VTBR Report: Ken Stabile

 Today's report comes in from Connecticut's Ken Stabile who is our first 100 mile VTBR finisher! Ken is also a photographer, which you will see evidenced in his spectacular imagery he sent along with this report. Read on!

Lasagna Burn, by Ken Stabile: 

I’ve been looking for an excuse to attempt a century ride, and after reading Guitar Ted’s suggestion for a “turkey burn” century the weekend of Thanksgiving, there it was: Opportunity presented!

I knew there would be no turkey to burn in my case, having been a vegetarian since 1985, so this ride was charged with burning off the layers of lasagna that had been consumed at the previous day’s holiday feast. I decided that Friday was the day, the ride would be paved, I would ride from home in Goshen, CT, and I would use my Blackheart Titanium all road, fitted with 700 x 32 road tires. The forecast was for fair weather but cold temps, mid 30’s and some wind. I was ready to go by 8:30 am and so, armed with a route, some full water bottles, pockets loaded with snacks, as well as an eyeball on the wind, out the door I went. 

The wind gave an immediate hello: blowing strange, strong and cold, seeming to swirl from every direction. Oh well, I thought, it’s just the wind. Little did I know it would be a constant companion, howling in my head and at my bike for the next ten hours!

The route took me south and into the town of Bethlehem where I stopped at a convenience store for water and a nature break at around mile 17. When I came back out to the bike, I was one glove short, and spent the next fifteen minutes or so trying to find the missing glove. I retraced my steps into the store, looked all around the parking lot, and, finally, when I was about to ride off with only one, looked under the four cars in the lot, and there it was, blown by the wind, under the middle of car number four. Oh well, should have looked there first, I guess. Onward!

St. James Cemetery

One of the planned stops was to pay my respects and have lunch with my parents and sister at their final resting place in Naugatuck, and so at mile 42 I rolled into St. James Cemetery and did just that. The wind joined us and, honestly, dominated the conversation, but it was a nice break nonetheless. Now it was time to head back north and into the wind.


 

 

 I had some urban miles to cover before I got back onto the quiet roads, including one pedestrian bridge that rides right next to a highway exit ramp. It was kind of a blast to be riding up the ramp, the wind screaming at everybody, and the cars rushing straight in my direction (I was fairly well protected by a concrete barrier). That lasted for only a quarter mile, and then I was safely tucked onto a paved bike path before cutting through Hop Brook State Park, and then back onto the less traveled country roads in Middlebury and beyond. 

 The ride continued into the wind and up some hills through Watertown and back into Morris, where I passed a field of pumpkins looking resplendent in the afternoon sun. I was at mile 63 or so and the sun was on its way down. This ride would definitely finish after dark. The wind continued to blow and I continued to pedal. It was a real battle now between the cold, the wind and the distance still needed to cover. The miles passed, and soon I was at mile 75, then 80, 85 and soon the goal was within sight. I switched on the bike’s headlight, as well as the one on my helmet, and I was really ready to roll those last miles and finish this thing up! I was in farm country now and I couldn’t resist the temptation to photograph in the beautiful but waning daylight. 

Barns For Jacob

 Finally, the daylight was finished and it was full on darkness but I still had ten miles or so to go before hitting the 100 mark. The wind, however, was not finished, and rode with and against me the rest of the way home as I pedaled until I hit the 101 mile mark. There I was, finally home after 101 miles and 9000 feet of elevation gain! I felt great, a little numb from the cold and the wind, but great!

Thanks to Guitar Ted for the inspiration, and thanks for taking the time to read this ride report. I look forward to trying it again. 

Wow! That was a great report! I appreciate Ken's request to honor my son, Jacob, with his barn image. Thanks for the kind gesture. 

We've still got a couple more reports so stay tuned for both tomorrow. Both VTBR reports will post tomorrow, (Thursday), so be sure to scroll down the page so you do not miss them! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

VTBR Reports: Jeff & Cesar

Today we have two short VTBR reports for you to check out. The first is from Jeff. Let's check it out:

Jeff Elsken: Hey GT, I was able to get in a metric century this weekend, 29 miles Thursday and 36 on Sunday. The weather here was much nicer than yours, Thursday was calm, 40's and plenty of sunshine. Sunday was about the same except mid 30's for temps. 

I included a 'me and my shadow' picture on the levee from Thursday. It's been a weird fall, the leaves are finally falling but we haven't had a hard freeze yet so still a lot of green things growing. This is my first completed VTBC. I wanted to thank you for all the work you do to keep your blog entertaining, can't start my day without it.

