Saturday, May 10 2025
Test ride in New York City a few weeks ago
Pre-trip
Bike and kit are packed away, I’ve checked the list once, twice, three times – I don’t want to forget anything but also want to make sure I’m not carrying too much, either. The race bike looks pretty cool with the carbon Tailfin rack and panniers, actually, but it feels a little like putting a trailer with a boat on it on a Ferrari.
Ready to go
Keeping me company while packing were two recordings of Beethoven’s Opus 127 string quartet which we’ll be performing this summer. I switched between the Quartetto Italiano version from mid-20th Century to the Brentano Quartet’s sharp and incisive interpretation. They are both beautiful and very different. The Brentano makes the music sound as if the notes were still wet on the page, such intensity and every chord chiseled out. But Quartetto Italiano feels so classic and grand in its own way. I can’t wait to share this piece with everyone in Devon.
I’m a bit nervous about the ride. The mileage isn’t all so unusual for me – 215 miles in a week – as much as the elevation (about 16,000’ of climbing) while cycling up steep Devon hills with 30 lbs. of gear for five days. For sure, I won’t be breaking any land-speed records. I’ll have to be assiduous about fueling on the trip, eating constantly while riding, and getting to sleep early.
You can follow the ride live with live tracking here.
Just a few more days and one transcontinental flight and I’m off!
David Yang, Artistic Director, Ashburton Chamber Music Festival
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