2021 Super-8 , fast-ish then bailed
Grand Depart. Sept 24, 2021
Wow. Such an experience! My first bikepacking 'race' .... and despite cutting the intended full 8 short, due to family illness back home that needed me to return after the Southern lobe, it more than delivered.
It's hard to put words to the experience, but as the rhythms of the daily grind return, these experiences tend to meld and warp . So while my knee-pit is still chaffed and grundle still sore, I put some words down.
It's a Race , but transcends any previous notion of bike race, that I had.
Typically during a race, you don't intend to stretch personal ability with strategic balance of sleep , nutrition, and forward movement. Usually nap monsters don't strike - that strange full body sensation that has you peering into the woods spotting wonderful places to dose off. As I slept fairly well - 4hrs cold and damp first night, and 4 hrs warm cramped in sheltered location the 2nd night - intense fatigue held off so I could maintain descent pace throughout. The exception was just south of Montpelier- looks so close on the map, but some big climbs lingered. Nap desire hit hard after climbing a dirt road before a long and steep doubletrack climb and descent. A gorgeous sun bathed home with the most perfect looking apple trees and freshly mown grass lingered as I crawled up a dirt road. The beckon of the nap was strong. A kind looking elderly man sat in a chair, sending welcoming vibes,, "come sleep under my award winning apple trees and I might give you some cider" his wave seemed to say. A large sign confirmed the awards . . But I kept moving. Until the double track, where I immediately laid down in the curve of the trail and slept for 45min.
Grand views and stoke enticing descents throughout. What a great route!
Funky cockpit was light and fast. Italian made VAP Cycling aero bars with 'butterfly' bar ends for a low and fast position (setup is for sale, reach out)
DAY 1
132miles, 15,837 of up : Strava ride
What a great large group. Maybe 50 riders left the State house in critical mass form, splitting on Main St into the North and South destined.
The first day started with rain, a steady gentle warm rain. Not really a problem, but if you had any intention of keeping your feet dry that notion left quick. What a beautiful start. Within minutes you're in the glory of VT ; rolling hills, unassuming homesteads. "Just never go hard and keep going" was some advice at the start. But not for me. Finding my rhythm includes hard out of saddle efforts. Speaking to Logan Kasper, FKT holder, a couple weeks prior at the Dirty Pizza ride, he gave me the confidence to not be affraid to go hard. Looking back, riding rhythm was critical, and the diverse terrain made it interesting and easy to get into a groove. Until night, then I had some challenges. My rhythm is more impacted by stopping, which I did too much of. Stops for gear adjustment due to pesky ill-designed, for fast techi riding, front handlebar roll. And too many food stops . I had calories backing up calories and didn't quite have confidence in regularity of provision stops.
Bertrand, the race leader got a healthy lead that I didn't close until Brattleboro. I stoppped in Chester in the evening for a long while - a huge mistake. I missed the last store by 20min or so. Knowing that there was a lack of food until Brattleboro, I prioritized stocking up. Friday night was busy at the hotel restaurant. 20min for a burger to go and 'quick' chef salad, turned into an hour. A Jersey drunk at the bar distracted me further. Finally I hit the trail with colder temps and lights on, to Pete's Camp. If I had known Pete's would have had food (thnk you!) I would have skipped right through Chester , maintaining pace with Bertrand, likely.
I rested at Pete's for 30min and kept moving, sleeping for the night on a trail, damp and cold. With good pad and bivy, I was warmish in my puffy and leggings, until bivy condensation mounted.
Day 2.
119miles 13,740' of up : Strava Ride
I stopped for water at someone's vacation home. TIdy yard and kid's toys told me that the water quality at the sill cock was likely good. I ran the water a bit and filled up my bottles . Upon coming back to my bike I heard, 'Can I help you'. It was a wifi door bell security cam. 'Uh, I'm just getting some water, hope that's okay'. 'Oh great, have a nice ride where you going?', the door bell said. And so I had a connected conversation with the landowner I trespassed on.
The sun brings renewed energy. I stopped and bathed in it for a few minutes before flying into Brattleboro. Vermont country deli re-up . Such terribly slow service but I basked in the humanity chuckling at the sequence dazzling Covid masked new yorkers. Then took a look at Tracker. Some funky stuff with GPS... because Bertrand appeared to have been staying in Bratt for a while. I rested, and planned my strategy. As he was on a gravel bike, with my mtb skills and proper rubber, I knew I could overtake him on the reportedly rugged Stage Rd section between Bratt and Bennington. He would be faster on the roads, but he's still in Bratt. Little did I know, but he had departed long before... doh ! Lesson learned- don't trust the GPS tracker.
Stage Rd was awesome! Mostly rideable, maybe 90% , with full out of saddle efforts. This section kept going and going. I definitely do NOT recommend riding it at night. I got splashed by an aggressive quad driver, but I don't think she intended it. Some other ATVers gave me some water, so karma balanced out. It's sad to see the forest so decimated by ATVers- so much mud and erosion. But such is the motorized enthusiasts that keep lots of these trails clear for us.
Moments before some ATVers came , music blaring , Dunkin in hand, and wake splashed me. Walkable, not rideable water crossing 80% through Stage Rd. rugged section.
