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Why I love the 5BBC !

Submitted by Allan Friedman on Fri, Sep 27, 2019

One of our unique attributes as a club is the Point Drop Sweep (PDS) System that we use on most of our rides.

 

There are other philosophies in cycling that focus on speed, getting to a particular destination as quickly as possible perhaps stopping at key points along the way to have a quick look, and riding together in a very disciplined way (training required) or in the racer's “peloton” as close as humanly possible. We have rides that can be like that too - Quick Spin and Quick Spin Lite.

 

But our other rides types: Happy Face, Moderate and Advanced Moderate, typically leverage PDS in order to let people ride at whatever pace they are comfortable and still keeping the group together. 

 

We generally have two leaders on most of our rides. 

 

One is the “point” of the ride. Like the point of a pencil, they are always at the front. Don’t pass them (except if they need a little more time up a hill and you have momentum, go ahead, but then wait for them so as not to miss a turn).

 

The second leader is the “sweep” of the ride. They won’t let you fall behind them and they make sure to help with any mechanicals and keep track of anyone who decides to leave the ride early. The focus is on making sure no one is left behind.

 

What about turns? That is where the most important role of all comes in. And it’s really simple to do this role, but critical to pay attention to its few details. Whenever a Point makes a turn, or wherever a turn may be missed by a rider, a “drop” is left. Any rider may be asked to play this role. A place to stand will be suggested by the leader. The Drop will stand in that place, in their most animated way pointing in the direction of the turn. Yes, if you are picked to be a drop, you get to audition for the broadway role / Tony award of “best turn signal ever”. You do this until the sweep, AND ONLY THE SWEEP, releases you from your duty with a clear indication that you can leave the drop position.

 

Easy Peasy right? Only three steps

Stand in the position indicated by the leader

Point in the direction of the turn

Continue riding only after the sweep releases you (not someone who looks like the sweep or wears the same club jersey ;) the actual sweep! Make sure to get to know who that is.

 

There is room for error here. It has happened that a rider said "Thank You” to a novice drop and they left their position assuming that was the sweep releasing them. Perhaps they forgot who the sweep was? The 4 riders behind got 5 extra miles that day. Luckily there was a police yellow line blocking traffic and then the rest of the group was not in site. A call to the point made evident what had happened and with a 20-30 minute delay for all, the situation was rectified. Not pleasant, but not the end of the world either.

 

Dropping is easy and is a nice way to contribute to a ride. If you are not inclined to drop, let the leader know and stay a bit back but don’t ignore a request to drop. Leaders should always confirm visually that a drop has taken up the request and is in place before moving on - but if they don’t see clearly that you don’t want to drop - it can lead to issues - so tell them up front and stay a bit back of the point so someone else is between you and them and can be the drop without slowing down the ride.

 

This also happened on a weekend trip. Someone was nervous as their phone had died and saw the front of the ride going out of site so they left the post. We recovered. one person got to see 2-3 extra miles of a new city - it was not the end of the world, but you can imagine they were not happy. And the sweep knew they passed a turn and called to verify and then corrected as well.

 

It is rarely the end of the world - but for those adversely affected - it is never fun. So please please please, take this seriously.

 

When I became a leader, we had an instructor who likened the PDS to an accordion. I like to think of it that way. Faster riders will tend to be towards the front, slower ones toward the back and the club stays together and gets where it is going while everyone enjoys the ride at their pace. Faster riders come to make a fun game of this. It's also informative: they are able to let the point know how far back the tail or sweep of the ride is.... helpful if there are issues on a ride. And good leaders always have compression stops - if the accordion stretches TOO long, let's get the group back together. Also - if someone is not up for the ride level - members can help leaders by diplomatically and friendly suggesting perhaps a train home or solo riding if they might get left behind. We never leave anyone behind - but if you slow down the ride with too many comperssions stops, it can turn a Moderate into a Happy Face and people who wanted to ride, can be miffed. But I digress or perhaps spend a bit too much time on the accordion analogy.

 

To quote another of our illustrious leaders: "The most important thing" to take away from this article: Drops should never leave; and leader’s should never fail to leave drops! Even our best leaders can make a mistake - turning in to Hudson Park and not leaving a second drop at the island. Remember the Yogi Berra adage - “when you come to a fork in the road, take it". PLEASE - Not on a 5BBC ride. Unless it is very obvious which way the “continue straight” would be….” and even then, better not to let it happen and leverage drops to pre-empt such circumstance. 

