East Coast Syndicate Tackles the Nuclear Winter

With the onslaught of global warming we here at the East Coast Syndicate continue every Sunday morning doing our best to curtail the emission of noxious gases (at least from the tailpipes of automobiles) by setting out on our weekly 2 hour singlespeed-a-thon in the Newburgh version of Nottingham Forest - Stewart State Park.
As the season rolls on more and more riders are unknowingly getting sucked into the vortex of the New East Coast Syndicate. Taking advantage of the skills of CIA handlers and past brushes with subliminal mind control techniques, the members of the Sunday rides are showing a superior attitude and superior state of mind. No amount of snow or ice, frigid temperature or hunter in the woods has been able to stop the onslaught of a battalion of single speed maniacs combating the elements in search of the perfect winter single track.

The Sunday Crew - Sans Hawaiian Mike (no surprise there)

Unlike our brothers in the heartland of global brewing - St. Louis - who if lucky are able to squeeze one or two of these magnificent rides in a year, we have been blessed/cursed (depending on your state of mind) with these conditions for the last 9 straight weekends. Today the conditions proved to be better then usual with temperatures finally getting into the double digits without the wind chill and the icy conditions buried under another 6" of fresh pow. Most of the trails well tracked and packed by snowmobiles but on occasion we were able to get in some fresh ones like this quick shot down the hill.

C-Dubs taking the plunge

The highlight of the ride came as the Mayor led his pack of merry men out onto the reservoir for a lap on the ice. It is here that we are all able to hone our aikido like skills of balance and quick reflexes for the summer races/wrist snapping. There is nothing quite like seeing a pace line of riders spinning along on the glassy surface and one by one suddenly riders are hitting the deck in spectacular fashion. Even the ice fisherman were able to emerge from the haze of alcohol and various illegal substances just long enough to get in a couple of chuckles before focusing intently on trying to bag that record breaking perch.
With everyone having taken enough of a beating on the ice and Shop Sidekick's voice fading into the distance from laughing so hard at the ice capades, we all elected to take the most direct route back to the parking lot and partake in the traditional Dark Horse Cycle debrief - cold growlers of IPA. With the forecast calling for more snow this week it seems like there won't be any let up. But there is always a bright side to all of this, the snowbank keeps the beer nice and cold.