General Cycling Discussion - NYC Century Bike Tour

Hi Bike Forums,

I'm the ride director for the NYC Century Bike Tour, which will be on Sept. 10th this year. It's a great ride with 5 route options, perfect for cyclists of many ability levels. If you all are interested please check out www.NYCCentury.org. We're also holding free training rides throughout the summer. If you're in the area please join us!

All rides will start and finish at Spokes and Strings bike shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Enjoy a morning ride along Riverside Drive up to the Cloisters, a trip to the Far Rockaways, or explore the Bronx greenways on the way to Orchard Beach. All rides will begin with a brief orientation about group riding, safety, and basic cycling etiquette. These rides will roll at a medium pace (12-15 mph) and are ideal for beginner to intermediate cyclists. Flat to rolling terrain. Please bring a spare tube and a pump, some pocket money, a Metrocard in case of emergency, snacks and plenty of water. We will provide turnsheets and an experienced ride leader.


Saturday, July 29th
8am-2pm
50 mile ride to Orchard Beach

Saturday, August 12th
75 mile ride to the Far Rockaways and outer Queens
8am-5pm

Saturday, August 26th
90 mile ride TBA
8am-5pm

Pre-registration is highly recommended so that we can ensure we have adequate numbers of turnsheets and marshals if we have a large group. Please e-mail events2@transalt.org or call 212-629-8080 to sign up.

Thanks!

This is a great ride. I rode it last year.

I think this should be posted in other forums, like "general cycling", "long distance cycling", ...

Had planned to do your ride last year, but had to cancel due to work.
Will try to make it this year. We'll see.

Rw8 is right. You'll get better exposue in the General or Road forums. Ask the moderators to move it for you.

I did the short ride last year. It's a good ride and well supported. A ton of BF'ers from all the fourms did it last year although not all together. And while most NY/NJ/CT riders know about it, it probably wouldn't hurt to advertise a little more in the other forums.

this is my first time doing it God willing, hope the weather is nice and not too hot! Happy cycling to all of you out there who will do the ride

tankman

...just registered! :D

I did the short training ride last weekend and had a good time. Thanks to the organizers!

I'm signed up for the century, but haven't done a lot of long distance riding in the past. Think I can do the full 100 mi? I'm think 55 miles for my first time, but am looking to be persuaded otherwise.

Planning to go this year, but don't want to pre-register in case work keeps me from riding again. Would rather pay the extra $20 for day-of than be out $45.
Depending on how this month goes, it could be either my first or second century ride. Could always start the 100 and do the 75 instead if I don't feel up to it.

yes this is a great ride, i've heard a lot about it.

Hmm...? I'm finding myself moving from being a staunch individualist as a cyclist to entertaining fleeting ideas of joining others for a ride.

Not to long ago I was on the Hudson Greenway in the early am and fell in with a couple of other cyclists going at a moderate rate of about 20-22 mph, rather than blasting by them. (or, alternatively, purposely falling back to get distance from them.)

I sort of liked it; moving in unison; being part of the pack... Ever since it occasionally occurs to me that I might do a group ride.

Yet, something this large, I'm unsure. I've found myself happening upon organized rides, actually getting pissed at the hordes for taking up all available space, impeding my momentum and sense of freedom, and truly resenting those folks with the vests trying to corral me along with the rest - last time I told the guy (or yelled), 'I'm not part of this, I don't join cults.' Not a joiner in general, but maybe.

I'm not playing coy, I'm wondering aloud.

Yet, something this large, I'm unsure. I've found myself happening upon organized rides, actually getting pissed at the hordes for taking up all available space, impeding my momentum and sense of freedom, and truly resenting those folks with the vests trying to corral me along with the rest - last time I told the guy (or yelled), 'I'm not part of this, I don't join cults.' Not a joiner in general, but maybe.

I'm not playing coy, I'm wondering aloud.

That's funny, because I have the opposite reaction. When I'm doing these rides and I see a random cyclist not doing the route, I think "How could you not do this?" :D There are so few organized centuries based in NYC, I try to do as many as I can.

You should check out this ride. It'll take to you places you might never see otherwise. It's fun & well-supported. This is not to be confused with the free-for-all roller derby that is the 5 Borough Bike Tour. This a fun ride.

That's funny, because I have the opposite reaction. When I'm doing these rides and I see a random cyclist not doing the route, I think "How could you not do this?" :D There are so few organized centuries based in NYC, I try to do as many as I can.

You should check out this ride. It'll take to you places you might never see otherwise. It's fun & well-supported. This is not to be confused with the free-for-all roller derby that is the 5 Borough Bike Tour. This a fun ride.
I come back to the city a couple of times a year just to do these big events (and the visit my parents :p )
The 40,000+ mass start of the 5 Borough Tour is a bit nuts, but the smaller, staggered starts of the century should be manageable, like a large club ride ;) And the people starting at any given time are doing the same lenght ride, so they should be generally the same level. A couple of miles down the road should sort out the rest.

So, I'm assuming they close the roads for this event?

So, I'm assuming they close the roads for this event?
Not according to their website. http://www.transalt.org/calendar/century/safetips.html
Not worth closing roads for only 5000 riders. :p Barely worth it for the cars to slow down. :eek:

Roads are open to traffic but for the most part well chosen for cycling. Part on greenways.
This is a pretty good ride; it is NOT crowded along the route, but there's a good mass of people to make it feel like an event.

Hey I have a question for you guys that have done this ride before. I just signed up to do this ride, and the website reccommends using upright bikes with thicker tires for riding on city streets. Not being from NY or have ever ridden it's streets...is it really necessary? Is it possible/safe to do this ride on a road bike?

Hey I have a question for you guys that have done this ride before. I just signed up to do this ride, and the website reccommends using upright bikes with thicker tires for riding on city streets. Not being from NY or have ever ridden it's streets...is it really necessary? Is it possible/safe to do this ride on a road bike?

They're being overly cautious. I ride all over the city on my 23c tires - so do a lot of others. Sometimes, I'll go 2 months without a flat.