katattak

hi everyone. a friend gave me a bike this weekend. she didn't know much about it. the side of the bike says "specialized cross roads cruz" so i am assuming that is what type of bike i have. i am excited to have a bike, espec. for free, but it also fills me with anxiety. i am not in great shape and am timid and easily frightened. i despair of ever have the guts to really get around on my bike. i live in ft. greene.

does anyone have any recommendations on easy beginner rides around bklyn?
any suggestions or words of advice?
what equipment is MUST have? (so far i have just bought a basic helmet and a kryptonite u-lock/front wheel run-through combo)
tips on bklyn bike shops (which are the most helpful? best prices? i went to on the move on 7th ave and they seemed really helpful but their weekday hours are tricky. r&a on 5th was big but not too forthcoming with help and advice)?
has anyone tried the times up! ladies bike workshop and liked it or not liked it?

thanks a lot. i'll probably be starting a new thread sometime soon about the intricacies, nuances and traditions of what rules you obey, what you don't, what to do at a light and when you have to turn, etc. really, my mind spins at the thought of it at this point.

henria86

if u want late hrs till 8 pm .. u can try bay ridge cycles.. anthony there is very friendly an cool...
phone 718-238-1118
fax 718-238-4094

8916 Third Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209

Air

Welcome!!

Prospect Park isn't too far from you, can loopy da loop until you feel comfortable. Careful of some of the main roads till you get comfortable and stay off sidewalks. Do a quick search for Prospect Park rides and see if anyone's around to ride with.

Lights are important if you're going to ride at night or towards dusk. The more visible you can be the better. You should also get a spare tube, frame pump (Topeak Road Morph is the best for price and use), and some multitools after you learn how to use them so you can do some minor repairs if needbe. I usually find if I leave them behind I need them and if I don't then I don't

I haven't tried the ladies nights but the other ones are excellent - great group of people and a lot of fun to just hang out with learn how to work on your bike. Bring beer to make friends off the bat.

https://www.recycleabicycle.org/ in Dumbo has pretty good hours and are good peeps.

Most people are up to riding, drop a line and let people know when you'd like to go and I'm sure you'll get a few responses.

Again, welcome aboard!

zacster

If you're in Park Slope the park is definitely your best bet for riding, although it won't take you anywhere. Other good beginner rides for Brooklyn are the Ocean Parkway bike path to the beach, and the Belt Parkway trails, one starts at 69th St and ends at Bay Parkway, the other starts at Emmons/Knapp and ends in Howard Beach. You have to ride the streets through Coney Island to connect them. Also, off the Belt Parkway, you can catch the Flatbush Ave trail towards the Marine Park bridge to the beaches in Rockaway. All of these rides are mostly off-road on paved trails. The first section of the belt pkway can be crowded, the second won't be crowded, but the surface leaves much to be desired. And watch out at the intersections if you take Ocean Parkway.

For on-street riding, Bedford Avenue I believe is marked as a bike route its entire length. There is a painted bike lane on the southern portion, I'm not sure if the northern portion has one. North to Williamsburg, south to Sheepshead Bay (and the Emmons/Knapp bikeway.)

And when you are ready, grab your passport and head into Manhattan on one of the three bridges.

whatsmyname

welcome, katattak - you rock!

Great news that you have a bike. BTW, your bike is made by Specialized, the model name is Crossroads, and I guess Cruz is the edition of that model.

If you're in Fort Greene, Bicycle Station (560 Vanderbilt Ave @ Bergen/Dean) is not too far from you, and a good place to start. They're a small, busy store and they can seem a bit brusque at times (cos they're so busy), but I've had a couple of good experiences with them. Fort Green is also a good place to live for bike commuting into the city - so close to Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. But start off in the neighborhood and get comfortable. Also, pick up the free NYC cycling map at train stations or bike stores.

The two main things (imo) for NYC riders are security and safety. Security is the main one - now you have the lock, the main thing is to use it *always* and lock it up in the safest place you can. Don't leave it unlocked outside a store even for a second, and keep it inside overnight - and you're 90% of the way there.

