Riding
It was the type of adventured I’d long considered but never put into action. Bike. Breweries. Overnight. A long way from home. The trip took me from Poughkeepsie up to Catskill. ~60 miles each way. A grind.
It wouldn’t have been possible without a new bike. That upgrade took place earlier this summer. It was about two years overdue. My goal had been to treat myself to a new bike as a graduation gift once my finances got settled. Right around the time I was starting to look, COVID hit, collapsing the bicycle supply chain. For two years, I’d wander through empty bike stores asking when the next shipment would arrive. There weren’t any plans for new shipments. Bike store after bike store, completely empty.
In spring 2022, I found promise in Roy’s Sheepshead Cycle. I wandered in for a test ride. There was a Trek I had my eyes on. I got talked into trying out a Specialized Aethos. It felt so natural. There was speed, and power, and with every pedal, I could feel the bike want to take off. I went home and read up on it. The 2021 bike of the year. No slouch. By the time I committed to it, it was off the store racks. Six weeks later, I got a call that it was there. It came with a few extra bells and whistles, like a power meter, that were accurately reflected in the price. Foolishly or not, I was done negotiating. The bike was there and I bit. My dad later told someone, “I’m glad he finally bought something nice for himself.”
The bike was built for the joy of riding. The aethos of riding. Straightenin’ the curves, flattenin’ the hills. This was the best ride I’ve ever done.
The ease of the ride from Poughkeepsie to Catskill is what stood out. Effortless. I came across the Old Rheinbeck Aerodrome and appreciated a group of geeks bonding over the geekdom of model aircraft. A few breweries, then I peddled into Catskill in time to visit the Thomas Cole house.
Lori came up to meet me in Catskill. We cruised the town. A couple of breweries. Mike Tyson’s old hood. The kitchen of the brewery closed by the time we got there. After the long ride, my stomach was crushed. Oof. How I wanted that burger!
The next day, we toured Oheka, home of Frederic Edwin Church. The student had surpassed the master. The sublime had always been a favorite style. A couple of Church paintings proved that he had mastered it.
Thus began the long trip back. The open roads between Red Hook and Catskill were some of the best I’d ever ridden.
I once called my bike my best friend. It’s a new friend but the same feeling.