Not Just Bicycling on Weekends

2011-12-18T09:41:00.002-05:00

Late November and all the trees are bare of leaves. A short stop at Jamesport confirms that Winter is not to far away.

Alley Pond

2011-03-11T10:23:00.005-05:00

Took a short ride to Alley Pond the neighborhood ecology center in Eastern Queens. There are two trail around two tidal pools in the marshes.

This past weekend I visited the Suffolk County Historical Society they had an exhibit of Charles Henry Millers Painting of Long Island. Queen was part of Long Island at one time. I was surprised by how little the Pond in Alley Pond has changed from his painting.

Some of his other paintings of Queens

2011-02-18 See The Seals

2011-02-21T06:27:00.005-05:00

The weather warmed up this weekend. Took the opportunity to ride to Cupsogue Beach to say 'Hi' to the Seals that winter there. Its a short walk from the lot to the lookout. I don't recommend riding on the soft sand, though some cars did make it through.

Skinny Skis in New Hampshire

2011-01-18T07:11:00.004-05:00

Cross Country Skiing is one way to stay fit for the bicycling season during the Winter, though it is not an easy affair. Particularly if there is a lot of wet percipitation, unless it's snow. Otherwise it's a weekend trip up North. New York City has had more than it's share this winter great for us. However the Northern ski areas recieved very little. Two days before our annual trip with the LIXCSC to Jackson, New Hampshire a large snow storm along the Northeast rescued our trip.

2010-12-07T12:59:00.018-05:00

It's been a while since my last entry, too many bicycle-less weekends have gone by. No excuses, just me being a sloth. Let me rephrase that more politically correct, there comes a time when one needs to step back and take a break. I think thats what I needed... okay so it's an excuse. Anyway, as the new year rolls forward and with resolutions abound it was time for me to put the pedal to the medal. Well, actually put the skis to the snow. The seasons first snow storm left 20+ inches on the ground, virtually shut down New York City for almost 48 hours. Fahnestock has plenty of snow for me to test my stamina after weeks of being a couch potato.

Somewhere underneath is my neighbors small car.

Riding with 'The Law'

2010-06-22T11:43:00.010-04:00

Disclaimer and legal stuff.
This story is based on a true event. Everything describe here occurred, except where there are embellishments, half truths, and out right lies. The names and pictures have been altered to protect the innocent.
End Reader License agreement.
If you’ve read this far you have agreed that anything read here stays here.

B Day minus one.
September 14, 2007 Friday. It’s 11:00 PM, I lie awake thinking back it’s been almost 10 years since I did one of these ‘Charity Rides’ I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I’ve logged 80+ weekly miles since the beginning of August. I hope the weather forecast is correct. The forecast is for showers ending in the afternoon.

B - Day.
September 15, 2007 Saturday. The alarm gently buzzes it’s 5:00AM. What the##?!!. Time to go to work already? Steady, I say to myself, it’s Saturday, you’re doing the MS150 today.
I hear the sound of rain hitting the bedroom rain gutter. Now I know why they’re called rain gutters. Hey I also won’t have to shower this morning. Yeah!

7:30 AM. We arrive in Southampton ‘The Hamptons,’ ‘playground of the Rich and Shameless’. I circle around reaching a short driveway and a hand painted sign directs me to the ‘Elks Club.’ I smile and imagine being greeted by Elks wearing Hawaiian shirts lead by Elke Sommers in a Bikini. I am startled by a shirtless, barefooted balding surfer type. ‘Dude, Riders park here’ he yells.
Hmmm… rich, and shameless? Definitely shirtless. I should have taken a picture of those saggy tattoos on his… err chest. It should convince my 30 something nieces that in another 10 years that what their tattoos will look like unless they are collagen endowed.
I park and walk to the Elks Club Hall. The hall is filled with riders of all shapes and sizes dressed in colorful Lycra. But no Elks or Elke. ‘Wow!’ my riding partner Law says. No, Law is not a Lawyer, it’s short for Lawrence. Everyone calls him Law. A nickname given by his wife because as she says ‘he thinks he’s ‘The Law’. No one dares argue with her about that.
We sign in and receive our bib numbers and grab some bagels and juice. We listen to speeches and grab more bagels and juice. When all the speakers finally finish I am fully hydrated and bloated.

