Five Borough Bicycle Club - New York

[5BBC - New York's Five Borough Bicycle Club]

These were rides in September-October 2010. Click here for upcoming rides.

These are upcoming rides. Click here for rides archive.

Please note that helmets are required on all 5BBC rides.

Indicates relaxed pace, easy ride

For more information, please see:

Ride locations - where do we meet?
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More about day rides - what to bring on rides, what's that smiley thing, participants under age 18, bike access on trains
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Sunday, September 5, 2010

THE OLD PUT CENTURY - TA CENTURY TRAINING RIDE #4

8:00 AM, Woodlawn (Jerome and Bainbridge Aves), Bronx. 92 miles, 15 mph pace

The New York and Putnam Railroad, a/k/a "The Old Put", was a dismal failure as a commercial rail line and was put out of its misery circa 1980. Fortunately, the right-of-way was almost entirely preserved, and the rail barons' loss became our gain when Westchester and Putnam Counties built a rail-trail for recreational use. You can now bicycle most of the way from Bronx to Carmel (and back) on a path that is paved, level, and car-free. Hooray! Bring water, snacks, lunch or $ for it, plus $ for train fare and an MTA Bike Permit in case you need a still-operating railroad to leave early. Leaders: Jesse Brown and Jim Zisfein

Sunday, September 5, 2010

MANHATTAN PERIMETER

9:30 AM, City Hall, Manhattan. 30 miles

See the City on the "Edge". New York has a world class harbor. We'll visit every available waterfront point and see the few parts that still don't have bike access. At the end, there'll be a bike friendly place to eat. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and Bob Castro

Sunday, September 12, 2010

BIKE PHILLY FOR A DAY

5:00 AM, Penn Station

Enjoy the love of cycling in the city of Brotherly Love on a very special day. This trip will tie in with Bike Philly, a large citywide bike tour sponsored by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. The tour features 10 & 20 mile car-free routes with a 35 mile extended route on shared roads. See the historic sights, partake the local cuisine and enjoy the day away. Rain or Shine. Trip meets 5 AM at Penn Station and returns to Penn Station the same night. Must be a current 5BBC member. RSVP to bikephilly@5bbc.org, and send $100 check payable to 5BBC to cover transportation & ride registration. Meals not included in trip price. Please send membership form with check as described at bottom of http://5bbc.org/weekend . Leaders: Owens Ridges, Jr & Wentworth Price

TA CENTURY

5:30 AM, 110th St & Lenox Ave, Manhattan, or 6 AM, Prospect Park, Brooklyn. 15, 35, 55, 75, or 100 miles

Sorry, no local 5BBC rides today, we're all riding or volunteering on the Transportation Alternatives Century, the ride that helps fund New York City's bicycling and pedestrian advocacy organization. Please see http://www.transalt.org for more information.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

ARMONK ADVENTURE

8:30 AM, Pelham Parkway & White Plains Road, Bronx. 60 miles at 15 mph

We'll treat ourselves to an extraordinary American meal after an extraordinarily exuberant ride. Leaders: Jesse Brown & Rodney Millard

BYOB

8:45 AM (for 9:14 departure), Penn Station: NE corner of 8th Av and West 31st St, Manhattan. 40 unpaved miles

The Delaware & Raritan Canal hasn't seen barge traffic since 1932. The unpaved tow path next to the canal is part of the East Coast Greenway. It offers some of the finest and flattest bike riding in the region. Expect abundant greenery, wildlife and mile after mile of quiet relaxed bicycling. The tow path surface varies from hard dirt (sometimes muddy) to bank-run gravel. The gravel demands a minimum tire width of 1.5" / 35mm. It's about 40 miles between the NJ Transit station s in Trenton and New Brunswick. Bring lunch or $ for it and $28.50 train fare. BYOB? Bring your own bagels. The canal supplies the locks. Leaders: Richard Brause and Jim Zisfein

PALISADES PARK AND SO ON!

9:30 AM, City Hall, Manhattan, 35 miles.

Ya gotta love Jersey! It's got some really great stuff, including a fabulous view of the harbor. We'll enjoy the Hudson Fjord at the waterline, then from the GWB and finally from the majestic heights of the Palisades. We'll cruise through Hoboken and cross the Hudson one more time and watch the sun go down on the most magnificant city that God ever allowed humans to create. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & TBA.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

BRONX RIVER PARKWAY / CRANBERRY LAKE

9 AM, Woodlawn (Jerome Ave & Bainbridge Ave, last stop on #4), Bronx. 42 miles and several steep hills

Travel along Westchester County's scenic roads and off-street bike paths, with lunch at a nature preserve where we'll take an (optional) walk around a swampy lake in a quiet, forested area. Since we'll be using the Bronx River Parkway during the Bicycle Sunday closings as well as neighboring bike paths, the ride is 44% car free. All paths are paved and suitable for road bikes. Bring appropriate walking footwear if you want to hike 1.5 miles during the lunch break. Back around 5 PM. Bring MTA bike permit just in case (or for early return). Bring or buy lunch. Leaders: Ed Ravin & Brian Hoberman

