It’s difficult to walk around this city and not feel the presence of my family within it. I look at the Empire State building from my window at work and try to imagine what it must have looked like to my mom when she walked through Manhattan in the 60’s and 70’s. Then I think of my Grandmother doing the same decades before. The scape of the skyline has changed yet I like to think that the emotions evoked by the feel of the city are somewhat comparable. I like to think that perhaps my grandmother took some of the same joy from living here that I do.

Growing up in the south I became accustomed to a sense of displacement throughout my life. The feeling that I had not come from where I was and that my roots were difficult to define was all that I knew.

My move to New York changed the face of that reality. Almost every day I see something that makes me think of what my family must have experienced as this city developed over nearly a century. Their workplaces and homes are still here, some of them anyway. The shops and diners they frequented, buses and train lines they traveled, synagogues and cemeteries they knew are all right here. The buildings of my own past, tied so closely into the lives of these people I’ve loved and have known are now not quite so foreign. It makes me feel closer to these people who were born and raised, married and had children and even completed their lives right here within this city. They are my family and finally I’ve begun to feel as though I know them.

I bike the streets of New York and I feel connected. Connected to a piece of my existence that I never knew was even missing until I found it here.

It’s good to be home.

Related posts:

1. A year in the life
2. Whispers of Fall
3. alternatives and thoughts

Saturday night was spent dancing my little heart out with my friend Leah at the Further show. How I let so much time pass without seeing the boys I cannot explain. All I know is I had an amazing time and the music was as good as ever. If you get a chance to check this out, the latest incarnation of the remaining members of the Dead and if your into that sort of thing I would really recommended this show. The Brokedown Palace encore was amazing.

It can be difficult not to complain about the heat when it’s 95 degrees in the city, but I shall not. I’m gonna keep on thinking about February and how much worse it is, always always is, to be cold.

I did manage to run around five miles in the heat this evening and I’m feeling good about that, although as my friend Elliot from Crunch mentioned I am now truly becoming Liquidjill. I was practically a puddle by the end of my run.

After a looong cold shower I managed to throw together a delicious cold Quinoa salad with cold tomato soup and mint for dinner. Delicious insanely-hot-weather food.

It’s a wee bit crazy, but once again I’m playing artound with the idea of another Century. I think this time I might make it a metric Century though and perhaps save myself a few days recovery.

Lots changing in my life right now and so many new things springing up all around. This city and the people and occurrences within it are so much more alive in the summer. I find myself at one live concert after another, each one more wonderful then the last.

I’ll leave you with a picture from a Summer Stage show I checked out yesterday in Central Park. The performer was Gil-Scott Heron and the special guest was, well, take a look.

If you don’t know him, his name is Common and he is pretty amazing. I suggest giving him as well as Gil-Scott Heron a listen sometime. Good, good stuff.

No related posts.

Yesterday I completed the Montauk Century! It was a looong hot and beautiful ride and with it’s completion I have a story to tell.

The last month has been a really crazy one. Lots and lots of changes which, though ultimately are always good, can be a little overwhelming when they happen en masse. This seems to have been the case.

To spare the dirty details I’ll get straight to the main point so I can get on with the exciting ride rehash. Basically, much of my decision to participate in the Montauk ride came from the less than perfect conclusion of my Napa Century.

When I rolled across the finish line in California my odometer read a few miles short of 100.

I don’t know if that was because of a wrong turn (likely) or that the ride was just a little bit short (not likely) but it nagged at me like I just cannot describe. After raising all this money and getting so many family and friends on board it seemed like I hadn’t completely lived up to my end of the bargain. It felt a little false.

Montauk was an opportunity to make up for those lost miles and get the words “ride a Century” squared in my head. I knew it would be hard but I was never more mentally prepared for a ride in my life. I rode for every person that cheered me on up to and in Napa and for every person since then that congratulated me on the accomplishment.

