Vitus for Sale

It was tough decision but I finally decided to retire my classic Vitus. For larger photos click here or title of this post.

Two Weeks in China

It's been too many weekends with out bicycling. The truth is I've been preparing for my 2 week trip through China . I decided to replace bicycling weekends with running weekends, targeting my training to the specific activity for the next 2 weeks, not that I'd be running, but rather walking more often. What irony, walking in China, a country of more that a billion bicycles. But as in all cases when you travel the choice is always between getting close to the country or see more of the country. I chose to see more of the country. In doing so I shot over 2,000 photographs. The challenge to see and capture 5,000 years of history in 2 weeks was over whelming.

Riverhead to New Suffolk Again

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was riding
The trees went by, me and del were singin
Little runaway, I was flyin
Yeah runnin down a dream
That never would come to me... Tom Petty

I used my MTB for this ride so I wasn't exactly flying. The round trip from the Riverhead Waterfront to New Suffolk 34 miles round trip, I averaged 15.1 MPH, max speed 24.2 MPH going down hill with a good tail wind. Two spots along New Suffolk Avenue have spectacular views of the Peconic Bay and the Salt Marshes.




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Country Roads

What a beautiful Saturday. Rode 4 miles to meet the SBRA group at the Riverhead Water Front. The good weather certainly accounted for the large group. Interestingly though can it also be the reason for so many polite drivers stopping at intersections to allow us to pass, and pleasent wait staff at the deli stop. Some SBRA ride leader named their ride a de-stress ride. After a week of rain and work stress this ride certainly qualifies. With a leisurely C pace, a timely stop for lunch and the company of SBRA members it was icing on the cake. However it was not 100% stress free, at least for one person. Halfway into the ride that member experienced a 'Wardrobe Malfunction', as their bicycling shorts decided to split apart exposing a full moon before lunch. I'm no bike snob but I'm one who believes in security and a new pair of shorts every season.

Tour de Jamesport

What a weekend of bicycling. Denis Mechov won The Giro d'Italia by a close margin. Lance Armstrong finished despite a broken collar bone. Inspired by their accomplishments I rode my version of the Giro, despite my flating at the beach fans waited patiencely to cheer me on.

Fat Tire To Mattituck

Memorial Day, the unofficial first day of Summer. Unofficial as it may be, it's the first long weekend of the warm weather season. I officially reset the odometer on my bicycle and my log entries. It's a method I've used over the years to gauge my century readiness. The rainy weekends have set my training schedule back. I decided to ride my fat tire bicycle which is usually reserved for used for cold temperature training. My logic may be wrong but the increased rolling resistance and heavier weight seems to make me work harder thereby increasing the training effect. My fat tire stats 42.8 Miles, Average Speed 11.5 MPH Max Speed 19.2 MPH.

The Lighthouse Ride

Eight o'clock, not the best weather to start my ride. The fog was so thick I couldn't see the steps to my deck. I decided to start later. I didn't want to be invivsible to some idiot driving their SUV while using a hand held cell phone. Though it's against the law, too many SUV owners treat traffic laws as suggestions. An hour later the fog finally lifted. Rolling smoothly out I rounded the bend over Meeting House Creek. If a picture is worth a thousand words. This is the biggest fishkill I have seen in 22 years. The Seagulls having gorged themselves were just bobing in the creek amid the dead fish. The DEC released a short memo saying it was a natural phenomena. Which reminds me of another natural phenomenal experienced last June. I'm glad this pehnomena didn't try to mate with me. As I sat unexplicably relaxed on a nearby bench staring transfixed by the site, and with the Horton Point Light House still 20 miles away, I started to make excuses to sit and relax. The weather was threatening. It was getting cold. As I was about to make up my mind a pack of riders passed by, I heard someone yell "alle, alle" urging me to join the peleton. I left the pack, more correctly they left me at mile ten. I continued alone on Sound Road, away from the Bay and warmed by the late sun, I clocked forty two miles round trip with an average speed of 17.3 MPH, and max speed 23MPH. Riding with a group is alway more motivating. I needed that motivation today.




