Riding in BK

[bklyn]

The last time I really took the bike out for a dedicated ride and not transportation, the last kiss of fall was on the leaves. The air was brisk and my thoughts kept drifting toward the early snowfall in other places. I brought the camera out to focus on the final blast of gold, orange and red.

Leaves still on the trees


On the ground under my wheels


Across the lake there are some nice trails, I'm headed that way


I'm completely covered from the neck down, which I was glad for because it was colder than I thought it would be that morning


The bridle path stretches out ahead


and leads to a little single track


Fast forward to spring. My riding season got a late start because my ski season stretched out and didn't want to let go. I'm overwhelmed by all the green and all the pollen. I took two warm-up laps on the road before searching out my favorite trails


The park workers have been busy blocking the "illegal" to ride trails. I almost smacked straight into the lead rider here. Well not really, but according to her I did. The sound of my brakes and the resulting spray of dirt spooked her horse a bit (well maybe it was me shouting "Oh Shit!). If I die in an accident, my last phrase will be Oh Shit, or Fuuuccck! I suspect if you are riding in the midst of a city of 8 million + people, your horse should not have a 'low startle point'.


More horses. Who's out riding horses on a Tuesday afternoon in Brooklyn?


I find some solitude away from school groups, horses and summer camps by the lake. Tiny flowers and pollen blown off the trees have formed a blanket over some sections.


It's time to leave the park and take on some urban single-track. I'm sure by now '$*#($# riding english @#*@$' has found a park rent a cop to complain to about me riding where I "don't belong" and I'm in no mood to get a ticket. I'm less likely to get a ticket for where I'm going next than in the park. Go figure.




As with any city ride, there are obstacles to be avoided. Double parked cars, drivers who try to clothesline you with their doors and the Funky-Rotten-Stinky / Filthy-Water-Spray duo.




I had forgotten why I long ago removed the water bottle cage, so I put it back on the bike and popped on a water bottle before taking this ride. It was ok sipping during the road laps, but I took a swill after a lap of dirt riding and dry horse shit avoiding about a block before I came upon the garbage truck. So I was gagging on manure dust and then the warm truck scents. Argh. A good ride anyway. Can't wait until things dry out around here to do it again.

[yentna]

Sweet TR! Way to hit in in BK...much prettier than I'd have expected (preconceived notions and all, you know). Nice! (Sucks about the mouthful of manure and dust...eek!)

[rideit]

But you are missing two things to make a proper BK TR:

1: Slice of Pizza somewhere great
2: bindle of PCP in Prospect Park

[bklyn]

But you are missing two things to make a proper BK TR:

1: Slice of Pizza somewhere great
2: bindle of PCP in Prospect Park

You'll have to change your perceptions for the new millennium. It's all about Pad Thai and Yerba Mate now.

After 12 or so miles I didn't think I'd burned enough to merit a slice.

You'd have a tough search to find hard drug dealers in the park, that's why the rent a cops have to go after the troublesome mtn and bmx bikers. It seems road riders are the only ones truly welcomed and I think they've run off the bmx kids completely.

[rideit]

You'll have to change your perceptions for the new millennium. .

so you are saying i would have to go all the way to Ozone park?
Or could I still score on prospect blvd?
Damn changing times....

[truth]

Horseback riding should be banned on public trails. I think it's safe to say we no longer need the horse as a mode of transportation in 99% of situations.

[rideit]

Horseback riding should be banned on public trails. I think it's safe to say we no longer need the horse as a mode of transportation in 99% of situations.

I agree. Everyone should be riding on full bore DH bikes with Monster T's for commuting.

[bklyn]

so you are saying i would have to go all the way to Ozone park?
Or could I still score on prospect blvd?
Damn changing times....

There's no prospect blvd in brooklyn. Looks like you must be shopping somewhere close to where you are now.

[rideit]

There's no prospect blvd in brooklyn. Looks like you must be shopping somewhere close to where you are now.

Last time I was there was in 1982! (I was very young)
My last experience I remember there was eating acid and running around Prospect Park at night, dressed all in black like Ninja's with three other freaks. Even the local pushers and homies thought we were out of our minds...it was SO much fun running around avoiding the golf cart cops or whatever. I stayed on Liberty in a four story, kinda nice but a little run down brownstone that a hippie friend's dad bought in 1975 for $80,000. He still had all four floors as a family home...I can't even begin to imagine how that played out/sold for, if it is still intact as a single residence, or if it is ten studios.
Forgive my lack of memory, that was a LONG time ago.

[watersnowdirt]

pretty pix trayc. Very nice. Looks like fun.