Coffeeneuring in The People's Republic of Rosendale: Ride 6

A mixed berry scone compliments my hot coffee. 

Today the arctic winds swept in from Canada to give us all a little taste of winter, yet my new Rapha long sleeve jersey was more than adequate to the task of keeping me warm and toasty throughout my midday Coffeeneuring Challenge ride to The Alternative Baker. This great local bakery moved to (The People's Republic of) Rosendale several years ago from Kingston and the new location is much more suitable. Rosendale is a fun little Hudson Valley town filled with odd and interesting shops, galleries and restaurants. Directly across the street form the bakery, one finds the Rosendale Theater Collective, formed several years ago as a community-supported venture when the previous owners retired. Today's ride was short but refreshing.

Red cafe tables make the scene.

In the People's Republic of Rosendale, there's always something interesting nearby.

Ride 6 by the numbers: 22 miles, 1.75 hours, 1 cup of coffee and 1 mixed berry scone.

Coffeeneuring at the Night of 100 Pumpkins: Ride 5

Each year in the village of New Paltz, The Bakery, a small locally-owned coffee shop hosts a Halloween extravaganza known as the "Night of 100 Pumpkins." Children and adults alike contribute original pumpkin designs that are judged in a wide range of categories. This year, due to Hurricane Sandy, the event was postponed until this evening. After the sun sets, the candles are lit and the drumming begins as Bakery employees distribute free baked treats and hot apple cider. I decided to pop over to New Paltz this afternoon to get a peak at the entries and satisfy the requirements of my fifth Coffeeneur Challenge ride of the season. I enjoyed a hot cup of french roast coffee and a seasonal pumpkin-oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Below are a few of my favorite contest entries.

Ride 5 by the numbers: 25 miles, 1.5 hours, 1 cup of coffee, 1 pumpkin-oatmeal chocolate chip cookie

Coffeeneuring Before the Storm: Ride 4

Not my favorite cup of Joe this season.

In between preparations for Hurricane Sandy and dusk this evening, I squeezed in a quick Coffeeneuring Challenge ride to the closest coffee shop I could find that I've not already visited this season. I'm a big fan of Stewart's Shops as controle points on brevets and permanents because they're almost always open, have great clean bathrooms and a range of cheap food options including a great selection of ice cream. They are not exactly destination coffee shops, however. I couldn't be choosy today, though, with a huge storm on the way, so Stewart's it was going to be after spending several hours preparing the basement and patio for the potential ravages of Sandy.

The Headless Horseman - Voted #1 Haunted House in the Northeast by MTV

Ride 4 by the numbers: 16 miles, 1 hour, 1 cup of coffee.

Coffeeneuring Starts the Day off Right: Ride 3

With yet another busy weekend day ahead, I decided to get out early for a quick ride along the Hudson River to Kingston for a fresh cup of coffee at the Dulce Cafe located in the city's fashionable Rondout district. With two of my friends riding one of our area permanents today and the weather simply ideal, it is all I can do to keep my focus on work, which is where it is needed as I begin hosting a four-day reaccreditation visit at my school this afternoon. Thankfully, the Coffeeneuring Challenge gave me the push I needed to ride despite the busy schedule.

The foliage is in peak form today along this section of the river.

Tugs pushing barges upriver are a common sight.

Signs of fall are everywhere.

Ride 3 by the numbers: 18 miles, 1.25 hours, 1 cup of coffee.

Coffeeneuring in a Hurry: Ride 2

While the fall is typically a time to slow down, this October I feel like I'm traveling relentlessly at high speeds. With a bar mitzvah and wedding on the same day in two different states, I squeezed my coffeeneuring ride in while the house was still asleep. I awoke before dawn and crept downstairs to suit up in my full winter kit. We had the first hard freeze of the season last night and temps still hovered below freezing as I clipped in. Climbing the hills behind my house got my blood flowing and warmed me from the core.