 

To quote one of our most boisterous members (who hopefully will some day become a leader) "I like to think of it like a pin dropping into place". The leader needs to pick a place where you can drop  visibly but also safely and comfortably. Negotiate with them if you don’t like the spot and once they go, try to understand why they placed you where they did - but if a shady option in sunshine and heat, or further out of the way of traffic suits you - as long as you are visible - plant yourself where you think best. Use good judgement for the cause - which is making sure everyone makes the right turn; or the left turn if that’s the case; just not the WRONG turn ;)

 

Keep this in mind: be a bit ahead of the turn - with a bit of warning before making the turn. Or after the turn if it’s clear far enough in advance where to be after the turn.

 

Finally: the concept of "self made drop". Another advantage of Point Drop Sweep is that if you want to take a picture, or really "need to go" (to the bathroom, or leave the ride for that matter). Simply wait for the SWEEP and ask them to wait for you or let them know you need to leave. It works. Try it.

 

That's all folks. By now you understand Point-Drop-Sweep or PDS in great detail and are ready to rock and roll with the 5BBC, New York's friendliest club who never leave anyone behind. We don't have DROP rides rather Point-DROP-Sweep rides. When it works :)

 

 

Announcing a 5BBC Pilot Program for Leadership Training

Submitted by Bill Mastro on Thu, Sep 12, 2019

Have you ever wanted to lead 5BBC rides, but were unable to take or complete the 5BBC Leadership Training Course?

We have an alternative just for you.

The 5BBC Board will continue to offer our well-loved traditional Leadership Training Course in 2020. However, we also recognize that for various reasons the traditional course does not work for everyone. Therefore, we are implementing a pilot program as an alternative path to become a 5BBC ride leader. 

The pilot program will be available to a limited number of active 5BBC members on a selection basis. If you are interested in the pilot program please submit an expression of interest via email to daytrips@5bbc.org by no later than September 30, 2019. In order to participate in the pilot program, you must first be approved and then you must agree to the programs requirements, which are summarized below. 

1. Anyone joining the pilot program must commit to listing at minimum 5 ride between now and September 30th, 2020.

2. All those admitted to the pilot program must attend a one day leadership seminar tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 6.   Those participating will be expected to read and review the 5BBC leadership manual prior to the date of the seminar. The seminar will include both classroom-like discussions as well as practical on-the-road activity where participants will get to do things leaders do on rides.

3. Once the leadership seminar is completed, those who graduate will be designated provisional leaders through the end of 2020 and will be able to list and lead rides, provided that they do so with an existing 5BBC leader.

4. Additional components and requirements of the pilot will be discussed at the seminar. 

That’s it.

This is your opportunity to step up.

The Club always needs leaders with their own fresh perspectives and we always needs leaders to list rides.

We look forward to your joining us!!!!!!

 

A Handbook For Safe Cycling

Submitted by David Meltzer on Thu, Sep 5, 2019

This article is intended for new members to show them how to ride with the Five Borough Bicycle Club. However, we hope that all riders can benefit from what is discussed below. If you follow the principals and procedures in this guide – you will have a great riding experience every time you are on the bike.

I. Your Bicycle

There are many types of bicycles that the 5BBC allows on rides. While most of our members chose to ride road bikes, many rides are also suitable for hybrids as well. Members of the 5BBC have also used folding bikes, fixed gear bikes, and tandem bikes. Of course, not all bikes are suitable for every ride the club does, and if you are in doubt – contact the Leader.

Whatever bicycle you chose to ride, having a bicycle in good repair is essential. Some of the things your bicycle needs are as follows:

  1. Bell – mandated under NYC Law
  2. Lights – White in Front and Red in Rear – mandated under NYC Law
  3. Properly cleaned and lubed chain.
  4. Properly inflated tires.
  5. Working gears/shifters.

