Rockaway Beach post-Hurricane Irene

Manhattan off in the distance

the bike path - covered

you can see that trucks have started to clean up

Rode down to the Rockaways, Queens (which had been partially evacuated) on Monday and took these pics. The beach itself appears to have lost an incredible about of sand and the bike path/boardwalk areas were covered making portions of it impossible to bike through. Even though the Rockaways is one of the most vulnerable areas in the city they weren't hit as hard from the Hurricane as predicted yet have a lot of clean up work and flooding to deal with.  If you head down, your will likely come across some downed trees in the path...

on the way down - along side the Belt Parkway

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée, a.k.a. D2R2

{UPDATE/STORM REPORT: August 31st}
Details below, but if you would rather make a donation to the "Green River Restoration Fund" electronically [here] by Sept. 11th. I just did.

{UPDATE/STORM REPORT: August 30th}
My original post is below, but I wanted to share the following message from D2R2 creator and manager, Sandy Whittlesey. Hurricane Irene sadly did a number on the roads, bridges, and beautiful land we cycled through. Please take a minute and consider making a donation in the rebuilding effort of this very special community - whether you rode or not...

All those pretty stretches of road along the water look like the rugged Maine seacoast, nothing but the biggest boulders and stones.  We will post pictures in the coming days.  The locals are already taking matters into their own hands, using their tractors to push fill into place.  Entire families are on the river bed tossing stones up by hand to rebuild the roadbed!


The good news is that the Colrain Covered Bridge is intact, and the Green River Covered Bridge at the lunch stop still stands.  Incredibly, (just imagine this picture) the water there came within two feet of the bridge deck, and the force of the water on the abutments made the whole bridge shake!  But it held fast.  Not bad for a stone and wooden structure built during the Civil War!


The park we use at lunch did not fare so well.  It's under a foot of mud.  The fences and retaining walls have been knocked down, the fish ladder is mucked up, and all the fill between the fish ladder and the side of the dam is gone.  All told, it's about ten grand in damage.


I am thus appealing to riders to contribute to the reconstruction of the park.  The neighborhood maintains everything with money out of their own pockets, and they just paid to have the dam area dredged last year.  Even if you only send ten bucks, there were a thousand of you out there, I know we can do this!!


Please send donations to:
Green River Village Preservation Trust
Kim Hamilton, Treasurer
2014 Carpenter Hill Road
Guilford, VT     05301

shadow of Thule rack + frame while on the road

morning mist at 7:30am before starting the ride

Last Saturday this year's D2R2 ride took place as Hurricane Irene slowly headed up the East coast. It was my first trek up to Western Massachusetts for the ride so I would have been mighty sad had the weather infringed on the randonneuring fun! In case you not familiar with the ride...

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée was conceived in the 1990's as just a favorite dirt-road loop in the hilltowns of Franklin County, Massachusetts. Since its birth as an organized event in 2005, many have hailed D2R2 as the hardest, most beautiful, most fun, most traffic-free, most unique, and overall best ride that they have ever done. However, D2R2 will continue to maintain its original character as just a bike ride –

• The courses will use the narrowest, oldest, twistiest, quietest, and most-scenic roads available.
• A range of courses will provide access to novices as well as challenge the world's strongest riders. 
• D2R2 will never offer prizes for anything other than gags, nor will finish results ever be presented like it was a race. 
• Riders shall cover the course in a self-sufficient manner, without motorized crew vehicles. 
• The organization will put as much effort into its food offerings as it does the ride itself. 
• The event is a key fundraiser for the Franklin Land Trust's efforts to preserve land in the region, but the route sheets will always be available on its website for free.

iconic New England covered bridge at the lunch stop

the reason why I didn't ride with my 23cm/road bike tires -- flats!

This year's R2D2 offered three routes (180K, 115K, and 100K) which entailed lots of dirt, stony washouts, fast descents on some incredible 300 yr old carriage roads in Western Mass. and Southern Vermont. As a first timer I stuck with the 115K route and rather then riding my road bike, I opted to borrowed a cyclocross bike - a Ridely X-Bow which made for a comfortable ride and with 700c X 32 tires I had much better handling power on the steep dirt ascents as well as rocky descents. I would say that my gear ratio of 48/34 in the front and a 12/25 cassette in the back was a little tough - in particular on Patten Road that starts paved at 20% grade I would have loved to have been able to downshift, but still made it (but can't say the same on those jeep track portions!). If I were to do the 180K next year, I would def. want to go with a lower gear ratio. Also, I left my road shoes behind and used mountain biking shoes w/ SPDs.

I rode with Ted and who had his Garmin computer so you can take a look at all the cool stats like elevation, temperature, and his heart rate! In just under 6.5 hours we climbed 6,273' over the course of 74 miles...   

