Category Archives: Rides

Articles pertaining to rides.

by Toni | June 11, 2011 · 12:00 pm

Camping: The Hill to Thompsons Lake

This weekend was the ABC camping trip to Thompsons Lake. It was a Friday to Sunday affair, but today I am just going to focus on the ride up to the campsite.

Disclaimer: I am a commuter; I like to ride to places. I am not the type of person who can just go out and ride big loops, just to ride. I ride to the library or Hudson River Coffee house, and sometimes even to my work when I am feeling energetic. I hate hills. I avoid going down State Street like no tomorrow, and when I am leading a ride with ABC you know I won’t take you up a hill if I can help it. I am also a slow rider; someone who isn’t in a rush and likes to enjoy the ride.

Now, that you know where I am coming from you can imagine the terror that filled me when everyone wanted to ride up to Thompsons Lake. It involves not just hill, but what I would call a small mountain. There was no way around it; I was going to have to ride up Thatcher Park Road. My only other choice was to drive up, and while there were people who did drive up to go camping with us, I just couldn’t do it. Therefore, I had to make it up the mountain on my pretty little bike.

For courage I bought some gloves so my hands wouldn’t hurt as bad and a new jersey that I thought I looked cute in. Going on this ride with me was Claire, aka Mom, and without her I don’t think I would have made it. Google maps says it takes 2 hours by bike to make it up to Thompsons lake. Maybe for someone who like hills, not for someone like me. So we left early, like 3 o-clock, since I knew it was going to take me forever. Ken who still had to leave was going to leave at five, and I knew I might not make it before dark if I left at five.

So off we went, heading towards the small mountain in the distance. We passed through Voorheesville, and we hit a small hill, which to me was torture. My goal was to make it up without walking. I did that, but I did have to stop. All that was running around in my head was “that really wasn’t even a big hill.” It was just a small one to get my blood going. It took some time, but then we were there at the bottom of Thatcher Park Road. We were standing there talking so I could rest and try to get my courage up.

To be completely honest standing at the bottom, I didn’t think I could make it up that hill. I had seen others go up it, and I really thought that they were crazy. It just wasn’t on my to-do list or even can-do list. Yet, I made it that far and had to keep going. Off we went. I knew that this was going to be hard. At the very beginning there was a jogger heading up the hill and I tried to keep up with him. I kept my pace, and then he took two steps in front of me leaving me behind. Claire passed me and kept pace with the jogger. Seeing her go up the hill was inspiring. I thought maybe I could do this.

My eyes stayed on her backpack as I slowly climbed. Finally I had to stop and take a breath along with some water. Then back on my bike I went. I focused on each telephone pole and mail box. Bit by bit I made it along. When I needed to stop, I stopped. I didn’t get discouraged or feel rushed. I had friends above me on the mountain and Ken below me who hadn’t left yet. My goal was to not get passed by him. Finally, I saw Claire waiting for me next to a turn off to make sure that I went the right way. I stopped and relaxed for a moment while she spoke on the phone to Bert and John who were already at the campsite. I really needed that moment of just standing there. It kept me on my feet. That break did turn into a pit stop as I waited for my heart to stop pounding. Then off we went again heading towards the park and the lookout.

Getting to the lookout where I could see the starting point was awesome. I felt like I could do almost anything. Staring out over Albany, and knowing that I got up there by bicycle was something that everyone who rides should experience. I understood why people would ride up that freaking hill, and that they weren’t crazy; just really really smart. The rest of the ride to the campsite was awesome. I was tired but filled with joy. Bert and John rode out to meet us, the laughing and talking really kept me going. We had to stop to take photos at the sign to the Thompson’s Lake and I believe that part of me was in shock. I couldn’t believe that I actually made it up there on my bicycle.

It was awesome, and I thank everyone who has helped me get to that point. Especially, Claire who would tell me stories as we rode so I had something to think about besides how far we still had to go.

Written by Toni Cameron

1st Friday Ride

What do fish, flowers, batman and really good food have in common? An awesome 1st Friday Ride.

This months 1st Friday Gallery Ride turned out to be pretty awesome. The weather was perfect for the whole ride from the start at the monument to the very end. We had an interesting group of riders with Chris and I at the helm. I totally wanted to check out the gallery at Dave Jones Locker along with the fish. So that was our first stop. The trip downDelawarewas nice. I love seeing those Sharrows on the road. It gives me hope thatAlbanyis going to keep moving forward as a bike friendly city.

Dave Jones had a really cool exhibit of NYC buildings painted on what seemed to be the side of old building’s brick facades and shutters. It was a really cool concept as far as I was concerned. From there were headed down to Lark toUAG. They had a really colorful flowers show and an awesome flower piece made out of the hubs of bicycles. Next was EBA Dance Theatre which had really colorful paintings of emotion. After that we headed down Lark to Central to New York Expressive Art where there was a very cool Batman painting.

