Not too familar with this part of Long Island.  Does anyone have any recommendations on a riding back from Port Washington to North Brooklyn?  I am looking for the shortest/fastest possible route.  Thanks!

Right before Alpine Police Station a little copperhead slithered over the road. Heavy cycling traffic today made this a bad choice for any snake. But nevertheless, do not attempt to pick up a snake to carry to safety (as somebody tried to do today, thinking it was a Garter snake until I yelled at him) unless you are absolutely certain you identified the snake correctly. A copperhead is a venomous viper. They are reluctant to inject all their poison if they can help it and would try to either "only" bite or inject a little poison at first but the bite of a copperhead is extremly painful. A poisonous bite will lead to throbbing, swelling and nausea - depending on the amount of venom. Although bites are rarely fatal, medical attention should be sought.

Yesterday I had a crash on River Road. I realize that there's a lot of rough road but I wanted to bring attention to this particular area. It's heading down Alpine, about 1/10 of a mile south of the police station, maybe 40 feet before the "falling rock zone" sign. The pavement is smooth, but right in the center there's a cone-shaped hole about 3 inches deep. It's hard to see. It unexpectedly caught my front tire and I went over the handlebars.

I asked the police if they could draw attention to it in someway and they referred me to the Palisades Park Commission, so I will contact them.

For the record, I'm basically OK; no broken bones, but a gash in my elbow that had to be stitched and quite a bit of muscle aches and pains.

Yesterday, one of our participants on the STS #11 X39 ride left his helmet on the train when we disembarked at Croton Falls. I apologize, but I don't recall your name and I also don't have your email. However, the good news is that a club member on one of the other rides that was on the train found and took home your helmet. If you get in touch with me, I'd be glad to pass on this person's email to you so you could arrange a pickup time and place.

In case you didn't get the e-mail, we are adjusting the start of Saturday's A21 ride to Cold Spring to avoid the CRCA race ending in the park.  Sorry about the last minute change.

New start time:  8:00 am

New start location:  Girls' Gate, which is E 102nd Street and Fifth Avenue at the Central Park Drive exit.

It is said that the remarkable thing about a dancing bear is not that it dances very well, but that it dances at all. 

These 3 routes: Baby Bear, Moma Bear and Papa Bear, are remarkable for their difference in our spectrum of rides, and in how well they dance:

http://nycc.org/node/70352

http://nycc.org/node/70417

http://nycc.org/node/70391

New Jersey Transit does not require a bike permit, yet trains to Trenton leave NYC Penn Station hourly and either end of their double decker cars are very bike-friendly for passage of 2 bikes.

I've noticed that the last couple of times I downloaded a ride course from ridewithgps and started the ride, the course did not give advance warning of upcoming turns.  It simply informed me of a turn immediately after the turn (not very helpful).   Past courses I rode did have advance notice.   I'm wondering if there is something I need to set on the Garmin unit or am I supposed to somehow manipulate the course file before downloading it to the Garmin.

Assistance appreciated. tx.

Are you a graduate of the B SIG or C SIG who is interested in leading rides, but who would like a little coaching and advice on what to do? If so, we have just the thing!