Thanks everybody for coming! We had a great time on some good roads, and the weather was gorgeous. We had 8 riders show up, including Martina's friend Mike on his Hawk GT. I had the only VTEC in the bunch, and there were more NACA ducts than you could shake a stick at tongue.gif Everyone had fun, no one got hurt or lost, and we took care of some chicken strips, what could be better?
We all met at the Park & Ride at Exit 21 off of I-87 in NY, with the exception of Martina and Mike. Martina had arrived at her bike(the Hawk) in the morning to find that some jackhole had knocked it over dry.gif . So we all ate, and Mike took this pic for us before leaving on the first leg of the ride...
From left to right: Chris(thx1139), Ralph(VFRJUNKIE), Scott(luv2rideh82crash), Martina(martinkap), Dino(Dino71), Me(SEBSPEED), and Pete(pete497), with Mike's Hawk at the end of the line.
Here we are on a seasonal road that runs from West Saugerties up to Elka Park and Tannersville:
We made our way to Phoenicia for lunch, and then discovered some nice 'sveepers' riding 212 to Woodstock, and kept going 'till we got to the Ashokan resevoir:
We found a nice(crazy) lady to take our picture here, unfortunately it was getting dark, and I think she may have changed the settings on my camera blink.gif
It is getting statistically significant, that the mornings of every VFRD ride are far from smooth and timely.
The first time I was about to meet VFRD gang (the first FLAF ride organized by Dan), I got pulled over by cop in empty Manhattan for illegal left-turn. It was 8:11 am, as stated on the ticket and the turn was forbidden from 8am. Needless to say, I have a court date January 17th - his blabbering which turned into flirting took more than 11 minutes! That morning, I was half hour late for our meeting with MellowYellow and CrazyInNYC.
The second time, I was to meet Dino71 by the George Washington bridge. Remembering how late I arrived at the last FLAF ride, I was at our meeting point 15 minutes early and with no traffic tickets - but Dino71 was nowhere. So, I waited and waited and watched the condensed traffic slowly pass by. Dino was 45 min late (due to heavy bridge traffic) and we again arrived late to the breakfast.
This time, I decided to change my bad luck. I decided not to meet with anyone and with my friend from Canada, Mike, to arrive on time and finally have breakfast with guys from VFRD. I love full American breakfast in local dinners and the moto-talks in the morning. So, it was about 7am when we left my apartment building. I came to my Hawk GT (my local transportation, which I use to get to garage in NJ, where I switch him for the VFR) and my dear Hawk was lying on his right side, not only knocked over but also violently pushed to the sidewalk. I put down my tail-bag and sat on the curb, sadly breathing hard. Mike was getting his bike, so I just watch the mess since I did not think I can pick up the Hawk alone. But adrenalin is an amazing drug. As I was sitting there, I got mad and with one push stud up the Hawk myself. Right side did not have one scratch - thanks to newly mounted crash-bars. However, various bits and pieces are mangled. The right handle bar is loose, throttle stuck and seems bend. The forks are leaking. The rear brake rotor is scratching the brake pad over and over as it turns around. Something is wrong with my rear suspension as it is squalling as an old couch.
Well, we took him to my garage, switched for the VFR and finally got on our 2 hour ride to meet SEBSPEED and other VFRD friends. By that time, the roads were congested and we barely made legal speed. We arrived WAY too late. Guys were very nice and waited for us without giving me too much grieve. I know I am a woman, but I still hate to be late. Trust me, this is not a pattern.
From there, everything got brighter, faster, twistier and fun!
Sebastian knows some amazing roads! Catskills were providing the perfect back drop to every twist and turn we took. I was usually riding on the third or fourth place, so I had a chance admire guys on their VeryFastRides :-). Seb is definitely a squid who turned wise. He takes corners with an easy and bravura of an old PRO, flicking the bike from one side to the other. You think the corner is mellow and slow? Seb will manage to scrape a footpeg there and put a smile on everyone's face. And all that done with safety and respect to others' speeds.
