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MAY 2022 NYC 5 Borough Bike Tour Questions

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MAY 2022 NYC 5 Borough Bike Tour Questions

Old 04-05-22, 12:05 PM
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Bianchi84
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MAY 2022 NYC 5 Borough Bike Tour Questions

Hi, please forgive me if this has been addressed, but my Advanced Search function doesn't seem to be working.
I'm going up to NY, (my old State before moving to NC about 8 years ago), to do the 5 Borough Bike Tour. I'm bringing my 1984 Bianchi Tipo Corsa.
My gearing is 53/42, 13-26. I have 23c Michelin tires on it now, but have, stored Continental Classic 25c.
Has anyone here ridden this ride with a CV bike? Any suggestions? Just how much of a gearing challenge are the bridges ( especially Verrrzano) going to be?
Any other recommendations from experience would be great!
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Old 04-05-22, 12:16 PM
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Keep moving.
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Old 04-05-22, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by bamboobike4
Keep moving.
Thanks, when did you do the ride? How was it?
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Old 04-05-22, 01:01 PM
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You’ll be fine. I once did it on a coaster-brake cruiser with my girlfriend and her mom, both of whom also rode cruisers.

The only real elevation is going to be on the Verrazano, but if you can tough out a five or eight minute climb you’re good to go.
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Old 04-05-22, 01:11 PM
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What Rage said. I'll also add that the 59th Street Bridge can be tough because, depending on how jammed up the route is, they may stop you at the bottom of the bridge and you'll be starting with no momentum. Plus, since is the first real climb, you'll have to deal with people stalling, getting off their bikes right in the middle of the street, zigzagging, and mashing through their indexed shifting. The tough part of the Verrazano is the 9 miles on the BQE beforehand - typically into the wind with lots of long low-grade climbs and false plateaus. I'd put on the wider tires - helps with the potholes and bridge grates and armored joints. The climbs themselves aren't bad - they're tough but short.

Oh, and don't eat too much ice cream and hotdogs at the end - you still have to ride a few miles to hop on the ferry.
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Old 04-05-22, 01:20 PM
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The real challenge is going to be navigating your way around people on bikes they haven’t even looked at in years.
One time this young lady’s right pedal fell off her bike right in front of me on canal street which is practically the start of the tour haha.
Shout out to Chris S. from Jersey who had a pedal wrench on him that morning.
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Old 04-05-22, 01:21 PM
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And, yeah, the 59th street bridge does jam up so be careful on the descent.
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Old 04-05-22, 01:41 PM
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I rode it on a 1972/3 Zeus Pro in 1980, does that count as C&V?
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Old 04-05-22, 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Bianchi84
Thanks, when did you do the ride? How was it?
Years ago.
I'd compare it to the NYC marathon, but "better."
Best way to see NYC.
The people on bikes are with you.
The people not on bikes have very little interest in bothering you.
When potholes are the only real hazard, it's a good day.
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Old 04-05-22, 01:50 PM
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Thanks to everyone for their experiences! I can't wait to do it!
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