Wheever

Also, we'll be driving in, and already have a parking place reserved over on Platt street, which should get us to our entry point really easily, and back to the car from battery park. I'd rather not have to deal with riding Metro North and the subway in full kit.

PittCaleb

I did the tour 6 years ago, before there were waves. We ended up with VIP passes, so started in what was the very front of the pack. Throughout the ride, we biked "as fast as we were able" - and it took us 4 hours to ride the 40 miles.

Point being, averaging 10 MPH is what you're going to do unless you're at the very front and wish to speed away in front of everybody. Your friends pace will be fine, she may slow a little on the bridges, but she won't be your rate limiter - especially if you depart in Wave 3 or 4.

Just my experience.

PittCaleb

Wheever

That's pretty much how I figured it will be. Thanks for the info!

Hokiedad4

Weather doesn't look good, but I still can't wait!! As long as you're patient, it's just a lot of fun! And the farther you go, the more the crowd thins out. By the time you get to the Verrazano, all the casual thrill seekers have given up and it's pretty wide open.

Jarrettsin

Really not liking the 80% chance of rain.

PittCaleb

That's good, because it's 100%.

asicslibtech

I am selling a ticket to this if anyone is interested, for what I paid, $102. Start time is Wave #2 / yellow wave. I sustained a serious injury a month ago and can no longer ride...

Jarrettsin

It rained every second of the ride!

Hokiedad4

Yup, it was rainy. The crowds were definitely down from last year which made for better riding. Only a brief walk approaching the Queensboro. Some terrific bands along the route and one amazing band at the festival.

My team and I had a great time. Can't wait for next year, because the weather has got to be better!

Seizedpost

Yes, that was fun. I also liked the music along the route.

PittCaleb

Laughing so hard I woke up my son!

We were in Wave 1 and about 2.5 blocks from the stage. Walked to the stage and then rode the entire route.

For us, it didn't start raining until Central Park. My feet were soaked shortly thereafter and by Astoria Park, they were solid and without feeling.

By the festival, I was 'done' - it hurt to walk and we still had 4 miles to get back to the car. Those last 4 were the least enjoyable for sure.

But back at the car, we had a complete change of clothes, socks to hats - dry warmed us up quite quickly, except my feet which took about 90 minutes to defrost.

No crowd issues really and only saw one accident happen and a few scrapes off to the side throughout. The horrible conditions probably slowed everyone down considerably.

My riding partner, new to cycling and especially this kind of distance, thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and killed it on the Verazono like I knew they would. Big sense of accomplishment for them today, regardless of the rain.

After drying out, I think I enjoyed the ride. But I will never again ride in this cold/rain. If I signed up and it was this, I'd eat the ticket. Glad I went this year (2nd time for me) but yeah, not like this again.

PittCaleb

Jarrettsin

I hate riding in the rain and my wife told me to bail. But I was so looking forward to this ride, I put an extra layer on and my rain gear and I went. I was the front of second wave and only stopped once or twice at places they were letting traffic through. What soaked through was my gloves. I stopped at the rest stop about half way and took them off to eat a snack and use bathroom and could not get them back on and rode the second half with my sleeves pulled over my hands.

The bands along the way were great the end festival looked great but by that time my hands were shot and I headed straight for the ferry. I will be back next year but will only show if the weather is good .

leob1

Well, it rained the worst kind of rain, just enough to slowly get you wet all the way through. Still, had a good time and a great ride. At the finish I stopped to wait for my wife, I wrung the water out of my gloves and had a bunch of folks laughing at that. A lot of water came out of them! Saw somebody go down after the festival, it was at a left turn on a down hill. Marshals were waving flags and shouting to slow down, she didn't. Then she hit a manhole cover, the bike just slid right out from under her. Those things are like ice when wet. We went back to the car and changed, dry underwear never felt so good. As usual, we went to the bar on Bay St. The bar tender held up a pack of cheap, but dry, socks. Sold them for $5.00 a pair. He had no problems selling them. He could have charged $10.

Hokiedad4

I've learned from experience to park as close to Ft. Wadsworth as possible. Much easier to ride to and get on the ferry in the morning.

PittCaleb

Agree in general, however he was my thought process:

1) Coming from Central Jersey, I was already waking at 4:00 to make my time frame. If I had an additional 4 miles of cycling, would have to leave another 20 mins earlier, meaning wake at 3:40

2) Thought it was going to be raining at the start. Figured best to start as dry as possible and not be pre-conditioned wet before even getting on the ferry.

For Wave 1 riders, it didn't start raining until Central Park, so if I had started 30 mins earlier, could have had same spot at the start as I did this year. Something to consider. Obviously, if not raining, those last 4 miles are a great cool-down and de-brief with your fellow riders.

PittCaleb

klepto1

Despite the rain I really enjoyed the ride. I experienced a lot less standing and waiting than the previous time I did the bike tour. Less congestion and bottlenecks. But boy did we get cold quickly anytime we stopped.

zacster

I'm glad you all enjoyed the ride in the rain. Been there, done that. I was with my daughter on the ride a number of years ago and it started to rain lightly by CP, at Astoria it was still OK, but by Williamsburg it was starting to get heavy. I could see the miserable look on my daughter's face and I asked if she wanted to bail at the next subway. That was a definite yes. At least it was warm-ish. Yesterday was just miserable.

PittCaleb

Anyone know the company that was taking photos? Wondering when we might be able to see them online and search for the ones with our number.

leob1

https://www.marathonfoto.com/

Hokiedad4

I'm seeing a few so far. Like 6.