At that point a discussion of where to go to dinner broke out. After riding around to a few different places, one was too pack, another closed, we finally ended up back on Lark & Spring at Kinnaree. Kinnaree was fantastic, if you are on Lark and want some Thai, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese food you have to check it out. It was one of my best meals inAlbany. Everyone in our group loved it. I can’t wait for a chance to stop in for another great meal. It ended the ride the perfect way with everyone full and in a great mood.

Written by Toni Cameron

Bike Expo – Success!

Albany Bicycle Coalitions 1^st ever Bike Expo was a success. Despite having a tall stack of obstacles stacked against us we did pull it off. We took over a parking lot down at the Corning Preserve and had a great time. The Hudson River Coffee House came down, selling some very good coffee and bake goods. The Downtube also came down selling different wares, and helping some people out with some last minute bike repairs before the ride. They also brought down a Brompton, letting people take it for a spin down the trail. That was one awesome bike. ABC held a 50/50 raffle and the winner Claire donated her winnings back to ABC. Thanks Claire!

The Bike Expo was the first even that had ABC, NYBC, and the Mowhlak Hudson Cycling Club all in one spot. Everyone had a great time on the different rides, and the weather was perfect for the day. I just want to give a shout out to everyone who helped make this event a success! Thanks Again!

Written by Toni Cameron

1 Comment

Filed under Comings and Goings, Rides

by Toni | February 8, 2011 · 1:03 pm

1st Friday Ride – Great Weather

Last Friday was a great 1st Friday ride. The streets were rather clear of snow, it wasn’t too cold in the beginning and the weather was great for the beginning of February. The meetup started at the monument at 6pm, which is normal, but the snow banks around the monument we not. Then again if your always downtown and see the massive piles of snow bigger than cars, it might be normal.

Three of us, Claire, Ken and I (Toni), hung around talking and we were joined by Jim. We stayed there till 6:30 getting cold and waiting to see if anyone else was going to join. At that point we decided to head to Broadway Arts Center, which meant going down the ‘hill’. The hill is State street which normally isn’t bad, but for one I hate that hill and two the slush on the road just sucked on State. We all made it safely to the bottom and checked out some very nice pieces at BAC. I particularly enjoyed the painting in the back room that had a cyclist in it. It caused a lot of where is waldo jokes around around for the night, except waldo in this case is a cyclist in the any kind of artwork.

After BAC we went to the Albany Center Gallery. The show was rather interesting with a mix of cute paintings and artwork by Radical. From there were headed up to Lark and picked up a cyclist who was heading home. After the ride down Lark we headed to Davey Jones Locker which had a great showing. The fish are always really cool, and I love looking at the sea horses. The art show was really great. I actually saw a few pieces that I might decide to purchase.

Once, everyone was ready to head out we went to the Wine-n-Diner for dinner and the show. Dinner was awesome. It was my third time there and I have it down what to get. I recommend the hummus appetizer and the Hawaiian burger. Both are great. Dinner was the last stop on the ride and from there we all went home, by that point it had gotten rather cold out. So, yeah it was an awesome 1st Friday ride. Good art, good conversation, great riding and great food. I hope to see ya’ll next month.

Written by Toni Cameron

Critical Mass – Extended Version – Better Late Than Never Edition

Critical Mass last week was just the beginning of a much longer ride. We started at the monument and rode around Washington park with a four-year-old in lead. His dad was riding a big bike that kept getting glances and cheers from kids all over the park. Once, we exited the park we headed up some side streets towards UAlbany. We ended up turning down Ontario, then back on to Western heading down to Lark. All along the way we drew looks and cheers from pedestrians, it was great. On Lark we lost a few riders, but it a group of seven continued on. From Lark we went on a sharrow tour, down Delaware up New Scotland, before heading back towards Western, before ending Critical Mass at Dunkin Donuts on Madison.

That was just the ten miler beginning.

We relaxed and chatted at Dunkin Donuts for a few, while waiting for another rider to join us on, a Full Moon Ride. Once, the five of us were ready off we went down to the bike trail, heading towards Troy. Downtown near the river was busy as heck as live music and fireworks went off. Once, we left the crowds behind the moon was the main event. The harvest moon lit up the sky, and it was an awesome site. The weather was perfect as we rode to Troy.

Once in Troy, we headed to Brown’s for some dinner and relaxation. Little did we know that this was just phase two of the ride.

We hung out at Brown’s for awhile, eating good food, when the conversation came up, “Do we want to just go back the way we came or take the scenic route?” Everyone agreed to take the scenic route up the rail trail. The rail trail was very cool and we got to go through 3 tunnels which were slightly creepy. This part of the ride was interrupted by a flat tire. Once, the tube was changed out off we went. We took the rail trail to Latham, where we left it before it hit GE. We hopped onto another bike trail near British American Blvd to Sand Creek, then down a side rode to cross over Central. From there we headed towards the dump and hopped on another bike trail that let us out onto Fuller road near the Pine Bush. We took Fuller to Western Ave, which was where the ride finally broke up, the four night riders going our separate ways.

Overall, it was a great ride, and I had no idea half the bike paths we went on. One, I speak to the ride leader, I will update with the names since it was late and I can’t remember. It was my longest ride at 42.3 miles and it was awesome.