 

II. Personal Safety

  1. Helmets are required. The Insurance that is maintained by the Five Borough Bicycle Club mandates that ALL riders must wear a helmet. It is true that helmets do not prevent every injury – but they are essential to minimize any head trauma. If you are not wearing a helmet – you cannot ride with the club. There are no exceptions to this rule.
  2. Hydration and Snacks. Even on the coldest day of the winter, you sweat on a bike. It is essential to have either one or two water cages or a hydration pack. On hot days, it is advised to fill these containers every chance that you get. Most 5BBC rides have a great lunch stop, but if you are someone who tends to get hungry during a ride – make sure to bring items to eat. Rides have liked gels, goos, dates, and good old PB & J. Proper hydration and proper calorie intake will prevent the dreaded BONK.
  3. Medication and Sun Screen. If you suffer from any allergies, ailments or conditions, please take the appropriate medication along. Sun Screen is always a good idea as well.
  4. Physical Fitness. Not all rides are the same. Some are longer and some are shorter. Some are flat and some are hilly. Some are taken at a relaxed Happy Face Pace and some are Moderate, Advanced Moderate or Quick Spin. It is essential to know your limits and your own comfort level. Again, if you are in doubt about a specific ride, the best thing to do would be to contact the Leader

 

III.  Before the Ride – What to Do.

As with most things, prior preparation is essential for a good riding experience. What you do before a ride can be as important as what you do during the ride.

  1. Register for the Ride. Registering for the ride lets the leader know how many people are intending to appear, and enables the leader to plan for things like lunch. It also shows your level of commitment for the ride.
  2. Equipment Check. Make sure that your bike is road worthy. If it is a night ride are your lights fully charged or do you have extra batteries.
  3. Lay Out. Many riders find it beneficial to lay out what they intend to wear and what they intend to take with them the night before. This way, there are no last minute frantic rushes around the house for last minute items.
  4. What to Take. Here are some suggestions of what to pack in your bag. Lock, Spare Tube, Patch Kit, Tire Levers, Hand Pump. Hand Sanitizer, First Aide Kit, Snacks, Change of shirt or socks, appropriate tool to remove wheels if you do not have a quick release.

 

 

IV. Ride Day

  1. Show up on Time. We know that the subways don't always work, especially on weekends. We know that sometimes you get a flat. And we usually give a small grace period. BUT, please do your best to arrive on time so as not to hold up the group.
  2. Be Attentive. The Ride Leaders will be imparting important information prior to the ride. If you are not paying attention, you may miss an essential element. Also, if you are not paying attention, you will likely be distracting others. There will be plenty of time for socializing later.
  3. Situational Awareness. We ride in the environment, and if you are not paying attention, accidents can occur. Please observe the road conditions for holes, glass, ice, wet leaves, barricades and the like. Call out the hazards for those riders traveling behind you. If you are passing a rider, pass on the left and call out your pass. And of course, watch for motorists both on the roadway and parked.
  4. Riding Skills. We follow the rules of the road. We stop at red lights. We yield to pedestrians. We use the appropriate hand signals for left, right and stop. We are courteous riders. Unless we are on a designated bike trail or a park, it is best to ride single file. Intersections are not the place to bunch up as we share the road with motor vehicles.
  5. Learn To Read Cue Sheets. Most 5BBC rides are Cue Sheet Rides. Knowing how to read a cue sheet will enhance the quality of your ride. You will know which street we are taking. How long we are on the street. Where is the next turn. And... most importantly – when is lunch. Learning to read a cue sheet may keep you from getting lost.
  6. Point Drop Sweep. Most 5BBC Rides are Point, Drop and Sweep Rides. The point is always at the front of the ride. Points job is to lead the way. The sweep is always at the back of the ride and is often responsible for safety and mechanical issues. Along the way, the Point will DROP riders and instruct them to point out turns or hazards to the riders who follow. The position of DROP is most important as it impacts every one of the other riders. If you are a drop, please be attentive and alert for our riders. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR POSITION UNTIL THE SWEEP RELEASES YOU. Remember, there may be a mechanical or other issue that is taking time behind you. If you are in doubt, call the sweep.
  7. Accidents. While we try to be as safe as possible, accidents do occur on a ride. If you are involved in an accident try and keep calm. Assess the damage to your person and to your bike. Seek the aid of other riders and wait for the sweep to arrive. If you have a cell phone, take photos. Do your best to document the scene and the people at the scene. Above all, if you are injured, seek treatment.
  8. Courtesy and Thanks. Remember that we are all members of the same club and we are all out for a good ride. If you see a newer rider, introduce yourself. Please refrain from any activity that would take away from anyones enjoyment of the ride. And of course, after the ride, make sure to thank the leaders.

