![[5BBC - New York's Five Borough Bicycle Club]](/images/5bbc.gif)
These were rides in May-June 2006. Click here for current rides.
November 5, 2005: Beneath the parabolic arches of the Bayonne Bridge. Bridges of New York. Photo by Jim Zisfein. Please note that helmets are required on all 5BBC rides.
![[Happy-face ride]](/images/smiley.gif)
Indicates relaxed pace, easy ride
For more information, please see:
- Ride locations - where do we meet?
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- Bulletin board - is my ride cancelled?
- DayTripper column - periodic yammerings from the Day Trips Coordinator
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- Rides archive - what we did last month, and last year
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Saturday, April 29th
MONTAUK CENTURY TRAINING RIDE # 12 : STONY POINT
8AM, Columbus Circle, 82 miles, Quick Spin and Regular groups
Are you ready for Stony Point? This ride is very long and technical. It also has some tough hills, so be prepared for those steep climbs. Not for beginners. Leaders: Alfredo Garcia and Mark Trainor Quick Spin: Susan Rodetis and Steve Taylor. Quick spin will be approx B17 pace with no point-drop-sweep.
Sunday, April 30th
PALISADES BIKE HIKE: PEANUT LEAP CASCADE
9AM, GW Bridge Bus Terminal, 25 mile ride, 4 mile hike
No history spiel today, just a pleasant ride to State Line Lookout Inn
Saturday, May 6th
MONTAUK CENTURY TRAINING RIDE # 13 : LLOYD NECK
Not for beginners. This ride is hilly and technical and you must be able to keep a good pace. No Point/Drop/Sweep today. Leaders: Ira Najowitz and Jesse Brown.
Quick Spin: Dennis Griffin and Pat Carter.
MONTAUK METRIC TRAINING RIDE # 3: PIERMONT
What? Piermont again? Sure, why not, it’s a relatively easy ride compared to the alternatives. Hilly? You betcha! Leaders: Danny Lieberman and Jim Zisfein.
Sunday, May 7th
BIKE NEW YORK - The Five Boro Bike Tour
A non-5BBC event. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, May 10th
In celebration of Bike Month NYC, join us for the annual, fun, leisurely evening ride on Manhattan’s Greenways/Pathways. We plan to go through Central Park, down the West Side Pathway to Battery Park, through the South Street Seaport and up the East Side and back to the Plaza. Bring pocket food, water, spare inner tube, and lights. Co-listed with the Weekday Cyclists in NYC and NYCC. Leaders: Trudy Hutter and John Chiarella.
Saturday, May 13th
MONTAUK CENTURY TRAINING RIDE # 14 : EATON'S NECK
One last incredibly long training ride a week before Montauk. Can you believe how far it is? If you can complete this one you’ll be ready for the big event next week. Warning: This ride is fast, difficult, and will not use point/drop/sweep.
Leaders: Jesse Brown and Ira Najowitz.
No, you are not dreaming, that really is fresh mozzarella being made for us by Carlos and Ysabel right before our eyes. And for lunch? Mangiamo Italiano, in their piccola Brooklyn Court Street deli. Bring lock and lunch money. Rain cancels. Leaders: Richard Sanford and Randy Horowitz.
CONNECTICUT & NEW YORK RAMBLINGS
Skim the shoreline, then pass thru quiet residential 'burbs and along pretty secondary roads to tony, historic, and horse-y parts of SW Fairfield & SE Westchester counties. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is our scenic lunch spot. Varied terrain; some hills/rollers but no nasties. Optional shoreline add-on at end of trip. Pace B17/18; yes cue sheet, and ride as group with no point-drop-sweep.
Remember to bring hydration & lunch and your MTA bike pass. Leaders: Susan Rodetis (srodetis@earthlink.net) and Mark Trainor. Co-listed with NYCC.
Sunday, May 14th
MONTAUK METRIC TRAINING RIDE # 4 : RIDGEWOOD
Mark likes the Ridgewood Pancake House so much he wanted to go there twice, so we made it the final destination for the the metric series! Remember to bring enough water, a lock, and of course a spare tube and lunch money. Warning: very hilly, with a climb up Churchill on the way back! Leaders: Mark Trainor and Susan Rodetis.