8:30AM. The rain hasn’t let up so the start is delayed for an hour. We finally mount our bicycles and roll out. I’m singing in the rain Law responds with a gurgling aria of his own. The wind begins to pick up. As I approach an umbrella of trees I decide it’s a good spot to dry my glasses. As I pass under the trees a gust of wind pushes the water that collected right over my head. My legs were already quite wet and Mother Nature decided my torso should be as well. The torrent of rain penetrates my jacket and rolls down my neck to my back and under my shorts. The chamois absorbs the water. Ah, the wet diaper experience. I am grateful the wool and poly under shirt is doing its job in keeping me warm. I wipe my glasses and spit out water like one of those fountain statues.

11:00 AM. I’m beginning to feel hungry. Reading between the drops of rain on my glasses I pass North Cresent Road. No sign of a rest stop. Wait a minute, didn’t I see a sign for North Cresent just a few miles back. Could I have been riding in a circle? Law must have read my mind. ‘Hey didn’t we pass North Cresent before?’ he shouts above the sound of the wind and rain hitting my helmet. ‘I think so, I shout back’. We ride faster. Note, for those readers of the female persuasion - no we are not lost – we rode faster to get more oxygen into brains so we can orientate ourselves better.

11:45 AM. I see the sign for the North Ferry. We stop at a traffic circle. Law and I both turn to look at each other as if to say isn’t that where we were this morning? Just then a sweet blue haired lady rolls down her car window, ‘are you boys lost?’ she asks. Law says, ‘oh no we’re just looking for Crescent Beach and Quinipet Camp.’ That Law, he’s a real babe magnet.
‘Oh,’ she says. ‘You’re going in the wrong direction.’ ‘Go back up the hill and …’ What! She wants us to go back up that hill. We turn around and ride faster. See note above, the oxygen technique works!

12:15 PM. We stop in a café along the beach and order 2 cups of coffee. The bay is cover with rolling waves and white caps. I rest my bicycle against the railing. Just as I turn to take picture of Law a gust blows my $1,500 custom Tesch bicycle over. As I watch it fall, I suddenly flash back 12 years.
My 45th birthday. I had hit the mid-life age. Like most men of that age I felt the urge., ‘I can’t get no oh… sa-tis-faction’ and I wanted satisfaction. While reading that morning’s paper an ad caught my eye. ‘Single female, looking for a male companion to bicycle cross country….’ I turn the page, it continued, ‘please send photo of bicycle.’ That’s what I want. That’ll get me sat-is-faction, something thing hot! A custom built sweet heart of a bicycle! I’ll buy that Custom Tesch.
No way was I going to let my sweetheart fall. I grab it just before the handle bar hits the pavement. Law yells ‘great catch’. I snap the photo of Law. We mount our bicycles and ride away ‘High Noon’ style, I squint to see between the rain drops on my glasses, as the theme from ‘A fist full of Dollars’ plays in my mind.

1:15PM. It’s still raining. Water is rushing down the hill from the camp as we approach. It seems that every MS ride always finishes with a long up hill. But wait. This one is different it has running water. No matter. I’m looking forward to a hot shower, a hot drink and lottsa food. In the meantime I’m having a close encounter of the Salmon kind, swimming upstream and dying exhausted.
The wind shifts and I catch the odor of wet woolens combined with fish oil. Holy Mackerel! I should bottle this scent. It would guarantee the wearer a subway car to themselves.
Dinner at the camp was excellent. It was catered by Chef Michael Bliss who owns and runs two restaurants. I selected a Cesar Salad, the 5 spice roasted chicken, pie ala mode. Law had Cesar Salad, roasted LI veggies with pasta, and homemade Vanilla ice cream.

