The Zig-Zag Century

Just Wiggling 'Round

It’s a good thing we get rainy days at least once in a while. Not just because we appreciate the abundance of fresh water supplies in the northeast (as compared to all the fighting over water out west), but it forces me to take a break in the riding and WRITE a little about how great riding is here in (Upstate / Western / Finger Lakes / Genesee Valley / whatever you call it) New York. Today’s “impressive” storm systems blowing thru made cycling less than ideal. 

(Although, fair enough, I decided to bag the riding today even before I saw the weather reports because my RBD raised it’s ugly head again at 2am last night. Nuff said!)

Unlike a couple days ago. A wonderful spring day … full sunshine, warm temps, (a good night’s sleep) and a bit of firm westerly winds to struggle against until I turned back east toward home and took full advantage of the tailwinds. I had plotted out a route for my 5th century ride (100+ miles) this season, but it turned out better than I had planned. Full disclosure: I DID start soon after sunrise, “just in case” I was feeling good and weather cooperated.

​It did!

Best way outta town heading west? Up to the lake and out the LOSP Trail.

My Old Stomping Grounds

Soon after getting out of town, I discovered why I’ve been battling a strange behavior in my rear shifting lately, even after cleaning the bike … yes, once in a while … and making several stops to mess with barrel adjustments. A strand of the shift cable was broken and kept poking me at the shift lever. Not sure if cable failure was imminent, and I didn’t have a spare with me, but geez … if I can handle riding across the country on a single speed (twice, actually), I’m likely to survive a day in billiards table flat Orleans and Genesee counties with the chain tied up in a middle gear. I wasn’t about to bag it on a perfect day. So, onward ho!

I get out to the Kendall area w/o incident and for my 1st stop of the day about 40 miles out, I swing down “Woodchuck Alley”, a seasonal use road …

No Woodchuck Holes ... Cool!

… where I stop to eat a goo-pack to hold me till my destination, and pause at the supposedly haunted Beechwood Cemetery. 
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If ya believe all that “spiritual” jazz. Pfttt!

I DO find it interesting that nearly ALL the gravestones face west. THAT’s spooky.

Soon after, I’m headed south toward the Erie Canal and discover how I’m gonna title this ride.

That's What It Does!

Thereafter, I’m on Keitel Road and unsure if I can get on the EC trail from there. Nope! The bridge over the canal doesn’t have an access path to the trail, but crossing the bridge, I find I CAN turn west on an unimproved, yet nicely mowed double track on the south side of the canal.
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I have the right bike today!

Pretty nice stretch leading toward Albion, but I meet up with a family of Canada geese and goslings and Dad wasn’t happy with sharing the trail with me so close to his peeps. He took flight and charged me! On my right side, I defended myself by swinging at him and threw my shoulder outta whack again.

I limped into Albion (stop #2), took some ibuprofen, and hoped for the best as I headed for Crosby’s … of course.
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All this just for a slice of pizza?

Recharged with my high-fat pizza and no-fat milk, I head east, shift UP for the return home and enjoy a half century of tailwinds, smooth roads and almost no traffic. I got back on the Canal Trail in Spencerport, refilled water bottles at the trailhead (Stop #3) and I’m soon back in ROC with 100 miles in well under 8 hours. My planned route had me turning up Clinton Ave back into the city, but there’s no sense quitting this early, so I keep going.

I finally decide to call it a day in Fairport. Stopped (#4) at Perinton Park to lie down and do my stretches. Damn! I had my heart set on a Salty Bread from Amazing Grains but I missed getting to the bakery before closing. So I noodled into Fairport and found that Lift Bridge Lane had finally been resurfaced. Cool! Makes for a nicer ride to TK’s Pizza!

The street formerly known as State Street ... back when I lived there.

Yeah … my pizza addiction started many decades ago and it’s TK’s fault for being only a few doors away.

From there, I took a convoluted route back thru East Rochester, up East Ave, and stopped the clock at home at 126 miles (200K - a Double Metric Century) in under ten hours!

Whoo-Hoo! And the shift cable held!
Hmmm … what’s next? 150?

Ride On Baby, Ride On!