Classic & Vintage - who's up for a century on Long Island in July?

I will be spending the summer on Long Island again and would be happy to organize a century there. My preference, at this point, it any of the first three weekends in July.

We would be on the eastern half of the Island. My idea is a century, starting and ending either at my house there, or at Long Island Rail Road stations. The scenery could include any of the following: pine forest, duck farms, sod farms, vineyards, Long Island Sound, Peconic Bay, Atlantic Ocean beach, millionaire homes, marinas, protected wetlands, The Big Duck, Shelter Island, touristy towns, old windmills and the like, the lighthouse at Montauk Point, and a great deal more. It's not possible to squeeze all of the above into one 100 mile ride, but I could arrange a ride that covers most of it, depending on what people want to see. We could do a loop, or take the train one way... I don't know all the roads, but it's very hard to get lost on Long Island.

All riding would be on paved roads. There are no dirt roads on Long Island; only sand and asphalt. There are some topographical features the locals call "hills," but people from most other parts of the country would not recognize them as such.

It would be possible to come by train from NYC and return there by train after the ride, but from anywhere else you'd have to spend at least one night on Long Island. Therefore: some accommodation, rather spartan (camping on my lawn, that is) can be arranged.

So... who's interested?

I'm in for sure.

Longest ride i've done before is 100k and that was last summer in Hunterdon Co. with you and JunkYardBike. I think I can handle 100mi being that its mostly flat.

I'd probably have to camp on the lawn the night before otherwise i'd have to get up way too freakin early to make it to your place at a reasonable hour of the AM. I'd drive out from Morris Co. NJ and I've got room on my bike rack for 2 others, so anyone who wants to hitch a ride is welcome to.

Maybe head over on a Saturday evening and Ride on a Sunday?

I'm interested. So far, my calendar is clear the first, second and fifth weekend in July.

I'd love to come down for that, camping on Rudi's lawn either Fri or Sat night and driving back after the ride. I've got a relatively flat 200K ride planned in June, so a relatively flat 100 mi would be nice, too. The weekend in July that likely won't work for me is the last one (7/29-30).

Neal

I'm in, just settle on a date so I can clean my calendar.

Cool!

I should mention, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't have to be a weekend. I figure most people work during the week, which is why I suggest a weekend, but I can take off a day during the week no problem. Summer is summer, after all.

Work in a stop at a lobster shack and I'd try my best to make it.

Work in a stop at a lobster shack and I'd try my best to make it.

I'm not into lobster, myself, which is why I didn't think of that. But we have an excellent place to buy fresh lobsters locally, and they're not that hard to cook, right? If you want lobster, we can do lobster. I'm going to make you eat that outside, you understand!

You're probably aware that the Five Borough Bike Club has an annual Montauk century ride (with 65, 100, 145 and 2-day century formats), and it's this weekend. Might be a starting place for routes. They generally use the LIRR stations as starting points.
http://www.5bbc.org/montauk/2011/
http://www.5bbc.org/montauk/2011/faq.shtml

I'd be interested, though I've never done a ride more than about 35 miles.

woo! Lobster!

Okay, bump to see if anyone else is interested. I will be taking this to private messages and/or email shortly, so we can select the best weekend and start hammering out details. So... anyone with any interest, please let me know. Not looking for commitment, you understand.

Charles, yes, I am aware of the Montauk Century and other big Long Island rides. But I don't like 'big' rides. I don't like paying fees so I can ride my bike. I'd be interested in seeing the routes they take; but only mildly.

Riding a century sounds more intimidating than it is. If you can ride 35 miles comfortably, I have no doubt you can ride a lot farther. Anyway... if the market demands it, I will cook up a Metric century route for the... uh... can I say faint of heart?

Later!

Just need the date so i can claim that weekend. Sooner the better chances of me being able to do that.

Consider me interested largely depending on the specific date.

I can do the fist three weeks.

Where do we stand on this?

Good to go offlist, I think! I've got the names of the people who have expressed interest, and will be getting in touch by private message. As for the rest of the internet.. ride pics to follow!

Hey is this still open? I missed this until about 20 minutes ago. Let me know......

I better get lobster.

