...the weekend madness (installment 8)

Boy it was a wet one this weekend; Friday saw me tromp through the rain on the rugged streets of LIC's waterfront to that interview I mentioned last week; and of course since I want the job, I needed to arrive looking presentable which, combined with the all-day downpours, necessitated taking the subway again.

Needless to say, I was getting tired of being forced indoors by the time Saturday rolled around, so a few of us braved the drizzling rain and went down to Red Hook where the cool breeze and soggy atmosphere lent a Homer-esque mood to the day (Homer as in this, not this; just to be clear).


I only wish my new Rapha cycling cap (aka breeze-induced-fro prevention device) had come in the mail earlier so I could have appeared all poignantly grey-scaled against the solemn maritime backdrop, much in the way Rapha depicts their products in use.


If you're not familiar with Rapha or their products, they claim to make "the finest in cycling clothing in the world..." and while I haven't yet tested the worth of that claim, I do know that they're one of the very few companies a cyclist like myself can turn to for reasonable cycling gear that doesn't make you into a rolling billboard for enterprises you have no stake in or reason to support.

However they do make it a point to advertise with seductive photography and the organization of "gentlemen's races" around the country wherein eleven teams of six rider compete on an open course (meaning cars, uncontrolled intersections, etc..) in a picturesque environment.

Here's a video of the gentlemen's race in New Paltz NY earlier this year...

Rapha Gentlemen's Race - New Paltz, NY from RAPHA on Vimeo.

I find it interesting that while it's been dubbed a "gentlemen's race" the brusquely competitive reputation of New Easterners precedes them even in what is essentially a for-fun race. I've taken note of this as well when I do laps at the parks or ride up to Nyack, as I did again this weekend.

The "me first" attitude of New Yorkers really bugs me sometimes and becomes really obvious when coupled with the seemingly grouchy nature of roadies in general. When I first started riding seriously, I definitely got my fair share of 'asshole roadies' yelling at me to hold my line or shooting me disapproving glances for other reasons I couldn't figure.

Now, having ridden quite a bit with cyclists of all types, I've found that not only are the curmudgeonly racers right, they're justified in letting you know. One has to respect the fact that everyone rides a bike for an entirely different reason; some do it as a random leisure activity, others do it strictly for fitness, and others still do it simply to travel pleasantly from place to place.

Roadies gripe at other "less serious" cyclists not so much because of some haughty self righteousness, but because the majority of people on bikes in the US have absolutely no idea how to operate one and as such, present a danger to those who do. If all cyclists observed but a few frequently forgone rules of the road, everyone would be much happier.

1. Ride right, pass left: you'd be surprised at how many apparently "experienced" cyclists can't follow this simple rule... If you feel like you're being overtaken a lot, you need to be on the rightmost side of the path because you're slow. Deal with it or ride faster.
2. Don't pass-n'-stop: If you are riding behind someone you'd like to pass, make sure you're not going to have to slam on the brakes right after you overtake them, cause doing that's just mean.
3. Make your intentions known: Hand signals, yelling, eye contact, whatever... the prime cause of enraged roadies is being cut off or run into by someone going half their speed without so much as a glance over their shoulder to check for overtaking cyclists.
4. No half-wheeling: This is more of an etiquette thing, but it's also extremely dangerous to have your front wheel overlapping another cyclist's rear wheel... If sudden movements are made, you're both going down. If you want to chat with someone, ride directly side by side. that in mind,
   
5. No jerky movements: If you are riding around other bikers, sometimes you have to just accept rolling over that manhole cover or pothole you'd normally swerve around. Keep a straight line whenever possible.

What I'm proposing here isn't that everyone accommodate the customs a select few riders, but that we all be courteous to our neighbors. Since in this country we're brought up believing that bicycles are more toys than anything else, this can be framed as simply good sportsmanship.

Bad sportsmanship is not only ungentlemanly and distasteful, but can really damage your performance as evidenced by Serena Williams' tirade yesterday (justified as it may have been). Right or wrong aside, there's no appropriate excuse for hindering the pursuits of others for personal convenience or aspiration.


