Riding the Long Way Home

After a whirlwind week of transition into my new job that involved several school visits on Long Island and a three-day residential conference, I was more rundown than expected and in no shape to compete a hilly 400K in rural Vermont. That I was able to turn back is a small indication that I may actually be learning from past experience. As a result, I was able to join my wife and son in the Catskills where we helped grandma with a gallery opening. Today I decided to take the long way home rather than drive to make up for lost time riding this weekend. The first few hours were dry, but the latter half was filled with rain. While the gradual downhill tilt certainly helped, today's 70 miles were some of the best I've ridden all year. The majestic views didn't hurt either.

Did you hear the fabulous NPR story on randonneuring this weekend? If not, give it a listen. It's only 5 minutes long and you get to hear interviews with both RUSA President Mike Dayton and Bicycle Quarterly's Jan Heine. What are you waiting for?

Up next: a local 200K.

The Shifting Sands of the Randonneuring Calendar

Getting long-distance cycling events on the calendar is always a remarkably complex task when you have (at least) one full-time job and a family with children living at home, but this spring has been more hectic than most. In fact, I'm quite sure it's been my busiest spring ever. The months of April and May are always a blur when you work in a school and as a principal the events really tend to compound at the end of year. Since I'll be starting a new job in July, the past few months have been especially busy as I work to get up to speed with the demands of my new position. Add to this the leadership program I run and the key role I play in my wife's end-of-year dance concert and you'll understand why my head has been spinning more than my wheels.

This year, scheduling the 400K has been a particular challenge. All possible weekends for easily accessible rides were ruled out early on by either family or work commitments so I widened my search radius. I had hoped to get up to ride in the Central NY 400K again this year. It was a bunch of fun in 2012, with gorgeous views from smooth, low-traffic roads throughout the Finger Lakes. At the last minute, though, I had to pull out to take care of a few family needs. While I was able to squeeze in a nice 200K last Sunday, I still need to find a place for this 250-mile piece of the puzzle.

Through a complex set of negotiations, it looks as though I'll be able to ride in the VT 400K at the end of the month. I had originally written this one off, since I'll be away from home for the three preceding days at a residential conference. When I pointed out to my wife that swapping an early September 400K with this one would provide us with another weekend at the beach she was more than happy to embrace the plan. It was one of those rare win-win family calendar negotiations where everyone leaves the conversation feeling as though they've had gained something special.

So I'm off to New England at the end of the month. I've yet to ride one of the VT events, but I've heard nothing but good things. Time to get these climbing legs in shape!

Up next: VT 400K on June 29.

The Catskill Climbfest 200K Permanent: Last Minute Edition

I was all lined up to ride the Central NY 400K this weekend when life got in the way. At the last minute, I came to my senses and realized that a 10 hour round trip to ride in an 18 hour event was going to set me back too far on both the home and work fronts to justify the fun I'd have on the route. While nursing my disappointment, I got an email from Doug who was hoping to scare up interest in a Sunday ride. Andrey quickly chimed in that a tour through the Catskills would hit the spot so I jumped at the opportunity to get the band back together.

After some seriously wet weather this week, the skies cleared to reveal near-perfect conditions for a ride through the mountains. It was one of those days we dream about while fighting off the frigid conditions of winter.

It's been awhile since Doug and Andrey and I took on the Catskills as a group and I was as impressed by their enhanced fitness as I was disappointed with my own sorry shape. Since the hills are likely not any steeper, a more plausible explanation is the utter lack of serious riding I've done this spring.

An added treat for riders of the Catskill Climbfest are the many waterfalls along the route. Depending on the season and the water levels, these can be either roaring torrents or humble dribbles. Luckily, the recent rains created rather dramatic conditions this weekend.

One of these days, I may actually walk up to investigate the famed Kaaterskill Falls, the tailhead of which we pass on our climb up Route 23A to Tannersville. For now, it's just provides a little shaded relief and a photo op on the first of our two mammoth climbs of the day.

Another treat we discovered deep in the high valley behind Peekamoose Mountain was a pool of submerged ferns that looked like something out of the movie Avatar. The deepness of the green and the clarity of the water glistening in the afternoon light was almost intoxicating. So while I was not able to bag my 400K this weekend, I did have a great time riding in my own backyard with two good friends on a nearly perfect day.

Up Next: The Boston 600K on July 20-21.

Bike to Work: No Better Way to Start (or End) the Day

There are so many reasons to love the month of May and riding a bicycle is at the heart of quite a few of them. National Bike Month reminds us to pause to celebrate and spread the joy of cycling near and far. This May has also marked my daughter's entry into the world of driving, which has freed me up to ride to work with greater frequency without the need to pawn my kids off on someone else to ensure that they get to school. On Friday, I packed my pannier and suited up to join thousands of riders from around the country on National Bike-to-Work Day.

My trusty commuter complete with coffee mug and Ortlieb Office pannier.

One of the wineries I pass on my ride to work.

The Hudson Valley Rail Trail is always a treat.

The view from the Walkway Over the Hudson never gets old.

