OK, this info is old but I never wrote about it. Now I'll do that so I can share it with all of my friends.
James and I decided to do the New York 5 Boro bike tour which was held May 4th. It is a 42 mile bike ride that started in Battery Park and ended on Staten Island. We were nuts to consider it but thought it was a great opportunity since we were living here and wanted to take advantage of things in the area. We are far from being avid bikers but we thought it was a challenge that we could meet head on. It ended up being an expensive proposition since we had to invest in some biking gear. We had the bikes but we needed basically everything else. I had no idea what we needed. Thankfully we had some friends who offered us advice. We got biking shorts (yes, that would be spandex shorts) with gel padding in the seat (felt like wearing a thick maxipad but it really helped), long sleeve thermal shirts, waterproof jackets, new helmets, and non-cotton socks. We were ready to go. Sure, we were dressed the part but we weren't sure if we were ready for the ride.
We took the boys to Phil and Adina's. The plan was for them to spend the night since we had to get up so early the next day. Phil and Adina would take them to church and watch them for the day and then we would pick them up when we were done the tour. It was a bit traumatic for the boys and they didn't sleep that well but everyone survived. So thankful for Phil and Adina!
The forecast was for a cold and rainy day. That was why we had all the layers. I hoped and prayed for a different outcome but braced myself for the worst. When we got up at 4:20 (no that wasn't a typo) it was a bit drizzly and quite chilly. We left our house at 5 and headed up to Staten Island (an hour drive). Most of the cars that we met on the way were carrying bikes. There were 30 000 people registered for the ride. That's crazy!
We got to the ferry, parked and unloaded our bikes. We were so thrilled. We had no idea what to expect but the adrenaline rush was totally pushing us on. There were so many people lined up for that ferry. I have never seen so many people proudly wearing spandex in my life! Granted, there were all types of people there. Die hards, pretend to be die hards, and people there just for the ride. There were all types of outfits too. Some people even decorated their helmets. There was a group of ladies with pink feather dusters attached to the top of their helmets and a group of guys with rats mounted on top. The group with the Guinness cans on top certainly garnered some cheers.
The ferry ride over was freezing cold, there was a cold wind whipping off the water. We huddled down to try and stay warm but it seemed like a losing battle. Definitely not an encouraging outlook for the day.
We docked at Battery Park and got off with the thousands of other bikers. We met up with our friends and headed up to the starting line. There were already thousands of people in front of us but there were even more people behind us. It was just crazy to see all of those people. We waited for about an hour before the tour started. The group was divided so not everyone started at the same time, thereby eliminating some of the strain on the city and hopefully preventing some bike jams. We crossed the starting line at 8:15. Our first major bottle neck was as we entered Central Park. The ride through the park was great as was the scenery. We then headed into the Bronx. It was great, the roads were closed so we were totally safe. Well, except for crazy bikers. I was a bit disappointed because I couldn't really look around. I had to focus and pay attention to the road and the bikers around me that I couldn't really look around and enjoy the sights.
After the Bronx we headed to Queens, at one point crossing the Queensboro Bridge. Gorgeous. There were points during the ride where we had to get off and walk our bikes. This was due to the sheer number of people and the fact that we had to navigate through some bottle necks. We stopped at the first rest stop where we were given water, juice, nutrition bars, bananas and oranges. There were port a johns lined up along the entire stop. Gross but necessary.
From Queens we headed into Brooklyn. We stopped for lunch at another rest stop where we ended up stripping off some of layers. What was supposed to be a pretty miserable day ended up being sunny and GORGEOUS!!! Thank God for small miracles.
At one point during the ride we ended up in an hour long bike jam. It was insane. We had to go from essentially four lanes of traffic down to one. So frustrating! It gave my bike a much needed break but it also broke the momentum. James and I were able to break out and get ahead. Our friends were quite a bit behind us in the crowd so we ended up pulling over to wait for them. We had gotten in some good riding but felt it was important to meet up with our group again. As we were waiting for them at the side of the road we watched as a father ran over his son on his bike. It was heart wrenching. The father was in front, his son's bike was in tandem behind it and then there was also a bike trailer behind that. They were slowing down to get off at the rest stop when the boy fell of the bike. The father couldn't stop and ended up running him over with the back tire and the bike trailer. I totally started crying. The boys crying was heart breaking and sounded just like Jameson. He was about the same age too. James and I pulled the bike off to the side where the father was tending to his son. Poor little tyke peed his pants in the chaos but thankfully was not hurt, just scared.