Obviously doping tops the list of unsportsmanlike conduct because it obscures the successes of clean athletes, but unsporting behavior also applies to social decorum. Kanye West and Rep. Joe Wilson are the most recent examples of this and they would do well to aspire toward more gentlemanly conduct in the future.

For this reason I applaud Rapha in their campaign to bring a level of civility and normalcy to the often neon-logoed world of competitive cycling. Perhaps more cyclists will don classy, logo-free gear (assuming they can afford it) and perhaps the growing interest in tweed garb will usher in a new era of cycling dandiness where the bicycle isn't shunned as a dirty, childish, or pedestrian (in the social sense) way to perambulate.

(On that note, be sure to peruse the photography at Velodramatic for more poetic visions of road cycling in the Rapha vein by a staunch fan of theirs)

Til' next time remember, nothings more stylish than the mild-mannered confidence of a pro in control...

...the weekend sanity (installment 7)

I really didn't do much of anything this weekend. My boss doesn't feel it's necessary to pay me on time anymore and the moohare was up in Boston, so I was at a loss for what to do with my scarce funds and ample free-time.

I joined a (different) few friends who were biking up to go camping on Bear Mountain on Saturday morning and accompanied them as far as Nyack, not wanting to get back to Brooklyn too late. I have to say one of the weirdest feelings I've felt recently was when I rode back through Manhattan on that Saturday night after having biked over a hundred miles to Bear Mountain and back. I've never felt so out of place as I did looking haggard and dripping sweat at traffic lights in the village, as perfumed young socialites and wannabe players strutted by.

The ride through New Jersey was the same as it always is, so I opted to forgo bringing the camera since it would just be a reiteration of previous posts. However, Instead of taking the Williamsburg bridge, as I had on past trips, we used the Manhattan Bridge and cut across Soho to the WSH. We rode from Bed-Stuy along Flushing toward Dumbo, passing the impound lot and turning onto Sands st.

The last time I rode on any of these streets, they were either in complete disrepair or under construction (which is frequently worse for cyclists than simply dealing with the crappy roads). For that reason, I usually commute from Prospect Heights, where I live, through downtown Brooklyn to access the bridges. That route has become a force-of-habit and my commute is getting to be a little stale; so to shake things up a bit, I took a fairly different route this morning in order to present this double-edition BLRI!!!!

As I do most every day, I rode Vanderbilt Avenue northbound after turning off of my picturesque, brownstone-lined slice of Brooklyn. I usually opt to use this avenue at the outset of most of my trips by bicycle because it boasts both well-maintained bike lanes and conscientious pedestrians. It should be noted, however, that the amicability of the locals and light traffic seem to breed salmon (especially of the sidewalk variety).

Despite the infestation of idiots, Vanderbilt is a great street to ride, especially given the new Brooklyn Bike and Board shop between Bergen and Dean which enjoys a steady flow of business from weekend warriors, displaced hipsters, and commuters alike (and which was the subject of a recent LBSR).


Continuing across Atlantic Avenue, the bike lane sadly disappears and one must forcefully seize a lane from the clutches of vile Livery cars. The road quality is dramatically lower than before despite passing through what is in my opinion, one of Brooklyn's most beautiful neighborhoods, Fort Greene.


While I'm no fan of Neo-Gothic 'Architecture,' I've always enjoyed having silly buildings (like this private school) in and around my neighborhood, if for no better reason than to have something to joke about. It's useful in the way those kitschy Urban Outfitters trinkets are; a springboard for sematic debates about the rediculousness of consumerism and the wayward souls who are comforted by it.

Continuing past the BQE toward the Brooklyn Navy Yard, I was surprised to see a motorcycle shop x vespa dealership collabo (I'll be damned, they're growing in popularity):


It is my opinion that while scooters are a more reasonable choice of transport in congested cities than cars are; their continued use of gasoline and the haughty sense of self-righteousness they foster in their owners are just plain bad for society. (OK, I started to go off on a tangent about how much scooter-ers bug me, so I'm gonna reserve that for a later post).

After passing the police impound lot on Navy St, I turned onto Sands St. which has been wonderfully re-designed as the most bicycle conscious street NYC has presented me with! For that reason, this street will hold top-slot as the only A+ I will ever issue (unless if course this becomes the norm and then there's just no point in continuing the BLRI except to bitch).


