, and event (free food and beer at the end). Once time through the Ramble course was enough for me, though.

Mt biking takes a different skill set and you can learn them on easier trails. Check out the RBC calendar, you'll see Steve W leads some rides at Bay West, that is a good place to start, and I'm leading 3 beginner/int. rides at Dryer. Dryer has some serious hills, but there are a few beginner trails too.

Anytime you get out on a bike you can have fun, think about expanding your horizons!

lisa

[Mark Mallette]

Can't help but pick up on part of lisa's message, that is "Mt biking takes a different skill set".  So true.  To all the roadies out there, I started on a mtn bike.  It wasn't until a few years back that I picked up a road bike.  Both are very enjoyable and I couldn't imagine giving up either.  One thing I found was the skills I learned on a mtn bike do come in very useful on the road, especially when unexpected things happen.  I would encourage any roadie that has never experienced mountain biking, especially single track, to give it a try.  Dryer road is great place to start.  The trails are well maintained and fun to ride.  If your a little unsure, the skills park is a good place to start to get the feel for it.

 

I hope this coaxes a few of you over to the dirty side....

 

Mark M.

[Charles Richter]

A better place for a novice to start is Whiting road park in Webster.  Just getting up to the feeder trails at Dryer can be a little intimidating for some people.  It really rattled my wife the 1st time I took her there.

The nice thing about RRP is that it is a RACE that can include lot's of different kinds of cyclists.  Roadie types and Mtn Bike types find common ground.

[todd calvin]

I didn't do the 'official' event, but did the 30 mile rambler route a few weeks ago. Very nice ride.. Did it on the MTN touring bike with full self contained gear (70lbs of bike and gear), JUST For fun!  Going to have to get out there for the 'official' event next year.

> Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 12:54:52 -0400
> From: mf...@rochester.rr.com
> To: fast-f...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Did anyone do the Prattsburgh Rambler? Anyone thinking about doing the D2R2 again?