oh man! now you're making me want to ride it again! I first rode it in the 80s. Believe it or not, I found it much harder in my 20s (probably mostly due to attitude?...) then I have found it (many times) over the past 15 years. My son was 8 his first time (the other two were young teens), rode it on some crappy probably poor fitted mtn bike. It was so inspiring and well worth being tailed over the Verizanno bridge by the police escorts closing the course down.
As Dan said, it IS a bucket list item; owning the streets of NYC!!!!! I always find it helpful to tell newbies, or even some 2nd and 3rd timers, it is NOT a race! It can be if you want it to be; but I STILL love to go at a pace that I can safely look around at the sights with my personal soundtrack. In years past, they would sell out, the fact that they haven't yet means it may be less crowded! With that said, there is always plenty of room once you get past 5th Avenue (the start) and it's always been tremendously impressive how every year they have modified the course to smooth out any tight spots. Last year, I don't think there was more than one or two minor slow downs due to bottle necking. IMPORTANT for some: There are PLENTY of rest stops and bathrooms!!! Never a need to worry. Feel free to contact me with any info you might be needing; and if you feel like braving the mean streets of LI, we can help you out there too! WOOOHOOOOOO! Claudia On Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 7:35:58 AM UTC-4 Roberta wrote: > I secured a hotel room close-ish to the Staten Island ferry terminal in > Staten Island at a good price. May 3 through May 5. two queen beds plus > a sleeper sofa. > > If there are any females who would like to share the room and split the > cost, please PM me. You need to be known to me or active sometimes on this > board. > > Roberta > On Friday, January 3, 2025 at 4:04:17 PM UTC-5 Roberta wrote: > >> I signed up today and found there was a $60 (yes, sixty!) fee to have the >> bib mailed. As far as I could tell, there wasn't any information on >> in-person pick up whens and wheres, and not being from NYC, I couldn't take >> a chance. For the 20 mile Philadelphia ride in October, the pick up bib >> option was for the day before the ride only and it was clearly posted. >> >> Anyways, I'm looking forward to meeting some of you for the first time, >> and meeting up with old friends. Not sure which bike I'll be taking, but >> one of my mixtes--Betty Foy or Platypus for those quick jump off the saddle >> unexpected stops. :) >> >> d4dunmire--do you have a recommendation where in Staten Island to park, >> or do we just wait until they announce the starting and finishing lines and >> hope there is parking nearby? How early should we expect to park prior to >> the ride start? I'm thinking two hours. Does that sound right? Three >> hours? >> >> Fred--I cannot imagine a Bleriot would be that heavy. I have a Homer >> Hilsen (isn't Bleriot the forrunner of that) and it's my lightest bike. >> >> See you all there! >> >> Roberta >> Philadelphia >> >> On Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 11:31:32 AM UTC-5 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> And if driving- park on Staten Island to avoid late afternoon ferry >>> lines. >>> >>> On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 9:08:13 PM UTC-5 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I would highly recommend volunteering as a course marshal to anyone who >>>> is interested. You are allowed to ride the course for free after your >>>> volunteer position is finished, you can bring a larger bag with you, >>>> breakfast and lunch are provided, and they have a priority ferry boat back >>>> to Manhattan for all the volunteers. >>>> >>>> An extra tip is to volunteer early on in the course, or at the start >>>> area, so you are able to ride the entirety of the course >>>> >>>> Ben >>>> On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 8:26:20 AM UTC-5 Dick Pahle wrote: >>>> >>>>> I paid a little extra for a Wave 1 start too. Ok, I'll ask an >>>>> obviously stupid question. I'll be staying with my daughter who lives in >>>>> Queens. What's the best way to get from Queens to the start? Just Ride, I >>>>> presume (to borrow title of Grant's book). >>>>> >>>>> The Bike Snob's posts are great, by the way. Always enjoy em. The one >>>>> Michael referenced is what motivated me to register for the 2025 ride. >>>>> Thanks too for good suggestion about lunch. >>>>> >>>>> Dick >>>>> >>>>> On Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 12:15:00 PM UTC-5 Michael Morrissey >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> 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! < >>>>>>>>> [email protected]> 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 [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> 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. 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