Cycling In Queens NY

[nvincent]

OK, I made it today without any problems. I took sidewalks to the main streets that were plowed, but since the sidewalks along those were buried under piles of snow pedestrians walked on roadways which force the few cars out there to drive slowly and carefully. I had to walk through piles of snow twice maybe. Some blocks had hard packed snow which wasn't bad and the Williamsburg Bridge bikeway was plowed and salted! So it was slow and harder than normal (30psi, studded tires) it was actually kind of fun. But I'm going to leave early so I can ride still during daylight.

Man, you're a lot braver than I am. I left the bike in the garage and I had to dust off the old Metrocard. Some of the roads here are plowed, but they're pretty narrow with huge snow banks on the side. I remember how inconsiderate some drivers were last winter when they honked at me for being too far out on the roadway, and I thought I was being pretty generous by giving them enough space to pass.

[Not the Slowest]

Good job Adam.
I road Sunday and got caught in the storm on my return. That was doable but felt as if I would slide off or get blown off
the GWB on my return.
Just bought a used Touring bike that can take tires over 35mm as that is what is on them now with Cantilever brakes.
The bike is being checked out at the mechanic to make sure all is well and then I will get Full Fenders which is why I got it.
Perhaps I will get some studded tires, found a few that were pretty affordable in the 38-42mm range.
I am not sure my wife would understand why there are holes in our wood flooring.

Maybe cyclocross tires will do the job.

I work in Jamaica and I never expect the streets to get plowed.

Stay safe and remember bridges freeze before ground surfaces, but the temps are warming up.

Rob

[vol]

Saw some delivery guys on the bike yesterday. Tough on them, snow + wind + cold. No more running the lights

[lukasz]

OK, I made it today without any problems. I took sidewalks to the main streets that were plowed, but since the sidewalks along those were buried under piles of snow pedestrians walked on roadways which force the few cars out there to drive slowly and carefully. I had to walk through piles of snow twice maybe. Some blocks had hard packed snow which wasn't bad and the Williamsburg Bridge bikeway was plowed and salted! So it was slow and harder than normal (30psi, studded tires) it was actually kind of fun. But I'm going to leave early so I can ride still during daylight.

I'm so happy to hear that the Williamsburg Bridge is clear. I took the Queensboro today and it was decidedly not clear. I'm going to head downtown on the way home.

[AdamDZ]

Sure, I was happy too, I didn't know what to expect. Last year WB wasn't cleared for few days after the last snowfall and, while fun, it was tiring to ride up snowy and iced bridge.

There was no honking, drivers were calm, I guess because pedestrians were all over the roadways so a single cyclist wasn't really their problem when I saw a truck or bus in my mirror I would pull over and gesture them to pass, safer this way. It'll probably get worse in the next few days as more people will pull their cars out and hit the streets.

Then we will go through the sludge melt/freeze cycle, that is the suckiest part: chunky ice.

[v70cat]

I just have a road bike so I will have to wait until Monday to get back out. Adam I picture of the bike with the studded tires would be interesting.

[AdamDZ]

I just have a road bike so I will have to wait until Monday to get back out. Adam I picture of the bike with the studded tires would be interesting.

You can't really tell from a distance that they're studded, they look like regular knobby off-road tires. Here are some shots of my Williamsburg Bg crossing from last winter:

[v70cat]

Great photos, thank you

[AdamDZ]

Great photos, thank you

My pleasure!

[lukasz]

I am quite jealous of your snow bike at the moment, considering what is in store this week. The best I'll be able to muster is 32 mm knobby tires. My mountain bike is not in the city right now, and I don't have studded tires for it anyway.

[cyclistJP]

Very nice pictures; that certainly looks like a challenging ride. I guess from the comments, the bicycle has special tires for just such runs?

I just recently started cycling this past fall, but all I have ridden on is the 34 Ave. bike route to flushing park, the park itself and back. I have developed a taste for cycling so I am searching for some other, perhaps more scenic routes to explore this spring.

[AdamDZ]

Very nice pictures; that certainly looks like a challenging ride. I guess from the comments, the bicycle has special tires for just such runs?