I can't believe we actually have this kind of bike lane in Brooklyn! These are without a doubt the best kind (I bet Arup designed it)! As far as I know (and I bike a lot) this is the first of it's kind in NYC, as it is a noticeably brand-spankin'-new iteration of what has been done for years in places like Copenhagen.

Sands St., though a measly two blocks in length, has been transformed into what is arguably the best solution for cyclist - motorist altercations. Notice how the bike lanes are separated by a median and are located at the center of the road instead of in the door-swing range of parked cars. Also note (if you can) that the bike lanes, median, and stripey area are elevated about 6 inches above the car's lane. This is exactly what needs to be done with all streets to quell the incessant bickering between cabbies (who of course need to drop off and pick up passengers somewhere) and the cyclists they routinely cut off.

Unfortunately, most streets here are one way (despite what one would gather from the bourgoning salmon population) and despite its simplicity, this method of bike-lane separation may not work everywhere.

Continuing over the bridge and up through the city along my usual route, I decided that in the day's spirit of new routes, I'd try to ride up Park Ave instead of turning on 13th and taking 6th Ave as I normally would. I had tried this the very first day I commuted to work by bike and didn't have the grapes to try it again, though I was much less experienced with cycling in Manhattan at that point.

Now that I'm a bona-fide city cyclist, Park Avenue seemed like a walk in the park compared to 6th Ave (which you'll remember was recently awarded the BLRI rating of F), despite not having any bicycle designations or markings.

I think as long as you're comfortable riding between cars at around 20 mph Park Ave is definitely safer than using the 'bike lane' on 6th or the dumb separated paths on 8th or 10th. Speaking of which, has anyone else noticed that there are virtually no good bike-paths to take you downtown?

Until next time friends, mind the traffic.

...the weekend madness (installment 5)

Boy was it a twirly-whirl of a weekend for me... A couple friends and I went for a ride up to Bear Mountain State Park on Saturday, and as promised, I managed to remember my camera.

I had opted to make it a century ride since Sunday morning saw the Tour de France end on the Champs Elysees in Paris, and I was damned if I was going to miss that. I figured there was no point to clenching my butt-cheeks in suspense on Saturday's stage 20 over Mt. Ventoux, so I did my own little mountain adventure in upper Rockland County instead.

First I found myself waiting to rendezvous with the other two at the foot of the Williamsburg Br once again...


While I was waiting and stretching, a group of over-the-hill gay dudes on fixed gear bikes started to conglomerate around me. I thought I had snapped a photo of them, but alas, I did not. They were great though, really nice guys who were doing a bicycle tour of LIC and Greenpoint art galleries. The ride leader, Gene, was super cool and we chatted about bikes while he unfurled his rainbow bike flag and lashed it to his seatpost.

Once underway, we rode up the WSH bike path to the GWB. Here's a snapshot I took of one of my buddies from behind my back. Self-composing shots like this are the best.



Across the Hudson there you can see the Palisades Cliffs starting. River Road (where we were headed next) is nestled in there somwhere, and it is without a doubt one of my favourite "natural rides" in close proximity to the city.

Somewhere River Rd. morphs into Alpine Approach rd. (Alpine NJ), and after a moderately steep climb that lasts exactly a mile, it passes by a 'police station' which is, in actuality, little more than a watering hole for weekend warriors going to Nyack and beyond.

I've never not seen at least one TT bike in the rack up there, and Saturday was no exception...


Oddly, the owner of that S-works TT bike was somehow leading a group of cyclists on 'regular road bikes' up through Piermont, NY. However, there were other bikes boasting greater utility for these roads at prices no less rediculous than that Specialized...


Now, this machine might actually help you climb a mountain. And with a price tag of $15,000.00 (incredible, I know) utterly shames the S-works with its elitism and rarity.

Riding along route 9W toward Piermont and Nyack, we encountered a group of 'bladers lounging on the shoulder, all clad in skin suits.


Chuckling to ourselves about the rediculousness of 'bladin', we rode on, passing under the Tappan Zee Bridge, just before entering Nyack once again...


