Ridin’ in Miami

Greetings, my freewheeling amigos.  I am settled down in Miami, which is not a great biking city.  However, today, I went on a 25 mile ride over the Rickenbacker Causeway out to Key Biscayne.  I went with my friend and co-worker, Dr. Eric Sokol.  We finally have weather that is not tire-meltingly hot, but it was windy as all hell today.  On the way back, coming down the highest part of the bridge with the wind at my back, I went faster than I have ever rode on a bicycle, 42 mph.

Bikes

We have a few mountain bikes up for grabs. Come by tonight (6-9) if you’ve been waiting for one. If I remember correctly, they tend towards the small, but there may be a few others available.

Attack of the fall colors

Watch out for those wet leaves when riding, especially on wet days like today. And keep on truckin’.

(strip from Yehuda Moon)

Wear your helmet, or do good unto others…

(No, really, please wear a helmet.)

Accidental Ride Tuesday.

So in the interest of reporting fun rides that we have completed I would like to describe my Tuesday:

First, I rode, as is my habit, from my apartment to the Flatbush LIRR station.  Leaving at 1 pm to catch the 1:25 train to Stony Brook

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3174008

Then I boarded a train for my transfer in Jamaica.  Upon arrival in Jamaica I quickly noticed that it was September 8th, the day the train schedules change.  This meant that my quick and easy travel was more complicated.  The next train to Port Jeff was a couple hours away, so instead of going back home I decided to go for a ride and maybe find something fun to do.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3174014

I quickly realized that biking around Jamaica Station at 2 pm was, in fact, not all that much fun.  Returning to Jamaica I boarded the next Huntington train as I would have to transfer there anyways.   Once in Huntington I had about an hour to kill and again set out on my fixie to find something.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3174039

While, I won’t say I find much to do, it was a nice ride on a pretty day, and although clearly Huntington drivers are not as used to sharing their lanes as they could be, I didn’t have to kick any cars.

Anyways, the moral of this story is either “keep your bike with you at all times and unexpected travel delays will be a lot less frustrating”  or “pay attention to train schedules you idiot.”  You choose.

Stealing bikes is a bad idea…

Not only is it inconsiderate and a crime, you just might get caught: watch and read here

Bicycling as a Form of Transportation

Thank you Graduate Student Organization for posting this announcement:

Sunday, September 13th
Bicycling as a Form of Transportation
Lecture Hall 001, Earth and Space Sciences Building
7:00pm

Join Distinguished Service Professor Gilbert N. Hanson for a
presentation that considers the question: Should we (or, How can
we) convince the public, transportation agencies and politicians that
there should be more encouragement of bicycling as a form of
transportation on Long Island?

Admission is free and all are invited. Free refreshments will follow
the presentation.

Normal Hours.

The shop will be returning to normal hours (Tuesdays from 6-9 pm) starting, um, last Tuesday.  Pardon any inconvenience this delay in posting may have caused.  I apologize with every fiber of my being.

Amazing Ride of Dr. Noto and Dr. Hoch

On Sunday August 9, Dr. Christopher R. Noto and Dr. J. Matt Hoch went on a 35 mile ride in New York City.

Map of the ride through Gmaps pedometer- there is a slight discrepancy in total distance owing to our winding path.

We met at my house in Astoria NY, and headed over the RFK bridge (formerly the triborough).

We took it to Ward’s Island and then to the Bronx.

We rode through the Brox up to Yankee Stadium.

We then Crossed the Harlem River at the Macomb Dam Bridge.

We followed the Greenway up to the farthest north point in Manhattan.

We turned around and joined the Dominican Day picnics in Inwood Park.

Then we tried to go down Dyckman Street to get to the Hudson River Greenway.  We tried to get on it going north, but just saw softball fields.  Then we tried to go south but just found a long trail through the brush.

Eventually we found the entrance to the Hudson River Greenway and followed it to the George Washington Bridge.

We rode across it, and enjoyed the view.

We made it to the other side, stepped on the New Jersey ground and then turned around.

We rode back to the Hudson River Greenway and took it to 97th street.  We stopped for popsicles, then headed to Central Park.  We rode through the park and to the Ward’s Island Pedestrian Bridge.

We crossed over the RFK-Triborough again, and then stopped at the Bohemian Beer Garden for some black ale.

Noto on the bridge.

J. Matt on the way to Ward’s Island

Crossing into the Bronx

Outside Yankee Stadium

Noto rides up the Harlem River

Noto at the Broadway Bridge (Northernmost Manhattan)

J. Matt in Inwood Park

Riding down a dead-end, gravel path along the Hudson

Noto, as we finally found the entrance to the Hudson River Greenway

Taking a break on the middle of the GW bridge span

Noto on the New Jersey Palisades

J. Matt on the NJ palisades

In Harlem on the way back to Queens

The Ward’s Island pedestrian bridge

On Ward’s Island, approaching the RFK bridge

Back on the RFK triborough

Enjoying some post-ride black ale.

Awesome bike riding dog!

Check out this dog riding a bike!

This is the best dog I have ever seen.