I would like to thank everyone for their generous pledges. There were very few photo ops the first day while we were riding due to the very wet conditions. About 250 riders registered, 100 riders signed in. In reality, Saturdays ride was shortened because of the rain. Most of the rider were sagged back to Camp Quinipet for safety reasons. Law and I were already past the short cut where one could shorten the ride. However getting lost and following the directions given to us by a local we ended up riding 55-62 miles. Day 2 was better in that there was no rain but the swirling gusty winds were a challenge.

Follow this Link to the pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bicyclistken/TwinForksMS150?authkey=Gv1sRgCNO3gJmLy9TxNg&feat=directlink

No Magnolia Muffins Ride

2010-06-22T08:43:00.009-04:00

Wow, it's been a while since my last entry. I've been riding, but inexcusably not writing. So, I finally finished a Jeff ride and decided to write about it. I've caught several of his SBRA B-, and B rides before, though all while midway into, or just finishing my own ride. As I said, I finally finished this one. However I actually didn't start with the group. I met them midway, as I was late in getting to the meeting spot. Anyway, arguably the best part of any ride are the food stops. Though on a previous ride I threw my back out bending over to pick up one of those blueberry filled muffins. No, these muffins are not from the over rated Magnolia Bakery but from the local L.I. Briermere Farm .

Winter Riding

2010-03-07T15:12:00.006-05:00

Winter has it's own beauty. However riding in 4-5 inches of snow creates a myriad of problems. Safety is the main problem. However Nordic Skiing is one of the best aerobic execises when bicycling is not possible and the best thing is there are no cars. We caught The 550 acre Muttontown Preserve on a cloudless morning after a heavy snow. Unfortunately it lasted only for a few days.

Vitus for Sale

2009-09-15T20:05:00.005-04:00

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

2009-09-15T13:07:00.007-04:00

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

2009-07-11T19:38:00.002-04:00

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

2009-06-14T22:14:00.012-04:00

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

2009-06-01T19:26:00.006-04:00

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

2009-05-24T14:42:00.013-04:00

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

2009-05-16T21:23:00.037-04:00

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?

2009-05-03T18:16:00.004-04:00

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

2009-04-26T08:36:00.010-04:00

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

2009-04-18T19:04:00.026-04:00

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

2009-03-21T14:52:00.021-04:00

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

2009-02-22T09:29:00.014-05:00

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

2009-01-13T07:49:00.010-05:00

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.

2009-01-06T09:17:00.009-05:00

'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

2009-01-05T18:39:00.017-05:00

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.

Long Island to Block Island

2008-12-16T19:42:00.010-05:00

A few years back a group of us took extras days off and extended our bicycling weekend, touring Island to Island. We started from Hampton Bays rode to Montauk and caught the the Ferry to Block Island. Two of the historic Inns. The National Hotel and The Surf Hotel.

A Tale of two Votes

2008-11-24T07:50:00.012-05:00

It was the worst of times, It was the best of times. It was a long cold spell in early March 2007 when temperatures were in the teens. We were discussing plans for the family's annual Spring Holiday. I suggested we head West where there was good Spring Skiing as there wasn't any good snow in the Northeast. Other members had their own ideas. Being a good natured person and naive to a plot that had been hatched, I suggested we vote on it, secret ballots, everyone write on a piece of paper their destination choice. I lost, by two votes. I'm not a gracious loser, but in this case, hey, It's dirty job but somebody has to do it.

The Tour de France in French

2008-11-19T18:41:00.008-05:00

Since Lance left the Tour de France American interest has declined but the French have figured how to 'arouse' American interest in it again.

Aquebogue and Jamesport

2008-11-11T19:36:00.018-05:00

Out in the east end of Long Island the summer rental crowds are gone and everything seems to return to its bucolic state. The trees, compared to the Catskill Mountains are not as showy with their colors, the sandy beaches and the gold brown seagrass of the salt marshes all add to the tranquility. These photos were taken along my bicycle route from Aquebogue to Jamesport and Mattituck.

