Ridge Road Run and Aftermath

Thomas is in town, so we are off Saturday morning for a ride! Great idea if only the weather would cooperate.

So we are out the door by 10:30 am, and 1000 yards north on Regent we start feeling rain drops. Ha! So much for planning. We continue into the 44F spring air. My fingers begin to freeze.

Old Niskayuna whips past at an ever-increasing speed approaching 14 mph, we cross Nott, spin down to the left on Hillside Ave, to spill out onto Maxon Extension to the Freeman's Bridge. We swing right onto the white line protected bike lane and take advantage of the westerly wind blowing down the Mohawk to propel ourselves to the left hand turn lane lining up for the turn onto Sunnyside. The traffic parts, the only cars are still near the last light, so we roll on through.

It's getting colder, if that's at all possible, without snow, and my fingers now hurt. The thumb is numb.

We spin out onto Washington, past Bill's place, onto the Cuthbert. We admire the smooth pavement, shovel-ready, and turn right onto Vley. As usual there is the 18 mph discussion on what to do next . . . Ridge Rd. notoriously steep, right past the former 'Tavern' historical sign OR 147 a little fast, shoulder is OK, or continue on the road to Route 5 and its windy fast traffic, and do the Glenville Hills climbs from the lowest possible altitude, like real men! We go for 147 north, the lesser of the several climbing evils.

The grind begins, and Greg Lemond is doing OK but panting some. It's the spring and he's been working on Long Island with its alpine sections measured in feet gain in elevation not 100s to 1000s like around here. . . or the Battenkill. Ha.

On the right, we pass the Beukendaal 1748 sign along with the one about the Old Sacandaga Rd. Cool historical markers. Makes the ride seem worth the wait.

So we top out near Snake Hill Rd. turn but opt for a little longer ride north, before ducking down Bolt Rd. Everywhere trees are beginning to leaf in, buds are everywhere and a few of the earlier flowers are out. I can hear a mower or a leaf blower going in the distance.

We go to the end and turn right onto Swaggertown. We are both a bit lost on which of the roads parallel what--Ridge, Rte 147, Swaggertown and Rte 50 is the correct order we remember. Tool on in the generally southerly direction declining options on taking Onderdonk (primarily for the name of the road), Droms (for the chance to go around the Indian Meadows Park piece thinking about the connection to Maple Ave and the Rexford Bridge way back) and settle on following Swaggertown all the way back to Horstman cut-through to the parking lot of the new Honda dealership, may the Chevy dealer rest in peace, to Hwy 50.

The first piece is a wreck but around the new Lowe's home and garden center, the pavement is smooth and well-marked, with fair room for bikes on the shoulder. In no time we're back on the bridge itself, and go up Seneca past the new industrial/warehouse all bricked in a lawn planted the weird green of the turf-builder spray stuff. Nice building. Wonder who's moving in?

We wiggle around through the back streets out onto Nott, onto Grand, past the high school holding a lacrosse game. 'Rough sport' says Greg Lemond, as we cruise past. We're up to 1 h 30 m for a little outing and now beginning to think about hot chocolate and wiping down our bikes and behinds.

Fingers still hurt.

Why did we go out so early?? The cloud cover is lifting, the sun is peeking out and it's actually looking rather nice.

Now we have to clean up the bikes.

Asharokan Ride with KoM

Nice ride. Fun. The weather was great and there were lots of other riders. My favorite ride companion is with me on the road. We are out on the Asharoken village peninsula for a ride in the morning of Memorial Day 2009. Had a good ride!

We started out at the apartment. He and I both took our bicycles out of the shed where we'd kept them overnight. I had driven down two days earlier with the bike apart in the car's trunk. Had to put it back together and the dude had a bike stand to work on. It took a while to figure out how to hold the Fuji's diamond-shaped downtube into the jaws made for circular cross section tubes. . . but we made it.

Not being used to it, I mounted the wheel somewhat not seated. We had to undo that silliness. Lubricated the chains, pumped up the tires, set the bottles into the cages with drink, popped a granola bar into the back pockets andoff we went.

West, first, on Fifth avenue, then north on Larkfield which turns into Vernon Valley. We tool past downtown E. Northport, across into foreign territory, an adventure, and on to 25A. Vernon Valley Deli and Sandwich Shop. Worth waiting for.

Once across 25A we wind our way through to Locust which is to the left, up and once on top, we turn right, then onto the road going past the power station. Down the hill, and onto thepenninsula leading out to Asharoken, past beach places that remind me of Malibu, the summers I spent there at Caroline's place on Broadbeach Rd. One summer I traded some interior decorating and refurbishment for room and board, and we took a class on James Joyce's Ulysses.

We are out the penninsula, onto the spot of land that rises up out of the sand. Up and down, and around in the treelined streets, and residences, finally to a run at the beach.

Lots of groups large and small. It's the day to ride. Sunny, cool, and a holiday.

Going back is just as fun but more uphills, it seems, although really the house didn't change altitude while we were gone!

Shaker Bay Loop on Monday

I had to go mentor a student at an elementary school so I didn't manage to plan for a traditional 11:30 am departure. I left at 12:45 pm.