And so it happened that as the sun set over Long Island on Friday, no one noticed it. Those on the ground saw nothing but clouds and rain. The rain continued into the night a half dozen forum members tried to sleep, two on the kids' beds, one on the sofa, three on the floor, all listening to the rain as it poured down, hour after hour, and all thinking, no doubt, whose idea was this?

Nonetheless at about 6:10 Saturday morning they all gathered in the driveway, eager to get underway towards the first stop, a diner where we would have breakfast.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5921927638_d50ba05a60_b.jpg

The weather had improved considerably! But in low lying areas where drainage is poor, the water remained. Did this bother anyone? No, I don't think so....
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5921362177_7a9c53afb1_b.jpg

The literal high point of our ride may have been the top of a bridge....
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6145/5921928286_83c47741cc_b.jpg

We managed to pass by and through a pretty good variety of Long Island ecosystems and landmarks, with views of several major bodies of water from the Atlantic Ocean to Long Island Sound and a half dozen bays between. They all look subtly different, though in photos it is hard to tell them apart:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5921928616_4e4c13bf6a_b.jpg

There were no injuries, no flat tires, and no major mechanical issues; though one rider suffered cramps and was forced to quit a little past the halfway point (he and his bike hitched a ride back without much trouble!) and an ornery front derailleur was retired from service a little later to enjoy the rest of the ride resting peacefully in a handlebar bag.

Total miles about 105, a bit more for those who made wrong turns because (on one occasion) they didn't follow the cue sheet and (on a second) they did (bad cue sheet. Sorry!). Total time elapsed, about twelve hours. Beat that, Robbie!

Sounds like you guys lucked out with the weather, and that it was a great ride! Thanks for the pics, Rudi. Can you put names to the faces?

Rhm, me, junkyarddog, zaphod, velognome, nlearner, noglider

Thanks to rhm and his wife for being such gracious hosts. The ride scenery was beautiful and the company unparalleled. rhm was ride leader extraordinaire, shepherding us to the finish on his vintage Counterpoint. You should see him spin on that thing!

Yes, much thanks to Rudi and Jennifer for hosting our motley crew, and thanks to you all for putting up with this old man. My adventure included ferry rides from New London, CT, to Orient Pt, LI, so that's where the pics start:

Some bicycling action in New London:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y9wOrimfC4c/ThmbWFbgDNI/AAAAAAAALwM/faumiNhsbg4/s800/1000000325.JPG

On the ferry. Glad I didn't put the bike on the roof rack!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mIx1lnRtpmc/ThmbeKPmIfI/AAAAAAAALwc/ZgI8JJFzsXc/s800/1000000326.JPG

At our essential first stop: a diner for breakfast:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bqdFW0XN-lE/Thmbtzbmw6I/AAAAAAAALxM/N_H-Xl2QW-I/s800/1000000330.JPG

Tom's looking for puddles:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JU2kXVE8zOU/Thmk-nSZY1I/AAAAAAAALyY/x57LTGBVqw8/s800/1000000336.JPG

As are Rudi and Dan (who were wearing matching jerseys):
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q_DmM4wSKcw/ThmldVgn0eI/AAAAAAAALy4/ClJ-jHflz9Q/s800/1000000338.JPG

On one of two Shelter Island ferries. The boys chat up the gal with the bikini:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-enBYyC4qS38/ThmlrWs-0GI/AAAAAAAALzM/JVbPJgQBUDg/s800/1000000339.JPG

Ferry #2. Check out those matching jerseys! -holiday tries issuing threats to his Campy front derailler:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fh920Qjs6C4/Thmlv6E-mAI/AAAAAAAALzU/924wuKfdVGQ/s800/1000000340.JPG

That salted blood nutty goat ice cream sure was good!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8XPdQPB-Yio/Thml4pICCcI/AAAAAAAALzo/uJRWgt0pQ68/s800/1000000342.JPG

Velognome with the best friggin' Italian ice this side of Italy:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IzoJqyAS4Os/ThmmC03Jq8I/AAAAAAAAL0M/HRSfBxi3b8U/s800/1000000344.JPG

To many more miles (and rest stops) together!

Neal

Thanks for the pics, Rudi. Can you put names to the faces?

