NER 400k -- or how I rode 260 miles for a Lunch IPA at Maine's best pub

I've shared stories about this ride on Strava and through text messages and over beers, but now I'll try to pull all those diverse threads into a coherent trip report.

The Summary

After 255 miles, I crashed.

Rippers offered sympathy, congratulations, front wheels, coffee, wine, food, and beer. Thanks, everyone!

Many people asked: "Are you OK?" I guess so. I feel like Tom Brady the day after a game. I have bruises on my left hip and shoulder, can't raise my arm over my head without pain, my neck is stiff, and I still have a headache. I hope my bike and body are better in time for next week's Okemo uphill bike race.

If you want to see great photos from Jake's pre-ride of the course, go to the bottom of the NER 400k page. I challenge anyone to look at those photos and not want to go ride a bike for 20+ hours. Otherwise, read on...

The Crash

During the ride, I thought about how to write about the scenic roads, the friendly people, and the joys and pains of riding 260+ miles. All those thoughts were literally knocked out of my head after 19 hours of biking when my front wheel met the curb at 20 mph. I landed hard on my left side, hitting my head and bruising my shoulder, hip, and ankle. Concerned motorists from a car behind me stopped and asked if I was okay. I tried to answer but mostly just lay in the street wheezing. Finally I got to my feet and staggered to the sidewalk where I sat down next to my bike. Most people would stagger after riding 255 miles, but they took that as evidence that I needed help and called 911. Soon I was surrounded by the flashing lights of a police cruiser, a fire truck, and the fire rescue ambulance.

The shoulder by Ryer's Store in North Reading goes from 4 feet wide to 4 inches wide in just a few feet. In the dark at 11 PM, the sidewalk looked like a continuation of the shoulder, and I didn't see the granite curb until the instant of contact. BAM! My wheel crumpled, the tire blew, and I crashed to the road. My helmet is cracked in 3 places and 3 days later I still have a slight headache.

Notice how the shoulder suddenly ends, and the sidewalk is made of the same material as the shoulder. I totally didn't see the transition in the dark, even with my headlight.

I kept telling the EMTs that I was going to repair my flat tire and finish the ride as soon as I caught my breath. They insisted I come back to the nearby station with them and call someone to pick me up. When I finally looked at the wheel, I agreed that was good advice.

Bell offers a crash replacement program for their helmets.

From the fire station I called Julie, waking her up, and asked her to drive to North Reading to give me a lift home. I had thought about carrying my bike to the finish, but walking 6 miles would take at least 2 hours and I was tired, so as much as I hated to do it, I called Jake, the brevet organizer, to tell him I had to DNF. Fortunately, Jake was thinking clearer than I was and instead brought me a replacement front wheel (thanks for the loan, John McC). Thirty minutes later, I was turning in my control card at the finish and officially completed the 400k. Yay!

Julie was patiently waiting in the parking lot to drive me home. I love my wife!

The Ride

My 400k brevet had a rough start and a very rough end. Other than that it was a great ride!

Though I woke up at 3 AM, I started 20 minutes late because my main headlight, charged and mounted to my bike the night before, wouldn't turn on. So I put on my backup light and began riding to the start. One mile from the house the backup light's battery died. (Gear picked up at the Ripper Swop shouldn't be part of your critical chain.) I went back home and got the backup to the backup light (and the required reflective vest and leg bands, which I forgot the first time. Whoops!). After all that I ended up getting to the start 20 minutes after everyone else left at 4 AM.

Since I started late, I missed the fast group. I caught up with many riders going at a more relaxed pace, but I just kept pushing into the headwind by myself. So I ended up riding the entire route solo. The flags were blowing straight towards me both going and coming back. The Ripper train would have been much appreciated.

The sun rising over Stearns Pond in Harold Parker State Park.

I shared my breakfast with this little bird at Breaking Common Grounds in Portsmouth.

Jake included an optional detour on this trail through Steedman Woods, so we could cross the Wiggly Bridge, a small suspension bridge in York, Maine. 