Scott definitely shows track experience and lines fun to follow. Watching Chris, you don't know if he is riding VFR or a dirtbike. Seems like his VFR is 200 pounds lighter the way he handles her :-)
So, I had fun! I was rusty (busy semester and heavy teaching load does that to me), but I flicked some nice corners and I am still smiling. The roads were amazing, some were tight and some more open. We were definitely going up and down and my stomach was feeling squeezy after almost catching air several times. I have a horrible motion sickness, you know...
Seb took great pictures, so I don't have to tell you, that lying next to Scott on the rock and catching some Fall sunrays was exhilarating, that the stone church reminded me of England and that late lunch in Shandaken was tasty, sunny and great.
We said 'good bye' close to I87, and as the sun was long time gone, I added one layer of wicked cycling shirt (with added windproof layer on the front side) and with feeling of no cold blasted home. Pete was leading bravely in the pitch dark with full moon over his head and I enjoyed to pace, the night smells and the cold breeze. We parted near Manhattan.
At 10pm, I parked the VFR, got on the Hawk with no working dashboard lights, with squalling rear brake rotor, noisy rear shock (could the fall break the spring?) and leaking front forks and took the poor thing back to Manhattan. I parked him (yes, my Hawk is HE) back on the street and hoped for the best.
Sebastian, thank you for a great day. Without you, I'd be sitting in my office and loosing mind over 300 students and one stupid midterm!
Martina
P.S. Anyone wants to take a look at my Hawk? Or better yet, anyone wants to ride next weekend? tongue.gif
baileyrock, Oct 8 2006, 09:14 PM Sebastian I think you need to stop riding and finish your first Trip report(world tour). huh.gif goofy.gif
PS, nice write-up too Martina. fing02.gif
If it wasn't for all the time I spent working on your titanium pipes, maybe I could do both goofy.gif J/K, sheetmetal is cake work. So riding it is!! tongue.gif laugh.gif
Thanks for the addition, Martina, we will definately do this again! I hope the other guys chime in soon...
Well all I can say is wow. That was a great ride, great scenery, great roads and great folks. I'm really glad to have hooked up with such a great group of riders. I hope to be able to do it again with you all. This was really the first ride of any significance on this bike for me. I had ridden it to the DMV for inspection and some local roads for maybe 50 miles before this. I'm really liking this bike and the opportunities to ride and meet cool people its brought me so far. I was very impressed with everyones skill and riding abilities. I hadn't been on a street bike for almost 2 years before this.
I pulled in at 9:00 PM, a little over 13 hrs total out the door. Thats the longest I've been on a bike before, I've done long rides but not 13 hrs worth. Although it's not as exhausting as a 60 mile off road ride, I was more than ready for bed. Other than a little stiff and sore, I'm no worse for the wear and ready to roll again.
Seb, do you know how many miles we did between Leeds and Kingston?
tinyminds, Oct 8 2006, 11:05 PM That has got to be the most identical bikes I've ever seen in my life.
Ride red baby! goofy.gif Maybe you should come next time!
Pete, I'd say it was around 150-160mi. I realized halfway through the ride that I forgot to set my trip meter. My bad. I remember checking my mileage at exit 21, it was around 11,2xx(211, 221 maybe, it was on the lower end), and it was 11,389 at the gas station in Kingston. The vfr will surprise you, I can ride mine all day, and be ready for more. Best bike ever!
Hobie1dog, Oct 8 2006, 11:23 PM Great trip report...loved the picture in front of the old church. That needs to be on the cover of a magazine. biggrin.gif
SEBSPEED, Oct 8 2006, 11:31 PM Pete, I'd say it was around 150-160mi. I realized halfway through the ride that I forgot to set my trip meter. My bad. I remember checking my mileage at exit 21, it was around 11,2xx(211, 221 maybe, it was on the lower end), and it was 11,389 at the gas station in Kingston.
I did about 380 miles garage to garage. Great trip. I am not sure how much is Jersey city to Leeds and back Kingston to Jersey City, but subtract that and you get approximate milage. I cannot remember if it was 375 miles exactly or 385 miles :-) ...
martinkap, Oct 8 2006, 11:44 PM I did about 380 miles garage to garage. Great trip. I am not sure how much is Jersey city to Leeds and back Kingston to Jersey City, but subtract that and you get approximate milage. I cannot remember if it was 375 miles exactly or 385 miles :-) ...
