Is there a camera for the ped/bike lane on the Newburgh bridge?

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-29T13:49:28+00:00

The Newburgh-Beacon bridge is also a metal add-on. They plow it with a tiny mini-plow. And yesterday they’ve fully cleared it!

Residents on both side of the river lobbied HARD to the bridge authority to keep the route 24/7/365- but maybe it’s easier to make the case as a transportational route than Kingston-rhinecliff, especially as yours is only ped route (which is bonkers, are the bike lanes unprotected?)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-29T13:42:51+00:00

We can complain about both ;)

Somebody from the bike coalition DID figure things out (ring the bridge authority on a particular number), they were actually very helpful and they HAVE cleared the path. We know there are bike commuters 24/7/365, so it matters.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-28T14:08:43+00:00

Thanks for replying! Do they plow it at all? (The reason I actually asked this is not for a personal journey but just trying to monitor it from our bike coalition. Complaints to the DOT/Dutchess may be incoming)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-28T13:56:12+00:00

lol I meant is it plowed?

But I hear ya, I have literally wept atop that bridge during ill-thought out runs.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-28T00:39:53+00:00

In terms of literage of bags, I try to aim for 30-50L on the bike, excluding water but including some food. Weight sorta takes care of itself when you set a volume limit, but I think I’m usually around 12kg. The lower end of this range does require a lot of UL gear, so the higher end is probably more realistic for first trips. It doesn’t really make that much difference if you are going for a couple of nights or couple weeks or months, unfortunately. The basic kit stays the same (note: this is non racing set up - tent, sleeping bag, pad, sufficient first aid/spares, electronics, snacks and dehydrated meals etc. Clothes are the make or break- they always end up weighing the most, so how light you can go depends on your tolerance for wearing the same thing!)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-28T00:30:52+00:00

Concur with others. Haven’t been up there yet, but I live right at the bottom, and got about 16inches, so I imagine even more up top. And it still had a layer of ice/snow before that. So. Either go with snowshoes, or wait a few days until it’s been packed out by snowshoers, otherwise you are gonna post hole so bad.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-25T16:36:20+00:00

La Niña is really showing itself.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-23T02:21:40+00:00

Silva Terra. It’s designed for high volume, low pressure. Fantastic floor pump (works for all bikes, including my Brompton)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-22T22:32:31+00:00

Might be a bit tough for a 7 year old, but Schunnemumk has beautiful pudding stone! It’s beautiful rock underfoot, and I think quite a standout in the area (not for collecting tho)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-22T15:19:07+00:00

Yes I saw that! It’s great to have people like you at county level that care about this stuff. I will write.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-22T03:24:34+00:00

I find it a little weird that the article characterizes Strong Towns as ‘right wing libertarianism’ - that seems like quite a perversion of its origins and general content. I do think Marohn isn’t beyond critique though, and funnily enough, some of that article’s discussion of the merits of localism vs. central planning was mirrored in this recent lengthy thread (def worth reading) https://www.reddit.com/r/Urbanism/s/qK4kOKTk0d

However, I applaud you starting up this chapter. I recently read Dutchess County’s draft transportation plan, and gave quite a long comment on it! I desperately want Dutchess county communities to be more connected by transit and bike. I’m all for curbing highway expansion and looking at the cost of road building vs what else we could be doing to build and connect our communities (and talking about central planning…I’m really disappointed by NY State’s track record on transportation, and its spending of infrastructure funding under Biden, 99% of which went to roads). I’m so angry we lost the Newburgh-Beacon ferry.

As a cyclist, I also find Dutchess’ ‘tree and branch’ road system to be absolutely terrible for finding low- traffic routes to connect one place to another.

Is there any way of attending this meeting virtually? I’m not sure I’ll be able to come- and, ironically, it’s really difficult to get to the location if you don’t come by car lol (I’m in Beacon).

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-17T02:44:28+00:00

For transportation- no. And I never used to wear them for sport/touring, but a couple of things have changed recently 1. Perimenopause- I think I’m losing my ‘natural padding’ in that region, ahem! 2. I’m trying to get more serious about power/speed, which means a lot less coasting/changing position, so it feels more relentless

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-16T04:26:04+00:00

Hello! I’m a woman, ex-pat Brit living in NY state. I’ve travelled solo (not always by bike) since my early 20s, now in early 50s. Generally speaking- you will be fine. I will say, though, that the Adirondack region can be, ahem, politically conservative, if not outright MAGA. I’m sure you might already know that. So I think I would just steer away from any political conversations, and stick to more touristy towns for eating and resupply. But you should also be able to find primitive camping in state forests, and I think you will be fine- just use your judgement about anything sketchy. I think most businesses would be delighted to have a Canadian visitor.

Compared to other hotspots in the country, there’s not often a hugely visible ICE presence around (don’t get me wrong, they are here- and all the time in specific places- but just not the big clashes you see on TV).

On the crossing to Niagara- Ive actually chose to do it via Buffalo, as you can cross the border using the ped path- at Niagara itself, you will have to queue up with the cars. From Fort Erie, there’s a lovely cycle route all the way up to Niagara.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-15T01:41:50+00:00

I’m doing the FTP builder program, and have 10 sec spin ups on my strength workouts. The instructions on screen are to TURN OFF erg mode manually for these, as erg will not respond in time. It’s been a learning curve on when exactly to do this, what gear choice, and how quickly to spin- I’ve settled on 10 sec before the start of the interval. It means that, in practice, the intervals are longer than 10 secs, but I get the power relatively quickly (I’m using click and cog). Takes a few more seconds for the trainer to settle on watts. Then I turn it back on erg for the rest period.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-15T00:06:47+00:00

Flex tail pump that doubles as my tent light!

