Pedaling Around Fort Collins and Beyond

Riding Loveland's Recreation Trail Loop.

My 10-day May vacation in Colorado was primarily visiting our number one son. This year, my husband drove out west, toting our mountain bikes so we could ride easy dirt trails in comfort. I often have problems with elevation, so I gracefully altered intense workouts with Fort Collins's easier and extensive trail network, many along rivers, parks, wetlands, and canals. Like last year, I rode my son's Specialized St. Laurent in the city.

A loop in Red Mountain Open Space. The Ruby Wash (lower right photo) was particularly challenging to navigate deep sand - thankfully, it was downhill, revealing a change in the landscape around each corner.

Springtime in the high desert is stunning. While parched and hot as early as June, I'm glad I came earlier this year. The open spaces steal my heart.

The Dams Loop is a training ground for various organized rides.

Our son mentioned we should ride The Dams Loop early on, but with the elevation gain - especially for flatlanders like us - I wasn't sure I could do it. After several days riding, drinking lots of water, and generally feeling good, I proposed that we should try it. I knew I was the weak link, standing in the pedals, taking breaks along with my husband to catch our breath, and despite the ferocious head and side winds, we made it! What beautiful views!

Curt Gowdy State Park in Wyoming, a real gem of trails snaking through aspen groves, pines, and around smooth granite rock formations. We barely touched the network of available trails. 

One afternoon we went on a bicycle brewery tour, organized by long-time friend, Rich. 

Downtime included relaxing at our son's house, walks, and ball throwing with big dog Doughnut, 

cycling for errands, scoring 12 oz 6-pack of delicious double IPA (bought solely due to the label art), and walking to a Food Truck rally. I helped out by weeding their overgrown front beds while enjoying wild bunnies that graze lawns, and my husband mowed the lawn. I particularly enjoyed long conversations with our niece, who joined their household in December. 3 people (son & girlfriend) plus dog and two cats who don't get along make for a complicated household! My husband and I camped in a nearby KOA.

We connected with cousin Kerry in Boulder, who led a fun-filled tour of Boulder Creek Trail, famed Pearl Street, and climbed to views of the Flatirons mountains. Compared with Fort Collins, Boulder is hilly!

Our accommodations for a week. I slept well!

Oh, Fort Collins and surrounding environs, I love you so...I'll be back.

Coffeeneuring 2021 - Fifth Cup at Rossetti Natural Area Beach

A heart made with leaves - my son's idea - embracing a Powell's Books mug.

Still autumn color, though waning, from the local lookout. My son and I gravitated to this spot when we mountain bike on local trails then reconvened on the beach for tea.

Oaks and beech trees provide a colorful beach backdrop.

Even a cell phone camera paints me in a new light (ha, had to say that!). Such fun selfies. :)

Love the sand divots.

My mountain bike loving son, always game for a bike ride. It was his idea to visit this spot.

My son's art contribution.

Gazing west - oh, the Adirondacks so clear on the horizon!

Art for art's sake

I'm surprised that November's weekend weather has provided ample opportunity for coffeeneuring! On the heels of solitary sipping and big miles on the Dahon, the next day I grabbed my mountain bike for more local exploration and relaxing on a quiet beach. For the second time I've noticed that the lighting on this north-facing beach lends itself to stellar selfies and an interesting vantage of the Colchester Causeway and New York's Adirondacks. And I always welcome our 19 year old's attendance - twice, so far  - who embraces coffeeneuring, especially when mom brings an extra mug.

The Place: Rosetti Natural Area Beach
Date: Sunday, November 7
Drink: Chai Tea
Observation: Another perfect day!
Total Miles: 10

2018 Rewind

The Minuteman Bikeway, barely snow-free in January.

2018 was a year of discovering new trails and spending time with family - sometimes both aligned to create magical moments.

It all started in January...
After a long hiatus off the bike, a winter thaw coincided with a company party in Boston, which opened up a wonderful opportunity to revisit the Minuteman Trail.

The winter bike.

February was bittersweet, losing my gracious, endearing mother-in-law, yet I witnessed how her children came together to honor her long life. I also began commuting to work again, discovering that linking dry neighborhood streets and back roads in lieu of snowy/icy bike paths opened up possibilities.

March and April dumped the most winter snow, yet I persevered through a rash of unexpected flat tires, completed the Errandonnee, spruced up a rusty Peugeot frame, and thought about what I'd hoped to accomplish in 2018.

Sinking my toes into Coney Island sand.

May, by far, satisfied my wanderlust, plus opened up new experiences by traveling with our eldest son on Amtrak to New York City. We spent 5 whole glorious days riding, exploring, eating, and realized we were great traveling companions!

