A Swell Ride

Just got back from a great ride up to Mt. Wachusett. The road to the summit is closed so I didn't make it all the way, but this was a great ride to do out the front door. Most of the roads between here and Princeton were very quiet and almost car-free. I cruised by a couple of lakes that I never knew about. After about a mile on busy (ish) hwy 31 and some great ridgetop views, most of the riding for the next few miles was through the forest on dirt roads and a mountain bike would have done a lot better than my skinny 700/23's, but that didn't stop me. The best rides are on done on the wrong bike I still say. I've wanted to do this ride ever since we moved here. I've been to the top of Wachusett on skis, hiking, and on the MTB with Grace, but have never ridden all the way there from home. It only took me a year to do it, but I'm ready to go again and would love to show the route to some other folks.

Since this was also my first long ride in at least a year, it also counts as my sole training for the Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee next month and I have hope that I may be able to finish that ride since managed to pull it off without falling over in a heap on the road or at home afterwards. Like a handful of routes down in GA (e.g., the commerce loop and that stupid ride I did with JP to Clayton), I can't believe how great the riding right outside of town can be. I'm looking forward to one of y'all coming up so I can show you around.....