zacster

I'm planning on either doing the 100 miles on my road bike from Prospect Park, or maybe a shorter ride on my commuter bike, also from Prospect Park. I'm only thinking of doing the shorter ride to get in with a different crowd than I usually do, not that there is anything wrong with the full century crowd. It'll just be a bit more relaxed.

So who else is going?

ChiroVette

I am dying to do this Century, I really am. I did 82 miles the other day, so I am pretty sure I can handle the 100. The problem is that my band is playing GratefulFest that afternoon out in Centerport Long Island, and no way I can give that gig up. I am hoping after I talk to the festival promoter that next year's GratefulFest can be switched to another Sunday because I think that the Century ride is always the first Sunday of September, but I could be wrong.

UnfilteredDregs

I'm cheap....I do plenty of free centuries! lol

Papa Tom

As of now, I am scheduled to mix sports drinks at the Astoria Park rest stop during the morning hours. My wife will be making sandwiches.

AristoNYC

I'm doing it this year. I'll be doing the 100 starting in Central Park. I plan on using my fixed gear, I only made it 75 miles last year, I plan on getting the 100 this time.

zacster

The last bit in the Bronx can be a little hilly. On a fixie after 75 miles it'll feel like a killer. Other than the bridges though they are the only hills. OTOH, 100 on a geared road bike is pretty easy at the pace this ride stays at. You can't really hammer for a lot of it even if you want to.

AristoNYC

Yeah, I didn't make it to the BX. The hills don't usually bother me, though the last leg of the ride it probably will. I would probably ride a shorter distance but I want to start at 6am with the 100 so I can be done in time to watch the first Sunday of football. If I only make it the 75 I'd be ok with that as long as I feel like I can't do anymore. I'll do a few couple long rides (40 miles) this week and see how I feel.

AristoNYC

I agree that paying to ride is sometimes foolish but its a great atmosphere and well organized. The pit stops are nice and its overall a good group environment. I usually always ride solo so its cool to get into the group dynamic and riding with people you would normally never ride with.

ChiroVette

Plus, if I'm not mistaken, don't you get free food and doesn't the entrance fee go to charity and/or to fund various Greenway projects in the NYC area? Because that certainly makes it worth it.

streetstomper

That's why one of these years, I really want to do the Five Boro Bike Tour. With 34,000 riders, you can definitely find different types of people you would never ride with and there's no denying a group dynamic. The only problem is they seem to make it less and less attractive every year, usually by adding new, ridiculous rules.

I think fundraising is optional and it goes to Vision Zero. Sorry, but I think that's a lost cause. It won't happen in 2020, 2050, 2075 or even 2100. Until you get cars or at least human drivers off the streets, you're not going to get safe streets. People are just too selfish, impatient, distracted and just outright incompetent to drive very well.

If I was to do the Five Boro, I would join one of the charity partners. That way, I get to pick what cause I'm riding for.

spesrf25

1st post....I just registered for the 55 starting in Central Park. How are you guys going into the city? Train, car, etc?

spesrf25

I'm thinking about driving to Newark International, and taking the train from there. I'm going solo, leaving the three young children and wife at home. I'm pretty new to road biking and haven't met other cyclist to ride with, yet. Does anyone want to meet up to transit to Central Park on Sunday from Newark Airport or Penn Station?

UnfilteredDregs

A couple of fellow Velominati are twisting my arm...I just may do it...Something snapped on the bike today though as I rolled in from today's century...literally on the last block. Hopefully not a biggie where I have to order something and wait...I really want to do the Jersey Gran Fondo....107 miles and I think 8700 ft...Free beer at the end though! (?...)

zacster

Or maybe not. I did a longish ride today on my commuter, much longer than I normally would at about 35 mile, and I was pretty tired at the end. I think I can keep up on that bike, but there were some girls (not serious cyclists either) passing me by on their road bikes and I couldn't even catch them. My hands hurt at the end too. I'd much rather just be on my road bike.

UnfilteredDregs

Well, I'm going, I registered last second and managed to get some fund-raising done in time to qualify for the ride. Sounds like it's basically going to be a 100 mile meandering horde. The weather will be gorgeous and I'll be riding with my Bronx Posse. We may do it old fashioned style, I'll bring along a clay jar of homemade Italian wine to pass around and my boy Bernard will be one-hand rolling cigarettes...lmao (I don't smoke...anymore...)

Great photo-bomb in this one...guy in the drops...

1nterceptor

Another option would be to park around the Hoboken Path station and take the train($2.50) to 34th st.
Double check the schedule and any detours on their website.

Will be going again as a volunteer marshal for the 100 mile route, same thing I did before:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20LB...IoDLA&index=31

streeter

I'll be riding- fourth time participating, third time doing the 100 miles. I've started at both Central Park and Park Slope (which is very close to where I live) but I'm thinking of starting in Central Park so that I'll end up with 115-120 miles total. I do plenty of long rides and even centuries (Sunday will be my eighth this year) but this is the only organized ride I ever do. I really enjoy it and look forward to it each year. Can anyone recommend any similar long rides in the area?

Just curious: What are the green Es I'm seeing all over the ground? I see them all over, often alongside the Cs, so it must be a pretty long ride. I know the B2B is for some kind of Bike to Beach ride, and the C is obviously for the century. Anyone know?

1nterceptor

There are a other century rides in the area; Escape NY by NYCC, NY Bike MS by MS society,
Tour de Cure by ADA Society, etc. They have varying entrance fees from around $75 to $225.

Are the "E's" new or old? If old; they may have been for the Epic Ride.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RByK...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

streeter

Thanks, maybe I'll give Escape NY a try.

Looks like it must be the Epic ride, as I've seen the Es in Brooklyn.

spesrf25

Thanks for the tip. I tried parking at Secacus and riding the train from there to pick up my package, but it didn't save me any more time than riding the train from Princeton, so I'll be catching the train from there. I'm really stoked about riding on Sunday, and I just bought a Roubaix Expert to replace my Raleigh Revenio.

AristoNYC

I'll be starting the 100 in central park. If you see a tall guy with lots of tattoos on a Cannondale CAAD10 with a green helmet, give me the finger so I know who you are.

UnfilteredDregs

I'm pretty sure I own the only Salsa Ti Warbird in the NYC area...I'll have a black jersey with camo sleeves...If I see you I'll give you the finger...

zacster

I'll be on the all black Kuota Kredo, starting from Prospect Park for the 100.

spesrf25

Here we go! Black Roubaix with blue stripes...bald head and the whitest legs you've ever seen.

UnfilteredDregs

Ugh... "Stoplight Gran Fondo..." Really terrible routing through Brooklyn and Queens. Some nice scenic bits and good stretches but, lots of nonsensical routing just to up the mileage, crackhead route. lmao