Next up we have another short report from Cesar, who also has a couple good cold weather riding tips which I have also included in the report here. Check it out! 

 Cesar Nunez: Unfortunately my try to get the Turkey Burn was boycotted by awful weather conditions (pretty icy in Minneapolis western suburbs) and tons of food leftovers, ha ha ha! 

I really wanted to take the challenge and the great idea you proposed to move our bodies and have a great excuse to ride. At least I went out on Saturday for the 1st Fatty ride of the season, just 18 miles. But it was good.

Cesar's Cold Weather Riding Tips: 

 On another topic you guys spoke about getting prepared to ride in cold weather. I use Chamois Butt'r to protect my face from the windchill and frostbite. Apply it on your skin as much as you want/need. It's easy to apply, easy to remove just when you wash your face. It isn't greasy like Vaseline. 

When using pogies, I usually use light gloves but if it's pretty cold, I take an extra pair that I keep around.

For water, I use a free sip, double insulated bottle which has a plastic mouthpiece to sip up an internal straw instead. The water bottle keeps the water out from freezing up in the container and in the mouth piece. I've tried everything, and this type of bottle is the only (that) prevents the water to freeze.

 

I usually, fill it up with warm water that feels very good when drinking in the cold outside.

 

Thanks Cesar! Those are some good ideas to consider when riding in the cold. Cesar also shared a couple of other ideas regarding the structuring of the VTBR and subject suggestions for the podcast and the blog here. I really appreciate suggestions and comments like the ones Cesar shared because it helps me to become better at what I, and N.Y. Roll, are doing for you all. 

 

Okay, there is at least ONE more VTBR report incoming that I am aware of now. So, stay tuned for it to be posted here, hopefully tomorrow.   

VTBR Report: Steve Sprague

 Today we get another VTBR Report from long-time Guitar Ted Productions reader, Steve Sprague. Check it out....

Steve (center) and Friends

 Steve Sprague: My 2025 Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge goal is 100k. I started off on Thanksgiving with two friends riding around Lake Natoma near Sacramento, California for a freezing cold 20 miles. It was in the high 40's! With no sun and all clouds, it was quite cold all day. 

We took all of the dirt trails around the lake to make it more of a gravel ride. Luckily riding my single speed kept me warm. Black Friday was a similar ride that was downstream of Lake Natoma with my lovely wife. Riding from the house, as you all know, has its advantages. We did an out and back along the American River Parkway netting 26.5 miles of mostly dirt trails and fire roads. The weather was the same, mid 40's and cold all ride long. The company kept me warm the whole ride.

All fours from Day 1.

 

High above Nevada City, California

 I decided to finish up my VTBC mountain biking above Nevada City. The sun rays felt so good! I strung together a winding route along the trail network to net my 100k! I was so excited to achieve my goal a second year in a row for the Virtual Turkey Burn Challenge. Looking forward to next year!

Ride totals.

 Thank you for your wonderful blog and Love the Podcast with you and NY Roll!

Thanks Steve! I think it is interesting how some of the submissions show their mileage totals. Not that we wouldn't believe your stories, but the "evidence" is fun to see on the devices you all are using. 

We've got another submission for tomorrow. Stay tuned! 

Rear View 2025: Spring

 Hello! it's time again to review the year on Guitar Ted Productions. The "Rear View" has been a staple of the blog since almost the very beginning. This year will feature  five Rear View posts looking back on   End of Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and  Beginning of Winter. I'll also have a post looking ahead at 2026. Enjoy the look back and thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

The Spring months of April, May, and June saw my reviewing duties kick into high gear. I had Continental Terra Adventure tires, Stan's bike care accessories, Rene Herse TPU tubes, Tifosi glasses, and more going on. It kept me on my toes.

There was also a big ride announcement. Since I was car-less and unable to go out of town, N.Y. Roll asked if I'd like to do something for a ride on gravel at some point somewhere in Iowa. We were thinking along the lines of the ride in 2024 we did with Warren Weibe called the Victory Ride. 

We had kicked around a few ideas and landed on doing a ride to the famous Tree In The Road near Atlantic, Iowa. We se a date of June 28th and excitedly made plans. Steve Fuller and Sarah Cooper, along with initial guidance by Rob Evans, led us to a nice looped course out of Atlantic which was around 70-ish miles.

Clik Valve gauge: The Clik Valve review was super popular.

I did get in some country riding in March, May, and June, which was great, but I was still struggling with my schedule at the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective with regard to how it meshed with family life. 

