Northeast - NYC Marathon

Has anyone biked the NYC Marathon route (from after the VNB) on the morning of the Marathon before it all begins? The streets are closed, which is attractive, but I wonder if the officials give you a hard time and chase you off even if you start very early????

my guess is they will show you off the course pretty quick...but only one way to find out :)

A few years ago I saw a bunch of roadies riding up 4th Ave (Brooklyn) before the runners. I'm not sure if they were part of the marathon, but no one seemed to be chasing them off the road, including the cops along the way.

There is a ride before the race. Not officially sanctioned but here is more info.
http://www.nycc.org/mb/thread.aspx?b=1&t=16753&tp=1&c=%285%29
I've done it the past 2 years and its great fun. I'm usually back at Columbus Circle by 9:30am. I plan on doing it again this year if it isn't raining

There is a ride before the race. Not officially sanctioned but here is more info.
http://www.nycc.org/mb/thread.aspx?b=1&t=16753&tp=1&c=%285%29
I've done it the past 2 years and its great fun. I'm usually back at Columbus Circle by 9:30am. I plan on doing it again this year if it isn't raining

Ah, very cool, thanks for the info.

Thanks for that info.
I don't see a location for the start.

Thanks for that info.
I don't see a location for the start.

Look at the ride listings on their home page

Look at the ride listings on their home page


:thumb:Thanks!! :thumb:

Thanks for that info.
I don't see a location for the start.

From: Dunkin Donuts Parking Lot, 95th St & 4th Ave (last stop R train)

If you get there early maybe you can grab some breakfast before the start ;)

From: Dunkin Donuts Parking Lot, 95th St & 4th Ave (last stop R train)

If you get there early maybe you can grab some breakfast before the start ;)

what time are they starting? i live on the ues...im gonna try to time it when they get to where i live and i will join them.

The ride starts at 715 but you'll need to sign in before doing the ride. The suggested arrival time by nycc is 645

I also live on the UES - not sure if an hour is enough to get from UES to the starting point.

The listing says it starts at 6:45 am and the thread says it takes them "a couple of hours" to complete the route. I'm also thinking about going but I have my doubts about getting to the start at that hour.

Thanks for the information. I was thinking of riding at about 7:00 anyway and just seeing what happens. Do you have to be a member of the club to join the organized ride?

I think any ride that's listed on the main page of the NYCC website is open to the public.

6:45 for sign in, prompt 7:15 start. There's been a long line for the rest rooms at the dunkin donuts in the past

Anyone know how many people show up for the ride.
And why is it necessary to sign in?

i wont bother signing up. but that's just me.

in the past...i have seen 1 or 2 bikers with orange vest riding with the lead runners. does any1 know how you can ride with these runners?

6:45 for sign in, prompt 7:15 start. There's been a long line for the rest rooms at the dunkin donuts in the past


Hmmm, I live a few blocks away, maybe I can charge for quick access to my toilets.

If it's not raining at 6 am, I'll be there.

If this is an NYCC ride, they won't let you ride with them if you don't sign in. Nothing will stop you from riding behind them but you won't be part of the group. Why won't you just sign up?

cuz their website is a piece of c***. if they make it easy to find more info about the ride and to sign up...maybe i will do it. and this is a leisurely ride...so dont matter if u ride with them or not.

I'm not going to be riding the route, but I'm going to be spectating as a couple friends run. I'm hoping to catch up with them in Brooklyn, ride over the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan then up to the UES, then see them one more time before they enter Central Park. All in all should be a nice day to ride around the city without having to go anywhere...

Its 4:30am, and wet out. I'm going back to bed.

Just posted no nycc message board. ride cancelled due to rain and wet weather. The marathon will still be run.

Be nice if the NYC Marathon would have a sanctioned Ride in advance of the runners. They do or have had a sanctioned ride in L.A.....Why not NYC.? It would be amazing to ride across the Verrazano Bridge.

If this is an NYCC ride, they won't let you ride with them if you don't sign in. Nothing will stop you from riding behind them but you won't be part of the group. Why won't you just sign up?

I have no problem with signing up.
I was just wondering why it was necessary. :)

It was raining when I got up at 5:30 so I went back to bed :(
I'll probably just do a leisurly ride around the city when it clears up.

Probably the legal thing. But it does give you a chance to meet everyone. I've done some rides with them, I was a member at one point. Some of the rides were good, but I didn't care for the SIG training. Doing double rotating pacelines on the roads of NJ I thought was dangerous and probably illegal, as 2 abreast is the norm and some of these roads specify single file. The other issue was that I signed up to do different rides and we ended up in Nyack/Piermont on 3 successive weekends.

It's funny that I've never heard or read much positive feedback about the club.
Mostly negative, from former members.

I ride with a group of people, some of who belong to the Long Island Bike Club.
They seem to like the organization.
I've joined in on a couple of rides with them and they seem to be very nice.
I wouldn't join the club due to the fact that most of their rides are in Long Island
and the drive back in the summer is horrendous.
Makes you want to cycle to and from the rides.

Be nice if the NYC Marathon would have a sanctioned Ride in advance of the runners. They do or have had a sanctioned ride in L.A.....Why not NYC.? It would be amazing to ride across the Verrazano Bridge.

Well there is the 5 Boro Bike Tour but that's on the lower level going from Brooklyn to Staten Island.

Between the wheelchair, disabled, women, moms, men, and elite runners the NYC Marathon has something like 5 different starts. My guess is that adding another official start, and official starting line, for cyclists would just complicate it a little more for a group that doesn't even run. After all, it is organized by New York Road Runners.

You could get a handcycle and try riding in the wheelchair division. :p

According to the NYCC Bulletin Board the club ride was cancelled due to rain. A small group that did show up decided to ride anyway.

According to the NYCC Bulletin Board the club ride was cancelled due to rain. A small group that did show up decided to ride anyway.

A hardy group, that small bunch.
The "hardy" part was getting out of the house ;)

Well there is the 5 Boro Bike Tour but that's on the lower level going from Brooklyn to Staten Island.

Between the wheelchair, disabled, women, moms, men, and elite runners the NYC Marathon has something like 5 different starts. My guess is that adding another official start, and official starting line, for cyclists would just complicate it a little more for a group that doesn't even run. After all, it is organized by New York Road Runners.

You could get a handcycle and try riding in the wheelchair division. :p

There is a group of volunteer riders that escort the handcycle and wheelchair runners

http://www.nycc.org/mb/thread.aspx?b=1&t=16764&tp=2&c=%281%29

rode on some part of the marathon today. i rode on the right most shoulder and very slow. some runner ask if they can borrow my bike. i told them u would get disqualify and they said they dont care.

I used to do the ride every year after the run. I had other things to do today, all involving power tools, wood flooring, or polyurethane.