I’ll spare the suspense and say it now. By day’s end yesterday I had completed the 100 miles. Actually, according to my odometer I clocked in at 106.26 to be exact. And I did it in 6:37, about 2 hours faster than my time in Napa. I was satisfied with the ride but the experiece of feeling less than complete because of a few miles is an interesting one. At what point do we push ourselves too hard? I rode over 90 miles in Napa, should I really beat myself up for such a thing? Why are we often our own worst enemies?

Before yesterdays ride I had planned on participating in two more Centuries this summer. Now, I’m not so sure. I need to access why I want to ride, and not make it all about the landmark of completion. It, in the paraphrased words of Lance, has to be about the ride.

That said, I really did enjoy the ride yesterday. I’ll admit that the last 20 miles or so are kind of fuzzy with pain and desire to just get done with it but most of the rest was really wonderful. The part I’m struggling with it that which led up to the ride and the thoughts and feelings that made me want to do it. I love riding far too much to imagine a future with no more Centuries, but I may take some time to think about motivation, state of mind and balance. For me, it seems to always be about the balance.

On with the recap!

The day stared at 4:15 am in Brooklyn with a half a whole wheat everything bagel and some almond butter.

I did a bunch of stretching and yoga and around 5:30 Greg scooped up me and my bike and we were off to the Century start at Babylon!

It was such a nice peaceful ride that early in the morning. No traffic, no honking, just easy travel. We arrived with plenty of time to spare and checked in our bags. There were showers at the end of the race so the instructions said to bring a towel and some clothes. Those showers seemed very far away indeed at the start of the day.

We were both so excited about the ride!

We started around 6:45am and right away I could tell two things. First, I was feeling strong, much stronger than I had in Napa and I knew on this flat course that meant faster average speeds (and a shorter overall time!).

Second, Greg was still much faster than me. I did my best to keep up with him but somewhere between miles 15 and 20 he broke away and that was pretty much the last I saw of him until the finish line. There he goes!

Luckily I didn’t spend too much time riding solo, much like in the Napa ride I quickly made a new friend. Meet Lauren, another crazy fast bad ass cyclist.

We met around mile 20 and rode on and off for the rest of the ride. Her story was kind of a bummer, she entered the ride with two good friends both of whom had been super excited to ride their first Century. Somehow in the first 5 miles of the ride one of her friends was riding too close to her boyfriend, collided with his bike and had a really nasty fall. I remember seeing the ambulance attending to them early in the ride. Apparently Lauren’s friend was kept overnight in the hospital but will be okay. Another reason to be careful out there and allow plenty of following distance if you’re a new rider.

Lauren stayed positive though, and we rode on, and on. Long Island is no Napa, but it really does have a flavor of its own and I found it really beautiful.

At one point I passed a recumbant rider. Totally reminded me of Caitlin’s dad Peter. Such a cool guy!

One of these days I have got to try one of those.

The rest stops, though not quite as posh as those from Napa (go figure), were more than adequate and we even got treated to a TON of that promised pie!

The pie was a bit too much on the sugar side of things for me so I just tried a small bite. It was delicious though! Luckily there were a ton of other food options in addition to the Gu and Clif bars I had brought along for the ride.

As usual I had some fig newtons, some nuts and a couple of bananas. I was careful about what I ate since I had been so sick the day before. I brought along lots of food that I knew was safe for my tummy. Also, I tried Clif Shot Bloks as a energy boost when I needed it throughout the ride. Taking 2 or 3 Endorolytes each hour was also incredibly helpful. No cramps at all for this ride!

I’ve found that paying attention to intake for the days leading up to as well as the day of a big ride makes a huge difference. Kristen at EatingRD has all kinds of excellent suggestions and recipes when it comes to stuff like this.

As the miles wore on I became increasingly aware of my neck pain (and all kinds of other pain of course). I don’t know if I need to adjust my handlebars or what, but I definitely need to make some kind of a change for my next ride. At least there was plenty of great scenery to check out.

As I traveled through the Hamptons I really got a sense of the atmosphere there. I was waiting for someone from that Hosewives of NYC show to emerge from one of the ultra posh houses.

