With a somewhat stressful start to the year, this winter has been one where I’ve been MORE than anxious for spring arrive. I was OUT riding this winter as soon as I was cleared from the hernia surgery and I gotta say … I’m not sure if I’ve ever been happier getting back on the bike after an intermission. Weather be damned, I don’t let cold and snow and ice get in the way of a great ride. Studded fat bike tires are the enabling technology if ya like living around here. Yet, this winter has NOT been one of Rochester’s “most impressive”. According to the Golden Snowball, we are about 12 inches behind schedule: 83 vs the 95 inches average to date (3/23/22) and will likely yield this year’s award to Buffalo .... again.  ;-)

Mid-March, I needed to squeeze in one more (?) cool ride on possibly one of our last snowy days of the season.

And just three days later - POP goes spring, sunshine, warm temps (hit 70!), and the first “longer” ride of the season. I was due for a coffee at Dalai Java in C-Daigua!

Warmer weather and longer days also lure friends out on their bikes, so no surprise, Andy has a day free and we do the “Spring Spin” around the bay before the bay outlet crossing sadly slams shut for the season. (Note how that’s worded.) I have more free time than Andy and Karen, so I supplement the ride with an extra loop of my own.

A bit cooler the following day, I have some “research” to do. I’m excitedly watching the continuing upgrades to the Genesee Valley Greenway. New York Parks (formally known as “OPRHP” or “Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Reservation” - seriously?) resurfaced the Scottsburg to Avon section last year and are working on the Scottsburg - Ballantyne section this year. Step one involves establishing a track for the hard base that follows.

I met a worker at the Brooks road crossing who told me the expected completion should be around mid June. Hmmm … maybe in time for another southbound S24H … or longer? Who’s in?

I had to jump off the trail at Brooks because the equipment was working south of there, so I took a paved bypass down to Scottsville. Sadly, I met an innocent victim of road rage (f***ing cars!) along the way, and moved him off the asphalt and into the grass. Ya know … I don’t see murdered animals on the side of bike trails. Just sayin’.

At Wadsworth Junction, I turn east across the Genny and lazily cruise the length of the Lehigh Valley Trail through Rush, Rochester Junction, and Mendon to the Auburn Trail connection. Along the way, I see a new development … a creative and natural solution to improve a hikers’ experience in low lying sections.

Anyway, I wrapped up the day with 57 miles on my slightly modified “5 Trail Loop” … the first of likely several runs this coming year(s).

​And ya know what’s REALLY cool about SPRING? It means my skinny bikes can finally come out and play too.

Got some very preliminary ideas for this year's Adventures, and one already locked in:
https://neparkinsonsride.org/the-ride
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