I just recently started cycling this past fall, but all I have ridden on is the 34 Ave. bike route to flushing park, the park itself and back. I have developed a taste for cycling so I am searching for some other, perhaps more scenic routes to explore this spring.

The tires are fat, with large knobs and each knob has a steel stud in it. The steel studs only help with ice and very hard packed snow, they don't do anything for regular snow. The size of the tires and the large knobs is what helps with the snow. Therefore, any mountain bike with fat, knobby tires will be useful in the snow, you'll just have to watch out for ice. Just like with riding off road, you need to keep the pressure low at around 30psi.

The Flushing Meadows Park? A.k.a. Corona park? That's a very good place to start riding, that's where I started too after a long break. Although, it gets crowded on weekends. Did you check out both sides of the park? It's really large. You can easily ride there for an hour without using the same path twice. Train there until you build up strenght and confidence to ride on the streets, then you can make connections to the Kissena Park and to the Cunningham Park on the East, to the Forest Park on the South West and to the World's Fair Marina on the North, where you can ride a bike path along the Flushing Bay all the way to the La Guardia airport. If you like airplanes, bring binoculars along There are really no great "scenic" rides. The Flushing Park is probably as scenic as it gets unless you get out of the city. The Forest Park offers a shady, wooded path with a chunk of preserved, untouched forest.

Between these locations you'll have many hours of riding before you get bored and want more. Oh, and the Flushing park is full or birds of all sorts too Since you're coming from 34th Ave, you must be passing very close to the Marina, perhaps there is a connection? I have to refresh my knowledge of those areas in Spring

Oh, one other thing too: you might consider joining 5BBC for their weekend rides. They have few in Queens and many of their rides are "happy face", leisurely rides. It's a great way to discover the city by bike and learn some skills, including riding on the streets. I rode with them for several years, then I learned to do my own rides. They're a friendly bunch of people and have been doing this for many years. Anyone getting into cycling in NYC should give 5BBC a shot, won't regret it. I'm thinking about doing some rides with them again this year.

[AdamDZ]

I am quite jealous of your snow bike at the moment, considering what is in store this week. The best I'll be able to muster is 32 mm knobby tires. My mountain bike is not in the city right now, and I don't have studded tires for it anyway.

FIY, I have a second set of wheels that I keep studded tires on in Winder and off road tires in Summer so I can swap the wheels quickly, rather than changing tires. But I've kept my studded tires on since the first snowfall. The snow melts during the day, and then it freezes at night so there is lots of ice everywhere in the morning. Keep in mind though that studded tires make the ride a lot harder, and you run them at 30psi too. So even on dry pavement it's hard and they make noise that takes some time to get used to. That and the price is what keeps most people away from using them in the cities where the snow and ice is relatively short lasting compared to elsewhere.

[AdamDZ]

Some "inspirational" photos from my bike rides in and around Flushing Meadows Park, they're from 2002-2005. I haven't been there in a while, I know they improved a lot of things. Once it gets nicer I'm gonna go for a ride there! I used to literally spend days there, I'd bring some food and a blanket along, a book, a camera. Often you can catch some live music, ethnic food or just regular NYC junkfood. There is a small botanical garden there and a small ZOO. The connection to the Marina is relatively easy, except for one busy intersection, but it's a great spot for a rest stop.

[Papa Tom]

>>>I have developed a taste for cycling so I am searching for some other, perhaps more scenic routes to explore this spring.<<<<

May I suggest nyrides.freehosting.net

PS: Adam, your photos look like postcards. That's either an awesome camera or a very talented photographer.

[AdamDZ]

PS: Adam, your photos look like postcards. That's either an awesome camera or a very talented photographer, or Photoshop work.

May I suggest nyrides.freehosting.net

Is that yours? I seem to remember you had a website, that must be it then. Mind if I link to to it from my blog?

That's a lot of good info there. I really need a refresh ride around Queens. There are new bikeways and most likely new connectors between parks. Can't wait for Spring, lots of riding to do, a new bike perhaps

Perhaps we could hook up for a weekend ride and show some new cyclists the way around?