Another element of the D2R2 is the mighty cue sheet. The courses are unmarked thus one wrong turn is very easy to do and can really set you back (we came very close to having that happen). A couple weeks ago, I had posted photos of Ted's awesome mini clip board cue sheet holder SO I was thrilled to spot this guys' cue sheet holder (above). YES, that's a trusty mouse trap and C-clamp!!! Note that you can download the GPS route to your computer but some reason the 115K loop was not working!


It was truly one spectacular ride. Had my iPhone battery not died on me mid-ride, you would be seeing documentation of lots of exquisite randonneur bikes complete with fenders and saddlebags(!), hilly landscapes, dirt roads through the forest, the Little Big House Gallery at the last rest stop, and lots of livestock!  If you are asking yourself 'What Makes a Good Randonneur Bike?' check out this PDF via Bicycle Quarterly.


Thanks Uncle Ted for all your help leading up to the ride - and on the day of!

But alas it was time to get moving since the rain started as we scarfed down BBQ ribs and mac'n'cheese and headed home... as we approached NYC that night, we had a glimpse of something that we'll likely never-ever see again... not a single other car on the Triborough Bridge, thanks to Irene:

extra sweet bike memories / then and now

Eric, who took those great photographs at Meet Your (Bike) Match, sent over this incredibly sweet clipping his landlady gave him! The article is from the October 1999 issue of Reminisce magazine. Proves if you treat something right, it will last a lifetime ♥

beer meats bike love @ The Cannibal

photograph via NYTimes

My friend and talented artisanal beer brewer, Nathan, sent over this NYTimes article about the recent opening of The Cannibal... named after Eddy Merckx! This new brewcafe on East 29th serves up sandwiches and fresh meats by day but come night serves small plates and whole pig, lamb and goat alongside a selection of 350 beers. And to carry over the cycling theme, they'll be sell bicycling gear - how irresistible! While I can't recall the last time I was on East 29th Street - I will so be making a point to head over soon...

Food Truck Rally by bike - save the date for September

Wafels and Dinges' staff outfitted in Flandria cycling caps 

since lobster rolls in NYC have become all the rage, the line appeared to be the longest at The Red Hook Lobster Pound 

that truck is not going anywhere without that bike (or vice versa!)

Sixteen NYC food trucks convened onto Grand Army Plaza for August's Food Truck Rally yesterday! The lobster roll from The Red Hook Lobster Pound was tempting since I've heard great things, but ended up sampling edamame dumplings from Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, the most amazing pita ever from Souvlaki GR, and the incredibly unique flavor of Lemon Grass ice cream (as well a tasty bite of Basil+Black Pepper) from VanLeeuwen ♥

The next Rally is scheduled for Sunday, September 18th (11am- 5pm). And once your fueled up, you can take a lovely ride along the Prospect Park West bike path!

afternoon on Governors Island w/ Bikes, Jazz Age Lawn Party and Bill Cunningham

Was such a nice breezy sunny day yesterday that on a whim we hopped onto the free 10 minute ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park over to Governors Island with our bikes. Checked out Mark di Suvero's vibrant orange sculptures which are currently on loan from Storm King and savored an ice cream from Blue Marble Brooklyn's custom Workman Cycles, which are at Picnic Point again this year!

And by complete serendipity the annual Jazz Age Lawn Party - the 1920's dance party which is well attended by many dressed to the nines who've practiced the Charleston - is taking place this weekend! How have I ended up on the island at the same time as this party for three years in a row, I do not know?! OH, but the party continues today...

would love to see the prints from this old school photography shoot

So nice running into Katy in white lace who rode up on her banana seat cruiser... with a pearl purse in her bike basket!

♥ ♥ ♥ What completely stole my heart at the event was spotting Bill Cunningham (above) in total work mode in his blue french workmen shirt, though sans bike ♥ ♥ ♥

Same as last year, the ferry to Governors Island from Brooklyn departs from Pier 6 (at the foot of Atlantic Ave.) in the new extension of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you bike you'll be able to check out the bike path that keeps improving along the waterfront and have a drink or bite at along the strip - I particularly like the view from the outdoor Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar at Pier 1 and the rooftop of  BARK at Pier 6, both are open until midnight on weekends!

And if you are without bike, you can always rent a Townie once you arrive - which are free on Fridays...

Oregon Manifest + a female voice

Oregon Manifest - the bike design build challenge currently taking place - asked me to share a women's perspective on integrating bicycles into daily life on their blog... which you can read [here]   Thanks Michiyo for modeling and wearing such a cheerful dress!

two pre-Labor Day rides: North Fork Century & D2R2

I was torn. August 28-29th, the last weekend before Labor Day. The North Fork Century, a gorgeous 100 mile ride along quaint and quiet Long Island and the epic Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée (D2R2) are taking place that same weekend!

