Five Boro Bike Tour, NYC

[juan162]

Just wondering if anyone was planning to do the Five Boro Bike Tour.

Juan

[pm124]

I'm doing it. Are you starting up front or doing the short route?

[psykoocycle]

Wow, just looked it up right now. Riding on closed streets and highways, sound wicked!!! We have something like that here in Toronto, but it is not as scenic.

Would definitely want to try it.

Probably the short route though.

[Bacciagalupe]

Wow, just looked it up right now. Riding on closed streets and highways, sound wicked!!!
It may "sound wicked" but it's sorta not. ;)

BikeNY is lots of fun, but it is also very crowded (30,000+ riders) and slow. You can't really get up a lot of speed, because there are tons of casual riders all over. There are also several "choke points" where you will be walking your bike. A fair number of crashes last year too....

[DaFriMon]

. . .BikeNY is lots of fun, but it is also very crowded (30,000+ riders) and slow. You can't really get up a lot of speed, because there are tons of casual riders all over. There are also several "choke points" where you will be walking your bike. A fair number of crashes last year too....

At last year's BikeNY, I discovered that I could actually maintain a speed of 2 mph without getting off the bike. Just a little nudge on the pedals every now and then to keep moving forward.

I did have a good time though, and was able to keep up a reasonable casual pace for most of the ride. Not planning on it this year, but it's one of those things you ought to try at least once.

[downtube]

FYI all info is located at http://www.bikenewyork.org I plan to be there.

Thanks,
Yan

[psykoocycle]

BAC & DAFRI: Since both of you have been there, would you mind telling me a bit more. I really would like to check it out.

I don't want to go just for racing... I wouldn't mind slowly meandering through the 42 miles (would personally like to see NYC on bike)...

If I stay back 1.5 hours from when riders first started, do you think it will be easier, more clear. I do not like crowds and would not want to be stuck in a crowd of riders. Do you mean to say that its crowded everywhere along this route?

I'm now trying to convince my girlfriend, she says she will go as long as she can use my motor assisted mountain bike!!! (What a cheater??!!!)

YAN: You riding the downtube??? Do you have your own personal downtube set up just for this ride?

[downtube]

YAN: You riding the downtube??? Do you have your own personal downtube set up just for this ride?

I'll just grab a FS bike from the shop...no special plans.

Thanks,
Yan

[juan162]

I'm doing it. Are you starting up front or doing the short route?

I did it last year and I think I'd like to do it again. I'll probably use my Raleigh Twenty. I did it last year and enjoyed myself. There were stretches where I was able to open up and go 20-22mph, but there were also the bottlenecks. Most of the time I was averaging 15-16mph. You will definitely have many points where you will have to slow down, so if you want to just cruise through, this is not the ride for you...that is unless you are willing to pay the $160 to be in the "special group" at the front.

psykoocycle, The worst part is the start through to the entrance of Central Park. After that, I had one other serious bottleneck and the rest was pretty much smooth sailing - well, smooth, then slow, then fast....you get the picture. It doesn't matter when you start, there is always people around you.

Juan

[Bacciagalupe]

If I stay back 1.5 hours from when riders first started, do you think it will be easier, more clear. I do not like crowds and would not want to be stuck in a crowd of riders. Do you mean to say that its crowded everywhere along this route?
It's crowded most of the way, although you can ride at around 15mph most of the time without problems. There are specific spots where everything blocks up -- spotlights on the way to Central Park, ramps up to some of the bridges, and so forth. A couple of years ago there was also massive problems getting onto the ferry back to Manhattan (hours of delays), not sure how it went last year.

Being in the back won't help, because there are 30,000 bikes stuck in front of you. :D It can take you an hour just to cross the start line.

The only way I know of to avoid the crowds would be to get a VIP pass and/or go right up to the front, and don't stop at the rest areas....

[pm124]

It is crowded, but a lot of fun. It's only 42 miles if you start up toward the front. The rest get diverted through a shortcut away from Astoria. But riding on NYC's freeways and streets without cars is well worth the hassle. Should the folders plan on starting anywhere in particular. Kind of fun to see you folks in person. Also, we have a tiny apartment, but have an air bed if anyone needs a place to crash.

[Dahon.Steve]

I always go except when it rains but I'll go this year. Make sure you look out for falling water bottles on downhills and keep a good distance back from any rider. Leave the Trek 5500 and bring your beach cruiser because this is a slow ride. I've seen kids on BMX and training wheels complete this ride and I'm doing it this year on a 16' inch wheel Dahon Presto!

Eat at many of the rest stops and enjoy.

[psykoocycle]

Thanks for the info everyone.


DAH: Thanks a lot... that will go a long way to convincing the G/F to come along. "C'mon... little kids with training wheels complete this course!"

[cwodave]

Any body have any ideas about parking on Staten Island? I'll be riding this year but we need to leave pretty soon after the ride to make it back down to NC.

Dave

[BigMacFU]

If only I were in town, this makes me sad :(

[DaFriMon]

Any body have any ideas about parking on Staten Island? I'll be riding this year but we need to leave pretty soon after the ride to make it back down to NC.

