I'm planning a long ride on Long Island for Sunday Sept. 14th. The start point is 179th St. on the F. The end is a friend's home in Hampton Bays. I plan to list this as an official NYCC ride for a modest size group,. The route includes a rest stop at my Mom in Dix Hills. and we are invited to BBQ dinner (glatt kosher) at the Hampton Bays home of dear friends of mine. The train home is the 8:27 PM out of Hampton Bays.

The decision that I need to make PDQ is whether to do this the long way or the longer way. The long way is to ride out along the LIE then the North Shore turning south to take Flanders Rd. to eventually get to Hampton Bays. This way is about 89 miles with 2682 feet elevation gain.

As NYPD’s latest bike ticket blitz — “Operation Safe Cycle” – rolls into its second week, here at my law firm we’ve been getting more than the usual number of phone calls and emails from cyclists with questions about summonses. Usually the big question in these discussions is whether to plead guilty, not how to plead guilty. But now it appears that if you pay your fine online for a moving violation while cycling, you’ll probably be paying an $88 surcharge that you shouldn’t be, and getting points on your license that don’t belong there.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/New+York,+NY/Ananda+Ashram,+13+Sapphire+Rd,+Monroe,+NY+10950/@41.0031155,-74.3272917,9z/data=!4m

I am interested in beginning and ending a ride as listed above.  How can I figure out the most bike friendly route for an "overnight or two" round trip?

I did find this route on RidewithGPS.  I guess that this should do it, at least one way.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5716527

Never tried these before so I don't know how these are, but it seems like a good deal.

http://slickdeals.net/f/7142256-cycling-vittoria-rubino-pro-slick-iii-ro...

Note. Thier website seems extremely slow..

Does the NYCC still do a Columbus day weekend of riding in the catskils?

I had locked my bike using a U-Bolt before going ino the grocery store.  The front wheel was secured by an allen-headed skewer, that required a hex wrench to open.

When I came out, someone had removed the front skewer without removing the wheel.  Fortunately, I noticed the fron t wheel was loose before getting ono  bike.  Otherwise, I could hae had a serious accident.

Do people like the Allen-headed screws, or its more avanced cousin, the Pitlok, that requires a special key that you need to carry with you at all times?  Or should I simply return to the more traiditional quick-releas system?

Just got back from the Tour de Frederick- happy to report great roads, scenery, and terrain. Endless miles of stress free riding.

Noticed that there is a Grand Fondo there next weekend. It's a long drive to get there but worth it once you're there.

- to Marek Zarzycki for helping with setup and cleanup

- to the Ride Coordinators who organized

- and leaders who led some 150 members out and back

- to Bill and Jamis Cycles for helping members with bike repairs

- to Events Cordinator John Semel who remembered three of the most beloved words in the English language: "B-B-Q"

To all of you, including anyone whose contributions I neglected to mention ...

Thank you!

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Is there a NYCC member discount for this year's NJ Gran Fondo

be prepared to walk your bike across the Gil Hodges Bridge as part of the "Operation Safe Cycle" crackdown.

I was able to get across the bridge to the Rockaways early enough that the officers weren't out yet but by the time I was prepared to head home they were there, stationed on each end of the bridge with walkie-talkies in hand.

You're better off using the Cross Bay Bridge.