I was there.  Marc Bertucco came with.

A bit chilly, but the sun was out and it wasn't too windy, so the plan was to do what I think of as the Traditional Sunday ride.  Low road to Piermont, then over to Bradley and Schuyler, then hit the Water Tower climb, over to the north end of Rockland Lake, do a lap of the lake, then back home.

Despite the cool air, we found a little tempo on the climbs.  After stopping for a coke at a gas station on 9W outside of Nyack, my derailleur was acting a bit funky.  I was thinking I should stop and check it.  But then, my derailleur had a better idea.  It snapped at the mounting bolt.  

Marc called his wife, we walked to the Runcible, and got a ride home.  Now I'm trying to figure out how to turn two broken Campy 11 speed rear derailleurs into one working derailleur.  Swapping the mounting bolt appears to be off the table possibly because the bolt-in-bolt setup is frozen into place on the older broken derailleur.  Swapping the cage is also problemmatic as the spring in the newer broken derailleur isn't coming out.  Yet.  

https://www.strava.com/activities/10697820652

Rolling from gwb at 9 tomorrow morning. Likely take low roads and go up Bradley tweed before stopping in piermont for coffee and 9w home 

With the weather tomorrow uncertain, it will be a last-minute call on my part for Saturday.

However, Sunday, back to the usual. Jersey side of the GWB at 9am, I'm going at least as far as Rockland Lake.  

So pretty out 

GWB has been reopened.  I assume that means it will be open tomorrow morning, though I'll check again in the AM to be sure.

Too cold for me , hoping to ride Monday 🤞

Some days you just can’t beat Cunningham  

Lovely, if a bit nippy, out there today.

Beautiful out today , took the low road to Piermont , didn’t see a single cyclist out until the way back on 9w , 

Anyone riding north tomorrow?

Matt Budofsky said:

Anyone riding north tomorrow?

If we didn't have a group, I was thinking of jumping in with the VO2 Max gang and following them for a little speed and company.  That means being at the GWB at about 9:05am.

Still on for the normal Sunday. 9am from the bridge.

I may join, depends how quickly I get up and out. If I’m not there by 9 roll without me

Matt Budofsky said:

I may join, depends how quickly I get up and out. If I’m not there by 9 roll without me

I'll be there til 9:10 or someone shows.

Could be fun.

I didn’t have time to get my shit together for a Saturday AM ride, but I’m going to try for GWB tomorrow Sunday morning at 9am for a quick 2-3 hour traditional river road or 9w north south ride. Anyone else interested?

DavidVibert said:

I didn’t have time to get my shit together for a Saturday AM ride, but I’m going to try for GWB tomorrow Sunday morning at 9am for a quick 2-3 hour traditional river road or 9w north south ride. Anyone else interested?

I'll be there.  

Running a few late but be there shortly after 9

DavidVibert said:

Running a few late but be there shortly after 9

Ack!  David, did you make it?  

I headed out early and did River road , the wahoo said 18 degrees , until I headed back on 9w , when it ticked up to 25
dam , I can’t wait for spring 

@mugwump sorry to have missed out on Saturday. I ended up riding north through suffern, up to sloatesburg and tuxedo, then over to Wanaque. Don’t think I’ll be doing the route again as riding on route 17 between suffern and sloatesburg even with a decent shoulder was uncomfortable (cars doing 50+ by was not my idea of fun). Skyline drive was also a bit uncomfortable- small shoulder, lot of debris and cars moving surprisingly fast. The wind on the descent made it more technical that it looked in paper. 

Matt Budofsky said:

@mugwump sorry to have missed out on Saturday. I ended up riding north through suffern, up to sloatesburg and tuxedo, then over to Wanaque. Don’t think I’ll be doing the route again as riding on route 17 between suffern and sloatesburg even with a decent shoulder was uncomfortable (cars doing 50+ by was not my idea of fun). Skyline drive was also a bit uncomfortable- small shoulder, lot of debris and cars moving surprisingly fast. The wind on the descent made it more technical that it looked in paper. 

If there’s a better way to link suffern to sloatesburg that does not involve route 17 then it’d be a great route

@m@"Matt Budofsky"

I have never found a paved direct route between Suffern and Sloatsburg that doesn't involve Route 17.  On the good side, the extension of 287 made that section much less hairy than it was before that road was built.  And, if it's any consolation, going from Sloatsburg to Suffern is worse.  

There are three paved ways to Sloatsburg from Suffern.  you can do what you did, or go to Calls Hollow/Gatehill (which can be as hard or harder than Skyline), and get to 7 Lakes Drive from Lake Welch.  Or you can go over or around Skyline Drive.  Once on the Passaic side of Skyline, there's a way to avoid the main roads between the base of skyline and New York State, but it takes riding the back way into Ringwood State Park and then using a road that is officially closed.

An after-school ride for me when I was in high school was out to 7 lakes drive via Campgaw/202/suffern/17, then up old 210 to Lake Welch, down Gatehill/Calls Hollow and back east Saddle River Road.  It was something like 44 miles, but I'd run out of daylight between November and February.

