Hi all,

I'm celebrating a major milestone (passed my PhD comps!), so I'm considering a three-day credit-card tour either this weekend or next, linking up some of the wilder areas around here. My current route ideas are described below. I haven't ridden most of these roads, so I'd like to see what the collective wisdom has to say about them.  Also, if you can recommend places to stay in Port Jervis or Woodstock, places to eat along the way, highlights you think I might be missing out on, other dream-ride ideas, etc., please let me know. 

If you are interested in doing an informal ride to Montauk this Sat. contact me there is a group going for the NBR running club and a bunch of other folks from Queens.  They are leaving in the AM and taking the train back in the PM.  If you want to stay over that can be arranged.  Email me.

Nate Silver, the NY Times election wonk, has an article in yesterday's NY Times Magazine, The Weatherman is not a Moron. This article, from a book coming out this month, examines uncertainty in predictions. Yes, weather forecasting is improving, but shear number crunching power of bigger computers isn't the only reason, thus the thrust of the piece. 

sorry got the post messed up...

ride is on. meet at Grant's Tomb 5:45am or 6:05 at NJ side GWB.

for description look at tuesday post...

Thank you Officer Perez for ticketing me 09/09 this morning with "Rules of the Road". Officer Perez says it's $50 fine, I'll know more on Monday. Also I'd like to thank him for being judge and jury - he ticketed the 3 of 4 of us and let one of the fellow cyclist off with a warning to "watch your son". I know his actions with protect all of us, including the cars making 3point u-turns on Riverside Drive and the cars that buzz cyclists...

Hello there,

I'm looking for a friendly (and capabable) repair shop in or around Williamsburg, BK. 

I moved to the US from the UK a couple of months ago, and my bike suffered a little damage in transit. I have an SRAM Force drivetrain, and the largest chainring is a little bent. It actually rides fine, but it does throw the chain on occasion. Ideally I'd find someone who can repair it, but if that's not possible I'll need someone to source and install a replacement.

Thanks in advance!

— Phil

Jerry, Jackie and I were pleasantly surprised yesterday while passing through Storm King Village on Jerry's Misty Mountain Hop ride. We ran into Christy and Jody celebrating their wedding anniversary in style - lunching outdoors in the middle of a 40+ mile ride from Cold Spring.

They saw us first and called out. We chatted briefly but wanting to give the lovebirds their privacy (plus we had a train to catch) Jerry quickly snapped this photo (don't they look happy!), and we were off after wishing them a Happy Anniversary! 

https://picasaweb.google.com/115254052922838471231?authkey=Gv1sRgCJvkzNC8vdbQGw

When riding home from Grand Central today (after my scouting ride today got caught in drenching rain) several of us were crossing thru the Park on the 72nd st transverse.  When we got to the loop drive intersection on the west side, an auxilliary police officer was handing out pamphlets about an Operation Safe Cycle program.

We had stopped at the light there since we saw the cop, who turned out to be Officer Simon, handing out literature.  We spoke with him a little and asked a few questions.  He was pretty friendly.  One thing that was funny, was that he first asked if we wanted to see some 'propoganda'.

The vast majority of cyclists I know are responsible and respectful individuals for a number of reasons, including the fact that if we hit someone, we get hurt too!!  So it is in our own best interests to avoid accidents, which we do 99.99999% of the time.  The attitude that all cyclists should be banned or severely curtailed from using public roadways is discrimination, clear and simple....look at it this way....do we throw all cars off the road because of the actions of irresponsible motorists, of which there are FAR more than irresponsible cyclists?