Sunday, March 1, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #0: Wave Hill

10:00 AM, Columbus Circle , 25 miles

Spring is upon us! Let's start our spring training for The Montauk Century with a ride to Riverdale. We'll ride at a pace of 10-12.5 mph. After a quick stop for lunch at a Kosher restaurant in Riverdale, we'll take a quick peek at Wave Hill Garden and head back to Columbus Circle. We'll use a mix of greenways and quiet city streets. Our goal is to ride at a consistent steady pace to help build our endurance, with a few short climbs to help build strength for the short climb near the end of the Montauk Century. Leaders Dana Hudes & Jesse Brown

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE#1: HICKSVILLE

9:30 AM, Cunningham Park , 35 miles

Let the training series begin.....Hicksville is still a great destination. Join Ed & Liz for a moderately paced trip. Leaders: Ed Pino, Liz Baum

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #2: ENGLEWOOD

9:30 AM, ( Quick Spin to W. Englewood/Teaneck) Columbus Circle , 35 miles

Our Training Series continues with rides alternating from mid-Manhattan. Progress through the series with your friends. Of course bring a pump, lock, hydration, and money for lunch. Quick spin will dine at a Kosher restaurant and the regular group will dine at the Royal Cliffs Diner. Leaders: Alfredo Garcia & Ken Williams; Quick Spin Leaders: Jim Zisfein & Dana Hudes

Day Ride

WOODLAWN CEMETERY TOUR

9:00 AM, HI-AYH , 30 miles

Come join the celebration of living history, at New York's second oldest cemetery. We visit not only the pass but also an outstanding venue for reflection, peace, and beauty. We may get a guided tour. Bring a lock and money for lunch. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & others

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #3: WEST ENGLEWOOD

9:30 AM, Columbus Circle , 40 miles

We'll travel a little farther than our last venture and climb a few more hills before our obligatory diner stop. You'll see how easy it is to progress through the training ride series. Don't forget to bring a few tools, hydration and a lock. Leaders: Brian Hoberman & Jim Zisfein

Day Ride

A View Of New York Bay

10:00 AM, Picnic House in Prospect Park , 20 miles

We'll take an easy route to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with great views of lower New York Bay. We'll view the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge who's eastern foundation was once of Fort Lafayette. It's greatest notoriety was putting Americans in jail without a trial. We'll also take a look at a fifty-eight ton cannon that had to be loaded by derrick. Bring lock and money for lunch. Leaders Terry Chin & Bob Castro

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #4: SANDS POINT

9:30 AM, Cunningham Park , 35 miles

Our Montauk Century Training Series has kicked off & now we are taking trips along Long Island's North Shore. Expect hills, chills & no spills. Complete the series & you'll be ready for anything. Leaders: Ira Najowoitz, Ed Pino & Liz Baum

Day Ride

THE ULTIMATE TOUR OF PROSPECT PARK

10:30 AM, Popeye's Restaurant (Chrystie and Canal St) NY Side entrance to Manhattan Bridge , 15 miles

Welcome back Spring with a Grand Tour of the Park. The Park has many famous points of interest: from the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Arch to the Battle Path in the 1776 Battle Of Brooklyn. We'll stop at the Quaker Cemetery, the final resting place of the actor Montgomery Clift. We'll picnic on Point Lookout, a nice place for birding. Bring lunch or $ for it, binoculars and locks. Leaders: Terry Chin & Ed DeFreitas

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #5: NORTHVALE

9:00 AM, (8:30 AM quick-spin) Columbus Circle , 45 miles

Northvale! Even the name leaves you breathless. This is one of the more scenic and challenging early rides. Join the quick spin group at the earlier time if you want to ride upwards of 15mph. Otherwise hang back with the "Regular" group. Leaders: Jim Zisfein, Andrea Casertano & Brian Hoberman; Quick Spin Leaders: Dennis Griffin & Jesse Brown

Day Ride

BOUND TO LEAVE A THIRD IMPRESSION RIDE

10:00 AM, Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza , 15 leisurely miles

