718 Cyclery Micro-tour #5
My test ride was pretty successful but I still spent a little time rearranging my set up. Since I don’t know what I’m doing, it took me a few minutes to figure out that I could in fact fit both my tent and sleeping pad on the rear rack. I eventually pulled the remaining gear out of my closet and was pretty ready to go on Sunday night, besides all of my anxiety. This was my first time bike camping so I will admit, some feelings of doubt crept in and I wondered if I would actually be able to do a trip like this. On top of that, the weather was not looking promising.
We were set to leave the starting point in Manhattan at 7 AM so I was up bright and early to have a quick breakfast and double check everything. I still had big feelings of anxiety and they didn’t seem to be dissipating. The rain wasn’t helping. Then, I received the message I didn’t know I needed - “Ok crew… leaving time changed to 9 AM.” Yessss, this saved me. Our new start time allowed for me get in a little more sleep but more importantly, it helped us to avoid this:
Ok, this time, I really did have to leave my apartment. I started my ride into the city, taking the route I ride on my commute to work.
Right around Boerum Hill, I ran into Sarah, who also happened to be going on the micro-tour!
We rode together the rest of the way to Chambers Street and the Hudson River Greenway and were passed by Joe, the owner of 718 Cyclery and the person who planned this trip for all of us, just a block before the start point. We all gathered at the corner, waiting to roll out (and hoping the rain would stop).
Immediately, I could tell how great this trip would be. Everyone was already chatting away, getting to know each other while we waited on the rest of the group and then, our first mechanical of the trip - a flat before we even left. After as many introductions as possible (there were nineteen of us riding on this trip!), we were off, heading north up the west side of the city.
We made it up most of the Hudson River Greenway before our next mechanical - another flat. Fortunately, the people who got flats are much speedier at fixing them than I ever would have been.
Then, it was the dreaded hill under the George Washington Bridge. I wasn’t ready for it, in more ways than one, and didn’t gear down in time so I had to hike that bike up the second half of the hill. Which I learned is hard with a lot of gear…
Look at how happy I am to be pushing all of this weight up a hill.
We regrouped at the top to catch our breath and eat a few snacks before continuing our way north, through the Bronx, to Van Cortlandt Park.
From Van Cortlandt, we got on the South County Trailway, which provided the opposite experience of riding through the Bronx.
Please enjoy Rusty and I talking about our experiences with CitiBike.
At the end of the South County Trailway, we stopped in Elmsford for lunch. And yes, it was still raining.
From Elmsford, we hopped on the start of the North County Trailway, taking this for a little more than seven miles before turning off in Briarcliff Manor, taking a pit stop at the library.
A few more miles and then we stopped at a grocery store for food and any additional necessities. I bought face wipes and beer.
We had a couple of hills to get over between the grocery store and campsite but the rain seemed to finally be letting up.
When we got to our sites, the rain had mostly stopped and we were able to set up our tents right away, as recommended by Joe. It made sense to get everything set up as soon as possible since the weather still seemed a bit unpredictable but I also could have seen myself being VERY miserable later in the night if I hadn’t taken care of my tent and sleeping arrangements in the beginning.
This was my little set up, which felt nice and cozy as I was tucked away under this small tree. I don’t know if feeling cozy made up for all of the bird poop that ended up on my tent and bicycle through the night but you live and you learn! I have had this MSR Hubba tent since I first started camping, which was about ten years ago. While it hasn’t gotten as much use as I would have liked, it has served me well and I’m hoping that more camping trips are in my future. I guess I get to decide that, huh?!
Once we were all set up (there were tents everywhere you looked), it was time to relax! Joe and Rusty got started right away on the fire, which was tended to throughout the evening. A few people opted to cook their meals over the fire and we were all very impressed by Khamara’s camp kitchen and cooking skills!
It was so encouraging to see how our entire group was so easily able to gather around and chat with each other - there were no cliques, or cool kid groups because we were all the cool kids here! I am being sincere though - I really did not know what to expect, especially being in such a large group of people who were mostly strangers to one another. We came from all walks of life but I think in sharing a common interest and like values, it was easy and natural for everyone to strike up a conversation or participate in an ongoing one.
We spent the remainder of the night around the fire, sharing stories, drinks, and food, and celebrating Rusty’s birthday! And Sarah’s, which happened to be the day before!
I took a short walk around the campgrounds and tried to enjoy my time in the outdoors. The last few years have been pretty rough, huh? For me, it doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. As I have been out on my bikes more and more, I am remembering how much of a reprieve the outdoors can be. I am someone who is always going a mile-a-minute, usually mentally; I have so much trouble slowing down and being present. Being outside does that for me.
