Yay for the saltpile! I live a few blocks from it and I've totally climbed to the top and slid down. Easier than it looks though next time I'll wear gloves.

Except for the needles sticking out around there...

PM me your number, next time I'm in the area I'll buzz ya!

Needles and transsexual Mexican *****s, baby.

As for asking for my phone number over Bike Forums, jeez. Has that worked for you before?

Heeeeyoooooo!

Hmmm. You can RIDE the salt pile?! I'm thinking my road bike isn't making it up that thing....

The other day, I was driving through the Inwood section of Manhattan (northern tip) and into the Bronx via Broadway, and I was looking at Riverdale out my car window. I see apartment buildings and what looks like a nice neighborhood perched atop the cliffs overlooking the Hudson and Harlem rivers, and wonder, how do people get all the way up there?

Well, today I took my bike there and found out... The hard way.

Went north on Broadway into the Bronx, turned left on 230th Street, and saw the zig-zag switchback road that goes up the escarpment to Riverdale on the clifftops-- Johnson Avenue.

Yeah, it's an anthill for those pros who attack up the Pyrenees in the Tour de France, but for a recreational rider like me it was one of those "why did I choose to do this?" moments. I estimate it to be around maybe 150 feet (vertically) from the bottom of the hill to the top. By the time I got up there, huffing and puffing and standing on my pedals and grinding my gears, I was about ready to have a heart attack. There is a small park at the very top of the hill called Henry Hudson Park, and fortunately for me it had a working water fountain (which probably saved my life, considering how hot it has been in NYC for the past several days.)

So for those of you looking for an interesting ride, something to check out!

(Note: You will be going through some rough neighborhood though, so if you go, stay street-smart).

Anyone near the Greenpoint area interested in going on rides sometime? I'm a girl looking for others to ride with on more of a leisurely basis. I'm still exploring & just getting into attempting long distance rides. I haven't gone on a ride more than 15 or so miles at the most as of yet, so I'd like to keep it around that distance at the most for now.

By land, by sea, and by flats

Was looking forward to a 90 mile trip up to Nyack and back yesterday but it got cancelled due to rain (do people not ride when it rains??). Tried to find another group ride going through Brooklyn but they weren't there so I decided to go on a Manhattan loop to salvage the day. I *just* put on 1.95 Armadillos the night before and was anxious to give them a good christianing .

I'm past Fort Tryon and helped someone with a flat tire - had a tack through it. Made a comment about how I just got those tires, tired of getting flats, yadda yadda yadda. I hit the 80's on the West side and ran into the Downtown Boathouse which sponsers free kayaking. I chat with them and they convince me to go for a spin. I paddled around for about a half and hour, completely splashing off all the mud from my ride. Best break ever!

Chatted with the volunteers more, one mentioned how many flats he used to get, I told him about the new tires, yadda, yadda yadda. I jump on to go and my front tire is flat!!! Quick observation shows the same type of nail I helped the other person with firmly embedded in my puncture resistant tires. Sigh... So, an excuse to sit for a few minutes and patch up the tube. I was also glad that I swapped my slime tube with a regular one the night before so I could patch it!

Got finished with the ride, spent about an hour and a half cleaning the bike (regreased the cables that I just put on this week, cleaned the rear rim, chain (new), freewheel (new), and wiped down the frame.

Then I went out with Times-Up for their murder mystery tour of lower Manhattan at night - saw a lot of spots I didn't know existed. Ride ended around midnight, went over to my friend's party by 2 and got home at 6 this morning.

All in all - good day!

Air, I must have been shadowing you on Saturday because I did the same Manhattan loop finishing around midnight. I agree with you, why not cycle in the rain, especially when it's warm out. We buy all this fancy wind proof, water resistant, quick dry, wrinkle resistant, kiss me quick clothing and so why not use it for what it's made for.

I can't figure my way around the upper east island. It's confusing and not well marked. But the night ride along Swindler's Cove at night was down right breath taking...until about 155th street and the honey moon is over. I couldn't find my way back to the water until 116th Street. I spoke to some kids there and they said I could have come in at 125th but that there was a bunch of rocks and glass along the path up there so I didn't back track to check it out.