 

V. Conclusion. 

For as long as the 5BBC has been around, our motto has been “NYC's Friendliest Bike Club". We aim to demonstrate that on every ride that we do. By adhering to the above guidelines, we hope that your ride will be both FUN and SAFE. Let's Ride !

 

Must the City Destroy the East River Greenway in Order to Save It?

Submitted by Jim Zisfein on Wed, Aug 21, 2019

Must the City Destroy the East River Greenway in Order to Save It?

Would you be incensed if your city government planned to demolish the largest park in your neighborhood, cut down nearly 1,000 trees, bury the park’s amenities including multiple athletic facilities and the city’s most prominent greenway, and then take “at least” three and one-half years to replace what was destroyed? Mature shade trees to be replaced by saplings? No park or greenway access during this time? Spending $1.45 billion on the project?

At the very least, you would demand a good reason for this act of extreme municipal vandalism. Even if there was a good reason, you would want to know whether every other, less destructive option was considered.

This is not fake news. It is New York City’s plan for East River Park, the much-loved and much-used 57-acre expanse of parkland by the East River in Lower Manhattan. The park is to be buried under eight feet of landfill and then rebuilt on top of it. More than a mile of Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, an important transportation and recreation corridor for cyclists, pedestrians, kids and families, will be blocked for the duration. If the City Council gives its blessing, destruction of East River Park will start in March 2020.

And the reason? We learned from Superstorm Sandy in 2012 that much of the Lower East Side is at risk of flooding due to the effects of climate change. Water levels are rising and storms are becoming more severe. The raised park should help protect the neighborhood. But do we really need to destroy the park to achieve this goal? Would an eight-foot berm along the park’s western edge work just as well to prevent flooding while preserving the park? That was the original plan, scrapped (according to the commissioner of the city’s Department of Design and Construction) in order to avoid having to intermittently shut down one lane of the FDR Drive.

The New York City Council is expected to vote on this proposal next month. If you think the vote should be “no,” at least until all alternatives are considered, you need to write your Council member. Now. Below is a model letter which you can personalize and send. Postal mail has more impact than email but any contact is better than nothing. You can find your council member’s name and contact information here.

 

Personalize and send this letter to your City Council representative:

[name and address of council member]

I ask you, my representative on the New York City Council, to vote “NO” when the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project comes up for approval in its current form. With the laudable goal of protecting the Lower East Side from the effects of climate change, this project destroys a major park and prevents its use for “at least” three and a half years while the park is being rebuilt. Less disruptive alternatives may equally protect this neighborhood. We need to hear about these alternatives.

New York City’s Lower East Side was severely damaged in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy. The risk of flooding will increase as sea levels continue to rise and storms become more intense. A barrier must be placed between this neighborhood and the East River. Options exist, however, for barrier location and design.

Unfortunately, the only option being presented by the city’s Department of Parks & Recreation involves complete destruction of the existing 57-acre East River Park while it is covered by eight feet of landfill. The park would then have to be re-created on top of the landfill. Paths, river walks, athletic fields, and nearly 1,000 mature trees would be lost. The park would be unusable for “at least” three and a half years from the start of construction in March, 2020.

Needless to say, this project would be extremely disruptive to users of the park. More than one mile of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, an important transportation and recreation corridor for walkers and cyclists, would be closed during this entire period.  Commuting cyclists would presumably be directed to cross the FDR Drive and routed onto city streets.

Other options, less disruptive than complete park destruction, might include raised embankment on the park’s western edge, as originally planned. (Reportedly one reason this original plan was scrapped is because it would involve shutting down a lane of the FDR Drive at night.)  Or, if the park has to be destroyed, at least it could be done in stages so that use of the park can continue during construction. The greenway and other amenities could be moved, several times if necessary, so they can be kept open.

A project this big, expensive ($1.45 billion!), and disruptive should not be permitted to go ahead until all reasonable alternatives are presented and considered. I ask you to withhold your approval until you are convinced that you are approving the best project to protect the Lower East Side with the least possible disruption.

[your name, address, and signature]

 

Why I LOVE the 5BBC !

Submitted by Allan Friedman on Tue, Aug 20, 2019

As we start 2021, I thought I would just make a small tweak to my messages from 2019 and 2020 - the sentiment of which only grew stronger as we dealt with the pandemic last year into this.

