Andy, Enjoy The Ride !!! You're about to experience one of the greatest
cities in the world by pedaling it !!! Forget all the blather about this
tire and that chainring and just be a kid again, on a bike, with lots of
other bikes, and enjoy it. Go. Out. For. A. Ride. ("Mom? I'm goin' out on
my bike.") Maybe even put a baseball card in your spokes to make some
noise. Maybe some streamers too?
I have ridden it many, many times, going way back when it was orange vests
from AYH, the ride's founder and sole sponsor (until some bank had to get
involved). ("AYH" = American Youth Hostels, a great bike store in its own
right, and a go-to outdoor outfitter. R.I.P. AYH.) You'll be on roads that
normally won't allow you to enjoy the views you'll now be Inside Of! The
only time you can stop On Top Of The Verrazano Narrows Bridge is if a car
accident has stopped traffic, so how lucky are you that the span has been
closed Just For You?!
It's a *ride*, Andy. There'll be skinny tire flyers there and also bikes
that have last seen daylight during the Truman Administration. But you,
Andy, you'll be exactly what you are, a tourist, a Cycling Tourist, with a
familiar bike under you and thousands of fellow pedalers surrounding you,
so sit back, find a cadence that allows you to see it all, and Enjoy The
Ride, kid.
(And if you need a baseball card and a clothespin, lemme know. Alas...I'm
all out of streamers.)
(And do your homework. If you spend a week in da Big Apple and don't eat
pizza at least 5 times, you've missed out.)
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 2:17:42 AM UTC-8 ascpgh wrote:
> My wife and I did it a number of years ago (still 30,000 riders). It is an
> amazing roll through a city you never get to see in this way, even if
> you've ridden there before because you are able to look around which I
> couldn't when riding around NYC when I was there by myself with a bike.
>
> Our approach was to park on Staten Island, take the ferry over for the
> start. We were in the back half of the start after securing the rental bike
> my wife opted for. Rest and refreshment stops were packed with our 29,998
> friends each time we stopped. The Gowanus Expressway to Verrazano Park and
> the bridge was hot and both of use were out of water. By the time we got
> off the elevated highway and saw a food truck selling Gatorade we were
> pretty needy and the baseball stadium price for the 12 oz bottles was worth
> every penny.
>
> The Verrazano Narrows Bridge on a bike is worth any hardship you endure on
> this ride. There will be refreshments, entertainment and food at the Staten
> Island afterparty. Many riders will rest, recharge and socialize before
> taking the ferries back over to Manhattan. I have no recs for whether to
> enjoy the music food and community or get on the ferr quickly. We just rode
> to the rent bike return site, loaded my bike in the car and faced
> essentially no traffic as we left the island towards Newark, NJ and home.
>
> Fun ride, take pictures, report back.
> [image: 0B26E98E-F3A4-4191-AF97-7C4A40824DE4_1_105_c.jpeg][image:
> 2C0395CC-B633-4B93-A08A-3A5F91609ECF_1_105_c.jpeg][image:
> 4B5A58FC-A919-480F-889A-7414E089FAE7_1_105_c.jpeg][image:
> 282BD64D-6BD4-4A97-BAC3-C05153020A05_1_105_c.jpeg][image:
> B6D93789-352B-4C47-A956-46287F639DE3_1_105_c.jpeg][image:
> 8A3A12C3-0476-4C23-BA7F-FA59F5208F8E_1_105_c.jpeg]
>
> Andy Cheatham
> Pittsburgh
>
> On Monday, January 8, 2024 at 10:05:33 PM UTC-5 velomann wrote:
>
>> The 5 Boro Bike Tour in NYC has been on my bucket list for years, and I
>> decided this year is the year. First Sunday of May (5/5 this year).
>> https://www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-boro-bike-tour/
>> Registration opened this week, and I signed up.
>> I've got my lodging and flight booked as well.
>>
>> This will be my first trip to NYC since I was a kid, 50 years ago. I
>> won't be bringing my Riv (Bringing the Ritchey Breakaway), but I'll be
>> there for a week, staying in midtown not far from ride start.
>> I'd love to meet up with others while I'm there, get recommendations on
>> where to ride, cheap food, coffee, bike shops, etc.
>>
>> Anyone else here doing the ride?
>>
>> Mike M
>>
>
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