THE MERRILL PAGES

Bicycling in the snow in February 2009

Started February 1, 2009 bicycling to snow covered places.  It was a nice ride to the lakes in Tarrytown (Westchester, New York) to see the kids playing hockey and skating on the frozen river. Myself, beyond recognition (so clothed up)  had to be content to stand at the river's age before the bicycle wheels sink in some soft spot of the frozen river.  There are no shortcuts to anyplace going.  Many people make new year resolutions to exercise and only break them before March or April. If you must start exercising, do it now.  If your self-motivation is on a low-ebb, get a friend or relative to plod you along and monitor your progress.

Bicycling in the snow - winter Jan 2009

In 1997 I traded the second car we owned for a bicycle and never felt the need to get another car. I have spent the past decade transforming other people to get fit by bicycling, swimming or walking/running.  I have been a long distance swimmer, long distance runner and lately a long-distance bicyclist.  However, my long distance bicycling is long for my age and environment and is no comparison to the extraordinary long distance riders.  If a 70-100 mile bicycle ride is not long for a 66-year old, then what is long?  I cycle in all seasons of the year and hope to try out snow bicycling with snow-studded tires soon and some adventure rides (basically not knowing what is on the other side).

What else could a biker do?

It was a cool spring morning when I set out on a long bike ride. Never expected anyone to ask for help other than fixing a flat on the bike path.

SWIMMING IN THE RAIN

In Florida recently I did not know what to do outdoors with so much rainfall. It was not a time for a slow jog, walk or bike ride. But then it dawned on me that swimming gets you wet any way, so why just not swim in the rain.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!

It was a nice ride on the North County trail one recent Saturday morning. You can be me or more than me if you make the move. Age is never a barrier. Now this is some small talk to inspire you to start moving again.

FALL BIKING

Fall is beautiful in Northern Westchester, New York. Here are some pictures taken in October 2006 of some bicycle stops on my long rides along the North County Bicycle trail in Westchester.

And the rider

And my favorite bicycle is the Trek Touring bike 520