Fine-tuning a Favorite Permanent Route

While riding my Hudson River Double Cross training ride this morning, I decided to stop off and take a look around the grounds of the historic Wilderstein mansion. One of several stately Hudson River homes in the immediate area, this one was built in 1852 and occupied by FDR's cousin/lover Daisy Suckley featured in the film "Hyde Park on Hudson" until her death at age 100 in 1991. The view is pretty majestic, but the home is only open for visitors during the summer months.

In addition to getting a good 50-mile workout on a lovely Sunday morning, I was also taking notes on a re-route of the Keep the River on Your Right 200K permanent that will bring riders closer to the Hudson on several gorgeous back roads between Rhinebeck and Hyde Park. Riders will now be able to take a peak at Wilderstein and the Mills Mansion down the road as well as the Vanderbilt Mansion and FDRs home in Hyde Park that appeared on the original route.

With my first official brevet just two weeks away, I better get some more training miles in . . .

February's R12 Ride: Cooking While Riding.

I created the "Keep the River on Your Right" 200K permanent as an insurance policy against terrible winter weather as I seek out the R12 Award. I figured that a flat route on primary roads with wide shoulders is a good thing to have up your sleeve during the long, snowy Upstate NY winters. Little did I know, winter would skip us this year, yet it's great to have this ride in the rotation anyway, just in case. It's hard to believe, but with eight months and December, January and February under my belt, the hardest part of the R12 may be behind me.

This route starts near my house on the Western shore of the Hudson River and heads north along several Western byways keeping the river in sight much of the way, crosses the Rip Van Winkle Bridge at Catskill-Hudson, heads south along SR 9 through the farms and towns of Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Poughkeepsie en route to Beacon where we cross the river again alongside semis on the US 84 bridge. After that, we keep the river in view along scenic and historic River Rd. and then scoot up 9W to the Highland Rail Trail and home.

Perhaps the best thing about the ride today was the fact that after a little pre-dawn slicing and dicing, I was able to leave ingredients for chili in the Crock Pot for a full 10 hours to cook all the while I was turning the cranks. Now that's my kind of cooking!

Andrey crossing the RipVan Winkle Bridge.

The Beacon-Newburgh Bridge has a bit different feel to it.

The obligatory panda shot. My first 200K with the new Rapha Classic Softshell. What a jacket! Love the technical features - vents under the arms came in handy as the day warmed up.

Nothing hits the spot after a cold 200K than a plate of hot chile!

Just four more months to go until sweet R12 success!

New Permanent Approved: Just in Time for Winter

Getting this new permanent route approved could not have been an easier or more pleasant process. RUSA permanista Crista B. worked my application through the system in what seems to have been record time. This is especially pleasing since I designed the route specifically to provide a safety net during the long snowy New York State winter.

The two permanent routes I currently maintain take in bucolic, hilly and occasionally unpaved roads. One of them is not open during the winter months and the other would be highly questionable during a particularly snowy spell. It's hard enough to squeeze rides in during a busy month, but with a winter like we had last year, an R-12 on local roads would be impossible. We needed something pretty flat routed on some broad roads with wide shoulders.

The new permanent will be known as the Keep the River on Your Right 200K and takes in some beautiful countryside traveling in a clockwise direction north, south, then north again with two Hudson River crossings, one on the narrow Rip Van Winkle Bridge connecting Catskill and Hudson and the other on the pedestrian path of the ginormous Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Riders travel through several interesting Hudson Valley towns such as Kingston, Hudson, Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Hyde Park among others.

As I've mentioned before, I have my sights set on the R-12 medal this year. With this route, my chances have increased dramatically. Thanks Crista!