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5 Boro this Sunday?

Old 05-02-19, 08:29 PM
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5 Boro this Sunday?

I'm going with my wife and daughter, unless it rains then I'm going solo. I haven't done it in a number of years, once my kids went to college as they were never home to do it. I know all about all of the bottlenecks and the inexperienced cyclists, but it was still always fun.

Anybody else going?
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Old 05-03-19, 04:58 AM
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I decided to skip it this year, and glad I did seeing the weather report.
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Old 05-03-19, 07:32 AM
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I'll be there, look for me I'll be the one that's dripping wet!
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Old 05-03-19, 02:07 PM
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I volunteered as a mechanical marshal. I rode it 35 years ago or so and swore never again, because of the crowds. I figure it will be better as a marshal than as a participant. It's going to rain a lot, so I've lain out a bunch of clothes for dealing with it.
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Old 05-03-19, 06:58 PM
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When I first started riding again 4 years ago I really wanted to do it, but the more I heard about the crowds and walking the more sure I become that I don't.

Going kind of stir crazy not having had a solid ride in a while after being sick last weekend, when I should have been doing my spring 40 or 45 miler increment.

If it isn't actively raining I might do Westchester Bike Sundays but that's not far. Might just have to ditch work Tuesday afternoon and see how far I can get up the Westchester trailways and back.
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Old 05-03-19, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by zacster
I'm going with my wife and daughter, unless it rains then I'm going solo
Its gonna rain.
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Old 05-03-19, 09:03 PM
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I backed out and used the insurance they offered and got my refund. I am not riding 40 miles in the rain and dealing with bottlenecks. Imagine the bottlenecks and crashes when it was sunny. I can see a lot of people staying under the FDR hoping it will clear up.
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Old 05-04-19, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by DynoD500_SR20-d
I backed out and used the insurance they offered and got my refund. I am not riding 40 miles in the rain and dealing with bottlenecks. Imagine the bottlenecks and crashes when it was sunny. I can see a lot of people staying under the FDR hoping it will clear up.
The time I rode it in the rain between the no shows and drop outs the route moved. The rest areas were the bottleneck lots of people trying to get warm, wearing the aluminum foil looking thermo blankets. I remember hearing them tell people they ran out of blankets. There were so many unprepared people, I would say only half finished. I
walked straight on the ferry at the end no wait.

My rain gear and boots held but not my gloves! Wet freezing cold hands most of the day.

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Old 05-04-19, 07:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Jarrettsin
The time I rode it in the rain between the no shows and drop outs the route moved. The rest areas were the bottleneck lots of people trying to get warm, wearing the aluminum foil looking thermo blankets. I remember hearing them tell people they ran out of blankets. There were so many unprepared people, I would say only half finished. I
walked straight on the ferry at the end no wait.

My rain gear and boots held but not my gloves! Wet freezing cold hands most of the day.

I did it once with my daughter in a very light drizzle at the start that turned into a steady rain by the time we got to Williamsburg. We weren't particularly prepared ourselves, and while I remember it at least being warm, it was still uncomfortable to say the least. My daughter looked miserable but was going with the flow when I turned to her and said, "let's go home." We rode the final distance to our subway line and that was that.
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Old 05-05-19, 06:03 AM
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I was pouring when I woke up and that was the end of any thought of riding, even in the rain.
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Old 05-05-19, 03:18 PM
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I had committed to doing it as a marshal, so I couldn't back out. It was cold and wet. It was amazing how many people were willing to do it. I brought extra layers and ended up using all but one. I got cold and wet but not horribly cold or wet. The crowds and bottlenecks were really not bad, probably because fewer people than planned showed up.
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Old 05-05-19, 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I had committed to doing it as a marshal, so I couldn't back out. It was cold and wet. It was amazing how many people were willing to do it. I brought extra layers and ended up using all but one. I got cold and wet but not horribly cold or wet. The crowds and bottlenecks were really not bad, probably because fewer people than planned showed up.
My hat (helmet?) is off to all who were determined enough to ride or staff it in today's weather.

I peaked outside earlier and decided I had no interest in the other rides I'd been contemplating for today. At least I got some housecleaning done...
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Old 05-05-19, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by UniChris
My hat (helmet?) is off to all who were determined enough to ride or staff it in today's weather.

I peaked outside earlier and decided I had no interest in the other rides I'd been contemplating for today. At least I got some housecleaning done...
Speaking of hats, at the start of the ride, the volunteer organizers were giving away sombreros, so I put one on top of my helmet. It amused lots of folks, and some called out Cinco de Mayo!
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Old 05-06-19, 07:17 AM
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The rain was solidly forecast for days before, so it was easy to prepare. Because so many people dropped out there were no bottle necks, and I saw only one crash. Getting on the ferry before the ride started, go figure. It was cold, and wet, and very muddy at the end, but most folks were in high spirits, misery loves company!
Thank You Tom for volunteering, I saw many people that needed your help.

