GlennR

Took the CX out for a quick 20. Came back via the Bethpage MUP. Fresh blacktop the traffic circle to Hempstead Turnpike. Old pavement to Merrits and fresh to Linden. It's real fast and had a PR on that Strava segment.

Awesome weather, I was just wearing bibs with a base top, jersey and arm warmers.

kaos joe

Work is continuing on the MUP.....the unfinished section is only 0.9 miles long, and a pavement-grinding machine & other equipment is parked in that area now. The dirt margins were being graded and seeded this afternoon.

Work & weather conspired to keep me grounded the whole week. Egads, I rarely let that happen even in the dead of winter, which it ain't yet. I at least shook my fist at atrophy by taking a short 26 miler this evening. Beautiful sunset.

GlennR

Drove to Sunken Meadow to watch the CX races.

I did some of the course and trails on my CX bike, but did not race.

cleansheet

I haven't gone through this thread, but I'm going to be on Long Island this coming weekend for son's soccer tournament. Staying in Farmingdale area (I guess this is near Bethpage St Park). Game schedule seems favorable to possibly allow some short quick rides - was hoping maybe to find some CX bike friendly trails in that neighborhood.

Unfortunately, Sunken Meadow CX race is in two weeks otherwise that was a no-brainer since we are playing in E. Northport.

kaos joe

Check out climbonline.org, website of local mtb organization. There are trail maps which may be downloaded/printed.

In Farmingdale you are indeed very near Bethpage State Park. Depending on your skill level most of the trails in there are rideable on a 'cross bike, although I always choose a mountain bike. The Greenbelt trail leading north from Bethpage might be a good choice.

Steve B.

You are in luck that CLIMB, the local mt. bike club mentioned by Joe, just this summer and fall marked over 12 or more miles of trails. Thus it's a ton easier for someone not familiar with the park to actually find their way around a very convoluted park !

This site - which is the CLIMB users forum, has a section dedicated to BP, including recent posts about the new markings as well as one of my suggested loops. On this site is a color coded map of the park trails as well as a post with my trail distances for most of it all, that I recently rode and measured. As well there are other options out of BP heading north on the Blue trail, so lots in this area to keep you busy.

The CLIMBoard - Bethpage State Park (Nassau)

Note that typically we park at the picnic area parking lot, obvious on Google maps satellite view as being just off Plainview Rd. EDIT: If parked in the picnic area lot (free), the Red trail is just at the left of where the entrance road meets the lot. The Blue trail is just to the right.

And as Joe commented, a lot of the trails are not technical enough to *require* a mt. bike, so a cross will do, but the single track is all designed as fast, tight and twisty so a faster handling bike then a c-cross is why we prefer mt. bikes.

kaos joe

WINDY 30 mile shoe delivery ride to Hofstra. A college age young lady MUST have her proper shoes. FWIW a Carradice Barley saddlebag easily accommodates 2 pairs of heels.

Tomorrow supposed to be cold and again windy, so sadly the Mrs. is opting out for the first time this winter. On the other hand, tomorrow the usual suspects are going to re-aquaint ourselves with the dirt. We haven't seen B'page since the recent big trail marking project. It will be nice to get out into the woods for a change.

I like MTB riding on frosty nights, so I'm currently testing out my aging lights, to determine how much of the original battery capacity is left. Oldest light, a DiNotte, originally rated for 8 hrs, is getting ready to shut down after 3.5. Not great but still usable. The other, a MagicShine, rated for 3hr, still going. I'll have to think about replacing or rebuilding the DiNotte pack.

Heathpack 

What's this?! A Long Island thread?

I am heading to Smithtown a week from Sunday for a surgery my mother is having. I'll be there two weeks.

It's the middle of TT season for us in SoCal, so I am planning on shipping a trainer to NY and bringing my TT bike as luggage on the plane. My assumption was that I was stuck with trainer workouts for two weeks (which isn't actually the end of the world for me, I'm ok with the trainer).

It might not be worth the bother (I'm not sure how I'd even transport the bike, othe than riding it)- but maybe I should ask: are there any good stretches of road in that area to get in a TT workout or ride on the road?

GlennR

Down in West Palm, visiting my mom, and the complex has a "cruiser" so I did a few laps. Was a bit unsettled riding without a helmet, but with flat pedals and doing maybe 10mph I figured I was OK.

82*, mild breeze... I need to rent a bike. I did some research and can get a Spec Tarmac w/ 105 at a reasonable price for a 24hr rental. So I might send my old shoes and helmet down next time.

Steve B.

Heads up that the forecast here for Monday is rain/snow. It's now near winter, temps are to be low to mid 30's in the AM, rising to mid 40's. Coming from SoCal I would think you'd freeze your butt off.

If it were me I'd bring a mt. bike and ride that (or rent locally). There's a huge variety of terrific single track locally. You could ride a different park/trail each and every day for a week or more and not get bored and it's prime riding season currently, ground isn't yet frozen, so no thaw/freeze cycle, so no mud. Many of us transition to mt. biking by October.

Heathpack 

Thanks. I don't head to NY for another week and believe it or not, despite being in SoCal, I routinely ride in temps in the 30s because I do most of my workouts before dawn here. Ave temps for my three workouts this week were 32F, 32F and 37F. So I've got the gear and the experience dressing for those temps, weird thing for an LA person, I know.


I wish I could bring my mtn bike instead, sounds fun. Except that I just got the bike a few months ago and I'm still pretty terrible at it. I could see how my mother might legit get annoyed if I came to NY to help out with her surgery and promptly broke my collarbone mountain biking.