OFF-ROAD VISTAS: THE OLD PUT AND THE OLD CROTON AQUEDUCT
Ride up the Old Putnam Railroad trail to Tarrytown and then back along the Old Croton Aqueduct. This is an off-road trip – mountain and hybrids only! The terrain is rough but not terribly hilly. Bring or buy lunch. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and others.
ROCKAWAY GREENWAY ROUNDABOUT (Quick Spin)
This faster-paced ride will travel through the back streets of Brooklyn to the Greenway that
surrounds Jamaica Bay, with a lunch stop on Broad Channel Island and a side trip to
Breezy Point. Pace about 16mph; Terrain: Breezy by the bay. Leaders: Danny Lieberman and Jim Mallard.
Saturday, May 20th
Enjoy an extended spring visit to a treasure in the Riverdale section of the Bronx: Wave Hill. Once a private estate, it is an oasis that overlooks the Hudson and the Palisades. (See www.wavehill.org) To and fro, we’ll be riding through a few picturesque parks in Manhattan and the Bronx. Note that we’ll be riding for a few miles on poorly maintained paths. Bring a lock and lunch money. Leaders: Brian Hoberman and Ted Kushner.
Sunday, May 21st
Special Event
It doesn't get any more special than this. Join us on the 42nd annual rolling of the Montauk Century. Pedal the back roads from the city through the Hamptons to the ocean: 66, 100, or 145 miles on Long Island's beautiful South Shore.
CRANBERRY LAKE - BRONX RIVER PARKWAY BIKE/HIKE
40 miles of scenic Westchester County roads, bike paths, and a stop at a nature preserve where we'll take a short walk around a swampy lake in a quiet, forested area. Since we'll be using the Bronx River Parkway during the Bicycle Sunday closings, as well as the neighboring bike paths, the ride is 44% car free. All paths are paved paths, suitable for road bikes. Bring appropriate walking footwear. Bring or buy lunch. Terrain: rolling with a few steep hills. Leaders Ed Ravin and Brian Hoberman.
Saturday, May 27th
BRIDGES OF NEW YORK
Gut challenging trip over 23 bike accessible bridges of our beautiful city. For strong cyclists with a well-maintained bike, will, discipline, stamina, and adapt to uncertainty.
Be prepared to carrypush bike and encounter possible Yankee fans on certain stretches. It can be done. Finishers receive commendation of achievement. We’ll lunch at Dinosaur Barbeque at ride’s end. Co-listed with NYCC and official TA Bike Month 2006 event.
Leaders: Alfredo Garcia, Cesar Vasquez, et al.
Sunday, May 28th
LONG RIDE TO A SHORT PIER
Yeah! Yeah! Everybody goes to Piermont! Big deal! But, do know why the place exists? Who cares! Just as long as it's there for cyclists knock themselves out getting there. So come, enjoy. Have a doughnut on the way back, maybe. You worked hard. You deserve it.
Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and others.
Monday, May 29th (Memorial Day)
Bring all the kids for this one, whether theyre in child seats, trailers or on tandems.
Older children with strong legs and good cycling skills are welcome to join the parents and other interested adults in a ride up the west side bike path to the little red lighthouse, where we will read the book “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge”. The ride will continue across the bridge to Fort Lee Historic Park for a picnic lunch before returning to Manhattan. Bring sunscreen, lunch and plenty of water for your family.
Rain cancels. More details: see seperate box on page 3. Leaders Tina McVeigh and Rachel Youree.
MEMORIAL DAY JAM RIDE
Memorial Day, a day about remembrance and reflection. And a perfect day for a long ride
though Queens and Brooklyn. Perhaps we will pass a number of cemeteries and through quiet parklands. Lunch stop at a friendly diner or possibly outdoors. Bring a camera, lock and $$ for lunch. Mostly flat terrain at a moderate pace. Leaders Danny Lieberman and Mark Trainor.
Saturday, June 3rd
HIGGIES METRIC PLUS LOOP QUICK SPIN
This hilly ride on scenic inland roads in southern Conn leaves little opportunity to bail.
Lunch stop at Higgies or a nearby store. Triangular route from New Haven, Portland-Middletown and Killingworth. Bring MTA bike pass, plenty of water, $$ for round trip train tickets to New Haven and food. Fast pace (16-20mph). Terrain is mostly flat but some hilly parts. Leaders: Jonathan Friedman and Dennis Griffin. Co-listed with NYCC.
