from the ‘in other moos’ dept:
What a weekend, where to start?
Friday night wasn’t all that exciting, just a ride in Prospect Park (15 miles), a trip to Lowe’s for some shelving, and early to bed. I didn’t get much sleep though, as I was eagerly anticipating the First Real Moto Ride of the season. Sure, I’ve done some commuting and two track days, but Saturday was the first spirited ride since November, so I was all aflutter. See that seperate post for details. 
After the ride, Dan and Catherine and I caught some dinner at the new Paris Diner in my hood. Mmm, grilled cheese with bacon and ‘maters. I was so bushed from the long moto ride and the good food that I all but fell asleep while watching Bewitched that night. Not that it would be easy to stay awake during that snoozer …
Blake knocked on me door bright and early on Sunday, for my first Road Ride (bicycle this time) … ever. I’ve done some miles on the Cannondale, sure, but this was my first non-solo. The day was perfect (60s, crystal blue skies, light traffic), except for the killer winds out by the water, and on the trip home … I chased Blake’s lycra’d behind for 30 miles all morning, as we took Bedford all the way South to the waterfront, and crossed the Marine Pkwy Bridge and got a wind-push all the way West to Breezy Point park. After a refuel (mmm, tuna on whole wheat) we rode into that same wind back to the bridge, crossed it again (them fence bars are trippy!) and banged a left out the bike path to Canarsie Pier. I stretched my back a bit, and then we hoofed it for home.
We ran into a few other riders out there, but less than I thought we would. Get out there, people!
Some of the bridges between Floyd Bennett Field and Canarsie Pier are in horrible condition. I thought I was going to lose a tire on rusty section of metal sidewalk more than once … and the bikeways are super narrow. No pressure tho, you only have the Belt Parkway traffic doing 75 about 3 feet over there, you can relax.
I made it through the morning, and was only dropped by Blake (Ms. “20 on the flats”) a few times. Thanks so much for taking me out for a great morning, killer!
After a stretch and a shower, I hightailed it into the city for an EMT study session at Thompkins Sq Park. I met Nicole there, and we sat in the sun and quizzed each other (and people-watched) for about an hour. Then we got thirsty. So we wandered the East Village for a while, and settled on a place where she, a recent vegetarian, could nab some grindage.
We went to Common Ground, and amazing bar with a horrid name. Sounds like a college campus coffee shop. But the food was killer — we had an artichoke panini with goat cheese … feta pita points with an olive+onion chutney … and brie with this great apricot mustard. No lie.
Man, I love the East Village.
So that was the weekend. Pretty good. One last thing, though … since it was such a beautiful day, I rode the Trek out to the Park again. Another 16 miles under the belt. The Trek, with its wide tires and heavier body, is a beeyatch to get up those hills though. Guess I should stick with the R1000, eh? But man, the park is so beautiful in the Spring …
I’m off to the diner for some foodage. Ciao!
