I'm out for Sunday gravel, my gravel bike needs some work and I think I may only have time for a ride that gets me back home in the AM. So may just end up going to Market and back. 

I'm in for a long ride tomorrow.  Possibly also something non-gravel on Sunday.

BlakeFoster said:

PatrickGrehan said:

Alas, I can’t go long Sunday, but am looking for a long road ride Saturday 

On Saturday I’m probably going to do a playback of the same ride we did last week, but without Bradley tweed this time. Have a 70-85 mile distance target with last 70min at tempo. Lmk if any interest in joining!

What time yall thinking?  

I’ll ride. (I think.)

Sunday gravel thing is off , sorry 
lets try and do it next Sunday 

Saturday times?

8a GWB? I could also do 9a GWB if ppl want a late start 

I vote for 8am at GWB as I have to pick my son up from the airport in the afternoon. If that is the consensus then I’ll be at the BB at 7am

8am GWB a-ok with me. See you then 

In

@BlakeFoster - what time would you want to meet at GWB?

I’ll b at bb at 7:05

RJ Simoni said:

@BlakeFoster - what time would you want to meet at GWB?

Won’t make 8am GWB. Anyone riding later?

Heading to GWB now. See you all shortly

Summer breeze !
super fun to have a decent group out 

Sunday!  7/6/25!

What time at the GWB?  9?  8:30? dare I suggest 8?

No matter what, I need to be back at the GWB at 10:55.

The deafening response means I'll be there at 9.

I cant get out till later, will be at GWB at 12

Alpine for me , tried it clockwise , bad idea , spent way to much time looking at my map
but still nice there 

Sunday!  7/13/25!

What time at the GWB?  9?  8:30? dare I suggest 8?

No matter what, I need to be back at the GWB at 10:55.

Depending on how the race goes tomorrow (saturday) I'm planning on being at GWB/NJ 8a. I need some longer miles in my legs, Blake is killing me out there.

Early bird especial GWB/NJ 8a. If we have the numbers we'll work on group riding skills - pacelines, rotations, maybe even drills to work on creating separation or closing down gaps and bridging, etc..

I’m probably going to show ,BB 7am 
might not be down for all those efforts , will see how I feel 

I'll be out but think I will go solo to Haverstraw and then tempo back as a redux for my botched ride last week. May see you guys out, but may also be in the wind.

going to have to be a maybe for tomorrow morning.

Recorded a body temp of 100.9 Fahrenheit just before dinner.  Advil and an ice vest made dinner tolerable.  Have to see how I feel in the morning.  

I’ll be at the GWB at 8am

JP I think your body is telling you to get some rest my friend.

Journaling, July 13, 2025.

TL;DR - The One Where I Finally Visit The Orchards (and Pat rips my legs off).

Woke up early thinking I might ride out from eastern Queens, but a glance out the window showed it was drizzling so I went back to sleep for another half hour. Dillydallied leaving the house, ended up hustling from LIC to GWB (we've been trying to keep a 5 min wait-at-the-bridge protocol these days). On the Queensboro a guy on one of those electric skateboard scooters with a seat just rattled along next to me at the base. I couldn't deal so pumped out some watts to speed ahead of them. There goes my z2 day. Headed into Central Park where I intersected with the M123 finish of the final lap of a CRCA club race and watched the sprint finish in front of me as they flew up the hill.

Mark driving up to Alpine for some mountain biking saw me on the GWB and apparently called out but I didn't hear (I hope it was something like, "Hustle for some pizza, you wanker!"). I got a cryptic siri dictated message from him, "looking sharp" and I had to wonder about that until I got home.

Pat rolled up to the GWB and Blake messaged he was running very late so we headed out. We suspected and hoped JP was sleeping in for once. I mentioned to Pat we were going to take it easy today which is almost always instantly negated on the climb out of Hudson Terrace to 9W when people go 400watts up the hill.

We kept it civil on the low roads, that first right turn into the neighborhood hinting at good omens with beautifully repaved tarmac. Sadly the good vibes ended a few miles later when a small bird in front of us, possibly already injured, flew into Pat's rear spokes. It did not make it. ☹️ Apparently he has been having bad luck this year with little woodland creature friends running in front of him.

