West Point Loop

The start of a 60 mile scenic road ride....


through Harriamn State Park....


and it's beautiful lakes.


One of the many views of the Hudson River.


climbed to the top of Perkins lookout ....


so that Henry could pose for this blog picture.


Rode north of West Point ....


with spectacular views around each curve...


on a road closed to motor vehicles.

After two days of rain, the sun came out just north of New Jersey, and what a day we had. Willy, Marianne, Henry, Frank, Art and I rode about 60 miles on some of the most scenic roads in the area. It is hard to believe that these roads exist so close to NYC and do not get used. Perhaps they are too hilly for the average bike enthusiast, but if you don't mind some hills, it doesn't get much better that this.

Queen for a day in the Kingdom

Super hot and and humid weekend .... time to get out of town. Destination: Kingdom Trails, Vt. One birthday, a few days riding, with a few good friends and a thousand laughs. See gallery for "Kingdom Trails" video: http://gallery.me.com/ellenandart#100123

Windham Kenda Cup East

arriving in the catskills just as the sun comes out


how can you help but dig any place with pink mud


trip to psychedelic suds


a study in rotational wait


life imitating art, imitating life


girls in search of beauty


icing the legs for the big day


Super-D: August 15, 5:30 p.m. …..
Who would have ever guessed that a 50 year old women would be riding the chairlifts with 5 other girls to lay in the grass and gaze up at the clouds waiting for the word “go”. Once prompted by this word, we would jump up, somersault and run to our bikes for a downhill race. Thanks to Tom Spiegel for this crazy idea of a start that got me pictured in cycling news in full form of a forward roll. Both jumping up and rolling did momentarily make me a tad dizzy. I may recall an article in AARP about standing up too fast, and although I don’t really like to think that I am 50, it just may be true.

Once on the bike, I felt at home and found myself pedaling like crazy down the meadow road. I instantly passed 2 girls, but could still hear someone right behind me. She flew by me on a steep downhill section of road and took off. Once in the single track, I managed to bridge back up to her and noticed she was off pushing an uphill. Then she faltered over an uphill root, and before she could push up and swing her leg back over the bike, I was by and never looked back. I passed another girl walking out the bottom with an unlucky flat tire. When I got to the bottom, I found out that Alex had won the pro field and Laura the 19-39. To sum it up: It was 12 minutes of all out adrenaline, grinning inside and out, childish fun, for all ages. If you have not tried a Super-D and you enjoy riding downhill XC, you must give it a try.



Cross Country: August 15, 8:00 a.m. .....
Both the XC and the Super-D courses were really fun and well maintained. Similar to last year, they had many rock cribs and well constructed bridges with chicken wire that allowed racers to cross wet areas with ease. The climbs were broken up and the last two climbs from last years course were taken out, making for a shorter lap. The climbing was still plenty challenging and the downhill always went way too fast.

On race day, some of the rocks were wet and somewhat slippery, but most of the course was perfect. We started at 8:00 a.m. in a cool fog. I wasn’t feeling a fast start in me, so I succumbed to a steady diesel pace for lap one. We rode from open ski slope into dark woods, which was difficult to adjust our vision. I made a note of obstacles and made sure to trust my memory during the brief blind moments for the remainder of the race.

As we rode up the mountain, the sun began to peek through and particles of some sort created a sparkling effect. It was like candy for my eyes. Suffering some with my start, the sparkles were a welcomed distraction. By the top of our climb we were each greeted by name by the very loud announcer, Bruce, as we rode out of the clouds into bright sunshine. Knowing I needed to focus on my race, I could not resist but to glance out across the mountains. I'm glad I did because it was a magical sight as the mountains tops rose out of a bed of clouds. From there on, I found my stride, and each lap got better than the one before. I finished strong with a little left in the tank.

In all, it was a great weekend of racing and as always, it was inspiring to see the top pros race.


oh willy loves sweets!

Mt Snow Race and Travels

More to follow ....

Rain, Fungus and ....

I have been through some rainy times, but this summer is going on record in my mind as the rainiest of them all. With all that rain, comes verdant forests and mushrooms galore: cute little shaped fungus, odd fungus, ruffled orange fungus, and the tiny red ones that line the trails by hundreds.

