THE FIRST TRUE TEST

Based on our previous riding success, we decided to move to the next level and plan our first overnight ride on the tandem, which occurred over the weekend of Nov 1-2, 2014. Since we handled about 45 miles with no problems, a 50 mile ride each way to Norfolk, CT to stay overnight at the Manor House Inn B&B should also be no problem. Had we put some thought into elevation gain, we would have realized, that yes, problem! Riding around the coastal regions of Connecticut and Rhode Island is vastly different than riding into the hills of northwest Connecticut.

The ride started great, although a bit gloomy, with some wet weather to come.

We stopped for a hardy breakfast at the Town & Country Restaurant in Bloomfield and a brief stop at the Bloomfield Bicycle & Repair Shop for some additional gear.

Heading up and over Talcott Mountain (which is only about a 250 foot climb in a mile) the rain began to fall. It pretty much did not stop for the rest of the day.

We slogged on through the day, proceeding to get lost along they way (missed a turn somewhere) adding another five miles to our ride and hills, so many hills. We persevered (which included some walking) arriving at the Manor House Inn just before dark after nearly seven hours of riding (what happened to that 45 mile ride in under four hours?? It must have been that over 3,500 feet of climbing we had to do). The B&B more than made up for the effort and we had a lovely stay.

The ride home occurred on a bright, sunny day, although the temperature had dropped to the high 30's and it was windy.

We took a different route home to take in some other sites, and came across this restaurant in a renovated train station in Collinsville, CT., so we stopped for lunch (and to warm up).

We arrived home none-the-less for wear, and while the journey was definitely more challenging than anticipated to both body and spirit, we realized that yes, we can do this. Test, passed!

CAN WE DO THIS?

The first excursion on the tandem of any mention-able length took place over Columbus Day Weekend 2014. We loaded the bike on top of the car and took it with us to Noank, CT where we keep our 26' Pearson sailboat. We only stayed overnight on the boat that weekend and chose to spend time riding around on the tandem a bit. We headed into Mystic, then into Stonington along back roads, into Westerly, RI, onto Misquamicut, over to Watch Hill, back through Westerly, down into Stonington Borough, back through Mystic, returning to Noank. All felt great. Oblivious as we were at the time, we ended up riding about 45 miles in under 4 hours. Heck yeah, we can do this! Or so we thought….

Route of our first long ride.

HOW IT BEGAN

It all started with a Burley Duet tandem picked-up used at Hampshire Bicycle Exchange in Amherst, MA in September, 2014. I had been casually researching tandems out of curiosity with the thought that maybe we should give it a try. I ran across this particular bike on Craigslist for what I thought was a reasonable price. Showing up at the Exchange, by myself none-the-less, there it was hanging on the wall. A brief conversation with one of the employees, and it was off the wall and I was headed to the parking lot, with the tandem, by myself. I hopped on and cruised the parking lot, cruised down the bike path, cruised around the area. While certainly not having the maneuverability of a single bike, it certainly was fun to ride, by myself, and I imagined it would be great fun with someone pedaling on the back. It was purchased, and I somehow got it stuffed into the trunk and folded down back seat of a four door Honda Civic. Thus, the tandem adventures begin…..

First overnight trip. Destination, the Manor House B&B in Norfolk, CT. November 2014.