Papa Tom

As much as I can't wait to get on the bike when Spring springs, I won't even consider taking it out in this weather. Sorry, but I'm fifty now and I can do what I want.

Anyway, how are the rest of you doing this winter? I can't stop daydreaming about the new route I'm going to ride up in Connecticut this summer. If I don't get my bones moving soon, though, I may have to DRIVE the damned bike up there.

Meanwhile, it looks like some of you were right about the Bethpage extension being stretched until Spring. I haven't seen any progress at all in the Woodbury area or on Old Bethpage Road. I do hope it's ready to ride end-to-end by Memorial Day weekend, at least.

I still haven't been out to Jones Beach, but it will be a sad summer if Field 5/6 isn't back up and running by May or June.

I also hope to resume my daily bicycle commute to work once the mornings aren't so dark and bone-chilling. Getting to work on my own pedal power makes each day so much more awesome. I hope some of you get to try this soon.

OK, that's enough rambling for now. See you guys again in a few months!

Papa Tom from Syosset

1nterceptor

Can't seem to find my Lake winter boots, I ride on SPD pedals.
So I only do rides if the temps are around 45-50F. But now
that I got a new folder, I may just commute using regular
boots at any temperature, we'll see














MINUTOS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AopSW5T843s

Steve B.

I've been mt. biking in Bethpage and/or sometimes north on the Trailview mt. bike trails to the newish Manetto Hills loop. I've been out at least once and sometimes twice per week since Thanksgiving or so.

If the weather is 20-30 the conditions are perfect as the trail stay's frozen, so no mud. It was that cold about 2 weekends ago and I'm good to about 12-15, then my feet get too cold. I have a feeling that this past Monday's ride was it for the mt. bike season though, as it's sleet/rain forecast for Friday and that may make a mess of it for the weekend even though it's supposed to remain cold.

March is not TOO far away !.

kaos joe

Hi Steve!
I've been mtb-ing too, mostly in Bethpage. I like the frozen trails too, and a bit of snow is cool also. Last week I went solo from Plainview up to Stillwell but every year about now I get too damn tired of the same Bethpage trails & itch to do something else, so today I went out on the road. I let the sun work it's magic on the pavement, left around 11am and rode to REI in Carle Place to pick up some odds & ends. It's a 41 mile round trip. No ice at all, headwind going west and tailwind coming home. Delightful. And, I'm 52.

Steve B.

Hey Joe

I've been riding the trails at BP for about 20 years now. Had my own 9 to 12 mile loop, which was mostly a shorter version of Frank P's ride, with less dirt road. If I was feeling frisky I'd do the Brickyard and/or maybe down and back to the traffic circle. I also used to ride up from Boundary Ave., but that's been unridable after Sandy. Manetto Hills makes for a nice diversion. As well, there are some new trails in BP to get beaten down which makes up for some of the downed trees that are still blocking sections as well as the new paved path that obliterated a section. So BP has actually been fun this year. Then when I got bored I would do it backwards.

I had the same thought about 3:30 today that it was 44 and sunny and have to re-train my head to think ROAD RIDE !.

I'd kill to get Papa Tom on a high falootin 22 lbs carbon full suspension mt. bike that he could use at BP. It might take a few days but I suspect he'd fall in love with riding the single track.

And speaking of REI (Of which I am a member), Obama has nominated it's CEO to be the next Dept. of Interior Secretary. Pretty cool !

https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-...binet-nominee/

zacster

I've been doing the trainer for the last few weeks, but not enough to really stay in top riding shape. I don't ride when it gets below around 35 or so outside, I'm just a wimp I guess. Snow tomorrow or Friday, so not this weekend either.

I'll keep riding the trainer as long as I have to, but I need some new training videos.

kaos joe

Hey Steve,

I think most of the blowdowns are clear now.....a few on the trail just south of the lot where it runs between the new paved path and the golf/polo fields. I just get bored s-less with the same routine by late winter. Doing Stillwell solo last week was fun and probably a bit ill-advised, but none of the usual suspects were willing to tear themselves away from their familiar routine.
Looks like all these questions are going to be academic this weekend, workouts will be walking the hound and shoveling.

OldBridgeRider

I have been sneaking out when the temps creap up into the mid thirties and the weather is decent. Its not all that fun, but it does still help get rid of some stress and keep my legs moving so when spring comes they don't go into shock when I start putting the miles back on again.

Papa Tom

>>>I'd kill to get Papa Tom on a high falootin 22 lbs carbon full suspension mt. bike that he could use at BP<<<

I used to MTB at Bethpage in the winter, but then I modified my mountain bike for touring and commuting and I quickly got lazy about taking all the bells and whistles off to bring it out on the trails. Actually, I tried it once, but the rear rack, the lights, the rear view mirror, the mp3 player holder, and all that other geeky stuff just didn't hold up well on BP's single track!

I recently rescued an old GT Outpost (same as mine) from a garbage pile and I've been getting it in shape to use as a trail bike. Right now, I need a cheap (free) set of shifters to get to the next level of restoration. THEN, perhaps, I'll try to recapture my glory days (or was it just ONE day?) as a mountain biker. Until then, you youngsters can have Stillwell, Bethpage, and Rocky Point all to yourselves.

Steve B.

A buddy (and I) used to be able to ride from his house about 1/2 mile west of the Massapequa Preserve at Clark up to BP and beyond. From Boundary Ave. north it was all great ST. No longer after Sandy and we don't even bother. I guess if I owned a chainsaw I would go clear it, but no time, no money. "Most" of BP is clear, just a few odd area's. I understand the state parks folks were not responsible for the bulk of the clearing of the ST, mostly individuals working when the state had no clue. Log Alley (just south of the new paved path and SE of the lot, right next to the golf course) still has a huge tree blocking. As well there were a few smaller trees that came down last Thursday in the wind storm. That's going to keep happening as a lot of stuff was weakened by Sandy. As well there's a TON of branches laying around that are R derailer killers, a buddy lost his 3 weeks ago.

But as you said, moot point after tomorrow. By the time all the white crap clears, it'll be March and road bike time.

zacster

Nemo? Sandy? I guess we're done for the duration.

I'll see y'all in spring.

Papa Tom

Over on the "Commuting" forum, there are scores of cyclists who have geared up to cycle on snow all winter long. I guess part of it is necessity, as some over there don't even own cars, but I'd imagine there's a very cool rush to be experienced as your tires crunch the white stuff.