Who else is participating in the NY Bike tour this Sunday?

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
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Last time I did it, there were a few other ATOT who also participated. Anyone else biking?
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
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can't make it this year.

it was pretty fun when i'd ridden it in the past. we had a friend who used to live in bay ridge, bklyn right at the base of the verrazano. so we would ride to his place then bbq on his patio. then we'd just take the subway back home since we hated the staten island ferry ride.
 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
17,648
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Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
can't make it this year.

it was pretty fun when i'd ridden it in the past. we had a friend who used to live in bay ridge, bklyn right at the base of the verrazano. so we would ride to his place then bbq on his patio. then we'd just take the subway back home since we hated the staten island ferry ride.

My sister lives right there too. I usually hang out over there afterwards when I ride. This year I think i'm just gonna attend the festival and then leave afterwards.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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I'm participating in BikeNY this year... first timer and the only practive I've had this year was a 27 mile ride 2 weeks ago... I'm looking forward to dying on the route ;)
 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: Modeps
I'm participating in BikeNY this year... first timer and the only practive I've had this year was a 27 mile ride 2 weeks ago... I'm looking forward to dying on the route ;)

This year I'm doing this on two weeks practice and the longest i rode this year was about 22 miles. I had more riding practice the last time I did it (although the longest I had done that time was 22 also), and I noticed the 42 miles was much easier than I expected.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: bigrash
Originally posted by: Modeps
I'm participating in BikeNY this year... first timer and the only practive I've had this year was a 27 mile ride 2 weeks ago... I'm looking forward to dying on the route ;)

This year I'm doing this on two weeks practice and the longest i rode this year was about 22 miles. I had more riding practice the last time I did it (although the longest I had done that time was 22 also), and I noticed the 42 miles was much easier than I expected.

That's really good to know :) See you tomorrow (amid the sea of 30k people)
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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Just got home. I must say, it was such an awesome experience. I'm definately doing it again next year. My biggest problem section was just before the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.. it was about 8 miles all uphill, then when we hit the bridge... ugh that was hardcore. :) Awesome day, little rainy at the beginning but not too shabby all around.

:thumbsup:
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
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The rain was terrible, particularly the waiting in the rain and the cold. At least it stopped soonish.

The BQE toasted my legs just in time for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge - I was still feeling pretty good on the first large hill, but the second topped me out. The bridge completely wiped me out. I can't say I'm a big fan of the end of the course.

In all, I had a good time, definitely doing it next year.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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My boys and I were pretty lucky, we took the PATH in and at the top of the steps, just in front of the WTC site, we were stuck and couldnt move... completely covered so we were just waiting nice and dry till we started. :)

I'm still on a high from yesterday. :)
 

Coquito

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2003
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What bikes were you guys riding with? I might as well get interested in this if I want to remember for next year. I've never ridden anything besides dirt bikes & trails.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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A ton of people were riding mountain bikes, including myself (with more street style tires). Some people had bikes that were single speed... I cant imagine doing it without being able to shift.

Then there were some people that had bikes that were pedaled by hand. All sorts of different bikes.
 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
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That ride was awesome!

Was having an awesome time until my friend knocked into some stupid biatch who decided to stop in the middle of the road and then i hit my friend coz i was right behind him. luckily we werent hurt so bad, except for cuts and bruises. got a flat tire and had to walk 2 miles to the next rest area to get it fixed.

i'll admit though, it was easier than last time.

Now i gotta train for the century ride!! Don't know if i can do that though but i'll try.

 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
17,648
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Originally posted by: Coquito
What bikes were you guys riding with? I might as well get interested in this if I want to remember for next year. I've never ridden anything besides dirt bikes & trails.

I rode a new Specialized road bike that i just bought. My friend was riding a mountain bike and he said it wasnt that bad.
 

Modeps

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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I've gotta say, most people were pretty smart and courteous of others, but there were a few... mostly due to inexperience or overexperience, that were just idiots.

Example: a 15 year old was up to my right as I was passing, I let him know I was on his left... I guess he didnt hear me though, because he decided to take that exact moment to cut left to take a break from pedaling. Had to slam my brakes and almost mashed him.

In central park, some dude with a pro-looking street bike (ultra skinny wheels, thin frame etc) decided to go real fast in the crowd of people. There was a couple riding close side by side (about 2.5ft between them) in front of me to the left. The dude didnt announce his intentions and just split them. It freaked the girl rider out she almost lost control.
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
1,100
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Originally posted by: Modeps
My boys and I were pretty lucky, we took the PATH in and at the top of the steps, just in front of the WTC site, we were stuck and couldnt move... completely covered so we were just waiting nice and dry till we started. :)
Grrr. I was waiting in the rain about 200ft back, complaining about the people who were in the shade and who were inevitably going to cut in as soon as we started moving. You were stuck, so I guess that's all right. ;)

Originally posted by: Coquito
What bikes were you guys riding with? I might as well get interested in this if I want to remember for next year. I've never ridden anything besides dirt bikes & trails.
1999 GT Ricochet, basically set up for bare-minimum entry-level mountain racing + slicks. IMO, the streets are a little rough to be riding a road bike, particularly because you won't always be able to avoid road hazards due to traffic.

Originally posted by: bigrash
Was having an awesome time until my friend knocked into some stupid biatch who decided to stop in the middle of the road and then i hit my friend coz i was right behind him.
I actually fell entering the festival. We were slowing down, not quite down to walking pace, and the guy in front of me stopped suddenly. My panic stop includes unclipping my left foot, but I had overlapped my wheel to his right. I said "sorry" on my way down (since I knew I was inevitably going to hit someone), and the guy gave me a hand up, but his friend that I fell into started complaining. No one was really hurt, so I just took off into the crowd.

Originally posted by: Modeps
I've gotta say, most people were pretty smart and courteous of others, but there were a few... mostly due to inexperience or overexperience, that were just idiots.

Example: a 15 year old was up to my right as I was passing, I let him know I was on his left... I guess he didnt hear me though, because he decided to take that exact moment to cut left to take a break from pedaling. Had to slam my brakes and almost mashed him.

In central park, some dude with a pro-looking street bike (ultra skinny wheels, thin frame etc) decided to go real fast in the crowd of people. There was a couple riding close side by side (about 2.5ft between them) in front of me to the left. The dude didnt announce his intentions and just split them. It freaked the girl rider out she almost lost control.
I was actually really surprised that I didn't see more crashes. I saw lots of teenagers who were riding particularly unstable lines, most from sloppiness and 1 or 2 from "style". I saw a young girl, probably a 12-year old, riding an arrow-straight line down FDR. Her parent was following (probably to keep an eye on her) and giving encouragement.

I had lots of fun going fast in Central Park, including not slowing down as much as I should have on the curvy sections, but I don't think I did any unsafe passing. At some point in the ride, I did split a pair who weren't obviously riding together and were far enough apart to pass between when I made the decision to go. I should have used my bell or said something, but I was too busy holding a stable line. One guy nearly took me out by cutting in front of me on the ride from the festival to the ferry.