Saturday, October 2, 2010

HATS THAT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF

9:45 AM, Plaza Hotel and Apartments, Manhattan. 20 leisurely miles

When Marcus Malchijah started making hats fifteen years ago, he didn't know that his hats would be so popular that he would be sought out by jazz singers, rap groups, people out for a Sunday stroll, and above all church goers. And where does he do his craft? Why in the "Borough of Churches," of course: Brooklyn. We'll watch this craftsman at work as he turns out a hat right before our eyes. Get ready for colors that will amaze you, and styles that make a statement and melt your heart. Bring lock and money for lunch at a local ethnic restaurant. Rain at start cancels. Leaders: Richard Sanford & Manny Sanudo

TWO MUSEUM TOUR OF THE BRONX

10 AM, Westchester Square #6 subway station, Bronx. 20 miles.

Visit two museums, starting in Pelham Bay and ending up in Van Cortlandt Park, with a lunch stop on Arthur Avenue, the "Little Italy of the Bronx". Relaxed pace ride. Bring money for lunch and $8 for museum tour fees. Mostly flat terrain, some minor hills. Co-sponsored by the Bronx Borough President's tourism office. If you don't have a bike, bike rentals and transportation from Midtown will be available for this ride - write to daytrips@5bbc.org for details. Leaders: Sharon Behnke and Jesse Brown

Saturday, October 9, 2010

BEAR MOUNTAIN METRIC CENTURY: THE SIX COUNTY RIDE

8:00 AM, Plaza Hotel, Manhattan. 65 miles

After cycling up the western bank of the Hudson for 50 miles through fall foliage, challenge yourself by ascending Perkins Drive to the 1,300 foot summit of Bear Mountain. The view is worth it! Return to NYC on Metro North from the Garrison Station. Bring your MTA Bike Permit and $11.25 train fare. The terrain is hilly with some VERY STEEP climbs. Riders must be able to maintain a 16 mph pace. Leaders: Dennis Griffin and Ira Najowitz.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

JAMAICA BAY LOOP

9:00AM, Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn. 40 flat and windy miles

Here's a lovely fall ride around Jamaica Bay. Travel on bike paths and greenways over bridges with great views of the bay and ocean. After picking up some lunch, we head over to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge where we'll have a picnic and spend some time exploring. Afterwards we ride through Broad Channel and the the Rockaways before heading back to Brooklyn. Bring lightweight lock, lunch money and pump up those tires! Rain at start cancels. Leaders: Andrea Casertano, Susan Levine

NEAR BROOKLYN

9:30 AM, City Hall, Manhattana. 25 miles

The twin cities of New York & Brooklyn danced with each other for fifty years before the wedding. We'll get some snapshots of that time & others. Then, maybe, end up at a bike friendly pizzaria near Brooklyn. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & TBA

Saturday, October 16, 2010

BIKEWAY OVER THE HUDSON: AWOSTING FALLS

7:20 AM (for 7:47 departure), Grand Central Terminal, 45 hilly miles

The historic Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad Bridge reopened last year as the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world's longest and highest bridge dedicated to pedestrian and bicycling use. Our ride will showcase this bridge, as well as the Hudson Valley and Wallkill Valley Rail Trails, Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park, and peak fall foliage along the Shawangunk Ridge of Ulster County. Some of our riding will be off-road; 32c (1.5") or wider tires are recommended. Bring lunch (or $ for it), MTA bike permit, $29 train fare, and an appreciation for the natural beauty of Awosting Falls and the man-made beauty of this extraordinary bridge. Leaders: Richard Brause and Jim Zisfein.

TWIN LIGHTS

8AM (for 8:23AM departure), Newark Penn Station, Newark. 50-60+ miles, 12 mph pace

Cycle the Jersey counties of Essex, Union, Middlesex & Monmouth. See the Perth Amboy waterfront. Busy stretches take us to the Victory Bridge bike lane. After lunch in Matawan, a calm passage into the Henry Hudson Trail greenway. Then we climb hilly roads to Highlands and historic Twin Lights. The Seastreak ferry will give us a breezy return to Manhattan. Bring $ for lunch, $28 fare plus front & rear lights just in case. Co-listed with NYCC. Not for beginners. Leaders: Alfredo Garcia & Jesse Brown.

QUEENS TREASURES

10:00 AM, Cunningham Park, Queens, 30 miles

More a tour than a ride through Queens, hitting some of the borough's unusual or forgotten places. Many stops. Bring money for lunch. We plan to visit the Botanical Gardens, a 2,000 year-old Roman column, a Kung Fu temple, the Lemon Ice King of Corona and more. Back around 4 PM. Leaders: Randy Horowitz & TBA.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

POUGHKEEPSIE RAILROAD BRIDGE, FDR & VANDERBILT - FALL LEAVES SPECIAL

7:30 AM (for 7:47 train to Poughkeepsie), Grand Central Terminal. 25 miles

You haven't seen fall foliage until you've viewed it from 200 feet above the Hudson River on the historic former railroad bridge recently converted into a bicycle/pedestrian crossing. Then, on to the FDR and Vanderbilt homes. Bring MTA bike permit, $ for lunch, and $29 for carfare. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & TBA.

