For its second year running, the Bike 4 Friendship team, will bike ride cross country to promote acceptance and understanding for children with special needs. Bike 4 Friendship debuted last summer with three 22-year old students trekking 4000 miles across the Unites States, spreading their message of acceptance, inspiring communities across the country, and raising funds for the Friendship Circle.This year you can be a part of it. Beginning in California, on Monday, July 2, 2012, Bike 4 Friendship will hit the trails once again, riding across the country, covering 3,279 miles, before arriving at the final destination of New York City 46 days later on Thursday, August 16th. The ride will be professionally supported, and accommodations and kosher food will be provided.

If you are interested in joining the full trip, or for a segment, please contact Mendel Groner at mendel@friendshipcircle.com or 718-713-3071. Alternatively, you can sign up at friendshipcircle.com/bike_trip_2012.asp.



Mendel Groner Friendship Circle International
718 713 3071 Mendel@FriendshipCircle.com
Friendshipcircle.com
facebook.com/fcinternational
twitter.com/friendshipcircl

I'm heading down to Miami for a few days in February with the family. Wondering if anyone has any good rides there that they could share. Clearly I'm not getting in any hill work there, but the chance to ride in 70+ degree weather is hard to pass up. Thanks.

I mentioned this to a number of you already and as i sensed a general interest, I'm making this public. This should be of special interest for you guys also training for battenkill or just like to suffer vertically: My mother has cottage on lake paradise in Neversink, NY, there are 2 bedrooms and 2 couches. so 4-5 potential spots, perhaps 6 if someone wants to bring an inflatable mattress although the place is quite small. I have riden up there many times and apart from it being gorgeous there are also very good climbs in the immediate vicinity. for example, this is something i did last wkend: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/541713.
I would have to let my mom know about a week in advance so it'd be good to convene on here first.

PS: as far as the pace goes, we will wait at the top of climbs but you should be in decent enough shape to be able to reach the top within 10minutes of the lead.

aly,
this looks GREAT! please count me in! i would love to go weekdays if any other are able /keen to do at least twice before battenkill!
-h

The link didnt work for me. (404) Im on the waiting list for battenkill so as it stands not doing it but id be interested in this unless people racing take up the spots (figure thats the priority).

im thinking next weekend...2 solid days of riding, leave sat around 8:30-9am get back sunday early evening. sorry harry, I can't do weekdays.

I'd be in for this. Who's driving?

I recommend taking the Metronorth train to Poughkeepsie and renting a car from there. Much cheaper than from NYC. We once rented from Rent-A-Wreck, which was kind of smelly but very cheap.

I'll be up in Accord next weekend (just a bit north of Alyosha). I ride the same roads though. They have much to recommend them--few cars, lots of great climbs and descents. I'd probably only ride on Saturday with you guys if that, but may have room to put up two or three riders for the whole weekend. I may even have room in the car for one rider and bike going up Friday night, but will be driving back down to a family thing in North Jersey (not far from Piermont) by 1:00 on Sunday so you'd have to find your way back to NYC from there. I'll probably have to know by the end of this weekend if anyone wants to stay at our place. Since the Forum feed is so wacky these days, e-mail me at neilxross@yahoo.com if you're interested in staying with us or getting a ride up.

Another way to get up there would be a bus from Port Authority and I could perhaps do a pick up in New Paltz.

I do have room at the place I rent for probably three riders this weekend if anyone is planning in taking Alyosha up on his offer. In addition to some virtually car-less roads and great climbing/descending, there are a few miles or hardpacked dirt roads near the house which might serve as good pre-Battenkill immersion.

As of now, the weather looks so so up there this weekend, with a 20% chance of rain on Saturdy and a 60% chance on Sunday and daytime temperatures in the 50/60's on Saturday and 40/50's on Sunday.

Since the forum feed has been a little glitchy lately, if you're interested please e-mail me directly at neilxross@yahoo.com.

I'm reviving this thread since I'm planning on going up there Thurs morning, riding all afternoon, ride Friday and head back to the city mid-afternoon Friday. Planning on riding strong, long miles and climbing up some quality gradient.
I will be driving my mother's car and there is room for one or at most 2 ppl. Let me know if anyone is interested.

While I'm psyched you guys will be killing the field at Killington wishing I could partake...I just got a ride with some college friends and i'm headed north to good ol' Montreal. There is space for my bike so I'm pumped to be able to get some riding in while I'm there.
Does anyone know how to get in on some quality group rides there?
Any advice is appreciated. thanks hombres.

found a riding friend from NY...don't know if any of you if familiar with him. Daniel Cleiman, used to be on NY velocity and is now on sixcycle is gonna be up there too, he posted a msg on the university msg board.

Oh yeah. I know him. Perhaps he's a nicer guy now than when we were on nyvelocity together.

hah ill let you know! maybe his new team gave him more confidence.