Our objectives for the club remain unchanged.

Priority 1 - bring you more rides, rides, rides, We have a growing number of leaders posting rides over the past two years and the results are showing and continuing to grow. Last fall, our readers really stepped up and those who led 5 rides in the fall have a JErsey to prove it (25 did!). This year, leaders who lead 21 in '21, will have another cool one to wear - deservedly so! If you'd like to become a leader, we will be running our traditional class in the spring - reach out to leadership@5bbc.org.

Priority 2 - Membership. Do more for our members and grow our membership. If you'd like to get involved in helping us promote the club, please reach out to membership@5bbc.org or communications@5bbc.org - and we encourage all our members to get involved with multiple clubs so that all your cycling and social needs can be met. And invite any friends you make in the other clubs that might enjoy your style of riding, to join 5BBC.

And finally, Priority 3 - management team. The club almost runs itself, thanks to a bevy of leaders listing and leading rides. But for the extras - socials, web site, weekly, facebook, representation at events like Mass Bike Rides, Expos, Summer Streets, Jumbles etc - it takes a village of volunteers and committed board/council members. And we need more of you to make sure we have depth at each position for years to come. Please reach out to me if you are interested in helping in any way. 

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming:

There are many things I love about the 5BBC and it would be impossible to capture them all in one article. I have hesitated to post the traditional state of the club article because I wanted to try and capture the essence of the feelings many of us have for this club. And frankly, I’ve also been busy helping manage the club ;)

Instead, I have decided to do that in a series of articles I call “Why I love the 5BBC!” and encourage any of you who resonate with my feelings to post your own article as well on any topic you want to share with others in the club. It will be welcome!

The state of the club is – in a nutshell – fine. It can, and will, only get better. That is the board's commitment to you.

For those of us who continue to be happy riding the rides we have been riding, we are mostly satisfied. Overall, YOUR feedback (member survey) is positive. We deliver good value for the $25 membership fee and are working hard to deliver even more value and take us to a higher level. There are areas where you tell us we need to improve and you will see them addressed when I talk about our priorities below.

I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as President of this great club.

5BBC means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to you too.

Some feel “it’s just a bike club”.  

For many of us, though, it’s a whole lot more. 

It is also a warm, fun, creative and friendly community of social cyclists with some of the most interesting and stimulating rides, leaders and members. 

New York’s Friendliest – remember that!

You can be a member of this club, this-or-that other club, this-or-that advocacy group or this mass-ride non-profit or business. Whatever the case or the cause - we encourage friendly interworking within the NYC cycling community – the “bike family” as I recently heard it called. This can be one of several cycling homes you have – it’s all good. I am proudly a member of 3 local clubs and at times, in several other clubs in cities I visit and enjoy the benefits of riding there.

Some of us go to church on Sundays or synagogue on Saturdays, or wherever we find our personal/spiritual community. Many of us, ride with this club on one or both weekend days because it is also a temple, of sorts. It’s where we chose to commune and share the joy of riding our bikes with each other. We enjoy spending time with our friends and making new friendships along the way. This is my #1 Reason for loving the 5BBC.

I have made hundreds of friends (per facebook – isn’t that the purveyor of ultimate truth? ;) since joining this club and never have a problem finding friends to ride with, or socialize with, in and out of the club. I feel very grateful for that and it’s why I am inspired to give to the club as much as I do. I encourage you to consider volunteering for the club with your friends as a great way to spend time together and give back to others. You may find it very rewarding - in many more ways than you might conceive before trying it.

This club is YOUR club.

The 5BBC belongs to each member equally.

Each and every member is important to me and to each board member.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with your feedback and suggestions on ways to make the club better to any of us. And if you want to help make it happen – please volunteer. Any idea that is easy to implement – this board has essentially embraced when consistent with our core values well-documented on our web site. But many ideas need people to help make them happen and we are open to more of you joining us to help make things happen in the club.

Please always feel comfortable approaching me as your friend with any topic you wish to discuss. The only stupid question – is the one I am not asked! Seriously.

Hope to see you on a ride soon,

Allan

PS - this picture is how I spent part of one of my birthdays in the club - on our Staten Island Perimeter ride surrounded at a great lunch with friends. Thank you 5BBC and thank you each person who made that day very special for me by coming on this ride!

