Five Borough Bicycle Club

August 17, 2006: The joy of bicycling on the Westchester County Trailways. You can now go most of the way from Bronx to Carmel on paths that are paved, level, and car-free. Hooray! Photo by John Chiarella.

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PALISADES BIKE HIKE: BOMBAY HOOK
9AM, GWB Bus Terminal (W 178th & Ft Washington Ave), 20 mile ride, 7 mile hike

Get up close and personal with New Jersey's Palisades cliffs on this classic bike hike. The ride takes River Road through the park to Alpine Marina. The hike (www.njpalisades.org/alp-hike.htm#Bombay) brings you to some of the most impressive scenery in the area. It includes a 500 foot climb that is moderately strenuous but not technically difficult. Bring a bike lock, comfortable walking shoes, bag lunch, and water. Relaxed, easy pace for both ride and hike. Leaders Jim Zisfein and Cesar Vasquez.

The surprise is out: Join Ed and Liz for the famous Turkey ride. Charlie has retired but has agreed to cook us his famous turkey at Ed and Liz’ new apartment in Queens. Terrain is mostly flat. Bring $ for sandwiches. Leaders Ed Pino and Liz Baum.

No point-drop-sweep on this A-paced century ride up the North and South County Trails between Van Cortlandt Park and Carmel. A round trip, mostly greenway ride, you must be prepared to cruise with the pack between 18-20 mph. A quick lunch stop in Carmel before returning. Bring hydration, snacks, and your MTA bike pass just in case. Leaders Jesse Brown and Rodney Millard.

We rode out to Elmont, Long Island on Memorial Day and I don’t mind going back there. This time we’ll go a few miles farther, to Garden City, and lunch there. We’ll travel at a “B” pace (15/16mph) in order to get home before dark. Bring hydration, a lock, and a few $ for lunch at the diner. Leaders Danny Lieberman and Rhonda Wittorf.

We were rained out of this series finale in August so we’re reviving it in November. Manhattan, our most urbane of boroughs, has a splendiferous coastline with plenty of auto-free riding, especially along the Hudson and Harlem rivers. Whether you joined the other 4 summer perimeter rides or not, why not take this stroll around the island? Bring a lock, bring or buy lunch. Moderate pace. Terrain is pancake flat. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and others.

See how David and Hilda use high-tech equipment (and neurosis) to establish “Pins and Needles”, a shop that embroiders all sorts of logos onto hats and shirts. Be you a geek, a nerd, a Macho Man, or Ms Cool, the right hat can bring out (or hide) the real you. Bring a lock and $ for lunch at a local Jackson Heights ethnic restaurant. Ride leaders Richard Sanford and Maria Cummings. Rain at start cancels.

RESCHEDULED from October 28 : CT RAMBLINGS HOUSATONIC RIVER VALLEY, Quick Spin
6:50AM, Grand Central, 60 very hilly miles
8:44AM, Milford, CT Station

(rescheduled from 10/28) Take the 7:07am train to this fabulous loop route. Fast paced - 17mph on the flats and no point-drop-sweep. Scenic back roads through historic colonial river towns and the new Naugatuck River bike path. Tour the pretty Housatonic River Valley, climb hills, skim ridgelines, skirt rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Challenging ride with serious climbs. Ride with the group on pace OR follow the awesome detailed, accurate cue sheet. Return 4:14 PM Bridgeport bike train (maybe earlier). A few limited shortcuts are possible. Bring plenty of hydration & some snacks. You can buy lunch along the way. Check club Bulletin Board for late breaking posts. Free parking at Milford Station. Leaders Susan Rodetis (srodetis@earthlink.net, 212-288-9663) and Jonathan Friedman. Co-listed with NYCC.

Each spring we ride to Northvale for Montauk Training. Why not in the fall? We’ll travel at a minimum 15mph pace to the Northvale Diner, where they will still be serving up banana nut pancakes and the like. Churchill Road will still be serving up leg cramps. Bring a bike lock and $ for lunch. Leaders Jim Zisfein and Josh Gosciak.