Saturdays were a disaster now for getting anything done on a bike. Sundays as well. This left Thursday and Friday open, but often times I had meetings for various volunteer groups and we had two cats to take care of as well. (Cat care fell mostly to me.)

So every time I got out into the country was a precious time to me. I was, and am still, very thankful I was and am able to ride. 

Work at the Collective kicks into a higher gear in Spring and I was involved in a couple of bike checks at local farmer's markets. There were clinics to run, and the aforementioned volunteering I do was also a demand. N.Y. Roll and I also kept pumping out podcasts at the rate of about three episodes per month. 

Early Spring ride in the country

 

Getting the Gryphon tested for the Tree In The Road Ride.

Tragedy struck for the first time in 2025 when our cat, Felix, was found dead in the hallway the morning of June 6th. He was "my cat", or more appropriately, "I was his person", so it hit me pretty hard. Not to mention my son, who was the one who found him when he got up to go to work that morning. He was so upset about it he couldn't work and came home from his job early that day. 

One of the hardest things I ever have done was to take Felix\s body out into the woods via my Surly Big Dummy and lay him to rest underneath a tree in the Green Belt. I thought it was the worst thing I'd ever experienced, for some reason, but it was only a dress rehearsal for what would happen about two months later. 

 So, the Tree In The Road Ride was a big highlight for me after the death of Felix the Cat. Getting away with N.Y. Roll was fun, and seeing old friends was awesome. The ride? Well, it was very hot and it wasn't what we had planned, but it was great. A very good time, and I am so appreciative and grateful for all who participated in the ride. It really meant a lot to me, and it still does. 

That led me into Summer, which I will cover next with a review of the months of July and August next. Stay tuned....  

 NOTE: Another VTBR Report will be posted tomorrow. 

Announcing The L.O.G. Ride

A rough draft of the logo. 

 Announcing the L.O.G. Ride:

When: April 17th - 18th, 2026

Where: Eskridge, Kansas 

What: Two days of gravel riding in the Flint Hills with fellowship and fun in between. 

Why: To get together with like-minded riders and celebrate the "legends" of the gravel scene who show up.  

Details: First of all, there will be finer details in the coming days. So, check back here on Guitar Ted Productions for any updates.  Times, how to register, and more will be revealed very soon. The plan is to close up the registration before the end of the year. 

Technically the ride is free to enter, but there will be obligatory tasks for each person who chooses to enter this ride. The organizers are going to divvy up tasks to pull the ride off and will split costs amongst the signed on roster. You'll know what your part in pulling off the ride is once the registration has been closed as all who sign on will become part of a group text to discuss how things will be portioned out as to tasks and then costs will be determined. All signers will know their obligations and will need to contribute to the ride fund by mid-January. 

Included in the ride structure will be food, beverage, accommodations for riders to spend the night, (a possible group housing opportunity is being discussed to help defray costs), and options for either the Friday ride, Saturday ride, or both. 

Registrants will enter via post card, because of course! 

Background: 

Last year I was approached by Warren Weibe, a resident of Kansas, to come down and ride in the Flint Hills. He felt his nephews should know where this whole gravel thing started from and he said I was someone who could not only be an example, but a representative of the genre for them. Well.....maybe that is a debatable thing, but the point is, this ride did not happen this year for various reasons. 

 Now Warren hasn't given up on the idea, and he has partnered with Ryan "Uncle Dudley" Dudley from the old "Ride for Masie's Pride" and other gravel rides. Between the two they are determined to have me down to the Flint Hills to ride. 

I chose the date, they are doing everything else, including the naming of the ride, fine details, and whatnot. I decided to come up with the logo, and this may not get used, but that is fine because I am not in charge of this one. I was just asked to spread the word on this platform and a few of my social media accounts. 

From Ryan Dudley's Facebook account concerning the L.O.G. ride:

"Legends of Gravel, aka L.O.G. ride, is an event Warren Wiebe and I are putting together. The tentative plan is that we'll be operating out of Wild Olives Lodge at Lake Wabaunsee. The idea is that a bunch of old farts, the legends of gravel are going to ride bicycles in the Flint Hills for a couple of days. Maybe some youngsters will want to hang out and ride with us old farts. Guitar Ted is a pioneer of gravel. He's also going to be the 'Big Dill of the Flint Hills' for this amazing gathering of silverbacks. So many more details to come, very soon."

Look for more details to come out very soon. Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments or e-mail me @g.ted.productions@gmail.com and I will collect those queries and forward them on.

VTBR Report: Mike Baggio

NOTE: We are skipping the usual Friday News and Views for a Virtual Turkey Burn report. 

