Getaway Cycle Center

Harriman by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

2010-04-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Harriman by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

Ringwood School by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

2010-04-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

Ringwood School by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

Morris Cnty by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

2010-04-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Morris Cnty by nickt30 at Garmin Connect - Details

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Morris Cnty

2010-03-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Morris Cnty

Great Group Ride thru the strrets of Morris County.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Ringwood Skylands

2010-03-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Ringwood Skylands

A short ride with my neice and her boyfriend.

Ringwood state park trails were in great shape.

A bit of wash out but not a lot.

I had out then new Jamis 650B out.

This bike was perfect for ringwood challeges.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Skyline Dr Mtn

2010-03-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Skyline Dr Mtn

Great ride down fromthe top of skyline. The trails were a bit muddy but not horrible. The season is upon us.

King of the Mountain (Getaway style)

2010-02-21T06:18:00.001-08:00

The challenge is on the table. King of the Mountain

Skyline Drive (Oakland side and time starts when you come under the 287 overpass, the top is the 1.4 mile marker).

12 mins 55 sec (February 20th, 2010)

I really thought Nick was joking yesterday when he asked "You want to do some hills?"

Not really what I was looking for in a mid-February ride but extremely rewarding when I got to the top. Last time I tried it, I only made it to the 1.1 mile marker and had to walk the rest.

Fastest to the top gets bragging rights.

Valentine's Day Ride

2010-02-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

How come I always get passed and end up behind everyone?

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2010-02-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for JD Mtn Ride Fla

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2010-02-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Coconut Cup Amelia Earheart Mtn Bike Race

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2010-02-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Jupiter Fla Beach Spin

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2010-02-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for MArkham Mtn Bike Park

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

2010-02-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details - JD State Mtn Bike

Garmin Connect - Beach Cruise

2010-02-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

Garmin Connect - Halpatiokee Fla Mtn

2010-02-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

Today I drove up to Stuart where there are some trails right of the I-95 exit. The park is named Halpatiokee. I drive into the park and see a few other cars with bike racks on them. Not to many as it is tues mid morning. I suit up and head out into the trails. I have to say that the various clubs who take care of the the trails in florida have a great trail marking system. The ins and outs of the various trails have many markers that is is hard to get lost. This trails system is really more of the same that I have been finding all over florida. Smooth, fast, banked turns, and large roots. Just fun single track. The one thing to watch out for is the muddy sections. The mud down here is like fine wet silk. Very slippery. It is like being one ice.......dont brake, dont turn, and dont think. Just get thru it. On the way out I speak to a few guys who have just finished up. They are some of the guys who take care of these trails and are supper nice offering me an extra sandwich. You got to love the hospitality. If you are in the area this is a great place to get out and do some riding.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Road Ride Longboat Key Sarasota

2010-01-31T13:01:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Road Ride Longboat Key Sarasota

Spent the Night at Cuz Rick's home in Bradenton. Woke up to 58F and totally cloudy. Determined to ride today brought me out to the beach area of Sarasota, south end of Longboat Key. I choose to do a road ride as I have been ignoring my Road Bike for a few days now. I notice that everyone walking and riding are dressed in long sleeves, long pants, sweatshirts and Jackets. The temp reads 62F with a bit of wind and no sun. I figure that they know something and use a Endura Base Layer with a light jersey and Pearl shorts. I suit up, pack some food and liquids planing on about 40 miles. I had a collection of Clif bars, clif shots, and clif Mojo bars. Calc on about 200 cal intake per hour for a 3 hour ride. For liquids I use OJ mixed 50/50 with water, (fuctose sugar, and plenty of K+....i get enough na+ in the food products).
I start my ride and wait at the first light to cross and head up the Causeway to longboat key...the highest point in Sarasota at 100ft altitude. At the light another rider in full pants and jackets with his rear pockets stuffed full of stuff pulls up next to me. I greet him with a pleasent hello and I get a cold nod back. He is on a Specialized Bike and I guess he believes he is all that. The light turns green he takes off and starts to pound up the hill of the 100ft altitude causeway, I am warming up and just spinning behind him. He looks back and and jumps out of his saddle and takes off. I drop two gears and keep my spin up hanging on with out too much effort....it is only a 100ft vertical hill at a very moderate grade. He looks back and sees me on his tail.....what ever. At this point I start to feel warm and decide that the baselayer was just a stupid idea. I turn around and head back down to the van. Off it comes. I head out again.
It is a long straight ride up Longboat key with a head wind. Cool....the wind will be at my back all the way home. I spin away, enjoying the beach seen.
All the way up the beach, many riders of all kinds, beach crusiers, road bikes, and people just going to get groceries. The sun comes out and it turns into a great day. Up to the end, over a few causeways, turn around and head back.
I am trying to now enjoy the wind at my back but is seems to be coming at me from the side. Maybe it is just that area. Soon it is at my back and my speed goes up a few mph's. Then it is in my face again and my speed drops....then on the side.....at my back......then infront.....what the %#*%$#%^. Just keep pedaling.
The biggest difference from riding down here compared to up north is not having to climb hills. You would think that you get a break from them......well you do.....but the biggest thing is you do not get to go down them and STOP PEDALING. There is no rest period. After going up a hill you get to coast down it and rest the legs. Down here in the flats........you get no rest. Take a look at the garmin cadence graph. I think I counted 12 times in 45 miles that I stopped pedaling.....and tose were from traffic stops......12 times......and the rest was not that long.
Well I have to say this was a great ride.
Monday will be rest day as the entire state of Fla will be rained on.
Traveling back to Moms in Jupiter.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Alafia Mtn Fla

