Conference noted::bicycle

    Greetings Schulman,
    
    This ride sounds like fun I'm going to go there I've got a couple
    of questions maybe you could answer:
    
    1.  Will there be any unemployed stock brokers in the crowd?
    
    2.  How many miles will the ride be?
    
    3.  Any chance of getting mugged or at least roughed up a bit?
                         
    4.  Will Don and Ivana be there?
    
    Seriously I love visiting NYC, I always feel like the out-of-towners
    whenever I'm there however.
    
    Fred Mudgett       
                                    

    
    This has always sounded like a neat ride!  An additional question
    to Fred's: 
    
    	- What's the road surface on the Verrezano Narrows Bridge?
    	  Asphalt?  Grate?  Sounds like a thrill for acrophobics, too!
    
    -john

    I love peoples reaction to the ride, and by the way there are a lot of
    out-of-towners.  You see a lot of special types of bikes on this ride. 
    Of course if you could imagine 22,000 people all on bikes you'd realize
    that the crowd of riders is about 5 miles long.  Its totally packed. 
    One of the biggest problems is if someone in front of you falls, it
    starts a chain reaction, and a lot of people seem to pile on.  As far
    as prize bikes, I saw a bicycle built for ten.  Very impressive
    actually, it looked like it took a lot of work to get that sucker
    going.
    
    I've never seen anyone get mugged on the ride, but Fred if you do want
    to get mugged, all you have to do is leave the route by about 50 yards
    and they knock you off your bike and take it from you.  By the way it
    would be a good idea to leave your jewlery home.
    
    Its the greatest when pedestrians try to cross the path.  Cars aren't
    aloud but pedestrians are dumb, specially in NYC.  They actually think
    you're going to stop for them, ha!!  
    
    The actual tour is 40 miles long, and most of it is on very good
    asphalt surface.  There is some spots that need repaving but it is
    surprisingly good surface.  The Verrezano Bridge is definitly the high
    point of the ride (pun intended).  The way up is about a 15-20 minute
    struggle, but the way down is wild.  They usually have the route go
    through the lower roadway because it gets very windy up there.  It
    can take less than two minutes to get down.  There are three spots on the
    bridge that have greating on them so that the bridge can expand and
    retract, but they get covered up with some kind of ply wood and tape,
    no problem.
    
    Last year the bridge that leads from Manhaten Island to Queens (the
    59th Street Bridge) was under construction, you had to get off and walk
    your bike.  This year the construction was just finished and I drove my
    car over the bridge about twos weeks ago and it was as smooth as silk. 
    It should stay like that for at least a short time, that is if they
    don't start selling the Bridge to Germany to replace the wall.
    
    The tour is about 40 miles long.  It starts and ends in Battery Park,
    which is all the way down town near the Wall Street office (65
    Broadway).  Thats where my office is.  There are two stops during the
    ride that are mandatory, because the pack starts to stretch out to
    long.  This enables the regrouping of the riders so that the streets
    don't have to get closed down for that long.  In those spots there are
    limitted facilities.  During this season the weather in the morning is
    cold, but as the day progresses it gets warmer.  It is a rain or shine
    event.  Parking down town on a Sunday is not that bad.  But it is a
    pain on that day because of the additional amount of people in that
    area.  Your aloud to take your bike on the Subway and the Long Island
    Railroad with a special pass.  The application for that pass is
    connected to the application for registration.  The LIRR pass costs
    extra money and the conductors can be a bit of a pain, because
    according to the rules only two bikes per train are aloud, and usually
    there are a lot more than 20 trying to get on.  Then again in NY,
    anything goes.  If your staying in NYC then I suggest riding down to
    the start and then ride back.  That of course will increase your milage
    for the day.
    
    Wear clothes in layers so that you can take some off when the day
    starts to warm up.  Food and Drink is a necessity.  Spare tires (more
    than one per person, maybe three for two) is a good idea.  They usually
    have fix it trucks along the way, but the wait and location is a
    problem.
    
    Will Ivana be there?  Last year before I started I called her and Leona
    and I told these two that they should rent a couple of mopeds and that
    I would meet them at the first rest stop.  I can't believe they stood
    me up.  You should look for Jessica Hahn though, she is pretty active.
    