I went back to the campsite to join everyone around the fire and then was called a “boomer” because my flash went off when trying to surreptitiously take these pictures:
They’re not wrong considering I don’t know how to use my phone.
This was my first time camping with my new pillow, the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Inflatable Pillow. I’ve always had a camp pillow but this one was a world of difference. Had I not had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I think it would have been one of the best nights of sleep I have ever gotten while camping. I have terrible insomnia so that is saying something!
To my utter delight, there was a second fire the next morning.
Khamara was back with the fancy camp cooking and Clare took this opportunity to try and dry out her shoes after the previous day’s rain. Unfortunately, this led to her laces being completely burned off but she was a trooper and made the trip home in her Birkenstocks.
The thought of skipping coffee did cross my mind but when I saw everyone else enjoying theirs, and when Rusty offered to share some of his milk with me, I couldn’t pass it up! Plus, I had skipped coffee the previous morning when I decided to go back to sleep after finding out about our delayed start. This was my first time trying out my new AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Maker and dangggg, was it good. But I only found that out after Margaret showed me how to use it, hahaha. The coffee was great and it was a much easier and cleaner than the pour over coffee I usually make when camping.
I drank my coffee while putting away my slightly damp tent but VERY damp sleeping pad, which I managed to spill water on in the middle of the night. I woke up around 6 AM and a little after 8 AM, we were on our way back to NYC.
But I was dreading this. Not because I had to go back to reality but, rather, because I was wondering if I would survive the hills in Ossining (OK, probably also because I didn’t want to go back to reality)! This was a concern that was causing so much anxiety, despite all of the efforts by my fellow riders to ensure me that these hills were not something to worry about. I think I underestimate my abilities because I don’t necessarily enjoy pushing myself out of my comfort zone. One of my fellow riders, Steph, was feeling similarly so I was happy to not be alone in my discomfort. The one fortunate aspect of this elevation gain was that all of the major hills would be out of the way within the first mile and a half of the ride home. That still didn’t comfort me much!
Bill and Clare were serving as our sweepers and were so amazingly supportive and positive. Bill was analyzing some of my uphill riding and noticed that my legs are strong but that I was relying on a lower gear than what was necessary. It was helpful to hear his input - the lower gearing was giving me more of a cardio workout and wasn’t necessarily as efficient. Part of my reason for relying on my really low gears was the fatigue I was feeling in my legs from the ride the previous day. For the last and final hill, I took Bill’s advice to heart and by SOME MIRACLE, I made it up all five hills without having to hike my bike up it.
Here I am, celebrating the fact that I didn’t die riding up this last hill!
After that, it was all smiles the rest of the trip back. This group of people was really so amazing and I really felt happy being able to share an experience like this with them.
Another quick pit stop at the Briarcliff Library, where we had a few impromptu photo shoots.
From there, we continued our way south, rejoining the North County Trailway. I had an AMAZING conversation with Paul, who had retired about six years ago. He was sharing some his cycle touring experiences and let me know about some of his upcoming plans to tour New Zealand! I am hoping to get updates from him after this trip!
The ride home was nice but certainly much faster than the ride up. Look at this happy, little convoy of ours.
Courtesy of Paul!
I will say, Paul is a bit speedier than me so at some point, I pulled over to eat a Snickers bar and prevent myself from bonking.
The rest of the ride along the trailways was beautiful, as expected.
Once we got to Van Cortlandt Park, we separated into a few groups, heading in different directions to get home. A few of us were riding back down the west side of the city but since we all knew where we were going from here, we each rode back at our own pace.
Just after watching NYPD and FDNY retrieve a body from the Hudson River, I got a flat. What’s worse? I forgot to pack my pump (or so I thought - upon unpacking, I found it in one of my panniers). Fortunately, my life saver Steph happened to be a little bit behind me on the trail and she had a pump. But it seemed like this pump was only for a Schrader valve and my tubes have Presta valves. Cue the friendly bike riders passing our way - a very, very kind man who was on his way to work stopped to help me.
We all had a bit of trouble getting this new tube inflated but eventually, with enough team work between this kind person, Steph and myself, I was back up and running! With a just a few more miles of riding, I ended at a bar for some lunch and beers with a friend.
That’s a wrap on Micro-tour #5 for 2022 and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Except maybe the hills. Less hills, please.
“This trip is not about your bike, nor about your gear. It’s about having a great adventure with a supportive and inclusive group. No one will be left out, or left behind.”
*** Photo credit to everyone on this trip!
