WonderMonkey

We (daughter) has a week long tournament in New York City. We are staying near LaGuardia Airport and the tournament is on Randalls and Wards Island. I'd like to get a fair amount of early morning rides in before the daily chaos starts. Things like go visit a friend's music school in Brooklyn, pedal around Central Park (more than once), etc.

I ride in small town Ohio and though I venture on roads here and there, and am comfortable, I make use of our bike paths mostly. I know that New York City will require a different approach then what I do here.

Questions:
- I clip in now. Should I put my toe cages on? No cages at all and go platform?
- Bike security when I walk away from my bike while out for whatever reason. Logging chains?
- I want to know how to act so I don't hold things up. Do bikes wait their turn or do they ride between vehicles because that's what everybody wants to happen? I'm a stop at stop signs kind of guy when on the road and attempt to follow rules but if that would just grind the city to a halt I want to do what the natives do.
- Anything else? Good routes that start from around the airport?

Thanks in advance.

fietsbob

Is your bike something you can afford to Lose?

They have a subway there & ferries to Staten and other Islands , maybe that and walking, will be a change?

Most"logging" chain is cut off a big roll with bolt cutters, security hardened square link chain resists bolt cutters ..

Last in Brooklyn and NYC in 1969.. the year of Woodstock.

Maybe Francis will join in ? Oregonians stop for pedestrians at crosswalks , I think when 100 people want to cross at the same time, then the NYC traffic may let them.

TimothyH

The only way to prevent theft in NYC is to not leave your bike.

If you do leave it then you need both a U-lock and a chain or cable if you really want to protect it.
The U-lock goes through the rear wheel inside the triangle (seat/chain stays and seat tube). The chain goes around your frame and through your front wheel. Don't leave slack in the chain or cable, especially a cable. Leaving slack makes it easier for cutters to get a grip. Wrap the cable tightly around your frame several times to take up slack.

You should also chain your seat to the seat stay so your seat doesn't get stolen. A piece of bike chain works well. You can put the chain through an old tube so it doesn't scratch the paint.

WonderMonkey

Thanks for the input. I was in NYC not too long ago and it didn't take long to get into the flow from a walkers perspective. I figure on a bike there are more consequences with being less nimble and being right there among the vehicles.

As far as losing my bike... don't want to do that. If I end up just riding and not getting off and gawking then I'll just ride for some awesome sights.

GerryinHouston

Until more experienced people weigh in, I spent 14 mo. in Manhattan, biking almost every week.

I prefer platform pedals, but that's just me.

There is an extensive system of (shared) bike lanes (in Manhattan, I have little experience with Brooklyn and none in Queens), which are more or less respected by drivers of moving vehicles, but not by offloading trucks. You should be able to negotiate traffic in the bike lane streets.

There are dedicated waterfront paths in most of the East River (except for the UN neighborhood) and south on the waterfront around the financial district Battery Park and the west on the Hudson Waterfront. You can cross on the streets either from the Hudson or the East River waterfront to Central Park.

Use a hefty lock and take your chances, but do not leave a bike locked to a lamp post overnight. Chances are that you will not find it in the morning... GoogleMaps normally identifies bike lanes. RideWithGPS will route through reasonable streets but I haven't concluded whether it gives preference to bike lanes.

Make sure you have a camera and have loads of fun. NYC is a great place for this.

EDIT: There were no replies when I started writing. I did not mean to say that the advice provided is not useful, I just didn't see it at the time.

WonderMonkey

Thanks for all that. I've never considered securing my seat. Ohio!

WonderMonkey

Thanks! Overnight the bike will be in my hotel room.

I've been using google maps to look at places I want to go and what it suggests for a bike route, very helpful.

I'm thinking I may go platform pedals as I don't know if I want to fall sideways into another lane because I'm not used to unclipping that fast.

I think the waterfront paths are certainly something I'll want to take a few spins on. I'm thinking 20-25 miles a day would be all I'd want but with traffic I'm sure I won't get that much, probably much less. Plus the game schedules may restrict things.

fietsbob

There is the Citi bank supported NYC Bike share there now https://www.citibikenyc.com/

1nterceptor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh5V...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0slP...IoDLA&index=75

Maelochs

I'd suggest platform pedals because if you get hit in that kind of traffic being attached to your bike means you will be run over.