Having done the North Fork last summer with my friend Sara and totally enjoyed it and highly recommend it, I decided to try something new. These two rides couldn't be more different but here are some comparisons: The North Fork starts/ends in Greenport (with a nearby campground) is on the furthest north eastern part of Long Island, a slice of NY paradise with beautiful beaches, vineyards, farm stands. It's also virtually all flat and paved for fast smooth riding! The D2R2 starting/ending in Deerfield is nestled in the hills of western Massachusetts and almost entirely off road, steep, and high up there in the list of demanding rides. Navigating the course is also a dividing point - unlike the well indicated route on the North Fork, the D2R2 (from what I hear) is VERY easy to get lost on and is all about keeping an eye on your cue sheet. It was suggested that I print out and laminate my cue sheet - I did two weeks before the ride feeling like a responsible and well prepared geek even taking a highlighter to every other line...
And then Ted, who's done the ride before, sent me a photo of his cue sheet...

OMG - forget laminating and highlighting, this has freakin geek cool written all over it!!! I'll report back after the 27th with photos and no doubt stories.  If your not familiar with the D2R2, you can read up about the course and it's creator, Sandy Whittlesey [here] on the Rapha site. Even better, see you there?!

glow in the dark jeans, yes, you read correctly

How amazing would it be to be spotted riding at night in these Glow In the Dark Jeans! Spotted on Cool Hunting, Naked & Famous Denim uses only the most unique and rare denim fabrics from Japan - and they really went all out with these newly launched line. You can check them out in person at Barneys New York and Barneys COOP nationwide, and here's a bit more about them...

The jeans work because we apply a phosphorescent coating to the fabric in Japan. This coating is baked into the fabric and will absorb light and slowly release that light with an emanating green glow, just like those Glow in the Dark stickers we had on our ceiling as a kid. Just charge them up in the light (can be natural sunlight or artificial bulb light) and then shut the lights and watch ‘em glow! The jeans will also glow intensely under UV light (aka Blacklight), so if you wear the jeans in a club with a blacklight, your pants will appear neon green!

 

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Burt Bunyan RULES!

Justice Burt Bunyan ruled in the city’s favor today, following an Article 78 challenge filed by two neighborhood groups against Brooklyn's PPW Bike Path. Via the New York Observer...

“This decision results in a hands-down victory for communities across the city,” Transportation czarina Janette Sadik-Khan said in a release. “The plaintiffs have been dead wrong in their unsupported claims about the bike path and DOT’s practices. This project was requested by the community, they voted repeatedly to support it, and their support has registered in several opinion polls. Merely not liking a change is no basis for a frivolous lawsuit to reverse it.”

Thanks, Kim Burgus for sharing the breaking news!

from July 2010 when the path was first installed

You can read about the birth of the PPW bike path [here]

bikes at sea... Block Island

Sweet logo spotted on a recent visit to Block Island, RI. The island is a mere 10 square miles and filled with rolling hills, ocean views, and awesome beaches -- a little vacation land where bicycles (and mopeds) are the transportation of choice. If you don't bring your own, you can rent a bike just steps from the ferry landings and you'll be good to go! 

SO BRIGHT - Cambridge Satchel Co.'s S/S 2011 Collection

bag images via Cambridge Satchel Company

Loving this florescent trend in fashion... and what do you know the Cambridge Satchel Company now makes their traditional British school satchels in BRIGHT 'Fluro' colours! How nice would one of these be in your bike basket - or on your back! And if you worried about converting pounds to dollars, JCrew is carrying a selection in their CREWCUT section.

Hasn't been this easy to shop to be this highly visible since the '80s!

via Refinery29

via SHEfinds

lady bloggers unite @ Adeline Adeline

Adeline Adeline and Kate Spade New York's one beauty of a collaboration

Last night Adeline Adeline hosted one fun cyclist happy hour/meet up with the urban bicycle lady bloggers Dottie (from Chicago) and Trisha (from Nashville, TN) of Let's Go Ride A Bike - who are visiting our fair city! Such a pleasure to meet them both as well as some fellow NYC bloggers... A Packable Feast, Amandasproject26272829.com, The Bike Writer... fun bonding over how strong our legs get commuting by bike on vintage steal frames! And great seeing you, Julie (of the TheJulieBlog) and DARGELOS! I didn't even take my camera out -- was so busy mingling!

+ thanks to Julie from Adeline Adeline for hosting in her beautiful bicycle boutique!