Bethpage State Park

2008-11-09T14:18:00.011-05:00

This path runs from the middle of the Island in Bethpage to the south shore village of Massapequa New York, paralleling the southern section of the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. Despite the fact that it is in the heart of a densely populated area, it provides a quiet, bucolic environment that is rare in this part of the island. The northern starting point of the path is the Bethpage State Park picnic area.

Back To The East End

2008-10-19T18:27:00.018-04:00

Back to the East End of Long Island this weekend, back to beaches, farms, vineyards and flat roads. The sun is setting earlier as winter is slowly but surly coming. Retuning later than expected from my ride I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture the changing colors of the setting sun reflecting off the Peconic Bay. I paid the penality for stopping. My legs stiffened and my fingers numbed from the cold as I struggled to maintain a pace during the last few miles toward home. It's not too soon to plan for an alternative to my bicycling weekends. Door Number One or Door Number Two

Catskills Fall Foliage

2008-10-15T09:36:00.016-04:00

The date of this MTB ride in Minnewaska State Park Preserve was agreed upon several months in advance. However no amount of planning assures that you will see the fall foliage at its peak. We got lucky as the colors and the weather couldn't be better. Minnewaska Preserve is part of the Shawangunk Ridge located in a sparsely populated area in the Catskills. The carriage trails provide the most spectacular views. The Nature Conservancy has designated the preserve as one of the "75 Last Great Places on Earth".

North Fork Pumpkin Picking

2008-10-06T15:18:00.010-04:00

It's mid Fall, as I bicycle pass the farms they are full of families with children picking pumpkins and losing each other in the tall corn stalk mazes. Most pumpkins are made into jack-o-lanterns and with stacks of hay and corn stalks used as decorations for halloween and the fall season.

Lehman College

2008-10-01T10:54:00.009-04:00

Though not bicycling related this thought is a recurring theme. Only three weeks into the 2008 Fall school term. I'm seriously beginning to feel it's my time to retire as each freshman class appears to be younger and more naive than the previous. Some instructors see their naiveté as youthful enthusiasm. I am not so sure. But as I walk around the Campus I decided to preserve some images.

Fall Farm Harvest

2008-09-26T16:29:00.011-04:00

It's Fall out East, the farms stands are displaying their harvests. It's always a colorful and amazing display of what the land provides. My bicycle ride is always interupted in the morning by the smell of fresh baked doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and in the afternoon by pumpkin pies and a glass of fresh squeezed apple cider at Wickham's Farm

Tour Of The Hamptons

2008-09-22T10:09:00.012-04:00

The Tour of The Hamptons organized by The Massapequa Park Bicycle Club is a bicycle tour through the summer playground of New York's Rich and Shameless. The club offers tours from 25 miles up to a century.

Hurricane Hanna 2008

2008-09-08T20:56:00.017-04:00

Hurricane Hanna more or less shut down the entire day not much one can do, but sit it out. I decided to shoot Hanna safely from inside of my house, I was hoping to capture the dreariness outside and my boredom from being inside.

Sunday morning. Hanna had left the NY area Saturday evening. She also left piles of broken branches and leaves making most of the roads unrideable. Hanna shut down my bicycling for the entire weekend. I consoled myself with some Shinn Chardonny.

Shinn Estate Vineyard

2008-09-04T21:46:00.019-04:00

The Shinn Estate Vineyards is one of the smaller of over 25 Vineyards in Long Island's North Fork. The tranquil and peaceful setting reminds me of a Zen Garden. I didn't try the wines, but definitely will when being steady on two wheels is not required.

Mattituck to Greenport Again

2008-08-27T16:06:00.012-04:00

Greenport is a favorite destination. From there other tour options are available, take a short cruise on the Shelter Island ferry to enjoy the view of the Harbor. While on the Island follow SBRA's BBB scenic bicycle tour of the Island. Return to Greenport and enjoy lunch, or snack, or dinner. Then work off the calories by riding back to your starting point.

