Seriously -- it's about half a mile as the crow flies between those two checkpoints, and ~4.5 one way across the bridge. I'm not sure you could count on the train or tram being faster though.

Must.. resist... urge to join dark side... anyway I can't even get out of bed today, taking the day off work too.

Why would you take the train?
35th avenue goes straight into the island..

its the getting to manhattan bit that's the problem, you can go back into queens and up and over the 59th, and it _might_ be the fastest way. But the tram (which I doubt allows bikes) cuts 4 miles off the journey, the train cuts a bit less and is risky, if it comes as you hit the station its probably faster then riding maybe by a good 5-10 minutes, but if you wait you're out of luck. All calculated risk, the safe bet is to rely on yourself and your bike, but jumping on the train just might win you the race. or lose it. Might also be against the rules.. who knows.

I think bikes are allowed on the tram but as others have pointed out, you might have to wait for it. I don't remember if the tram is on a schedule or not, if it is then you can probably time it pretty well so you hop on it before it takes of. Safest bet is still just biking back to the city.

Seriously guys, it's a bike race, not a public transportation race.

http://www.castlecraft.com/images/Wa...ont-action.jpg

dock one of these bad boys on the island the night before...

you can look at it like that, bike purist style and I respect that. But personally I find it more interesting as an urban navigation race, 9 times out of 10 the bike will be the fastest option, thats the whole economic reason for bike messengers. If you tried to do this route on public transit you'd get your ass whipped, but that one little river crossing gives you a real navigation challenge and that's a lot more interesting to me personally then who can spin their wheels the fastest...

it's an alleycat. there are no rules. I say we run ziplines down from the Queensboro bridge and hang on to our downtubes for the ride.

Just a little reminder. On the Manhattan bridge, there's a track bike friendly side and a bike unfriendly side. My first time over that bridge coming into brooklyn, I almost ate sh1t real bad down the stairs that are right around the 85 degree corner at the end of the bridge.... Watch out, that was a scary one.

some of us got bikes with gears too...tho they be a bit dusty, aye ;)

i'm having my uncle sail over from long island to the east river and give me a lift from manhattan to roosevelt

when i used to row crew, we'd do jersey races. the winning boat would take the losing boats' uniforms.

a team race where everyone is required to make jerseys/shirts for their teams, winner takes all (losers ride home shirtless)

just a thought

Jeff - I'll go with ya! I'll PM you.

SO 2 of us Boston folks are going tommorow to do a dry run of the course. Any locals want to go with and show us up? Neither of us are incredibly well versed in NY geography, so we could def' use the help!

i'm down, most likely (as long as work doesn't suddenly get in the way as it's wont to do of late). pm me i'll give you my number

word! pm sent.

i did the manhattan to bklyn to queens run today but didn't go to RI yet.

S/F,
CEYA!

Well, if you want to do it today, page me, and I'll call you: 617 430 9910.

We should be getting there sometime around 1 I thinks?

Is anyone planning on doing the Halloween CM?

I am, also going be helping with an after party at 49 houston.

where are you going to be dropped off in the city? and who else want to come?

S/F,
CEYA!

I like looking silly.

If the course is annouced in advance, I'll race.


Just riding along

I called you like 20 times over the day, I just completed my recon of the whole route. I am set!

S/F<
CEYA!

If this lady were still in business, I'd have the winning route: http://www.marielorenz.com/current.html

?? I never got a page, did you put in your number after the "beep beep beep"? Me and username: Stickyfoot chinatown bus'ed it this morning, did the first 5 or so, skipped the Roosevelt Island checkpoint since we were staring at the 59th St. bridge and didn't want to get blown into the water, and then went to the 1st Shearith before saying f' these headwinds we're going home. I think I have the Brooklyn stuff on lock, and the other stuff is just around Manhattan, so I'm not too worried.

I'm straight up assuming we have to do the checkpoints in order, but there was some confusion around this, someone in the know want to clarify?

Also, Ceya, I'm totally down to come in again next weekend and do the whole thing if you're up for it.

My gf's sister has a small yacht but having a bunch of guys cramming onto it with bikes is a no no. Neither is docking it by a bunch of jagged rocks.

Nah, I did my recon during our 4 days plus of rain and the whole route today to include RI. hey S&*T happens.
If you need assistance let me know.

S/F<
CEYA!

So, at least a few of us are coming down from Boston for the races, probably Friday night. Do any of you generous souls have space for us to crash in? I think we're fine with being split up if it takes more than one apartment.

wish i had space, but i'll be boarding other non bikers that weekend.

As far as the randalls island thing goes, its actually not a bad ride down there at all, although I did get a tad confused as to how to get down there when i first crossed the bridge. Tommorow I'm gonna do a good portion of the route with a bunch of guys (we're hopin to meet up at around 1:00 at the race start tommorow to take a relaxed run through the lower manhattan, brooklyn and queens checkpoints).