So what happened to the first two impressions? First Gavin, our host had a spill on his bike and couldn't get to his shop. Second Gavin was OK but the weather wasn't. So we try again! As a bookbinder and letter presser Gavin, (our mystery host) will have us stepping back in time as we watch him bind books and do letter pressing all by hand. (Shouldn't this be something you do with the Continental Congress in Philadelphia?) We'll visit his Brooklyn shop, and this time, hopefully the weather won't put us in a "bind." We'll meet at Prospect Park. Bring lock and money for lunch at a local eatery. Rain at start cancels. Leaders: Richard Sanford and co-leader David Balzer.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Day Ride

BROOKLYN SOJOURN

9:00 AM, City Hall , 40 miles, moderate, mostly flat

Electric cars aren't new. Beautiful brownstones and not the expected neighborhoods. Nothing weak about Weeksville. And, oh yeah, a piece of Brooklyn Dodger history. And, maybe more are the points in a Brooklyn sojourn. Bring a lock and $ for lunch. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & others

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #6: LOCUST VALLEY

9:00 AM (8:30 AM quick spin), Cunningham Park , 50 miles

Next in our series is a lovely and challenging ride to the quaint town along the "Gold Coast." Visit www.locustvalley.com for more information. Don't forget to bring a lock and lunch money. Leaders: Ed Pino, Liz Baum & Ira Najowitz; Quick Spin Leaders: Dennis Griffin & Jesse Brown

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Day Ride

METRIC TRAINING RIDE #1: HICKSVILLE

Cancelled due to weather.
9:30 AM Cunningham Park , 35 miles

We're reprising the trip to Hicksville again for the debut of our Montauk Metric series. Once again we're visiting the Empire Diner, made famous in the Billy Joel song "Great Wall of China." Same prep & advice applies: pack the necessary tools, water and a lock. Leaders Ed Pino & Liz Baum

Day Ride

UNDER & OVER HUDSON

9:30 AM City Hall , 30 miles, moderate pace, mostly flat with one big hill

Stretch your legs along a long shoreline stretch from Hoboken to the G.W. Bridge (with the one big hill). Bridge the Hudson back to NYC. Pass Seinfeld's (who?) old haunt and choose your lunch cuisine from Italian, Asian and Eastern Europe. It's all on one Amsterdam Ave. block between 110th & 11th Streets. Then, we'll follow the Hudson River line (really, ask Ed why.) back down to City Hall. Bring a lock & $ for lunch. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & others

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #7: WESTWOOD

9:00 AM (8:30 AM Quick Spin), Columbus Circle , 50 miles

How far west is Westwood? Is it East of Eastlake or North of Northvale? We're not fooling around today because we're taking one of the most scenic trips in our series. Westwood is tucked into a hilly corner of Bergen County & the farther you go, the prettier it gets Remember to bring money, cable lock and camera. Leaders: Alfredo Garcia & Josh Gosiak; Quick Spin Leaders: Jesse Brown, et al

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #8: CENTRE ISLAND

9:00 AM (10:00 AM Quick Spin), Cunningham Park , 65 miles

Centre Island, one of our favorite destinations, is an essential marker in our training series. Get out along the breathtaking shore and you'll find the hills are not as daunting as they were last time. Don't forget lock and money for lunch. Leaders: Ed Pino, Liz Baum & Ira Najowitz; Quick Spin Leaders: Dennis Griffin, Jesse Brown & Neil Weissman. Co-listed w/ NYCC

Day Ride

KENSICO DAM

9:00 AM, 241ST St. (Wakefield ) stop, #2 train, , 35 miles, moderate, mostly flat

After we ride on roads to Bronxville, the ride turns beautiful. Except for a short area between Scarsdale and Hartsdale, we travel on paths along streams and ponds, over wooden footbridges and small waterfalls. See what the WPA hath wrought. Enjoy lunch at the base of the dam. Bring money for lunch and bike pass in case you need Metro-North. Leaders: Ed Defreitas & others.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #9: ROCKLAND LAKE

9:00 AM, (8:30 AM Quick Spin) Columbus Circle , 70 miles

This ride will take you north into the hillier terrain of Rockland County and the town of Congers. If you've been following our progression you'll be ready for the slopes and valleys along the way to Rockland Lake State Park. Leaders: Alfredo Garcia & Brian Hoberman; Quick Spin Leaders: Dennis Griffin, et al.