3500 FEET AND RISING
Join us for this beautiful, but very hilly ride through northern Westchester. We ride through the Teatown Preserve, Chappaqua, Bedford Hills and other pleasant communities. While spinning on the hills (with cumulative climbing of 3,500 feet), we can look forward to
homemade ice cream near the end. N.B.: Triples are highly recommended, bring a MTA bike permit and note that there's about a mile of riding on a hard-packed dirt road.
Terrain: Hills, hills and more hills And did I say it was hilly?
Leaders: Brian Hoberman and Jim Zisfein.
Sunday, June 4th
What do Irving Berlin, Robert Moses, Duke Ellington, Herman Melville, Fiorello LaGuardia, and Frank W. Woolworth have in common? Why, they’re all resting comfortably at Woodlawn Cemetery, the final resting place for discriminating New York celebrities since 1863, in the northern Bronx. We visit not only the past but an outstanding venue for reflection, peace, and beauty. Bring $3 for a group guided tour, locks and $$ for lunch. Leaders Jesse Brown and Ed DeFreitas.
Join us for this late Spring ride to Old Richmond Town. Take time to explore some of the old buildings, there are 27 of them and many have been restored and are open for touring. Bring a lock and $ for lunch. Terrain: mostly flat. For more information on Old Richmond Town go to: www.historicrichmondtown.org. Leaders: Jim Mallard and others.
Saturday, June 10th
NEEDLE TO NEEDLE
1440 BCE: In ancient Egypt an obelisk is erected in Heliopolis. In 1881 Henry Honychurch Gorringe moves that same obelisk to New York’s Central Park where it aquires the name “Cleopatra’s Needle”. July 1885, Gorringe jumps on a moving train and is killed. As a hero to his fellow Masons, he is buried on Mt Nebo near Piermont and a scale model of the needle is his memorial. We’ll remember Gorringe by riding from Needle to Needle with lunch in Piermont. Bring a lock and $$ for lunch. No Ninnies, no bailouts. This ride will terminate upon our return to the Manhattan side of the George Washington Bridge. Leaders: John Chiarella and others.
Afraid you forgot all the Spanish you ever learned? We’ll get you back in shape faster than you can say “Dos boletos para San Juan, por favor”. Join us for this “on hands”
Spanish language tour of el Barrio, also known as Spanish Harlem. Your obligation? Pledge to speak the most Spanish you can, even if it’s only one word. (We’ll fill in the gaps.) Bring lock and lunch money. Rain cancels. Leaders: Richard Sanford and Jim Mallard.
Sunday, June 11th
JAMAICA BAY QUEENS RIDE (Quick Spin)
This is the Queens version of the Jamaica Bay Loop, featuring the Belt Parkway bike path,
Marine Parkway and Cross Bay bridges, and lunch at a bike friendly cafe in Forest Hills at the end of the ride. Fast pace (15+mph). Leaders Dennis Griffin and Jonathan Friedman.
DAS BOOT (The Submarine)
Walk where the "Greatest Generation” trod by touring a WWII submarine in Hackensack, New Jersey. The USS Ling, SS-297, is maintained by the New Jersey Naval Museum (www.njnm.com). We go from the 21st century to 1944. Bring locks for bike, money for lunch and submarine tour(optional). History buffs, bring your curiousity. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and Jesse Brown.
Saturday, June 17th
CLEARWATER HUDSON RIVER REVIVAL
Our 18th annual day-long sojourn at the dawn of summer's light to this classic folk festival returns with new vigor! The Sloop Clearwater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2004 for its role in environmental awareness, and there's no better way to celebrate this achievement than with 5 stages of folk music, plus crafts, activism, juggling, song circles, non-stop dancing, souvenirs, and of course, food. We'll hop on Metro-North for a jump start to White Plains, then cycle to Croton Point Park for festivities. Who will be announced as this year's ride dedication recipient(s)? Scheduled performers include Holly Near, Black 47, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Dan Bern and more! There's also FREE valet bike parking courtesy of our friends at Times Up! Limited admission discounts ($25) for early arrivals will be available. Fest is rain or shine! Return to NY via train recommended but optional. Bring sunscreen, $14 for train fare, bike permit, and your favorite river songs. Leaders: Ted M. Kushner and Brian Hoberman and Bike21.
