80.1 miles of cycling today starting out in Bath, NY at 9:30 A.M. and arriving in Olean, NY at 6:30 P.M. Good weather all of the way. Very scenic areas. Like life, it’s a little tougher to ride on your own. But it’s great to have Carlin as my support person, on the bike ride too. Again, lots of rural areas, little towns with a wide variation of economic prosperity. We continued on New York Bike Route 17 passing through such towns as Howard, North Hornell, Almond, Andover, Wellsville, Allentown, Kossuth, Little Gennesee, Ceres, Portville, Westons Mills, and finally the big town where we’re staying, Olean, NY. New York Route 17 is a signed bicycle route that passes through the southern tier of New York from Newburgh to Erie, PA.
New York bike route 17 is quite unique in that it has a special sign for cyclists even though one may be changing from one route to another it’s always got the cycling route 17 on it. This makes it a lot easier for cyclists to travel across the state because you can be assured (most of the time) that the routes are safe with wide shoulders or with little or no traffic. Tomorrow is our last day on New York bike route 17 for another 50 miles through Jamestown, NY. From there we’ll be heading south west another 30 miles to Corning, PA. We’ll be a bit more challenged as there are no posted cycling routes and we’ve put together detailed maps of what we’ve researched to be safe cycling routes.
Tonight’s our last night in New York State. We’re staying in the old convent for St. John’s Parish in Olean thanks to the hospitality of Fr. Ed Sheedy. We met up with Fr. Ed at 6:30 P.M. when we arrived here. He was most gracious in showing us around the parish grounds and then taking us out to dinner.
Tomorrow’s another shot for the previously mentioned animal dilemma so Carlin and I will be up early so that I can get to the ER, get my shot, and away we go.
By the way, Olean, New York is the home to St. Bonaventure University. More about that tomorrow.
Unique for today - two flats. Some of the roads that I road the last two days had some sharp objects and big cracks. Riding the Madonne with the 700 x 23 tires I’m not surprised that I flatted. Tomorrow, seeing the types of roads that I’ll ride and having gotten two flats today, I’m switching to the Ion with 700x32 tires. Saturday I’m taking off from riding as scheduled. My body needs the rest and I need to attend to the mechanicals on the bikes so that they’re functioning a little better given the beating they’ve been through the last few days.
About those two flats. Amazing. In the middle of nowhere I got a flat. And wouldn’t you know it that not just one good samaritan stopped to help but a second one also stopped. I am equipped to repair the tires as I always carry two tubes and two CO2 cylinders. Two young women stopped and one asked if I knew what I was doing. I presumed she was talking about fixing the tire. Maybe she was wondering overall, "Do you know what you’re doing?" There’s not enough time here to answer that one. But, I’ll mull it over tomorrow as I continue on my trek back to Chicago which I do know is the right direction to be going.
Lesson from the bike seat: When your tire goes flat, even if you know what you’re doing, others will be there to help.
Some stats for today: Highest speed: 32.8 mph; Average 13.8; Total distance ridden: 80.1 miles. Cream Sodas drank: 2; Pepsi: 5 (I know, I’m sorry); Cheeseburgers: 2. Bagels: 2.
See you tomorrow.
New York bike route 17 is quite unique in that it has a special sign for cyclists even though one may be changing from one route to another it’s always got the cycling route 17 on it. This makes it a lot easier for cyclists to travel across the state because you can be assured (most of the time) that the routes are safe with wide shoulders or with little or no traffic. Tomorrow is our last day on New York bike route 17 for another 50 miles through Jamestown, NY. From there we’ll be heading south west another 30 miles to Corning, PA. We’ll be a bit more challenged as there are no posted cycling routes and we’ve put together detailed maps of what we’ve researched to be safe cycling routes.
Tonight’s our last night in New York State. We’re staying in the old convent for St. John’s Parish in Olean thanks to the hospitality of Fr. Ed Sheedy. We met up with Fr. Ed at 6:30 P.M. when we arrived here. He was most gracious in showing us around the parish grounds and then taking us out to dinner.
Tomorrow’s another shot for the previously mentioned animal dilemma so Carlin and I will be up early so that I can get to the ER, get my shot, and away we go.
By the way, Olean, New York is the home to St. Bonaventure University. More about that tomorrow.
Unique for today - two flats. Some of the roads that I road the last two days had some sharp objects and big cracks. Riding the Madonne with the 700 x 23 tires I’m not surprised that I flatted. Tomorrow, seeing the types of roads that I’ll ride and having gotten two flats today, I’m switching to the Ion with 700x32 tires. Saturday I’m taking off from riding as scheduled. My body needs the rest and I need to attend to the mechanicals on the bikes so that they’re functioning a little better given the beating they’ve been through the last few days.
About those two flats. Amazing. In the middle of nowhere I got a flat. And wouldn’t you know it that not just one good samaritan stopped to help but a second one also stopped. I am equipped to repair the tires as I always carry two tubes and two CO2 cylinders. Two young women stopped and one asked if I knew what I was doing. I presumed she was talking about fixing the tire. Maybe she was wondering overall, "Do you know what you’re doing?" There’s not enough time here to answer that one. But, I’ll mull it over tomorrow as I continue on my trek back to Chicago which I do know is the right direction to be going.
Lesson from the bike seat: When your tire goes flat, even if you know what you’re doing, others will be there to help.
Some stats for today: Highest speed: 32.8 mph; Average 13.8; Total distance ridden: 80.1 miles. Cream Sodas drank: 2; Pepsi: 5 (I know, I’m sorry); Cheeseburgers: 2. Bagels: 2.
See you tomorrow.
