Neighbors

Biking for a cause

Wantagh resident completes 24-hour ride at Cedar Creek Park

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Phil Kingsbury never knew Matthew Scarpati, the 19-year-old from Dix Hills who was killed while traveling the bike path along the Wantagh Parkway nearly six years ago. But that has not stopped the Wantagh resident, an avid biker, from honoring the man whose death prompted a host of safety changes along the road.

Last week, Kingsbury, 61, a retired sheet metal work, completed a 24-hour bike ride at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford for the second time. He rode 365 miles from 6 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday, which would have been Scarpati’s 25th birthday. Factoring in water, food and bathroom breaks, Kingsbury rode for 22 hours and 10 minutes.

The left lane on the road around the park was closed off for Kingsbury, and each loop was .93 miles. He was often joined by other bikers there to support his effort. Kingsbury said he never felt tired, and his legs were strong throughout.

Last year, he completed 381.9 miles in 23:06. He said he was hoping to top last year’s mileage, but said some added weight and less training worked against him. “I was a little disappointed,” he said. “No one else seemed to be.”

He plans to do it again next year, with a goal of losing 30 pounds by then.

After the ride, he left the park at about 7 p.m., and went back to his house for a small celebratory party. Kingsbury said he went to bed around 10 p.m. and slept for a solid 12 hours. He then took a two-day break from riding.

Raising money for a cause

After Scarpati’s death, his parents, Lynn and Jim, started the Miles for Matt Foundation, which supports recreational safety initiatives. It hosts an annual 5K run and walk at Cedar Creek Park, where the Wantagh bike path to Jones Beach begins.

Led by Scarpati’s parents, the organization successfully fought for changes along the Wantagh Parkway, including the installation of a guardrail that separates vehicular traffic from the bike path.

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