The other thing is safety. Despite the horror stories non-riders will tell you, riding a bike in NYC is not suicidal at all, and it's really not that bad. If you have and use lights, follow (most of ) the road rules and are assertive, again - you're 90% of the way there. Don't be anxious and don't ride too close to the kerb: cars will not drive into from behind, but if you're hiding by the kerb, people turning corners and opening car doors won't see you. BTW, riding a bike at night down quiet streets is way safer than walking down them - you're moving too fast for most evildoers to, err, do evil.

My GF lives in Fort Greene and loves to ride her bike. She last rode one when she was ten - but she has found it a liberating, self-empowering experience. I have the feeling riding a bike is often a much more empowering thing for women than for men but that's just speculation. Unfortunately, her last couple have been stolen when she locked them outside and didn't move them for a couple of weeks.

Don't be afraid to come on here and ask little questions. The only silly questions are the ones you don't ask! Finally, head over to https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=267136&page=6 and add your name to the list - it's the law!

whatsmyname

Tangentially, I was just reading this puffpiece https://www.observer.com/2007/spokes-models?page=0%2C2 on the NY Observer website, when I got switched onto this quote, which I'd never heard before:

https://cyclingsisters.org/node/3242

pidda

stay out of the door zone; this frequently means screw the bike lane, and don't listen to car horns. always stay out of the door zone.

Air

Yeah - I just got winged yesterday, luckily I was stopping for the light and the jerk slammed into my handlebars. Tore the wrap but not otherwise unscathed - was a good reminder to stay at least 4-5 feet away!

MrCrassic 

i am not in great shape and am timid and easily frightened. i despair of ever have the guts to really get around on my bike. i live in ft. greene.

The bike will definitely help you alleviate all of those concerns rather quickly (depending on how much into cycling you get). At least you have a bike made by a trusted name.

does anyone have any recommendations on easy beginner rides around bklyn?

There are a couple of places I go to "train" (without a team, of course!) Prospect Park is a great place to ride; the loop is about 3 miles or so, and it's great terrain to practice on. More experienced riders also frequent that area, so seeing them ride might give you incentive to ride harder or faster.

what equipment is MUST have? (so far i have just bought a basic helmet and a kryptonite u-lock/front wheel run-through combo)

If you plan to ride at night, definitely invest in lights (one for the back, and one for the front). Any other accessories really depend on what your purpose with the bike is. If you intend on just riding it, then you should make do with what you have. If you want to do longer hauling or something like that, more investments will have to be made that are necessary.

tips on bklyn bike shops (which are the most helpful? best prices?

I personally haven't gone to any, but I know that Metro Cycles in Manhattan has been really friendly with me (most of them have; one mechanic made a rather snide sarcasm about my first questions about disc brakes, but that's the only negative experience I've encountered). I am also going to try Mr. C's Cycles here on 47th Street and 6th and see what they're about. Word on the street tells me that they are expensive.

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jyossarian

If you're timid and easily frightened, try riding w/ your friends and stick to low traffic side streets, preferrably w/ bike lanes. Pick up a bike map from any bike shop because it'll show you which streets have bike lanes. Take the side streets to Prospect Park when it's closed to traffic. Stay out of the door zone, wear your helmet always and don't let traffic rattle you. Most drivers will assume you'll continue to hold your line so don't swerve or make any sudden moves/turns w/o looking over your shoulder unless it's an emergency. Good luck!

katattak

thanks everyone!!

i think i am going to ride around prospect park on sunday!

MrCrassic 

Good luck with that, man! I might actually come out there then if I don't do a group ride on Saturday.

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zacster

I'll be in the park on Sunday, at least a little while. No ride for me is complete without going through the park at least once.

alanfleisig

Prospect Park on weekends when closed to traffic.

Bike paths that start around the southern end of King's Highway and take you out to Riis Park and the beach.

The West Side Manhattan multi-use path.

Don't be embarassed to take the subway or a bus to the beginning of your ride, if you are fearful of riding in traffic. If you do ride in the street to get to, say Prospect Park from your Ft. Greene home, just take it nice and slow, ride WITH (in the same direction) as traffic, especially on 1-way streets, obey lights and stop signs, and you'll be fine.

