Late Sunday ride with a touch of Battenkill feel

The day after a crazy late October snow storm over NY -- NOAA was predicting 4 inches of snow over night, but as it looked on the East End of Long Island may just got near slushy wet and only wet and left a few big puddles behind -- thanks to the surrounding water. After a long night and some work into the "morning" near 2am Py let the last Early Birds go and waited for the sun to warm up air a bit more from near freezing and the wind dry off roads. Crisp clear sky and a strong breeze. Getting ready for a 60 mile solo ride and have in mind a little photo excursion to take advantage of the situation.

Flying out east, just a few cross or head wind sections and awesome moving South, passing the Buffalo farm and one more checking out his new route proceeding further from IPBP.

Checking out a few water views today -- always passing just by without any attention. Heading further into the wind -- little double trouble with that camera pack catching extra wind.

And a little Battenkill feel on a hopefully temporary dirt road.

PS: Do not get fooled by the "slow" average -- it's only because I stopped quite some times or just rolled around with the camera to find some spot to shoot from.... the took off again. "Camera Intervals".

 

Late Sunday Loop

Py's inner voice some how made him to ignore the alarm at 5:30am -- still dark and kind of chilly even inside, just turning on the heat a little and crawling back under the blanked. The bike was all set to get out by 6:30am with lights... but it got late and he just enjoyed a little later breakfast. Still kind of dull and overcast and creepy moist chill in the air outside.

Via FB it happened G. was up for a later ride at noon, sounds good -- game on. Even the sun came out a little half way into the ride -- truly worse the delayed ride today!

RP2IPBP with new return loop via Jamesport

A nice crisp and clear morning with a little chill in the air. Trying out the new Team vest. Just a very few riders showed up this nice day -- looks like every one opts for shorter faster less work and sitting in at this big shop ride crowd -- so what, Py's ride will stay and is well established by now for the little hilly and long haul. Now adding even a few more miles featuring a modified return. Just Dan, little Gorge (only for the way out) and Ben were part of the "RP2IPBP" team today.

Here the ride with the new return:

TOSREC 2011 adventure

This year it was the 6th annual Tour Of Scenic Rural Eastern Connecticut. Starting with the first ferry from Orient Point left at 7:30. Py left his house on the bike in the dark with lights to meet and car pooled with T. to Orient Point. Shortly after arrival also GAB George showed up. Johnney the TOSREC inventor and a few more.

Departing from the boat Alex must have joined as Py noticed later -- a nice group of 8 riders now! Nice moving group, that's gonna be a good ride :-)

Climbing up 49 (Pendleton Hill Rd) George setting a good pace, Py taking over for more climbing... almost up some delays behind, Alex some how came of the shoulder, chain off -- OK all seamed fine after putting it back on -- but some how she got off the bike again. Py was up this little slope already again... back -- it turned out her left Look pedal snapped in parts -- weird. Some debating... and finally back tracking down hill and proceeding into the town of Pawcatuck to find a bike shop "Brumble".

After about 25 miles extra they got back on route and got to the now well deserved coffee/snack stop in  Canterbury. From here the most scenic and nicest back roads would start. Py could not let happen to skip those completely -- so a compromise was to cut off about 2/3 of the upper loop and return on Windham Road.

Here on the back roads -- North Society Rd.:

And returning on a slightly modified and distance wise optimized route -- actually pretty nice roads with exception of one or two construction miles on rough "grinded away" pavement.
Later just one very brief water stop. Then Dan some how managed to get wrong way and we did not found him and spend almost 20 minutes to find him, but did not... Later after missing the 5pm ferry by a very few minutes we ventured to Captains Pizza in New London and it happened Dan made it's way back there as well -- he took a wrong turn. Now plenty of time next ferry was not 6pm but 7pm.

Right: On the (bike) path up to the bridge.

About 120 miles total for Py with the short leg from home to the main road -- + 2x a good mile in the dark.

Early Birds North

Sunday -- return to the EBs ride and starting from home regardless the darkness at 6:30am -- full lights setup.

A well sized group and good number of GABs again at the start. Nice fast move East, a pretty good NW wind and some work with and into it. Big pull home by Py today... Coffee with team mates at the Starbucks in Manorville before riding back home once again into the wind. Good 80 miles today :-)

Very special Team Ride with George Hincapie

On a special day of one of the Green Arm Bandits Cycling Team members the complete team and a former team member Chris G. and few close friend riders got invited to the "Schwenk Tank" the night before and we all had a unforgettable time, small talk and dinner together including George -- a very nice easy and open minded person. The next morning we meet all again to ride with big George.

Read more about it all on our team page soon.

Getting ready to ride, but first a few group photos had to be shot for sure!

And then just a 1/4 mile out of the lot a chance for a little "GAB" with big George as out George happened to flat right away -- this is going well...

Little later some sharp object/road debris nearly destroyed Py's rear tire but luckily a few layers of duct tape patched the side wall cut and quickly we were finally moving again at a nice pace, very well team work of every one -- George just fitted himself in very well.



On our way from South to North merging onto the EB's North route heading to the "Tanks", via the usual quick pit stop and proceeding along the beautiful vineyards along side Oregon Rd, then cutting a South via Cutchogue -- no stop at the Deli for Coffee this time?!?! -- and returning in the South side of the North Fork next to the Great Peconic Bay via Riverhead, fighting some head wind towards 51.. every likes to hide including George... taking the little incline on 51 and looping around to return via this nice road across Hampton Hills.

Here the ride in a few snap shots and snap from the video Py took -- little extra work for the Camera rider Py ;-)

Note: Be sure to check back HERE soon for a little video of the ride to catch on the motion!!!

The Ride in Numbers and Coordinates:

Early Birds South -- back to speed and play as usual

Sunday, going to the Birds once again. Too early to ride there as it still was pitch dark at 6:30am. Taking the car, what was convenient as he had some new team gear (big smile) to take home plus a little shopping to get done right away after the ride. 7:30 at Manorville, the sun just getting above the trees... a slight chill in the air but it's warming up fast. Moving out at moderate pace then picking it up as the RP dudes triggered the move... Py took the chance to stretch out the legs a bit and jumped up as well, a little too much with a power surge up to 940Watts flying by and settling down to fit in and take a few good pulls. Fun group, good GAB showing, also with Craig again. Only downside hitting a hole -- on Dune Road at good speed -- blew his rear tire, but this was a quick fix with new a tube -- later home he found the tire lost some structure and had two bumps at the side wall. Too bad, it was almost new :-(

RP2IPBP -- back to flat lands routine

Py returned to LI riding routine... One more of those getting old loops. Good ride, good moving, nothing really special -- but a nice day to enjoy.