My husband on the Nashua River Rail Trail.

In June I sold a beloved, but little used Miyata 610 touring bike, then looked ahead at how the Dahon could fit my current lifestyle. Attending a wedding also provided an opportunity to explore two new-to-us New Hampshire rail trails.

Ferries on Lake Champlain open up riding loops between Vermont and New York.

July, August, and September - July and August particularly - were the hottest months ever recorded in Burlington so I spent lots of time in the water, and joined an open water swim club - albeit too late to improve much - but it's a sport I aim to continue in 2019. However, I also spent time with my husband in Canada along with my annual pilgrimage with Adele exploring Canadian back roads. I also shared a beloved 3-ferry loop ride, twice, yet with two different friends completing the loop in opposite directions to keep the route fresh.

Revisiting the Lachine Canal.

October and November were filled with Coffeeneuring rides and I discovered the antidote to keeping the challenge fresh this year: using a thermos for impromptu rides and quiet, contemplative resting spots. It was also a refreshing change to coincidentally open the challenge along Montreal's Lachine Canal. My family and I also tried out our first e-bike: a Rad Mini.

A crisp, clear winter afternoon on the Colchester Causeway.

Winter weather came early this year, but switching to the winter bike means I continue to commute when I'm confident with road conditions. In addition, I'm learning to push my limits, with occasional pleasure rides that are surprisingly punctuated with sublime, spectacular views.

Conclusion
I failed to complete even one official bike overnight in 2018 (outside of simple but fulfilling forays at our nearby camp) and have given up on the challenge of riding all of Colchester's public roads. Spending meaningful time with my mom has filled the gaps on weekends, and I stayed close to home, rounding out any "free time" with our children and my husband. I immensely enjoyed and lived vicariously through Rootchopper's frequent blog posts as he crossed the country by bicycle. As I age, I'm increasingly thankful for the role that bicycles play in my life, whether for solace, commuting, or exploring - bikes take me where I need to go.

Exploring NYC by Bicycle - Parting Thoughts

A small selection of cream cheese varieties available at Bagel World in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Oreo cream cheese, really?

A small wheeled or folding bike as a NYC/big city commuter
A folding bicycle saves on space in apartments, has low step-over for easier on/off or wearing skirts, threads around vehicles (parked in the bike lane) due to quicker turning radius and narrower handlebars. Granted, 20" wheels roll sightly slower than traditional bicycles - noticeable, keeping up with my son - but not enough to discount the positive aspects. Grip shifting is easy to use and was a perfect compliment to the inclines/descents of the bridges. For me it was the perfect alternative to my regular commuter bike. An as an aside, I've been eyeballing a non-foldable 20" wheel bike because this might be an alternative for a city dweller who's concerned about storage. Needless to say, I would take my Dahon on a train again!

Types of bikes used as transportation
During our 5-day stay, we noticed that of the bicycles ridden, 50% are e-bikes, mainly by delivery people, and the other 50% of human-powered vehicles are comprised of bike share and all other types of bikes. I am impressed with how common it is to see bike share in use - the blue bicycles stand out mainly because of the blinking tail light.

Habits and etiquette
It is common for all bike riders to weave around autos and trucks double-parked or/in a bike lane. It was unnerving at first, not knowing whether vehicles approaching from behind would allow riders the chance to zip into their lane and back again, but there seemed to be a certain unsung etiquette among drivers that gave us the right of way. I wonder if the sheer numbers of riders had anything to do with the drivers' manners or because we were also riding about the same speed. We also noticed a distinct lack of hand signals with cyclists and 50% or less wear helmets. And those red traffic signals? Look both ways and if clear, keep right on trucking!

Infrastructure
NYC uses lots of paint! Sharrows and bike lanes are commonplace with bike boxes (designated space for cyclists to advance/stop ahead of automobiles at traffic lights). One-way roads typically place the bike lane on the left side of the road, allowing better visibility for drivers (we presume). It was odd to navigate at first, but made sense once we adjusted and joined the other riders. On the occasion where we rode on unmarked one-way roads, it was difficult to determine where we should be.

Keeping travel bags light

This being my first experience carrying baggage on my folder, I packed light, but tech heavy. I carried a phone, tablet, camera, and laptop. My son didn't bring a tablet, but his load was heavier, lugging his heavy laptop and DSLR camera. I carried minimal clothing, using a small duffel bag strapped to rear rack while my son used two panniers. We both carried backpacks for additional space that also doubled to carry gear on daily adventures. Either way, we only lugged full loads three times: 5 miles to Amtrak station at the beginning of our trip, then 7 miles each direction from Penn Station to our accommodation.