Orient Point State Park

2008-08-19T18:20:00.010-04:00

A ride to Orient Point State Park was this weekends destination. Orient though not as popular as Montauk with its light house, is primarily a nature preserve. The summer nesting of Ospreys, Common Terns and Piping Plovers are the attraction here. During the nesting season Park Rangers are available with educational programs on these endangered birds.

Nesting Osprey

Orient Point Salt Marsh

Piping Plover protected area

Lobster Trap Markers

Wildlife Crossing

Cars and Bicyclists

2008-08-10T17:55:00.013-04:00

After reading this article Bicyclist and Cars I was not as surprised as the writer seem to be, by the conflict between motorist and bicyclist. Another article in which an SUV owner harassed a bicyclist was reported in the Seattle PI. The attitude of "I own the road" appears to more prevelent of SUV owners, yet in the same breath they are the first to to whine and cry about the rising price of gasoline. Hopefully gas prices will continue to rise so more drivers will become riders and maybe understand what "share the road means."

Greenport Sunset

2008-08-08T08:44:00.011-04:00

Greenport Sunset
Originally uploaded by bicyclistken

After a late ride back from Shelter Island and the sun started to set I decided to have dinner in Greenport and wait for the train back to Riverhead.

All Dressed Up And No Race To Go

2008-08-04T15:42:00.000-04:00

All dressed up and no race to go. My bicycle racing days are long over at least in the peloton with the big wheels - the elite Category ones and twos and possibly even the Masters. I've tried getting in touch with my domestique side and realized carrying water was too much work. So, this Friday I decided to attend the evening races at Suffolk Community College in Riverhead - as a spectator of course.

The Peloton.

The Chase Group.

The Breakaway.

Harlem Valley Rails Trail Millerton, New York

2008-07-28T18:17:00.011-04:00

Since there are no hills to speak of in Long Island's Suffolk County I decided this weekend to take on the foothills of The Berkshires. You might call it my own private Alpe d'Huez. This ride was a 2 day event organized by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Bike New York. The first 10 miles are flat as we're on the Harlem Valley Line's Rails Trail. This abandoned rail track is now paved as a muti-use recreational trail. In 1845, the New York State Legislature authorized further rail road extension northward to create a connection with Albany. This inland route later became known as the "Harlem Valley" line. The valley route was easier and less costly to construct than a route following the Hudson River. However, competing business interests in cities along the river simultaneously started construction on The Hudson River Railroad. This competing project was completed at almost the same time and eventually became the primary route. The inland counties of Putnam and Dutchess formerly served by the Harlem Valley Line was known as The Harlem Valley and is still called that today.

The first 10 miles on the Rails to Trails.

The first rest stop at Wassaic. Ten miles south of Millerton.

What hill? Piece of cake.

No need to pedal for this hill!

The Shinnecock Inlet

2008-07-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

The hottest day so far this summer. I took a short ride to the Ocean to catch some cool off shore breezes. I got off my bicycle to watch this Catamaran sail into the Shinnecock Inlet. After a few minutes it was getting chilly. The high humidity combined with the ocean breeze was cooling me down too quickly. I decided to start off to my next stop Southampton across the inlet, you can see mobile campers on the beach in the background.

Florence Bicycle Club

2008-07-14T18:45:00.000-04:00

Nothing exciting this weekend so I dug this up from my travel archives. We were hiking through Tuscany at the time and it was early Sunday morning in Florence. We stopped for breakfast in the cafe across from this bicycle shop. As we sat down with some espresso and rolls this group of bicyclists came in gulped some espresso smoked 2 cigaretts and left. They appeared ready for their century fueled with cafeine and nicotine. No sissy carb loading for these guys.