As we were sitting there waiting we had a beautiful view of the Verrazzano Bridge. Beautiful but daunting. That was the last leg of our ride and it loomed high above our heads. That meant that we had to ride up hill to get to the bridge and the ride up hill for the first mile of the bridge, only to be rewarded with an entire downhill mile on the way down. Sheesh, what a scary thought.
Our friend eventually caught up and then we started the trek. I was silently pumping myself up and willing myself to make it the rest of the way without stopping. At the beginning of the bridge there was a bit of a bottle neck. It didn't help that the bike-walkers were walking two deep when they should have gone in single file. James and Olivator pulled ahead but Marije and I were left a bit behind. I couldn't wait to break out, I was anxious and had built myself up to make it across that bridge. Once it opened up I wanted to get ahead. Marije told me to go at my own pace so off I went. It makes sense to to ride in a low number (I have no idea the biking terms for all of this) so you don't have to put a lot of effort into each pedal. But I wanted each pedal to count. I pushed myself very hard but I made it. I was breathing hard but I pushed myself to make it across the bridge. It was AWESOME!! What a thrill!!! I made it across the bridge. In fact, I made it the entire way without voluntarily walking. So amazing!!!
I pulled into the station at the end of the ride. James and Olivator were waiting for me. (Yes, I was a bit disappointed to come in third from our group but it was impossible to break free of that crowd on the beginning of the bridge.) James and I didn't stick around long because we had to go and pick up the kids. We headed out for the last 3 miles (from the end station back to our car which was parked at the ferry). My poor butt was so sore, as were the palms of my hand (from leaning on the handle bars). We got into the van and the exhaustion and hunger hit us. We didn't have much more than protein bars all day. We picked up the kids, headed home and put the kids to bed. Shortly thereafter James and I were in dream land too. Not before I had a nice long soaking bath though. :)
What an amazing experience! If anyone wants to join us next year just let me know! We definitely plan on doing it again. My goal is to finish in the first third (10 000 people). So excited. There is another tour in September and I would totally be willing to do the 75 miles but I really don't want to leave the kids again. We might just do the 30 miles and bring the kids with us. Not sure if that would work though, they might beat each other up in the bike trailer. Correction, Stellan might beat Jameson up and Jameson would whine and cry the entire time. The thought of that is enough to prevent me from going on the trip. :)
James and I decided to do the New York 5 Boro bike tour which was held May 4th. It is a 42 mile bike ride that started in Battery Park and ended on Staten Island. We were nuts to consider it but thought it was a great opportunity since we were living here and wanted to take advantage of things in the area. We are far from being avid bikers but we thought it was a challenge that we could meet head on. It ended up being an expensive proposition since we had to invest in some biking gear. We had the bikes but we needed basically everything else. I had no idea what we needed. Thankfully we had some friends who offered us advice. We got biking shorts (yes, that would be spandex shorts) with gel padding in the seat (felt like wearing a thick maxipad but it really helped), long sleeve thermal shirts, waterproof jackets, new helmets, and non-cotton socks. We were ready to go. Sure, we were dressed the part but we weren't sure if we were ready for the ride.
We took the boys to Phil and Adina's. The plan was for them to spend the night since we had to get up so early the next day. Phil and Adina would take them to church and watch them for the day and then we would pick them up when we were done the tour. It was a bit traumatic for the boys and they didn't sleep that well but everyone survived. So thankful for Phil and Adina!
The forecast was for a cold and rainy day. That was why we had all the layers. I hoped and prayed for a different outcome but braced myself for the worst. When we got up at 4:20 (no that wasn't a typo) it was a bit drizzly and quite chilly. We left our house at 5 and headed up to Staten Island (an hour drive). Most of the cars that we met on the way were carrying bikes. There were 30 000 people registered for the ride. That's crazy!
We got to the ferry, parked and unloaded our bikes. We were so thrilled. We had no idea what to expect but the adrenaline rush was totally pushing us on. There were so many people lined up for that ferry. I have never seen so many people proudly wearing spandex in my life! Granted, there were all types of people there. Die hards, pretend to be die hards, and people there just for the ride. There were all types of outfits too. Some people even decorated their helmets. There was a group of ladies with pink feather dusters attached to the top of their helmets and a group of guys with rats mounted on top. The group with the Guinness cans on top certainly garnered some cheers.
The ferry ride over was freezing cold, there was a cold wind whipping off the water. We huddled down to try and stay warm but it seemed like a losing battle. Definitely not an encouraging outlook for the day.