Exploring NYC by Bicycle - Taking Advantage of a Nice Day

Our riding companions: my Dahon and my son's Peugeot, on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Our first full day in the city was on a Friday and with inclement weather forecast for the weekend, we set out on an ambitious loop, knowing we could recover later.

First stop was on the Brooklyn Bridge, a personal favorite, for it's historical significance and for it's amazing engineering during construction. After reading David McCullough's The Great Bridge a few years ago, I particularly enjoy soaking in the ambiance high above the East River and imagine what it was like in the 1860's and how much Brooklyn and Manhattan has since changed.

The Bridge is not for the faint of heart. As a pedestrian and/or cyclist it's very crowded and though there are separator markings on the wooden planks, it's a sea of humanity. My son loves to use his DLSR, but I had to remind him to keep his backpack on and not leave it unattended near his bike.

A NYPD helicopter patrolling the East River passes by the bridge.

Looking up at one of the archways.

The presence of all the cables, wood, and steel plus the cacophony of traffic below reminds me of the importance bridges play in transporting everyone between New York City's boroughs.

A view of nearby Manhattan Bridge and jet-skiers zipping on the river. Despite the love/difficult relationship with the Brooklyn Bridge for pedestrian/cycling transit, the Manhattan Bridge was growing on me, both for efficient river crossing (cycling and pedestrians are on separate paths) and for it's architecture.

As an aside, when my son and I descended the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, he said, " I could see myself living here." There's an energy in NYC, for sure, that appeals to young people. I wonder if he'll still have the same impression at the end of our stay.

My son obliged me a ride around Central Park, but not before stopping off at 368, Casey Neistat's (a YouTuber) new place. However, the first floor was still papered off and we couldn't see anything, not to mention know what to say should we run into him. Much like The Lumineer's music, which I dearly love, our children introduce us to some interesting generational art, not to mention current technology - that we then ask them to keep it running!

Another foray: stopping at BH Photo & Videos, a well-known resource for anything digital. My tech-oriented son walked out with a GoPro. Guess who will be filming the rest of our trip?

Central Park is a roller coaster! We climb and descend for most of the loop. It proved to be a personal letdown, but my Dahon was  fast on the descents, passing 10 people at a clip. Who knew a small wheeled bike could prove to be winner?

My son has added a wonderful dimension to this trip. For most of the day he happily navigated and led us around by Google Maps, but then became frustrated when it failed to pinpoint BH Photo. It was then that I pulled out the trusty paper NYC Bike Map and got us to the store. Another aspect has surprised me: our normally cautious child has been assertive, mostly leading, weaving around vehicles parked in the bike lane, showing a confidence in being 19 years old. Or, he wants us to not look and act like toursists (stop pointing mom!). More than once though, I remind him about the real possibility of dooring so is aware of potential danger. I proudly follow him, but with a mother's concern.

Chelsea Market.

We exit Central Park after a 3/4 loop and head to the West Side Trail along the Hudson River. We were tired of slow progress on the avenues and this trail was a brilliant alternative, and soon we were in Chelsea and walked a few blocks of the High Line, Manhattan's elevated park, filled with gardens integrated with track rails, benches, and cement walkways - a very unique place - while also searching for decent food. We'd been hungry for sometime, so my son located a highly rated taco place in nearby Chelsea Market.

Los Tacos No.1.

Watching ladies create homemade corn tortillas at Los Tacos No.1, we ordered and gobbled two tacos each, both proclaiming we'd eaten the best tacos ever!

We spied a Vanmoof bike -recognizable by the extended top tube with integrated lights - on the street. Once a Kickstarter project that we'd heard about, it appears the company is up and running, including a brand store in Brooklyn.

We couldn't resist visiting a Tesla showroom - you just never know what you'll stumble across - which turned into 20 minute discussion, luxuriating in white leather seats.

Heading crosstown on the way "home" with a stop at Dough Doughnuts - thanks again to my son's research - I couldn't help but photograph a building using nothing but windows on the exterior. Like many other tall buildings in Manhattan, there's an interesting architectural mix of styles plus there's evidence of vast construction projects currently underway in west mid-town (more eclectic architecture), east near the Manhattan Bridge ,and in Brooklyn.

My son carries 4 huge donuts on his rack.

By then we'd learned to  head towards the perimeter trails to make tracks, and used the East Side trail to bring us toward the Manhattan Bridge.

Interesting lighting at 6:30 pm. on the Manhattan and distant Brooklyn Bridge..