The Wiggly Bridge, York, ME

Me on the Wiggly Bridge

Me at the the Nubble Lighthouse, the 2nd control point. The sun washed out the colors of this classic New England icon. For a better photo, look here.

The third control point was at the Kennebunkport Bicycle Company, so I bought a new NiteRider headlight as a replacement for my two non-functioning lights. The new light only cost $40 and when I turned it on at 9 PM after the control at Dunkin Donuts in Merimac, it was bright enough to see the road, so I was happy. ...until I hit the curb at Ryer's in North Reading.

The route through southern Maine mostly followed the Eastern Trail, a 65-mile section of the East Coast Greenway. From Kennebunk to South Portland we were mostly on the off-road portion of the Eastern Trail. On the return from Portland most of the way to New Hampshire, we rode the Eastern Trail's scenic on-road route that mostly follows quiet country roads.

A bridge on the Eastern Trail, south of Portland.

Another view of the marshes from the Eastern Trail.

After checking in at the halfway control in Portland, I rode a mile out of the way so I could have lunch at Novare Res Bier Cafe, the best beer bar in Maine according to Thrillist. When I say lunch, of course I mean the world-class Lunch IPA from Maine Beer Company. I texted Julie that I should be home before midnight, finishing the 251-mile event in under 20 hours, well before the 27-hour cutoff.

In addition to a Lunch from MBC, I had a lunch of grilled cheese sandwich and tomato and roasted pepper soup.

My ride started and finished in the dark. This is a view of the bridge across the Merrimack River from Merrimac, MA. That's not a typo; the Massachusetts town is spelled differently from the river and the town in NH.

What made this a great ride? The roads were quiet and scenic; drivers were considerate and friendly; merchants at the control points were enthusiastic, asking questions about the ride, and clamoring for the opportunity to sign my control card even though a receipt from the store made a signature unnecessary.

At the 5th control just over the Maine-New Hampshire border, a bike shop owner riding home from work gave me a fist bump, a packet of Gu, and Nuun hydration tablets when he learned about my ride. Another guy complained about missing his morning ride because he he had to work. He asked "How far?" so I told him, "260 miles." "That's a f**king hell of a long ride," he said. "I feel like f**king hell," I replied. We laughed. All day long I had pleasant interactions with the people I encountered.

A few of you asked, "What's next?" The next randonee is the 600k on July 23, heading out to Williamstown, Mass. Come join me; you may enjoy it.

Fathers Day

The next day was Fathers Day, and my kids asked about my "race" via texting. Here is my response and their replies...

• Me: Not a race; a 400 km randonee. 40 people left Woburn at 4am (actually 39 cuz I started 20 minutes late). We rode to Portland and back. For an official completion, you have to finish in less than 27 hours. Even with the late start, a long lunch, and hanging out at the Fire Department after the crash, I finished in 20 hours. I'm mostly ok. Can't raise my arm over my head, slight headache, big bruise on hip. Coulda been worse. 
• Michael: Oh man. Hopefully you aren't concussed and can just medicate with a nice big beer or two. 
• Alexa: What did the 911 people say when they examined you? Concussion would be scary even if mild. 
• Nicholas: Happy Father's Day, Dad!!! 

I love my kids!

My friends think I'm tough because I finished the ride. I love my friends!

My wife thinks I'm a baby because I whimper when raising my left arm to put on a t-shirt. I said it earlier, but I will reiterate here, "I love my wife!"

In addition to helping me get dressed she gave me "hit pills" from her Chinese medicine pharmacopoeia. The hit pills, plus rest (and maybe beer), healed me enough that I can now shower, shave, and put on nice clothes without any help or crying.

Thanks for reading!

Concussions suck!

Updated 6/24/16

My ride and crash was last Saturday; now, 6 days later I still have headache.
My annual physical was today and the doctor confirmed I have a concussion.
The good news is I passed all the neurological tests he gave me.
The bad news is I am on self monitored concussion protocol, which means...