You should have dinner at Pied de Cochon and indulge in foie gras!!!

I've eaten there before, i was invited...it's hella expensive!

I had a conversation with the guy who runs promotions for JetBlue last night, and in conjunction with showing TdF on their flights, for the month of july bikes fly free. No oversized baggage charges on bikes for the entire month on any JetBlue flight. They should be annoucing this later today as well a some sort of event they're having around the TdF and the NYC Triathlon.

JetBlue Press Release

http://investor.jetblue.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=131045&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1710165&highlight=

Dammit! I have to fly Delta to CA in a couple of weeks... no in-flight TDF por moi

Dammit! I have to fly Delta to CA in a couple of weeks... no in-flight TDF por moi

You might be able to stream it. 

I am going to Snowmass then Denver in Colorado this July. I get to use the free bike offer from jet Blue!

Anyway, I'm going to a conference for 7 days and then Denver for another. I don't really care about the conference and intend to ride instead.

Anyone know the area or know someone who does? I'm looking for routes to ride and in an ideal world some recommended Garmin .tcx files to put in my Garmin and follow. Would be particularly keen on getting on some of the well know/beastly climbs out there.

Suggestions/info welcome. Please advise.

Snowmass.  That's Aspen.  Look around for old Coors Classic stages in the area.  Maroon Bells is one such course.  Another thing to do is climb independence pass.  It's 20 up miles and starts just outside of town.  The USPRO Cycling Challenge descended it last year.  Just riding up it, then turning around at the summit and then coming down is a pretty hard ride.  All the same, it's the time climbing and the thin air that will get you more than the pitch of the climb.  

Thanks JP, will look into those hills.  Looking forward to it!

If you're in the Denver/Boulder area here are some rides:

http://303cycling.com/boulder-colorado-bike-rides

also the site is a good resource for front range cycling news and information.

@Adam-
As JP mentioned, try Maroon Creek Road out of Aspen.  Beautiful out and back climb--roughly 10 miles up and 10 miles back..only about 1600 foot elevation gain..but you'll top out somewhere near 9,500 feet in elevation.
http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/colorado/aspen/18942644

Also, the ride from Aspen to Independence Pass [20 miles (4,200 foot climb)] is somewhat epic. The top of the pass is at over 11,000 feet.  You can then head about 20 miles downhill into Twin Lakes. You'll of course have to climb back up to the top of the pass again and then back down to Aspen if you don't have a ride meeting you. The only downside (no pun intended) is that the road up to the pass tends to have a decent amount of tourist auto traffic during the summer.  I would check with some of the local shops to see if there's a particularly good day and/or time to do it where you might have more of the road to yourself. 
http://mybicycleroutes.com/xindependencepassinfopage.html
Take the precautions on that guy's page seriously.  As yu probably know, at that altitude in summer the weather can change quickly and dramatically...anything from snowstorms near the pass to violent electrical storms.  Be prepared and vigilant.

If you mountain bike, there's a ton of it right out of Snowmass...take Government Trail in either direction.  You can intersect it right out of some of the Snowmass resort access roads...beautiful riding that goes on forever.  Again...make sure you're prepared and folks know where you're headed etc.  Also, the trail system in around off Smuggler (?) onto Sunnyside on the other side of Aspen is really world class stuff.  Let me know if you're interested in that and  I can get you a little more cogent information on it.

Good luck.  I'm jealous.  Be a little cautious whatever you do up there.

FWIW, when I was staying outside of Vail, the summer warning was that it typically rains for a short period of time around 2pm.  This was only occasionally the case, but at altitude, you can get cold fast.  

One other thing to remember, it is DRY out there. Even if there are afternoon thunderstorms, it is super dry. You will need to drink phenomenal amounts of liquid to stay hydrated even if you are just sitting in a conference room listening to somebody trying to bore you to death.

You will sweat but not be aware of it because it is so dry it evaporates immediately, and what most people think is mild altitude sickness is really just dehydration. So drink until you think your kidneys are going to have to learn Scuba, and then keep drinking.

As a former resident of Boulder, I can attest to everything already said. You will be able to set your watch by the 2pm thunderstorms that roll through. They are short in length and everything will typically dry up quickly afterwards because it is dry.

Because it is dry, drink plenty of fluids.

Finally - wear sunscreen and sunglasses. The sun is stronger at altitude (less atmosphere to filter the UV rays) and you'll be more apt to burn either your skin or eyes. I've seen people burn their eyes (though only on snow pack) and it isn't fun.

If there is one ride for you to do while in the Denver area it would be to ride up Flagstaff in Boulder. It'll be the finishing climb in the Boulder stage of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge this year. There is a write up of it on the 303cycling.com site Dan mentioned above.