Bike New York: 5 Boro Ride?
 

I'm thinking of doing this ride next May, and I'm seeking opinions from anyone who's made the ride. Is it worth it? If so, can you suggest accommodations? Anything to make the ride or logistics easier?

TIA

It's worth it to do at least once. It's the only time you get to ride in NYC car\truck\bus traffic free. But there will be lots of bike traffic. Lots.
I live in NJ so I'm a local, can’t help with accommodations, but plan on spending at least two days, three would be better. You won't want to drive home after the ride.
Make the ride or logistics easier? That's a long list, but IMHO, patience and compassion will be your best friends. If you’re easily upset by thing, lines, slower riders, faster riders being pushy, this isn't the ride for you. If you can just relax, take it as it comes and enjoy where you are and who you’re with, you'll do fine. It's NOT a physically demanding ride, the rest areas are fabulous. Over all Bike NY does a really good job. The VZ Bridge at the end is a blast, I love it. It just keeps going up, one of my favorite hills.
One of the things we like to do is stop at one of the bars on Staten Island before going back to Manhattan and home.
Enjoy the Ride!

Thanks, appreciate the info. I've booked a room at the Doubletree on Stone St, which is near the start. Hopefully, that will work out. As far as patience and crowds, I'm OK with that and in no hurry to finish the ride. The plan is to ride a mountain bike, an old Trek 950, with city tires instead of my road bike. That way I can take a handlebar bag and wear SPD shoes with recessed cleats.

How is the ferry ride back from Staten Island? Is that any problem, given the crowds?

Yeah, a few people show up
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=486631

WOW! What a great fun looking ride! I signed up for the news letter. Thanks for posting.

The ferry ride itself is not bad, but the wait can be long. The one year I did it I had to wait almost 1 1/2 hours, standing on line to get on a boat back to Manhattan.

Are there any alternates to the ferry ride back to Manhattan?

We met people that one time who drove to Staten Island early, parked near the ferry ( I think there are commuter lots) and took the ferry to the start, then their car was there at the end of the ride. FWIW the earlier you can start and finish to stay ahead of the crowds, the less the wait at rest areas and for the ferry at the end.

I've volunteered as a safety marshal a few times. Always had a lot of fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmFU...IoDLA&index=14

Yeah the ferry ride back to Manhattan can be a nightmare. My suggestion is to stay while in
Staten Island till the crowd gets small; grab a bite from a local restaurant, do some exploration, etc.:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFj8...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

You used to be able to ride over the Bayonne Bridge into New Jersey. Then take the lightrail back to Exchange place then ride Path into Manhattan. Too bad the bridge is closed for years!

Some advice.

1. Don't ride behind other bike riders especially on long down hills like the bridges. Water bottles start flying and people get hurt running over them.

2. Bring a lock so you can use the porta potties.

3. You can take the S53 back over the Staten Island Bridge then take R subway back to Manhattan.

4. Everyone has to wait about an hour or more for the ferry. You can break away from the pack and go around to the opposite side and just walk your bike inside the ferry. Don't get stuck with the pack that has to wait. Quit the tour and take a longer route to the ferry coming out from the opposite side. Take off your 5bbt bib and stickers.

5. Rent a room in Staten Island that way you don't have to back into Manhattan.

Can you elaborate a little on how to "quite the tour" and move to another location to miss the line? Are there multiple lines for the ferry?

This. I did this and it worked out great. Though when I did the ride there wasn't nearly the amount of riders that there are now. So I don't know what parking is like. I also did not do the mass start. I went up an mile or two in order to avoid waddling with my bike between my legs for an hour

The tour goes up Bay Street all the way to the Ferry. You'll end up waiting along with the entire pack on Bay Street for over an hour and if the weather is miserable, that's were you'll stay.

Google Staten Island and search for Bay Street as it goes all the way up to the ferry. If you look further down, you'll turn left at Hannah Street leaving the tour. Then turn right at Van Duzer Street. Keep going straight up until you reach Montgomery street. Turn right at Fort Pl, then left at St. Market Pl. Then take one more right at Wall street until you hit Richmond Avenue. At that point, take off your bib, stickers and walk to the ferry. Simple wasn't it! LOL

Cutting the line for the ferry is as rude as joining the tour after the start line just because you don't want to be part of the mass start.

Makes complete sense. I'll figure it out when I get there. :-)

I almost forgot. The detour I gave you requires a slight hill climb. Not that you can't do it on a mountain bike but just be aware.