A.

[Papa Tom]

No problem linking to my site, but I need to warn you that it might be a bit outdated. For the past decade, my work hasn't left a whole lot of time for revisiting all the rides I first listed back in the 90's. Feel free to update my info on your blog, even if you take all the credit!

Regarding hooking up for rides, I won't be on the bike again until at least spring. Hopefully, I will have some time to ride beyond my own neck of the woods then!

[FattyArbuckle]

I have developed a taste for cycling so I am searching for some other, perhaps more scenic routes to explore this spring.

This is the route I take to go from Flushing Meadows down to Forest Park & back.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/27161996

@AdamDZ:
You're a trooper. I haven't been out for a whole month & it's killing me. Already affected my waistline... Wish the roads could just get a week free of snow/slush...

[cyclistJP]

The tires are fat, with large knobs and each knob has a steel stud in it. The steel studs only help with ice and very hard packed snow, they don't do anything for regular snow. The size of the tires and the large knobs is what helps with the snow. Therefore, any mountain bike with fat, knobby tires will be useful in the snow, you'll just have to watch out for ice. Just like with riding off road, you need to keep the pressure low at around 30psi.

The Flushing Meadows Park? A.k.a. Corona park? That's a very good place to start riding, that's where I started too after a long break. Although, it gets crowded on weekends. Did you check out both sides of the park? It's really large. You can easily ride there for an hour without using the same path twice. Train there until you build up strenght and confidence to ride on the streets, then you can make connections to the Kissena Park and to the Cunningham Park on the East, to the Forest Park on the South West and to the World's Fair Marina on the North, where you can ride a bike path along the Flushing Bay all the way to the La Guardia airport. If you like airplanes, bring binoculars along There are really no great "scenic" rides. The Flushing Park is probably as scenic as it gets unless you get out of the city. The Forest Park offers a shady, wooded path with a chunk of preserved, untouched forest.

Between these locations you'll have many hours of riding before you get bored and want more. Oh, and the Flushing park is full or birds of all sorts too Since you're coming from 34th Ave, you must be passing very close to the Marina, perhaps there is a connection? I have to refresh my knowledge of those areas in Spring

Oh, one other thing too: you might consider joining 5BBC for their weekend rides. They have few in Queens and many of their rides are "happy face", leisurely rides. It's a great way to discover the city by bike and learn some skills, including riding on the streets. I rode with them for several years, then I learned to do my own rides. They're a friendly bunch of people and have been doing this for many years. Anyone getting into cycling in NYC should give 5BBC a shot, won't regret it. I'm thinking about doing some rides with them again this year.

Thank you for the 5bbc link; I am checking it now. Also all those places seem like perfect extensions to my Corona Park ride, I will definitely look into them once the weather is a bit more manageable, and I purchase a new folding bike. I have a mountain bike now that is quite heavy and perhaps a bit too big for me to handle well.

This is the route I take to go from Flushing Meadows down to Forest Park & back.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/27161996

Thank you, I will put it to good use.

[v70cat]

I joined 5BBC last spring and have to say that they brought my riding to a new level. They offer training rides for the Montauk Ride and had a lot of fun.

[v70cat]

I finally got a ride in this afternoon, it was so nice to be back on the bike instead of the trainer.

[vdek]

Looks like this week is going to be fairly warm, in the 50s, taking off of work on friday to have a nice 4 day weekend. I'm really hoping the snow on the bike paths melts by friday because the roads right now are so bad :/

I haven't touched my bike in almost 2 months now and it's driving me nuts!

[v70cat]

Went for a ride today and it was nice though snow and ice on certain parts of the trail.

[cyclistJP]

I'll probably be getting my folding bike soon and I can't wait to try it out out on some of new bike paths people have recommended, maybe even join the 5bbc.

[v70cat]

I'll probably be getting my folding bike soon and I can't wait to try it out out on some of new bike paths people have recommended, maybe even join the 5bbc.

A folding bike will normally weigh more and cost more unless you have a real need for folding I would avoid them and go with a road bike like a Cad 10.