I paid the extra fee and started in wave 1 in 2024, and I'm doing it again in 2025. Wave 1 was great last year, except for the many misguided riders who think it's a race. I don't mind people passing me, but many people passed me very close and on the right. I cursed out a few people because of it, especially for getting close to my wife. However, after we hit Central Park the crowd thinned out, the would-be Strava heroes were gone, and we were able to enjoy the rest of the tour. For every rider who passed me in the first few miles, I must have passed 5 on the BQE who were a puddle of struggle right before the Verrazano.
If you really want to jump the start, read BikeSnobNYC's post about it and follow his lead (https://bikesnobnyc.com/2024/05/06/five-boroughs-32000-riders-and-all-the-bananas-you-can-eat/). Otherwise, the waves before wave 1 (which I had no idea existed) are reserved for charity riders, and you should maybe consider leaving them to it if you are not in their charity (which I wouldn't want to be in either, because I agree with Saint Sheldon Brown: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/thons.html) Also a good idea is to consider picking out a place for lunch in the Williamsburg/DUMBO area. Most of the rest-stops give you unripe bananas, but the Brooklyn area is ripe with great restaurants right along the course. M On Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 10:19:47 AM UTC-5 Steven Seelig wrote: > My advice is to figure out a way to get onto the course EARLY. Certainly, > if you get a ticket for early entry that would be great. But otherwise, > just show up early and jump onto the course before the traffic builds. > There is nothing worse than getting stuck in a bike traffic jam trying to > get over the 59th Street bridge. This does not mean you have to ride > faster in that most riders behind you are not riding fast. > > Others with stealth ideas on being early should chime in here. > > Steve Seelig > > On Monday, December 16, 2024 at 1:38:31 PM UTC-5 Dan Dunmire wrote: > >> We consider the 5 Boro a bucket list activity- Its an unbelievable way to >> see the city. Every year we say no, not this year. But then someone we know >> wants to do it so we ride it again! >> >> On Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 12:14:55 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding >> Ding! wrote: >> >>> My sister was delighted and insisted we do this on her Clems. I guess >>> I’ll see you there! >>> >>> On Dec 15, 2024, at 11:18 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hmmm. My sister lives in NYC and has a pair of Clem Ls we could ride… >>> >>> >>> I really really want my own Riv but I can’t imagine how I’d get one >>> there…will think on this! >>> L >>> >>> On Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 11:14:25 AM UTC-5 velomann wrote: >>> >>>> I won't make it for 2025 - traveling to NYC from the west coast is not >>>> gonna be an annual thing. But am already plotting my 2026 return. One >>>> thing >>>> I will be sure too do - that I found out about after the fact this year - >>>> is to attend the Blessing of the Bikes that happens at the Cathedral of St >>>> John the Divine on the upper West Side the day before the ride. >>>> >>>> Mike M >>>> >>>> On Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 8:34:58 AM UTC-8 Dick Pahle wrote: >>>> >>>>> I just registered for this. Curious if anyone else here will be riding? >>>>> >>>>> Dick >>>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/H8-ycGSyvrM/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bdce81b9-116f-4053-a709-6b9d09665c70n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/bdce81b9-116f-4053-a709-6b9d09665c70n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/197cd937-871f-45f7-9d55-eba38550b72bn%40googlegroups.com.