Cicada Seeks Love on Route 51

2008-06-21T21:27:00.000-04:00

Before starting out this morning I decided to inflate my tires to the recommended 130PSI's. I had been riding them slightly under inflated at 100 PSI's, believing that the increased rolling resistance would result in an increased training effect. I will needed every advantage to keep up with the SBRA 'B Animals' today. Turning onto the hard macadam pavement of Hubbard Road I started to hear the familiar buzz of the tires. In fact the 130 PSI made it louder than than usual, a runner 15 feet ahead turned around and moved to the side. On Route 51 I increased my pace, cresting the hill I started to pedaled harder that's when I heard an unfamiliar whirling sound. I thought my fork was resonating due to the higher tire pressure. Suddenly there was a loud pop from the rear followed by the unmistakeable hissing of air running out of the tire. I muttered a few choice words, stopped the bicycle and got off. Between swating at large bugs trying to land on me and sweat burning my eyes I eventually changed the tube. I inflated the tire and moaned, there was a large gash on the side wall exposing the replaced inner tube. It was too risky to ride further, better to get home safely. At home I did some research on the bugs. According to entomologist Dr. Frank Hale, with the University of Tennessee Extension in Nashville, the bugs were Cicadas. "Cicadas are very social insects", he says. "Every 17 years thousands of male Cicadas aggregate to sing." "The females are attracted by their love calls and because of this aggregation tendency, both sexes are attracted to noisy machines like lawn mowers and farm tractors." I would add also the buzzing of high pressure bicycle tires! "People can be unsettled by the 1 1/2-inch bugs' with red eyes (except for rare white-eyed ones) their clumsy flight and their tendency to assume anything upright is a landing spot for their tryst." I can confirm that! Some thought I was there to answer their 'Female Cicadas seeking bicyclist for mating tryst' personals.

My blown tire

Cicada Love

Mattituck Strawberry Festival

2008-06-10T19:02:00.005-04:00

Bicycling to an event destination has a special appeal to most riders. You can get some excercise, enjoy the scenery enroute, and when you arrive there's food, and often entertainment. At times it feels like the celebration was for your arrival. The Mattituck Strawberry Festival is one ride I have enjoyed for many years in the past, but this weekend's festival was a disappointment. The huge numbers of cars waiting to enter the festival forced all thru traffic into the right lane slowing traffic to a crawl. Impatient drivers illegally passed on the shoulder coming dangerously close to the group of bicyclist. At this point everyone agreed to skip the traffic and the festival. The festival has grown too big. It was no longer a local event. It has become a big commercial production and has lost its charm and fun.

New Suffolk

2008-06-09T18:21:00.001-04:00

My Plan was to get up early, however getting up at 8:30 is not early. Though some of my retired friends would argue that. I just couldn't get out of bed! Still it was early enough to avoid the heat and humidity. Well here I am on Main Street New Suffolk. My bicycle resting on the bench between Summer Girl and Legends. Total of 11.2 Miles.

On the return trip I passed this clammer in Downs Creek walking toward the house with a bucketful of clams. An ice cold beer with clams on the half shell!

Another Rainy Saturday

2008-06-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

This is possibly the 5th or 6th Saturday since April that the weather forecast called for possible thunder showers. Spring in New York is so undependable. Despite the forecast I decided to go out for an early "quickie" before the rain. The rain came down simultaneously with my stepping out the door. I sat on the deck depressed fully outfitted, shod, gloved and helmeted. Thirty minutes later the sun came out and the roads dried. Halfway through my "quickie" thick clouds rolled in. I continued my ride praying that the Bicycling Gods would be kind to me. Come to think of it, whose names would be on that list?.

High tide was above normal. The bridge over Meeting House Creek was about an inch above the water.

The seat with the best view in the house.

Trek's newest model. The E.T built for the 2008 Tour De France.

Riverhead to Cutchogue #3 and "Sophia's Choice"

2008-05-22T11:15:00.004-04:00

Saturday, Memeorial Day weekend an opportunity to ride 3 consequetive days. More importantly our ride leader received an e-mail from Sophia Loren promising to join the ride. At 9:30 AM about 19 Sophia Loren groupies gathered with their bicycles at the Riverhead Town Marina, many whom would remember Sophia Loren. But by 10:00 AM the group was ready to leave "Sophia-less". As we started off everyone quietly acknowledged "Sophia's Choice" was Carlo and not our ride leader.
The complete set of photos are here.

