My first 75 miler!
What better way to support better biking in NYC by…riding a bike! Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit, hosted their 21st annual NYC Century Bike Tour throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx.
I can’t say that I’ve seen Central Park at 6:00 a.m. until this ride. The sky turned pink just before the morning sun started to peep through the high rises on the East side. Lots of clouds and the possibility of a sprinkle of rain at any moment, but with positive thoughts it didn’t materialize. Our group of ten adventurous cyclists gathered at the Boathouse. We started the ride at the north end of Central park and then rode south, past City Hall Park and over the Brooklyn Bridge.
As we worked our way towards the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge the most beautiful sight appeared before our eyes. The massive Queen Mary 2 made her way under the bridge. A rare experience that will never be forgotten.
Next up, Coney Island. Specifically Nathan’s on Surf Avenue. Did you know there are 1,444 calories in a large order of chili cheese fries? Thank God I don’t like chili, but the hot dog and Nathan’s famous fresh cut fries were superb. I felt better knowing that I would burn every one of those 982 calories during the ride!
After we made our way through Sheepshead Bay and Fort Tilden, we passed Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, a refuge encompassing over 9,000 acres. We experienced a light shower of rain, but still no major weather worries as we rode through Far Rockaway and continued on through the boro of Queens. The weather improved and as we rode closer to La Guardia airport a huge jet flew right over us. It was awesome. So close you could reach up and touch it, well almost. Now that was one for the memory books!
We slowly crossed over the RFK bridge, aka the Triboro Bridge, that connects Queens to Randall’s Island. We flexed our muscles as we carried our bikes up and down the stairs as we made our way over. Thank God for light road bikes, especially as we were nearing the end of 75 miles! Randall’s Island was full of bike paths and scenic walks not to mention a mecca for tennis, golf, soccer and baseball. (Note to self: return!)
As we entered Harlem to finish the ride at the northern end of Central Park, we were met with a touch of rain. At this point, who cared? As always, another wonderful opportunity to see more of New York City with a very fun group of cyclists! And trust me, the hot shower and a few glasses of Gruet made for a perfect ending to that 75 mile day!
Great job!!! I felt so accomplished after I did my century in the spring, it is a good feeling. I need to plan my next season better, I had to miss this and the Great Escape ride! Hopefully we can to a ride this fall?
Great picture. It brings memories of our trips to France. Now that I spinn regularly I wish I had taken your advise to take spinning before our trip. Anyway, it was a memorable experience.