Last Ride Of August

Today was a beautiful 70 deg day with light winds. I decided to end the month and the National Bike Challenge with a 50 miler. My Stats for the last 4 months have been just under 700 miles/month with an average of 20 riding days/month. I am very proud to have finished the Challenge in the top 10 in New Jersey.

Nice Day

Slow and steady

Sounds Of Silence

Ride To Work

6 am

Another Shore Thing

Today seemed like a good day to hit the Jersey Shore. I checked the weather and new the winds were from the south. I headed out towards Farmingdale and then on to the Felix Edgar Trail for 25 miles to Manasquan. From there, with the wind at my back, it was 20 miles up the shore north to Sandy Hook. Then on to the Henry Hudson Trail and another 25 miles home. A total of 73 glorious miles. A great day!

Edgar Felix Bike Path

Fueling up

5 mile path to Manasquan

Belmar Beach

Beautiful Sam
Belmar Beach Badge Checker

Bridge closing

Asbury Park

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
Bruce Springsteen,  E Street Band,

Convention Center

 Foot-long Dog and Large Soda
40 mile mark

Rt 36 Bridge

Sandy Hook

Atlantic Highlands

Henry Hudson Trail

Trail continues

Home

Better Than Expected

Club ride was cancelled due to questionable forecast. My morning weather instincts suggested otherwise. 56 miles later the sky is blue and the sun is bright. Tomorrow promises to be low 80's and bright sunshine, but you know how that goes. Another highlight of the day is I passed 4k miles for the yr.

Horsing around

Rainy Day

You know how the weather goes. Yesterday, the weather for today promised beautiful sunshine. When I awoke nothing but dark ominous clouds. With temperatures hot and muggy, I didn't care if I got wet. I do concern myself with lightning. I decided to chance it. 10 miles into the ride the skies opened up to a torrential downpour and even some hail. I was fortunate to be able to take cover for a 1/2 hr until the rain lightened. With rain coat on I ventured another 20 miles finding a new unexplored bike path. A quick stop at the store and home to work on those squealing disk brakes. All in all a pretty fun day.

Nice Day

I replaced the broken mirror and adjusted the derailer. It was time to enjoy this great summer day. With temps in the 80's, low humidity and slightly overcast this day made for a leisurely 50 miles. If I had company 100 miles would have been on the menu. Tomorrow I hope to do 60 miles with a club member.

Hate When That Happens

My trunk mount rack upper straps broke with my Stratus mounted doing 65 mph. I looked in the rear view mirror expecting to see my bike rolling down the highway. I couldn't see it. I pulled over and found my bike still strapped to the rack being dragged by the bottom 2 straps. The 2 arms supporting the bike acted as a skid plate and were ground down about an inch. The only damage was a broken mirror and a bent derailer. The rack is over 10 yrs old and the straps were dry-rotted. Fortunately the straps were long enough to tie the broken ends together. I reversed the upper with the lower and hobbled home safe and sound. Very lucky!!

Ground down arm

Broken straps tied together