kidcharlamagne
05-07-07, 11:37 AM
Air - my wife and I were on our tandem and I'm pretty sure you yeld "double the power" at us... it was very cool. A big thanks to you and all the Marshalls for making it a great ride.
Northeast - 5 Boros ride (Bike New York) 5/6
Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.dpara
05-07-07, 11:59 AM
Just got back this afternoon. Stayed with a friend in Manhatten for the weekend so didnt have drive back south afterwards. We actually cheated a little and rode straight from my firends aptment to Ave. of Americas and picked up the front of the tour a little after eight. The only wait we had was the mandatory Astoria part stop for 20 mins. or so. Got to the festival in the first 1000 or so and hopped the 1st ferry back. It was a fun way to do the ride but we missed alot compared to last year. Great day all around although the wind sucked at times.
c-town
05-07-07, 01:18 PM
I was unregistered but I had no problems riding along the course. I bailed before the Verrazano and biked back home (Brooklyn) - didn't want to get stuck on Staten Island for the rest of the day.
One thing that surprised me was the number of crashed. Everywhere I looked people were eating pavement. Ambulances everywhere! A few times I didn't see anything but heard the carnage behind me. I hope no one was seriously injured, but there was definitely some blood left on the pavement!
One thing that surprised me was the number of crashed. Everywhere I looked people were eating pavement. Ambulances everywhere! A few times I didn't see anything but heard the carnage behind me. I hope no one was seriously injured, but there was definitely some blood left on the pavement!
Air
05-07-07, 02:01 PM
kidcharlamagne - probably and you're very welcome! I would marshall again next year without a doubt.
When you have that many people and someone cuts over to talk to someone else there's a cascade. Luckily I think most of them were fairly minor (the ones I saw anyway). Even if there were single or low double digit numbers taken to the hospital out of 32,000 people it's still pretty incredible.
When you have that many people and someone cuts over to talk to someone else there's a cascade. Luckily I think most of them were fairly minor (the ones I saw anyway). Even if there were single or low double digit numbers taken to the hospital out of 32,000 people it's still pretty incredible.
dizzydy
05-07-07, 02:15 PM
Free BBQ at the ConEd rest stop???!!! I could swear everyone was paying for that! I just went for the bananas, did not want any grease in me with half the ride left anyways.
All in all it was a fun day - did about 20 miles more back in Manhattan. Will recruit more and go again next year :)
All in all it was a fun day - did about 20 miles more back in Manhattan. Will recruit more and go again next year :)
cc_rider
05-07-07, 02:28 PM
When you have that many people and someone cuts over to talk to someone else there's a cascade.
That's why I didn't try to stop to say hi. Recognized you from your avatar but not until I was almost past you.
The crash on the Queensboro was just before 10 am. Don't know how bad it was, but the EMT wanted to immobilize and transport. I was about 10 yards back from where the marshals stopped the tour. Was at least 5 minutes, maybe 10, before they started letting us by.
Saw two hand bikes. One was chugging up the Verrazano when I last passed her.
That's why I didn't try to stop to say hi. Recognized you from your avatar but not until I was almost past you.
The crash on the Queensboro was just before 10 am. Don't know how bad it was, but the EMT wanted to immobilize and transport. I was about 10 yards back from where the marshals stopped the tour. Was at least 5 minutes, maybe 10, before they started letting us by.
Saw two hand bikes. One was chugging up the Verrazano when I last passed her.
Air
05-07-07, 02:46 PM
I knew there was that one bad one on the other side, there was a back-up I told people to keep their heads up for. A lot of people thanked me for reminding them of that throughout, I'd like to think it avoided a few unpleasantries.
I saw a bunch of hand bikes, and a few of these three wheeled scooter things that you swerved back and forth, looks like they'd load the weight to go forward. Can't imagine 40 miles on one though, looked exhausting.
I saw a bunch of hand bikes, and a few of these three wheeled scooter things that you swerved back and forth, looks like they'd load the weight to go forward. Can't imagine 40 miles on one though, looked exhausting.
Tubby
05-07-07, 02:52 PM
Did anyone else see the high-wheel (huge front wheel, tiny back wheel, not sure what the real name is) bike? Saw it in Manhattan, I wonder how far he made it...looked super tiring. Was also surprised at the number of $$$$$ bikes that people were riding.
Air
05-07-07, 03:23 PM
Hmmm, didn't see that one. I did see one a few months ago on the east side path by the East River Park.
mkdevo
05-07-07, 03:24 PM
agree with all the good/bad reviews.. haven't done the 5BTT since 2003. yesterday was a lot of fun, but also something that i can't really see myself doing *every* year.. maybe every *other* year..
the early morning wait before the start was the worst part. it was VERY cold and windy, and my teeth actually started chattering about 30 minutes before we got going. it was SO nice to finally get into the sun, though it took a LONG time to actually 'warm up'.
we were lined up just past the WTC path station. stopped at the first rest stop to hit the head, and only stopped for a couple photo ops after that. we got to the festival around 2:00. didn't hang out there for long, then waited for the COLD ferry, and biked it back up to GCT after that. arrived at GCT at 3:50, for the 4:07 train back to new haven.
aside from the normal bottlenecks, my least favorite part was the hills.. there are really no major hills on the ride, but there *are* major slowdowns at those hills. lots of people displaying some sketchy, wobbly riding whenever a little hill came up.
on a personal note, i put together a little rig to mount my camera to my handlebars. it was nice and snug, and i was confident that the mount would not move at all, and i was looking forward to getting some good pics and videos that way..
well, on the way from GCT to the start line, i'm getting some test pics/vids off, and it's doing just fine. then i hit a bump, and the camera goes flying off the bike and into the road. i watched as it almost went right under the tire of a moving car, and went back to grab it as another cyclist picked it up and handed it to me. i thought for sure it was done, but it survived! only a couple bumps and bruises to show for it!
the tripod stayed secure on the bike, but the part that connects to the camera just snapped right off. :( oh well.. i'm just glad it still works!
all in all, a great day, albeit a little tedious.
the early morning wait before the start was the worst part. it was VERY cold and windy, and my teeth actually started chattering about 30 minutes before we got going. it was SO nice to finally get into the sun, though it took a LONG time to actually 'warm up'.
we were lined up just past the WTC path station. stopped at the first rest stop to hit the head, and only stopped for a couple photo ops after that. we got to the festival around 2:00. didn't hang out there for long, then waited for the COLD ferry, and biked it back up to GCT after that. arrived at GCT at 3:50, for the 4:07 train back to new haven.
aside from the normal bottlenecks, my least favorite part was the hills.. there are really no major hills on the ride, but there *are* major slowdowns at those hills. lots of people displaying some sketchy, wobbly riding whenever a little hill came up.
on a personal note, i put together a little rig to mount my camera to my handlebars. it was nice and snug, and i was confident that the mount would not move at all, and i was looking forward to getting some good pics and videos that way..
well, on the way from GCT to the start line, i'm getting some test pics/vids off, and it's doing just fine. then i hit a bump, and the camera goes flying off the bike and into the road. i watched as it almost went right under the tire of a moving car, and went back to grab it as another cyclist picked it up and handed it to me. i thought for sure it was done, but it survived! only a couple bumps and bruises to show for it!
the tripod stayed secure on the bike, but the part that connects to the camera just snapped right off. :( oh well.. i'm just glad it still works!
all in all, a great day, albeit a little tedious.