Bennignton had some pizza and considered buying a sweatshirt for sleep as temps were dropping. Hosed my bike down, re-lubed and off to chase Bertand, who was well ahead now, maybe 20 miles, with long road section ahead, I knew he'd fly. I had a tentative goal to get tot he bike path in Rupert and sleep . Lots of road on this section north of Bennington. Big climb by a spooky house with chained dogs. I’ve been here before, and this house has some crazy farm animal squalor in the side yard. Climb into the wilderness trying to keep my headlamp off as much as possible to maintain battery. Lots of animal sounds , owls…very beautiful slow pace climb with some walking. A couple hours later near 11pm , a mammoth descent toward the NY border and the bike path. The last dirt road descent was grand - maybe 5 miles of downhill , into town,. It was near midnight and as I aero tucked down the hill, the temps dropped, significantly.
There are so many microclimates in Vermont. Upon packing Thurs night before the race, I made the choice to not bring my 40 deg quilt, relying on a puffy and bivy to keep me warm. The weather forecast said temps would stay in the low 50s with cloud cover keeping heat in. But the skies were clear and temps near 40.
As I bombed down hill, I knew I couldn't sleep outside and get any solid rest. Google report no lodging options anywhere near (apparently there is a B&B trailside in Granville, I later discovered) . I could keep riding to stay warm, but knew my rhythms would get way off as the sun came up. I needed to sleep for a few hours. I found a location protected from the elements and slept for a few hours
Day 3.
117miles 10,154' of up : Strava ride
3.5 hours later I was up and out, feeling pretty good . Target: coffee and breakfast.. which didn't come until way too long. At this point my body was feeling tired with some slight knee pain, which got worse later in the day. But watts were still being put down. Where did Bertrand sleep? His load looked really light, I'm surprised he was packing gear for the cold the night before. Sunday morning so no stores were open early enough, no gas stations in site. Then I get a text from my wife that she has a 102 deg fever. Nice, good thoughts about covid potential, for pre-caffeine motivation. That sucked for a while, until the beauty of the silent Sunday morning brought me to the moment. . I stopped at Analog Cycles , hoping they'd be raging an Aeropress at 7am on Sunday. No go, but a couple bikes hanging by a fire pit along with a floor pump I needed to get my PSI back up from Stage Rd deflate. At 8am, a store is just opening. Coffee is on and huge egg sammys. I sit, dazed, and banter with the local Sunday crew for a few minutes and then crash out on the grass. Another sandwich to go and I'm off. Few hours later my wife tells me she's feeling really bad. We talk about support for her while I'm away for a few more days: cousins , friends, and even our dog's friends' people. We talk contingency if it is covid - kids and school and mayhem that wrench in all our plans, that would ensue.
Early morning at Analog Cycles , Poultney . No people in sight, but shop door open and bikes enjoying the fire pit embers
Epic egg sandwich after riding through sunrise fueled by water and bars.
Sun's out , road side apples, horses galloping in the meadow, and deer looking at me funny with stag-like aero bars. This section was fast to Brandon, a posh town. That's when the message from Llama my wife came. ' Sick and getting worse, I need you home' . Yes dear. AFter the South lobe, I'm done. I take a moment in Brandon, have some coffee and a snack, banter with the film crew about my fortune, and decide to take no gas off. 'You basically have Brandon gap, another big climb, and you're done' the camera dude said. Yeah right. To finish this ride, I need to go strong, despite the change of plans. Brandon gap was no sweat , slow heft with earbuds jamming. The hills to follow as it got dark were much harder.
The last 20miles took a long time in the dark. I ran out of water and said f'it. Ate bunch of road side wild apples. Chew them up and spit them out. For the juice, but not the fiber.
Apple snacks throughout the route. Yum
With 10 miles left, get a message from Llama. 'Go for it, if you need to'. friends bringing food, ibuprofen working great. She sees on Trackeaders that Bertrand is still chilling in Montpelier, getting some good rest. She knows how much I'd like to push int on the North Lobe. Sheesh, what an emotional roller coaster.
Cruised into Montpelier, still not sure of what to do. I'll have some classy pizza, maybe a ThreePenny burger and make the call. Sunday night, Nothing open. Even the Indian place is closed. Dominos closes in 20 min. Order some crappy pizza and drive to get it. Set up luxurious car camp and think. I have to go home. 2 days more, and a lot could go wrong at home. All the worst case scenarios come to mind. What if Llama and the kids DO have covid, despite the negative test. Shit , what if I have Covid, and these body aches are symptoms being amplified.. crazy shit. But I'd just rode 370 miles, 40k of up , in 2 1/2 days. I sleep well and head home after coffee and few pastries.
Next year I'll be back in some form or another.
Congrats to everyone that rode the Super-8 this year. Congrats to Bertrand for setting a quick pace and keeping those race motivations flowing.
Thanks to all who make this route possible and keep the community spirit strong.
Forever grateful to Hampshire Bicycle Exchange in Amherst, Real Pickles in Greenfield MA, and Kitsbow Cycling Apparel for the support and nourishment.
Random thoughts on gear and setup.
pack last minute. weather is so critical and varying . Give yourself a few scenarios and then pack accordingly. Mind the VT microclimates!
I'm sold on Mtb aerobars, great efficiency and varied body positions.
Dynamo Sinewave Beacon was outstanding.
2 water bottles is adequate
2.3 Mezcal up front, 2.25 Terreno out back. Perfect for my mtb riding style
Music helps the mind.
Shimano xt 1x12, 32t chain ring , 50t out back (maybe 51? Garbaruk cassette)
80mm Redshift suspension stem was amazing , especially with rigid fork. I adjusted elastomers when handebars loaded- stiffer than typical due to weight of load and aero bar position
Ti frame gave piece of mind when bombing down rocky class 4 - had a few rock strikes that would make me nervous with carbon.
Frame: Custom Triton Ti hardtail, rigid niner fork.








