BicyclistKen

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.

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.

Mural on the East End Arts Council in Riverhead barn. An idealized view of life in the East End. It is quickly becoming another suburb of New York crowded with malls and big box shops.