Finally I was nearing the final stretch of the ride, which much like Napa followed alongside a highway. I have to say, after riding for nearly 100 miles, having to bike with high speed traffic and trucks is not ideal. The end was near though and adrenaline was carrying me right along.

I then looked down at my computer and saw something I have been waiting since May to achieve.

I DID IT!

I cannot explain how much of a relief it was to get to this. Now I just had to finish the actual ride. Piece of cake right? Well, they did kind of save the biggest hills of the ride for the very, very end but in my elated state of mind they were nothing. As I peddled into Montauk I really was on cloud nine.

Then, in the distance I spotted some familiar shapes…

Was it? Could it be?

It was! The trucks to load up our bikes! I made it!!

I did a final evaluation on my odometer:

And then checked in my bike.

Pretty cool rigging huh?

Then I was off to find my bag in the masses.

I was so excited about the shower until I saw the line.

Then suddenly I realized that it was the boys line! The girls showers were to the left and there was no line at all!

I basked in the lovely hot shower, but not before signing up for a free massage first! In exactly the time it took me to shower, dress and grab some food it was time for that massage which was lovely. I don’t have any pics from this part of the day, I think I was so exhausted that I completely spaced it. Ah well.

After my massage I reunited with Greg who somehow got behind me on the ride? I think it was that tasty pie!

All in all it was an amazing experience.

Glen, who puts this whole thing together every year did an extraordinary job. Organizing all these people and the trains from NYC as well as the LIRR, getting bikes and people to and from 3 different starting points and keeping us all fed, watered, safe and on the road was an incredible task. I was really impressed with how smoothly everything ride related went.

After we drank a beer, lots of water and chilled out for a bit, Greg and I caught the 5:30 LIRR back to Babylon. It was amazing to think that my entire day was covered by train in less than 2 hours. Which by the way was the perfect amount of time for a much needed nap.

Right before we pulled into Babylon I looked out the window and saw this:

It’s an iPhone photo but I think it still captured what was one of the more amazing skies I think I’ve ever seen.

A perfect bookend to an amazing day.

Related posts:

1. Ride recap
2. off to a good start
3. counting down to the ride

I haven’t posted in forever, I know. Please take my word for it when I say I have good reason for my absence. Life has been absolutely crazy since coming back from my vacation on the west coast.

Work, home, everything.

Also, somehow in the middle of it all I managed to sign up for another Century and it’s happening this Saturday.

Yep.

This Saturday.

From Babylon to Montauk Long Island.

I ride with Greg, we ride for pie.

See you on the other side.

No related posts.

I made it!

What an amazing whirlwind of experiences I just had. From biking the far reaches of Napa Valley to exploring the Tenderloin, the Haight and the Mission, to a trip out west on Virgin America this was a vacation chock full of firsts for me.

I have over a gig a pics and a ton of stories but for right now I’m going to head out and enjoy my Memorial day back here in Brooklyn.

Look for updates all week on my amazing trip!

Related posts:

1. The countdown begins!
2. counting down to the ride
3. Cycling the present past and future

I love this subway poster. It’s promoting a great cause, it features my favorite bridge in all the land and it stars a weight conscious bird wearing a tie and a bike helmet. Come on, even the non cyclists out there have got to think this is kind of cute.

Today is NYC’s bike to work day and the weather couldn’t be more perfect for such an endeavor. It’s sunny and warm and absolutely gorgeous out there. Funny enough I find myself inside, packing like mad and trying desperately not to forget anything.

Yes, at 4:55 pm this evening my plane to San Francisco (hopefully not delayed) takes off. I’ll stay in the city of SF tonight and head to Napa tomorrow. Holy crap it’s awesome to be able to type that.

Then, in the oh so encouraging words of a good friend: barring an act of God I’ll be riding 100 miles on Sunday.

Last night my nerves we’re a little keyed up so I decided to run around 6 miles though Prospect Park to help me relax. I am so glad I did. It helped me sleep and today my legs feel strong.