Dave

I don't claim to know the area well, but I parked in a lot very near the ferry terminal by getting there very early both times I rode, before 5:00 AM. There were signs for bike ride parking, and there was one lot that was really close. It seemed to be free. At least, there was no obvious way to pay.

Of course, If I'd showed up later, that lot would have been full, but there were some paid lots not far away. By showing up so early, I was able to start fairly near the front, but the advantage of that is somewhat offset by all the riders who wait a little further down the route, and cut in ahead of other people after the official start. Boorish behavior, but not much to be done about it. Also, showing up so early involves a lot of standing around. Still, it was fun, and I might ride again next year. I already have something planned for that weekend this year.

[Dahon.Steve]

Thanks for the info everyone.


DAH: Thanks a lot... that will go a long way to convincing the G/F to come along. "C'mon... little kids with training wheels complete this course!"

I've seen some people on kick bikes and skate boards along the way too. There was a guy who did it on an ordinary which is actually harder than a bike with training wheels because he can't free wheel.

[caotropheus]

Hello Fellas

I will not be in New York for the Five Boro Bike Tour but I would like to tell you the here in Israel there are several "bike amateur tours" like this one in New York. All the situations that you are talking about also exists here like "It will take about an hour for all the people to cross the starting line" and "eat as many resting points as possible". The two main "tours" in Israel are in May around the Izrael Valley and in November around the Sea of Galilee. The first 55 km and the second 65 Km. If you are in the area with your bicycles just pm me if you would like to join.

One final remark, do not forget to post pictures of the New York for the Five Boro Bike Tour

[Blue Jays]

That ride can easily be completed on a beachcruiser type of bicycle. I brought my bicycle on a business trip one year and did this ride with a client and her family. I used a hardtail mountainbike with slicks and it was completely sufficient. Given the amount of time you must unclick from the pedals, it's kind of nice to have shoes that grip the pavement. Definitely pull over to have a snack at one of the great NYC eateries.

[migjet]

I enjoyed last year's MSBike tour. With all the participants, I didn't get to see a lot of folders. I brought my DT IX (stock 9-speed) which performed really well - even in the construction section up by Harlem. Thank you, Yan, and the front suspension!

I love the mods I've seen on this forum and hope to see you guys there! Enjoy!

[smittymac]

This is going to be my first year doing it, it helps that my mom still lives in Brooklyn.

[pm124]

Don't forget this folding bike tour and race, either: http://times-up.org/index.php?page=folds-up-ride. Sorry for the double post.

[migjet]

Don't forget this folding bike tour and race, either: http://times-up.org/index.php?page=folds-up-ride. Sorry for the double post.

The more, the merrier. A lot of riders have a little folder in them (if not at home).:D

[SesameCrunch]

Wow! That sounds like fun. I'm jealous, there's nothing like that in San Francisco.

[jyossarian]

FYI - If you wanna do the 5BBT fast, skip the downtown start and jump in at Central Park maybe 15-30 mins. after the official start. You'll be out front w/ the hammerheads and you can go pretty good the rest of the ride. There's a choke point in the Astoria Park rest stop, but if you get towards the front when they release the riders, you can get out front again ahead of the massive crowd.

psykoocylce, are you referring to the Ride for the Heart up the Don Valley? That route is mostly on the Gardiner and DVP plus the 75k route is actually a loop thrown in that retraces part of the 50k route. The 5BBT is a non-charity ride w/ a lot of on street riding that winds through the 5 boros, although it gives the Bronx short shrift. But hey, that's what the Tour da Bronx is for.

[Foldable Two]

We get 18-20,000 out annually for the Portland Bridge Pedal (Three Routes - 14, 24 & 38 miles, if I remember correctly). It's billed as the second largest bike ride in the country, after NYC.

It is also wall-to-wall people at the start, although they split it up last year to keep the crowds down on some of the bridges.

[pm124]

Here is another NYC all urban tour: http://www.transalt.org/calendar/century/about_the_ride.html . They have 15-100 mile options, and it's a lot less crowded. But they don't shut down the freeway, and you don't get the Verizano. You do get all the greenways and less crowding.

[psykoocycle]

I've just registered. I can't wait... touring NY on a slow bike sound like heaven.

Anyone have any recommendations on how to stay away from the bottleneck. I hear if you take the first short cut, you should have a clearer path.

I've only been to NY twice, so don't know the area well. Anyone have any suggestions on reasonable hotels (wouldn't mind if its just on a subway line in the outskirts).

I hope to grab myself a DT FS to use for the tour, and the girlfriend wants one too.

IYOSSA: Yes I've done the ride for heart both on blades and on a bike, quite easy as its only 50-70ks as I remember. I liked it, but not enough to do more than two or three times.

[tommylane]

I registered a couple of days ago. I was going to ride my Trek 520 touring bike but I've changed my mind. I'm going to do it on my Brompton. It should be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it.

[Minesbroken]

this will be my third time riding it, Looking very forward to it.

[JonboyDC]

I'll be in too, on my Speed TR.