No, I'm really bad with names, Bob!

here's a better pic where at least my eyes are open.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zijj-Fxg4FA/ThmgQOgVy6I/AAAAAAAAEXU/SJUvC_qGMfM/s912/1000002625.JPG

This pic was taken with the Joe Englert method of bike picture taking. It's my Carlton, obviously.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qT3RblqLn9c/ThmgOnLWpbI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/S9E_-MD7F5M/s512/1000002627.JPG

to get a better idea of what the flooding looked like. I think Velognome was giving me the finger here. Actually I guess he's just taking a pic

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WNvdQsSfpzs/ThmgNL5k4mI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/BeXrmRJWSq4/s512/1000002630.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kjJchqyICfk/ThmgL6wjitI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/Gt2EnadPj10/s512/1000002632.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J-Vh0s3SXlE/ThmgK_LFcQI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/JYNrd2mrU1A/s512/1000002635.JPG

My Carlton has now visited the Hamptons (oohhh, ahhh).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xtqK3cjj_Ls/ThmgIj4zjrI/AAAAAAAAEXw/2405qr4aqoI/s640/1000002638.JPG

Noglider started talking to about the virtues of Rivendell and Grant Peterson, so we did the right thing. Don't worry, we went back for him a few hours later.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0ScyydVQ3I8/ThmgH5FuVdI/AAAAAAAAEX4/p_lyrAuOHsI/s512/1000002640.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2x51yIwhbHE/ThmgG0HC0lI/AAAAAAAAEYc/Db_pKks7Zpw/s512/1000002642.JPG

Here's my Carlton is front of a tree, right before I sat down in front of it, and then it fell on my head. This was 60 or so miles into the ride I think.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q2C70jsP3-4/ThmgEoUlruI/AAAAAAAAEYs/Z8hU14k3jDs/s640/1000002645.JPG

So, I had a great time. I wanted to thank Rudi and Jennifer for graciously having us in your house and for organizing this ride. You did great! We'll do it again sometime!

I wanted to thanks Noglider and Velognome for the ride back to my train in New Jersey. Also, thanks for the hub Tom!

Neal, thank you for that rim, it's cute.

Zaphod and Junkyardbike, you didnt give me anything at all for free. Neither for my bikes or my person, so I'm not going to thank you at all.


awkward silence.




no actually, you too are great. I guess.


Thanks for nothing.



Overall I had a great time! Again, we have a wonderful forum with a bunch of exceptional people. This is a great community, unlike no other online community IMO. I hope we can do this again soon.

Here's how the time went for me:

Friday morning pack my bike and stuff up in my car, drive 1 hour from outside Philly to Trenton NJ to get train. Ride train to NYC, penn station. Get on Long ISland Rail and ride to Jamaica (Which is nothing like the island), and switch to yet another train. Rode that train for another hour or two, then biked 13 miles to Rudi's house. All of that took about 7 hours.

Then we hung out, went to bed at midnight (thanks for not snoring Learner...) got up at 5:30, rode for 12 hours and 105 miles. Then we had a few drinks, got a shower (not together) and I got a ride back to NJ with Noglider and Velognome. They dropped me off at Metro Park (is that a town or just a train station name?) at which time i got a 45 minute train ride back to my car. All said and done I got home at about 2am.

My 1 year old crawled on my head in bed at 6am this morning and woke me up. Needless to say i'm tired, but happy. It was a great time.

Zaphod and Junkyardbike, you didnt give me anything at all for free. Neither for my bikes or my person, so I'm not going to thank you at all.

You're just bitter I dropped you like a rock on the final sprint - riding on a rapidly deflating tire no less. In fact, I probably burned through the cords with the torque I generated. It was pathetic watching you spin hopelessly on your small front ring.

Hey, JYB, what model Trek were you riding, anyway?

Neal

Hey, JYB, what model Trek were you riding, anyway?

Madone 6.9 OCLV2 SSL

You're just bitter I dropped you like a rock on the final sprint - riding on a rapidly deflating tire no less. In fact, I probably burned through the cords with the torque I generated. It was pathetic watching you spin hopelessly on your small front ring.

it's true. I was awed by your display of raw power.

Inspect your tires gentleman. I found about 10 shards of glass inbedded in my rear and patched 5 small tears in the tube. I suppose I shouldn't blame it all on the Montauk Highway, though. I think only one large shard was the main culprit.

I guess you didn't see the handful of tacks I dropped as I was pulling down that last stretch.

