July - August 2004

Summer is Here!

It’s the hottest time of the year, and so the Five Borough Bicycle Club offers our hottest rides of the year to our members. This summer’s offerings include the return of a number of classic summer trips, some brand new offerings, and a number of series, both old and new. For those who want more fast paced rides look for the “Lottery” rides offered by Jesse Brown, which promise to visit Connecticut and New Jersey using different routes in each outing. For more casual fare we have trips to different beaches, including Sandy Hook, Long Beach, and our regular series of Beach Bum rides (see below). The club’s popular night ride through the Lincoln Tunnel happens right at mid-summer (see July 31st).

The Perimeter Rides Again (and again!)

You say you don’t want to ride to the beach but you do want that cool ocean or watefront breeze? The club will offer our Borough Perimeter series once more, this summer. This club series celebrates each of our five boroughs by circumnavigating each one in turn. If you’ve never ridden the series before you’ll see these boroughs from a different angle. Due to the popularity of these rides we expect many returning “perimeteers”. This year’s closing ride will also end in a closing blowout pizza party. After a slice of the Big Apple, have a slice on the 5BBC!

The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway

Speaking of perimeters, one of the easiest rides to do on your own these days is the complete Manhattan Loop ride as described here. When we first offered a Manhattan Perimeter back in 1998 it was a lot of rough, on street riding. Now that so much of the outer edge of Manhattan has been transformed into bicycle-friendly greenways, it’s easier than ever and safe, fun riding. You can learn more about these and other City Bicycle Programs at the club’s general meeting on Monday, July 19th.

Dates for the Borough Perimeter Rides

Staten Island	June 27th
The Bronx	July 11th
Brooklyn	July 25th
Queens	August 22nd
Manhattan	September 5th

The Return of the Beach Bum by Ed Ravin

Many New Yorkers don't know that one of the region's nicest beaches is a short ride from Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Each year, on every Sunday in July and August, the 5BBC tries to spread the good news by running the Bicycle Beach Bums Series.

Each ride is around 30 miles, at a leisurely pace, and includes a couple of hours at Neponsit Beach, a quiet, rarely crowded beach in the Rockaways that's ideally suited for bike trips because there is no automobile parking nearby.

Bring your beach umbrella, flip-flops, Frisbees, kites, and all your other beach toys! Leave a little room in your bag for lunch (bring or buy), bathing suit, sunscreen, and a light-weight lock. The ride usually returns to Prospect Park between 4 and 5 p.m. Subway return is also available if you want to stay late at the beach or if you're such a lazy bum that you don't want to ride home.

Going to the beach with the 5BBC is simple:

• The Beach Bums rides start at 10 a.m., at the Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park.
• Riders on August 22 will also be treated to a glimpse of the fabulous Stunt Kite Championships at Jacob Riis Park, where giant kites and "dancing" tournament kites will be displayed. If you've never seen competitive kiting before, you're in for a real treat!
• The last Beach Bums ride, on August 29, will be the "Beach Bums Blowout." As always, it will be followed by a delicious picnic in Prospect Park.

So if you're new to cycling, or you're an old hand but don't feel like working too hard during the hot summer months, come along as we bum around on our way to the beach!

Danny Lieberman
Day Trips Coordinator, 2004