rhm

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?

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

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?

JunkYardBike

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

nlerner

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

Velognome 

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

rhm

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.

mudboy

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

rhm

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!

Charles Wahl

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.
https://www.5bbc.org/montauk/2011/
https://www.5bbc.org/montauk/2011/faq.shtml

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

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

woo! Lobster!

rhm

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!

-holiday76

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

Holden McNeil

Consider me interested largely depending on the specific date.

nikkorod

I can do the fist three weeks.

nikkorod

Where do we stand on this?

rhm

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!

fender1

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

-holiday76

I better get lobster.

rhm

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.


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....


The literal high point of our ride may have been the top of a bridge....


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:


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!

southpawboston

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?

-holiday76

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

JunkYardBike

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!

nlerner

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:


On the ferry. Glad I didn't put the bike on the roof rack!


At our essential first stop: a diner for breakfast:


Tom's looking for puddles:


As are Rudi and Dan (who were wearing matching jerseys):


On one of two Shelter Island ferries. The boys chat up the gal with the bikini:


Ferry #2. Check out those matching jerseys! -holiday tries issuing threats to his Campy front derailler:


That salted blood nutty goat ice cream sure was good!


Velognome with the best friggin' Italian ice this side of Italy:


To many more miles (and rest stops) together!

Neal

rhm

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

-holiday76

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