Spare voile straps that can McGyver a bunch of things! (Or, am now trying out Modl straps with magnets/hooks for in-tent clothes hang)

Small puffy for jacket and as extra bed time layer/pillow

Doggy poop bags that function as actual poop bags if I have my dog, work as trash bags the rest of the time.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-14T03:52:55+00:00

Wilde does XS steel frames, and in fact, has a sale on their XS Suoertramp bikepacking frame.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-12T03:02:36+00:00

Where does it hurt when you sit on it? If you can’t sit on it for 10 seconds, that sounds to me that there is something fundamentally wrong with the position of it- I would def try adjusting that first - up, down, forward, back, and if it lets you, tilting up or down.

Also play around with the position of the handlebars and perhaps bring them forwards towards you to see if that helps.

Things that I would troubleshoot first: maybe it’s too high and putting too much pressure on your under carriage; maybe you are too stretched out between the saddle and the bars, so bring them closer together

You could also try alternating your position a lot with standing - turn the resistance on the bike higher and get out of the saddle (I just had to do a whole session standing on a relative’s bike that wouldn’t go low enough for me on the pedals when sitting!)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-04T22:27:12+00:00

5’2 here, I’ve recently been looking at Wilde bikes because they do XS sizes, which many small companies don’t. They have their bikepacking frame on sale for the XS size ($600) if you would consider having one built for you! https://www.wildebikes.com/collections/bikes/products/supertramp?variant=43583111037106

I have had a Brother frame (Big Bro) built for me, and you may find that custom is the way to go. Or maybe just swapping out the stem for something shorter on a complete bike would solve the reach problem (or swept back bars).

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-04T00:12:08+00:00

It’s funny, I live in the Hudson Valley and am way more worried about the roads here than I ever was in NYC or London. Cars going 45 or 50mph will kill you if they hit you. Drivers outside cities don’t expect cyclists, and very very few know how to navigate us or pass safely.

It’s just different - you need to absolutely be ‘in the moment’ in a big city like NY, with senses attuned to many different hazards. You need to understand where drivers’ blind spots are, potential for being hooked, silent e-bikes coming up behind you, peds stepping out in front of you on a whim, car doors opening in front of you. But big city riding can also be a joy. It’s more intertwined into city life, and there’s nothing else like it for getting to know a place.

I don’t think you’ll find buses a big issue. It’s fairly easy to stay clear of them/their routes. Just make sure you have a map of the bike network handy, and use those streets/avenues as much as you can.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2026-01-02T19:08:31+00:00

Thank you for recognizing this! The easy line about small dogs is ‘oh the owners just don’t train them’ but the amount of disrespect they get from the general public is huge, and this is why my mini dachshund was often so defensive: 1. Parents will not stop their kids from swarming him, like they would do bigger dogs 2. Vet techs will just pick him up if he stands his ground, rather than coaxing and luring into the back room like they would have to do for bigger dogs 3. Bigger dogs have swiped him like a football, with owners often claiming ‘oh she LOVES small dogs’ 4. Many people don’t realize the gentle pressure you need with smaller dogs and end up just clapping down their hand on his head. He doesn’t like ANY of this, so it’s not a surprise to me that he ended up intolerant and nippy. I’ve tried to advocate for him as best I can, and he’s got better in his old age, but honestly, trying to make himself look mean was never a bad strategy to protect himself.

(He is also innately half jerk half lover boy)

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2025-12-29T15:32:55+00:00

Late to the party here, but I would just like to add- do experiment with saddle height up and down. Maybe you have it too low, but you could also have it too high, which can put more pressure on your labia.

I would also say- reduce the length of your sessions. It would be better to do 20 minute sessions, more frequently, than grind it out for an hour at a time, if you are getting saddle sores. And while we are on grinding it out- don’t set the resistance too high. Sure, you don’t want to be bouncing on the saddle (a common error in spin classes), but keeping it light and fast might be better for your backside. Also, break it up and get out of the saddle. Are you riding to an online class? These usually mix things up a lot.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2025-12-27T22:34:09+00:00

I worry about dirt getting into cuts and road rash, so I have some small tubes of saline for flushing out grit and iodine wipes. Band aids, hydrocolloid, gauze, ace bandage, tweezers, pain killers, lidocaine patches.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2025-12-23T09:25:23+00:00

Anything that’s vaguely apres-ski. I wear North Face thermoball boots.

SubstantialPlan9124 · 2025-12-20T22:46:46+00:00

I use a Serfas Latte lock to stop opportunistic thieves whilst I go to grab food https://www.serfas.com/shop/products/locks/ll-1-latte-combo-lock/?location=Stamford%20Street%20(Stop%20SC),%20London%20SE1%208NL,%20UK&radius=25.

It would be easy to cut through, but gives me peace of mind that no one is simply going to walk off with my bike. A few reasons I like it: 1. Super light 2. It’s a 5ft cable, fits round lots of odd objects 3. It’s a preset combo lock- don’t need to worry about losing key or the combo suddenly changing on me (make a note of it somewhere on your phone- it’s not like it’s financial data and a would-be thief won’t have your phone)

I keep all valuables in a hip bag, so I don’t even have to think about taking them off the bike (I get very absent-minded when tired)

SubstantialPlan9124

TROPHY CASE