2010-01-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Alafia Mtn Fla

Getaway Cycle Center

I head south to just to east of St Petersburg to Alafia State Park. The rain is expected here late in the day so I have the afternoon to get riding. Just like Santos there are a dozen riders inthe parking lot. As I start riding I am greeted by many of the same trails that santos has but they seen a bit more of a personality, if that makes any sense. The trails has a tecnical aspect that seems to be very well thought out. There are many bridges and swamps that need to be navigated along with many ups and downs that keep the heart pumping. There is one trail called the Moonscape which has so many ups, downs, banked turns, and rock drops that make it worth doing twice. There is another trail called Cats Paw that remined me of a famous trail in Vermont's Kingdom Trails called Side Winder. This is a trail that has an increasing side to side, up & down that winds down a crevace. Definitely a fun trail.
I have to say that I did not expect much from florida riding but I am absolutely swallowing my words. The Local trail club have down Class A trail work. This trail system along with many others are maintained by the Swamp Club....check them out.

Heading down to Sarasota to see my Cuz Rick, his beautiful bride Kristen, and the newest addition to the Tambe family......Gino. PS #2 on the way. A passing wave to Ken, Billy, and David, who I did not get a chance to see due to having to making it back to the east coast for some family obligation stuff.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Santos Mtn Fla

2010-01-31T12:59:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Santos Mtn Fla

Getaway Cycle Center

Today I drove up from Jupiter Fla to Bellevie, just below Ocala. This area holds the Mountian Biking Mecka called Santos. Up the Florida turnpike past Orlando I get off on a country highway where big beautiful local strawberries are being sold on the side of the road for $5 per flat. The first stop I make is at the Santos Trailhead Bicycle Shop . I am met by some very nice and informative staff who invite me to use their parking, restrooms, and trail access area. They give me a heads up on the 40+ miles of trails that awaits me. This shop will be featured in an upcoming issue of Mtn Bike Action magazine. They also inform me that the article is going to feature a local rider of thiers, along with a local rider of North Jersey.....Jeff Lenosky. They say he loves the trails doown there.
I head up to the main trailhead and parking to try and chat it up with some local riders. I pull in to the parking lot and find many riders preparing, finishing, or just hanging out. There are pavillions, Kiosks with maps, and bike washes where you can hang 3 bikes to hose down. I suit up and head into the trail. These trails are well maked with Trail Named colored 4 ft posts. The trails are yellow-easy, blue-advanced, and red-expert (some single black diamond, and some double black). I choose a blue trail and am greated by pine needle covered twisty single track that Florida seems to be covered with. The trail is fun, fast, and has a technical element of 6-12 inch size roots, with short 3-6 ft ups and downs. Very cool.
A few miles of this and I run out on to a road. I cross the road and head down a dirt road which has a gate across it with a 3ft wide wood bridge about 30 ft long going up about 6 ft high. This is known as the "Qualifer". If you can ride this you can come in......into to what......the Free ride area and the Red trails. I am greeted by a trail that is very much a tecnical expert trail. 5-20 ft ups and downs that are very step, with much rock and drops, and a lot of twisties in between. The red trail snakes around the center area which is covered with ramps, bridges, and large drops. It is like Diable Free Ride park, just flat. There are sink holes, single track with 30 ft drops off the sides, and plenty of Rock.....Yes I said Rock...in florida.....it is definitly not just sand.
At this point it is getting dark and I start to head back to the trailhead. I have all day on saturday to ride the 40 mile epic ride that is here. I pack up the van and head out to find a hotel. As I drive all I see is motels that get more scary as I drive. I have to say that the center of Ocala is very much a dirty gheto. I high tail it out towards the I-75 and find a Ramada travel lodge. I check the weather and find a huge rain storm moving in to the region. That screws up the epic ride. I wake up and it is a gloomy, rainy day. I check the radar and find that ann hour+ drive south it will be clear until late afternoon. I pack up and head down to Alafia State Park to ride.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Marsinski A Road Fla

