Cycling The Big Apple

New York City -- It's amazing how fast I re-adjusted to cycling in Manhattan. I biked about 30 mile sfrom Rockland County to the George Washington Bridge, then biked across the bridge's north sidewalk to 179th Street in Upper Manhattan.

That's when everything sped up. Cars, taxis, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles == they're all coming and going in controlled chaos.

Yet, my cycling instincts kicked in and I biked down Riverside Drice to 72nd Street and then kept my hands on my brakes as I pedaled down 11th Avenue and cut across the Manhattan Island on 32nd Street to my friend Gary's apartment clear across Manhattan on 1st Avenue.

I was famished, so I gobbled up an omelette, two buckwheat pancakes and a smoothie to replace the spent calories, strolled around Union Square and the Flatiton Building and returned to Gary's apartment.

Gary signed up at a city parks workout center across the street -- a mere $10 a year for people older than 50, which Gary qualified for very easily.

So, now it's time to get ready for a trip to the Mets' new stadium. Stay tuned for Bicycle Stories photo and video coverage Wednesday.

Eiffel Tower Coverage

Bicycle Stories correspondent Bridget sends these two Eiffel Tower photos. No bikes. But very cool photos.

The Bridges of Bear Mountain

The Mighty Bear


The new walking bridge.


The Rt 9W bridge

Bicycling Today With An Old Cycling Pal

Nearly four years ago to the date. I bicycled 158 miles in one day from New York City to Albany to memorialize the life of Middletown, NY cyclist Bill Fox. My bicycle pal Chris O'Connell biked 80 of the 158 miles with me.

Today, I reunited with Chris as we biked 35 miles in the Goshen-Warwick-Pine Island Black Dirt area of Orange County, FL. The route even dipped into New Jersey for several miles befrore we returned to Goshen around 6:30 pm


There's Chris O'Connell cycling in the Pine Island area.


Orange County's famed Black Dirt.






Those onions come from that black dirt.


Bike shop sighting in Warwick.


Chris is zipping into Warwick.


We stopped off at an old historic meat store on the way back to Goshen.


Delish -- pig ears for Fido.

Velo Scenes From France

My spectacular Bicycle Stories correspondent in France, Bridget, sends these fresh bicycle photos from the velo scene. I hear they have a big bike race coming up in France soon.

Cycling the Hudson Highlands

Join me on today's morning bike ride in the Hudson Highlands just south of Cornwall and west of West Point, some 50 miles north of New York City.

Back In The Saddle This Morning

Cornwall, NY -- I was back in the saddle for a 25-miler this morning in the Hudson Highlands just south of Cornwall, about 50 miles north of New York City. Sidelined Sunday because of clammy. wet weather, my legs churned up the big roller-coaster hills along State Road 32 and a parallel road called Smith Clove as I enjoyed the vistas of emerald small mountains being ringed with wispy clouds.



Last night I met several dear friends in New Paltz, a state college town about 75 miles north of New York. And I was lucky anough to catch some lovely light dabbing the Shawangunk Mountains ridge, including the signature Mohonk Tower that's become the symbol for the "Gunks," as they're called.


While in New Paltz at the Gilded Otter microbrewery, I saw a bike lending program in front of the restaurant.


Earlier Sunday before I reached New Paltz, NY, I was at the home of my college pal Bruce and his lovely wide Debra. They cooked up a storm Sunday for lunch -- and it was criminal that I could not put those delicious calories to cycling use by logging a few bicycle miles because of the rainy, wet conditions Sunday afternoon.


Bruce is an architect by trade, and immensely talented artist. He sculpts, does photography and weaves. Here are some of his works.






Bruce and Deb's terrier, Phoebe, is a 6-year-old live wire and very talented. Here, she practices going around the poles for a future competition.


Closeup of Phoebe.


I thought Phoebe's face looked a lot like the Sea Otter mascot for the Sea Otter Classic bicycle race/festival in Monterey. Check out the similarity with the mascot face on my laptop bag.