• No physical exertion until 7 days after headache stops.

• No mental exertion; i.e., reading, watching TV, bright lights, thinking hard...

• No alcohol, including beer!

• No anti inflammatory drugs; e.g., Tylenol, Advil, aspirin

After hearing the rules, I asked if I could race tomorrow. "No way!" he said.
So I gave away my Okemo Bike Climb registration. Now I've got 2 DNS for 3 hill climbs so far this year.

Fleche 2016 Trip Report

This was probably the hardest of my 3 Fleches. At 233 miles it was similar length to the previous two, and the 12,000 feet climbing was only a thousand more than last year, though most of it was on two big hills--on Rte 119 just before NH and another heading east out of Keene.

 At the start, Kickstand Cafe in Arlington, MA.

Mid-ride with Mt Monadnock in the background.

At the finish, Starbucks in Portland, ME. 

The beginning of the ride was uneventful. We took the (congested) Minuteman Bikeway to Bedford, then Rte 225 to Groton, and then (congested) Rte 119 all the way to Winchester, NH roughly the halfway point of the B2VT ride. Fortunately, the riding was much quieter and more pleasant once we got off 119 and on the fine roads Darren found for us in New Hampshire.

Our original plan was to ride through all six New England States for a total of 281 miles and 15,000 feet climbing. We scaled it back to Plan B, which was almost 50 miles shorter, and still we barely finished in the 24 hours.

Original Plan: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12840769

Plan B: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13466730

First we lost significant time due to a mechanical. Darren’s generator hub stopped generating soon after nightfall. While the rest of the team tried to diagnose and fix the problem, Phillip used the break to visit the Hancock Inn across the street and resolve some GI distress that had been bothering him since that bowl of chili 60 miles earlier. Phillip’s problem was solved, but not Darren’s. Fortunately, Martin had a backup headlight that he loaned to Darren (along with his helmet because the light mount didn’t fit Darren’s helmet). We had no way to recharge the backup light and worried that it wouldn’t last through the night, so we stopped at a mini-mart and bought a little flashlight to tape to Darren’s helmet if necessary. The backup light served its purpose until the sun came up but we spent precious energy and time worrying about our lights.

Phillip wasn’t the only one suffering; Emily had a cold that sapped her energy; Darren had his own bouts of stomach issues; and Martin (whose longest ride to this point was 150 miles) lost all ability to go fast a couple of times in the last 80 miles. With different people hurting at different points of the ride, we didn’t ride together as a group like we planned to. Fortunately, with a team of four we always had someone to ride in the back with the hurting puppy, while the other two rode at a Rippers Muffin pace (i.e., 14 mph) up the road. It didn’t save the team any time splitting up into a faster duo and a slower duo, but sometimes if you are feeling good it is just too hard to ride slow, so this seemed a reasonable compromise.

At times during the night we were riding at 8 mph when we had planned to average 15 mph. Our speed plummeted on the climbs, which we expected. Emily is the most experienced randonneur with multiple 1000k and PBPs on her resume, but her M.O. is slow and steady up the hills and then make up the time on the downhills and flats. This time, however, we weren’t making it back on the flats. When we arrived late to our control in Epping, NH, I doubted we would finish by our 9:30 AM deadline. We had about 6 hours to go the remaining 70 miles; over the previous 24 miles we averaged below the 12 mph necessary to complete on time.

We had a team meeting over Egg McMuffins and McCafé Shakes. We decided we would ride in a tighter group, all four together--more for psychological support than for reduced wind resistance--and would skip the next food stop in Dover. Our speed picked up and we gained 30 minutes by skipping Dunkin Donuts in Dover; so we were back on schedule as the sun came up. Then Martin hit the wall. We reduced speed to below 8 mph on the flats. We tried to talk to him, but he wasn’t making any sense. When Darren got worried that Martin couldn’t ride safely, he called a halt and we all lay down in a grassy field for 20 minutes. Surprisingly, that was all Martin needed to fully recover and we rode the last 20 miles faster than expected, finishing in Portland with 20 minutes to spare. We even had time for coffee at our mandatory 22-hour control, which came in Biddeford, ME as planned.