Going south and east on River Road is always a bit of a mixed bag. Some days there is little traffic, some days it is scary. From the traffic circle it's a fast (nearly 30 mph) spin to KAPL, then gently uphill to a slower more stately 20 mph. We have a backward rotation into and out of lead for the peloton. When you're feeling chipper you move out into the traffic side of the groupetto, pedal harder, lean tighter into the wind, and work your way up to the lead, move in and don't look back.

Everyone else does the exact opposite; when you're tired, you peel off out into the traffic side, slide back and let number two pick up the effort.

At Rosendale, we turn left and go downhill to the creek, whip past the little bridge or culvert, and straighten out to head toward the island bridge. It's here in 07 I ran off the road after a day at the Science Fair-like Tech Fair, that I left the road for the slower shoulder, hit something hard, flipped over the handle bars, and landed . . . somehow.

Third degree separation of my shoulder. Whanged my left hand. Kept me out of moving jobs for the fall.

We pass Niskayuna Road, ride up a bit of a rise, and head out into the River Road near the ponds, the old rail road bed, and the park. The park has a nice new parking lot, a shiny new toilet, and a very old Niskayuna Train stop (station, of sorts).

We turn left at the big arrows saying 'Turn Right.' Traffic thins, the road is a bit bumpier, and the rural aspect of Niskayuna appears. We drink from our bottles, start conversations, and settle into a slightly less hectic pace.

We pass the WTRY station, hear airplanes overhead, and pass the home where white rock in the road, after visit by the gas delivery truck, nearly killed one rider. He hit it head on. Lost control. Fell. We were steaming along that day, and so the rider wore a bandage on the left wrist for two weeks after.

Fort's Ferry Road is a branchpoint; the brave take a right, go uphill, work their way through the residential area, then on up to County View, down the hill and back to the rail trail.

We go left, then right, to forge ahead to the Shaker Bay loop on the hill. This hill nearly killed me the first time I did it. It still makes me pause. Nice homes.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/137306707

We complete the circle, and return to the Rail Trail (Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway), swing past the entrance to the Colonie town dump, and head back on the Rail Trail itself. Look right and see up the river, the Mighty Mohawk. Look right to see back yards with splendid views.

The way back this way is sheltered by the woods on either side of the narrow strip of asphalt. Taking care to avoid the cables, we pass the cross traffic access points. Train Station. People out eating lunch, reading, fussing with their dog leashes. Past the ponds, past the overhead bridge, past the water treatment facility. Lock 7 access road is down then back up. The coldest part of the trail is found here, near a plaque commemorating someone, where snow can be found weeks after the melt elsewhere. We approach the Blatnick Hill -- a diagonal climb up the closed-over landfill lump. At the top, you can see much more of the river!

After another rise, past the baseball fields, round the bend to pass by KAPL. We're nearly home. The yellow bike is prepared to peel off left to go home. We pull our id badges out of our jerseys so we can get past the guard. 28 km.

John Boyd Thacher State Park

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/-niskayuna/899124138139927106

9 am St. James Square Starbucks--The yellow bike pulls up. I am dressed far more warmly than I want. It's only 50 F outside, and there's a nasty little wind blowing. Weatherunderground said would be only 6 mph. It's blowing. Objective: the park.

We head out west on Nott, swing south on Regent to slip through Central Park, and over the Roosevelt, to pick up Kings Rd. and follow past all the historical marker signs to Old State. Once out there, we are warmed a bit by the activity, and begin the lefts and rights that take us past Pinehaven Golf to cross Western Ave. and pickup Foundry Rd. heading into the Helderbergs. 'Clear Mountains' says the sign, once you're up there, key to the North American geology!

We sail through Vorheesville, right onto the route to New Salem where I adjust the rear derailleur to shift with less trouble. I'd spun the adjustment CW, loosening, not TIGHTening, and so had to backtrack. I'm OK. The yellow bike notes that I'm using the middle chain ring in front, 'what seems to be the problem?'

So, I'm flying up the hill, Route 85, the right to begin the real pedaling. The wind, that had disappeared, blows in out faces once again and I consider another sport. We're up on top and enjoy the view while some troopers check out someone's driver's license in the overlook parking lot. Then reinforcements.

As a change of pace, we return the way we came. Don't do that too often; most trips here we push on through the park to sail down the other side through into Altamont. Thence Schenectady.

Today, we return the way we came.

Good thing I had the arm warmers. Needed equipment. It's only 52 F by noon when we're back in town.

Story told en route: during Robert Kennedy's campaign swing through W Virginia, a retired miner, grizzled with years of hard work underground, approaches the candidate on the speaker's platform. "You probably never worked a day in your life." Kennedy can't think of anything to say but the truth, compared to this man, "No, I just went to college, law school, . . ."

Miner: "Well, you haven't missed anything."

This in response to reflections on Ivy League schools or not for undergrads, untested, never been away from home longer than summer camp. Today's bill: $50 k/year with some help, still well past $20 k. Perfectly good undergrad lessons and expertise, available at the state college of your choice, the system you paid for throughout residence in the state, for lots less. With proper counselors, counselors at the targeted school for admission as a junior, the student doesn't lose one credit-hour.

I had planned on another route,
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/altamont/273124121195818337

We'll have to do it another day. It took us nearly 3 hours to do the out and back, with a nice long break at the overlook.