I enjoyed a quick 12-mile loop which included a stop at my beloved Apple Bin Farm Market for a hot cup of coffee and a few pieces of fresh rugelach. Sadly, the warm apple cider donuts were not yet ready.

Ride 2 by the numbers: 12 miles, 55 minutes, two pieces of rugelach, 1 coffee.

When Randonneuring Leads to Coffeeneuring: Ride 1.

A warm cup of joe and a classic black and white at the Mudd Puddle.

Fall is in the air; the leaves are changing colors, a long sleeve jersey feels just right - it must be time for the annual Coffeeneuring Challenge. Created last year by the inimitable MG over at the Chasing Mailboxes blog, the challenge is to ride to seven coffee shops over the course of six weekends. I had hoped to complete my October R-12 ride today, but with my son's bar mitzvah later in the month and a large work project looming, I opted to inaugurate my coffeeneuring season with a quick run to New Paltz. The Mudd Puddle is one of my favorite cafes and their freshly roasted coffee and tasty black and white cookies never disappoint.

The restored church at the Huguenot graveyard in New Paltz.

Ride 1 by the numbers: 24 miles, 1.5 hours, 1 black and white cookie, 1 coffee.

Rando Bling, Worthless Trinkets or Something More?

Is it bling or are they trinkets? My kids give me such a hard time for buying randonneuring medals, you wouldn't believe it. They always smirk and giggle when one arrives in the mail. "How much did you pay for that one, pops?" Since rando events are so lean, the finishers medals are generally not included in the registration, so if you want a medal, $8.50 it is. It wasn't until recently that my kids got the point that one needs to actually finish an event to be eligible for a medal in the first place. In an age when people get awards just for showing up, I understand their cynicism, but these medals mean more to me they think.

I don't typically buy medals to acknowledge all of the rides I complete. On the contrary, I only have three sets of medals, each from a different commemorative year denoting something special in my randonneuring life. ACP unveils a new design with each edition of Paris-Brest-Paris, so medals change every four years. I earned my first set of medals (from the 2004 - 2007 collection) in 2007 during my first year of randonneuring. The next set I purchased in 2010 to mark my fastest brevet series to date when I finished three out of four brevets within 60% of the allowable time. The third set (above) I purchased this year to commemorate my first successful brevet series following my accident. Unsure that I could still cycle for 400 or 600 kilometers straight when I began the season, these medals remind me that I am back in action and able to ride long distances without pain or suffering.

The NYC 200K: Wrapping it up!

Originally, I had offered to volunteer at this early fall edition of the NYC 200K, but as my chances of completing a full SR series began to fade, Jon (the organizer) and Katie (the RBA) were most agreeable and understanding of a last minute change of plans. As a result of their generosity, I was able to bag a required ACP 200K and with it, one of my major goals for 2012. At the start of the season, I wasn't quite sure I still had it in me. Would I be able to ride 400K and then 600K without debilitating pain after the accident? I could only answer this question by riding. As it turns out, I was able to complete a pain-free brevet series without too much trouble. 

Riding with Laurent and Leroy, RBAs emeriti

Early Saturday morning, I was off the front and feeling great as we crossed the George Washington Bridge as grey storm clouds began to form. Missing a critical turn within the first five miles of the ride, I found myself descending and then re-climbing over 800 ft of unnecessary hill. The silver lining, though, was a chance to ride with a few old friends along the way. I sure hope that I'm riding this strong when I'm 85 years old! Heck, I hope I'm able to ride, period. Leroy is a legend, there's really no other way to say it. Would you look at those legs? That's right, people, 85 years old!

Leroy!

So with this brevet, my 2012 cycling season has officially kicked into low gear. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, comes at such a great time. As the school year begins, the days grow shorter and the evenings cooler, and it's a time of reflection on the year behind and hope and goal setting for the year ahead. Next year, I plan to push this recovery one step further and add a 1200K to the line-up. Wish me luck. I eagerly await the 2013 calendar of events due out within the next month.