UPDATED: Sand and Bikes! Trip to Riis Beach, Sunday 8/3

We're going on another bike ride! Here are the details...

When: Sunday, August 3rd
Where to: Riis Beach and possibly Rockaway Beach
Leaving from: Grand Army Plaza
Meeting at: 12 noon (apply some sunscreen!)
Distance round trip: ~30 miles

The route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ny/brooklyn/141004241

Who's down?



Non-bike people are welcome to meet us down there! I'm not sure about that route though. Sounds like the A train and then a shuttle bus to the beach?

Oh, forgot to ask...Can we get a global on this thingy? Pretty please?


MOD NOTE: Done and done!
-C

edit: Thanks!!! xo

TOTALLY down.

Yes, non-bike route would best be A train to Broad Channel (that's the Far Rockaway-bound A train via JFK, NOT the Leffert's Blvd-bound A), and then the S (shuttle) on the same platform, which is usually waiting and pulls right in after the A leaves the station. Take that to the last stop (116th st).

From there, though, you'll need to take another bus (the 35, I believe?) to Riis Park...OR, for the more bar-oriented people, you'd be better off just meeting us at 116th st, since the bar I have in mind for the crew is right down the block, on the water.

If you want to take the non bike route, PM me, and I'll give you my cell so you can find us

and here's where the Wharf is, if we do wind up going.

There's no boardwalk from Riis Park all the way down until 126th, so we'd be better off taking the street there. In all, it's maybe another 2 miles max?

Subject: Next time. Love to join this ride.

Next time - be out of town this Sat unfortunately.....

Would LOVE to do this ride with a group - I head out there often, and sometimes continue on to Lido Beach area and then have a light meal in Long Beach before heading back....

Enjoy!

possibly_maybe wrote: and here's where the Wharf is, if we do wind up going.

There's no boardwalk from Riis Park all the way down until 126th, so we'd be better off taking the street there. In all, it's maybe another 2 miles max?

Looks like a good plan to me! It will be nice to see the parts I didn't see last time I went.

I've been tossing around the idea of doing this ride the past couple of times it's happened. What activity level is it? I'm not out of shape and I'm really good on my ten speed, but I don't ride that regularly. :-k

Me neither. I rode to work today, back and forth that's 16 miles - and it's the furthest/longest ride I've done since I was 10 years old.
We're not speed racers and I don't think (hope!) anyone owns spandex pants (though I'm not sure about Arches...)

RockerGirl, it's really not too bad of a ride, especially if you have a bike with gears (as you do).

The ride to Coney Island along Ocean is about as flat as you can get. There's one area along the Belt on the way to Flatbush where you'll break a sweat to climb the small hill to go over the bridge over one of the little inlets, but from there Flatbush is, um, flat all the way to the Marine Parkway bridge. The climb there is like any other bridge; not so bad, and all of Rockaway is flat as well.

It's really only the distance that you might be at all concerned about, but the trip to Coney Island a couple weeks ago only took us an hour, and that's about 1/2 the way to Riis Park.

Christina wrote: Me neither. I rode to work today, back and forth that's 16 miles - and it's the furthest/longest ride I've done since I was 10 years old.
We're not speed racers and I don't think (hope!) anyone owns spandex pants (though I'm not sure about Arches...)

owning them and wearing them are two separate issues!

possibly_maybe wrote: RockerGirl, it's really not too bad of a ride, especially if you have a bike with gears (as you do).

The ride to Coney Island along Ocean is about as flat as you can get. There's one area along the Belt on the way to Flatbush where you'll break a sweat to climb the small hill to go over the bridge over one of the little inlets, but from there Flatbush is, um, flat all the way to the Marine Parkway bridge. The climb there is like any other bridge; not so bad, and all of Rockaway is flat as well.

