The Water Mill Village Green was filled with cyclists, pie and volunteers on Saturday as The Ride to Montauk rolled into town.
The Ride to Montauk starts at Madison Square Garden in New York City and spans all the way to the infamous Montauk lighthouse. The Village Green in Water Mill served as one of six rest stops throughout Long Island for cyclists.
“There’s a certain nostalgia with this event,” said Marcus Bonnée, the manager working with Ride to Montauk at the Water Mill rest stop. “I’ve been talking with people who have ridden before… It’s a magical journey, I guess.”
Cyclists start at various points on Long Island depending on their bicycle riding skill level. Some started at the beginning in Manhattan, which is about a 152-mile trip—others started in Shirley Mastic.
“It really caters to people,” Bonnée said, comparing it to other fitness related outings where he has worked throughout the tri-state area, such as The New York City Marathon and The New York City Bike Tour.
Bikers Paul Costagliola of White Plains, N.Y., 54; Frank Modprsitzki of Brooklyn, N.Y., 45; and Steve Rowley of Kendall Park, N.J., 50; rode together. The trio had originally met at another cycling event in Iowa.
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Cyclists arrive at the Water Mill Village Green rest stop on Saturday during the annual Ride to Montauk. (Photo: Chelsea Katz) |
In addition, Rowley, who grew up in the Hamptons, used the event as an excuse to come back home. The three started in Shirley and agreed that their favorite part of the Water Mill rest stop was the pie from Briermere Farms in Riverhead.
Riders Laura Supper, 43, and Steve Locurcio, 46, of Astoria, Queens, chose to participate for fun. “It’s really well done,” Supper said. “This one is really well produced.”
Waiting in Water Mill to help out the cyclists with water, pie, bread and hummus were individual volunteers and cause groups.
Langston Goree VI volunteered as a public relations liaison between the Ride to Montauk team and Southampton police. He helped arrange for extra police officers on the road and to make sure that the Ride would not affect day-to-day activities in the Hamptons.
“To make sure problem free, all riders get the message while riding through Southampton to be courteous, ride in single file and obey all traffic laws,” he said.
Some groups included The Henry Viscardi School (based in Albertson), The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training (locally based in Hauppauge.)
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A participant arrives at the Water Mill Village Green rest stop, which had volunteers serving water and pie. (Photo: Chelsea Katz) |
Team in Training is a group that supports blood cancer patients and their families and helping them engage in endurance activities such as cycling, hiking, marathons and triathlons. The Viscardi School and Center serves physically disabled students in the New York City and Long Island area. They use the Ride for fundraising for the school, according to Development Associate and Alumna Susan M. Quinn.
“Some wanted to good and they found us,” said Tara Spohrer, a senior campaign manager for the Hauppauge chapter of Team in Training.
John Lynch, 53, a volunteer from East Northport with Team In Training, said that he was mainly donating his time to support his friend Gideon, who is preparing to undergo a stem cell transplant. His wife was also riding to Montauk.
“You get an opportunity to help people that have found themselves with a diagnosis that we all dread,” Lynch said.
Teresa Cassidy, 57, a volunteer from Merrick with LLS and T&T and friend of Gideon’s and the Lynch’s chose to be there to help for a cause.
“It’s a great cause,” Cassidy said. “There are great people doing it.”
For more information visit www.ridetomontauk.com.
