Big Wheels, Crayons & Bike Racing — Parents

Oct 20, 2014 at 12:37 AM

Craig Zolan said:

I've never figured out how to go from GWB to around there. If I were in Montclair, I'd go riding southwest towards Summit, Chatham and the Great Swamp and north to Morristown historic national park. Great riding out that ways. If it were only about the riding, I'd pick Maplewood over Montclair.

For you a huge plus: it's rideable to branchbrook!

Seriously, though. The riding might be lousy for a few miles, but it's pretty close to my old stomping grounds in Bergen County, and going west to Morristown and beyond is pretty easy. Once you get west of Morristown, the hills are big and the roads fairly empty.

I have a cycling acquaintance or two out that way if you want contact info.

Ryan J

Oct 20, 2014 at 04:14 PM

Thanks for the input. This is helpful.

It's not serious yet, but Maria is interested in that area because, you know, where we live now it costs $1m to buy a 2 BR condo...

Adam Fabian

Oct 20, 2014 at 04:45 PM

JP is right -- if you head southwest towards Peapack and Gladstone the riding is great. My inlaws live down that way, and riding up in that direction when I'm there is one of my favorite routes. Lots of climbing, and it's pretty easy to find fairly empty roads. Continue west/southwest and the fun continues.

Marc Bertucco

Oct 20, 2014 at 06:44 PM

Ryan J said:

Thanks for the input. This is helpful.

It's not serious yet, but Maria is interested in that area because, you know, where we live now it costs $1m to buy a 2 BR condo...

Sarah and I moved away from 105th street/Manhattan because 2bdr cost $750K. We're up in Washington Heights where it's not only much more affordable, but access to good road riding, well, it takes me 15 minutes to get to the jersey side of the GWB. I'm never tempted by Floyd midweek training races, Rockleigh crits in the summer however. And getting out of town? Again, it takes me just a few minutes, maybe 10 in traffic when we're heading out of town for race weekends.

I recommend looking at Washington Heights and Inwood for more affordable 2 bedroom deals. I think, and it's been a while since I've priced things out, but you'll find stuff in the 500K range.

neilx

Dec 23, 2014 at 05:02 PM

First road bike. Nice inaugural ride in the cold rain last night.

Hugo road bike .jpg

mugwump

Dec 23, 2014 at 05:27 PM

neilx said:

First road bike. Nice inaugural ride in the cold rain last night.

Smiles after the cold rain. He might not need any hardening.

neilx

Dec 23, 2014 at 05:43 PM

@Mugwump-Well, he still whined when we couldn't get delivery of his favorite haute Mexican cuisine from Calexico, so I think he can definitely use some hardening. But it'll come with time - I hope. I assume you started the hardness training with yours from birth? : )

It was cool though. In the dark, cool rain in Prospect last night...he gets into the drops for the very first time, turns his head slightly and shouts over his shoulder to me "I feel like a Pro!" (Hopefully w/o the doping.)

eloy

Dec 23, 2014 at 08:50 PM

Hugo!!

Mark Taylor

Dec 24, 2014 at 12:27 AM

Very cool Neil

mugwump

Dec 24, 2014 at 04:27 PM

Neil,

Gotta ask. Of all the bikes in all the bike shops in all teh world, why this one? This bike is relatively light for its class (kids bikes are notoriously heavy), but was that the main draw?

neilx

Dec 24, 2014 at 04:42 PM

mugwump said:

Neil,
Gotta ask. Of all the bikes in all the bike shops in all teh world, why this one? This bike is relatively light for its class (kids bikes are notoriously heavy), but was that the main draw?

@ mugwump -

Two things:

(1) LOTS of credit sitting at Mattie's shop based on e-bay sales they've done for me there. (Cleverly, if you turn the E-bay sale credit into a purchase the commission they take on the Ebay stuff is significantly lower.) With credit on the books there it FEELS like you're getting stuff for free--sort of a (psychological) velo slush fund.

(2) Color.

I honestly don't even know what else is out there in this class. Looks like Giant has a nice one. I would have gotten the Redline 24" cross bike if they could have gotten it at Piermont, but they couldn't get it.

neilx

Dec 24, 2014 at 04:44 PM

@Eloy- From Hugo: ELOY!!!!

Marc Bertucco

Dec 24, 2014 at 04:46 PM

Parents. Please post your "for sale" bikes here or there for kids. Peter is going to be ready for a bike with pedals probably this summer. He likes his "Easy Rider" but all the racing he's done and gone to with us and he's asking for a bike with pedals.

Nathaniel Miller

Dec 28, 2014 at 07:35 AM

Hey, guys. I'm happy to say that on the 25th my wife gave birth to our first child, Adrian David Miller. Apparently they measured his VO2Max but i don't know those numbers yet. He has my low heart rate, and if he inherited my long femur then I think we may have something to work with. Joking aside, all indications are that he's healthy, and my wife is as well. I'm looking forward to participating in this thread.

eragot

Dec 28, 2014 at 12:22 PM

Congratulations!

jim_nelson

Dec 28, 2014 at 12:34 PM

Awesome Nathaniel! Congrats.

JoshuaC

Dec 28, 2014 at 12:37 PM

Congratulations Miller fam!

Jules

Dec 28, 2014 at 02:13 PM

Congratulations Millers!!!!

neilx

Dec 28, 2014 at 02:23 PM

Fantastic!

eloy

Dec 28, 2014 at 05:48 PM

congrats!!!!

Jeffrey White

Dec 29, 2014 at 04:52 PM

Great news, Nathaniel! Very happy for you guys.

Also, pics or it didn't happen

twoyacks

Dec 29, 2014 at 07:26 PM

Mazel tov !!!

David Yang

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:03 PM

Looks like I'll be starring this thread: Wife is pregnant and due late July! This will be our first child so we're super nervous and excited. This also seems like a really convenient excuse for my perpetual bad form...

Marc Bertucco

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:16 PM

Congratulations!

Phil Maronilla

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:19 PM

Excellent news!

Congratulations Dave! Welcome to the club (within the club).

Marc Bertucco

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:22 PM

Also, I think we found a way to get David to race cross. Because you know what's better than racing your bike in the morning, then hanging out in a park during a beautiful fall day with your wife and child? Nothing.

[mic drop]

JohnMalcolmson

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:23 PM

Congrats David! You are riding like a demon btw.

I should also post officially here as Caroline and I are due April 9 (boy!).

Jeff Condon

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:30 PM

Awesome news Dave. Happy for you both. You got plenty of time to train and race before late July so no excuses.

Unknown

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:35 PM

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CrossNatsStriders.jpg

Marc Bertucco

Jan 22, 2015 at 03:38 PM

Gwynna Smith said:

Marc Bertucco said:

Also, I think we found a way to get David to race cross. Because you know what's better than racing your bike in the morning, then hanging out in a park during a beautiful fall day with your wife and child? Nothing.

[mic drop]

Just leaving this here...

Shit, that's so awesome. No idea. Looks like there will be TWO Bertucco's racing Natz next year!