2010-01-30T15:27:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Marsinski A Road Fla

Wake up in the dark with about 56F outside. I think about what I would wear in NJ which would be long pants and a base layer, but not in fla. I step outside to justify my thoughts and, yep.....it is a warm 56F if you can understand that. Normal shorts and SS jersey. Get on the bike and off I go to the beach. The road group meets at the intersection of Marsinski Dr and A1A in Jupiter Fla. The ocean is right there and there are a few riders warming up in the area. Each of us with our rear flashing lights. I have my Nite Rider Cherry Bomb flashing which I know can be seen all the way down the beach. Many of you riding behind one of these always complain about the insanely bright mesmorizing flashing light. As the time approches 7am the riders start to bring it in and say their morning greetings. I ask if it is OK if a norther joins the group. Out of the 10 standing there about half say they are from the north also. Now I know that i will have someone to hang with when I get dropped of the back. This is a fast group, what do you expect from riders who have 365 days of riding weather. By the time we start the group is about 20 strong. The first stretch is a warm up of about 5 miles along the beach. The chit-chat and banter starts as we move along at a comfortable pace of 20mph. We cross the bridge of the Jupiter inlet and over to the Jupiter Island road. This is the very weathly area where the homes have service entrances. This is where Tiger Woods lives. This area thought they had enough money and political pull to try and stop the bike riders from cruising thier streets but they lost that one with no appeal. It is not just Fason Lakes of Kinnelon who tried to stop riders. It happens all over the place.
The ride at this point is up to about 30 riders due to people joining in along the warm up ride. The pace picks up to about 23mph and the rotation of the riders in the front starts. This is when you need to be on your toes, or on your pedals because the pace very quickly goes to 25mph. A few more miles and the pace goes up again to a cruising speed of 26-28 with peaks of close to 30mph. I start to tuck myself into the back of the pack along with the other northerns. We are laboring to keep up at this point. A few more miles and the front group pulls off strong, I am sure they are 30+ mph. It is OK though, we know that when they reach the end point they will turn around and head back. This is when we get a chance to recover the legs and drink some sugars/fluids.
Here they come we see them ahead so we get ready to turn and grab on. They are moving in the low 20's mph until the group is all to gether again. Then it happens again. The speed picks up to the high 20's and I can feel my legs start to get heavy. This time there is no holding back. I stay on as long as possible as I notice people dropping of the back. Soon to be me. A few miles more and my spped goes from 28...27...26...25................alway down to 18. The head wind seems very strong about this time or maybe it is just me. I slowly make my way back to the inlet and sit my ass down on a bench to enjoy the sights of the boats going travling in and out of the inlet. By the way the Jupiter inlet is known as one of the worst inlets on the eastern seaboard. I have seen swells of 10-15 feet at the inlet with an ocean as smooth as a baby's behind just past it. After a phone calll or two I hope on the bike and head home down beach at a comfortable 18mph, sun shining, and temps in the high 70's. Now that is a ride.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for John Dickinson Mtn Fla

2010-01-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for John Dickinson Mtn Fla

First ride in Fla. Shipped my bikes in boxes by freight Co. Picked them up as soon as I got off the plane and got them assembled. The weather was 78F and sunny. Headed of to JD state park to try out florida's mtn bike seen. Fast twisty single track. Lots of roots, banked turns, and patches of what they call "Sugar sand". I ran across a rider named Toby. Go figure, he was riding a Jamis Dakota from 2005, he said he loved it. My 4 inch suspension bike was not used to it capacity at this park, but it was a lot of fun. I followed him for an 8 mile loop, which happened to be most of the park, except for a few extra loops that would have made the ride 10 miles. Heading off to shower, renurish, and then rehydrate at a waterside bar on the Jupiter Inlet. Have to get my sleep tonight as I am going to ride with an "A" road group in the morning @ 7am. They are a fast group, 25-30mph for 25 miles.