Yeah - the upper island is weird. I usually go up the east side to that bridge over the FDR around 119thish, go across to Adam C Powell up to 155th street (there's a bridge there - go against traffic the last block on the sidewalk, cross over with the light, hang a left and start climbing that hill. It's separated from the road with a fence). At almost the top of that hill is a traffic light - to your right is the path again. Dirty with crap around (keep your eyes open for the tiny green sign that tells you where to cross at the bottom of the hill) but then it's a nice ride past Yankee Stadium for a few miles along Harlem River Drive. The thing that worries me around there is that there's no way out if something happens along the way (and an easy spot for an ambush) so I usually time it so I'm not up there past sundown.

Rough map: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=395586

The first time I went I rode up St. Nick Ave. Completely wiped after climbing for what seemed like 30 blocks and got lost when it curved and started coming back down in the 180's. Wound up carrying my bike down some steps (looking at the map that turned into Fort George Ave and 181st) and there's (what seems like) a forgotten path on the other side of the Harlem River Drive through the woods. Pretty cool - but also very deserted and evidence of a lot of homeless and drug use there. Most of the entrances I past were chained and locked up but ends at the same point as the other path where it crosses over.

Another time I went I didn't think I could ride near that bridge on 155th, went across 151st and wound up against a wall of rock and under 155th - carryed my bike up 100+ steps. So far the link I posted has been the easier and fastest way around the top without doing that little triangle at the very top.

If anyone wants to post their route go for it - I'm curious what others do.

Looking at your map, yes I think that's approximately what I did, but I will have to do it again to be sure. And I did it clockwise instead coming up the west side, cutting across Dyckman to the river until the path forced me out at around 155th street. It was dark already but the path was very well lit. I came back south along 5th Ave and Park Ave but I couldn't find my way back to the river until 116th. I will have to try again before I post a map.

I like going counterclockwise better - there are a few spots that you have to walk your bike up stairs but that gives you a downhill to ride down. Beats riding uphill and carrying your bike down steps!

My friend and I have started doing night rides around Brooklyn/Queens. She's much more familiar with the riding routes than I. I'm trying to make it a Friday night thing. She lives in Greenpoint, I live in E. Williamsburg, on Lorimer St. PM me if you're interested, we'd be happy to have you along.

If you're interested, see my post above.

I'll post this, too:

I've been on BF a while, but haven't really started looking to finding riding partners until recently, mainly been a poster in the Mechanics or C & V forums.


Anyone else out there prefer riding vintage steel to high-tech materials? I have a bunch of vintage steel bikes I ride a lot, but I've only just started going on longer rides. I'm looking to learning some better routes and longer trips from the city (was going to try Nyack this week-end, but have got bogged down with work.)

Post here if you're interested in slow-to-moderately-paced training rides, or just longer leisure/sight-seeing rides. I just bought a vintage Italian road bike, and I'm anxious to start using it.

I like both types - check your PM

If anyone is interested in doing some Central Park loops later at night, PM me. I usually start around 8-8:30pm. I do 4-5 loops at a reasonable pace. I try to get in a couple of rides a week between Mon-Thurs.

*creeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk*

I'm riding a bit today - showing someone new to the city some spots. We'll kick off around 1 so PM me if you'd like to join!

anyone up for a ride up 9w to nyack,piermont or bear mountain tomorrow or thursday?

I could do Thursday.

i wish i could ride during the weekdays. that would be fantastic.

also, on a side note...i may not be doing a ride this weekend up 9w (the other thread was deleted). in the past 24 hours i got hit hard by a cold\flu thing. oh, how my body aches...so, i gotta play it safe and try to recover.

Oh man that sucks Glad you mentioned that - I was looking around for that and didn't see it. Get better soon!!

jeez, didn't you just ride to piermont today?

That was fun! Sorry I couldn't keep up on the bridge - that freakin' wind stops me every time! I made it up to the "South Nyack" sign and then headed back; first time up there so that was a good trip.

i'm glad you made it. I wanted to do my training so i left.