Here are some of the rides gone by.

2017  https://www.strava.com/activities/856761477
2016  https://www.strava.com/activities/488492924
2015  https://www.strava.com/activities/110940529

Shortened version--Snow and Rain were in the forecast and pretty much came as predicted
2018 https://www.strava.com/activities/1392310499

here's info about the polar bear plunge we often see en route
http://www.stonypointseals.com/about-stony-point-seals/

If it wasn’t for a 6+ hour bicycle ride, this photo alone would make my diabetes insurance premiums skyrocket 

Forecast is for overcast weather with temps around 30 @ 9am at the GWB; 37 @ noon @ Bear mountain and 38 @ 3 at GWB. Dress appropriately. Bring two bottles, two spare tubes, CO2 (or a pump), food and money. We will stop at a Deli on the way back.

I plan on making rice cakes tomorrow. Will bring them to the GWB for anyone who wants some. I will also have toe warmers for those who need them.

JP was good enough to create a MapMyRide course that skips Harriman State Park. The connecting road between Harriman and Bear Mountain requires crossing over the Palisades parkway. While it is only a few hundred feet and has been done by cyclists for years without incident, signs have been put up that bikes are not allowed on that road and it is wiser that we stick to safer (and legal) roadways. JP's suggested alternative route puts us at 94 miles roundtrip from GWB. We can easily add 6 miles on the way back in NJ if the group wants. 

I have uploaded a gpx copy of JP's route to dropbox here. You can download it and add it to your Wahoo or Garmin if you would like. The plan is to stick together, but should the group split up at some point (some people might turn back earlier) it may be good to have it if you are unfamiliar with the area. 



 

I think I’m going to drive over from BK (not trying to have a 130 day). I can fit another bike in the car (maybe 2 if we squeeze it in the back). Let me know if anyone wants to ride up

Rice cake ready to be individually wrapped

I'll can use a ride. I'm in. DM Me.

@PatrickGrehan I see your savory and raise you sweet. 

Just want to confirm the time for tomorrow. 9am at the GWB?

Yes. 9am GWB. We leave by 9:10 so no one oversleep. I will be parked just north of the bridge and will have rice cakes or toe warmers for anyone who wants 

Details.
Stories.
Pictures.

Experiences, bro's?

Here is a mini report: great ride with Keith, John O, Robert M, Ricky, Nathaniel, Dotan and myself. We diverged a little from the gps as Keith had his own ideas and we ended with 91 miles round trip. That was plenty. 

Ricky crushes the sprints. Robert and Nathaniel were like mountain goats up every climb. Dotan impressed us with having underestimated the difficulty of this ride but sticking to his guns and pushing onwards without a complaint. Keith and I were the 50 year old aerobic engines. I paced myself and schooled the billy goats on the Perkins climb. 

A couple of other notes. The sandwiches at the Cove deli are surprisingly good. Also the thebsumit of bear mountain we ran into a group of about 30 Latinos dressed in some sort of traditional garb getting ready to film a musical performance for “carnavale.”  The road was closed so they walked all the way to the top. On the way back north of Haverstraw we saw some old guy who had stopped his pickup truck and was parked on the side of road playing a snare drum. It was a little surreal. 

I think we will all sleep well tonight. Definitely worth doing. 

That sums it up pretty well! As the ride went on, we also had more people yelling "Go Rams!" at us. I really enjoyed the day and it was great to put up some big miles this time of year. Thanks to everyone who joined/ facilitated/ started this tradition!

Patrick said it all. An awesome experience overall. I also want to give my thanks to the guys, Ricky and Patrick specifically, for keeping me in it towards the end there. If you ever lose your legs 85 miles down and 15 miles from home, those are the wheels you want in front of you. As painful as it was and I will be for the next couple days, I’d absolutely do it again.

Epic day on the bike yesterday with some good people. Everyone was pumped to get out and put in a big ride like this early in the year. I finished up with 103 miles and 7000 feet of climbing. Now I just have to find a place to wash my bike. Can’t wait to do it again!!!

What time is it?

It's Kissena Annual Superbowl century time!

Mark your calendar as the plan is to ride to Bear Mountain and back on Sunday February 2nd. 

WHO: Anyone crazy enough (see notes below)
WHAT: Ride to Bear mountain, climb to the top of Perkins Drive and return home
WHEN: Meet at GWB at 9am on Sunday Feb 2 (see note below)
WHERE: http://www.strava.com/routes/23573761
WHY: It's stupid fun and why not?