"Fashionable" post ride snack

2008-05-18T17:55:00.000-04:00

One ride leader, in order to get more people to join his ride, added "dinner at a fashionable restuarant", Here's my "fashionable" lunch at a unfashionable dining establishment "Home."

Riverhead to Cutchogue, #2

2008-05-18T17:02:00.000-04:00

The first time this season riding 2 days back to back. I had anticipated the second day to be tough. However with unexpected headwind of 15-20 mph from the west the ride back was miserable. I stopped to give my legs a needed break. It was low tide and walking onto a sand bar I took this shot. I suddenly had a craving for a Conch (Scungilli) Salad.

Farm Stand Vegetables

2008-05-15T22:50:00.002-04:00

Farm Stand Vegetables
Originally uploaded by bicyclistken

Bayview Farms in Aquebogue. One of the many bountiful Farms along the main Road in the North Fork. A good place for bicyclists to stop for roasted corn, home made pie, apple cider or lemonade.

Reeves Bay Sunrise

2008-05-08T09:21:00.002-04:00

I Woke up early to get a short ride in before work. I was doubly rewarded for my efforts.

Riverhead to Cutchogue #1

2008-05-05T19:38:00.000-04:00

Meeting in Rivehead's waterfront at 9:30 AM.

Hava and Norm with their Trek Tandem

Bob, Norman and Hava round up the group

Bob and Rich

Norm and Hava saddle up

Bob decides to model his outfit

Norm and Hava in New Suffolk

Rich and Sue

Rich and Tricia

Dusk On The Peconic Bay

2008-04-14T08:11:00.003-04:00

Dusk On The Peconic BaY
bicyclistken

It was a late afternoon ride and I had to wait until a sudden thunder shower had passed. Just about a mile from home I stopped on the bridge over the creek to admire and capture this view.

Shelter Island

2008-03-13T13:31:00.001-04:00

Shelter Island is nestled between the North and South Forks of Long Island. The island is around 8,000 acres in size. However, vast tracts are protected wetlands nature preserve marshland. Nearly one-third of the island is owned by The Nature Conservancy and kept in a forever-wild state. The Island can be reached via ferry from Greenport to the north (approximately 15-minute trip) or from North Haven to the south (approximately 5-minute trip).

On the Greenport Ferry

Goose Neck Pond

Silver Beach

Briemere Pie Ride

2008-03-12T08:13:00.001-04:00

The Briermere Pie ride lead by Barbara a SBRA and ADK trip leader. The ride name refers to the rest stop for a slice of pie at Briemere Farms.

Peconic Bay

Jamesport Marina

Peach Cherry, Blueberry or Apple Pie?

One of each please.

Anyone want a second piece?

Thanks, one will do for now.
Hmm... on second thought, the additional fuel will come in handy

Winter Bicycling?

2008-02-20T20:50:00.005-05:00

While not exactly bicycling, Nordic Skiing or cros country skiing is my winter alternative to bicycling. The aerobic benefits is arguably equivalent. But the enjoyment of New York's Adirondack Park , 6.1 million acres of wilderness, has no equal.

Snow covered and primed.

My Bicycle

2008-02-12T17:46:00.000-05:00

My bicycle it's almost my constant companion. Some one once said to me, 'I'm surprised you don't take that thing to bed with you!' I replied 'I don't need to, when I'm asleep I have a 'dream bicycle' and I am smugly bypassing gas stations, and SUV's waiting at the traffic circle in The Hamptons.

Profile of my custom built Tesch. First generation lugless design.

Seat stays blending into the seat tube and seat bolt binder.

Ishiwata oversized fork and lugless fork crown.

The jewel-like finish of the Campagnolo Crank.

The compact Simano 13-22 9 speed cassette. A smooth shifting and quiet combination, the only sound is the beating of my heart at 145 BPM and the buzzing of the 110 PSI kevlar tires on the macadam road.