Since I live about 15 miles from work, the commute presents a great way to begin and end just about any day. Starting on July 1, though, my work and school worlds will change radically. After working in schools as a teacher and administrator for the past 25 years, I'll be leaving campus life to take up a new position as the Associate Director of the New York State Association of Independent Schools. In this role I'll be responsible for overseeing the accreditation of private schools throughout the state. While I'll spend time on the road visiting schools from the tip of Long Island to the far reaches of Buffalo (and all points in between), one of the best features of the job is that . . . (wait for it) . . . I'll be working from a home office.

This new position has the potential to have a profound impact on my cycling life. While working in schools provides more flexibility than most jobs, I'll now be even freer to pop out for a ride when the spirit moves me. Since I've solved plenty of sticky problems and devised some winning plans on two wheels over the years, I'm optimistic that the arrangement will work out beautifully. Not only will this flexibility help with ride frequency, but with a few larger panniers I may just be able to visit schools by bike as well. Think: Johnny Appleseed.

Up Next: The Central NY 400K.

The Westfield 300K: Bash Bish Falls Edition

Despite getting my new rando bike in the fall of 2011, it wasn't until this week that I finally installed a wired taillight to the rear fender. I loved the B&M Seculight on my previous rando bike and it was probably my perfectionism and perceived lack of appropriate tools that held me back, so I flagged down my mechanic neighbor and (for the price of a frosty cold beer) my bike is ready to take on the elements.

This was not the first (and will likely not be the last) time that I awaken to rain at the old Elm Motel in downtown Westfield, Massachusetts. The Elm is a rando classic in Western New England. A decidedly no-frills place with a kind and generous staff, it feels a bit like an overnight control you want to get out of as soon as possible after waking up.

As always, RBA Don P. puts on a good show. The Bash Bish 300K follows a really lovely route filled with dazzling views, serious climbs, dense forests, assorted farmlands and even a dedicated bike trail for good measure. One of the best parts of the route is that the first and last 35 miles of the route follows a single road that climbs (and the descends!) though some lovely countryside making navigation super easy at both the start and end of the brevet which is always most welcome. The first control comes at mile 31 and riders found Don with a table of goodies set up in a small park at the entrance to the Appalachian Trail.

After the first control, cyclists wind their way through the lovely Berkshire mountains, an area filled with artistic as well as historic communities, on their way to the famed Bash Bish Falls in the eastern corner of New York State. It was nice to see the Blayleys at the start, but unfortunately, they needed to swap out a tire on their tandem on a borrowed wheel to allow for a better fit, so they took off 10-15 minutes after the rest of the field. I knew it was only a matter of time before we'd see them again and sure enough, after hearing the low rumble of a jet engine taking off, I looked to my left and heard a cordial "Hi George" as a tandem flashed by.

With over 60 miles between controls, randonneurs arrive in Kent, Connecticut with a hearty appetite. Good thing Don has arranged a pre-paid lunch control at the gourmet Gifford Market. Pretty classy, Don. After enjoying a roasted chicken and avocado sandwich with chipotle mayonnaise, I was off to tackle the wilds of eastern New York. In fact, the sandwich was so rich, I packed up half of it to stow away in my bag for later.

The rain came down rather heavily as we zoomed through quiet country lanes and even the Harlem Valley Rail trail en route to Bash Bish. The climb to the top of the falls was pretty intense, especially as it comes after 200K of riding through somewhat hilly terrain. At the top of the climb, John (a rider from the Boston area I had teamed up with after lunch) and I even scrambled up some slick rocks in search of a view, but sadly none was available. A view must be available somewhere, but we did not have time for the search.

To add insult to injury, the climbing's not done when you arrive at the falls as there are a few miles of switchbacks hidden right around the corner. The next section was wet and generally enjoyable as John and I snaked our way back into the Berkshires, departing from the route for only a few bonus dirt miles along the way.

The skies finally cleared as we entered the penultimate control to find Don and his wife with a full selection of sandwiches, snacks and drinks. These treats really hit the spot as we refueled for the final 31 miles to the finish. This last section, as I mentioned above, is one of the most pleasant route finishes I've experienced. Riders follow one smooth road with at least 25 of the final 31 miles pointed downhill. The icing on the cake was the text Pamela and John left me with instructions to their shower so I could clean up before the long drive home. The Bash Bish 300K is definitely on my list of rides to repeat in years to come.

The Ronkonkoma 200K: A New Brevet Series is Born

Route designer Mordecai and Patrick at the start

Today marks the inaugural event in the new Long Island Brevet Series and what an event it was! The Ronkonkoma 200K takes in some of the most lovely countryside in Eastern Long Island along the famed southern shore and lesser known northern shore. In between the two, riders are treated to two short ferry crossings and a quick (4.5 mile) ride across Shelter Island, a lovely, quiet barrier island that lies between the two forks at the easternmost end of Long Island. NJ Rando stalwart Mordecai S. created the route as a permanent some years ago and RBA Paul M. has taken it over to use as the inaugural ride in his new brevet series.

