Last week, our spring training series began with a 30 and 35 miler. This week we up the ante -- but in a comfortable increment -- 40, 45 -- that is easily manageable.

We'll meet up at 9 AM at 72 & Riverside, at the Eleanor Roosevelt statue, then ride to 177 & Fort Washington (arriving at 9:45-10AM) to meet anyone who wants to take the A train uptown to 175 (first car, take elevator to the street; wait for us there at 177 and Fort Washington). This will be an intermediate ride with a stop at our favorite halfway point,  New Bridge Landing, a Revolutionary-era swing bridge across the tidal Hackensack River where George Washington slept after a hasty retreat from New York. We'll lunch in Westwood, where some of us can dine at the Rolling Pin Cafe (usually crowded), or Pompilio's for family-style pizza or It's Greek to Me, for a Greco-Feta version. Eat hearty: Our return to NYC is via Old Piermont Highway and a finale across the dreaded Palisades. (Get those grannies greased up!) As an added reprieve: those who want a few miles, lunch, and no climbs can take the train back to the city from Westwood.

Here's a map, cue, and elevation.