This sounds amazing, looks like I'll be getting more winter clothes.

Another one from the files....

From: KEITH SNYDER <kpsartless@verizon.net>
Subject: [kissena] Another year, another 120 miles...more or less
Date: February 8, 2010 at 11:27:02 AM EST
To: "kissena@yahoogroups.com" <kissena@yahoogroups.com>
Reply-To: kissena@yahoogroups.com



For everyone wise enough to sleep in Sunday morning and thereby miss the 5th
annual Super Bowl Ride I will give you a quick run down of the day.
I know what you are saying: "Keith is going to write a quick post? Yeah,
right. He's going to drone on and on about a whole lot of nothing". You are
probably right. But what else do you have to do on a Monday at 10AM?
The informal roll call showed that even with the expected really fucking
cold (RFC) weather there could be a record turnout-at least at the start.
There is cold, real cold (RC), and RFC. It was 17F when I left my house. I
decided to ride to GWB with the intention of training it back from there
after the ride. I took 2 bottles, 1 clif bar, 1 carboom, $20, a credit card,
a metrocard, 2 tunes, 2 CO2s. I also packed an extra clif and gel for the
co-conspirator who would run out of food or bonk at the wrong time.
At GWB were Dan Chabanov, his friend Rene (a new Kissena?), Joe Weiner,
Kerry Yi, Wai Fong, Patrick Grehan, Greg Donovan, Gideon Sorkin, Craig
Breed, Marc Bertucco, Joaquin DeBaca. MY APLOGIES IF I MISSED A NAME!
We ran into exactly NO ONE from other teams, etc. We did pass Roger Aspholm
with three other riders on Seven Lakes Drive much later on. But that was
about it. Note to self: He was smiling. The guys with him were not.
We took the usual route to Tenafly to the low road. Sprinted the State Line
and rolled into Sparkill. A couple guys headed back with the rest of us
bound for the Apple Orchard in Conklin. Since I wanted to get a couple leg
looseners in before racing up the orchard climb we headed west on Rt 20 from
303 then north. I figure that routing the ride over anything with the word
hill in it would yield something. Blue Hill Road was simply next to a hill.
We had a couple nice little walls out to Route 33 then took Red Hill Road
which was a great climb of steep and windy beginnings, leveling off then
edging up again near the end. To bad there wasn't a Black Hill Road anywhere
nearby. Back to 33 and within no time we could see The big hunk of rock of
"Little Tor" straight ahead. The sun was shining brightly and the temp might
have been creeping toward 25-30F. Left turn on South Mountain Road and 1.7
miles of hill. Dan and Joaquin raced away while a few of us got rolling.
Eventually the speed got rather silly. Joaquin gapped Dan while Marc B and I
chased. I tried to jump across and ended up alone in the middle. Dan fought
back and held a slight gap on Joaquin to the top. Marc, Craig, Greg D (I
forget the order) all rolled in before anyone could catch a breath. Joaquin
won a pair of lycra booties. Of course had Dan not left Kissena he would
have won them. Oh well, too bad. Haha.
We took a mini break at the orchard market and the second group turned back
while Joaquin, Dan, Craig, Gideon, Rene, and I carried on. A few miles again
back on 33 ( one rides 45 North then 202 the left on 33) and we went left on
Route 98. In this area there are two entrances to Harriman. 106 climbs up
gradually for several miles intersecting with rt 98 at Gate Hill. 98 however
is a series of steep grinds, false flats, a couple descents and then a
vicious section of a couple km up to the Lake. It was windy and steep and
cold but still sunny. It shot down all our legs. We decided to skip Tiorati
Brook (Harriman race circuit climb) and ride over to 7 lakes via 106. We
rode the course backward to the circle at Lake Tiorati then descended 7
Lakes Drive East toward the Rt 6 Circle. It was here where we passed Roger
going UP the hill with a big smile. No wonder that guy wins races.
In past years we would cut over the circle and take 7 Lakes up the hill to
the gate at Perkins drive. Rather than ride up then down to 9 just to ride
up again we took rt 6 to the Bear Mountain Bridge Circle and rode 9 South to
the entrance. MUCH BETTER. Rene had decided he was taking the bridge to his
uncle's house and then the train home. It was now 5. For only the second
time in 5 years we were able to ride the whole climb. There was a little ice
along the edges but near the top but plenty of road and the 30F weather kept
it dry. The view was great. We had to prep for the descent which SUCKED. Did
I say it was cold? By now I was pretty sure there were 4 guys who wanted to
punch me in the face. Fortunately the Cove Deli stop was only one big hill
and few miles of rollers away.
Looking at the state of the group, the horrible food combinations we were
eating and the general cold, I figured we'd skip the hilly detour I planned
and take 9W back to GWB. I was rather wobbly heading into the deli. 34 and
another 1500 ft of climbing was probably going to bury me. I'm so very glad
everyone saw fit to go straight back. Another day.
The 5 of us got a good rhythm going with a little tailwind. Just Rockland
Lake and State line were left as far as hills. Over Rockland Lake the cold
and tired got the best of us and we missed regrouping after the descent. BAD
RIDE LEADER! Eventually after a couple phone calls we sorted out the
clusterfuck and got together again in Piermont. In an impressive mental
effort we rode a perfect rotating paceline on 9W back to the bridge. I won't
say what time it was (way later than I had estimated) but everyone was happy
to be done. We all got on the train at 178th. Mmmmm warm train. My computer
said 118 miles. That makes the loop from GWB and back 104 miles. Just a
touch more than I thought. The planned detour after Cove Deli actually would
not have added any more miles just more hills. No one had an altimeter so I
don't know the climbing totals. Avg speed was good especially in light of
the wind and cold. At times we were flying.
Thanks to everyone who came out. I hope you all enjoyed it and that you
benefited from the route and the effort. I will try and set up a couple more
group rides with different routes during the Spring and Summer for those who
would enjoy a deviation from the Sparkill/Nyack norm. Perhaps a similar ride
in 90F summer weather? I kinda like the sound of that...