The sun is shining, we feel strong... all is right in the world.

Plus, we are only 19 miles from the finish with 2 hours to go.

So most of my photos are from this last stretch along the Eastern Trail.

Sure, Martin's all smiles now. You should have seen him a couple of hours ago.

 We made it! 233 miles and 24 hours after we started, we arrived at the Starbucks in Portland, ME

Cheers to Team Fleche Rippers!

The reward for all that pedaling was brunch at The King's Head.

We had a great team and I am really pleased how we worked together and looked out for each other. Spending 24 hours with the same people can be trying, especially when everyone is exhausted or hurting, but we managed to figure out when to joke around, when to back off, and when to let a comment just slide. Reaching the finish together provided a great sense of accomplishment and I think we all look forward to riding together again.

Team Fleche Rippers

Darren Garnier was the captain. He took care of most of the pre-ride details: registration, transportation home, final route adjustments, finding the control points, and making sure RideWithGps didn’t steer us onto dirt roads and trails. Darren’s greatest strength as captain was his mid-ride adjustments. I tend to stick with the plan even when it isn’t working. Darren suggested skipping the last 2 food stops when we were behind schedule and bloated from all our previous meals plus on-the-bike food. Then he recognized when we needed that impromptu break in the field. Without these changes to the plan, we definitely would not have finished the Fleche in 24 hours.

Phillip Stern [me] was the Chief of Communications, sending out such detailed plans and preparation tips that the rest of the team just rolled their eyes. I also kept up a pretty steady stream of communication on the bike, which I think was appreciated, at least some of the time. Like last year, I was responsible for the beginning and end of the route, while Darren designed the long section in the middle. Like last year, Darren did a better job than I did at picking quiet, smooth roads. My choice of Rte 119 had heavy traffic in the afternoon, while Darren's route from Keene to Manchester was particularly pleasant.

Martin Hillion was the Fleche rookie. He is a regular and fast participant of the Ride Studio Cafe rides, but this was his longest ride ever, by 80+ miles. We rode together a few times prior to the Fleche in the NER 100km and the 200km. Martin also rode with us on the 80-mile Midnight Marathon, which was his introduction to night riding.

Emily O’Brien was the grizzled veteran, though in reality she was the youngest and only one not grizzled. But veteran for sure. She’s done something like 8 Fleches, some in Germany, most on a fixie. She was the youngest female to finish PBP. She has lots and lots of experience organizing and riding brevets. We were lucky to have her as a late addition to our team. In contrast to my overwrought description of ride above, Emily wrote, “I'd call it a pretty much uneventful (in a good way!) ride. But it was my longest non-fixie ride in about six years, and my third-longest non-fixie ride ever. So there's that. The bigger descents were more fun due to a freehub (duhh), but for the second half or so I found myself missing the fixie a little more.”

Pre-Ride

Preparing for the Fleche this year was once again an adventure in itself. For the first time ever, we had a full team of 5 riders on board. Then as we did some training rides together, we began to realize that we would probably only have 4 riders, since #5 was MIA, both from our rides and on Strava.

The Fleche may sound like a good idea over beers in March, but it's hard to put in the cold, rainy miles in April to prepare for the ride. Not only did we lose our 5th teammate, but an entire 2nd Ripper team disappeared. I give them all credit though for taking the first step and deciding to ride the Fleche, and hope they will make it to the starting line next year.

Then Team Fleche Rippers was further reduced to the minimum 3 riders. During our long training rides, we realized that the 280-mile 6 State ride was too ambitious. On the day registration was due, we all agreed that it made more sense to do the shorter 233-mile ride from Arlington, to Keene and Manchester, and on to Portland. But a week later, Rami decided he was only interested in riding through all 6 New England States and withdrew from the team. Instead, he would ride a shorter version of the 6 State route by himself, leaving earlier and finishing in Newburyport so he could take the commuter rail home. Surprisingly, he passed us in the night, while we were stopped in Hancock trying to repair Darren’s generator light. We met again at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester and squeezed into the same booth, because the diner was crowded with college students at 3 AM on a Sunday.

