Any riders in the park have this problem?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Maybe a town other than NYC will be in my future...along with a new set of scenarios to adapt to!

I'm going to be very interested to hear your reaction to the very different road conditions (and population) that you'll encounter on your tour this summer.

--- Denise

[lizbids]

Yes, I am sure that I will go into a pleasant culture-shock. I only lived outside of NYC in a smaller city...Albany! So yes, I am looking forward to seeing what else is out there. And who knows...I may fall in love with a new part of the country.

The city-slicker in me is scared of grizzlies, mountain lions and lunatics with chainsaws...so ladies of the Northwest/West coast, tell me I'll be okay!

[East Hill]

The city-slicker in me is scared of grizzlies, mountain lions and lunatics with chainsaws...so ladies of the Northwest/West coast, tell me I'll be okay!

lizbids, you will be lucky to see a grizzly bear. I've only seen them in the wild in British Columbia, and that was far from civilisation.

I've never seen a mountain lion in the wild, although I've seen tracks and scat, so again, I don't think you've much to worry about.

Now lunatics with chainsaws, that's a different story. Although you are more likely to run into lunatics with logging trucks, than the chainsaws... .

East Hill

[SouthernBelle]

Sorry, but I have to laugh. Folks from NYC always seem to have an unrealistic view of the rest of the world.

[Velobambina]

Liz--You might really enjoy a sunrise ride. Believe me, you can acclimate to the cold. The first few cold weather rides are the worst, but with the right layers and chemical hand/foot warmers, you'll be fine. I love the light that time of the day, and you get to see a lot of wild life (raccoons, bunnies, foxes, and occasionally, a coyote for me!!). I often have the trail pretty much to myself for the first hour or two--nothing beats it. Have to admit that as much as I love the spring and warmer temps, I do not at all like the influx of "fair weather exercisers." Those of us who brave the winter cold should have emminent domain!!! LOL.
By the way, I sometimes fantasize about having a handlebar mounted super soaker with which I could blast the most idiotic of trail rules offenders. It helps me keep my sense of humor to imagine blasting them out of my way.

[Grog]

I also suggest riding a bike in the early morning for another reason: car drivers seem to be much more peaceful in the morning. They accumulate frustrations as they go through the day and that's when they become dangerous!!

[lizbids]

I love the idea of a sunrise. I'm not sure how cold it gets in the late evening, overnight and early morning in that part of the country. I'm assuming it's chillier than I think, especially when you're on the water?

Haha, I know I sound like a neurotic New Yorker. One time I went camping in the Adirondack mountains, and after we checked into a rustic cabin, I locked my car door, to which all of my upstate friends ragged on me the whole time.
What it's really about is inexperience and how I don't want to underestimate the land, you know? I get the feeling within a day or two I'll forget that I'm anywhere but home...on the road