5 Boro Bike Tour

Nope. Once was enough for me.

Flo wrote: Nope. Once was enough for me.

+1 on that!

Well Halfpint, I'd hate to discourage someone from participating in the ride if their heart is set on conquering the distance or if they are attracted to idea of riding on roads that you otherwise cannot ride on. (BQE, Verazzano Bridge, etc.) It is a ride where the streets are closed for cyclists, so that is a plus and when else can you ride over the Verazzano?

Myself, I found it crazy crowded and I had my foot on the ground from Battery Park to Central Park. I also watched a bunch of people get injured, but the year I did it, it rained partway through the day, so that added to the slip factor.

It's probably a personal thing. I've ridden out to Montauk, but never as a part of a group and I would wholeheartedly recommend riding out there, but cannot say whether or not the group ride is cool. For me, part of the appeal of riding out to Montauk is then staying out there for a day or two. I can't imagine just riding a bus or train back after the ride. In that case, I'd rather do a roundtrip century--say 50 miles out and back.

Usually when people ask me about the 5 Boro, I give them my own personal horror story behind it, (a guy went over the handlebars behind me on the BQE and then did not move) but I usually temper my opinion with the fact that I ride a lot and am not much of joiner in mass bike rides, so my opinion is biased in that way. It is a crowded ride, so if you do it, you gotta embrace the crowd and maybe revel in watching kids and families and coworkers do the miles together.