Okay, more seriously:
WEATHER: Current forecast calls for snow showers. We will make a call at the end of next week if safety necessitates rescheduling the ride

BE PREPARED: Riding to Piermont in the winter is one thing. Riding as a group to Bear creates a whole set of other challenges as we can't just pop into a bike shop if there is a problem

Each rider MUST have spare tubes, CO2 or mimipumps, extra food and hydration, and layers appropriate for the weather. Make sure your bike is in proper working condition NOW. Ride heavy duty training tires. Not thin racing tires. Check your brakes and lube your chain

The group will stop on the way back for hydration and food, but given the cold and distance, unnecessary stopping creates difficulty for everyone. Of course we will stop for flats, but repeatedly standing around in sweaty gear on a winters day messes with your core temperature and creates unnecessary risks for everyone

HOW IS YOUR FITNESS?: It is important that we keep an eye on each other and stay together as a group. Safety first. Having said that, if you have bitten off more than you can chew, and this ride is more taxing than your current fitness allows (e.g. you are having difficulty staying with the group) there is no shame in letting the group know and finding a suitable turnaround point. Better to put in a good 60 mile ride than bonk hard at 80 with 20 miles to go before you get home. Brooklyn riders have sometimes taken the subway back after reaching Manhattan

Here is last years route to upload to your Wahoo/Garmin:
http://www.strava.com/routes/23573761

Scroll back through the comments in this thread to read about other's experiences and how to prepare for this ride

Spare tires? 

Mark Taylor said:

Spare tires? 

In case the bears get hungry.

oops. I edited the post to spare tubes

@PatrickGrehan
Your post definitely intimidated me enough not to join this ride

@Mark Taylor success! But seriously, join us. Worst case, join us for part of it and turn back. 

It's an amazing ride, it's even better when it snows 

Do we have resources in the area we can tap in the event of an emergency or serious mechanical ?

JohnOlsson said:

Do we have resources in the area we can tap in the event of an emergency or serious mechanical ?

Uber or lyft — riders choice

@JohnOlsson

we do.

I have a few friends in the area we can tap if someone is on death's door.  One, ex-Kissena Rob Panzera, is talking about riding with us.  If he's on the ride, he's got family in the area, and an understanding wife.  But only on death's door.  

Also,  For those who get to the halfway point and want to bail, it's maybe 6-8 miles to Peekskill, where one can take the train home.

Traditionally, we stop at the Cove Deli in Tompkins Cove, though my preference is not to stop for long.  Even if we hang out inside, it's stopping.  

A few years ago, Keith cracked big time at Rockland Lake.  As both the reason for the ride and a friend, I offered to push him over the hill and then stuff whatever calories he needed in his mouth once we got to the gas station on the other side.  Keith wouldn't take it.  He crawled over the hill, making a point of letting us go, got a sandwich in Nyack and finished the ride.

My recommendation is to take about 6 bars worth of calories on your pockets, and calories in your bottles.  Several coke up at the Deli and I've seen some, including a few pros, eat complete sandwiches there.  

Team,

Even though I LOVE climbs and Bear Mountain climb is wonderful. I'm willing to skip the ride and drive a SAG (support and gear) car behind you.

I will have a bike rack that can accommodate 3 bikes (I can also fit two more bikes inside the car if needed), a floor pump, extra tubes, extra water, you can store your sandwiches and extra bars, you can put a small bag with your extra layers, etc.
If you get exhausted - you can get in until you are rested and I will drop you off ahead of the group. If you have a technical I will stop,  provide assistance, and drop you off back with the group (it will minimize the stops for the whole team), if you crash I will be there with first aid kit, and if needed I will get you to the nearest hospital.

We've done this ride without a SAG car and we did just fine. Yet, it offers more comfort.

I don't mind missing out. I will have plenty of nice hill and mountains in Israel very soon. And I'm not a big fan of the winter here in general. So don't feel bad about me. In fact, I might miss riding, but I won't miss the ride.

'Like' if you would like a SAG car on this ride
Comment if you have reservations
I need to get a sense of your opinions

(oh, and I will have coffee too. Turkish is the default, but I can get other kinds if you so desire)

@DotanGreenvald this is super nice of you. I have to miss the ride, but I appreciate you offering this.

This is super generous of you, Dotan! Can you mount a snow-plow to your car?

But speaking only for myself, it would kinda kill the epic-ness and fun of such a ride. There'll be plenty of time for comfort when I'm old and riding the GFNY

thats an amazing idea Dotan...lets discuss this further in detail first to make sure everyone stays safe (you included). Being SAG in a vehicle isn't as easy as it sounds & there might be local laws that limit what we can do.

JohnOlsson said:

thats an amazing idea Dotan...lets discuss this further in detail first to make sure everyone stays safe (you included). Being SAG in a vehicle isn't as easy as it sounds & there might be local laws that limit what we can do.

Just to make sure, I'm not planning on handing water bottles from my window, or adjusting your saddle height while you ride... I can't offer that kind of support..

But yes, if someone knows the laws about it I would like to know.

Taking the detailed discussion to slack