First mtn bike ride of the fall season, ( one or the 10 best days of the fall season ! ) as sharp cold front moved through yesterday transitioning us from summer in the morning, to fall wx during the aft'n, and giving us a morning low of 45 F at sunrise this am w/ crystal clear cobalt blue skies. Checked out the new CMRT tunnel at Rt 56 just north and below Rutland center. Photos here at this link if you're interested in seeing how a bike trail tunnel is constructed: http://www.wachusettgreenways.org/Trail%20dev%20news%20Pommogussett%20tunnel.html Also, a couple of photos of completed tunnel portals at home page here at this link: http://www.wachusettgreenways.org Next, turned around and proceeded west and then northbound on the CMRT to check out how the CMRT bridges made out after all the rains from Hurricane Irene and Lee/Katia interplay 10 days after Irene. To see how a rail trail bridge is constructed, check out the photos posted here at this link: http://www.wachusettgreenways.org/Trail%20dev%20news.html Finally, rode up the jeep road (Coldbrook Rd--dirt surface) to the Barre Falls Dam and met a group of people looking to the skies w/ binoculars for a hawk migration watch/count. Note: Had Garmin Edge 305 in one of the back pockets of my jersey; HR data looks to be intermittent. Sunny, crisp, crystal clear blue skies, air temp at start of ride 45 F , 56 F at finish, dew pt 37 F, winds (up at tree tops along the trails--not really a factor at ground level w/ heavy tree cover on both sides of trails) NW 13 gusting to 21 mph. Had to abort intended ride home to car on roller-coaster trail, as a small branch got caught in rear wheel spokes and rear derailleur and bent the rear derailleur and its dropout hanger enough that only the smaller cogs could be used. Will need to replace the dropout hanger, possibly the rear derailleur (it's the original, a Shimano Deore LX), and will replace the chain (it's also the original) while I'm at it.