Keith

Merged the threads

I'm in 

dear god I guess I have to train a couple weeks before this since I havent ridden my bike seriously in over a year.

Sent

i also did this ride once and really loved it.  we got up towards the top of bear and had to turn back when the snow got a bit thick on the road.  the descent overlooking snowcapped hills was picturesque.  good stuff, looking forward to it

I'm bummed that I won't be able to make it this year. My son is preforming in a local orchestra. 

A few years back there was snow on Perkins drive. I think JP, Keith and I (or was there someone else) tried to ride up it but it was too icy. Sort of like CX national this year. I know this word gets over used, but this ride is usually pretty epic.

Ditto everything Patrick had to say, except I have a play date for my daughter. #dadlife

Forecast is snow for Sunday 

Mark Taylor said:

Forecast is snow for Sunday 

When I raced the Iditasport, their slogan was 

mugwump said:

Mark Taylor said:

Forecast is snow for Sunday 

When I raced the Iditasport, their slogan was 

"the cowards won't show and the weak will die."

Jules might fly in with his fat bike.

Fuck that Imma gonna do it on skis this year

What time does this ride usually make it back to the GWB?

3 ish.

We want to shoot for that because Keith needs to get to work in the evening.

It is insane to me that somebody could do a workday after this ride.

I'm in for the wusses-only portion of the ride.

Yeah, a day of work after a century ride would be...tough.

Jeff, I'll likely be with you on a shorter version. It looks like the monthly meeting of a reading group that I'm a part of will take place 4-6pm Sunday. As much as I'd like to do the whole enchilada (and who knows, maybe I'll skip the meeting), I may end up on something closer to a Super Bowl Metric Century ride. 

i've taken two extra rest days this week to hold my cold at bay so i can make this ride. let's hope it works!

Seriously, clear your entire day if you're going to do the ride.  You should expect to get home and inhale all the super bowl snacks immediately and not want to move for a few hours.

Kieth working after this ride is genuinely alarming.

What would the Wusses only portion of the ride likely be?

Mark Taylor said:

What would the Wusses only portion of the ride likely be?

Turn back when you like: Piermont, Rockland lake, or the orchards are all possibilities. I might be able to join and go as far as Piermont or Rockland lake

i will try and join for the pansy or super-pansy version of Sunday. i might be able to sneak a bit past Piermont depending on the pace (need to be back by ~12). What is the planned route north from the state line?

I'm in for either Orchards or the whole thing - it'll be a game time decision (pun absolutely intended)

I'll be there - meeting 8am BB - I'll be turning back at Piermont.

*edit* can't make it after all don't wait for me

An exact metric century was all that was in the cards for me today. A nice big group (12?) left the GWB at 9:00 headed north on the low road. Five of us veered off for a quick(ish) coffee at Piermont and then back through Tallman and the observatory. The rest headed further afield and I'm jealous, but this was my first long ride since the day before Halloween so the decision to cut it short was probably best. Interested to hear about the adventures. And yes, Keith was there. And yes, he did just get off work.

i am exhausted

abbreviated highlights:

• the winter view  from top of bear and descending bear is lovely
• JP at one point (at around mile 90 when we were all just wanting it to end) simply said "I don't want to talk any more," and really sounded like he meant it. unclear if this is highlight or lowlight
• Sean looked like I had just told him his entire family died in a fire when I explained that the A train would take more like 50 minutes to get to Canal from 175 St.  He was hoping to be home in 15 (again unclear if highlight or lowlight, maybe best to think of these as just anecdotes)
• unlike JP and sean, I wasn't yet at 100 miles when I got to my house, so I pointlessly road 4-5 miles up and down the bike path near my house.  extremely painful.  but no self-respecting cyclist rides all day, gets to 95 miles, and figures they'll just upload that ride without doing the remaining 5.  tried to explain this to hannah, she thinks i'm an idiot
• 
  

You guys are awesome.