Sunday, June 18th
THE SUPERIMETER
This is the newest and longest Perimeter ride: the combined Brooklyn and Queens ride. Follow the waterfronts around the edges. Note: the new starting point is near the Williamsburg Bridge. Travel light, bring water and pocket food. We will be riding at a pace of 17mph average. Leaders Danny Lieberman and Mark Trainor.
BRONX GREENWAYS TOUR
The Bronx Greenway tour offers an opportunity to see the Bronx as never seen before. Be amazed by the diversity and beauty of the Bronx. Staten Island is not the only forgotten borough. A true journey of discovery. Leaders Jesse Brown and Ed DeFreitas.
MOODUS CRITERION LOOP QUICK SPIN
This hilly ride on scenic inland roads in Southern Conn leaves little opportunity to bail.
Triangular route from New Haven, Cobalt and Hadlyme/Lyme. We will cross the CT river by ferryboat ($1). Lunch stop at a diner in Moodus. Fast pace (16-20mph). Bring MTA bike pass, plenty of water, $$ for round trip train tickets to New Haven and food. Face pace (16-20mph). Terrain hilly in parts. Leaders: Jonathan Friedman and others.
Co-listed with NYCC.
The weather's heating up, it's not July yet, and you want to go to the beach. Whatta ya do? Do a ride to Neponsit Beach anyway! Of course, there are a few differences: this ride starts at City Hall, with a secondary starting point at Grand Army Plaza; the ride's on a
Saturday, not Sunday; and there will probably not be any lifeguards on duty. But so what? At least it probably won't be sweltering yet. But who knows?
Leaders: Brian Hoberman and others.
Sunday, June 25th
BRONX PERIMETER RIDE
This year the perimeter series will begin with the one borough on the mainland (The Bronx), and it begins and ends at Yankee Stadium. We’ll conquer the wilds of Riverdale,
touch on Westchester, pass by Coop City and Fort Schuyler and the isle of the unclaimed dead. Come Circumcycle The Bronx and get the first peg towards the series patch.
Some hills. Leaders: Jesse Brown and Rodney Millard on the quick spin, Ed DeFreitas and Jim Zisfein on the regular group.
CUSTER’S LAST BIKE RIDE
Sunday, June 25, 1876: Lt Col. George Armstrong Custer spots a “Big Village” and dispatches messenger Giovanni Martini to Captain Benteen with the message “Big Village...Be Quick... Bring packs...”. Martini is the only survivor of Custer’s command from the “last stand” at the battle of the Little BigHorn with Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
Martini, who relocates to New York, lives out his days as John Martin and is buried in Brooklyn. On the 130th anniversary of the battle the 5BBC will commemorate the event: we will plant the guidon of troop F, 7th cavalry and play Taps on an amplified iPod.
Tennnnn Hut! Lunch at a diner, bring locks and the usual. Leaders John Chiarella and Danny Lieberman.
Saturday, July 1st
NEW YORK CITY TO NEW HAVEN CENTURY QUICK SPIN
This hilly ride takes a straight shot up NY-22 to Brewster and then cuts east on US-6 to Danbury and CT-34. Some portions on very heavily trafficked roads. Remember to ride single-file on road shoulders. Fast “A” pace (18-20mph). Bring MTA bike pass, plenty of water, $$ for return train ticket and pocket food. Terrain is very hilly. We will return to NYC by MetroNorth from New Haven. Suggestion: buy return ticket in advance!
Leaders: Jonathan Friedman and others. Co-listed with NYCC.
Sunday, July 2nd
AROUND AND OVER THE HUDSON
See NYC from a ferry, the Liberty State Park & Hoboken. Then stretch your legs along a long shoreline stretch from Hoboken to the G.W. Bridge(with the one big hill). Bridge the Hudson back to N.Y.C. Pass Seinfeld's (who?) old haunt and choose your lunch cuisine from italian, asian and eastern Europe. It's all on one Amsterdam Ave. block. Then, we'll follow the Hudson River line (really, ask Ed why.) back down to City Hall. Bring a lock & $ for lunch. Pace 12-15mph. Terrain: Mostly Flat with one !@#$%^&* Hill. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and others.
If it’s Sunday then this must be the ride to the beach. Which beach? Well, we usually keep the route short so we can sit by the waves for an hour or two before riding back.
