Stacy

Like the NYC Marathon, Bike New York will be holding a lottery. No idea how they intend to handle groups but I guess anyone who really wants to do this ride will have to check back regularly.

From https://www.bikenewyork.org/ride/five...tour/register/

In 2011, the TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour sold out in one day. Due to popular demand, the 2012 TD Bank Five Boro Bike Tour will incorporate a lottery system. Bike New York is continually looking at ways to enhance customer experience each year; one way is to provide people who want to be a part of the ride an equal chance to get in and more time to register. Here’s how it will work:

Apply during the lottery registration period (Dates to be announced in early January 2012)
Riders will be chosen at random shortly after the lottery period is closed
All chosen registrants will pick up ride packets at the 2012 Bike Expo New York
More details will be announced in early January 2012! Stay tuned!

FrankieV

It doesn't seem fair that people who make it a point to do it every year now have to roll the dice.
On the other hand, I guess when demand surpasses supply, lottery is the answer.

v70cat

I did it once, slow and to many people going slow!

It is really a hybrid or cruiser bike event.

FrankieV

I agree. Painfully slow. I'm amazed at how many people it draws every year.
Did it once as a participant and have done it as a front riding marshal every year after that.

missjean

A group of us did it back in '09 and even tho it rained we had lots of fun. (Well, the almost hypothermia on the open ferry back to Manhattan was not so fun.) One of our group had done at a few years before and told us what to expect, so we knew it was going to be a toodle. I've always wanted to do it again, but with a lottery, who knows who would make the cut and who would have to say home.

dendawg

I can't see them needing a lottery. Last years fiasco should discourage the crowd of applicants

Cyclerock

I am not sure how the new system will handle doing the ride as a group, if your friends or family registering at different times.

Bacciagalupe

It never does.

Bacciagalupe

Unless they have formal groups (iirc they don't), then chances are in a large enough group, some people won't get to ride. C'est la guerre.

Stacy

Well there's always Craigslist. I wouldn't be surprised if the lottery system increases the number of people who will be selling their registration.

missjean

What was last years fiasco?

BrooklyntoNYC

Maybe i'll apply this year. keep us posted when the lottery is open.

FrankieV

Just a lot more waiting and bottlenecks then previous years.

dendawg

Long bottleneck at the start.
Getting misdirected by a marshall when trying to enter the rest stop on the FDR
Over 2 hour wait standing and walking on the BQE.
Those are the ones that stand out to me.

Stacy

Every year it seems a little worse, the price is higher, and it sells out faster. Go figure. The first time I did it they held us hostage behind police barricades in St. George for three hours waiting for the one and only ferry.

The second time it rained all day. I didn't get to start until well after 9am. By the time I got to Queens they were redirecting us so I never got to the Astoria Rest Stop. Then I broke a derailleur cable just short of the Verazzano bridge (not their fault.) Nearly suffered hypothermia waiting for the ferry. Not likely I'll be doing it again.

dendawg

Forgot about freezing waiting for the ferry.

indyfabz

Did it back in the mid-90s. It's the worst cycling event I have ever participated in. Two SI ferries filled before we could get on. Skateboarded for 5-6 blocks approaching the park.. A girl in our group waited nearly an hour to use the porta-pottie at the Astoria stop. People giving up on the Veranzanno and walking in the middle of the road. I could not wait to get back in the car abd beat it out of there.

I hear it's o.k. if you are very close to the front of the pack, but I still wouldn't go again.

Stacy

One time I did it we were held on the BQE for what seemed like hours. Some guy had a urinary condition and couldn't wait till we reached a rest stop. A group of people formed a circle around him to give him a little privacy... and relief.

missjean

Hmm, maybe it was good that it was raining the time I went! Maybe the rain helped keep the # of people down. On the ride it's self, I never had to wait more than a few minutes for anything at the rest stops, had a couple of bottlenecks at a bridge and at a turn, but that was it.
After the ride was over, getting to the ferry was a trial, but the wait to get on the ferry was short.
Taking the subway, with the bike, decked out in wet gear, with our group's identifying foam antlers still on my helmet, was a hoot. A woman got on, sat down across from us, looked at us all slowly, and said to me, deadpan, "I like your antlers."

Stacy

Story in today's NY Times
https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/20...etro&seid=auto

cc_rider

It was fun while it lasted.

FrankieV

Just received this in an e-mail.
https://hosted.verticalresponse.com/2...29/d0da843cfd/

Cyclerock

The quoted sentences below were copied & pasted from the 5 Boro Bike Tour registration info page:

>>>"There is a nonrefundable $6 lottery registration fee for each person entering the "lottery.

That basically says that you are spending $6 whether you get in the ride or not. They have got to be kidding us.

>>>"Individual adult registration is $75 per rider".

It says nothing about even applying the initial $6 to towards the $75.

Stacy

Yeah I noticed the registration fee too. You'd think it was enough that they've raised the price $10 over last year.

From the NY Times article:
"Mr. Podziba added that the lottery system could attract riders from outside the area, and their spending would help the broader economy."

Personally I thought the ride already had plenty of riders from outside the City. It's really much more of a tourist event than a ride for New Yorkers.

FrankieV

I saw that too and thought it to be a little piggish.

I'm guessing that they make more money on this one ride than they do from all their other rides combined.
It's kind of like the standing-in-Times-Square-on-New-Year's-eve of cycling.
Attracts a lot of out of towners.