Thank you to all once again to everyone for all your words of encouragement and support. I will be thinking of you all on Sunday and I look forward to posting a picture at the completion of the ride. I could not have done this without you.

Click Here to Donate

Off to pack, and pack and then, yes, pack. Procrastinate much?

I leave you with the map and elevation detail of my ride!

Related posts:

1. off to a good start
2. 17 degrees
3. counting down to the ride

On Sunday I took a solo trip over to Park Slope and checked out the 5th Ave Street Fair and Brooklyn Bike Jumble. The fair was an overcrowded mess of unhealthy food and way too many people. The bike jumble on the other hand was incredible.

Back in the day (think previous life in Virginia) I used to go to a huge bike swap in Trexlertown PA every year. Called T-town, the event took place inside a velodrome (freakin’ cool) and was the biggest collection of bike enthusiasts I’ve ever seen. It was teeming with every bike part/bike related piece of merchandise imaginable and everything was negotiable. T-town still goes down but it’s been years since I’ve been a part of it. The Bike Jumble on Sunday was like a really teeny version of T-town minus the velodrome and the 8 hour schlep. There were crank arms, bottom brackets, drops and straight bars, Campi and Shimano. Milling about the fray were hipsters and pros and pretty much everything in between.

In other words, I was home.

To top it all off at the stone house on 4th street (the actual site of the original clubhouse for the Brooklyn Dodgers!!) there was an exhibit dedicated to the Coney Island Velodrome. Torn down in 1950 it’s a piece of Brooklyn history we really shouldn’t forget.

I took some flicks of the old posters displayed in the exhibit and marveled at the stories of a time when cycling was king. We’re clearly having a resurgence now, but the raw elements of the cycling community, at least as I imagine them to have been in the 1930′s have in many ways been lost. It’s probably a good thing since that means more safety and the introduction of things like helmets and technology that makes us faster. It just doesn’t keep me from wondering though, and longing in romanticism a little for what it must have been like back in that day…

My century is in 4 days. The day after tomorrow I’m getting on the longest solo plane ride of my life.

I sit and I make lists in my head that would sound so odd to a non cyclist.

• Chamois Butter
• Goo
• arm warmers
• lip balm

And on and on…

I’ve been trying to relax and focus and enjoy every bit of this intense anticipation but I have to admit that I’m a little bit nervous. I feel like every person who has donated has something tangible invested in me. I take that very seriously and I want to say that on Sunday I’ll do my very best to make every one of you smile when I cross that hundred mile mark.

I’d be lying if I said that responsibility wasn’t just a little daunting. Bear with me though, I do have a plan.

I’ll listen to a little music (The Temper Trap at the moment), do a little yoga and remember to breathe. I’ll focus on the simple pieces and parts of cycling that make me love it so.

Living through milestones in life is such an intimate and beautiful thing.

Related posts:

1. Nothing is more abstract than reality
2. crazy windy ride
3. on a northbound train

A week from today at this time exactly I’ll up and getting ready for my first Century ever. I’m so excited that I’m already dreaming about what it’s going to feel like to bike 100 miles through Napa Valley California. I’ve never been and my first experience in wine country will be by bike. How cool is that?

I shipped my Trek out this week, all my reservations are made and now all that’s left is to take it easy and maybe get a run and ride in this week. Then this Friday I’ll hop on a plane and take my first trip to the left coast in 5 years!

For anyone that would like to make a donation they’ll be accepted by Gran Fondo until Thursday of this week, just click here! I’m only $105 away from my goal of 500 dollars!

Every little bit counts, seriously.

This is me yesterday with Eric Childs of Kombucha Brooklyn (known as KBBK) at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene.

Yup, that is an entire growler of delicious Kombucha. If you happen to find yourself in Brooklyn, his is by far the best I’ve had – you have got to try it. If you mosey over to Greenpoint you can refill a growler like mine at Brouwerji Lane. Delicious and so good for you!

It’s  gorgous weekend and there’s a huge bike swap/block party in Park Slope today. I’ll try to get some good pics and maybe I’ll even find something useful for my ride.