We’ll explore the West Side with a tour of NYC’s landmarks. From Grant’s Tomb to the Battery, we’ll finish our ride with lunch at the South Street Seaport. Bring a lock, a snack or $ for it. Leaders Terry Chin and Ed DeFreitas.

We’ll be heading to Breezy Point and Rockaway through Cypress Hills, East New York, and the Belt Parkway Bicycle Path. Our return will be via the Cross Bay Bridge, Howard Beach and Ozone Park. Lunch will be after the ride at a bicycle friendly cafe in Forest Hills. Pace will be “quick” (avg speed 14mph) but not fast. No one will be dropped! Bring the usual (spare tube, pump, water) and a smile. Leaders Dennis Griffin and Ira Najowitz.

Zig zag, criss cross, back and forth, see saw, up and down, and maybe a figure 8 in between. Oh wait, we forgot East to West and West to East. That’s how we’ll cross the East River, in four ways than one, via the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Willy B., and 59’er. Or is it gonna be clockwise? Ed made up the route, Ted made up the time. Apres cycle dinner stop very likely. Front and rear bike lights are required. Bring bike lock and dinner dough. Hills on the bridges, otherwise flat with moderate pace. Heavy rain cancels. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and Ted Kushner.

Want the lowdown and all the skinny on the upcoming and legendary and annualized Frostbite series? Well, with Turkey Day around the corner, we can’t promise you skinny, but we can cycle to the Broadway Diner in Summit, NJ. It’s the sister palace to the one long enjoyed in our regular Frostbite cruise to Bayonne, for some of the same delightful flapjacks and other palate pleasers. One thing we will guarantee: this time noone’s gonna get lost. Note: longer than usual distance for a “Frostbite”. Bring bike locks, brunch money, and $3 for PATH fare. Moderate pace. Terrain flat to rolling with one big hill climb. Heavy rain cancels. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and Ted Kushner.

Did you eat enough turkey to fill you up for a 4 day weekend? Still need to burn off some of those excess calories? This ride will help, with a moderate paced but fun ride to some of the more remote parts of Brooklyn. Lunch at the fabulous Arch diner in Flatlands. Bring hydration, lock, and an appetite. Danny Lieberman and Kenny Williams.

From borscht to arroz con pollo, we’ll tour some interesting neighborhoods: Huntersoint, Greenpoint, Williamsburgh, Fort Greene and the waterfront. This tour has many stops and ends near the Brooklyn Bridge. Bring a light for a late afternoon return. Leaders Terry Chin and Ed DeFreitas.

Enjoy an early winter 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 enjoy riding through a few picturesque parks in Manhattan and the Bronx. Bring a lock. Terrain a few hills and a stairway climb. Leaders Brian Hoberman and Danny Lieberman.

FROSTBITE RIDE # 1: THE WORLD’S GREATEST PANCAKES
10AM, City Hall, 25 miles
11AM, St George Ferry Terminal, Staten Island

This is the traditional start to our clubs answer to the pending winter blahs. The "Frost Bites" series asks the question, if winter is too cold to bike, how come it's not too cold for skiing? We start at City Hall, take the ferry to S.I., follow the coastline and cross the Bayonne Bridge for those deelicious pancakes. We'll give our respects to the Lady in the Harbor and end up in Hoboken for the trip across the Hudson and home. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas, Ed Pino, Alfredo Garcia.

Join Ed and Liz as they travel through Queens on many of the greenway bike paths. We will do this ride and be back in time for the 5BBC holiday party. No lunch stops. Leaders Ed Pino and Liz Baum.

Aah naturale in Joisey! This privately owned natural preserve lets us bike to their Nature Center, but only hike on their trails. Lunch will be at a pond. Clothing is not optional (besides it’s too cold!) Leaders Ed DeFreitas and others.

Sergeant Jesse leads this fast paced (16mph+) trip to Rye, NY or possibly Byram CT. If you want to sprint 50 miles over rolling hills, the temperature regulators will keep you warm in the cooler weather. Bring water, a pump and a spare, plus some $ for lunch. Leaders Jesse Brown and others.

