FormeriPhoney

Picked up my first bike in 10 years and went to for the Bethpage to Massapequa trail. What a great area
Giant Escape 2
https://goo.gl/photos/yHUTGwyJ4UbXQJf6A
https://goo.gl/photos/3ALi5UupZknJgWG78

GlennR

Nice...

I know that spot, it's just north of the LIRR. My favorite is just south of the 2nd bridge at the USGS there's 2 benches.

Steve B.

Did my first bike commute in 2 years yesterday, 28.5 from work in Brooklyn to home in S Nassau. Lucky to be able to leave the car in a secure lot overnight. Had a tail wind all the way thru the Rockaway's. Rediscovered that 23mm tires on a road bike really aren't adequate on crappy NYC streets. Have to go find a cheap 28mm tire this weekend, have 1 Pasella.

Ride back this AM was going well till I get a cell call at 8:30 telling me I was supposed to be in at 8. I was 17 miles away. Somebody assumed I would read a work e-mail on my day off 2 days ago about a schedule change. I then hammered on my 30 lbs touring bike with 32mm tires into a 10mph headwind down the Rockaways and up Flatbush. Flatbush sucks. Then immediately sat in a chair for 2 hrs. while my legs turned to concrete.

Still, it beats driving

kaos joe

Did something gloriously dumb today.

A young (24) co-worker of mine, bike commuter (8 mile trip), intrigued by but completely inexperienced with long distance riding, decided a couple of months ago that dammit, he was going to scratch that itch while he can and do a loooooong ride. Bought himself a Trek 520 and all the trimmings, and has been working to build strength and stamina. He has been on some club rides, and been "destroyed", but a little less severely each time. Up until today his longest ride ever was 61 miles, done last week. He decided that today he was going to try a century, and in spite of the fact I had to work tonight, I got up early and together we lit out from my house for Montauk. And......HE DID IT! He was pretty stoked to have knocked off 104 miles. Great ride on a fantastic day. We had to hit a 251pm train, and unfortunately we lacked the time to get to the lighthouse even though we had the legs. Next time.

So we stopped in town, toasted his achievement, and set out for the LIRR station with 15 minutes to cover the mile or so. And, HIIISSSS! I flatted almost immediately. Next train was at 10 something. Records were broken fixing that flat. We made the train. I'm at work.

And about that loooooong ride; in a week he and a friend are pointing their bikes at the Pacific Ocean. I'll be rooting for them.

Where's the coffee?

Steve B.

You are being way too modest when you said "He Did It". You mean "We did it" as you too rode the 104. Yes I know you are a multi-decade experienced cyclist with multitudes of century's under your belt, but it's an accomplishment for you as well, especially as you didn't really do any training - just those past decades.

I feel for anyone going that distance the first time, especially on a 30 lbs touring bike with 30+ mm tires. He now knows that he can handle distance and that's a huge psychological advantage when going cross the country.

kaos joe

Ah, you are too kind. My biggest accomplishment on that ride was how fast i got that freakin' flat fixed. We made the train with 3 minutes to spare.

GlennR

Had to drop the car off for them to fix what they screwed up yesterday.

I took the CX and and have to say i'm amazed how it soaks up the rough road over the Emonda. The Superx has 35mm tires vs the Emonda's 25mm. I took Clark from Wantagh to Massapequa and there's a few sections where the road is really bad and I find it better to ride east bound on the west bound side. But with the SuperX I just blasted over them.

GlennR

42 miles today. Rode out of Bethpage to Bayville with the "B" group and rode back with the "A" group.

kaos joe

We saw you in the lot in your father of the groom jersey. That's pretty neat to have.

We did the AA to East Island near Glen Cove, 47 miles.

ahanulec

Managed a short ride this Fathers Day. Only 17 miles from my house but I took on some nice hills so I still feel good about it.
Either way it beats the ride yesterday. In an effort to exercise the kids yesterday I offered to take them for a trail ride. Only my daughter decided to go. I took her over to the local family trail and took her on a 4 mile loop. Of course I completely forgot that she was recovering from being the week prior. Her low appetite over the previous few days had her struggling.
She said it was fun but I still felt bad that she had such a hard time.

Happy fathers day to all you fathers out there.

kaos joe

Took the express train to Port Washington, 46 mile round trip. We are warming up to the "Red Menace". It handles just as it's first owner had specified, responsive like a race bike. Maybe a bit twitchy. I'm getting used to it. The Cannondale on the other hand gives a great sense of stability, especially at high speed.

FormeriPhoney

I really envy these distances and I'm working my way upup.
Over the last week I have done 9, 13, 10, 16 trying to build my stamina (haven't rode in more than 10 years)

I'm going to try the Jones beach path I believe from cedar Creek Park. Trying to find the best place to park for that route.

Can't wait for my new swat, the stock one is killing me. I feel like I could ride for days if I was more comfortable

GlennR

We all started with short distances. 5 years ago, 10 miles was my limit.

The Jones Beach path starts at Cedar Creek. You can park in the first lot on the right. On the weekends they charge for parking if you're not a Nassau resident. So park on a local street or at the Wantagh LIRR station. it only adds a 1/2 mile each way.

