It’s been too many weekends with out bicycling. The truth is I’ve been preparing for my 2 week trip through China . I decided to replace bicycling weekends with running weekends, targeting my training to the specific activity for the next 2 weeks, not that I’d be running, but rather walking more often. What irony, walking in China, a country of more that a billion bicycles. But as in all cases when you travel the choice is always between getting close to the country or see more of the country. I chose to see more of the country. In doing so I shot over 2,000 photographs. The challenge to see and capture 5,000 years of history in 2 weeks was over whelming.
Finally a dry Saturday. My first ride of 2009… correction my first ride out in the East End for 2009. I’ve been taking mostly short flat rides in the city. I chose to take a short loop of the ‘Tank Hill’ on Sound Shore Road. As I crested the hill a group of riders were comimg down in the opposite direction. The ride was pleasant with a short brake at the Beach for a view of the Long Island Sound. The ride back West was another story. The head wind was stronger than when I started out. Right now my legs are paying the price for cranking it up into the headwind.
My ride stats: average speed was 14.5 MPH, Distance was 20.1 Miles, Max Speed was 27.7 MPH, must have been on a downhill stretch.
What a beautiful Saturday. Rode 4 miles to meet the SBRA group at the Riverhead Water Front. The good weather certainly accounted for the large group. Interesting thought, can it also be the reason for so many polite drivers stopping at intersections to allow us to pass, and a pleasent wait staff at the deli stop? Some SBRA ride leader named their ride a de-stress ride. After a week of rain and work related stress, the leisurely C pace, a timely stop for lunch and the company of SBRA members this ride certainly qualifies as a de-stresser. However it was not 100% stress free, at least for one person. Halfway into the ride that member experienced a ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’, as their bicycling shorts decided to split apart exposing a full moon before lunch. I’m no bike fashionista, but I believe in the security of a new pair of shorts every season.
What a weekend of bicycling. Denis Mechov won The Giro d’Italia by a close margin. Lance Armstrong finished despite a broken collar bone. My fans waited to cheer me on my Tour of Jamesport despite my flating at the beach.
Finally a dry Saturday. My first ride of 2009… correction my first ride out in the East End for 2009. I’ve been taking mostly short flat rides in the city. I chose to take a short loop of the ‘Tank Hill’ on Sound Shore Road. As I crested the hill a group of riders were comimg down in the opposite direction. The ride was pleasant with a short brake at the Beach for a view of the Long Island Sound. The ride back West was another story. The head wind was stronger than when I started out. Right now my legs are paying the price for cranking it up into the headwind.
My ride stats: average speed was 14.5 MPH, Distance was 20.1 Miles, Max Speed was 27.7 MPH, must have been on a downhill stretch.
March 20th Thursday, the first day of Spring. Weather forecasts called for scattered ’snow flurries’. The month of March is known to be cruel, teasing us with 60 degrees F one day and snow the next. The forecasters obviously didn’t look out their windows the flurries were a traffic stopping whiteout. But it’s Spring, time to get my bicycle out for the Spring ritual.
After several disappointing weekends of poor snow conditions in the Adirondacks I decided to stay closer to home. The weather forcasters predicted snow accumulation in the East End to be more than up North. Though not ideal Indian State Park was a great change of scenery.
August 2001, I jumped at the opportunity to work in Singapore. I was motivated more by the opportunity to bicycle on weekends there, than furthering my career. I have my prioroities. This weekend we boarded a Bumboat to Palau Ubin. We rode the Island’s dirt road through dense forests which seperated the villages. Singaporeans’ food obsessed reputation is true. Every village we passed had a square with a food court. Each village had their own local speciality, all were exceptionally well prepared. You might say we bicycled food court to food court. If only Club Centuries had food like this at their rest stops.
Back to the East End of Long Island this weekend, back to beaches,farms, vineyards and flat roads. The sun is setting earlier as winter is slowly but surly coming. Retuning later than expected from my ride I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to capture the changing colors of the setting sun reflecting off the Peconic Bay. I paid the penality for stopping. My legs stiffened and my fingers numbed from the cold as I struggled to maintain a pace during the last few miles toward home. It’s not too soon to plan for an alternative to my bicycling weekends.
