I recently participated in the "Tour de Cure" Jersey Shore-rode the 100K route or 62.3 miles to those who are metric challenged-it is a math thing.

Whilst I was amongst varying levels of cyclists-NOT bikers, we don't ride Harley's-I saw many beautiful things.  Monmouth County NJ can be very lovely on a beautiful pre-autumn day.  It is very rolling at times and scenic.  The one thing that intrigued me the most was the wild life I saw up close and personal.  And I am not talking about the motorists who were driving like they were giving away money at the local bank.  I was a bit nervous about the volume and close proximity of the traffic.  I ride in New York City, so why should I be concerned?  Well I was on many levels and definitely aware of the swooshing cars going by-YIKES!

Back to Flora and Fauna-I saw many Deer who seemed emotionally okay with their new natural predator-the automobile.  At one time a Deer was running so close to me I thought-stay in your lane HOLD your line "Deerie".  

But the one thing that intrigued me the most  was the beautiful Red Fox (there are gray and white ones you know) who sprinted across the road about 20 meters in front of me.  When he or she crossed they stopped, sat down and looked at me.  I whistled to it like I would Cairo, my dog.  We seemed to be connected for a moment in time as fellow mammals.  It was one of those experiences you have in life where you know we are ALL connected.  Like the time in Edinburgh Scotland when I walked into a shop and caught the eye of the attendant and I felt like she knew me and I knew her from somewhere in time.

Well that Fox and I had a moment.  It made my ride for sure.  It was no much larger than Cairo and was fiery in color-just magnificent.  As I made my way past and got closer it slowly turned and ran into the wooded area.

If our natural animals are losing their natural habitats and dealing more and more with vehicles and keeping one paw in front of disaster on the road, why am I such a "Nervous Nellie".  I too, feel like the cyclists are losing their position in the great movement of people and things on our roadways.  How can I summons the courage to be amongst the traffic and stay calm like that Fox and the Deer?  My only thought is that they do not worry about their life span-just survival in their own Darwinian way.

So next time I am out there "amongst them there English" I will pray that my guardian Angels surround and protect me from any harm.  And I will pray for the Fox and his friend, the Deer.  I hope they will be safe as they transverse the roadways and paths of modern life.

Who Rescued Who?

I bet you have seen the bumper sticker that states, "Who Rescued Who".  Well I can relate.

I met this small, shy rescue right after one of my first Cyclocross races.  She was timid and was looking to get back to her comfort spot in the kennel.  She had been snatched from the killing floor at the ASPCA in Monmouth County.  Nobody had claimed her after she was found roaming around NJ Highway 34.  She had been out on the run or dumped for at least 3 weeks.  I knew that when my wife saw her and held her, it was over with-she was coming home as soon as possible.  And I have to admit I was smitten with her shy charm and slight interest.  That is her personality, cautious when meeting strangers and reluctant to be left behind.

Now Cairo (we named her after Miguel Cairo the utility infielder), seems like she has been with us since she was born.  The Pupperooni as I call her is full of joy and has a big appetite for such a small little pup. She can talk and purr when she wants to be noticed.  Cairo loves to play in the morning and at night.  And totally sleeps most of the day, sometimes with one eye open-not to miss anything.  At 8:45 pm she is in her bed ready to take a long snooze--boy can she snore.

For me Cairo can do anything-she is a Gr-8! friend, quiet when I am working, a playmate, a  security alarm, supportive at the races and she spreads joy to all who see this eternal puppy; as we say.  Most of all she is has the ability to make me happy like a child.  I whistle a tune she knows when I am riding and doing painful intervals to take my mind to a state of fun.  I think of her in tough situations.  I feel her presence when I am alone and out of town.  If she was a human I am sure she would be a world class athlete, musician, great state-person, and a healer.

Yes, on that November day; that started with peanut butter mud, high grass and a huge effort for a man just 1 year and 8 months after open heart surgery-I met a friend for life.  The Pupperooni soothes my soul and heals my mental wounds.  She has the ability to forget and move on to a "happy place" not dwelling on the negative.  This is something I am learning from her to make my life more bountiful and enriched with positive energy, always moving forward.  

She rescued Me.  And it is a work in progress.

In search of intelligent life on the Hudson Bike Path

Recently I had a mishaps on the Hudson Bike Path near Laight Street.  It was my second close encounter this year and in the past 4 years I had a crash in that area. Once again I took a great tumble and hit the tarmac hard because of lack of communication from runners and cyclists.  If you have never had a high speed crash on the bike, well it is- let's say, not fun.  The outcome both times could have been bad, but I escaped real injury.  Although my wrist still is a bit tender and my head is still about fuzzy at times.

I am ALL for exercise and having fun.  I think it is great that ridership has grown enormously in the past 2 years with the Citi Bike Program and warmer weather.  But WE as a collective group using these bike "super highways" must learn to communicate.  Verbal is always great and definitely hand signals if you know them make a HUGE difference.  You can't turn slowly on the bike path from the far right and make a left hand turn-its called "T-bone" to the Spandex clad group.  Then we have a problem "Houston".  Flying over your handle bars is interesting but there is not a soft mat to absorb the shock.  I am not floating in antigravity like an astronaut in the Space Shuttle.  And when you hit your head as hard as I did, well stars are gonna twinkle in your blurred vision.

If you were in a car, would slow down in the far right lane on I-95 and make a left--disaster and mayhem will ensue.  So use you common sense. Telegraph what you are gonna do-hand signals, looking over your shoulder to check the coming traffic. Yes-thank you!  Join a group ride and you will learn for sure-you can ride with me and my CRCA/hatchmap Cycling Team; we will teach you and won't drop you.

In a Cyclocross race I pull over if the Masters 35 plus crowd is going to lap me in order to promote safety and not to impede the race for those who are actually going to win and receive gas money for driving 2 hours out of there way to receive pain and torture.  Well that is for another day to discuss.  But as a good sport and an unwritten rule you move over and wait; either rolling or at a full stop.

So please, please think of your fellow cyclists on these paths and communicate.  I know you are in your endorphin state of mind rolling on the road like an 8 year-old; I am too but I am doing 18-20 mph.  If you use hand signals I will slow down.  And by the way I bought one of those annoying bells and I am not afraid to "bling-bling" that thing until you get the message along with my verbal communication and hand signals.