The best part is going up and over the VZ bridge, it's an awesome climb.
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Old 05-06-19, 01:56 PM
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Too bad I couldn't see much from the Verrazano, as the harbor is quite amazing. I came to appreciate all my conditioning. Last year, I rode almost 3,000 miles, and I rode through this winter, so I found the Verrazano to be an easy climb. I went a lot faster than everyone else I saw. I didn't consider any of the grades on the route to be hills. But I realized they were, because my volunteer partner slowed way down on hills. I made sure to stay with her until we lost each other right before the Verrazano.
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Old 05-06-19, 07:19 PM
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THIS is a hill:





This is not a hill:



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Old 05-16-19, 06:50 PM
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My best purchase in the months running up to the ride was a long-sleeved fleece cycle jersey. Under a raincoat I was warm (enough) and dry (enough). 6th Ave through Central Park was pretty bottlenecked but it opened up enough after that that I didn't feel blocked in by other cyclists.
I might do it again...
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Old 05-17-19, 01:50 PM
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I'm pretty sure I won't do it again. It wasn't downright unpleasant, but the fun was limited.
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Old 05-17-19, 08:25 PM
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I won't sign up for it again either. It is way too expensive. I've got better things to spend my money on.
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Old 05-17-19, 08:34 PM
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I wish we had something like this that wasn't as overcrowded, and such an expensive gamble on the weather. More everyday, less special event.

Did the Jersey City Ward Tour a couple of years back, toying with the idea of going again on 6/2 now that they've expanded the route. It's nothing like touring NYC, and it had a few slowdowns and at least for some a little walking, but was a nice community bike parade feeling and same day registration wasn't bad.

And of course there are the various single-boro tours.
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Old 05-18-19, 05:01 AM
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Originally Posted by UniChris
I wish we had something like this that wasn't as overcrowded, and such an expensive gamble on the weather. More everyday, less special event.

Did the Jersey City Ward Tour a couple of years back, toying with the idea of going again on 6/2 now that they've expanded the route. It's nothing like touring NYC, and it had a few slowdowns and at least for some a little walking, but was a nice community bike parade feeling and same day registration wasn't bad.

And of course there are the various single-boro tours.
There is always the NYC Century. It's a different kind of ride, less festival and more grinding.
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Old 05-18-19, 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by zacster
I won't sign up for it again either. It is way too expensive. I've got better things to spend my money on.
Way too expensive, way too crowded, sometimes like riding in a sardine can, and way too many novice "weekend warrior" cyclists who ride unpredictable and can be dangerous. I can't tell you how many times inattentive, inexperienced riders would do stupid crap in front of me that could cause an accident. I don't mind paying for an organized ride, but the price of this one is completely ridiculous. I don't need their gratuitous shwag to ride 45 miles here in NY City. For me, the only way this ride is even serviceable is if I don't start at battery park with the crowds, but instead, join it a mile or so uptown. Last time I did this ride, I rode into the city over the Brooklyn Bridge, and snuck in around a divider near the Manhattan Bridge. Was a nice ride, actually, because I live in South Brooklyn, near Kings Plaza, so with the 10-12 miles to and from the ride, it ended up being around 65 miles.

Then again, back then you didn't have to pay! lol You just rode and as long as I didn't cause any trouble, nobody bothered you. These days, I'm pretty sure they boot you off if you don't have the stickers and apron.

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Old 05-18-19, 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by zacster
There is always the NYC Century. It's a different kind of ride, less festival and more grinding.
And the ones that start in the city, but leave it, eg. GFNY, Escape NY, Ride to Montauk, etc

FYI, supposedly this year's will be the last for the NYC Century... at least has hinted at by their logo:

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Old 05-18-19, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by zacster
There is always the NYC Century. It's a different kind of ride, less festival and more grinding.
For me, riding a century had to be about one thing only: getting myself that distance. Riding in the city is mostly about all of the other people driving or walking, so that doesn't work personally.

It seems targeted at a very different kind of rider, not just ones frustrated by the crowds and slowdowns, but those willing to go head to head with city conditions for that long.

At that kind of distance I personally want a peaceful rural MUP with some scenery, shade, few obstructions, the situational safety of rider going the other way every five minutes or so... and bottle filling stations would be great.

But I get how for those comfortable with both city conditions, and more used to that kind of distance, combining them could be a great achievement.

(FWIW, while what I ride is definitely a factor, I know at least one person who did the NY Century on a similar 36er unicycle - the choice of route is ultimately about the rider)
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Old 05-18-19, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
And the ones that start in the city, but leave it, eg. GFNY, Escape NY, Ride to Montauk, etc

FYI, supposedly this year's will be the last for the NYC Century... at least has hinted at by their logo:

Oh, that's too bad. I've been doing this for years and have a whole collection of bottles from it.
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