Coming back on Skyline, as you did, you can minimize exposure by going past the Passaic entry to Skyline, and taking a side road which puts you a good way up the climb.  Yes, the shoulders are narrow.  However, the payoff, on both sides, are the descents.  The one from the top into Oakland is thrilling.  The top can be windy, but once you make the first right curve, you're generally protected by trees.  I like to sprint the first sector, get as fast as I can around the first curve, and you can usually do a decent job of holding speed all the way down.    

Skyline is, for some reason, sometimes used by trucks.  Considering both sides have a 14% grade at the top, I don't understand why.  

Saturday's ride, btw, was pretty strenuous.  

@mugwump I descended into Oakland and it was pretty good, but with the gusty wind I was getting blown all over so it wasn’t as good as it should have been. Not sure the last time you rode skyline but they added rumble strips to the shoulder so what’s already a smaller shoulder is now that much tighter. It's definitely a route to play around with since Passaic has some great roads out that way 

@Matt Budofsky It's more usual for me to climb the Oakland side.  I've got a few routes that I like, including going over to a road called Old Westbrook that climbs to the edge of West Milford. 

we'll have to wormhole out that way one day!

This week's Sunday group ride will be a day out at the Kissena Velodrome led by JP.  

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEBB7JdTkS47SG67A

***YOU DON'T NEED TO BRING A TRACK BIKE TO JOIN***

We'll meet up at GAP at 9am and roll over there and start riding at 10am.

At the track, we do an hour or so on our road bikes.  We’ll first take it easy, getting used to the banking and such.  Then, move onto pace lines, maybe some attacking and bridging games, and finish with some leadout practice. 

Next, we pull out the track bikes.  There are loaner bikes at the track, so no worries if you either don't have a track bike or can't bring yours with you.  We'll spend some time getting used to the feeling of a fixed gear and everything that comes along with it.  Then we can try many of the same drills, with the fixed gear being the difference.

I'll be bringing donuts/bagels/roundfoodstuffs, coffee, and a warm car. This is a great opportunity to put tactic theory into practice in a safe place!

Ahhh would’ve loved to be there but I’ll still be in the snow. Hope there is a large turnout because track is awesome

You SHOULD go over to the "The Kissena Early Season Day at the Velodrome (Track on road bikes)" thread.

But, just in case, on SUNDAY MARCH 4, 2024.  ride the Track.  Both on road and track bikes.

I'm  hoping that all those thinking of racing this year will come out to not only hone their skills but also meet up and ride with teammates who can help one another at the races.  

START: Leave either Brooklyn's GAP (@?) or Manhattan's GAP (around 9am).  To ride out to the track.  or go on your own.

Arrive by 10am.  If early, just start riding.  I suggest bringing a backpack with an extra layer or two for standing around.  You might need sunscreen if it's warm enough out.  There's no shade so keep that in mind.  

1. we'll get used to riding on the track, so easy, at your own pace, learn to ride up and down the track, work the bankings.

2. Pacelining. Start with the basic. single file, 200m pulls, then work up to double-file and rotating.

3. Bridging.  One person starts 200m ahead of the group.  Both the person and the group maintain a steady pace.  That's being a half-lap ahead.  One at a time, someone will attack out of the group behind and bridge to the person, then group in front.

4. Leadouts.  Three-person groups.  Three laps.  One person gets the group up to speed, riding two laps (800m) at the front, probably up to 25mph or so.  Then the first pulls off and the second accelerates, smoothly and seated for 200m.  The point is to blow up at the 200m line.  Then the second person peels off and the last person gives everything for the final 200m.  Each person in the three-rider group does each role.

Depending on the size of the group and how we're doing at the other things, we might be able to include a brief pursuit race.  

NEXT UP, TRACK BIKES!

Size them up, pump up tires, put on pedals, adjust saddle height, and get out there.

What happens from here is dependent on the size of the group and how well we're getting used to fixed gear riding, but probably follow a similar format to what we did on road bikes.  1.Get used to the track. 2. get comfortable pace lining, 3. Learn attacking and bridging, 4. pursuit, 5. Leadout.

Ending between 12-1pm.

Love to hit a take-out dumpling or bun place in Flushing before heading home

Bump for a reminder tomorrow's group ride is a track day!!!  9am at GAP if you want to ride from Brooklyn.  

I might try and get a few PP laps in beforehand if anyone wants to join.

Bonus tip for tomorrow: bring a spare mount for your bike computer.  

You can't race with a bike computer on the track, you can train with it.  I'm thinking that being able to tie sensations of speed and effort with actual speed and heart rate could bring a little more insight to the experience.  So long as you're not distracted from riding by it.  

I'll be at Manhattan's GAP, 59th and 5th, southwest corner, at 9am for those wanting to ride from Manhattan over the Queensboro.  If anyone is coming to this meetup point, let me know.  

Rolling north from GWB saturday at 9am. Thinking of going north up Bradley, to Mountainview, a lap of Rockland Lake and then head back south from there on 9W, stopping in Piermont for a coffee on the way back