A new ride to some familiar neighborhoods in nearby Brooklyn, including Greenpoint and Red Hook. B-paced. Dress appropriately, bring a lock, $ for lunch, and a smile. Leaders Danny Lieberman and Jim Zisfein.

As night-owls, we’ll pry (or fly) our way through the back door of Mazzola’s Bakery, in Brooklyn, where nighttime transforms this quaint little bake shop into a powerhouse of a baking plant. This is a 100% nighttime ride, so lights and visible clothing are a must. Expect a late return. Bring a lock and $ for a stop at a local eatery. Ride leaders Richard Sanford and Maria Cummings. Rain or icy conditions at start cancels.

You don’t have to be as rich as Rockefeller to enjoy the medieval art in a monastery setting, atop Fort Tryon Park. Bring your lunch along to dine al fresco or join us indoors for the cafe (a little pricey but worth it). Leaders Ed DeFreitas, Ed Pino and Liz Baum.

On the eve of the snowman, this old chestnut returns for another visit to a magical, mystical land that becomes visible, Brigidoon-like, only one day a year. Last minute shopping, holiday displays, hot chocolate warming, seasonal sing-along, sleigh bells, and Frosty are all included. Bring bike locks, lunch money, and dress for the weather. Moderate pace, mostly flat. Leaders Santa and his elves.

CANCELLED: FILIPINO PASTRY - AMERICAN CHOCOLATE TOUR
9AM, South Ferry (to take 9:30 boat), 35 miles

Moderatedly paced (12mph) ride, eat, and bring back something trip. Shop for chocolates at Superior Confections, Staten Island. Bayonne Bridge to a Jersey diner for lunch. Ride a little more to Christine’s Bake Shop, for delicious Filipino pastries to take back to Staten Island. Note: be prepared to ride continuously - it’s all or nothin. Bring $ for foodstuff, lock, panniers attached to your bike. Terrain: some hills, busy traffic, bumpy roads, one bridge. Co-listed with NYCC. Leaders Alfredo Garcia and others.

FROSTBITE RIDE #4: XMAS LIGHTS IN DYKER HEIGHTS (and Dim Sum Too)
12NOON, City Hall, 30 miles

Brooklyn’s Chinatown is no longer a secret, but, it’s still a great destination when Dim Sum and other treats are desired. We’ll check out the Christmas lights through the neighborhood of Dyker Heights. But we’ll have our Dim Sum luncheon first. On our way back we’ll take in the Manhattan skyline from Sunset Park. You must have front and rear lights as we will be riding after sunset. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and Terry Chin.

See Dec 16th for description. Bring water, a pump and a spare, plus some $ for lunch. Leaders Jesse Brown and others.

FROSTBITE RIDE #5: NEW YEARS EVE AT THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
10AM, Plaza Hotel, 25 miles

Elly Spangenberg’s perennial ride. Smell the fresh roses at one of the foremost american public gardens. Take a look at the Holiday Train Show. Visit the Enid Haupt Conservatory for “A World Of Plants” in a warm environment. See www.nybg.org for more information. Bring a digital camera, lock, $ for lunch and $$ for admission to the exhibition. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and Jesse Brown.

A new ride to a familiar neighborhood in the Bronx: Arthur Avenue and the Belmont section is still home to some fine Italian cuisine. B-paced. Dress appropriately, bring locks, $ for lunch, and a smile. Leaders Danny Lieberman and John Chiarella.

Oceanography, what? Ride into the borough that brought us the likes of Phil Goldberg, Manny Sanudo, and David Seto. Feast on Green Cuisine at a very authentic venue. Who knows, we might even run into Queen’s own Steve “Wildman” Brill and eat something else. Possible excursions to Museum of the Moving Image, Socates Sculpture Park and other waterfront delights. Bring a lock, $ for lunch and a disposable camera. Leaders Ed DeFreitas and others.

These were rides in November-December 2006. Click here for current rides.