We found ourselves at the Runcible Spoon Cafe, as usual, scarfing down only the most ironic of food stuffs. I'd mentioned earlier the beguling sandwich-making practices this cafe works with, though I opted for my usual as I do every time I find myself there.



Still Hungry after my lunch, I decided to test their desserts, finally deciding on the Cookie Monster Cupcake:


While the cupcake and cookie were both pretty good, they used far too much blue food coloring and even after washing my hands and face, I was still noticeably bluer than I should've been. Also, that cookie was a fucking tease. I was hoping to sop up some of the blue from my moustache with it, but quickly found out that there was not nearly enough cookie for such an endeavor. While some might call a half cookie a cute nod to Cookie Monster's love of cookies (as if the cupcake devoured the other half), I call it a clever cookie-saving technique.

Prepping for the second half of our ride (second quarter for me), I saw this funny bidon on the bike across from mine on the rack...


Then, leaving Nyack, we proceeded north on 9W which rolls up and down the edge of the Hudson until our destination. Being somewhat out of shape, one member of our crew kept dropping off and the other waited for him since they had more time to burn. I, on the other hand, needed to ride another eighty miles or so and decided to slog it along by myself. Two miles north of Nyack was the last time I saw those dudes, and rode (pretty much) alone for the whole rest of the way.

This is me looking back to see if I can spot them.


Nope, nothing... I soft-pedaled most of the rest of the way to Bear Mountain, thinking they would overtake me.

I stopped next to the entrance of this Quarry for a while, waiting, resting, and quelling any doubts I had as to whether or not I was "in the mountains" yet.


The rest of the ride was too beautiful to convey with pictures, suffice to say, I've never known natural splendor like the northeast in spring and summer. I know Seattle is up there but here it's really something else; every direction you look, your gaze is met with abounding verdant landscapes fit for painting.

I finally reach Bear Mountain State Park:


...and climb...


...and climbed some more until I reached the top, where I gazed at the vista through a veritable sea of asian tourists, motorcyclists, and backpackers.


Growing weary of the traffic at the summit, I gathered my things and rode back down the mountain. This was by far my favorite part of the whole trip. The two lane road was an asphalt ribbon, beautifully maintained and never so steep as to throw me into a speed wobble.


I slid easily down, past lush flora and bounding fauna, back to the park's entrance where I was hoping to find my friends.

Alas, they had gone part way up and turned off the main road and I bypassed them in my descent. After a conciliatory phone call, I headed back to the city on my own, second-guessing my decision to do over a hundred miles in one shot.

A very nice roadie pulled up next to me about a mile or so later and we paced back toward Nyack (actually, he did most of the pace-setting, I just sucked his wheel most of the way). Knowing I was slowing him down, I told him to feel free to drop me because I was really tired and in no shape to keep up rolling turns at 25mph. He gave me a few powergels, some candy bars, and a block of powdered stuff (get your mind outta the gutter) that turns water into gatorade. I had no idea where he had stashed all of this food but I was certainly grateful for it.

The rest of the ride back was pretty much the same as the first leg, though in reverse. It was uneventful save for two things: Instead of stopping in Nyack, I got a bite to eat and some fluids at a shop in Piermont, which is a quaint little river-side village just south of Nyack. Apparently I was the last cyclist passing through for the night as evidenced by the empty bike racks...


Then, after riding on for some 500 feet or so, I flipped through my new cyclocomputer to check my mileage and stuff. Finding the odometer at 333.2 miles, I knew the auspicious 333.3 mark was only a few feet ahead of me so I schluffed along until it rolled over and snapped a quick photo.


After narrowly avoiding being rained on a few times, I finally made it back into manhattan tired, sweaty and drained.

All in all, by the time I made it to my doorstep in Brooklyn, I put 125.4 miles on my bike and had a max speed of 39.4mph (not counting the 46 something mph that put me in such a bad speed wobble I nearly got tossed off).

Now my legs are fried like the chicken at mitchell's though I can't wait to 'slay' another century-and-a-quarter.

Look forward to in-depth coverage of the tour's final day on the Champs Elysees, coming soon (this evening or tomorrow). 'Til then, ride safe... it's still early in the week.