And yes, the waitress was ticked off that Rami grabbed a recently vacated booth

He soon crowded back into our booth, but the waitress gave him crap until he rode off into the night.

Another pre-ride headache was trying to nail down transportation home from Portland. Like last year, we had pre-paid reservations for riders and bicycles on the Downeaster train from Portland to South Station. Like last year, they cancelled bicycle service a few days before the Fleche. Last year we managed to get our bikes on a bus back to Boston, but this year we decided we didn’t want to deal with yet another stress point, so Darren and I shuttled his car up to the Portland Park & Ride on Friday morning. It was a great luxury to finish the ride, rack our bikes, and get our clean clothes out of his car. Thanks to Darren for giving up his car for a day, for driving us home after 24-hours of biking, and for not kicking me out of the car for farting in my sleep. I guess I slept through an amusing moment while Darren and Martin accused each other before realizing the smell was coming from the back seat. Oh well, that’s what happens after 24-hours of dried fruit followed by 4 or 5 pints at The King’s Head.

Post-Ride

Speaking of beer… I’ve been playing with a Six Brewery route for next year’s Fleche. I proposed the Six Brewery theme this year, but most people thought bikes and beers don’t mix. So when we stopped at our control in Keene--the Elm City Brewing Company Restaurant, Brewery and Pub--I passed on a pint and ordered water. My teammates decided we should split a sampler, so I joined in and couldn’t believe how good that 4 ounces of Elm City Session Ale tasted after riding 90 miles. Now I’m convinced that having more controls at breweries would make the ride even better, and probably attract more Rippers to our team.

4 oz looks pretty big during a long ride; it's all about perspective.

I thought about bags quite a bit during the ride, probably because Emily has a business making bike bags, Dill Pickle Gear. (Emily also asked for dill pickles at most controls. For those who don’t know, some randonneurs refer to dill pickle juice as “that magical elixir”.) Martin and I used Viscacha bags which are affordable and expansive, but they do cause the bike to wag its tail under hard acceleration. Darren used a trunk rack bag sorta like this, that listed drunkenly regardless of how tight he made the straps. Maybe we’ll use the prize money (ha!) and get new bags before next year’s Fleche.

I packed so much stuff (flat repair kit, tool kit, food, 1st aid kit, electronics cables and charger, extra clothes) that I filled the bag to its 14 L capacity and had trouble closing it. When the rain started in Manchester, I put on my rain pants and Ripper Thermal Jacket so that freed up space in my bag. Even though the rain started and stopped while we were at the diner, it got much colder and I left the rain gear on for the warmth it provided. I don’t think I will reduce my gear much next year; carrying extra food, repair equipment, and bandages is for emergencies, so I’m glad I didn’t use everything I carried. In fact, I will probably add to the load next year: a backup headlight, and a second battery pack.

And now... A few photos from the other Winchester

We stopped at Mr Mike's Mini Mart in Winchester, NH, then ate our food on the stairs of the old bank.

New England Sweetwater Farm and Distillery Tasting Room, Winchester, NH

Sugar Daze concert and bike ride

 KT Tunstall was playing a free concert at Okemo, so I decided to drive to VT to hear her on Saturday, then go for a bike ride on Sunday.

Sugar Daze featured 3 bands: Seeking Homer, Chadwick Stokes, and KT Tunstall.

 But first, I stopped by Fitchburg State to watch my nephew Eric play in the sectional finals against Marlboro, the team that eliminated them last year. It was a tense game. Concord Carlisle trailed the whole first half, but finished with a 6-0 run to tie it 15-15 at the halftime buzzer (on a put back by Eric). In the 4th quarter, CC took a 12 point lead, but Marlboro pulled back within 1 point with 6 seconds left in the game. They fouled Eric to get the ball back, but Eric hit both free throws and Marlboro missed the 3-point attempt. CC plays in the state semifinals on Monday!

