--- In BikeAroundLongIsland@yahoogroups.com, "George" <gjwbiker@o...>
wrote:
> How about sharing some more stories about your experiences with the
> 5-Boro Tour? Here's mine:

Ok, my "test" message worked so that means I can try, again, to do a
different spin on the 5 boro btour.

I studied the weather reports intensely, hoping against hope that I'd
be able to deck myself out in some cool new jersey/shorts
combo....without any luck. The forecast changed from cloudy with
highs in the low 60's to rainy, windy and mid 50's. I decided to
leave the camera home, put on my fanny pack, douse the fancy joisey
for my ol' reliable Santini with the extra fancy base layer, wind
proof tights and, being as I really love my 180 gram carbon Nike
shoes, brought my Neoprene foot warmers. George, imagine this. I was
warm, dry and comfortable! You have my condolences....

The fanny pack held my secret weapon, my Rainshield O2 Rain
Jacket...waterproof, incredibly breathable (no sweat at all!) and,
amazingly, only 5 ounces of material that is so easy to pack it can
crush itself into a rear jersey pocket (and cheap, the highest price
being $34 at Bike Nashbar, the lowest $25 on the Net somewhere, where
I bought it). But, being as I just knew I'd be shopping for some
nifty "Bike New York" shorts, it was into the fanny pack it went,
until morning.

I road in my neon yellow Rainshield, in the dark foggy rain weighing
down Post Avenue on the way to the LIRR Westbury station. I swore I'd
stop and pull over to the side anytime a car was about to pass but
the 3 times that happened I, coincidently, was right under the
blazing nightsky-robbing mercury street lamps and easily seen.

The train was wildly crushed with tons of polite cyclists, polite
conversation and an eager willingness to laugh at the day's good mood,
despite the weather.

Biking to South Ferry, I was a bit confused about where the start
line was so, instead of starting near the front, as I planned, my 20
minutes of confusion resulted in my starting a good distance back.
And, with the slow, start again/stop again start, it took quite some
time before the riders were spread out enough to allow me to find my
pace.

I did see two crashes, as they happened and the result of several
more by the way the blood looked on their legs. But I kept my eyes
circling around me with every side move and acceleration as I passed,
literally, thousands of cyclists. I know it wasn't a race, but I'll
tell ya, my racing "instincts" start simmering when I pump dem
pedals, especially when I see someone pass me or ride fast up ahead.
Still, I kept saying to myself, "enjoy this ride Harvey", "you'll
rarely get a chance to ride these roads on your bike, take a look
around, go steady", "Be one with nature, son", and finally, "that
bastard, f**k it, I'm blowing steam!!!!". Well, that last one only
twice....

I've heard about what's it's like to ride the Verrazano bridge.
Supposed to be a "real climb". So, to avoid disaster I road it
steadily, around 15 mph on its upside, with my heart rate right in
the middle of my "tempo" zone at about 80% of max, so it wasn't a
sweat. Four individuals passed me at about the halfway up to the top
point but, not knowing the ride, I let them go, just keeping my
steady state pace going along. When I saw the top, though, I knew I
could easily make it full without blowing up before I got there, so I
clicked two or three gears, got off the seat and pushed a hard
acceleration, moving up to 22 mph or so. Another push and on up to
24, passing rider one, then two, then the rest of those that did the
passing earlier. They didn't even try to follow since they burned
themselves out getting to where they were. It felt good as I hit my
big chainring on the way down, zig zagging to stay a good, safe,
distance from the plethora ahead, settling on 28 until the volunteers
warned me, "don't go too fast please...." So I slowed down to 27-1/2.

Hey George. I'm surprised you didn't see me at the festival. I was
the guy with the black cycling helmet! :)

I'm glad I did it but, as I wrote, never again. Too many waiting
stops. I like riding, not waiting, but heck, ya have to do this once
in your life, at least for the visuals, if not for everything else.

Harvey Miller