 

Perimeter Pandemonia!

Submitted by Ted Kushner on Wed, Apr 10, 2019

Round and round and round we may go, and where we stop.. well, ultimately back where we started, but that is the essence of a true perimeter ride – after all, we are The FIVE Borough Bicycle Club, and what better way is there to explore the quintuplets? Although each plat may be unique in terms of shape, size, architecture, population, culture, history, waterfront access, and even number of bike shops – what they all have are outlines, borders (without walls!) that almost beg us to trace by bicycle, even if only to mathematically determine that what we learned about the value of “Pi” (3.14159 etc) in high school can be used for irregularly shaped circles.

There's also something about a Perimeter Ride Series, especially one that has graced our Club for well over two decades, that whets the appetite. With major contributions by Ed DeFreitas, Alfredo Garcia, and Danny Lieberman, our late (and sorely missed) comrade-in-arms, the 5BBC began these circumnavigations in a bygone era where many bike lanes did not exist, and where even the idea of pedalling totally around the rim of a borough was novel and compelling. How many actual total miles are there? How many bridges? How many neighborhoods? How many neighbors?

I have to admit it, but the thought of resurrecting these extremely popular bike rides had been nagging me. It's one of the Club's premier multiple day “events” if you will, and we are extremely excited to place these rides back on the cycling calendar. Beginning this Sunday, April 14, Mr. DeFreitas and Mr. (President) Friedman officially launch and re-launch based on the oft-traditional opener: Manhattan Perimeter (pssst: spell check, you guys), 9:30 am at City Hall, followed by Alfredo's 22nd Staten Islander on Saturday, April 21. The other Boroughs will not be omitted! What a great way to spend a Spring Day. Tune up your bikes, grease the helmets, start your pedals!

CLAIM YOUR PATCH HERE

Do the Dutch Reach!

Submitted by Geoffrey Cohen on Thu, Mar 21, 2019

What the heck is a “Dutch Reach”? 

 

If you, or anyone you know, has ever been “doored”, then you need to practice the Dutch Reach.

 

What do the Dutch reach for? Oliebollen (Dutch doughnuts)? Of course! Tulips? Sure!

 

But the Dutch, known for their bicycle addiction, also reach for something else…safety. Simply the Dutch Reach is a safer way to leave your car; safer for you and for any passing cyclists.

 

Practicing the Dutch Reach is simple. When you are about to leave a car, a taxi, an Uber, or any of the other various company vehicles that now proliferate in NYC, open the car door with your far hand, the hand furthest from the door. Reach across your body, pause to look behind you, and if it is clear, open the door.

 

The Dutch Reach forces you to turn sideways where looking behind you to assure that the road is clear is easy. Right before you open the door, raise your eyes slightly and you have a clear line of vision on anything approaching you from behind, whether another vehicle or a passing cyclist.

 

Putting it another way: Far hand reach; look behind you; open when safe.

 

In closing, not only can you practice this, you can tell others how you act to make everyone a little bit safer.

 

Far hand reach; look; open when safe.

 

 

Geoff Cohen, Member and Leader 5BBC

 

Tags: 
safety

2019 Spring Training Series for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour

Submitted by Allan Friedman on Wed, Mar 13, 2019

 

This page is dedicated to the 5BBC's special relationship with Bike New York.

The 5BBC has been involved in supporting the TD Five Boro Bike Tour since inception. We know it well and love it! Read more about its history and our role in it here.

And this year will be no different.

We have a spring training series that runs every year through March and April.

It's designed to help those who don't ride in the winter, or may be targeting a longer ride than they have ever done before, to incrementally build up the capacity to ride as far as they can.

The approach is simple.

Rides are populated on our Day Trips web site page from which you can pick one at a level you know you can do, and incrementally, build by adding 5-10 miles more each week with a supporting group of riders along with you. You can start with as short as 15 to 30 mile rides and build up to as long as 40, 50, 75 or even 100 miles by the time the summer rolls around.

As our 2019 Spring Training Series develops, we will hilight here and showcase how people new to riding, or familiar with riding, the streets of New York's 5 Boroughs, can come together and train for this year's TD Five Boro Bike Tour with New York's friendliest Bike Club - the 5BBC!