 The concert started when the lifts closed, outdoors at the Jackson Gore base area. It was 50F so I didn't put on all the extra layers I brought to keep warm. Later I regretted leaving the clothes in the car when the sun went down and it got chilly.

Chadwick Stokes was awesome. He played a collection of new songs and greatest hits from his bands State Radio (Right Me Up) and Dispatch (The General). His friend sang backup vocals and played a variety of percussion instruments, like tambourine and shekere.

 The woman next to me asked if I was a fan, and so I explained that Stokes was in State Radio and Dispatch and his songs got a lot of airplay on the radio. She smiled and said Chad was her brother. Doh!
Later I met Chad's godmother and she took this photo of Chadwick Stokes and me. After the concert he stood around chatting with his fans and signing posters and CDs. People asked how much for the CDs, and he replied whatever you can afford. I commented on his electric guitar body made from a suitcase, and said my son Michael saw him play a guitar made out of a gas can at a State Radio concert.Chad said his guitars were made by a friend of his in San Francisco, then signed the poster "To Michael, Peach and Love" because he thought Michael would appreciate it more than me. Chad grew up in Sherborn, MA and his family still lives there. He seems like a really good guy.

  KT Tunstall played as the sun set and the temp dropped. The entire concert area was full at the start of her concert (maybe 3 times the crowd for Chadwick Stokes) but emptied out before the concert ended. She played her big hits, some of her less familiar songs, and a few covers. She was on the stage alone, employing her trademark record and loop technique for percussion and backup vocals on pretty much every song. For some songs she started by drumming on her acoustic guitar, then switched to her electric guitar after recording the percussion. She told stories before each song (one was about biking as a 4 year old and swallowing a trumpet) and often engaged the audience mid-song. On her cover of Jackson 5's I Want You Back, Tunstall forgot the words so she just made up different lyrics, singing that the chorus was the important part anyhow. 

KT Tunstall was personable, funny, and entertaining and I enjoyed her music, but Chadwick Stokes is a hard act to follow and he was the highlight of the weekend for me.

My favorite song by KT Tunstall is Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. It sounded great live, but she changed it up by adding kazoo and transitioning into White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.

That night, I stayed at Homestyle Hostel right in the center of Ludlow, and I highly recommend this place. The owners, Eliza and Justin, are friendly and run a really clean, comfortable hostel. An unexpected bonus is that they also have an excellent restaurant / pub at the hostel. On Saturday night it was packed with friendly people. My veggie polenta with a poached egg was delicious, and I washed it down with a couple of local VT craft brews.

The next morning, I enjoyed fresh brewed coffee and homemade granola with yogurt (included for hostel guests). Justin suggested a short walk up to the reservoir, which I turned into a longer hike up the steep power line cut and back down to town.

 The reservoir is just past the cemetery at the end of Depot Street. The main lift at Okemo Mountain was running, but there wasn't much snow, or many skiers.

 From the top of the steep power line cut into the woods. To make the climb more challenging, I carried a full mug of coffee in one hand.

 Walking back down a road (or maybe driveway) to the town of Ludlow.

My favorite shot of the day. After my walk, I changed into bike gear and headed out on a 60 mile ride past 2 sugar shacks, Long Trail brewery, and Worthy Kitchen "A Craft Beer and Farm Diner in Woodstock, VT"

In addition to the short, steep climb out of Plymouth Five Corners, this ride featured two 6-mile climbs in the 2nd half, with the two food (i.e., liquid bread) stops in the 1st half; I probably should have ridden CCW instead.