    By the way this day only, you can get a free ride on the Staten Island
    Ferry, because thats how you get back to Battery Park from Staten
    Island.
    
    When more details become available I'll post them.  Should I post them
    in this note or start a new one.  I guess it depends when the
    registration forms become available.
    
    Start working on your endurence because it is a long day.
    
    David
    
          

    About this biking in NYC concept...Last night on David Letterman
    he showed a picture of a bike frame that was locked to somekind
    of utility pole. The lock was one of those Kryptonite things that
    proved that it was indistructable. The bike was like totally stripped
    the only recognizable thing left was the seat post. 
    
    So I would surmize from that picture that one should be carefull
    how long one parks one's bike somewhere in NYC?
    
    Fred Mudgett 
                                                      

    Also note that kryptonite lock insurance does not apply in NYC.

    -Jeff

    .4  Thats pretty funny, one should not park a bike in NYC.  Not for five
    minutes, not for five seconds.  I bought a new bike at the end of last
    year, and it doesn't have a kick stand.  The shop keeper that I bought
    the bike from said the best lock was no kick stand.  

    I am ready to sign up.  Does this event have a date yet.  Is it
    possible to do less than the 40 miles.  My son could handle it but not
    my daughter.
    
    Thanks
    
    Pat Flanagan

    I've done this ride 3 times. Once with my 2 sons who were 11 and
    14 at the time. Their was no problem for either of them since the
    ride is very flat and because of the large crowds, you can not go
    very fast even if you want to. I remeber a cut off point that shortens
    the ride. I don't remember if the reduced distance is 21 or 25 miles.
    
    Staying together will probably be the biggest problem you have if
    your children like to ride at different speeds. After trying to
    keep the three of us together for the first part of the ride, I
    gave up. After the rest stop at a park in Queens I told my older
    son he could ride on his own and didn't have to stop and wait for
    us along the way. He should just wait at the entrance to the ferry.
    This will not work for you since the shortcut also cuts out the
    ferry ride. Also, unless you are actively looking for the turnoff
    point for the shortcut, it could be missed when riding in the middle
    of a crowd.
    
    I would highly recommend this as a ride with all but beginner level
    riders. I think beginning children in particular might get intimidated
    by the fast riders who try to pass you in groups and warn you of
    their approach by blowing a whistle in your ear. This is your signal
    to ride in a straight line. Most kids turn to see where the noise
    is coming from and swerve as they turn their heads.
    
    Have fun. 
    
    Dick

    .7  The date is May 6 Sunday.
    
        There are two resting and regrouping areas.  One at the Queens side
        of the 59th street bridge, as .8 mentioned, and one at the Staten
        Island side of the Verrezano Bridge in the Navy Yard. 
    
        You can leave the route pritty much anywhere along the route. 
        Some spots you may have to go little further down the road, such
        as on the BQE, because you don't want to be left alone.  The 
        biggest problem is how do you get back to your car or home.
    
        

    Hey who's boots does one have to lick to get a registered for this
    ride? Is there an address I write to? Come on Schulman don't tease
    me like this!
                
    Fred Mudgett

    So far all I know is the date.  When I see it in the local papers or
    anywhere else I post it.  I called the American Youth Hostils in NY,
    (they are one of the sponsers, I am a member) thats all they new.
    
    Not that it matters but the other major sponser is Citibank.
    

    This is only slightly off the subject...Did you happen to see this
    month's BICYCLING mag.? NYC is named the number one worst city to
    drive a bike in. There are (according to the article) 15 - 20 bike
    riders killed in the City each year. I'm curious if ride will show
    that I laugh at danger, or do you need to have New York City drivers
    zooming around to prove that much bravery. 
    
    Fred Mudgett

    The 15-20 killed/year are in bike-car accidents.
    
    We had a contingent of GSW folks go there one year.  The pix they took
    included one of a young lady lying on a bridge and bleeding from the
    head.  We do not know how that ended up but it would not have been
    among the bike-car stats.
    
    ed

    Greetings Bikers,
    
    I called AYH  today to see what day they were doing this ride for this
    year and guess what....Give up?  Oh what is that someone needs me
    somewhere else? Okay I'll tell you, The recording said that there will
    not be a 5 bourough bike tour this year. Well that sucks. It was alot
    of fun last year.
    
    Fred Mudgett