Scenic Sunday Ride - Seven Lakes Dr

As I stepped out my door into the humid summer air carrying my bike I thought I must be out of my mind! But, onward I went, loaded the bike onto the bike rack and headed out on what would become my first 20 mile ride. I pulled into the parking area for Lake Skannatati, late, and found my friend (K) in a nice shaded area, waiting. We didn't waste any time, got our bikes ready to go and off we went!

We headed southwest on Seven Lakes Dr, and took the 1st exit at the traffic circle onto CR 106W. We were approaching a lake and I noticed an artist set up on the edge of the lake painting an incredible landscape of what the sign would shortly tell us was Lake Kanawauke. We continued on our adventure and I noticed the lake was filled with Kayakers embarking on their own summer adventures. All I could do was smile! Continuing on and up hill, my friend called out, "Did you see that buck?" I of course was quite focused on getting up the hill and didn't have anything but the top in my eyesight. (TIP: While riding through beautiful scenery, remember to look up every once in a while!!). We made it to Little Long Pond, which has a nice little beach at the far end, and folks were taking advantage of natures swimming pool!

The next leg was a pretty steady incline which eventually came to a spot that overlooked Lake Stahahe. The beauty in making it to the top of a hill is what comes after...a much needed (at least for me) downhill coast!!! As we got to the bottom of the hill, K pulled off so I followed him. He had quite the smirk on his face and pointed up to the highway, "that's the thruway," he said. I had my own smirk and nodded. For those of you who don't know the area, we had two options. One, ride back up the long, windy, hilly road we came down. Or, take RT 17 down, and up its own hills to the other end of Seven Lakes Dr. Of course going back wasn't an option! We finally made it to Seven Lakes Dr, and found a shaded area to pull off for a well deserved break!

As we sat there catching up, our conversation was interrupted by the sound of distant thunder and a dark looking sky coming our way. "Looks like we'll be chasing the storm," I said. "More like the storm will be chasing us," K replied. And just like that, back on the bikes we got! What I didn't know, this part of Seven Lakes Dr. is pretty much one big steady incline. Slow and steady I thought, and I did...and a long while later after passing Lake Sebago, and the other end of Lake Kanawauke we saw signs for the traffic circle! Of course I found a sudden burst of energy at the end of this 20 mile ride, and sped on back to the parking area for Lake Skannatati.

If you aren't familiar with Harriman State Park or Seven Lakes Drive, I would suggest doing some exploring. Be sure to download the free cycling navigation app from Bikepath Country before you go and plan the perfect ride for you.

Bikepath Country App for Android:
Android App

Bikepath Country App for iPhone:
iPhone App

WEEK ONE: HOW DO I FIND A BIKE IN MY PRICE RANGE?

So I've spent the past week biking at the local gym on the stationary, and I think I'm ready to actually buy a bike. Key word- THINK. I haven't owned a bike since I was about fifteen. It was a teal, sturdy, shiny mountain bike- great for careening down flood ditches, not-so-great for actually getting anywhere. Ergo, my preliminary Wikipedia search on 'types of bikes'. I'm mildly overwhelmed. Just as subheadings, there are 3 different ways I can categorize the type of bike I want- FUNCTION, FRAME DESIGN, AND PROPULSION. Then, there's price ranges- according to my first few google searches, I could be spending anywhere from an entry-level $350-$400 on a TOURING BIKE, which I've determined is what I need, to somewhere in the horrifying four digits.

Of course, this is incredible in perspective- my first car, a silver 2001 Honda CR-V with a cassette player and a VERY loud air conditioner determined to blow every important receipt out the window, cost me a solid $9,000 used. Add in the gas I fed that thing weekly, and this is a bargain in comparison- but I'm happy to have an extra $300 at the end of the month to splurge on a new pair of J Brand skinnies, much less buy an adequate bike. Before my next post, I'll be making a trip to the downtown REI to find the bike for me- but first, I'm going to compile what's necessary in a bike and what's not. 

FIRST- MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY THE TYPE OF BIKE YOU NEED. Unless you plan on high-speed chases down Henry St. or attempting to spend next summer touring the Appalachians, you don't need a fancy racing bike or a mountain bike. Cruisers are fine for most commuters- but touring bikes are made to carry more on the bike itself, and distribute the weight more evenly so you aren't dying as you push yourself that last mile from Trader Joe's to your apartment. Make sure you don't buy a touring bike if you never plan on carrying more than what you can fit on your back, and make sure you don't end up with the cutest little red cruiser if you're constantly going to be lugging things. 

SECOND- MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T SWAYED BY THINGS YOU DON'T NEED. In an article on Touring Bikes by John Schubert, he takes a stab at racing tires. 'The racer-wannabees in cycling have an irrational affection for skinny tires. Don’t

let them influence you'. He's right- skinny tires are going to get flying up 2nd Ave faster than sturdier tires, but they aren't going to be able to withstand the printer you strap to your back carriage next March when you move crosstown. On the other hand, Schubert recommends you add fenders to touring bikes that don't already have them. Make sure you don't waste money on things like a fancy-looking back rack that only clips onto the seat, since they can't carry much. Shop around, and make sure you're talking to someone who really cares about you and your bike. 

THIRD- TEST RIDE IT! Don't let anyone convince you to buy a bike before you've test-ridden it, no matter how friendly they seem. My dad never got why I always wore Nikes and my little brother always wore New Balance, but as a runner, I knew- you can't judge a shoe by the brand. Make sure the bike is actually right for you, or you'll have spent a pretty penny for nothing. 

Off to research some more! Ride on, catch ya on the flipside. 

JOURNEY TO A BIKE: FROM FEET TO WHEELS

Since high school, I've been 'the runner'. My little brother and I would get up at the crack of dawn every morning to race through our neighborhood, then I'd usually head back to the treadmills when the sun went down after a long day of school or work, and run again until I could barely walk. I ran marathons in Houston and Galveston, and then a few in New York- but haven't been pounding out footprint rhythms since early May, when I broke my ankle. It was bad enough when I was on crutches, but even when I could walk again I couldn't run. The doctor told me to be as active as I wanted, so long as it didn't involve too much stress on my ankle. It was driving me crazy- my legs felt achy from disuse, I couldn't sleep… then I slept too much. So I decided to talk to the doctor about rehab. He said my ankle was healing fantastically- but a stress fracture from running tends to discourage running in the future. I might get back into 5k's soon enough, but I doubt I'll be running any marathons in the near future… so I'm on the hunt for a bike.

I've started with the stationary bike at my gym, but I live in New York City- where's a better place to have a bike than Queens? It sure beats the bus, and it'll keep me active. So as of 48 hours ago, I've become a future cyclist- and I hope you all get a kick out of following my journey.

Don't just read along, though. Have any particularly wise tips about biking? Recommend one brand or model over another? What's your favorite diet to keep yourself from crashing after a 10-mile ride? Feel free to comment, suggest, and advise- and if you have any questions, feel free to ask those, too. Whether it's something I can already answer or something I'll happily try out to provide the info for you, we can all learn together.

Until next time- ride safely!