Day 1

Single speed overnight

I started off my ride from my apartment in Hackensack to meet a friend at rei in Paramus where we work for a pre adventure breakfast. 

We got some sandwiches from our favorite breakfast spot, and ate them behind a Dairy Queen which wasn't open yet. We discussed our aspirations for adventure before I set off. 

I was a bit nervous of completing the ride with just a backpack because in the past I've always used racks and such to your with. I have a race coming up in two weeks and I thought it would be a cool way to train to ride my racing bike with a heavy pack to get ready for it. 

I took a few brief breaks along the way to sloatsburg New York along the saddlebrook greenway. Not too many though, and before you know it I was entering New York State. The Ramapo mountains looked beautiful this time of year!  

I pushed on until I got to Rhodes tavern on 17A and got some lunch. Rhodes is just up the highway from the Harriman state forest, where the real adventure begins. 

I rode roughly 4 miles into the woods where I got to my favorite spring camping spot at an elevated lake. Even though there was not much snow left in the area, the lake still had a sheet of ice over it. 

I had run over a big piece of broken glass as I entered the woods, but my Stan's tire sealent fixed it right up with only pumping more air in it!  Lifesaver right there!  I set up my eno hammock shelter before dark and collected some firewood for a relaxing evening. 

After a good night of sleep I packed my things back up and set out back home. The weather was beautiful! 

I had a great time, trained my endurance for my race, and got to spend some quality time in nature. I absolutely would do it again! 

Rollin fat in NYC

It was pretty warm out this last Sunday so I decided to take a fat bike ride through the less than plowed bike paths and sidewalks. Connecting my place in Hackensack, nj to Brooklyn, ny was pretty slush and snow covered, making my big tire bike a reasonable choice of vehicle. 

I made my way through back streets, broken sidewalks and cars to get to the George Washington bridge to connect to the NYC Hudson greenway. I followed this all the way down manhattan. 

I saw tons of different people cycling and lots of citibikes.  The intrepid looked awesome in the sunshine. 

I went past battery park and looped manhattan to the Williamsburg bridge. 

The bridge was cool and I love going really fast down the other side of it. 

I stopped by times-up in Brooklyn which is a bicycle co-op. Check them out sometime at www.times-up.org

Also if you go here make sure you get a "cragel" at the local bagel store. They are an excellent twist of bagel and crescent roll dough. So good. 

Went and rode back home across the gwb and made it back before dark to Hackensack. Great ride!

More fatty cross nj pics (scenic views)

Fatty cross nj pics. (End to beginning)