Sixty Degrees and Sunny

Yesterday was the most beautiful day Westchester has seen in months. So, without any hesitation, I decided to use the sudden warmth as impetus to officially begin a new biking season. One could argue that the most committed and most serious cyclists can spin year-round, but I'll pass. I don't like mud and snow, nor do I like being cold--and that alone is enough to keep me inside a gym, pedaling on a machine to no where. For now, cycling outdoors is 55-degrees-plus or bust.

The trip I took yesterday was somewhat experimental. My sister told me of a little roundabout that I had never thought of, using Rt 119 to connect the Aqueduct and the South County Trail. These two trails frame the hills which separate the saw mill river valley from the hudson valley. I had never thought of joining them together, but I think the revelation is going to change my biking entirely.



The route is 18.66 miles in total, and took about 2 1/2 hours to complete (with two rest stops and some on-foot exploration).

I think this route will become my stock training gig, since I can complete it in only a few hours and I'm extremely comfortable with the first and last leg. Rt. 119 was somewhat of an issue. 119 is a four-lane main drag with hotels, restaurants, and executive parks that connects Tarrytown and White Plains. The traffic is high and there is no shoulder. The sidewalk switches sides four or five times and riding the curb was somewhat harrowing. Rolling hills make up the terrain, and the uphill sprints were a nice addition to the relatively flat rides of the Aqueduct and the South County Trail.

Everytime I bike the Aqueduct to Tarrytown, I have to (HAVE TO) stop at Lyndhurst, if only for a few minutes to drink some water and eat a quick snack. The grounds of the old Jay Gould estate are beautiful and the view of the Hudson is as picturesque as the building itself, which is a beautiful golden-colored gothic revival mansion built in the early 1800s. I can't get enough of this place.



Check out the daffodils that are popping up all over the grounds! The mansion can be seen in the background (sorry, didn't get a closer shot of it on this trip). Spring is really bursting at the seams here in New York, and I can't wait for everything to explode with life in the coming weeks. I'm particularly excited to see how this estate looks in the next few months (its grounds contain the first victorian greenhouse ever constructed in the United States).

Cycling up and over Westchester county into Elmsford to the South Country Trail was, as I said before, challenging but worth it. By the time I reached V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley, I was starting to buck and desperately needed a quick break. Of course, I only take breaks when there's a sight to be seen, and when the right side of my view broke open to reveal a charming little lake with geese and benches, I knew I had found the right place.




I'm not sure if this dam does anything anymore.

When I reached Yonkers, I decided to bike up Cross Hill Avenue, which is the second steepest of the three ascents that reach my hill. First gear, baby! I took a short break at the top for water (trust me, it was necessary) and sprinted the rest home.

All in all, I had an awesome ride yesterday. The weather was great, the sun was very strong (I got a little sunburnt!) and everyone I encountered seemed delighted to be spending their day outside. I'd say it was the perfect start to a long and beautiful season! Stay tuned for more updates about my cycling journeys, and thanks for reading.