Getaway Cycle Center Club Meeting

2010-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

We here at the Getaway Cycle Center would like your attendance
next Thursday Evening @ 7pm(Jan 21st) at the store for a Winter Gathering.

The weather is cold & windy making getting outside on your bikes a bit of a stretch. But we all have cycling on our minds.
Join us for snacks & drinks (Pizza/Beer/Soda – please feel free to BYOB) while getting a chance to meet and socialize with other riders.
Our groups of riders from Road, Mountain, Cyclocross, & Recreational disciplines have grown substantially over the first year.
This is our opportunity to meet and greet each other before the new season starts.
Also gives us the opportunity to brainstorm and discuss ideas for riding in 2010.

Evening Topics will include;

Upcoming events
Team & Club Jerseys
Ride Schedules
Weekend Trips

If you want a jersey please be ready to pay $45 for the Jersey that evening.
You can also order any other specific item such as shorts, ladies, long sleeves……
Please check out www.champ-sys.com for prices and styles.

Hope to See you there

Nick
www.getawaycyclecenter.com

Cyclocross Fever

2009-10-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, SO I did my first cyclocross race this weekend I am hooked. The mix between mountain biking and road cycling goes beyond the changes in terrain. Mountain biking has many short bursts of power where road cycling is more high cadance spinning. Cyclocross combines the constant spin with more power. Now I understand why it is a great training program extending the season so the winter recovery brings ytou right into spring. When you are moving into the sea of mud that is a thick as wet concrete, you learn to keep pumping hard without mashing so you wheel does not spin out. Also remember that you are not on a mountain bike. There are times when you want to rip the bike around the corner but having less rubber to grip the turn does give it an element of danger to raise you heart rate just enough to keep it exciting. One thing that is worth learning is the proper mount-remount because many people get passed like they are standing still.

I road my new Jamis Supernova. It felt great in all the conditions thrown at it. This bike is also been my commuter bike for the past few weeks. The wider softer tire is great on a road that is full of potholes and piles of leaves. The bike just rolls on through it. Especially at night when even the brightest of lights doesnt show every bump in the road. http://www.getawaycyclecenter.com/

Offical fall weather moves in

2009-10-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

That special weather that chills you to the bone. The kind of cold that you just cant shake until you are in front of a fire. Hot choclate, Tea, Coffee, Soup, or Brandy......anything to take away that chill. We have been riding all season and we fell on top of our game then we deal with the season end. Truely the season never ends for cycling it just gets harder to get out there and do it. Certain items can keep you rolling thru the fall.

1) Lights - front & rear.....do not be shy....the brighter the better.
2) Waterproof/Windproff/Thermal Jacket & Tights such as various Pearl Izumi's "Barrier" or the "Pro" lines
3) Gloves, Hat/Balaclavia, Shoe cover with the same qualities as 2) above
4) Wider/knobby tires, maybe even metal studded
5) Fenders - the roads are just messy this time of year

This equipment in not cheap, but it will last season after season and keep you smiling because you will be riding comfortably all year long.

Go slower then normal, watch wet leaves, and caution on corners. Wet leaves on a corner is the last time I fell on the road (20yrs ago).

H2H Mountain Series - Blue Mountain

2009-09-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

I am preparing for the next race in the Campmor H2H Mountain bike series. Blue Mtn is a fun place. The climbs are fire road long and the down hills are rocky fun. I am going to bring the Jamis Xam Bicycle. This bike is plenty plush (6 inch) to absorb all that Blue can throw at it while keeping the ride and the handling XC like. I hope I do well this time, the past few races did not go so well. Keep riding and smiling.

Cool Weather moves in

2009-09-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

So I get on my bike this morning in wayne new jersey and take my 10 mile ride to work. I see temperature before getting dressed, then say it will warm up when I get to the pompton lakes flatlands. Well it didnt, I put shorts and short sleeves on and I froze all the way there. After being used to the warm summer months the roll in of fall sure caught me off guard. Needless to say I ordered some cool weahter gear today. I chose Pearl Izumi's Pro softshell long bibs with a elite Long Sleeve jersey. That combo with a short or long sleeve base layer should take me into the upper 40's. I have time to choose a jacket, gloves, and winter riding shoes. I have my eye on the pro soft shell jacket, the new lobster claw full finger glves from Pearl Izumi. The shoes are the barrier GTX from Pearl Izumi, I have had a pair in the past and they are great. Prepare with smart layers and your riding will roll strong.

"bicycle, new jersey, nj, jamis, mountain bike, getaway cycle, ellsworth, ski, tune up, bloomingdale, wayne, kinnelon, oakland"