First three-man ride of the season

Ti man, Russ and I went on a quick loop to the east in whipping winds today.
Predicted speeds exceeded 45 mph, but there were only gusts that nasty, that we saw. Ride time: 12:45 pm -- I was held up with a noontime meeting. We were greeted by the sun and warm temperatures -- 62 F. Off we went east from 1, Research Circle into the down wind fun portion. Coming back was different. Nothing new about the route; we've done it dozens of times. Shaker Bay at the end; roads both out and back, since the Rail Trails are still ice and snow covered.

50 km ride to kick off the serious miles . . .

I know, it's a standard and favorite ride. We did it on a bit of a whim. I read an email from the Ti Man; he was game, the weather was nice, wind gone and getting prettier and prettier.

I agreed, named a time, then left the office with a yogurt in  hand, plastic spoon in my mouth.

I was out to find a waiting bike. . . and rider. We were off. We did the ride above, except the Rail Trails are still clogged with ice and snow. So we around to the Rexford bridge by way of Banker, end of Hillside. We swing past the Rec Center. The onto Aqueduct. Up to the Stewart's then right. He takes a lead I struggle to regain. Match. Nothing doing.

We close to ride together and chat. Over the rollers, past Sugar Hill Rd. down to the river level, past the park, veer right onto the flat zone. Then rapidly now up the hill to go over and down to the overpass over the I-87. The struggler continues to pant; up to the Klamsteem turn off to run along the river. No signs of flooding or anything. No ice and snow. Just warm country roads. So nice.

We swing out onto the road to the light, turn right onto the bridge, across then the long up hill to the top of the mainland. Take a right onto Old Loudan Rd. Thence across the rail trail segment (still icy) through the Colonie park around the turn by riverside homes and shacks. We start up the hill refuse the turn off to the trail.

Down through the residential areas named after nautical terms to the steep and curving downhill Fort's Ferry to the River Road. From here back to work seems like ride already done, we've done it so many times.

Ti man peels off to go home to grab a bite before his meeting (T-conf.).

Opening of season; nice start.

First ride of 2011 at noon . . . we left at 2:30 pm

First ride of 2011 at noon . . . we left at 2:30 pm.
It was a classic, but with detour, to avoid the steep hill in the shade The Rail Trail is still covered in snow and ice so we have to take the detour by way of Hillside, to Aqueduct, to cross the Rexford Bridge. We took a right onto Riverview Dr. thence onto the back road (right fork at Grooms Rd. split). Dripping piles of ice and snow wet the road, but we press on with damp shorts from time to time. Ti man is in shape; I'm feeling and moving slow. S L O W. Say it with me now.

At Sugar Hill we go left, to return to Grooms Rd. Left again to approach Droms, but veer right to stay on until Appleton. Round to

River Road, again to return by crossing the Rexford Bridge, but right instead of around to join the Rail Trail, we go the Niskayuna Community Center route straight up the hill to the parking lot, Banker, then Hillside. 

42 F

First Sunday afternoon ride of the 2011 season

First Sunday afternoon ride of the 2011 season: a classic.

From the house, run north to Hillside, down to the Maxon/Aquaduct . . . left to cross RR tracks to Freeman Bridge. Thence over the ice free Mohawk to Sunnyside. Left at the light into Scotia Glenville to Washington, across highway 50 to join up with Vly. Vly to the overpass to 147 headed north.

Ridge proved to be too tempting; up the hill. Slow. Smaller chain rings in front; bigger ones in the back. Story of my hill climbing life, here, battling winds from the west with surprising chill and speed.

So I call it quits at 45 minutes and start back toward home by taking the Snake Hill Rd. route back by way of Spring, all that back to Route 50 by the auto dealer, Mohawk Honda, I think.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/3367918

This ride is close by not quite it, really.

Freeman Bridge Road from the dealership to the bridge itself. Really beginning to get comfortable with 40 kph, once again, while going downhill, down wind, ha. Erie Blvd to Seneca, up hill on Seneca, past the RR tracks, Schenectady Count Public Works building, into the residential neighborhoods, and on to Nott, then Grand to home.

Cold. Yikes. I had forgotten what a 10 to 15 mph wind will do at 42 F. 1 h 10 or so 28 kph average, pathetic. Odo: nearly 7,000 km.

Ready for more!

Warm day in mid-February

Could not stay inside any longer, so flexed an hour and a half, took my lunch and went home. Pumped up the tires (a bit, only 90 psi-- not low after 10 weeks!), clipped on the odometer, clipped in and went for a little spin. 20 miles or 30 km. River Rd., nothing far or exciting. Butt hurts from only a little bit in the saddle. Amazing.

Melting snow everywhere; wet bum, gritty togs.

Found a trail on the hillside above north Troy, NY

Found a trail on the hillside above north Troy, NY It was the oddest moment.

I happened upon it on a Saturday ride with no one to accompany me . . .

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/niskayuna/736128381945358764

and a map to look at :

What is this route?

I had never heard about it.

I took a standard route east to cross the Hudson near Peebles Island, then up into town, north a bit to 112 th or so, then east across some neighborhoods, then up the hill to find a trail or a pedestrian way. Is this cyclable? We'll see.

I bump along to find that there is a real trail, then a chance to go back down near a park. So I rejoin the city streets, turn north, back to 112 or 114, to make it back across the bridges to the western side of the flowing waters.

I return home.

Beautiful Saturday afternoon ride

'Round about 10:30 am I left for a quick one out to Shaker Bay.

http://www.mapmyride.com/add_route_to_blog.php?r=639126868617564418

Air is cool and the sunny day turned a bit ominous just as I got started. Clouds started gathering, but only along the river as far as I could tell. No rain, or threat, but dark, blue, angry grey clouds were dripping into view.

Roads have been worked on, so the ride is smooth and fast. Wind was at my back going out or east.

I took the River Rd. out and tried to follow the Mohawk-Hudson trail in but there were too many pedestrians, so had to leave the trail at the train station and follow the road back up hill near Lock 7 Rd. then on into Edison Woods development. No one could be seen; spooky place on the Labor Day holiday weekend. School starts on Wednesday, so everyone will be out of town until that evening beforehand.

Made it back in well under an hour.

Odometer: 400 km at season's beginning; today: 5280 km, so over 3,000 miles since we started riding in 2010.