OY OY OYSTER!

9:00 AM, Cunningham Park, Queens. 50 miles, moderate pace with hills

They may look slimy, but they sure taste good. So do their cousin shrimps, clammies, steamers, and other nautical delicacies, plus the best chowder this side of Cape Horn. Before ye swab the decks, unfurl those sails for our fall foliage visit to Oyster Bay's 27th annual Oyster Festival, with music, crafts, souvenirs, tall ships and maybe a turkey leg or two. Work up your appetite by cycling to this North Shore enclave. Free admission, but bring pieces of eight for goodies, bring a lightweight bike lock, wooden pegleg, and a parrot, dead or alive. We'll ride rain or shine, but stormy weather might cause a re-route. Leaders: Captain Ted Kushner and first mates Ed and Liz

Saturday, October 23, 2010

TEATOWN LAKE BIKE/HIKE

8:25 AM, Grand Central Terminal (for 8:47 departure to Croton-Harmon), 26 hilly miles

Enjoy the fall foliage on this hilly ride on quiet back roads along with quality time at Teatown Lake Reservation (http://teatown.org) for 3-4 miles of easy-going hiking. NOTE: the ride starts at Croton-Harmon, but to allow for hiking time, we will end at the Bedford Hills train station. This ride is very hill, but there's no hurry. Lunch in Chappaqua. Bring MTA bike permit, $18.25 carfare, lightweight bike lock and lots of snacks, as lunch will be on the late side. Leaders: Brian Hoberman & Andrea Casertano.

LIAR'S RIDE

10 AM, Cunningham Park, Queens, 20 miles

We're not lying when we tell you it's a leisurely ride along the Queens perimeter, and we promise to tell the truth during the 2-minute bike check, but the rest of the ride you can lie through your chainring teeth. In fact, the best liar will win a free lunch! Really! [Past winning lies are not eligible, including "You don't look fat in those bike shorts" and "My other bike is a fixie". Decision of judges is final. Other restrictions may apply.] Leaders: Phil O'Reilly & TBA

Sunday, October 24, 2010

RIDE TO THE KENSICO DAM - FALL LEAVES SPECIAL

10:00 AM, Wakefield (E. 241 St. & White Plains Rd, last Stop on IRT #2), Bronx. 10-15 mph

An "Off Road Vista" bike journey for a regular bike. In the depths of the "Great Depression", the government did a lot of projects to 'make work". This one is a jewel. Flowing water, small dams and bridges, ducks, geese and swans make a "most pleasant" rolling ride. We'll follow the paved Bronx River Parkway bike path up to the dam and back. 35 miles. There will be some riding in traffic. Hilly in places. Bring MTA bike permit just in case. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas & Fred Dieckamp

Saturday, October 30, 2010

TWO MUSEUM TOUR OF THE BRONX

10 AM, Westchester Square #6 subway station, Bronx. 20 miles

Visit two museums, starting in Pelham Bay and ending up in Van Cortlandt Park, with a lunch stop on Arthur Avenue, the "Little Italy of the Bronx". Relaxed pace ride. Bring money for lunch and $8 for museum tour fees. Mostly flat terrain, some minor hills. Co-sponsored by the Bronx Borough President's tourism office. If you don't have a bike, bike rentals and transportation from Midtown will be available for this ride - write to daytrips@5bbc.org for details. Leaders: Sharon Behnke and Jesse Brown

Sunday, October 31, 2010

NYACK/PIERMONT

8:30 AM, George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal, Manhattan, 55 miles at 15 mph

A double barreled treat for both the eyes and the stomach. Cycle alongside the scenic Hudson River and enjoy lunch at a bike-friendly restaurant. Leaders: Jesse Brown & Rodney Millard

FALLING FOR CONNECTICUT

8:40 AM, Grand Central Terminal (for 9:07 departure to Darien), 40 hilly miles

A scenic ride through the colorful leaves and country backroads of Fairfield County, Connecticut. Bring MTA bike permit, $18.50 carfare, lighweight bike lock and snacks. Leaders: Brian Hoberman & TBA

QUADRUPLE BYPASS

Meet 6 PM, City Hall, Manhattan. 15 miles

See the City with her jewelry on from the top of the oldest, large bridges that she built. And look out for the ghosts and goblins. After all, a 400 year old plus lady tends to collect "things". After the ride, dinner at an appropriate all-night spot. Halloween costumes optional. Leaders: Ed Defreitas & Randy Horowitz

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A NON-PARTISAN SPIN

10 AM, Eleanor Roosevelt Statue, West 72nd st. and Riverside Drive, Manhattan. 38 mostly level miles at 12 mph pace

Vote early and then go for an easygoing non-partisan spin through Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens while the rest of the nation casts their ballots. Ride on a mix of city streets, bike lanes and greenways, with a spin around the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park. Lunch at a kosher restaurant on Main St. in Queens before returning via the Flushing Bay promenade and Queensboro Bridge. Back at 3:30 PM. Bring lock and $ for lunch. Leaders: Dana Hudes & Jim Zisfein