07.27.09
Posted in blogging, rides at 2:54 am by Administrator
Well lookie here what I found. A bike locked to a pole out here in Vegas. Which means someone rode it today. Now mind you, it’s over one hundred degrees in this shot. I was surprised and, well, thrilled to have seen this. Even though it is a track bike, but whatever. Just glad that my brethren are around!! However, this answers my own question from my last post. People DO actually ride out here in the desert!! I have to look more into how to ride in this kind of climate…
And look what else I found that I just had to share. I found this after I wrote the last post, and by accident too!! This is the homepage of the Regional Transportation of Southern Nevada. There is a century ride happening Saturday, 10 October, with three different rides: a 118 mile century, a 62 mile metric century (interesting!!) and a 35 mile ride. I have the information for you right here. Check it out!!
I have one more treat for you. Another moment of zen…
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06.19.09
Posted in info, rides at 6:48 pm by Administrator
Well kids, the mother of all city rides is slowly approaching–on Sunday 13 September 2009 that is. The New York City Century Bike Tour, the longest distance being 100 miles, which is all within the city. Kind of like the Tour de Bronx, Tour de Brooklyn, Tour de Queens and the Five Boro all rolled up into one ride. Now of course, this ride is made for all levels of riders to participate, except I must note that this ride differs from the others in that the streets are not closed off to traffic. Meaning that you ride with cars whizzing by you in the New York City Streets. I don’t say that to freak you out, but that is just the reality of riding here in the big city. I do it all the time as do many other riders so it shouldn’t be any different for a lot of us. However, for those that are a little uneasy about riding in traffic, let me note that you will be riding in a pack of riders. You will not be alone and that should provide some kind of bravery for you to get out there and enjoy the ride!! This is not just a one hundred mile ride either. There are a few routes within the ride and they are broken up as follows:
15 Miles: This route is for beginners, children and those that want to slowly ease into these kinds of rides. This route runs from park to park (which I’m guessing is Central Park to Prospect Park) along the 9th Avenue bike lane, led by the NYPD. (See kids, not so bad, eh?)
35 Miles: This is the East River Loop in which you ride through Manhattan and come back through western Brooklyn, including riding around Prospect Park, and also through Queens.
55 Miles: This is the Waterfront route (sounds kind of sexy to me). This is kind of a “beachy” type which winds along the Brooklyn Greenway aside the Verrazano (those of you who have done the Five Boro know this pathway) going down to Coney Island and links up toward the end with the 35 mile route. I have to say that I ride the Greenway all the time to go to Coney Island and it really is worth the ride. The pathway is nice, clean, flat and very breezy!!
75 Miles: The Velodrome. Oh yeah!! You get to ride 75 miles and get to hit up the Kissena Park Velodrome in Queens. As my faithful readers know, I would suggest that the fixed gear newbies get their tuckuses on this ride so they can actually say they put their expensive little bikes in an actual velodrome. Then they might have some leg to stand on when they try to turn their noses up to us freewheelers. But I digress. Just try this one out.
100 Miles: The New York City Century, which is recommended for experienced riders only. These lucky guys and gals get to ride all the way out to beautiful Far Rockaway and Fort Tilden after Marine Park. (I like Marine Park!!) Then north through Astoria Park Queens up to the Bronx. Not for the squeamish I tell you…
Now of course, I’d love to try my hand at one of the upper level rides, but man, this beginning of summer typhoon we are having right now is killing my riding hours!! My poor bike is feeling totally neglected these past few weeks. Poor baby. However, keep riding, stay in shape, be god to your bikes, and find out the whole lowdown about the century right here.
See you on the road…..(once the flood waters subside…)
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01.22.09
Posted in blogging, info, rides at 5:48 pm by Administrator
I got an email today stating that they are now taking early registration for (*squeals like little girl*) the Five Boro Bike Tour, happening this year on 3 May 2009!! If you go to active.com, you can sign up for receiving emails from Bike New York and all other kinds of outdoor activities going on. If you’d like to participate, the webpage says to act now, as last year’s ride filled up a month in advance!! I think I will do it this year. Yes, I do work on Saturday night the night before, but I think this time I will condition myself to be able to work the night before (because in this economy I can’t afford to trade away my Saturday night). I guess I will hold off on the Red Bulls until the morning, when I line up for the ride. Drink lots of water, sleep a ton that whole week, not overdo anything.
Oh boy, oh boy, all this talk about riding is getting me amped to ride again!! Granted I STILL haven’t hit the slopes this season (but I will, I will!!) and already I’m thinking about strapping on my cleats, putting on my cargos, pointing the bike in whatever direction and riding. Oh, my skin is tingling right now, I swear. I would even ride right now, but I already made that mistake last year of trying to ride in the snow. It was all cool until I took a turn and slipped, and came down with all my weight on top of my right knee. Ever feel a shock wave go through a bone? I wouldn’t recommend it.
Spring is juuussst around the corner… (in my crazy mind…)
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05.26.08
Posted in blogging, rides at 9:59 pm by Administrator
As I was walking out of the door with my bike, heading down to DUMBO to sign in for the ride, I wondered just why they have to start an eighteen mile tour so early. The start time to sign in was eight o’clock. I knew there weren’t that many people riding and I was a bit cranky on the way down.
However, my attitude changed as soon as I got down there. First, the vibe of a crowd of riders is always infectious. People were jazzed, dressed up in their tour outfits, kids were excited, people were chatting with friends, people were wearing their bike gear and all kinds of bikes were in attendance. So of course a bike nut like me got excited too. Not only that, but the day was gorgeous!! Not a cloud in the sky. I even had to pull off my riding jacket to cool off. (Tis not me looking at the map. I just thought this would be a cool shot.)
As I waited there for the ride to start, these two awesome girls came over and chatted with me and we ended up spending the ride together, along with another friend of theirs. They were really cool people and I enjoyed hanging with some new people!!
The ride itself was kind of slow moving. At first I was a little irked. But chatting with new friends and the beautiful weather overshadowed the pace. I thought the turnout was pretty good too. It wasn’t that crowded, but still it was big enough to make a show of it. The crowd wasn’t as diverse as the 5 Boro or even the Tour de Bronx (which, by the way, I have already signed up for). But that was cool, because I think the riders were all Brooklyn natives so you know they were all cool!!
The ride was cool and I had a good time out in the sun and getting some fresh air and more exercise. I even got a shot of this really cool ride:
Pretty bitchin’ if you ask me. The owner even wore a leather vest over his T-shirt, bandanna and black jeans. He looked like a Hell’s Angel!!
I would totally recommend anyone doing this ride. It’s a great way to get to know your fellow Brooklynites, your fellow city dwellers, and just some good clean fun….
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05.09.08
Posted in city info, rides at 5:12 pm by Administrator
Well, thanks to Olivia of Super Vegan who I met last night at the Brooklyn Blogfest, I got this tip about Time’s Up Doggie Pedal Parade happening Saturday 17 May 2008, in which cyclists ride with their pets in vehicles altered to carry their little loved one’s. But also interesting about this ride is the route has animal adoption sites and also some animal friendly locations. From the looks of the page, it might be kinda fun!!
There never seems to be a shortage of things to do around here….
Above is my camera shy little girl.
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