A Tale of Two Trails

Total for this ride: 14.3 miles
Total for this year: 1597.1 miles

An RIT group ride from Scottsville to Rush and back along the Genesee Valley Greenway and the Lehigh Valley Trail, both former railways.

I think this was probably my first time on the Greenway this year.  For good reason.  I really have to be in the right state of mind to ride it.  It's almost completely unimproved, practically primitive, with lots of roots and ruts and rocks that do nothing but slow you down.  Fortunately, we were only on it for about 2.5 miles before we took a left turn onto the Lehigh Valley, which, as a Monroe County "linear park", is in much better shape.  It starts with a cool old train bridge over the Genesee River.  I remember the first time I saw that bridge several years ago it was closed while work was being done to allow hikers, bikers, and horses to safely pass.  A sign as you approach the bridge demands that cyclists dismount and walk their bikes across (supposedly so you don't spook any horses?).  Nobody does.  After crossing the bridge, it's about 5 miles on the Lehigh Valley until we reach the Village of Rush.  Not much to do there except turn around and go back.

The pace on the return trip was achingly slow (not that I couldn't have gone faster... but it's a group ride you know...).  So even though this was a short ride, it was after 7 pm by the time we got back to Scottsville.  Seems like every year at this time my patience for the group rides starts to wear thin...  Some people ride too slow.  Some have too many problems with their bikes.  Some talk too much.  I just want to put in my miles in peace.