Tom McMahon has asked me to post a reminder / update for his annual ride.
Jamie Swan Northport, New York, USA Centerport Cycles Inc. http://www.centerportcycles.com (mapped) http://www.limws.org http://www.liatca.org
Begin forwarded message:
> From: Tom McMahon <myibobemail@aol.com>
> Date: October 5, 2008 6:46:10 PM EDT
> To: James Swan <jswan@optonline.net>
> Subject: Fwd: Another Reminder/Update - The Fifth Annual NYC-area
> iBOB/CR Ruff Stuff Ride!
>
> Jamie,
>
> Thanks for posting the ride to the CR list. Would you mind also
> posting this reminder/update?
>
> Thanks again, and hope to see you and some of the CR gang on the
> ride this year!
>
> All the best,
>
> Tom
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Tom McMahon <myibobemail@aol.com>
>> Date: October 5, 2008 6:42:20 PM EDT
>> To: iBOB bob <internet-bob@bikelist.org>
>> Subject: Another Reminder/Update - The Fifth Annual NYC-area iBOB/
>> CR Ruff Stuff Ride!
>>
>> One week to go! Judging by the responses and inquiries i've
>> received so far, there ought to be a pretty good turnout this
>> year. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather!
>>
>> Again, re MTA passes... Though it's rare that they ever ask to see
>> them, you never know when you're gonna run into an unfriendly
>> conductor, so I'd ugre you to have one. It costs $5, and it's good
>> for life, so it's cheap insurance. If you're not coming to Grand
>> Central and need one, let me know by Thursday and I can pick one
>> up for you.
>>
>> For those of you driving in and intending to meet us at Woodlawn,
>> I have a second option. You can drive to the Yonkers Metro North
>> station, and meet us just a few blocks away on the Yonkers leg of
>> the trail. From Woodlawn, after taking the trail up through Van
>> Cortland and Tibbets Brook Parks, we take a short road detour to
>> pass under the Saw Mill and Cross County Parkways and pick up the
>> trail again on Lamartine Ave in Yonkers, just west of W Broadway.
>> You can meet us on Lamartine at the trail entrance.
>>
>> The main advantage of this option is that, coming come on Metro
>> North, you can hop off the train at Yonkers, get into your car and
>> be on your way. If your car's back at Woodlawn in the Bronx, you
>> have a 5-mile ride from Yonkers to Woodlawn. It's a simple route,
>> but if you'd rather skip it, take the Yonkers option. You'll miss
>> the first few miles of the ride, but the best parts of the trail
>> are north of Yonkers.
>>
>> If you are intending to meet us either at Woodlawn or Yonkers,
>> it'd be a good idea to RSVP, so I'll know to look for you, can
>> give you an approximate timetable, and we can exchange cell phone
>> numbers in case of any delays or anything...
>>
>> As I warned below, really muddy conditions will postpone the ride,
>> as will rain on the ride day. Right now, the forecast looks pretty
>> good for this week, nothing heavy in terms of precip. We'll have a
>> better idea later this week, and I'll post the last update/
>> reminder next Saturday.
>>
>>
>> --Tom
>>
>>
>>
>>> Hey gang, fall is officially here, so it's once again time for
>>> another Fall Classic: the Fifth Annual NYC-area iBOB/CR Ruff
>>> Stuff Ride on the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, on Sunday, October
>>> 12th.
>>>
>>> The OCA trail is a dirt path set atop the 1830's aqueduct that
>>> runs from the Croton Resovoir down to NYC. It's flat, almost all
>>> hardpack and gravel, peaceful and pretty. It runs about 30 miles
>>> long, one way. Lots to see - ruins, mansions, forests, suburban
>>> backyards, Son of Sam's secret seance spot, Sing-Sing Prison,
>>> Sleepy Hollow, the magificent Palisades, and more. Google it for
>>> lots more history, or e-mail me for what little I know.
>>>
>>> The itinerary will be the same as always. We'll meet at 8am at
>>> the info kiosk in the center of Grand Central Station, then take
>>> a 30-40 minute ride on the IRT 4 subway to Woodlawn Station in
>>> the Bronx. We'll pick up the trail in nearby Van Cortland Park,
>>> and start heading north. We'll grab some lunch to-go at a deli in
>>> Ossining, and carry it up the trail another 5-6 miles (bring bags
>>> or a musette), until we literally hit the wall at Croton Dam
>>> Park. There, we'll picnic a while, and later head back down the
>>> trail back to Ossining or maybe Tarrytown for the Metro North
>>> train back to Grand Central.
>>>
>>> Equipment? Though it's far from "technical" MTBing, there are
>>> scattered rough spots and scree patches, some exposed roots and
>>> loose branches tossed about, and a lotta curb hops - so a set of
>>> reasonably chubby tires are a good idea. Other than that,
>>> anything goes - road, 'cross, MTB, new stuff, old stuff, one gear
>>> or 30...whatever works for ya.
>>>
>>> The pace? Social. The trail is actually designated as a NY State
>>> Park; shared with hikers, dog walkers, runners, and even the
>>> occasional equestrian. It's by no means crowded, but if you're
>>> looking to hammer, you'll get frustrated fast. That, and the
>>> flurries of street crossings, pretty much keeps things together.
>>> No one gets dropped. Also, since the trail runs pretty much
>>> parallel to Metro North's Hudson Line, there are lots of entry/
>>> exit options available. We're never more than a few miles from a
>>> railroad station. You oughta have a $5 MTA bike pass (on rare
>>> occasions, the conductor asks to see it). If you don't have one
>>> you can purchase onw at GCT earlier that morning.
>>>
>>> It's always a good time, and I'm sure that tradition will
>>> continue. Note - heavy rains that leave the trail really muddy
>>> will cause postponement. I'll post any updates here.
>>>
>>> Hope to see you there!
>>>
>>>
>>> Tom McMahon
>>> New York City
>>>
>>> =
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