He gave me a monster lead out heading into state line and I gave a mediocre sprint effort. It just wasn't the same without someone's wheel breathing down my neck. We then flipped around to go back up to Rockleigh's remnants to see if it would be suitable for skills & drills sessions (borderline tarmac/concrete and there are lots of no trespassing signs, so no). We entertained the thought of a flat "cyclocross" course but Pat pointed out there is probably lots of demolition debris hiding in the weeds.

I mentioned that I could go long today so he thought for a few pedal strokes and said, "Follow me." which I wish he said it like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2:

https://youtu.be/XTzTkRU6mRY?si=vMPqheCENX3RANWX&t=90

He proposed heading up to The Orchards which when I thought about it, I guess I had never been. Sounded like a great time so we meandered north and west and one of the roads was in the middle of being repaved so was effectively gravel. During the ride earlier we were discussing trying to find some time for a team gravel ride and suddenly we were faced with 200 meters of primo northeastern road construction gravel. My 26mm tires did not appreciate it and my bike started creaking more after that. Adventure!

Pat was out front leading the way while I sat on his wheels riding the slipstream wave. During longer stretches I tried to do some pulling, just so he knew I ain't no wheelsucker (but honestly I kind of am). The rolling hills and punchy climbs manifested out of nowhere and we were suddenly putting out big watts on small gears to make it over them. In the final stretch before The Orchards Pat suddenly started stomping on the pedals at a high cadence. I did all I could to hold his wheel, but eventually let him ride. A few seconds later I cleared the top of the hill and there was Pat, making a left turn into the parking lot of The Orchards. Nice.

Took a break, watched a bit of the tour, filled up on calories (hoping next time we head up there as a group I can split the 6 pack of apple cider donuts), and filled our bidons before getting back into the saddle. Pat reminded me all that climbing we did was going to pay off as a nice descend. Deja vu of me following Pat's wheel down hills and mountains during spring training camps. We made it into Nyack and came up on a street closure for Bastille Day street fair. We made a little detour and ran into Blake coming the opposite way headed north for his own 85mi tempo day. The guy is a beast, and if I may, very JP-like in his dedication to big miles.

We booked it down to Piermont where Pat stopped by the shop to pick up new Speedplay cleats (the ones on his shoes turned out to be 3 years old and squeaking like the tin man before meeting Dorothy).

More hustling and booking it on 9W, trading pulls, almost tasting the lunch that awaited us. We saw a Kissena kit off in the distance and we were speculating who it was. When we caught up it was David H. one of the many Davids in KCC history! All smiles at the kismet and I asked if he wanted to ride, but he was cruising with a buddy so Pat and I hit the wind to cover the last few miles back. 

It was my turn to lead out for the sprint so I did my best to push my 52x11 heading downhill and Pat launched with the green light. Later he said he never knows when that sprint ends - I always assumed it was the station sign, but I think officially there is a fire hydrant somewhere.

Last Hudson Terrace uphill sprint. Pat and I go from chitchat to mortal enemies in a split second. I jump first and keep a hard but steady watt up but I can *feel* him right next to me and in the final 3 seconds I give one more kick and take it today.

I say goodbye to Pat who has parked next to the bridge and I head across the GWB. Lots of couples riding today, which is really nice to see. Exiting the bridge on the NYC side there is a small party of roadies hanging out, also very nice to see.

Waiting at the stoplight next to the bridge before crossing the dark underpass, the rider across the street from me waves and it is Thierry B, one of my long time KCC pals. We pull over to the side of the road and catch up on life for a few minutes. Another kismet, a reminder that sometimes you get lucky and life is filled with lovely people.

Solo rapid pace down Riverside, easy peasy through the west side of Central Park, sprint finish across 59th street to cut across to the Queensboro. It was empty heading down on the east side slope so I aero tucked without having to brake and I think I got a Strava PR today.

Catch you on the next ride.

Anyone up for a long-ish ride tomorrow morning over the GWB?

Thinking ~60–70 miles to get the legs primed for Bear Mountain next weekend. Up for any pace. Weather’s looking solid, so let’s cash in.