GrNY SGS #4 - Cold Spring, NY / Putnam County Gravel

*** Cold Spring will be our 4th ride of the Spring Gravel Series. ***

TRAIN RIDERS: Don't worry if the train is running late. We will wait for you! Take the train that arrives at 9:14am.

This week includes our most challenging routes! We will start in Cold Spring, NY and loop around Fahnestock State Park. The landscape is beautiful and forested. Given the steep climbs, you will feel like you accomplished something by the time the ride is over. We have a bailout option for anybody who is suffering after the first half. Be sure to download it, in case the climbs are too much.

SCHEDULE OF RIDES
- May 6: Katonah, NY. Ride some of the best and most scenic rural roads in Westchester County. [DONE]
- May 13: Dover Plains, NY. The picturesque dirt-roads of Dutchess County. It is worth the drive or train ride! [DONE]
- May 20: Pawling, NY. Start in Cold Spring, NY, but spend much of the ride in gorgeous Litchfield County, CT. [DONE]
- May 27: Cold Spring, NY. Much of the ride is near Fahnestock State Park, with lots of fun and challenging climbs. [This Ride]
- June 3: Gladstone, NJ (Natirar Park). Spectacular ride that goes through the Teetertown Ravine and Lockwood Gorge – worth the trip!

Rides are scheduled for Saturday mornings, but the default rain date will be Sunday of the same weekend. We will generally start each ride around 9am, with adjustments for train schedules. Ride schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

QUESTIONS? You can email Steve at track.smart@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER: This is totally informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. This is not a supported event. You agree to GrNY’s ride guidelines: https://grny.org/guidelines

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ROUTES FOR SGS #4 – Cold Spring (May 27)

Long (60 mi, >7000 ft): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42989987

Medium (47, >5000 ft): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42989982

Short (40 mi, >4200 ft): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42995890

Bailout: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42990486
(If you are suffering after the first half, switch to this route after refueling at Boyd's General Store.)

START OF RIDE MEETING LOCATION: Cold Spring Train Station (Market Street side). https://goo.gl/maps/R52pkqpa1UBBYKRq5

END OF RIDE MEETING LOCATION: Cold Spring Pier (outside).
Grab food and drinks of your choice and meet at the pier. Nearby places, closest first:
- Ice Cream: Moo Moos Creamery
- Craft Beer: Cold Spring General Store (note that open containers of alcohol are probably not allowed at the pier).
- Chinese: New Ming Moon
- Pizza: Cold Spring Pizza (pizza by the slice, calzones, etc).

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TWO REQUESTS
1) Please choose a ride group based on your riding speed, not distance. We want people to ride together (not get dropped). We also want the groups to finish around the same time. We understand you can go the longer distance, but it will be more fun if people ride together and then hangout for food and drinks after the ride.

2) Ride safely! Please read our ride guidelines: https://grny.org/guidelines.
Key points:
- Control your speed when traveling downhill. Racing downhill is how many serious injuries happen. If you’d like to ride hard, save it for the climbs! Then wait at the top.
- Being predictable to other riders and cars will keep everyone safer. Never pass a rider on the right. If you want to pass, call out, and then pass on their left (like a car).
- You need off-line navigation and should have a backup navigation plan. Why? Many areas won’t have cell coverage. And phone batteries can die during long rides. Examples of offline navigation: 1) Dedicated bike computer (Garmin, Wahoo, etc); 2) Phone with paid subscription to Ride with GPS or Strava *and* remembering to download to route for offline usage before the ride; 3) Paper map + cue sheets (old-school).

PACE GROUPS
- Long (60-65+ miles, faster speed, and killer climbs): These rides will be led by Steve. If you’ve ridden with him, then you understand the intensity of those rides. Pace expectation: 19-20mph (NYCC standards), ~17 mph (“Strava Speed” on relatively flat routes*).

- Medium (45-55 miles, moderate speed): Kathy will lead these rides, which will still be challenging, but travel at a slower speed than Steve’s group. Pace expectation: 16-17 mph (NYCC standards), 13-14 mph (“Strava Speed” on relatively flat routes*).

- Short (35-45 miles, no-drop): Ralph will be leading this group. This group will stop more often to rest, take photos, and enjoy the scenery, riding at a friendly, no-drop pace. Pace expectation: ~14mph (NYCC standards), 11-12 mph (“Strava speed” on relatively flat routes*)

* “Strava Speed” = actual recorded average speed for long, solo paved rides on relatively flat terrain (i.e., not group rides with drafting).

EXAMPLE RIDES FOR EACH PACE GROUP
It is difficult to describe pace for rides that include dirt, pavement, and substantial climbing. So many things can alter speed, even assuming the same rider and effort level. We hope these examples will help you select the right pace group. You can compare them to your own rides over similar distances and elevation gains.

Long: 65 miles, ~14 MPH, >5500 ft climbing.
• Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/7143087392

Medium: 50 miles, ~12 MPH, >4000 ft climbing.
• Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/7143118855

Short: 37 miles, ~10 MPH, >3000 ft climbing
• Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/7142906685

RIDE ORGANIZATION
- Each ride will have two or three “pace groups”, which will differ in speed, distance, and intensity of climbing. There will be a common hangout location after each ride, so all groups can socialize over food and drinks. With luck, all groups will end around the same time.

- We will have at least one place to buy food and drink during each ride, but we are only doing grab-and-go during the ride itself (e.g., gatorade + portable snacks).

- Each group will have a few “wait for everyone” stops. That said, the Long and Medium groups will not wait for riders who are considerably behind the pace (i.e. more than a few minutes back at each stop). The Shorter-distance group will be no-drop… with some limits. If you are walking the hills and suffering, even at the slower ride pace, please take a shortcut back to the start and tell the rest of the group to travel without you. We can all still hangout after the ride.

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• Cyclo Saurus (Steve)
  Organizer
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