Bike Trips: New York City: July, 2000

Roger Kenner
Montreal, Qc,
Canada 2000

Beginnings

Click on photo to enlarge
(Taken en route: July 2000)

Starting Out: Monday July 17 07:00	Ending up: Battery Park: Day 7: 16:30

• Thoughts at the End of the First Day:

  I wrote the following as I sat at supper at the end of the first day of my adventure. It pretty well sums up the feelings I had going into this trip:

  I sit here in Gus's Red Hots, at Cumberland Head Road & Route 9, in Plattsburgh, at the end of the first day of my ride. Today has gone very well, all things considering. I was very, very worried about my knees and ankles and, so far, thank the Lord, they have held up. I was very spooked by last year's experience, when I had to abandon my ride at the middle of the second day. My knees feel better now than they did at the end of that first day, after my marathon ride from Montreal to Granby. I was also worried about getting across the border, and that passed without incident. I could have done without some of today's rain, but I'll have to take it in stride - the weather is not something we can control.

• The Idea

  The idea for this trip was hatched in March of '99, as I was walking on the Brooklyn Bridge and noticed the cyclists. I thought to myself at the time, "Some day I'd like to cycle across this bridge!"

  Click on photo to enlarge
  (Postcard)

  Famous Pier by Brooklyn Bridge

   

  Over the Spring of this year, as I was thinking of where to take a bike ride, I considered routes where Sheryl, my dear wife, might be able to come along. The notion of a leisurely ride to New York, one with no time pressure, began to take shape in my mind. I checked out the map and found the route along the east side of Lake Champlain, to Whitehall, at the bottom of the Lake, to be relatively flat. Thus I could avoid the Adirondack Mountains through which goes my usual car route on I-87. From Whitehall to the Hudson River is the Champlain Canal, which I also figured would have to be more or less flat. Then there is the valley of the Hudson. How flat the route will actually be remains to be seen. I've noticed, for example, some minor mountain passes, especially approaching U.S. Hwy 4 near Whitehall.

• The Plan, in detail

  (Written at the end of the first day)

  The plan is to take 8 to 10 days - I've already come to Plattsburgh. Tomorrow I will ride to Port Kent (with one "killer hill") and take the ferry over to Vermont. This first leg of the trip, as far as Burlington, is known to me, for I had made the trek back in the Summer of 1993. From Burlington, I plan to ride south on Rte 7, as far as Vergennes and then take Rte 22A south over the New York border, to connect with U.S. Hwy 4. I'll follow 4 along the Champlain Canal, to Hudson Falls.

  Click on photo to enlarge
  (AAA NY State Map 2000)

  Overview: Montreal to Chimney Point	Overview: Chimney Point to Ft. Ann

   

  Whatever the route then, I'll follow the Hudson. Sheryl should join me on day 2 or 3, and we will go in tandem.

  Click on photo to enlarge
  (AAA NY State Map 2000)

  Overview: Ft. Ann to Germantown	Overview: Germantown to West Point

   

  Click on photo to enlarge
  (AAA NY State Map 2000)

  Overview: West Point to Battery Park

  At West Point, I'll (God Willing) cross over to the west side and go down along the Pallisades to the George Washington Bridge. I'll come into northern Manhattan that way.

• Preparation

  As soon as I got back from Vancouver, on the 29th of June, I started cycling every morning for one hour. I got up at 5:30 and was out by 6:15 or so. I would cycle down to the Lighthouse in Lachine and back. On workdays, I cycled to Ville St. Pierre, and then back in along the Lachine Bikeway. In this way, I still got my one hour of cycling in. I am sure this will contribute to whatever chance my knees have of making it all the way. In total, I did 10 trips to Lachine and 8 trips to work. On the last weekend, I road with a load on my bike.

  Click on photo to enlarge
  (Taken en route: July 2000)

  Training: Riding to the Lachine Lighthouse

   

  Sheryl made me some special healing oil to rub on my knees and ankles, which both started to pain as I started training.