We docked at Battery Park and got off with the thousands of other bikers. We met up with our friends and headed up to the starting line. There were already thousands of people in front of us but there were even more people behind us. It was just crazy to see all of those people. We waited for about an hour before the tour started. The group was divided so not everyone started at the same time, thereby eliminating some of the strain on the city and hopefully preventing some bike jams. We crossed the starting line at 8:15. Our first major bottle neck was as we entered Central Park. The ride through the park was great as was the scenery. We then headed into the Bronx. It was great, the roads were closed so we were totally safe. Well, except for crazy bikers. I was a bit disappointed because I couldn't really look around. I had to focus and pay attention to the road and the bikers around me that I couldn't really look around and enjoy the sights.
After the Bronx we headed to Queens, at one point crossing the Queensboro Bridge. Gorgeous. There were points during the ride where we had to get off and walk our bikes. This was due to the sheer number of people and the fact that we had to navigate through some bottle necks. We stopped at the first rest stop where we were given water, juice, nutrition bars, bananas and oranges. There were port a johns lined up along the entire stop. Gross but necessary.
From Queens we headed into Brooklyn. We stopped for lunch at another rest stop where we ended up stripping off some of layers. What was supposed to be a pretty miserable day ended up being sunny and GORGEOUS!!! Thank God for small miracles.
At one point during the ride we ended up in an hour long bike jam. It was insane. We had to go from essentially four lanes of traffic down to one. So frustrating! It gave my bike a much needed break but it also broke the momentum. James and I were able to break out and get ahead. Our friends were quite a bit behind us in the crowd so we ended up pulling over to wait for them. We had gotten in some good riding but felt it was important to meet up with our group again. As we were waiting for them at the side of the road we watched as a father ran over his son on his bike. It was heart wrenching. The father was in front, his son's bike was in tandem behind it and then there was also a bike trailer behind that. They were slowing down to get off at the rest stop when the boy fell of the bike. The father couldn't stop and ended up running him over with the back tire and the bike trailer. I totally started crying. The boys crying was heart breaking and sounded just like Jameson. He was about the same age too. James and I pulled the bike off to the side where the father was tending to his son. Poor little tyke peed his pants in the chaos but thankfully was not hurt, just scared.
As we were sitting there waiting we had a beautiful view of the Verrazzano Bridge. Beautiful but daunting. That was the last leg of our ride and it loomed high above our heads. That meant that we had to ride up hill to get to the bridge and the ride up hill for the first mile of the bridge, only to be rewarded with an entire downhill mile on the way down. Sheesh, what a scary thought.
Our friend eventually caught up and then we started the trek. I was silently pumping myself up and willing myself to make it the rest of the way without stopping. At the beginning of the bridge there was a bit of a bottle neck. It didn't help that the bike-walkers were walking two deep when they should have gone in single file. James and Olivator pulled ahead but Marije and I were left a bit behind. I couldn't wait to break out, I was anxious and had built myself up to make it across that bridge. Once it opened up I wanted to get ahead. Marije told me to go at my own pace so off I went. It makes sense to to ride in a low number (I have no idea the biking terms for all of this) so you don't have to put a lot of effort into each pedal. But I wanted each pedal to count. I pushed myself very hard but I made it. I was breathing hard but I pushed myself to make it across the bridge. It was AWESOME!! What a thrill!!! I made it across the bridge. In fact, I made it the entire way without voluntarily walking. So amazing!!!
I pulled into the station at the end of the ride. James and Olivator were waiting for me. (Yes, I was a bit disappointed to come in third from our group but it was impossible to break free of that crowd on the beginning of the bridge.) James and I didn't stick around long because we had to go and pick up the kids. We headed out for the last 3 miles (from the end station back to our car which was parked at the ferry). My poor butt was so sore, as were the palms of my hand (from leaning on the handle bars). We got into the van and the exhaustion and hunger hit us. We didn't have much more than protein bars all day. We picked up the kids, headed home and put the kids to bed. Shortly thereafter James and I were in dream land too. Not before I had a nice long soaking bath though. :)
What an amazing experience! If anyone wants to join us next year just let me know! We definitely plan on doing it again. My goal is to finish in the first third (10 000 people). So excited. There is another tour in September and I would totally be willing to do the 75 miles but I really don't want to leave the kids again. We might just do the 30 miles and bring the kids with us. Not sure if that would work though, they might beat each other up in the bike trailer. Correction, Stellan might beat Jameson up and Jameson would whine and cry the entire time. The thought of that is enough to prevent me from going on the trip. :)
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