@Mark Taylor love the you went out for a ride in the rain. I have never considered upgrading my mountain bike wheels but now you’ve piqued my interest 

Nice! I have the Hunt XC Wide wheelset. It also dropped an insane amount of weight from the bike. 

Another Solo Sunday.

Headwind all the way north.  Sadly the tailwind didn't feel like much of a payoff.  Saw very very few cyclists out there.  One of the few I saw was on 9W.  Former Kissena Noah Greenhill and I rode from a bit south of Closter Dock to Washington Heights.  We saw no one else going south and only a few going north.

Tried a different combination of roads to see if I could come up with something a bit flatter than typical.  I failed.  But then I have a difficult time with flatter rides anyways.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6404427003

JP I ended up running errands (driving, booo) all over NJ yesterday and ended up traveling north from Jersey City up to Edgewater at one point. Google Maps took me through hilly local roads with the highlight being Bulls Ferry Road, a short blind turn section right off of River Rd, near James J Braddock Park. Not sure if "bike friendly" since it's a really narrow street and it seemed busy-ish with car traffic when I was passing through during early evening. Edgewater also seems to have some oddball streets with climbs on the hills overlooking the river.

https://www.strava.com/segments/21458728

David Yang said:

JP I ended up running errands (driving, booo) all over NJ yesterday and ended up traveling north from Jersey City up to Edgewater at one point. Google Maps took me through hilly local roads with the highlight being Bulls Ferry Road, a short blind turn section right off of River Rd, near James J Braddock Park. Not sure if "bike friendly" since it's a really narrow street and it seemed busy-ish with car traffic when I was passing through during early evening. Edgewater also seems to have some oddball streets with climbs on the hills overlooking the river.

https://www.strava.com/segments/21458728

No, the roads around there aren't bike friendly at all, though, starting near Bulls Ferry, you can ride on a multi-use path between the new condos and the Hudson pretty much down to Hoboken if you want a noodle.

But, yes, there are several good hills up from the river to the palisades.  I used to periodically do a hill route from the GWB down to Weekhawken and back.  There was a longish, 2:30 or so, steady grade in Edgewater with a switchback, Route 5.  At the top, turn around and head back down.  Then Gorge road, a bit steeper and a bit shorter (turn around at the top).  Then Bull's Ferry, which is a beast (turn around and go down).  I always feel like my legs are going to seize and my lungs burst through my chest.  Followed by Ferry (also up and down), which climbs under an apartment building and is marginally easier than Bull's Ferry.  And the south point is Anthony Defino Way (up and down).  And then hit all those hills on the way back and finish by climbing back up to the GWB.  10 hills in all.  Haven't done it in a while and I don't know if I've ever put it on Strava.

I was through there last week, for the CABDA show.

JP knows all the routes, awesome!

David Yang said:

JP knows all the routes, awesome!

Because I can really dig procrastination, I sketched out a route largely as described above and it should total 2100 feet of climbing in 21 miles.   Which is good, but River Road down there sucks.

did you sketch it in your dreams, or will you share the link, haha? 

eloy said:

did you sketch it in your dreams, or will you share the link, haha? 

I did it on MapMyRide.  

https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4784817037

Planning on doing an early morning ride tomorrow up to Piermont via Bradley tweed. Gonna leave BB at 7 and need to be back by like 11:30 at the latest (aka, realize we’re running late and motor home down 9W as fast as possible). Post here if you’re down to clown!

Thinking ahead to Sunday, Jan 2, 2022.  Ride at the GWB at 9?

If weather and covid cooperate I will be there

Hey, I'm new and I'd like to join, weather permitting. I've reviewed the protocol thread and will try to join on Sunday.

Edit: I’m good to piermont, then I need to head back.

Will be at BB 8am -> GWB 9am

Skipped the group ride , easing back into it after this prolonged cold ,Time to ride

First Kissena group ride of the year (I think).

Met up with David Vibert, James R, and Patrick.  It was David's first ride from the GWB!  

*David flatted in Tenafly.  Welcome to the big time.  

*The bridge is still out on Piermont road in Cresskill.

*Patrick's Time pedal was broken, but he tried and tried to keep it going.  He couldn't fully commit to pulling up on the right leg for the ride.  Must have tweaked his other muscles in so doing.    

*We stopped at Piermont Bicycle Connection on both the way out and back. On the out, for pliers to work the pedal.  On the back, Patrick's chain needed a few links reversed (long story).

*Pretty quiet at Piermont.  Low turnout of cyclists in general.  

*David was introduced to the Muur de Piermontsbergen  (Ash).  It was an awakening.  Welcome to the steep time.  As it was his first ascent, we sent him back from the Ash/9W intersection.  Hope he made it back ok. ( @DavidVibert , let us know)

*Foggy all the way north to Rockland Lake, then started to rain when we reached Nyack on the return.  I didn't think any of us were dressed for 25 miles of rain.  Later, Patrick pulled out a GoreTex jacket.  

