Weekend in the Country

My friend of 20 years, who I met in College, came out to visit. We wanted to breathe some different air, get some excercise and take a few pictures in the country so we drove up to Litchfield County Connecticut where we have a place to stay.

Saturday we head out for a bike ride. We heard about an old railroad line converted to bike trail running from New York State up into Massachusetts so we rode over to nearby Amenia, N.Y. to get on the HVRT.

Turns out it’s paved perfectly smooth and better for road bikes. I guess we were thinking they just pulled up the old R.R. tracks and said have at it but this is a well laid path. It’s nicer than a suburban street; perfectly flat and straight. Not much for a mountain bike ride, but then again, just perfect for our first ride in a while. (I haven’t been on my bike since I broke my finger which hasn’t healed.)

Occasionally, Rob would contort himself into an awkward position, concentrating hard on taking the perfect picture. Meanwhile I was more concerned with my butt that hadn’t felt a minimalistic kevlar and titanium bicycle seat in a while.

After 20 miles on paved flats I was missing the thrill of “mountain” biking but my body was probably glad for the gentle course our first day out. I’m not going to list my age again.. over-the-hill…. but I still enjoy trials the most. It seems once you learn a trackstand, it’s like learning to ride a bike… I hopped onto a picnic bench and recalled the good ol’ days. [Trials is when you grab the brakes tight, come to a complete stop and while balancing upright, lift the front or rear tire up onto something, and then up, onto and over. Never moving more than intended; the wheels rarely turn. In trials riding guys hop from rock to rock or climb a pile of stacked up timbers. California is where I learned it and the only 'scene' I was ever a part of.
One fateful night in Golden Gate Park, I was fortunate to get some pointers from one of the founders of Mountain Biking and I'm glad to know I haven't lost it.]

Dutchess County, New York.