East side trail.

A stop beneath the Manhattan Bridge.

The Dahon is proving to be a comfortable bicycle. We rode close to 30 miles. Other than watching  out for potholes - small wheel's potentially having more trouble than standard size wheels - the ride is zippy, smooth, and the existing saddle that came with the bike is a winner.

Google Maps representation of our 30 mile ride.

An observation about Manhattan and Brooklyn's on-street lanes and traffic concerns
Compared with Burlington's dusty, debris-filled lanes, the paths in New York City are clean and in better condition. One-way roads have bike lanes on the left side, allowing better visibility for drivers (I presume). It was odd at first to ride to the left, but we quickly adjusted. And interestingly, the city has embraced cycling culture: there are  lanes, paths, or sharrows on most roads, a real testament to NYC's commitment to bike commuters. Auto traffic is generally cautious - there are so many riders on various styles of  bikes, including e-bikes and folders that we instantly fit in, often lining up at a traffic light with 4-5 other riders. I'm impressed with how cycling in a huge city can feel safe, given the right infrastructure.

Acadia National Park - Riding More Carriage Roads

Wild daisies are abundant in June, good companions on a solo ride up Day Mountain.

I didn't get enough of riding Acadia National Park's carriage roads last year, so we returned in June, spending 3 nights tenting at rustic Blackwoods Campground, located within the park.

A short family ride to explore Cobble Beach, I loved the challenge to balance these interesting Cadillac granite spheres, whereas our children discovered that if you tossed them they ricocheted as if in a giant pinball game.

Our teenagers are typical Wifi lovers so our compromise for being unplugged for a few days would be later balanced with hotels and "civilized" camping as we traveled further south in Maine. And as such, the expectation was that the entire family would spend part of every day together, with ample teenage downtime to sleep in or veg-out, playing games on their phone. This also allowed my husband and I a less stressful family vacation. We felt comfortable leaving our children alone in the campground for a couple hours so we were free to further explore on our own.

Our teens surprised us on the first day: while we set up the tent our boys rode roller coaster style, exploring both campground loops. Eventually my husband and I joined them and exited the campground via a short wooded trail onto the paved park loop, then we all pedaled along the coast. We discovered unique Cobble Beach, a playground of granite spheres.

Another afternoon, I set out by myself onto the carriage roads, planning to ride until I felt tired. I circled up Day Mountain for lovely views of the Cranberry Isles...

...then descended, forming a loop back to where I started.

Flying with a tailwind beside Bubble Pond.

Acadia National Park has a network of 34 miles of nicely graded carriage roads. Pick a loop and stay totally on car-free roads - a great option for families - or utilize the main park road for additional alternatives. I had unfortunately left a wonderful Acadia map at home, so I was navigating by the basic map given out at the park entrance - totally doable as a reference because signage at every road junction is superb.

Another Bubble Pond view.

I added an additional loop around Bubble Pond then connected with the main park road to start heading back to meet up with my family. However, because of one way roads, I couldn't retrace my route and had to descend nearly 2 miles to ocean level before steeply climbing back to the campground.

Great signage; it would be difficult to get lost in the park.

A beautiful stone bridge, one of 16 built between 1917-1932 in Acadia N.P.

The following afternoon my husband and I started our loop from Jordan House parking lot, preferring to stay on carriage roads rather than repeating the hills I'd pedaled the day before. It was a wise choice. We had a general route picked out, heading along Jordan Pond then following the Around-The Mountain loop, but we didn't obsess about mileage or elevation. We often prefer to head out and let the miles unfold, and just enjoy the scenery.

I leaned over the edge to inspect repairs on the incredible stonework that supports the carriage roads

After we left the busy path around Jordan Pond, the loop climbed, and climbed a fairly easy, but relentless grade. We spun in granny gears for a long time. However, the carriage roads are wonderfully designed to capture panoramic views. If sweeping vistas are not in sight, then wildflowers edge the road, or you cross a bridge, or pedal beside a pond. I was giddy at one point because comparing our elevation, with Cadillac Mountain  (Acadia's high point) across the valley, it appeared we had climbed 2/3 of it's height!

There's never a dull moment on Acadia's paths.

And so, what goes up, must come down, and we glided, enjoying southern ocean views before ascending into a deep valley. Tired, but satisfied, we eventually connected back to our starting point. The full parking lot was starting to empty and we headed back to the campground.

There's a lot to do and see in Acadia, between hikes, boat tours, beach combing, viewing wildlife, island hopping, or exploring coastal villages - all of which we experienced on this trip - but the carriage roads are what set this national park apart from all the others.