If it were me, I'd apologize to my daughter and skip the trip. No offense to everyone else ... but NYC is evil.

Lots of people ride there and survive but from what I've seen ... Vegas offers better odds.

Main thing ... as you already know ... never leave your bike more than three feet from you and never stop watching it.

NYC is one of those cities that actually has teams pf professional bike thieves with four-foot bolt cutters and angle grinders.

I sincerely hope you love the trip and your daughter does well as well.

SouthFLpix

I'd use a mini u-lock and cable lock combo and just take my chances. It 'probably' will not be stolen as long as you don't leave it out at night. Platform pedals are good for stop and go city traffic.

TenSpeedV2

I wouldn't change pedals just to ride in the city. Go with what you feel comfortable with because you are going to have other things to think about.

Steve B.

Ditto stay with whatever pedals you are used to and I wouldn't leave the bike unattended for a nano-second, sorry but that's the reality of big city cycling, unless you carry a big honker Kryptonite chain lock and a good u-lock.

Download the NYC bike map, it has all the paths and on-street lanes. If you ride marked lanes still be prepared to go around vehicles parked in the lane as well as getting cut off at intersections. For all the city's huge expansion of on-street bike infrastructure, the cops seemed to have missed the message and point that they need to enforce no parking or using the bike lane as a passing lane. I means the cops park there own cruisers in the lane and then give cyclists tickets for not using the bike lane. It's been documented. Such is riding in NYC.

I know you want early bike rides, but that's also rush hour. The area around LaGuardia is busy, so stick to bike lane routes. One idea is over the RFK bridge on the path, you'll have to carry up 2 sets of stairs, but short, then over to Wards Island, then the pedestrian bridge (Wards Island Bridge on Google) over to Manhatten and across to Central Park. The bike map shows the route.

Not sure I'd attempt a bike from northern Queens to Brooklyn. Maybe subway it then ride.

1nterceptor

Most popular bike paths will have bathrooms(can bring bike in most), water fountains
or vending machines for drinks, places to grab a snack(ice cream, hotdog, etc.), maps.

Central Park loop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXsW...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

Hudson Greenway/Westside path:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJA9...IoDLA&index=64

16 Tons

Manhattan is as busy as any place you'll ever visit. It never stops moving, that goes for Central Park as well. If you stop unexpectedly you will piss someone off. That said, you need to know where you're going. Bring a GPS that talks to you. It will help a great deal getting from point A to point B and make your riding a lot more enjoyable.

Homebrew01

Ride A LOT, & then MORE riding before NYC, then skip riding in NYC and take it as rest days.

Stucky

You're going to get hit by a pedestrian. Pedestrians in NYC are the most entitled self-absorbed ******bags in the world, and they're as thick as maggots on a rotting carcass on a 100* day! Cyclists in NYC are the second biggest ******bags. Oh, and cab drivers.... (Cabs comprise about 50% of the vehicles on the road in NYC)....and..and.... Well, you'd better have eyes in the back of your head and in your ears too. And if you manage to do a ride unscathed, a cop/parks police/parking enforcement agent will get you for something (The surliness and ******baggery of the officer increases as the rank/prestige of what type of cop he is goes down).

Try not to get hurt...they'll steal your bike while you're laying in the street, and the paramedics will steal your wallet.

Then there are the bad neighborhoods.....

But do try and have a nice time in the Rotten Apple.

WonderMonkey

Well lots of varied advice in this thread. I got a chuckle out of some of it but the point being made during the message was quite clear! I am going to have to evaluate if this is actually a good idea. In theory it is a great way to experience New York City. It is also a fact that I would be experiencing New York City! I've done it as a walking tourist but never on a bike amongst the drivers, which are "quite different" than what I see here in normal Ohio towns.

Thank you all for you input, it will all be factored in!

TenSpeedV2

Why wouldn't it be a good idea? Any time you can get on your bike and ride is a good idea. Chicago is the largest city I have ridden in so far and there haven't been any major issues. A few close calls from out of towners in cars looking for an address or whatever. Go, ride, be safe, have fun.