Sadly Mountain Brauhaus requires like 900 days in advance for table reservations, but I'll try anyway.

No official signup sheet this year, but add your name below if you're interested and we'll coordinate!

Lennart
Yang
Grant
Blake
Eloy
Greg

Any other takers? @Mark Taylor @PatrickGrehan

Patrick and I will be in Cape Cod for the Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross.

I have family stuff late morning/early afternoon so I'm sadly out

I'm hoping , Transport maybe the issue

Ohhh I am interested @David Yang

@Mark Taylor i can drive you!

@CharltonSoesanto that would be awesome if you're coming up! Even better if you can give Mark a ride up!

@GregHoge and @LennartZandbergen let me know if you're in and that'll be the Queens contingent heading up together.

@GrantSeltzer if you're still thinking of joining us, can I assume you're driving yourself from CT?

@BlakeFoster how you looking bud?

I am for sure in but need a ride from Brooklyn, I live North Brooklyn but can ride to meet anywhere for pickup.  

I have a 6hr group ride on my script for Saturday so I actually wish the route was a bit longer than 40mi but hey, beggars/choosers/something like that. 

I’m going to be last minute deciding because of work stuff 

Hi Dave,
Do you need a cross bike for this route??

A gravel or endurance bike with decent tire clearance would work.  Last year I used my road bike with some 38mm 650b tires and was ok.

Shoot I did not realize this was gravel-ish. In that case I am probably out

Ah yeah, sorry folks, forgot that not everyone is familiar with the annual tradition - it's our gravelly ride, so a cross or gravel bike will be ideal.

At this point I'm probably a no show, will confirm thursday night.

I’m in!

I'm in, too! Trying to not drive solo to/from Brooklyn. Will message some folks off-thread

Sorry for radio silence - been extremely busy and won't be able to make it unfortunately 

After a late re entry , so glad I didn’t miss this ride , fantastic day with @David Yang @GregHoge @CharltonSoesanto @LennartZandbergen .
Thanks Dave for organizing , thanks Charlton for Driving 

Another year of good riding, good vibes and with good company.

I pickup Lennart and Greg at 6a. We hit the road early and make record time to New Paltz just before 8a.

Lennart forgets his shoes but somehow the local shop opens at 9am so when Charlton and Mark pull up we decide we'll eat breakie at the coffee shop next door with diner seats on the second floor. Lennart positions himself to get a perfect view of the shop. Greg determine that his "eastern European" disposition requires him to be direct - the running joke of the day.

The shop owner finally arrives and sets out a giant unicycle among other antique detritus in the front and finally gets around to Lennart who he fits with flat pedals with toe straps that clip onto clipless pedals using cleats. It is bizarre but Lennart is determined to use it like old school cyclocross stars of yonder.

We hit the trails and it is gloriously sunny. It's been a dry season so the gravel path to the woods is dusty. The sun is warming but the air is chilly and we were all very confused on what kit to wear.

We arrive at the entrance where a gaggle of Eastern European hikers were getting wrist band passes. We get ours while Greg tries to figure out his Di2 front derailleur. He finally gives it a good smack and it shifts. 

The woods are just past their peak foliage but there is still a good amount of goodness out there. This ride with its vistas of the foliage and cliffs and small towns below is always the frosting on top of a season of fun rides.

The dry gravelly roads are easy to ride but any fast downhills ending in sharp turns are butt-clenching affairs. One finally claims Greg who walked away with minor scrapes. 

The hikers and rock climbers and everyone's doggos are out in full force. At the parking lot before our ride a giant van-load of cyclists in mostly PAS kit are ready to roll. I recognize them as a Korean speaking crew, my peoples.

Because of the toe clips, Lennart is literally shark-like and cannot stop moving (or has to find a tree or sign post to lean against if we pause to take in the views or suss out directions).

Mark hams it up and proceeds to make us laugh all day long, starting with his southern Californian inspired outfit when he ambles over to greet us in the parking lot with just the top button done up and shorts, sandals and crew socks.

Charlton and Lennart (Lenny) kill it up every climb. They will win the club championships. Maybe we need to get them to do it on a tandem?

What would a fallen leaves ride be without getting lost at the end? It's tradition at this point.

We wrap the ride with a visit to Twin Stars Orchard, where we feast on fresh wood oven pizzas, burgers and the funkiest "naturally fermented" apple cider. There must have been a family costume contest and see a bunch of cute kits and doggies dressed up. Everyone else look like they could be photographed for "watchingnewyork" Instagram - they are dressed very very cool.

Of course, how could I forget - Lennart, Greg and I found our new favorite bands, Detritus and Debris.

https://youtu.be/BVsRlymzas4?si=EtW-6FRdCJhAQOBI

Someone asked Lennart if i was his Dad , which didn't make me feel great , but i used it as motivation to ride up to his wheel on the " last " climb of the day

I was slightly concerned when we took the group pic at the orchards and Mark moved over saying, 'I want to stand closer to my son'

Cooler weather and talks of CX race schedules reminds me that we should plan for the fall foliage ride!

How does the first half of Oct sound?

Sunday Oct 5th does not yet have a CX conflict. 

I’m so down for this event.

Save the date for Sunday Oct 5th! Meet 8a, start rolling around 830a. Depending on how often we stop to gawk at nature and/or get lost, expect the ride to be 5 hours-ish long.

What you need:

• Your cool-ass self
• Gravel or cyclocross or hybrid or MTB on at least 700x33 cross tires but wider is better. Knobby side tread recommended.
• Street clothes for post-ride hangs and the car ride home.
• Flat kit!!!

Where we're riding:

• New Paltz into Mohonk and Minnewaska trails. There are lakes, cliffs and a sick waterfall involved.
• About 40miles of gravel, a short stretch of rocky single track around Lake Minnewaska and a little bit of tarmac.
• The last 4 editions of the ride...
• 2021 https://www.strava.com/activities/6089302096
• 2022 https://www.strava.com/activities/7932101095
• 2023 https://www.strava.com/activities/12751403320
• 2024 https://www.strava.com/activities/10079540773

How we're getting there:

• Carpool is easiest.
• Metro North train to Poughkeepsie + 10mi bike ride to New Paltz

Are we hanging afterwards?

• I am hanging, are you hanging?
• Twin Orchards is a solid hang.
• Mountain Brauhaus is solidly booked hang.

Is this still scheduled for 10/5?

Yes, making it official for Oct 5th!

Can people confirm on this thread if you're in and we'll coordinate carpooling/travel.

I'm in , will bring shoes