#phillubik

[thedreamprojectnj]

Rider Blog: Phil Lubik

Now back in NJ I also find myself in unfamiliar territory which will be similar to what it will be like when we ride down the coast.  The concept was simple enough.  Ride to the beach, enjoy the weather and come home.  But using google maps for bike directions led to a 60 instruction nightmare through every backroad in New Jersey.  Paper in hand I tried to follow them street by street to Point Pleasant.  It didn't take long for me to be lost and frustrated with the directions so instead I found myself a nice well paved road, put the sun off my left shoulder and just rode.  I still have no idea how I did it but 4 hours later, with only minor help from my phone, I had sand between my toes.  Overall a success but lesson learned that we need to find a better way to do directions or come August you'll just find us chasing the sun.

Dream on, Phil Lubik

[thedreamprojectnj]

Rider Blog: Phil Lubik 

Long overdue, but so satisfying. I got to ride with Ramon Dompor, one of our co-marketing directors, in my first trail ride for the season.  

While I now have taken on road biking, I began my experience with bicycles as a trail rider.  I will never forget the guiding hand and watchful eye that first taught me how to ride a bike.  Since then I have never looked back.  In middle and high school, biking became my weekend stress relief and anti-drug.  Back home I ride at Nepaug State Forest, a trail system not too far from my house.  I’m headed back to CT tomorrow and will definitely have to spend a day or two (or three) back on those trails with the old gang.  

Ramon and I rode Six Mile Run in Franklin, NJ.  The ride is a very tricky “switchback” trail that had lots of twists and turns to keep us on our toes. Ramon got to hit a few jumps and I had a few good skinnies (log rides) that I got to try my hand at. And then as the sun set, we got to switch into night gear.  I’ve been on late afternoon and even twilight rides before, but never in the dark.  As the sun set, we were able to put on our headlamps and flashlights and keep pedaling.  

The trail was marked by reflective markers, which was OK until two of the markers moved.  Not knowing what we were looking at I was glad to see it dart away and see the brown side of a deer instead of the black of a bear.  After our hearts jumped we continued on. After a full 20 kilometers, we made it back safely to the car.  Overall, it was a good (and fun) training session on the bikes.  It also served as a nice transition from the road that I have and will see so much of this summer.  Tomorrow is a new day, gotta keep pushing and keep dreaming!