We didn't even ride the whole loop I had planned out, it could've been around 200. It was a very relaxed day, except for the twisties, of course! I think I'm going to go ride 212 again tommorrow after work!
Well, courtesy to Sebastian camera :-) (I forgot to bring mine)... But I think, I took a second similar pic in which the church is actually straight and bikes are rather disappearing into a distance. I do have tendency to take crooked pictures though :-)
Btw, how about that 'bucket' link? :-) (I wanna send some originals back home to my parents - so they know what I am upto these days wheel.gif )
Yo guys whats up?! I have to say that was the best ride I have ever been on! SEBSPEED was a great host and all the guys were cool.
Dino and I met and headed out from the middlesex area of New Jersy at 6am. I did not gear up enough so for the first 2 1/2 hours or so I was freezing my a$$ off! sad.gif (lesson #1). We then met Pete at a rest stop on the NJ/NY border at about 8am and headed off to Leads. On the way to Leads the sun started to come out and it did get little warmer biggrin.gif . We got to the meeting point at about 9:35 and just about everyone showed up at the same time. The rest was just absolute fun, I have never been on roads like that before. I felt like a kid on a roller coaster, yes a little scary but fun. When I had a hard time with some turns I thought maybe it was the VFR was not up to these mountain roads and I should get a RC51 for better handling. But when I saw Chris pass me and make some wicked turns, I was like blink.gif . I knew it was not the VFR it was me (lesson #2) the RC may be on the back burner for a while. I may head up that way just to practice. Anyway after it was all over Dino and I said split and headed home. The trip home was not to bad it was a little cold for me but it actualy got warmer as we got closer. We got home at about 10:15. So it was a sixteen hour day for us and about 400-450 miles. One thing is for sure, I would do it again! Guys just let me know when! wheel.gif
Checking in . . . Seb "professional chicken strip remover" is a great ride leader. He certainly knows his local roads. I was wishin for on-board video as Seb pulled wheelies off 3-4 consecutive whoops on this rollercoaster road. Of course, these were the non-squid style of wheelies fing02.gif .
It was great meeting some new guys and seeing Martina, Chris and Dino again. Pete, Ralph and Mike from Canada, great meeting you! What a beautiful day it was.
I headed north around 2 pm and rode the southern Adirondacks Sunday. Gorgeous country. County #4 on the north shore of Scanadaga (sp?) Lake was awesome at 7:30 am with the fog lifting. 728 miles in about 36 hours. That's alot of riding for poor old me.
Must have passed about a gillion H-D's on the ride home yesterday. Ugh. Some were nice, some were jerks. Couple pics . . . had some kind of snot on the lens which created fuzziness and highlights. The ol snot filter.
[image: IPB Image] Picture 029.jpg VFR's in a row.
I just wanted to say that Sebastian is a really great guy and planned a wonderful trip in the State of New York. I just wish he planned a earlier trip. When I hooked up with Ralph it had started to rain at around mile post 150 on the Garden State Parkway and I was like man I hop its not like this the entire way up! But like always everything worked out and we all meet at the park & ride and a gret time was had by all. Perhaps next year we can plan a few trip up in NY, what do you say Sebastian? beer.gif And just one last thing, everyone should have EZ Pass on there bikes, esp if you plan on traveling 130 miles just to get to your meeting spot cool.gif
Dino71, Oct 9 2006, 01:03 PM Hey Sebastian just cheching in.......late
I just wanted to say that Sebastian is a really great guy and planned a wonderful trip in the State of New York. I just wish he planned a earlier trip. When I hooked up with Ralph it had started to rain at around mile post 150 on the Garden State Parkway and I was like man I hop its not like this the entire way up! But like always everything worked out and we all meet at the park & ride and a gret time was had by all. Perhaps next year we can plan a few trip up in NY, what do you say Sebastian? beer.gif And just one last thing, everyone should have EZ Pass on there bikes, esp if you plan on traveling 130 miles just to get to your meeting spot cool.gif
I'm certain we'll do this again, I just rode part of it again today! Took off a little more of my left peg... which reminded me that I have some pics from the last group I took through this area, a few members from the CBR board...
