A Bicycle Adventure Outside NYC

GUEST POST BY KAREEMAH ASHIRU OF HIJABI GLOBETROTTER

New York City has been the Coronavirus epicenter in the U.S. Hospitals were filled to the brim with COVID patients. Many residents fled the city to less crowded locations. Restaurants closed down, millions lost their jobs and healthcare benefits, and the streets nearly emptied. One could count on fingertips how many people walked through Time Square - an almost unimaginable scene. In a rare moment in history, the world paused and allowed us humans to self-reflect and reevaluate our lifestyles.

I was lucky to work remotely in NYC and save money. My days during quarantine consisted of me waking up, showering, working, eating, watching Netflix, talking to family, and sleeping. I didn’t dare get on the subway. I survived on through this routine, living like an underground mole, for 5 months straight. In addition to this vicious cycle, I would constantly doom scroll on social media for an amount of time I’m too embarrassed to mention. After which I would feel horrible about life. Everywhere I turned seemed grim, from the group Whatsapp messages of friends or friend's family dying from COVID19 to the injustices facing Black Americans. These events took a toll on my physical and mental well being. I was losing hope and spark for the things I loved.

As someone who grew up in Ohio, I was used to being in large spaces and open fields. I envied my friends who got to enjoy these luxuries. I craved nature, fresh air, and even riding a bicycle past a corn field. These were priceless gifts I once took for granted.

One day, while "doomscrolling" on Instagram, I came across a post by someone sharing her recent experience frolicking in nature with her bicycle at a Bicycle Inn. It was the inspiration I so desperately needed, so I wasted no time booking a weekend getaway with my sister at the Stony Brookside Bed and Bike Inn.

Located in the small town of Stony Brook is this charming inn. Managed by the lovely couple Elyse and Marty, who also happen to be bicycle aficionados. The couple has taken part in bicycle tours around the world and the U.S.

At the inn, my sister and I were served scrumptious Breakfast during our stay. For social distance purposes the guest bookings were limited to less than 10 guests. Masks were to be worn inside the inn. Elyse and Marty assigned us a bicycle for the weekend, each adjusted to our comfort. We were given the option of either self-guided rides or guided rides. They’ve created destination paths which include: local historical points of interest, wine trails, The Hamptons, hidden beaches etc. My sister and I chose a Self-Guided Ride to the Stony Brook Beach.

Riding my bicycle past the luscious green trees, inhaling their woody smell as a light breeze embraced me was enough to give me an unexplainable feeling of joy and freedom. Before you get all nature dreamy here, I must add that StonyBrook is a hilly town. So although we enjoyed the fresh air, we also had to pedal a bit harder once we reached the steep parts of town. I am not an athletic person but I think riding up those hills gave me enough workout sessions for the year. It took us 20 mins to get to the clean, quiet and stony beach. Upon which, we laid there for hours while listening to the calm waves. We ended our adventure to a hearty Italian dinner at Pentimento.

Nature has a way of healing us and I think that was just what it did for me at Stony Brook, New York. In case it inspired others, I shared a video of my experience.

The pause from COVID has made us clearly identify what is essential in our lives and the wise understand that health comes first. In the midst of it all, there are some positive changes. According to Market Watch:

Bicycle sales in the U.S. saw its biggest spike in April since the oil crisis of the 1970s
There’s less traffic than before in NYC
More people are opting for riding a bicycle other than taking the subway or driving to work

Hopefully, this trend continues to inspire a more eco-conscious lifestyle and way of traveling and exploring the earth. A UC Davis article states that widespread adoption of cycling worldwide could decrease carbon emissions by 11 percent by 2050.

So, what are you waiting for? Why not grab a bike, burn some calories, protect yourself, and protect the earth. I’ll see you on the road :)