 

 Dang! I just spent beaucoup bucks getting my bike ready to ride again. Then in the first 7 miles out of the shop, I find myself (inadvertently) on muddy dirt roads and my bike looks trashed already. Also, I didn't do a test ride after picking up my bike. When I got to VT I discovered the saddle was about 2 inches too low, and I didn't have the tools to adjust it. So I rode 60 miles with a less than efficient setup.

 Who knew? 

"By 1855 a gold rush was underway. At Plymouth Five Corners, a gold mill and crusher were built."

Now Plymouth has the Five Corners Pub and Brewhouse serving up a different kind of gold, a pale ale.

Plymouth Five Corners is also noteworthy because the road goes up for a half mile at 8% gradient. I gotta say, it seemed much steeper this early in the season. Don't know how I'm going to manage racing up Mt Washington for 8 miles at 12% average in August.

 The beautiful scenery along the VT roads more than made up for the hills and mud. 

My favorite road sign. After climbing the short, steep Plymouth Notch, I enjoyed a 12-mile downhill. 

It was hot on the climbs, chilly on the descents. My Ripper gilet helped me control temperature.

The weather changed from sunny in the morning to overcast in the afternoon. Seemed like there was a stiff headwind most of the time. The only protection from the wind was on narrow dirt roads, where the mud sucked the speed out of my wheels.

So it was a fun weekend of music, hiking, and biking. Of course there was some beer too!

Okemo's Sugar Daze advertised a beer garden, but it was very disappointing, serving only Coors Light and Blue Moon. Vermont has some of the best craft brewers in the world and Okemo serves up this dreck?

At their Sienna restaurant they served Magic Hat, Long Trail, and Switchback; at least local brewers, even if not the best the state has to offer. But you weren't allowed to take the beers outside. I heard a couple songs by the first act Seeking Homer when I got there, and decided I'd rather have a Magic Hat and listen to the sound of silence than listen to Seeking Homer while drinking Coors Light.

 

 Okemo's food and beer was hugely disappointing. The brick oven flatbread tasted like crackers with ketchup on top. The beers were ok--actually I really liked the Magic Hat Snow Roller, a hoppy brown ale--but the service was terrible. Even though they had a big sign outside advertising apres ski food and drink, I had to beg my way in at 4:15 because they "were about to change over." Then as I was finishing up (and leaving a big tip), the waitress told me they would have to "kick me out" because they change over at 5. I was leaving anyhow because Chadwick Stokes came on at 5, but Sienna was not a welcoming environment and I won't be back.

 Seems like most of Okemo's patrons probably think Coors Light and Blue Moon are craft beers. Or at least the patrons that drink beer in the restroom.

After the concert, I warmed up at the Homestyle Hostel.  The polenta was delicious. I also enjoyed a tulip of Light In The Window, a rye IPA from Burlington Beer Co., and a can of Maple Breakfast Stout from 14th Star Brewing Co.

Long Trail Brewing Co. was at mile 18 of my bike ride. I had a bowl of their carrot ginger bisque and it was amazing. One of the best soups I've ever tasted. The bisque was better than their beers. The flagship Long Trail Ale was surprisingly better than I remembered. But the Limbo American IPA wasn't as good as their English style IPA, which they are discontinuing in favor of their new Green Blaze IPA. Their only offering that I really found intriguing was their Smash Project series, but it wasn't available on tap and I didn't want to carry the extra weight of a six-pack of cans on the remaining 43 miles of my ride.

My last stop (only 8 miles past Long Trail Brewing) was at Hungry Kitchen. The truffle fries were disappointing, but they have a great selection of craft beers. I had trouble deciding between Hill Farmstead Edward or Lawson's Sip of Sunshine, finally choosing Hill Farmstead because it is harder to find. The large order of fries was enough for a small family so I stayed and chatted with my neighbor at the bar. He was a diplomatic security agent in VT for a training exercise with the army. Diplomatic security protects people like the Secretary of State. He told me about wiring video cameras at Colin Powell's estate and meeting Hilary Clinton. I ended up lingering at Worthy Kitchen long enough for another beer, so I got to enjoy Sip of Sunshine too!