Neal

lol you guys are good sports to be as gracious as were in putting up with me as you were when you left me ;) :)

I pretty much had my death of leg cramps somewhere after the half-way mark and caught a ride home with some friendly locals with a minivan. So turns out I'm all talk and should probably stick to metric centuries for now.

here's the pics I had.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7NJe03c5pxs/ThnzuH-pwSI/AAAAAAAACfI/Q0ALA3uldKQ/s640/IMG_0227.JPG

at a rest stop here's nlerner's english bike (i forget the marque)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ysrmRxfgkYs/ThnzvP1XzDI/AAAAAAAACfM/kpTbBDs_1HQ/s640/IMG_0229.JPG

rudi's recumbent
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-241017nKR_s/ThnzwNXK3oI/AAAAAAAACfQ/cdhdBMJZGnw/s640/IMG_0230.JPG

more bikes, andrew's Raleigh clubman, Tom's Mclean, brian's Carlton Flyer, and my World Voyageur.


and Pete the dog
[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LexYVd0XPR0/Thnzs5b83UI/AAAAAAAACfE/5kNPLAxrNcM/s512/IMG_0224.JPG

i had a great time, thanks to the hosts and thanks to the rest of you old farts.

I guess you didn't see the handful of tacks I dropped as I was pulling down that last stretch.

That's because I was in front of you, Neal.


more bikes, andrew's Raleigh clubman, Tom's Mclean, brian's Carlton Flyer, and my World Voyageur.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gGT6cDxBn_g/Thnzx6p-taI/AAAAAAAACfY/9QjTiS8W_Nw/s640/IMG_0232.JPG

Oh sure, my Madone doesn't merit a pic, does it?

Good picture of Pete the dog! He'd be very proud, if he understood the honor. But to him, it was honor enough to meet y'all.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LexYVd0XPR0/Thnzs5b83UI/AAAAAAAACfE/5kNPLAxrNcM/s512/IMG_0224.JPG

I believe he was thinking: Woah, is that an iphone? Cool! Rudi's to cheap to get one of those. Heck, he won't even let me play with the POS one he has.

Here's some scenery:

210066
5:45am Foggy or maybe it was just me?
210067
Zaphods Dreamcycle

Here's my Carlton is front of a tree, right before I sat down in front of it, and then it fell on my head. This was 60 or so miles into the ride I think.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q2C70jsP3-4/ThmgEoUlruI/AAAAAAAAEYs/Z8hU14k3jDs/s640/1000002645.JPG

Fork's bent.

More below average photograpy of incredible events:
210068
JYB looking cool with wet feet-What year is that Trek?
210069
Shelter Island was like a time warp. I was waiting for Aunt Bee and Opy to bring us cool lemondade. Oh, the Itialian Ice was incredible! ( Shamless pic. of my not so C&V Clubman)
210070
Headless riders- this kinda shot works well for Bloggers so I though I'd give it a try
210071
Waiting for the Ferry to Greenport ...and for Tom & Neal, They took the scenic route across the Island....? Wait aren't all the roads scenic in the land of the Rich and Famous?
210072
Boat goes here
210073
And from Greenport is was a quick 52 miles through vinyards, farms, rolling hills, pine forests, sweet old ladies tending lighthouses, being mocked by woodchucks, buzzed by Hawks, and greeted by all the beautiful people. "Good morning ladies!"

Pic assist. Looks like a great time.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6149/5921927638_d50ba05a60_b.jpg


Rhm, me, junkyarddog, zaphod, velognome, nlearner, noglider

Here's some scenery:

210066


Tom, am I seeing it wrong or do you have massive quads? What do you do... ride centuries daily? Or move furniture?

Fork's bent.

I know, it's called rake. Duh.

Tom, am I seeing it wrong or do you have massive quads? What do you do... ride centuries daily? Or move furniture?

If I remember correctly, Tom's thighs had their own thread awhile back. Now I see why.

You're giving the rest of us thigh envy...?

JYB looking cool with wet feet-What year is that Trek?

And it only took you one try to get that shot! :)

The Trek is from 1915, a rare prototype.

I bought some plums when we were nearing the finish line. They weren't very good, and I dropped my last one on the ground at rhm's house, and I offered it to Petey the dog. He ate the plum!