Get a basic bike computer for around $20. Plan your first rides to be about 10 miles, which will take you around an hour. Ride at a comfortable pace. Learn to use your gears so you can turn the pedals comfortably at 75-85 rpm. Not using gears enough is probably the biggest beginner mistake.

Get the height of your seat adjusted properly. It should be at a height where, when your foot is at the lowest point of the pedal cycle, your leg is bent just slightly at the knees (anywhere between 15 and 30 degrees that you feel most comfortable.

If your bike doesn't have toe straps, get them, and get comfortable putting your feet into them and taking them out. Think about pedaling by pulling up with your foot on the strap, as well as pushing down.

Ride the 10 miles at a comfortable pace at least a couple of times a week, if possible. As the 10 miles starts to feel easy, add 5 miles, working your way slowly up to 20 or 25 miles each time out. Be completely comfortable with the idea that it may take you months to reach those 20 or 25 mile ride lengths.

If you go out regularly, in no time (a couple of months) you will start to notice that you are going faster and further. You can do it, and if you do it with the right attitude, you'll enjoy it and keep at it.

geo8rge

If no one mentioned it, get the official NYC bike map free at a local bike shop.

alanfleisig

You can also get a pdf version of the map, and other useful cycling information from Transportation Alternatives, at:

https://www.transalt.org/

Air

https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/download...pfront2007.pdf
https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/download...apback2007.pdf

DynoD500_SR20-d

If you are willing to travel to Canarsie I would go to the Racers Edge on Rockaway Parkway. Jerrold there is very friendly.
To get there from downtown you ride Eastern Parkway to Rockaway Avenue and ride down to Rockaway Parkway and Seaview or you can come up the back way by the Belt Parkway Trail.

BTW, Henria86, is your name Roger? If so I know you

katattak

wow, thanks everyone for the good advice -- keep it coming if you've got it! it's good to hear someone say to ignore car horns to stay out of the door zone. it's also good to hear someone say obey traffic lights. i have been feeling like an asshat waiting for a redlight when other bikers go through. i just don't understand how bikers can even see past the cars parallel parked on the side of the street to see if anyone's coming or not when they run a red light. maybe one day i'll get there...

i rode up vanderbilt this week just to have the fun of riding down again. i think i'm going to go ride in prospect park today because it turns out i have to work tomorrow.

alan fleisig, great starter plan - thanks!

what's the best/most scenic bridge to ride over? brooklyn?

where / how do i pick up the ocean parkway ride to the beach? is there just a path on the side of ocean parkway? where does it start?

oh something else i wanted to ask -- how does everyone deal with left turns? i find them harrowing. if i'm at a light and it turns red and then i need to turn left i've been given the advice to just wait for the cars to pass, riding the yellow light if i have to. is this what you do?

Air

Bridge - each one is unique. The Williamsburg has probably the nicest lane. I always whistle 'Feeling Groovy' over the 59th Street. Brooklyn is the oldest and nicest view on both sides but there are usually a ton of pedestrians in the bike lanes so you have to really be careful. The Manhattan Bridge tends not to be too crowded though the joints can throw you if you don't pay attention.

Left turns - depends. Sometimes if I'm going fast enough I'll just slide in with traffic and repeat, "I'm a car, I'm a car" over and over again. If it's way too dangerous I'll just cross the street, wait for the light to change and then start again.

Ocean Parkway - 68th Street - check out those maps I posted above and you'll be able to see it.

zacster

Ocean Parkway: Take Prospect Park and get out at Park Circle/Coney Island Ave at the bottom of the downhill. Go halfway around the circle to Coney Island Ave, take it to Beverly Road, 3 blocks. Right on Beverly about 5 blocks to Ocean Parkway. One side of OP has a dedicated bike path, the other is pedestrian only. I also sometimes ride the service road instead. All this said, I don't really like riding on it.

Air, I'm not sure where you are with 68th St. Maybe you're thinking Shore Parkway?

Air

Ha - yeah I saw the reference to the beach and I thought we were still talking about greenways 'n stuff.