drewpyperc

Were any of you riding across the Bear Mountain Bridge today (Saturday) at around noon? Orange jersey, possibly a Pedal Force bike (no decals at least, maybe something else). If so, I drove by you on my way home from work. Nice lookin' bike!

nycphotography

We did 3 gaps today. Lincoln Gap to Appalacian Gap to Lincoln Gap repeat in 3.5 to 4 hours.

This was a fairly short loop (none of the 20-25 mile runs between the gaps) with a repeat of the toughest gap of the 6. Ended up walking part of Lincoln the first time... and I got a really severe cramp in my right calf 1000 yards from the top on the second time. Severe as in fall on ground unable to unclip and and scream in agony for about 5 minutes until it releases. That was one evil cramp.

I do know one thing... even with sick overkill gearing (30 chainring x 34 cog) every crank of the pedals was a battle of will. It's about like climbing alpine in a 53x21 sitting down at a 40 cadence. Lincoln gap packs all the wallop in the last 2 miles, with a 20-24% grade, which literallly feels like a wall. The front wheel wants to lift off the ground on every pedal stroke, throwing you off course, and wasting precious energy.

Second repeat on Lincoln, I changed strategies... first time up, I think I ended up going faster whenever the grade let up, spinning more RPM up the hill. Second time, whenever the grade eased up, I eased up pedal pressure to go as slow as possible, and recovered a little while still moving slowly up the hill. Then when it went back to 20-24%, I mashed up solid and steady, holding only the very tops of the ears on the brifters, and pulling back for power, rather than up. This kept the front wheel planted, and let me power through each stroke.

I think 6 gaps is doable in the 12 hour window... but I have to figure out how to prevent these nasty DNF cramps.

Mazaev... Order the 11-34 cassette, XT derailler and longer chain. You WILL need the gears. but if you don't and you can't climb the gaps... not to worry since you can walk the last bit... they tend to be very steep for only a mile or two.

slvoid

Bring some V8 with you. If the gas stations along the way don't have it, drive up there before hand and stash it in a bush somewhere. It's gonna pump you full of like, 50 gels worth of potassium and sodium in 1 serving.

nycphotography

It looks like its more magnesium than potassium. LINK At least the part I can do anything about.

I'm going to add more potassium and sodium to my Gatorade (Morton Lite salt).

And get some magnesium tablets for the night before, morning of, and night after.

AlexB

Bring triples (https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3903707) and tighten your headsets for the washboard descents.

slynkie

weird coincidence i guess - i was driving across the bridge around noon on saturday, coming back from bear mtn repeats, wearing an orange jersey. trek on roof is heavy on the decals, though

slvoid

This sunday, 9/16, 8:30am to bear mountain and back?

nycphotography

I'm (most likely) in.

On the Brooklyn Bridge Tower, at the Brooklyn Tower again?

slvoid

Yeah brooklyn tower.

Bear mountain nonstop, there and back, I'm bringing my jar of vitamin R, which we'll take on the tower, then when we get to 9W we'll white line on the way there.

nycphotography

What happened... Posting at 10am??? Did you hack thru the firewall? Got pictures of the IT guy with animals?

serpico7

I might join you guys at the NJ side of the GWB - what time do you figure you'll get there?

slvoid

I took the day off, gonna head out and play golf in about 15 minutes. The IT guy's on my good side after I somehow scammed two 22" widescreen LCD's for my workstation, they didn't notice, for now...

9:30? PM me your cell #.

Mazaev

I'm in for the bridge at 8:30.

On a separate note.. any of you fellas wanna do the Gimbel's ride one of these days?

nycphotography

I do. But I also want to do 6 Gaps. And I also want to get in some serious mountain biking.

Choices choices choices.

serpico7

I'm out - going to ride tomorrow instead. I'll look to join your guys on another weekend.

.:Jimbo:.

Hey Slvoid, give me a call when you get to the top of the mountain. I'm leaving on a later train with a few guys on the sids team, but won't be doing the climb. If the timing is good, I might be able to rendezvous with you guys on your way back to the city.

Also, just an fyi to all, I read rain tomorrow morning.

slvoid

You mean the ride where someone got driven into the back of a car and almost bled to death? I'm all for it!

When you're following mazaev, every trip down bear mountain is a mountain bike trip.

nycphotography

Still on for 8:30 tomorrow morning?

slvoid

Yeah.

Mazaev

So I did bear mountain solo today. Lessons learned:

There will be no more trusting of the weather man; 80 and sunny == 60 and pouring.

There's nothing to get your 2nd wind in action like being chased by angry border collies snapping at your ankle.

Being yelled at by stupid teenagers from the safety of their Pathfinder is well worth the entertainment value of chasing them down and watching them run from a dude in spandex.

Never, EVER, hold a Powerbar in your left hand while panic breaking. Nothing like having your bike suddenly and involuntarily turn 60 degrees in heavy cross traffic.

Most.Eventful.Bear.Mountain.Ride.Ever. :-P

nycphotography

You CAN'T power brake with a power bar in the left hand. All you can do is lock up the back and pray.

At first I wanted to switch the brake cables to front brake on the right because its what I'm used to from motorcycles. Then as I got used to the bike, I got over it.

But the longer I ride, the more I realize that I do administrative stuff like eat and drink with the left hand, which means that I give up 80% of my braking power.

So now I'm back to thinking about switching them.

slvoid

I actually went out to a kick ass dinner last friday and loaded up on lobster, scallops, shrimp, salmon, sirloin, and ice cream and spent the whole weekend in jersey playing golf and tennis.

Saturday afternoon, was pouring though, I'm assuming that's the storm you got caught in. It seems like every time you go out there by yourself, something bad happens to you. Hell, everytime you go with us something bad happens too.

Anyway, this weekend I think nyc and alex are going up to vermont, I'm definitely going up to nyack but i'm not sure how far past that this weekend, definitely gotta get back by mid afternoon, we gotta do a complete overhaul of the apartment cause we haven't cleaned it in like a month.

nycphotography

6 Gaps is on for Sunday. https://www.northeastcycling.com/six_gaps.html

This will be my 1 year anniversary since getting my first bike. I did Naples to South Beach last November, and we've done Bear Mountain 8 times this year. May as well finish off the year tearing my legs to shreds.

Bring winter gear for a long cold 35 deg morning with 50MPH descents... And lots of low gears for climbing.

Anybody else up for the ride?

Mazaev

All in all, doesn't look like I'll be able to make it on Sun for 6-Gaps, unfortunately.

Nyack on Saturday is about perfect though and I'd be up for hammering there and back; 8:30 by Chambers St.?

And bah! It's these little moments of suspense (and sometimes near-death) that make this thing fun :-)

AlexB

It was actually a fun day. The scenery was worthwhile.
https://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4101379