Escape to Blue

Napoleon Ride #2

Ok, technically it is ride #2, but to me it was our first real ride together. After I arrived at the start, I noodled around a bit trying to dial in the feel of the Sram rear shifter. I got about 50 ft and BANG! Front tire blew off the rim. Apparently the tube was pinched under the bead of the tire. There seemed to be no damage, the tube got changed and we got our first snafu out of the way. We got under way so I could get on to my 33 mis-shifts, and whatever else goes with a new bike.

Contrary to my inability to be at ease with the new shifting on the first ride, the connection with the handling was found instantly. I never would have imagined a 14.5 lb bike to be that stable while descending. From the first groove of a turn I was at ease. Climbing together, I felt I was riding a complete new level of bike. Too busy thinking about shifting, I probably did not put him through his paces yet, but the possibilities seemed to be there.

The Sram is quite intuitive, and I should have no problem settling into the feel eventually, but I did not have the mindset to have it just happen automatically yet. I can be an old dog, and in this case an old campy dog with my thumb inadvertently reaching out. The compact also had a different rhythm, but with all the other changes going on, I really can't make comment on that yet. All I know is that my usual weekly route felt new, and I am happy to search out new horizons with a new friend.

Welcome Napoleon

Over the course of a few days, and quietly in the basement of my house, an assortment of red and grey boxes of parts were some how transformed into "Napoleon" ..... my new road bike. Much thanks to Art and trusted consultant and fitter, Sandy. There was one anxious moment that involved a hacksaw, but the results of planning, building, cutting and fitting are outstanding. I took him out for the first test ride, minus bar tape, and with an alternate front wheel and all I can is WOW! This is one sweet ride. More to follow.

Water, Wind, Sky and Family

Being One with the Mud

After what seems like months of rain, we have yet another wet race. I was a little hesitant going into the day, but I had already sat out two races because of the rain, and with a car full of carpoolers, it was like I already had my momentum going there, so I followed my inertia. The sun peeked out when I arrived and it was a wonderful site.

Laura and I warmed up together on the back roads in the park. This was actually the first race I have felt good enough to even put my heart rate monitor on, and I was pleased to see my normal spikes. We decided to ride into a trail we came upon, and although it was not in the race, it is one of my favorites. Besides being glad to ride this trail, it gave us a good idea of what to expect. … water, water everywhere, but bottoms hard and wet rocks with some grip. I was quite comfortable with all of these things.

The Pro’s and the aspiring Pros lined up in the first row, and Wendi and I got shuffled to a third row, with all others in the second row. Lining up in the back is not always bad if you chose a good wheel to line up behind, and in this case, I was shot like a projectile into 5th spot going into the prologue turn. As expected, I blew up, and Melissa and Katina came by right before the first giant puddle, … kursplush!!! The unknown feeling of the first puddle was sooo much fun! I never rode through a puddle like that as a kid, so it was like reliving my childhood in a new persona. Shortly after and half way through the prologue single-track, Ellen came by, and disappeared. I managed to keep Katina in sight. I was feeling surprisingly good.

I got a little mentally bent out of shape on Major Mike trail that first lap, but totally figured out what I needed to do for future laps. When I exited, Katina was still right there in front of me, so I felt like my mishaps did not cost me as much time as perceived. I did not dwell on what I did wrong, but envisioned what I would do right on the next lap. Luckily Stewart has a heavy shale content that made a firm bottom for the many puddles that covered the trails. I am very thankful for the deep puddles, because they kept my tires clean enough so that I could keep them rolling, and that was my main focus of the race.

My plan was to find water. Halfway through my first lap, I committed myself to this quest and it began to consume me, pushing me forward. I did not ride super fast, but stayed steady and efficient. By the end of the first lap I moved back up into second place and started working my way through the men’s class. The less I used the brakes, the better. I bumped a few trees and put a foot out here and there, but had no falls.

I finished the race feeling stronger at 2:48 than my last race at 2:00. Good thing, because I had a lot of clean up to do. It may seem strange, but I enjoy the clean up. My bikes bring me so many good times, that returning them to good health is quite rewarding. Muddy mountain bikers were indeed smiling on Sunday, and I was feeling as one with the mud.