Day Ride

METRIC TRAINING RIDE #2: ENGLEWOOD

9:00 AM, Columbus Circle , 30 miles

Our Metric training series continues with a medium-paced trip across the GW Bridge and the hills of Bergen County. Cross the George Washington Bridge and enjoy the hills of Bergen County. Bring lunch money and bike lock. Leaders: Marina Bekkerman & Jesse Brown

Day Ride

CONCRETE IDEAS RIDE

11:30 AM, Plaza Hotel , Approximately 30 leisurely miles

We started with some concrete ideas to help our new President cement relationships with congress, but just like our previous ride plans, things got stormy. Now that the stimulus package has passed, perhaps we can stimulate the economy too...starting with the White House lawn. How about an extra eagle on the grass to show our strength? Perhaps a Greek column to an up and coming leader to show that we too started from humble beginnings? We'll visit Andre's Pre-Cast baluster factory in Jamaica, Queens to see how any American home can end up looking like a national treasure. Bring lock and money for a late lunch at a local eatery. Rain at start cancels. Leaders: Richard Sanford and Phil Goldberg.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Day Ride

EARTH DAY RIDE TO MARINE PARK

10:30 AM, Popeye's Restaurant (Chrystie and Canal St.) across from Manhattan side entrance/exit of the Manhattan Bridge , 25 miles

Join us in a ride to the Natural Center in Marine Park. We'll walk the "Salt Marsh Walk Path" in observation of Easter and Earth Day. Bring walking shoes, $ for lunch & locks. Leaders: Terry Chin & Ed DeFreitas

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Day Ride

METRIC TRAINING RIDE #3: CITY ISLAND

9:00 AM, Columbus Circle , 40 miles   10:15 AM - Cathedral of St John the Divine

This ride will first head up to the Blessing of the Bikes event, held at the Cathedral of St John the Divine (9:30am, Amsterdam Ave & W112th St) We will have a second departure after the brief ceremony. City Island is a great destination for our 40-mile metric training ride. Lots of greenway riding and lunch on the sound. Leaders Danny Lieberman, Marina Bekkerman and Andrea Casertano.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #10: SUNKEN MEADOW

8:30 AM, (10:00 AM Quick spin) Cunningham Park , 75 miles

Now this is a truly great ride. Never mind the training aspect; it's just fun all the way to the beach. Please remember to bring your MTA Bike Permit in case you need to bail out! Leaders, Leaders Ed Pino, Liz Baum & Ira Najowitz; Quick Spin Leaders: Dennis Griffin & Neil Weissman. Co-listed w/NYCC.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Day Ride

TRAINING RIDE #11: STONY POINT

8:00 AM, Columbus Circle , 82 miles

For the longest training rides we just have one group going out. Stony Point, just south of Bear Mountain, is one of our most technical and challenging trips. This ride is very hilly, so don't attempt this unless you are ready. Leaders: Steve Sakson, Jim Zisfein and Brian Hoberman; Quick Spin Leaders: Jesse Brown, et al

Day Ride

RIDE, FIX FLATS, EAT, BIKE COURSE RIDE

10:00 AM, Columbus Circle , 25-30 miles

After riding from Columbus Circle to Dyckman Park mostly along bike paths, we will teach people how to fix flats, patch tires, and - special bonus! - how to adjust the seat and handlebar heights (for those bikes that have adjustable handlebars). Rain cancels; call 917 301-0707 if in doubt. Bring lunch or money for lunch. Leaders: Stephen Jackel and Dan Finton

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Day Ride

SPRING TRAINING RIDE: STONY POINT

9:30 AM, HI-AYH , 80 miles (See 4/25 description)

We'll move at a quick spin pace of 15 mph cruising, bring lunch and plenty of water. Lunch will be in a park. Note: No Drop-Point-Sweep on this ride; keep up with the Point or use your cue sheet. We hope to return to HI-AYH to get you home before sunset. Leaders: Dana Hudes & Ken Williams.

Day Ride

A VIEW OF LOWER NEW YORK BAY

1:00 PM, Picnic House Prospect Park , 20 miles

A ride out to Bay Ridge Brooklyn and the Verrazano Bridge. Along the way, we will visit a strange Mansion called the Ginger Bread House, a fifty eight ton cannon in Cannonball Park which needs a derrick to load and the Church of The Generals which Major Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson attended while commanded nearby Ft. Hamilton. Leaders: Terry Chin and TBA