*Once we crossed back into Jersey on 9W, it started warming up.  Stateline was cold, but that first rise under the PIP was warm.

*We ended up with company for the trip south.  Kind of a messy rotation, both figuratively and literally, but one of the guys we rode with wanted to lead me out for the gas station sprint (got the nod).  I didn't want to look greedy, so I kept it seated.

*This marks the sixth outdoor ride in a row where I've cleaned my bike afterwards.  I want a break from bike washing.   

**Next week, BIGGER AND RADDER!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6463825895

Mark Taylor said:

Skipped the group ride , easing back into it after this prolonged cold ,Time to ride

Feeling very

I know, I know.  Snow today.  But the roads were already salted and with light traffic thanks to Omicron, the roads seemed to clear up pretty well.  Tomorrow should be cold, which should help dry out the roads.  Sunday, provided it doesn't rain, should be pretty good for riding.  Considering the predicted temps, a steady pace is a good idea, and probably not killing it on the hills.  

Hopefully, I'll see you then.  

Looks like the roads are clear enough to ride and the predicted rain won't come until after 2pm.

I'll be out at the GWB at 9am.

I'll be back by 12:45, but can adjust the route to drop people off and fit with others schedules.

mugwump said:

Looks like the roads are clear enough to ride and the predicted rain won't come until after 2pm.

I'll be out at the GWB at 9am.

I'll be back by 12:45, but can adjust the route to drop people off and fit with others schedules.

Still destroyed from Covid. It looks like it will take me a while to rebuild some sort of fitness. I am looking forward to the next group ride.

Fun times 

I went, as planned.

* worried initially, as the morning forecast said 30% chance of rain from 9-11, but clear the rest of the day.  

* Drizzle started at around 10 on the outskirts of Blauvelt. 

* Didn't feel it much, but the roads from Blauvelt up to the Orchard, and back down to Rivervale were quite wet. I'd call the drizzle intermittent at it's most frequent.  Maybe I missed the real rain and just rode through the aftermath.  

* Dressed right and was eating.

* Legs were dead.  Perhaps from the running intervals I did on Wednesday.  ouch.

* Really slowed down in the final hour.  

* After getting home, washing bike, and eating a bit, my son made plans to ride over to the Bronx.  He needed me as company.  That was ok, until I looked at the forecast. 100% chance of rain from 3-4, and then 80% from 4-5.  Guess the riding was done.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6498604598

looking at the forecast, the temperature at 9am on Sunday will be pretty much the edge of what I feel my gear can take me out in.  I think I'm going to decide when I get up whether to go at 9 or put it off for an hour or two.  

While setting up my rollers last weekend I knocked the bike over and bent the hanger , this Saturday 20 mins in I get a flat ( that would seal) I have no idea how , that said I was keen to ride outdoors , had the luxury of starting late ,
 2 hours at Cunningham was super fun

* It was 16 at 9am, so I figured I'd postpone for an hour.  

*Ended up being over three.

*Said I"d go for 1-2.5 hours.  After 1.5 I was feeling fairly comfy, and wanted to go for more.

*But made a promise to be home when I did, so, started heading back.

*Cold air is definitely dense.  Hard to feel fast when its in the 20s.

*I went up Closter Dock to 9w.  wondering if I'd see anyone.

*One person passed me, in what kind of seemed like  hurry.  I said hi.  He said. nothing.

*So I decided to follow from two bike lengths behind.  He slowed down.  

* I tried to ride two bike lengths behind, but he was not pedaling steady, so I varied from 1-2 lengths.

* That was until Englwood Cliffs, when he started sprinting just before the left onto Palsiade ave.  I wasn't sure what he was doing, so I resolved to go straight.  he turned.  I got ahead.  because I took the next left.  He got on my wheel.  

*He sprinted up the hill.  He went by me, then I sprinted by him.  Kind of happy about that.

*I thanked him. He thanked me.

*it was good for my ride's power numbers.  And warmed me up.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6535476869

Mountain biking at Cunningham park Saturday morning? 9am? It can't look at my trainer anymore. 

It will be 20 degrees and sunny. Will ride for 2 hours if solo. I am pretty sure the trail should be dry as well. I'd love some company.

I’m watching the forecast and am feeling masochistic enough to plan on riding north of GWB Sunday at 9am. I might start at BB at 8 

PatrickGrehan said:

I’m watching the forecast and am feeling masochistic enough to plan on riding north of GWB Sunday at 9am. I might start at BB at 8 

The forecast I'm looking at predicts 25f at 9am, warming up to 32f by 1pm.  I should be there.  

I’ve done something to my hip that got aggravated when riding today. I’m going to skip tomorrow as I don’t want to risk making it worse on a long ride

@PatrickGrehan

Ouch!  So sad to read that.  

We'll miss you.  Heal up.

I'll still be there at 9.  Love to have some company.