For example, this weekend we have a cool "multi-cultural" ride on Sunday that supports multiple starting distances for your spring training by circling the perimeter of Manhattan while celebrating two significant holidays: the Irish holiday of St. Patrick's Day the Jewish holiday of Purim. Drop off points (aka local subway) are available at 5-10-15-20-25-30 mile points. We also have a nice ride over the GWB led by two very experienced leaders for those of you wanting to "get out of town" (it's only to Teaneck, so not too far out of town).

Both of these are perfect rides even if you haven't started spring training yet. Or even if you have - it will let you hit the 30 mile mark if you are up for it (2/3 - 3/4 of the tour length). They are designed to let people drop off at any point where they feel they have hit their current limit 10 miles, 15, 20, 25 or 30..... since subways abound in NYC. So come out and join us on either or both of these rides - let the leaders know if you are new to the club and targeting the tour and we'll talk you through a plan to get to your goal.

If you've been riding solo and ready to make it to 40 miles early and want to work on your speed? Join a slightly faster ride and build to higher mileage so the tour will be more of a recovery ride that's easy for you!

Our spring training series is flexible - leverage it to suit your needs and your schedule.

If you aren't ready to start in March, we have starting point rides in April too.

For many years now, we celebrate Cherry Blossom season in the Cherry Blossom CAPITAL of the northeast - Newark! We head over to Newark (yes, Newark surpasses even DC in terms of the number of Cherry Blossom trees). Come with us on this variable pace ride and stretch your reach in the weeks before the tour. We have plans to repeat the ride twice to make sure we don't miss peak blossom season. Register April 7th or April 21st.  If you want to judge for yourself, another thing that makes 5BBC unique is our out-of-town weekend trips. Consider joining us on our DC Weekend Trip - sign up here!

The tour itself does not have too many hills, but if you want to work on hills - just in case, or to develop your capabilities for when you meet them on rides - let us know and we will add our Hills 101 in Brooklyn ride - e-mail allan5bbc@gmail.com!

Everyone is welcome to take their first ride with our club for free. That's right - First ride is aways free at the 5BBC!

After that, it's only $25 a year for unlimited riding ($30 for two at the same address). This is required by the insurance we take for our TRAINED leaders. Each ride has two, a Point up front and a Sweep at the back. We use a process called Point-Drop-Sweep to make sure no one ever gets left behind!

On this page, we will focus on helping cyclists train for the tour this year on May 5th.

Check back here often as we will be updating this page with a summary of rides appropriate to riders training for the 2019 tour as they are posted.

We have a long tradition of partnering with Bike New York. Many of our members and leaders are Marshalls, Captains and Supercaptains - volunteering to help support the ride and make it the success that it is.

We look forward to helping you experience the tour as a breeze, safely with fun!

...having developed the confidence to do the distance by experiencing our spring training series.

Please remember to check back regularly for ride updates to help you prepare for this year's tour. And consider signing up for our FREE weekly e-mail which shows you news of the club and upcoming Day Trips over the next week.

We also have some wonderful weekend trips planned. Check them out here.

Any questions? About training for the tour or riding with our club? The only bad question at New York's Friendliest club is the one you don't ask.

Feel free to write to info@5bbc.org or communications@5bbc.org - we hope to see you on a ride soon!

 

Tags: 
Bike NY
biking in NY

Weekend Trip Idea.. Looking to see if there is interest.

Submitted by Christopher DeMeo on Wed, Mar 6, 2019

The Velodrome is where man and machine become one, for the single purpose of going faster than the next guy. It's the bicycle equivilent of a speedway, with its banked corners, smooth surface, and grandstands fro cheering crowds. Its normally reserved for the best cyclists, who bring their years of experience, nerves of steel, bikes and bodies tuned to perfection. In Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, is the East Coast's premier Velodrome, The Valley Preferred Cycling Center. 

Have you ever dreamed of testing your mettle on the track? Just doing some laps to see what it feels like to be in a place where legends have raced? ever wanted see what the banked corners feel like? we have an opportunity to attend a day class, where professionals will train us how to ride the track, in a private class where they will supply everything except your helmet. Any level of experience is welcome, even if you have never been on a race bike before. 