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Wrong Part Of The Island?

Am I living in the wrong part of Long Island? It seems to rain every weekend out here. Hey you! SBRA members, do you have connections with a higher authority or a pact with a lower authority? Why is it your rides are never rained out? I've checked the Club's recent post for this Saturday and no one cancelled their ride due to rain. Instead I see "Great group, perfect B+","Good ride today. Great lead as always." What I want to know is, how can I contact the appropriate authority to "paleeeze" give me 2 consecutive rain free weekends! Otherwise I may have to make a rash decision and rename this blog to Raining Weekends.

Riverhead to Westhampton Beach

Today is my Century training ride and I decide not to carry my camera only water and snacks. This is of my favorites training rides The first 10 miles out of Riverhead is Route 51 which is relatively traffic free with wide shoulders and mostly flat. As you follow Dune Road from Westhampton Beach to Ponquogue you can stop for views of the Alantic Ocean Beaches or Moriches Bay and Shinnecock Bay. The ride is about 55 Miles and completely doable in 6-7 hours at a leisurely pace. However head winds should be accounted for.


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First Ride of 2009

Finally a dry Saturday. My first ride of 2009... correction my first ride out in the East End for 2009. I've been taking mostly short flat rides in the city. I chose to take a short loop of the 'Tank Hill' on Sound Shore Road. As I crested the hill a group of riders were comimg down in the opposite direction. The ride was pleasant with a short brake at the Beach for a view of the Long Island Sound. The ride back West was another story. The head wind was stronger than when I started out. Right now my legs are paying the price for cranking it up into the headwind.

My ride stats: average speed was 14.5 MPH, Distance was 20.1 Miles, Max Speed was 27.7 MPH, must have been on a downhill stretch.


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Rites Of Spring

March 20th Thursday, the first day of Spring. Weather forecasts called for scattered 'snow flurries'. The month of March is known to be cruel, teasing us with 60F degrees one day and snow the next. The forecasters obviously didn't look out their windows the flurries were a traffic stopping whiteout. But it's Spring, time to get my bicycle out for the Spring ritual.

XC Ski Indian Island Park

After several disappointing weekends of poor snow conditions in the Adirondacks I decided to stay closer to home. The weather forcasters predicted snow accumulation in the East End to be more than up North. Though not ideal Indian State Park was a great change of scenery.




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Winter Cross Training

After a rather mild December, winter welcomed us with alternating snow and freezing rain and days of deep freeze. The streets and roads have been treacherous for driving and even walking. Bicycling was definitely out. The worst part was not being able to get any outdoor exercise at all. Greatfully this past weekend I was able to get to Fahnestock State Park and enjoy some Cross Country or Nordic Skiing. Combining Cross Country Skiing with another form of indoor exercise should keep me fit through the winter and ready for the bicycling season. Actually this being the first time skiing this season it was more straining than training.

Bicycle Lancaster, Pa.

'Experience Intercourse' was how the New York Chapter of AMC boldly titled a bicycling trip. As you can imagine, it got my attention and my lustful imagination. But in much smaller letters just below was 'Pennsylvania' which I, somehow did not notice until I had already registered. However it was a wonderful weekend of bicycling. I met some great people, ate some Penn Dutch food and got sticky buns from Intercourse Pennsylvania.

Singapore's Out Island

August 2001, I jumped at the opportunity to work in Singapore. I was motivated more by the opportunity to bicycle on weekends there, than furthering my career. I have my prioroities. This weekend we boarded a Bumboat to Palau Ubin. We rode the Island's dirt road through dense forests which seperated the villages. Singaporeans' food obsessed reputation is true. Every village we passed had a square with a food court. Each village had their own local speciality, all were exceptionally well prepared. You might say we bicycled food court to food court. If only Club Centuries had food like this at their rest stops.