Our favoite spot is still Neponsit Beach in the Rockaways, an easy jaunt from Prospect Park, and we head out every Sunday until the end of August. Pack your towel and beach garb if you like along with the usual stuff: lock, sunblock, water and lunch, or you can buy it along the way. Leaders to be announced in the July-August Bicycletter!
Tuesday, July 4th (Independence Day)
INDEPENDENCE JAM 2 (The Sequel!)
Last year we went to City Island on Independence Day and had a great time. This year we’ll visit a different part of the city but we hope to have just as much fun getting there and coming back, and with luck we’ll cover 50+ miles. Remember to bring plenty of water and sun block, maybe some snacks along with your cable lock and camera. Leaders: Danny Lieberman and Ira Najowitz.
8AM, Cunningham Park, 85 miles, regular group
8AM, Cunningham Park, 85 miles, Quick Spin, Cue Sheet Only
9AM, Columbus Circle, 50 miles (one group)
There are no day rides scheduled for today.
MANHATTAN EVENING RIDE (Rain Date Wednesday, May 17th)
6:45PM, Plaza Hotel fountain, 18 miles
8AM, Cunningham Park, 90 miles, Cue Sheet Only
MOZZARELLA FRESCA RIDE
10AM, Plaza Hotel, 20 miles
7:50AM, Grand Central Terminal, 52 miles, Quick Spin
9:15AM, Westport CT station
Postponed due to weather
9AM, Columbus Circle, 60 miles (one group)
9AM, Van Cortlandt Park, 40 miles – OFF ROAD
9AM, Brooklyn Boro Hall, 40 miles
Note: in Bike Month calendar, this ride was mistakenly listed for 5/13.
WANDERING TO WAVE HILL
9AM, Columbus Circle, 30 miles
THE MONTAUK CENTURY 2006
9AM, Jerome Ave and Bainbridge Ave, Bronx, (last stop #4 to Woodlawn), 40 rolling miles
6AM, Chelsea Piers, 50+ miles
9AM, Plaza Hotel (5th Ave & 59th St), 50 miles
FAMILY RIDE TO THE LITTLE RED LIGHTHOUSE AND FT LEE HISTORIC PARK
8:45 AM, Hippo Playground, Riverside Park (West 90th St & Riverside Dr), 13 miles
9AM, Bridgemarket, 50 miles
7:40AM, Grand Central Terminal, 67 miles
10AM, New Haven Union Station
Cancelled due to weather.
7:25AM, Grand Central Terminal, 45 hilly miles
8:50AM, Croton Harmon Station
Cancelled due to weather.
WOODLAWN CEMETERY TOUR
9AM, AYH (Amsterdam Ave & W103rd St), 30 miles
OLD RICHMONDTOWN, STATEN ISLAND
11AM, Staten Island Borough Hall, 25 miles
(take 10:30am boat from South Ferry)
9AM, 5th Ave & East 82nd St (Metropolitan Museum of Art), 50+ miles
VAMOS AL BARRIO (Spanish Language Tour)
10:30AM, Prospect Park entrance at Grand Army Plaza, 25 miles
9AM, Kew Gardens, 40 miles
9AM, AYH (Amsterdam Ave & W103rd St), 35 miles
7:30AM Sharp, Grand Central Terminal, 25 miles
8AM, Doughnut Plant (SW corner Grand St and Norfolk St), 75+ miles (Quick Spin)
9AM, AYH (Amsterdam Ave & W103rd St), 45 miles
6:40AM, Grand Central Terminal, 85 miles
9AM, New Haven Union Station
Ride has been cancelled. Sorry.
BICYCLE BEACH BUMS #0 (the Preview)
9AM, City Hall, 35 miles
9:45AM, Prospect Park, 30 miles
9AM, Yankee Stadium (River Ave & E161st St)
8:30AM, Quick Spin group (18mph), 35 miles
9AM, City Hall, 40 miles
7:15AM, Eleanor Roosevelt Statue (West 72nd & Riverside Dr), 100+ miles
Ride has been cancelled. Sorry.
8:45AM, City Hall, 43 miles
9:15AM, South Ferry or 10AM, St George Ferry Terminal
BICYCLE BEACH BUMS #1
10AM, Prospect Park, 30 miles
9AM, Bridgemarket, 50 miles