FLCC> Sunday Legge & Ford Hill Ride Report

[Steven Powell]

FLCCers,

What an amazing weather day and a gorgeous ride!  We split into two 
main groups with 10 riders in the moderate group and at least that 
many in the lead group.  The lead group left promptly at 9 am (a new 
tradition?) while the moderates were planning their re-grouping/rest 
stops.  In order to save energy for the hills to come, we took the 
easier way out to Slatterville Springs (Ellis Hollow to Thomas Rd). 
The moderates passed the lead group on Boiceville Rd, as they were 
tending to a flat tire.  At that point a few of the riders swapped 
from the moderate group to the lead group.  There was also some 
overlap between the two groups as we started up the climb on Old 76 
and turned onto South Rd. for some more serious climbing.

The 6 riders in the moderate group followed the published cue sheet 
up Legge Hill with its amazing top-of-the-world view, down the very 
steep backside where you could ride as fast as you would like thanks 
to some good pavement (there was a short gravel section, but that 
fortunately was on the climb up).  I'm not sure if the lead group 
followed the cue sheet up Legge Hill or if they continued on 
Honeypot.  Perhaps someone from that group could post a quick note.

At the bottom of Legge Hill it was unanimously decided to continue on 
up Ford Hill, which didn't seem nearly as long of a climb as Legge 
Hill.  Near the top, we were greeted by two friendly dogs and one 
with an attitude problem toward bike riders.  I had my waterbottle 
out, ready to defend my front wheel, but he backed down and decided 
to just make a bunch of noise at our group and stayed a few feet away 
from all of us.

After Ford Hill, we took a short detour to Speedsville and the 
convenience store for a rest stop and some water, sandwiches, and ice 
cream.  This was definitely bike touring, and we were in no hurry to 
end such a perfect cycling day.  We headed back out to Rt. 79, turned 
off on Flat Iron where we encountered a pretty substantial headwind. 
At that point some us started to feel the effects of the earlier 
climbs and miles, and the pace slowed a bit.  Back out onto 79, and 
we split into two groups, one returning via the low-energy Thomas 
Rd./Ellis Hollow and the other small group go up and over Snyder Hill 
for one last climb.

My cycle computer showed 12.9 mph for the full 47 mile ride, which 
fit pretty well with what I expected for the moderate ride group.  We 
probably stopped about 6 times and re-grouped, which allowed us to 
keep together and navigate some of the trickier sections of the ride. 
This moderate bike touring style with multiple stops for re-grouping, 
is not for everyone, but there seems to be enough interest with 6-10 
of us to continue it on the Sunday rides.

Until next Sunday.

--Steve Powell

-- 
Steven Powell
Cornell University
School of Electrical & Computer Engineering
321 Rhodes Hall
Ithaca, NY  14853
Tel # 607-255-4551
Fax # 607-255-6236
e-mail: sp35 at cornell.edu