Well Sunday I did the Farm to Fork ride in Pine Island NY. This is an organized road ride through the countryside. They have 10, 30, 50, 70 mile rides. I signed up for the 10 mile. I would do more, but not 30, I’d like about 15, or 20. I know the route the 30 is, because I’ve walked some of it in the past. These events are new to me, I did one last year put on by a Bergen County club. Well let me tell ya. This Farm to Fork falls way short of the Bergen County one. Most people at today’s event thought it was great, me not so much. I guess I just got spoiled by the Bergen ride. There were about 20 people on today’s ride in my group, when they asked how many are doing this for the first time, about 70% put their hands up. They give you a queue sheet with the road names and turns listed. That’s it. I will say that the roads are also marked with painted arrows. As we took off, I crept up from about 10th., to the leader and fell into 2nd place. This is not a race, but a ride, I just liked being up front. About three miles in I realized that there is no leader, it’s every man for himself, you‘re on your own. There is no waiting for others to catch up, you just do the ride. The Bergen ride had a leader and a sweeper. Everyone rode as a group and waited for everyone to catch up. Not so today. I know the roads, so it doesn’t matter to me, but with all the new riders I felt it should be more organized. To compare to the Bergen ride, at Bergen when you arrive in the morning and get your packet, you then go to the breakfast buffet, with eggs, toast, juice, coffee, donuts, fruit and more I can’t even remember. Today’s ride you get your packet and that’s it. Nothing else, just wait around to ride. After the ride you get your medal for doing the ride and go to the buffet. You’re allowed one small cup of wine and you get a 5 x 8 cardboard plate for your food. No coming back for seconds. Everything was served cold, the 4 inch piece of corn, the string beans, a weird pasta like salad. No salt, or pepper. Not spectacular like the Bergen ride that had hot and cold food and as much as you wanted, plus drinks.
I’m still glad I did this event, I’m not a big eater anyway and I had a great time. The other riders were amazing, happy and friendly. The ride itself was nice too, great country roads. The one aid station had big jugs of water available, no cups though, I guess you’re supposed to just refill what you brought with you. They had some small apple pie kind of cakes, but for some reason they had bacon in them. WTF. Not god for a vegetarian. They did have one other very bland kind of small cake. Bergen ride had fresh fruit, like strawberries and bananas and apples, plus water and juices and cakes and PJ sandwiches, and this is all at the aid station. That’s why I said I guess I was spoiled. I did have fun, but wouldn’t do it again. I enjoyed my glass of wine, and then bought a glass of whiskey, and bought a glass of their beer, which was served from a different tent.
The aid station
Beer
Whiskey
Rider