  Today's VTBR Report comes to us from an old friend and Trans Iowa volunteer, Mike Baggio. He lives in Tennessee now days and files the following report for your reading pleasure:

Mike Baggio: Greetings from Columbia, Tennessee! Got out for several rides over the holiday weekend. The weather was less than ideal but WAY better than the 10+ inches of snow y’all got in the Midwest. 

Flow-trail in Columbia, Tenessee

First ride was on the new, city-built trail system in town. It is a small but flowy and super fun trail. It has multiple jump lines and something for everyone. Parks and Rec has really done a great job! We have two city owned trails and a big system (Chickasaw Trace) that is owned by the county and maintained by our cycling club. I am an average mountain biker (at best) but am very fortunate to have so many good trails within 10 minutes of my house. 

Ridin' Pop's old Trek

 For my second ride, I took my Pop’s old Trek Antelope out for a cruise on the country roads near my house. My dad passed last month but it makes me smile to get out on his old bike and share a smile. Pop was not a cyclist but he rode that old Trek around his neighborhood for 30+ years. 

Nice titanium Salsa Cycles El Mariachi.

 Lastly, I took my trusty old el Mariachi out to pound some hills around the city of Columbia. It is a really great place with a lot of character. I love my new home town and the people that live here. The people at the city do a whole lot for the residents of Columbia. We have good food, music, and arts to share. 

 

Statue of Thurgood Marshall standing in Columbia, Tennessee 

I included a picture of the new Thurgood Marshall statue off the square. It looks great. Marshall successfully defended 25 people wrongly accused in the race riots of 1946. It was a sad time for Columbia. I am proud that my town took time to acknowledge the good and bad part of our local history. It has helped make it the great, diverse place that it is today. The last pic is of me making up the balance of my metric miles on my old spin bike. Looking forward to hear about everyone else’s ride reports!

Mike has been a participant in the Virtual Turkey Burn Ride challenge for a while now. His effort exemplifies the heart of the idea - To motivate people to move and do it in a way which is satisfying and fun. 

I also appreciate Mike's love for his new hometown and the history he shared with us. It's a part of the gravel riding scene as well which makes things even more interesting for everyone. 

NOTE: Saturday I will be making a big announcement concerning a ride in April of 2026. So, we will be taking a break from VTBR Reports for that special announcement. Sunday will see another Rear View review of April, May, and June from the blog this year. VTBR ride reports will commence again this coming Monday.

Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Get out and ride those bicycles! 
 

VTBR Report: Robert Fry, Carey Fry

 In today's reports we hear from husband and wife duo, Robert and Carey Fry. They did separate activities, as you will see shortly. Unlike myself, Robert braved the cold, open prairies and gained his metric century. Kudos Robert! Here is Robert's report first:

Robert Fry: The weather forecast for a BIG snowstorm starting Friday night meant that the challenge would need to be completed on Friday. I took down the Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross single speed on Thursday evening and made sure all was ready. 

A nice, light Westerly wind suggested a gravel ride to Parkersburg. To make the distance up to the metric century, I planned a route with a few extra miles North before the rest stop, and a few extra South afterwards. 

The start on Friday was later than I had hoped, close to 11am. With darkness as a deadline, this motivated me to push the pace, and I completed the first 30 miles in just a little over 2 hours. After a routing error, I found myself on a stretch of road I hadn’t ridden before, up on 265th St in Butler County. This turned into a very nice section of B road on Martin Ave by the West Fork of the Cedar River, where I finally turned on to 255th St and came out on Hwy 14. I had now added enough miles before Parkersburg that I could ride the usual, more direct way back. 

The Kwik Star was welcoming as always, with seating where I could rest and enjoy my coffee and sandwich. The direct way home took me on Westbrook St, S Ave and 150th St (Viking Rd). I finished right at 5 hours, and just about exactly 100km at 62.3 miles. It didn’t go above freezing all day, but I was dressed for it and had a great time!

Robert's Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross on the bridge over the West Fork of the Cedar River

 

Westbrook Avenue

Final mileage - 62.3 miles. 

Now for Carey Fry's activities for this period.....

 Carey Fry: Well I didn’t actually do a metric or 100 mile century, but I combined my two favorite sports, and I did feel the burn. I started off riding 19 miles of gravel, then ending up at the Cedar Falls Natatorium for a 3000 yard swim, and a short ride home. Love the end feeling of a good workout!

Hey! It's great to see Carey got out to do some swimming AND riding. Maybe I need to add a duathlon category for the Virtual Turkey Burn!