not to jack my own thread or anything rolleyes.gif My blue F4i in front:
Hey Guys (first post) The token Canadian checking in, wanted to thank you all for a fun day's ride. Sebastian led us on a amazing ride through some wonderfull roads, glad I could keep up with all that red plastic.. Here's a few of the pic's I took from the day. [image: IPB Image]
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I had a great time, and it was nice to meet you all
[image: IPB Image] Peace! ...why do I strike silly poses knowing the pics will eventually be posted to the 'net?
Chris checking in, gotta keep it short; PC keeps re-booting, probably a virus. damn hackers. I had a great ride last weekend. Thanks to Mike, Martina, Pete, Dino, Ralph, Scott, and of course Seb; you were all great company.
Last week I was scrambling to get some tires on my '96, replacing what was totally spent after WDGAH. squid.gif On the front went a half used Bridgestone 010, out back a lightly scrubbed Metzler ME3 with 2 plugs. ...all set!! fing02.gif
Fortunately my favorite local road, MA23 leads west from here straight to our ride, so I took that all the way from Westfield to NY. That went briskly and without incident, save for the black dog who ambushed me coming around a blind, dropping right-hander. (Brake-slide!!!)
A while after crossing into NY and past the Taconic I grew doubts about being on track and on time. suddenly I found myself being blasted by a SuperTrapp shockwave; glancing left to find the red 4th-gen of Scott leaving me for dead. We arrived in the designated meeting place at 9:28.
After the typical meet & greet we hung on about 45 more minutes for Mike & Martina. At that point I considered abandoning the group in a vital quest for food. Apparently the group felt likewise, leaving the parking lot before me.
Not too far off though, Martina & Mike met us at breakfast. Martina reported the experience of finding her HawkGT trampled in the city. Grrr. So little time... So many stupid cagers to kill... pissed.gif pissed.gif
Eight bikes among us made the group somewhat large for spirited riding, but traffic was very light. Owe that to the autumn foliage not yet having peaked. We were able to enjoy a fun pace.
Seb's route was as good a choice of roads as you will find in the Northeast. How can anyone grow up on "Heart's Content" road and not ride a motorcycle? This was my first time really exploring the Catskills and I would certainly like to return. Fortunatley Seb is going to post a route list here imminently. Seb... Seb...?
It was a fairly social group though and we spent as much time enjoying the perfect day sunning ourselves at our rest stops. Especially those who had an icy morning ride in (Ralph, Scott). Seb had selected some break areas that were too beautiful and/or relaxing to avoid loitering there.
As the afternoon sun waned and we left our last scenic destination, about 6 or 7 deer bound out of the woods and alongside the parking area we were exiting. (!) We made our way along the road from the reservoir and I counted at least 4 more waiting by the shoulder presumably to commit Bambi-cide. Luckily their self-destructive depression eased long enough for us to make our getaway unscathed.
Bidding farewells at a final gas-up, I stuck with Seb a bit longer following north along rt9. At the Rip VanWinkle bridge Seb and I split as I began my journey home again along Rt23.
Somewhere in NY I made the same wrong turn I always make onto 22 south. Also, as in the past, this does not become evident to me until I hit rt44. So after a minor detour thru Conneticut and up rt41 I found myself back in Great Barrington, where it is always 10 degrees colder than everywhere else.
Stopped at Club Helsinki, if only to buy a t-shirt and layer up. Shirts were sold-out, but I did stay a few minutes to hear the band jamming in the tiny spot. (2 of the musicians former members of Morphine) IMHO, Helsinki is one of the best-kept secrets of the Berkshires. musik20.gif
Left GB at 9:30 and cruised down 23 without another deer sighting. Taking the back way thru Westfield and finally Agawam, the entire ride was door-to-door twisties, without a single stretch of slab to be endured. Rolled in just before 11:00pm. 350miles total. beer.gif
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