From last year. Maybe start at the end and read backwards so you hit the post-tour comments first. http://www.bikeforums.net/northeast/...ur-2015-a.html

It's a fun, leisurely ride that affords you an incomparable view and experience of New York City. It is certainly not a "sportive" and you are equally as likely to encounter kids on tagalongs and grannies on beach cruisers as you are MAMILs in full kit. Though I like to ride fast, this is not the place for it. And yet, I'd do (and plan on doing) it again.

This ride sounds intriguing. Any idea how long it is in miles and time? I signed up for the newsletter. Thanks

It's around 40 miles.

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

I am a rider assist Marshal in the 5BBT and can offer some advice, as follows:

1. Buy your entry immediately after they go on sale (Jan 12th, 2016). Even though there are 32,000 tickets, it sells out really quickly - a few days at most.
2. You must pick up your rider packet at the Bike Expo in NYC on April 29th or 30th. Make sure you're in town for this.
3. Read the instructions and pay attention - they are important: Rider Information | Bike New York
4. Not sure why you want a mountain bike instead of a road bike; but that's your choice. I will be wearing SPDs with my road bike. Maybe think about changing your pedals.
5. Wearing cleats? Be prepared to go down. There isa lot of quick starting & stopping. There are 32,000 riders - thousands and thousands of them are novices. I spend a lot of time bandaging up people; many of them experienced riders who are 'bumped' by the less experienced. That being said, I wear SPDs, even though other marshals think that's nuts.
6. Pay attention to the bag restrictions. While handlebar bags are allowed, they must be no larger than 420 cubic inches. (That is 8"x8"x6" and is a pretty small bag.) Suggest not being close to the size restrictions. Open baskets of any size are allowed if you want to bring stuff.
7. Learn how to get to your starting point the day before. The hotel on Stone Street is a good idea. But you may need to ride up the east or west side some fifteen blocks or so to get to your start point. Your color bib will dictate which point you start at. If you are planning on riding with friends, make sure to set up a team so you can start together.
8. Starting after the beginning; finishing before the end, cutting in line at the ferry, and similar 'advice' expressed in this forum is for bike snobs. If these sound like good ideas, why bother even riding? The event is great fun, benefits charity, and worth experiencing every minute.
9. Don't rush to get in line at the ferry if you don't like standing around a few more hours. Best to enjoy the finish line party; go to one of the great many bars & restaurants in Staten Island for dinner & drinks; or go to the Flagship Brewery. Any any one of these, you will be partying with fellow riders and celebrating your day.
10. Bring spare tube(s) and patch kits.
11. Have fun & enjoy it. Its one of the biggest and most popular cycling events in the world. You won't be disappointed. :)

I'll enter on the 12th, no question. And I understand that you need to pick up your rider packet the day before.

I'm riding a mountain bike because it's a fairly short and slow speed ride. Given the number or riders, my road bike would be frustrating, honestly. But I may replace the SPD pedals with some flat pedals. I see your point about being jostled around a bit.

I will carry a handlebar bag, and it will meet size restrictions. I want to carry a lock and camera, and it's the one practical solution.

Thanks for the info! I'm sure it will be a great ride!

It's ok. You spend ALOT of time straddling your top tube waiting for people to get moving throughout the ride. The logistics back to Manhattan are a nightmare as well.

It's quite a scene. I did it many years ago and have no desire to do it again, but as @leob1 says, it's a good thing to do once. It's very crowded, especially in the first few miles. I remember some very wobbly people who rarely ride bikes and had no business being on a mass ride. Then there were the racer wannabes who also shouldn't be there. One of them yelled at the others, calling them "amateurs" as if it's some kind of professional event.

Being in a big group ride can be exhilarating, but there are other group rides that are less mad. The best feature of the 5BBT is that you get to go on roads that are normally only for motor vehicles. The most memorable for me are the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) and the Verrazano Bridge.

Transportation Alternatives organizes several rides throughout the year. I like them better. They're much cheaper. The Tour De Bronx might be the most fun. There's a lot of camaraderie among strangers. My wife and I went this past October and had a blast. Several years ago, two years in a row, I did their NYC Century ride, where we do 100 miles through four boroughs. That ride has shorter routes, and I think they are 15, 25, 50, and 75 miles. 100 miles is kind of crazy, and I did it for the challenge. But I think it's the only one that goes through the Bronx. There is something special about riding with thousands of people through the Bronx that the other boroughs don't have. We were greeted more warmly there by residents than anywhere else. The Tour De Bronx is free! Sponsors pay the whole bill!

This will be my 11th year doing it. I have always done it on a mountain bike. I have seen way too many people crash on a road bike. The bridge expansions can be a nightmare on skinny tires, not to mention if it rain it can get really slick.

It is an epic ride, mostly because of the ~32K people that show up. Once you get to the BQE you will be riding with more experienced people. All the slower people stay behind near Queens.

Can't wait!