TTs are my main thing and I'm right in the middle of my race season, so quite honestly the last thing I want right now is two weeks off the TT bike. The trainer really makes sense because no matter what the weather, I can get my workouts in and that will help to keep me happy during a stressful time. Plus I can do them right at the house and I don't mind getting up and doing the work at 4am while everyone else is sleeping, it really does impact everyone else the least if I just quietly get it done before dawn.


It just seemed like if there was a nice day and a gap in what Mom needs, it might be pleasant to get out on the road somewhere.

kaos joe

If you're just looking for a road to put your head down & hammer without too many intersections, lots of people use the L.I. Expressway (495) service roads for training. I'd pick it up out there in the Hauppauge area and go west. You could go as far as the NYC line without trouble. Gently rolling terrain and a good wide shoulder most of the time.

There are 2 "gaps" in the service roads, one in Brentwood by Wicks Rd, and another in Woodbury which require short relatively painless detours. There must be a lot of Strava or MapMyRide routes that will detail these for you but if not, post again and you will get the details.

Hope all goes well with your Mom.

kaos joe

Didn't do B'page today; half dozen of us met there but headed straight north up the Greenbelt to the border of Stilwell Woods and then returned. Trail is in very good shape. A tree failed to get out of my way so I punished it with my right knee
Still beats sitting in the house looking out the window, so, let it hurt.

Heathpack 

Thanks I'll take a look.

She's having her surgery in Smithtown, not terribly far from Kings Park. The hospital is St Catherine's on St Johnland Rd. Does anyone have any idea of the feasibility (traffic wise) of riding up to Sunken Meadow State Park if we got a nice day? I see tons of bike paths in the park on the map in Ride with GPS. Not sure if it's good riding though? Maybe a route heading from there into Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue and Stony Brook & back. Not a TT workout but just a scenic ride. I grew up in the area but haven't been back as a cyclist and I can't remember shoulders, blind corners, traffic etc. Again, no biggie if I don't get out on the road but just wondering.

Steve B.

Skip the bike paths, they are typically badly maintained sidewalks and generally don't get you anywhere.

Old Dock Rd. to Nissequoque Park is good, Rt 25A west of Smithtown is OK, Sunken Meadow Rd., Clay Pitts over in E Northport, etc.... all roads that see roadies.

Truth is and unless you know the area, only good options are to search RideWithGPS and Strava, then generate some routes you could dump to a Garmin for turn-by-turn routing. That's how I do routes when I don't know the area.

This area of L.I. Is just congested enough that picking the wrong road is annoying, yet there are also tons of good roads. This whole area is heavily used by the assorted road groups on weekends, so there IS good riding in the area, you just have to do a lot of research and routing.

Heathpack 

Thanks, I appreciate the input. My plan if I get out on the road is to do exactly as you describe- set up the routes and then load them into my Garmin. Helpful to know people actually ride the roads I was looking at, St Johnland Rd to Old Dock and then maybe Landing to Edgewood and on to Nissequogue River Rd into Head of the Harbor and then Stony Brook. From there if I could come up with a safe route back to Nesconset, I could wind up with a nice 25ish mile route. I can maybe even pre-drive parts of this route too, looking at it with cyclist's eyes.

Do any of the group rides up that way have names? I'm thinking if I could find a website with routes that might be helpful.

Steve B.

SBRA - Suffolk Bike Riders Association, is one local group. Huntington Bike Club is another and they leave from Greenlawn last I checked.

Both use to have online cue sheets but not anymore, AFAIK due to so many folks posting on RWGPS, etc....

kaos joe

Ok now we're talking. St. Johnland is a busy road, you want to get off ASAP. Cut over to Landing Rd on any of the residential streets across from the hospital. Turn right on Landing. Left on Edgewood, left on Nissequogue river Rd.Your choice, take it to the end and go right on Moriches, or cut over on old mill. Both are beautiful. Left off of Moriches onto cordwood path. Take it down to the water where there is a nice little park. Turn right (only choice) on harbor Rd. Bear left on harbor Rd at next intersection, NOT harbor hill. Take harbor right into Old Stony Brook. Its no TT course but it is a delightful ride.

Heathpack 

@Steve B. thanks for the cycling group leads, I'll see if I can hunt up any websites/routes. I can't reasonably show up at a group ride on a TT bike, plus I'd just have to ride when/if the weather & Moms post op scheduled allowed anyway.
@kaos joe, that is so awesome. I was thinking those roads would make for a nice ride! Hoping we get a nice day or two. A pipedream perhaps, but we can dream cant we??

GlennR

Not a bad day... 20 miles.

Still trying to figure out the right amount of cloths to wear.

kaos joe

82°? What's the legal minimum?

GlennR

I figured it's gonna get real cold this weekend so i better get out today.

20 miles @ 15mph, 40* and a strong west wind.

I decided my Emonda was done for the season so I brought it inside to service it. I removed the wheels, brakes, derailleurs and pedals. The chain and cassette took a dip in the ultrasonic cleaner. The frame was wiped down and the crank and steerer were checked for play... none found. The chain was checked for wear and the 0.5 didn't fit, so it's good for now. The brakes and derailleurs were thoroughly cleaned and lubricated.

The wheels were cleaned and the bearings checked. I removed the front tire, tube, QR and rim tape so I can send it back to Zipp for the hub recall.

Finally I filed the shinny spots of the brake pads and there's still plenty of meat left.

It's hanging in the garage waiting for the warmer weather to reemerge.

So for now, its the SuperX and it can take it.

rumrunn6

wow, that's impressive oldnslow2!

GlennR

The service or the ride?

I restore vintage VWs as a hobby and build engines, so a bike is a cake walk. You just need the right tools and a bit of experience.

rumrunn6

yeah the maintenance! hey nice job with the engine! almost torched my parents house cleaning a Citation carb one time w my Dad