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cycling

Greeley Grad Raises Money for Women in Kore, Ethiopia on Cross-Country Bike Trip

August 29, 2018 by Amy Kelley

On a sweltering Thursday in July, Horace Greeley ’10 grad James Rosenberg missed a phone call from a reporter.

“I ended yesterday in Hell’s Canyon,” he explained later. “They say it’s named that due to the heat but I suspect it’s due to lack of cell signal.” Ultimately though, Rosenberg proved pretty reachable for a guy on the last two weeks of a cross-country bike trip.

Rosenberg was close to achieving his goals: the completion of a ride from Yorktown, VA to Astoria, OR and his fundraising aim of $20,000 to benefit Ethiopian women in the community of Kore, Ethiopia, through a charity called ‘I Pour Life.’ Kore is a community located on a garbage dump on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa and has 100,000 residents. Many of these marginalized residents are widows, orphans and HIV/AIDS victims.

A Novice Biker

After attending Emory University in Georgia and working in corporate strategy first for Dollar Tree and then, back in New York, for JP Morgan, Rosenberg decided to get his MBA. “About two to two-and-a-half years ago I started the process of applying to business school and to keep myself sane, I planned a big trip,” Rosenberg said. He cast about for ideas and just kept coming back to consider a bike trip. “I was not a bike rider–I had to buy the bike to do this,” he added.

So Rosenberg began talking to friends about it and was put in touch with a friend’s cousin who had done an earlier ride to benefit the women of Kore. The idea felt right. “To me, it made a lot of sense to do the Ride for Kore,” Rosenberg said. ‘The Ride for Kore’ helps set up individual Ethiopian women with the security, training and financing they need to start small businesses and be self-supporting. The business-training aspect particularly resonated with Rosenberg as he headed toward business school. “It was such a perfect parallel for me I knew I had to do it,” he said.

The Training Process

In March of 2017 Rosenberg bought the bike and began to train in his New York City apartment for an hour each morning. “I was more or less sitting on my bike watching Netflix,” he said.

His upbringing in Chappaqua had prepared him to take on a long ride. “Chappaqua is definitely a town where endurance sports are big–at least they were in my life,” Rosenberg said. “I was a cross-country runner in high school so I definitely thought it’s not how fast you go as much as how long you go.”

On April 29 of this year Rosenberg began his journey. Unlike most road bikers in our area, his bike is laden with four panniers (“they’re basically saddlebags like a motorcyclist or a horseback rider would have,” he said), a sleeping mat, a tent and a place to view maps up front. That’s how he navigates–with maps provided by the Adventure Cycling Association. He pitches his tent in parks where allowed, or in other more rustic locations, and occasionally sleeps in the basements of certain churches that are open to all.

Enjoying the Ride

Rosenberg generally rides six to seven hours a day. “It sounds a bit boring but it’s incredible. You are powering yourself so every inch you go is up to you. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy each ride,” he said. “I thought that what would get me through would be music or podcasts but mostly I just listen to the sounds of nature.” When he does turn to technology for a little entertainment, Rosenberg’s favorites include NPR, classic rock and Jack Reacher novels.

Besides the ride, Rosenberg also said he enjoyed meeting so many friendly people from all across the land. “I have become such a big fan of this country, not that I wasn’t before,” he said. “Once you get out here everyone is incredibly friendly and so many people have gone out of their way to help me” with advice, dinners and even places to stay. “I’m very thankful,” Rosenberg added.

But while he’s enjoyed seeing the country, Rosenberg is clear about the main benefit of his voyage. “This ride is for Kore,” he said. “That’s the stated mission.” Rosenberg will be accepting donations at rideforkore.com for a while following the completion of his journey, which is scheduled to end on or around July 27. At press time, he had raised more than $15,000 toward his goal.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: bike, Bike Trip, Chappaqua, cross country, cycling, Ethiopia, Kore, philanthropy

The Right Path: Best Bike Trails Nearby

August 26, 2017 by Jordan Stutts

A bicyclist enjoys the North County Trailway

a leisurely ride or challenging trails, there are a number of bike paths around Armonk or Chappaqua that make for a fun outdoor weekend activity. There seems to be something for everyone along the bike trails winding through the vast woods in the area.

For Paul Toth, the North County Trailway is perfect for his son, George, to learn to ride his new bike. The trail way is 22 miles long with paved and mostly flat, shaded paths. George felt it was a little tiring, but the views are good plus he can show off his new ride to friends.

Scenic views by the North County Railway

A little to the north

Kim and Brian Kelly have stopped on the Putnam Railroad Bridge.

The old truss bridge is a continuation of the North County Trailway. When the weather is clear, a visitor can see the Croton Reservoir shimmering below and rolling green hills off in the distance.

From where they live in Somers, Kim and Brian said the ease of access to views like this is the big draw for them for biking in Westchester.

“It’s just really nice to go out your driveway and get onto a trail within five minutes,” Kim explained. By all accounts, the North County Trailway is the best destination for those needing exercise and some time outdoors. The path winds through northeastern Westchester, past farms and small towns, through tunnels and thick woods, all the way up to the Putnam County border.

The ride is what the rider makes it, a scenic tour or a cycling workout.

But despite how much sweat the rider works up, pulling off at Trailside Café in Yorktown will be worth it. Catering to North County Trailway riders, the shop offers a variety of refreshing juices, smoothies and light eating options to help fuel riders.

There are multiple points to start on the trail way but a short hill from Chappaqua’s Gedney Park along route 133 is an easy entry point to begin.

Trailside Café in Yorktown is popular fuel stop

Or go south

Head the other way on the South County Trailway for a different but still enjoyable day of cycling.

Covering 14 miles of southern Westchester, this trail still provides the scenery for a day of outdoors, but there are more options for other excursions as well. Ending at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, the South County Trailway has a number of restaurants nearby to pull off to for lunch. Stop in Tarrytown and head to Neperan Avenue for a choice of local favorites including Lefteris Gyro, the Taco Project or Eatery.

To find the beginning of South County Trailway, head to Pleasantville and hop on at the intersection of Route 117 and 9A.

Rocky and rooty

Those looking for a challenge should consider the mountain biking trails at Graham Hills Park.

The trails here are a five-mile network of narrow single-bike paths that test a rider with drop-offs, jumps and sharp inclines. Trails at Graham Hills Park begin on steep banks, uneven from roots and fallen trees and natural impediments.

To be clear, these trails are not for beginners. According to Dylan Hyman and Shawn McDonald, two bike mechanics at Hickory & Tweed, a ski and cycling shop on Armonk’s Main Street that’s been open since 1961, the trails at Graham Hills are geared for the experienced.

Both frequent mountain bikers themselves, Hymann and McDonald described the trails as “rocky and rooty,” “technical riding” that is comparable in difficulty to the black diamond rating reserved for the most challenging ski slopes.

“It’s probably good to have some mountain bike experience,” Hyman said of Graham Hills Park which is located off the Saw Mill River Parkway.

The ride is what the rider makes it, a scenic tour or a cycling workout.

Worth the view

Twenty-five miles away in Peekskill is a bike trail that opened last year and has views that promise to be worth the drive.

The South Waterfront Park and Trailway includes a 1-mile paved and level trail system running along the Hudson River. From Riverfront Green to Charles Point, this trail is more about enjoying the scenic view of the river rather than getting a good workout.

There is parking near Riverfront Green Park on Hudson Avenue.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Bicycles, Bike Riding, Bike Trails, cycling, Hickory and Tweed, trails, Westchester

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