Have a wonderful Sunday, I leave you with a pic of a good friend rocking a trick called wheel walking. Who knows, you might even see me on one of these someday…

Related posts:

1. early resolutions
2. Century training begins!

My ride today was absolutely empowering. It was around 44 degrees when I left this morning with gusting winds of up to 45 mph. The wind chill from them felt around 30 degrees, no kidding. I sucked it up, dressed in just about all the gear I own and rode to Nyack and back. Nearly 75 miles!

Now, after a very long, very hot shower and some delicious mixed veggie and tofu stir fry I feel practically sedated. I may pass out before 8pm tonight – I am that beat. Happy, but oh so exhausted.

On the way out there most of what we got were headwinds. Powerful, chilling headwinds and it was no joke of a ride at all. I would even venture to say that overall it was one of the more mentally and physically taxing rides I’ve ever been on. I met up with 2 incredibly cool local cyclists who rode so fast and were so badass that they inspired me to somehow soldier through. We stopped once so I could buy an extra pair of socks (my feet were completely numb) but besides that I really feel that I was able to hang. For me that’s a big deal, especially when I know I’m riding with much more experienced cyclists. I so don’t want to hold people up, especially those that are being awesome enough to guide me on a first trip.

Even though the weather wasn’t exactly what I might have wished for, it made me work that much harder and I feel like I am that much better prepared for the Century now. The ride has lots of pretty sizable hills, they weren’t easy by any stretch but I managed them.

There wasn’t a lot of bike traffic, which under the windy circumstances wasn’t a surprise, but it made my first trip across the George Washington bridge seem that much more intimate and kinda special.

Thanks so much to Pit and Taliah (of the amazing bicyclepaintings.com). They encouraged me, inspired me and made today’s ride incredibly awesome. Thanks so much ladies!

Man, I need a personal masseuse. What a day.

Related posts:

1. chilly bike ride
2. crazy windy ride
3. counting down to the ride

This morning I decided to hop on my bike and do some solo spring time exploration. After a short ride through Ft Greene and up into Williamsburg I made an on the spot decision to hop on the Williamsburg bridge and head into the city for a bit. I noticed it was a bit windy but didn’t really pay it too much attention.

That is, until I started climbing the entrance to the bridge.

I’ll note here that the Williamsburg is the steepest of the New York bridges I’ve crossed. In all that includes The Manhattan,  The Verazanno and The Brooklyn Bridge. However, the steep entrance ramp was not the issue today.

As I entered the bridge winds were gusting around 45 mph and cyclists all around me were toppling over. I braced myself, stood up in my pedals and used every bit of energy I had to climb that bridge. As I peddaled down the other side I had to slow because debris was flying about.

I kid you not, as I finally exited the bridge I was almost wrecked by the torso section of a store manaquin which shot accross Delancy Street and smacked into me! On one hand it was a little scary but I’ll admit I was laughing into the wind even as I almost went down.

As much as we New Yorkers love to construct the world around us, it is incredibly humbling to be reminded that nature is very much right here around us, evening in the heart of the lower east side in downtown Manhattan.

There was a street fair in the east village which was in the process of being blown away as I rode through.

Vendors scrambled to pull down what they could, as best they could before wares just went shooting away down 2nd ave.

I stood there holding my bike nonplussed as so many strode by seemingly indifferent.

After a brief, alcohol-free stop at a bar to check out the end of the Mets game (we won!!!) I decided to take the Manhattan Bridge back to Brooklyn which was a lot less dramatic than my journey out.

I made it safely home but as I type this I’m listening to the wind outside howl. It sounds as though its going to rip the siding right off my apartment. Let’s hope it chills out as the evening set in.

I think I’ll go make some tea and do a little yoga. Tomorrow I wake up at 7 and hopefully complete my longest ride yet. The wind is supposed to be similar to what it is today which is kind of freaking me out. Even so, I know I can do this.

Related posts:

1. Ride recap
2. counting down to the ride
3. chilly bike ride