This will be a weekend trip where we will head out on Friday, in vans out to our hotel, and on Sat, head out from the hotel on our bikes over to the Velodrome for our lesson, and then, in the afternoon after the class, there is the option to go to Dorney Park, an amusement park with some great roller coasters. on Sunday, we will head out to the Deleware and Lehigh Canal trail, where we will have a great easy ride along the scenic Lehigh river, out past Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, home of Crayola Crayons. then we will head back to NYC, where we will drop off and (sadly) head back to real life. 

I can't promise that there will be crowds in the stands cheering us on, but I can promise you will get an experience you won't forget!

If this sounds like a trip you would be interested in, please Email me at sgtdemeo@gmail.com, and let me know. as of now, it will be approx 250-300 per person, not including your food. Tentatively, this trip will be for mid June. This is a feeler to see if there is enough interest in this trip, so if you are, please let me know!

Chris DeMeo

Tags: 
Veledrome

The Seal Ride

Submitted by David Meltzer on Mon, Jan 28, 2019

There is a saying that you often hear from 5BBC riders -  "You never know what you will see on a ride." 

Interesting things always seem to happen when you place a group of cyclists in strange environments. 

And few areas of NYC are stranger than Dead Horse Bay. 

Now part of the Gateway National Seashore, Dead Horse Bay was never exactly a scenic part of New York. 

As the New York Times stated, “Dead Horse Bay sits at the western edge of a marshland once dotted by more than two dozen horse-rendering plants, fish oil factories and garbage incinerators. From the 1850s until the 1930s, the carcasses of dead horses and other animals from New York City streets were used to manufacture glue, fertilizer and other products at the site. The chopped-up, boiled bones were later dumped into the water. The squalid bay, then accessible only by boat, was reviled for the putrid fumes that hung overhead.”  

As in so many NYC stories - then came Robert Moses.  He plowed under the fish oil plants, the horse rendering operations and the dumps.  He capped the landfill, and covered it with a layer of topsoil.  But alas, the landfill cap broke, and since the mid 1950's, the beach has been littered with the trash of the past.  Mostly, there are bottles.  Lots and lots of bottles.. Intact bottles, pieces of bottles.  Bottles from before you were born.  Let's just say, you are not going swimming here.

And so, on a cold January day, a group of 15 5BBCers went to Dead Horse Bay - and ended up with an experience none of us will ever forget. 

To get here by bike you take the Plum Beach Bike Trail, Cross over at Flatbush and head to the Marine Park Bridge.  Then the fun begins.  You have to just know where the small trail starts - and which of the side trails to take, to get here.  This is entirely off road and unmarked.  As we navigated through this wilderness trail, Brooklyn seemed to fade away.  We were surrounded by trees and marsh weeds as we cycled this undulating sandy trail.

We arrived at the bottle strewn beach at low tide, perfect for revealing it's treasures. 

I headed off from the group to a pile of rocks by the old jetty.  I was greeted by a pair of soft brown eyes.  To my astonishment, right in front of me was a little pudgy seal.  We looked at each other for a while, both sort of curious.  The group came over to check out our new friend.  What was this little fellow doing on this gross beach?  The seal rolled on his back, and I so wanted to pet his belly - but the members all yelled "NO MEL!"  I called the police and made one of the strangest 911 calls ever.  "Hello, 911 - what's your emergency?"  "There is a beached seal at Dead Horse Bay who may need help."  "What?...Who? ... Where??"  After assuring them this was not a prank, I gave NYPD my number and was assued that someone would help our little friend.

The next half hour, I received calls every ten minutes from NYPD.  Where is this?  There is no road there.  Have fun trying to direct people down a trail that really wants to remain hidden.  But by the time we got to lunch - we saw a picture of two NYPD officers, grinning as stupidly as we were, when they also encountered the seal.  A News 12 reporter came to the scene and interviewed a club member.  We found out that this was not an actual emergency - just normal seal behavior.  When the water gets cold - they warm up on dry land.  This seal just happened to chose Dead Horse Bay as his landing spot.  We were told that the seal would just go back to the water when it wanted to.  

The seal brightened up the lives of all those who encountered him [or her - not really sure how seals work].  It was all we were talking about at lunch - and I expect for days later.  A little bit of the unexpected, in a place that you never knew existed.  I certainly do not expect a seal on every ride I do - but it is the unexpected things that I see on every ride that always have me wanting to do more.  To continue to visit the strange corners of our urban world. 

Again - you never know what you will see on a ride.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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