Two weekends ago, I hopped in a minivan packed with bikes and people (coworker Brian, lunch friend Molly, and two of their friends, Pam and Patrick), and made my way up to NYC to ride around as part of the Five Boro Bike Tour. The idea is you start in Manhattan and over the course of 42 miles, visit all five boroughs of the city.
We got in to town Saturday, ventured in to the city for some grub and drink (met John at Blind Tiger Ale House, great place, and great to see him for the first time in five years… I also tasted my favorite new beer there, McChouffe), returned to our hotel to get a few hours sleep, up at 5 hungover as hell, pack up [except for my keys… those are gone], hop in the van again, drive to the Staten Island Ferry, and finally arrive in Battery Park.
Upon arrival at the event, we’re greeted with a street packed with cyclists. Very little room to move, and in 30 minutes, we had gone 1/4 a block. Bad news. We decide to instead take the Hudson River Bike Path, and catch the tour closer to Central Park. Definitely the way to go. As far as the ride goes, the singlespeed was perfectly suited, but the weather was not in our favor. 50 degrees and raining. Out on a bike in that for six hours is pretty miserable. At the 30 mile mark, we decide to cut it short by going across the Brooklyn Bridge… Enough was enough… There was no trophy at the end; why suffer?
Back at Battery Park, we hop on the Staten Island Ferry again, get to the van, change, and head on home… Tired, cold, and soaked to the bone.
Overall, a very cool event, and one I plan on doing again, but if there is foul weather in the forecast, I’m going to just forfeit my $48 entry and head home or see a museum.
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