In my book, getting in the couple extra miles to hit trip digits is absolutely imperative.

Exhausted am I.

The roads were nice and quiet, with a minimum of jerk drivers. Max and Sebastian made it to the Orchard and headed back.  Love to read about their adventure.       

It started snowing when we were in New City the way out. I started thinking contingency, but as it was pointed out, the snow wasn't sticking, so we'd probably be fine.  It stopped when we started the climb into Harriman.  And returned in Haverstraw. 

We saw some sun.

We were able to summit Perkins. As usual, the road was officially closed.  However, this is the first time that I've noticed that Perkins was salted.  Perhaps that's why the road was clear.  

No one got sandwiches at the Cove Deli.  As it was Keith's actual birthday, he got some love from the only other patron of the Deli, also his birthday.  

Missed the dip in the Hudson.  someone told us we ought to jump in.  I think it was supposed to be a nice thing to say.

Brendan was pretty good about picking up the pace to finish off the climb...before the climb was over.  On several occasions, he was sorely disappointed.

Keith fought mightily, his body told him to cut it out many times.  He finally succumbed as we started climbing Rockland Lake. He told us to go ahead.  We offered to wait.  He was adamant.  Hope he made it back.  

I don't remember the quip to Brendan, but it's possible.  This was the hardest of these I've done.  Never felt this blown on the ride.  Two years ago, I was hammering on 9W, even knocking off my highest 20m wattage of the ride.  This year, I was struggling.

Everyone who came out was a stud.  Brendan was like a diesel, getting stronger as the ride went on.  Early on, he was concerned he was going too hard.  Maybe it was a fake-out.

When we got back over the bridge, a guy was standing at the corner, asking us to write the PA about widening the bike path.  We tried to have a conversation, but the words were barely working.  Brendan excused our poor manners on our fatigue.  The guy understood.  

When we were almost at the NBC facility, I heard Sean say "got it".  I was thinking pothole, flat tire, cramps.  Then it dawned on me: century passed.  

Ride numbers: 101.4mi.  6940' climbing.  3692kj.  206w np, avg hr 145. ride time: 6:10.
Last year, where I did 40 miles or so solo, was eight minutes slower.  Two years ago, where we had a sizable group, was 30 mins faster.

i should add that sean put in a truly admirable effort up bear.  i could try to blamesean's KOM on my poor pacing (that was my first time ever ascending bear) but that'd be fake news.  sean took that one fair and square.  well done.

it's really cool to have power data.

Will post a full report when I have a chance to look at my garmin file. But the ride was awesome to say the least. @Brendan Rigby the fact that i said i was going to Spring or Canal on the A and  thought that it would take 15 minutes when W4th is by far the best option (as the A doesn't go to Spring...i know this) shows how drained/ delusional I was after crossing the bridge.

that. was. awesome. 

i wasn't sure if i was going to go all the way up to bear, but i knew that i wanted to make it to at least the orchard, as that is usually around 100 miles round-trip from brooklyn. 

max and i split from the bear group at the orchard, and had a pretty spirited, high-tempo-ish ride back to the gwb.

my misery started around nyack. we eventually made it to piermont for a restorative banana and water break. after some deliberation about the route, we decided 9w was the best option back to the bridge. it was at this point that i realized that i 1) had largely forgotten to drink water all day and 2) could feel my thighs ache when i so much as laughed or coughed. 

we eventually made it to the bridge, at which point max decided it was best to take the train back to brooklyn. in hindsight, he 100% had the right idea. the next hour was probably the hardest / most painful that i've spent on a bike. every so often i'd calculate how long it would take to jump on the train, only to remind myself that i didn't make it ~85 miles to take the train home (i was also genuinely afraid of falling asleep on the train and waking up even further from home). in the end i made it back after almost exactly 6 hours in the saddle. my garmin said 96 miles, but i didn't have the mental or physical ability to ride around my block for the remaining 4 miles. 

all that being said it was one of the most memorable days of riding i've had. i'll definitely be back next year and attempt to make it all the way up to bear. 

numbers: 6hrs 1m @ 205 NP and 148 bpm. that's an IF of .89 for me... i think i need to re-test my ftp (after a much needed rest week)

BUMP!

Trainer miles won't save you.  Time to get outside.

It's on.