There were about 30 riders at the start on a beautiful spring morning. All but two of us had pre-registered, but I decided to come down at the last minute when my plans to ride the Westfield 200K fell through on Saturday. I slept in the guest room on Saturday night and set the alarm for 4:50am in order to make it to the start 2 hours and 20 minutes from my home without waking anyone up in the process.

The sea glistened as we rode through the Hamptons.

After a few suburban miles, riders travel through wooded areas en route to the sea. There's still a fair amount of farmland in eastern Long Island, although much of it has been commodified for the tourist industry. It seems that high-end country farm stands are more common on the southern shore while wineries dot the northern coast. In other words, there are plenty of spots to stop along the way for just about anything a randonneur might like to fuel the engine. If, like me, you try to keep stops to the absolute minimum, the first control offered a wonderful assortment of baked goods and fresh, hot coffee. Tempting as these treats were, I decided to forgo food in favor of an early boat connection.

Waiting for the next boat.

While ferry crossings are not unheard of on brevets, this was my first experience and, boy, was it a thrill. I arrived at the first ferry just as the gate was closing and was nearly tempted to pedal harder in hopes of making an Evel Knievel-style leap to the ferry's main deck. There were children watching so I figured I should model appropriate law-abiding behavior and so waited for the next boat. In the meantime, five other randonneurs arrived and we sailed together across the short stretch to Shelter Island. The sea was a most appealing shade of blue on this gorgeous, warm spring day. I even texted my wife a photo, which based on her response turned out to be a fairly mean thing to do. OK, looking at these pictures again, I can see why she might have been a little annoyed. What a day!

Once on the Shelter Island, it's a quick 4.5 mile ride to the second ferry. One could take much longer to explore, but we had a schedule to keep and so hopped on the second ferry and returned to the main island via Greenport. The boat schedule served to create greater distance between riders, so once this group of six was formed, we stayed together for much of the second half of the ride.

Farmland and wineries dot the course.

The first 90 miles of the ride were flatter than some pancakes I've made, but just as I'd settled into serious confidence about the energy I had left in the tank, the route began to get choppy. There's nothing dramatic in these hills, but a series of continuous rollers serves to keep riders engaged and alert. While I don't recall much of a tailwind on the ride out, we suffered from a somewhat blustery headwind that tore out group apart at a few times on the return. Those with more miles in their legs predictably fared better than others. By the info control at mile 115, though, we had reassembled and settled into a comfortable pace for the final shot to the finish. All of us were grateful to see Paul standing outside of the pizza shop at the finish and happier still when he announced that the first slice was on him! So, despite ferry crossings and headwinds, we still finished in a respectable 9:02. I guess this stands as the course record, though one that will be broken as soon as the ride is repeated, no doubt.

Up next: the Westfield 300K - Bash Bish Falls edition.

My Woodstock Meet-up with the Blayleys

John and Pamela at Kaaterskill Falls

When rando-celebrities like the Blayleys come to town, it's a good idea to drop everything and join them for a ride. Such was my luck last week when Pamela let me know that she and John would be spending a little time in Woodstock catching up on some well-deserved R & R. Living in Boston, John and Pamela described a surreal time hunkered down while FBI agents and the local police force scoured the city in search of the young men who caused such terrible destruction earlier in the week at the marathon. While dramatic, the siege was fortunately short-lived and our friends were able to escape in time for their vacation.

Climbing 23A to Tannersville

After exchanging a few messages through Facebook, we locked in a time to meet at Bread Alone, a favorite local spot for pre-ride carbs and piping hot coffee. Once we were suitably fueled, we turned our attention to bicycles. While unloading my bike from the car, I noticed a nasty sidewall tear with all the potential to ruin a beautiful mountain ride. Luckily, John was able to loan me a spare tire so I was not forced to rely on a boot and a prayer as I rode through areas more remote than my cell coverage. Leaving Woodstock on Glasco Turnpike, we headed east towards Palenville with Overlook Mountain over our left shoulders. I pointed out Platte Clove Rd. and my partners took note of the climb for another day. At the base of Route 23A, I removed and packed my jacket into my pocket so as to keep the climbing sweat at bay.

After a short pit stop in Tannersville, we were rewarded with the lovely descent into Phoenicia on Route 214. There's just no way to keep up with a pair of strong riders on a tandem heading downhill. To prepare for this, I let John and Pamela know that I'd meet them in the village below so we all enjoyed the descent at our own optimal pace. We arrived in Phoenicia with appetites for lunch so we stopped at Mama's Boy Market where there's a treat for just about everyone. Soon it was time to head out for the last stretch of road into Woodstock. Despite the gorgeous weather, there were very few people on the roads which only enhanced the surrounding beauty.

All in all, it was a lovely day. The conversation was stimulating and the roads and weather were spectacular. While jealous that John and Pamela get to spend the week exploring the paved and gravel roads sprinkled around the Catskill Mountains while I head back to work, it was a pleasure and honor to orient them to this exceptional place as a tour guide. Bonnes vacances!

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 . . .