8/30/08: Patterson/Whaley Lake Loop * (15 mi, 1 hr 10 min )

...with some extras (note the map shows me doubling back -- helped link two pair of AT hikers who had gotten separated and couldn't find each other).

Wanted to do a short ride today in prep for a possible 80+ miler to Red Hook and back tomorrow or Monday.

584 miles to date.

Link to route

8/29/08, Pleasant Ridge-Sherman Loop (31.3 mi, 2 hr 20 min)

First time doing this route. And, finally got decent bike jersey (first ever non-Tshirt, real jersey in 27 years of serious riding), shorts, sunglasses, and new sunglasses-mirror (from Pawling Cycle and Sport). Felt very aerodynamic and spiffy.

Link to route

Wed. 8/27/08, Quaker Ridge Loop * (22 mi / 90 min)

Strongest I've felt all year, even was able to power up the final Harmony Hill Rd. / Mt. Tom Rd. combination all the way to the top. I'm wondering if it was the red meat had at Mom's house on Tues night and Wed lunch, first time in months.

Link to route

8/24/08: Sherman-Wingdale Loop (31.3 miles / 2.5 hours)

Including the infamous Kirby Hill Rd., 5 min of barely turning the chainrings in lowest gear.

Link to route

8/21/08: Birch Hill / Quaker Hill Loop (18.6 mi / about 1:45)

Really a tough climb the last half mile or so of Birch Hill Rd. up from 22.

Link to route

466 miles so far this season

So I don't have to calculate it again from the beginning.

Sun. 8/17/08, Millbrook-Dover Plains (50 miles, 4 hours)

With a few breaks. Had a delicious raspberry scone fresh out of the oven at the Best Creations Bakery in Millbrook, the baker said she had picked the berries in her own garden.

Longest ride so far this year. Perfect day, gorgeous weather.


Link to route

Kind of a funny story:

I passed an older rider south of Dover, about here. He was wearing a Siena (Italy) jersey, with a white beard. I greeted him, passed him by and rode on another few miles. Then I saw him again here. He was stopped and looking at a map. I kind of wondered how he had gotten ahead of me, but I don't know that area so well and figured he took some straighter road and passed me. So I rode by him, and rode on a bit farther. I sat down to take a short rest on the steps of the Wingdale Library. He rode up after a
while, and stopped at the intersection of NY 22 and 55 there to look at a map. He looked a bit puzzled so I rode up and asked him if he needed directions anywhere, and he said "to Pawling!", so I offered to ride with him for a while as I was also going that way. We rode together for a few miles along West Dover Road (a beautiful ride), talking. After a while I asked him how he got ahead of me, if he had taken some straighter road, and he said he had no idea since didn't know the area at all. So I jokingly asked him if he had a twin brother wearing the same jersey. He said yes, one of his friends that looks kind of like him was in the same group and in fact wearing the same Siena jersey! So it was in fact two completely different people.

Sun 8/10/08, Quaker Ridge Ride (21 mi / 2 hrs)

Left this out last week.

Link to route

Sat. 8/16/08, Extended local loop (10.5 mi, 1 hr)

Waited out a couple of rainstorms and it got late in the day (did this around 6pm), but a nice ride anyway.

Link to route

August 9, 2008 - Foster Loop (26.7 miles, 2 hrs)

Starting and ending in Putnam Valley. Nice ride, fair # of climbs.

Link to route

Kent loop variation (42.9 mi / 3 hrs excluding breaks)

Beatiful cool summer day, though I did get rained on a few drops. Took a variation on other Kent ride. Bulls Bridge Road going west from South Kent Road climbs over a ridge, worth remembering.


Link to route

Friday 7/25: Close-in loop (9 mi / 42 min) *; Saturday 7/27: Towners-Sherman-Webatuck (39.8 mi, approx 3 hrs)

Close-in loop: Link to route

Towners-Sherman-Webatuck: Link to route. A nice ride but more traffic than I'd like on CT Rte 37. A fair amount of other bikers.

Up and down Quaker Hill (17.7 mi/1:25) *

Two big climbs. Absolutely beautiful out in the late afternoon, though still hot.

Link to map

3.5 hills and a lake (11.3 mi / 50 min)

Legs a bit tired.

link to map

Kent loop 39 miles / 3 hrs

An excellent pain au chocolat at Belgique in Kent.



Link to map

Fri July 11 2008 - Close-in loop (9 mi / 43 min) *

Just the usual, except being chased by a dog then terrorized by a turkey vulture bursting out of some bushes right by the road as I was zooming downhill.

Tuesday July 8, 2008: Down to village and back (6 mi.)

Just for lunch at Mckinney & Doyle, but that hill coming back...

July 7, 2008: Harlem Valley Bike Trail (Amenia-Millerton-Amenia), 16.2 mi

With niece and son. Really a beautiful trail.

Link to trail website

Saturday July 5: Close-in loop 9 mi / 44 m *

Taking it easy on the knees after Friday's 49 miler.

Link to map

Beacon, Beekman, Pawling (49.3 miles / 4 hours)

including a stop at Muddycup Coffeehouse in Beacon. Excellent Chocolate Peanut Butter Coffee Shake.

NY82/Dutchess County 8 (Beekman Rd.) is a nicer route than NY 216 and NY 52, but a fair amount of traffic. Beekman Rd. is freshly paved from 82 to the Taconic.

Link to map


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3 hills & a lake * (11.3 mi / 55 min)

Adding "*" when I end the ride with summitting Mt. Tom.

Link to map

Supermarket / 55 loop (45 min?) , 9.6 miles

Long climb back up NY 55 (1.3 miles then another .5 mi climb to Mt. Tom). I do this one when I have to do a quick shopping trip but have time for a short ride.

Link to map

Saturday June 29 - Quaker Ridge - 20.9 mi, 2 hrs

A lot of climbs on this route, especially South Quaker Hill Rd. from Rte 22. to Mizzentop, then along Quaker Ridge culminating at Meeting House Rd., and of course Mt. Tom as always. 2 hrs because I stopped a few times including at Mckinney & Doyle. Beautiful morning, bit hot.

Link to map

Thursday June 26: Close-in loop 9 mi / 45 min

Close-in loop, twice to top of Mt Tom Rd. 9 mi / 45 min

Again threatening to rain. But even this short ride is a major workout, climbing Mt. Tom via Harmony Hill Rd. (or any other approach), especially going all the way to the top.

Link to map

Close-in loop, twice to top of Mt Tom Rd. 9 mi / 45 min

It was threatening to rain (still is), so kept close to home. It was on top of 90 min of raking, mowing, etc. so that counts as part of a workout...

Link to map


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3 hills & a lake (11.3 mi / 1 hr)

3 hefty climbs...

The embedded map is missing half of the route for some reason, but the above link has it all.


View Larger Map

May 24 - June 6 2008

Sat May 24: Close-in loop 8.1 miles

Sun May 25:
Patterson-22-Village 13.2 miles

Mon May 26: Webatuck and return 24.0 miles

Sun Jun 1: Quaker Ridge Ridge 20.9 miles

Fri Jun 6: Close-in loop + top of Mt. Tom 8.5 miles