Northern California - My long weekend in New Jersey. (As told to uspspro)

Last weekend I flew back to the tri-state area for a quick trip to fix some minor computer problems for a client. I was able to stay in New Jersey and enjoy some of the local area rides.

Welcome to Fookin' Newark!!! ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." How Dickensian is this photo???)
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/1.jpg

Visiting the Northeast regional sub-forum, I discovered that Mayor Bloomberg decided to open up Park Avenue south of 72nd Street to bicycles and pedestrians only for 3 Saturdays in August from 7AM to 1PM.

View going south on Park Avenue toward the MetLife building.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/2.jpg

As you can see, lots of people out and about enjoying a nice, scenic ride. I thought it would be fun to try and hammer it out for a few blocks. As I was returning, going a little too fast, a rider almost t-boned me as he was leisurely taking a left turn right in front of me. I was screaming "on your left... ON YOUR LEFT!!!" Fortunately I was on the folder so I was able to maneuver rather adroitly past this. Lesson learned, don't be an idiot and try and hammer when it's basically one big MUP.

Going back north up Lafayette
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/3.jpg

On Sunday morning, I took off early from Ridgewood to head to New York State, specifically, Nyack, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of pcad, the Road Biking forum's most famous raconteur.

Heading out from Ridgewood. Note the funny town ordinance that prohibits street parking from 2-6 AM
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/4.jpg

After a quick jaunt/warmup. I climbed the local hill that has a scenic overlook of the city (approximately 25 miles away).

City view is behind my helmet to the right.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/6.jpg

Playing w/ the contrast to show you the skyline. It was hazy this morning, but you should see the Empire State building in the distance.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/5.jpg

After traveling approximately 15 miles, I crossed over the border to Rockland County in New York state.

Pearl River area
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/7.jpg
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/8.jpg

(cont'd)

After descending my 20th rolling hill, I arrived in Nyack. I figured if pcad rides here, it must be some sort of cycling mecca. Sure enough, after about 5 minutes of tooling around, I found it:

The Runcible Spoon
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/9.jpg

After refueling and getting some coffee, I headed down one last little hill toward the Hudson river and took some snaps:

Boats on the Hudson
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/10.jpg

http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/11.jpg

More boats on the Hudson (Tappan Zee Bridge in the distance)
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/12.jpg

I finished goofing around and started the return trip. I thought this was going to be a straightforward ride with minimal elevation, but for some reason I was really feeling tired on the way back.

At the 31 mile marker, I took out a Nuun tablet and dropped it into the water bottle.

31 Miles, need some salt + water
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/14.jpg

Removing the Nuun tablet from the plastic ziploc bag
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/15.jpg

Preparing to drop the Nuun tablet into my Water bottle
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/16.jpg

Random Used Eyeglass Collection box in the middle of nowhere.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/13.jpg

Almost there. Paramus is where mall hair was born.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/18.jpg

Stopping by the old High School. Yes, it's true. More than one story and the lockers are located inside the building.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/22.jpg

It turns out that what I thought was going to be an easy ride turned into 3500 feet of elevation. It wasn't bad, but after so many rolling hills and very few flats, I was happy to be back home.

Niiice! Thanks for sharing.

How can you not like the step by step instructions for the Nuun tablet :)!!!

Great looking pics, and very interesting move by Bloomberg. How was the traffic overall? Similar to the Sundays on Canada?

Random Used Eyeglass Collection box in the middle of nowhere.
http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/13.jpg


So what's the story behind this? This is just too weird ... not that it's in the middle of nowhere, but the fact that there is a used eyeglass collection box???

Nice Charles Kuralt style tour of Jersey!
The only thing though is the "Paramus"... "What exit!?" (You might be too young for the SNL reference)

Incredible Nunn sequence! A life in photo-essaying is in its embryonic form, I can feel it! :lol:

I nominate Michael to be a Rapha model, after seeing his looking wistful and total Rouleur-pose! :roflmao2:



http://www.zaftig.net/images/bike/2008nyc/11.jpg

Thanks Miguel ;)

I guess I'll never outlive that week I made you guys wait for pics/report from my trip.

Nice pics. I need to go back "home" sometime soon too (upstate NY).

Side note: In college, I did a GIS analysis of the socioeconomic inequities between Camden and Mt. Laurel. It's a huge difference, even though they are right next to each other.

Mt. Laurel:
http://image.americanhomeguides.com/metro/nho/community/Philadelphia/017125_p01.jpg

Camden:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/259775735_8b919d436d.jpg?v=0

Boy, those pics bring back some memories - I finished up college at Rutgers Newark, and lived for a while in Elizabeth, just on the other side of that big Budweiser factory you see when you land at Newark airport.

Sounds like you got some good riding in!

JB

Thanks Miguel ;)

I guess I'll never outlive that week I made you guys wait for pics/report from my trip.

Nice pics. I need to go back "home" sometime soon too (upstate NY).

Side note: In college, I did a GIS analysis of the socioeconomic inequities between Camden and Mt. Laurel. It's a huge difference, even though they are right next to each other.

Mt. Laurel:
http://image.americanhomeguides.com/metro/nho/community/Philadelphia/017125_p01.jpg

Camden:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/259775735_8b919d436d.jpg?v=0

I grew up in Mt. Holly and Lumberton and rode my bike all over Burlington County. Had an aunt who lived in Camden, close to Maple Shade, and I'd ride my bike down there at least once a week to bowl with her. No way would I do that now!

Miguel, the photos are great; glad you enjoyed your trip to the Garden State.

Hey, didn't know you're a Joisey kid! Thanks for the photos and the timely trip report!:D

Must have been fun tootling down Park Ave with no traffic!

I spent a few years in Bergen County, commuting to Westchester County over the Tappan Zee.

Glad I'm in California now, though. :thumb:

Hey, those are my old local haunts. Nice shots. Ridgewood is the Epicenter of Milfs by the way.

I spent a few years in Bergen County, commuting to Westchester County over the Tappan Zee.

Glad I'm in California now, though. :thumb:

My pal just bought a new house in Wyckoff, Bergen Cty. Loves it here. Commutes to CA all the time (he's flying back tonight we're riding tomorrow AM) and lived near Palo Alto for a couple of years (bought a house). HATED it there, sold it two years ago. Disliked everything. The lifestyle, the riding, etc.

I think I'd like it in northern CA. Just telling you what he says. I could lose the 20º winter weather here in NY, but actually, after riding in it for years, I'm kinda used to it.

You should let us know if you're ever in the area, pcad -- unlike in the road forum, I'm sure you'd have no problem getting the locals out on a ride over here....