Early morning solo ride to Dix Hills. It was nice and cool with a mild breeze.

30 miles @ 15.5mph and 1000 calories.

Steve B.

Great ride into work this AM, parked in Woodmere, rode the rest, 19 and change.

Part of the route is on the new Rockaway boardwalk that has been re-built since Sandy as a concrete/paved surface. The locals wanted it to be wood like the old one, to which the city said no as they had no desire to have to rebuild after the next storm, which sent the last boardwalk inland a 1/2 mile. The new one is a great ride as the on-street alternative has really annoying traffic lights at every friggin block.

Then of course up the "big hill" called the Marine Parkway Bridge, where you are not allowed to take photo's. Ooops.

And for some reason since the site was re-built, cannot upload jpeg's. Hmm....

FormeriPhoney

ok Just completed the Cedar Creek run. Stamina wise I was ok but my new seat can not come fast enough. I'm in shambles

Steve B.

If not using them already, padded bike shorts. Bib style are the best as they fit the best and leave little room for loose lycra to cause chafing.

Some things not to skimp on, price wise are the so-called contact points between person and bike - shoes, saddle, shorts and gloves.

FormeriPhoney

Put 60 miles in past 3 days.

Can someone recommend a route with some more elevated climbs? I notice pretty much all that I have done is flat road.
Maybe something little more North in Long Island but not too far East?

hotbike

Oyster Bay has Mill Hill, if you're ready for a climb.... Can you get to route 107 North? Try turning right on Chicken Valley Road, which was completely repaved in April, 2016 (about eight weeks ago)... Start with the long shallow grade, cresting at Frost Pond Road (traffic light) a descent passing a cemetery, then a second climb, a bit steeper. The road has curves the whole way. a third climb on Chicken Valley, but shallower...When you get to Oyster Bay / Glen Cove road, turn right again at the flashing yellow traffic light, you will have Two very big hills, in about 1.4 miles... But please, do a brake test before the second descent !

So you will have five hill climbs in about 8.5 miles...

These photos were taken while riding i the opposite direction of what I just described:

Chicken Valley Road by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Chicken Valley Road_4344 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Pictures from Chicken Valley Road, about two months ago, a joy to ride, with the fresh asphalt!

GlennR

Here ya go... 43 miles, 1900'. You can always shorten or lengthen it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/582462318

FormeriPhoney

Thanks to both of you. I'll definitely be shortening it lol. My goal is to hit 20 miles comfortably.
Has anyone ever ridin that path from Alley Pond park to Kissena?

FormeriPhoney

I really pushed my limit today on the Alley Pond park to Kissena park today. Underestimated the amount of climbs lol.
Took me by surprise but I am going to continue going there since it's so close to home.

kaos joe

Well, they're underway! They left on Monday from near Metuchen NJ and are following (roughly) the East Coast Greenway. As of today they were in Baltimore, and are planning on passing through DC and then picking up the ACA TransAmerica route.

As for me I'm still employed and had to recover from one of my patented 18 hour overnight-into-the-next-day work marathons, and I slept till noon. Appalling. So, I took a relaxing ride up to CSH Laboratory & back, 35 slow miles so I'll be fresh tomorrow. Wonderful breeze even when it was a headwind.

I'd also like to report that the previously crappy RT 108 (Harbor Rd) is now freshly paved from end to end. They were putting the finishing touch on a spot in the middle and had it closed to traffic, but a wonderfully cheerful flag woman waved me on thru, and I rode the whole thing without a single car passing.

Steve B.

Went off-island today to Stewart State Forest, just west of Newburgh, NY.

A buddy who took up mt. biking about a mos. ago discovered Stewart, which is all of 10 minute south of his house. So off I went.

Some easy single track mixed in with easy 2 track, few hills to speak off, so the riding is a lot like LI trails, just some short steep things, but of course they have a ton of baby head rocks. Was reminded yet again that momentum is your best friend in this stuff.

So a great ride and I'll be back as there's a ton of single track to explore.

Ride track off my Garmin and a pic my buddy took.

Papa Tom

My wife had to work today, so I took a quick but exhilarating ride to Teddy Roosevelt Beach. I love riding on Schwalbe Big Apples because I can incorporate wooded areas like the one between White Oak Tree Road and 25A in Laurel Hollow and not chip all my teeth.

The breeze was phenomenal today, so after finishing my Verrelli's Market sundried tomato sandwich under the gazebo, it took a bit of self-coaxing to continue on and check out the new unfinished walkway along Shore Road toward Bayville. Too bad they didn't just make this a multi-use path, as it's kind of useless the way it is. I turned around this time when the concrete ended, but I have bounced along the grassy apron all the way to Bayville in the past. I still prefer braving the roadway. You've gotta die sometime.

Steve B.

Many folks have commented and there was a huge fight with Nassau over the repair of this Shore Rd. as we all know.

It's really just a ped. walk, no real room for bikes. I think Nassau would have to condemn property on the west side of the road, in order to widen the road to include a real bike path/MUP. The water side is Nat'l Wildlife Refuge property and can't be built on.