The ride map that caahyoko sent has a pretty cool elevation feature...click a little box on the upper right hand side and you get an elevation map at the bottom. Like Possibly said, it's pretty darn flat.

arches wrote: [quote=possibly_maybe]RockerGirl, it's really not too bad of a ride, especially if you have a bike with gears (as you do).

The ride to Coney Island along Ocean is about as flat as you can get. There's one area along the Belt on the way to Flatbush where you'll break a sweat to climb the small hill to go over the bridge over one of the little inlets, but from there Flatbush is, um, flat all the way to the Marine Parkway bridge. The climb there is like any other bridge; not so bad, and all of Rockaway is flat as well.

The ride map that caahyoko sent has a pretty cool elevation feature...click a little box on the upper right hand side and you get an elevation map at the bottom. Like Possibly said, it's pretty darn flat.

thanks, I just spent the last 30 minutes wandering all around NYS in the terrain view of that map, working my way all the way up to the Adirondacks, marveling at how FREAKING AMAZING it all is...

maps always seem to suck me in like that..

I'm thinking I kinda need a thirty mile ride and I have these bike shorts sitting in a sealed bag that a cycling enthusiast gave me some time back...Good God, I am old.

arches wrote:

The ride map that caahyoko sent has a pretty cool elevation feature...click a little box on the upper right hand side and you get an elevation map at the bottom. Like Possibly said, it's pretty darn flat.

I didn't notice that feature at all. Yay! Something to waste time with at work today.

And yes, we definitely don't go at anything nearing "fast", so do not fear.

I have done this ride a few times now and it is fabulous! Unfortunately I have my Coop shift this Saturday morning and can't join in. Damn!

Be careful going over the Gil Hodges Bridge. The bike lane can get windy and it is rather narrow.

Would you guys ever be up for doing this ride on a Sunday afternoon?

I'm flexible with dates. If more people can do it on Sunday or next week I'd almost suggest we do it then.

Looks like I'm going to opening night of the new Dreamland Roller Rink in Coney Island on Friday night, so I may not be up in time to be ready for the bike ride Saturday. Hopefully I can get on the next one!

Christina wrote: I'm flexible with dates. If more people can do it on Sunday or next week I'd almost suggest we do it then.

I'm flexible too. Possibly_maybe, how about you? You are our fearless leader on this one

have fun. I'll be unable to join you this weekend.

When riding though the Rockaway peninsula, be mindful, it gets kind of sketchy in the middle parts of the island between Beach 108 down to Beach 35. I usually stick close to or ride on the boardwalk (even the parts in disrepair) now after riding that main road with the bike lane that bisects the peninsula and being a bit rattled by the free roaming pitbulls.

Subject: Gil Hodges Bridge

The Gil Hodges Bridge can be very windy and it is sort of narrow and the path is shared with pedestrians which is why you are required to walk your bike over the bridge.

Sunday's actually better for me in some ways, so sure!

t-fal: I don't think we'll be heading down quite that far. But yes, that part of Rockaway gets real sketchy. I haven't been down there much since they built all the new housing, but for decades it was literally a wasteland. So many huge empty overgrown lots between the beach and the elevated train.

Well, alrighty then, Sunday it is! Same time?

I'll change the post...

whynot_31 wrote: have fun. I'll be unable to join you this weekend.

doh, that sucks. why, um, not?

Shoot! I am now teaching a class this Sunday but I might meet you guys on the boardwalk if you decide to stay at the beach. I am heading out there at Noon.

Nychas I always ride my bike over the Gil Hodges Bridge. Doh! I have been an outlaw!

Christina wrote: I don't think (hope!) anyone owns spandex pants (though I'm not sure about Arches...)

I am a big fan of padded bike skorts. I won't ride in anything else!

This sounds like a great ride. I ride down to coney island/brighton beach every weekend so it would be nice to change it up someday with a longer ride.

(Not this weekend for me though, unfort.)

Duffy'sSis wrote: Shoot! I am now teaching a class this Sunday but I might meet you guys on the boardwalk if you decide to stay at the beach. I am heading out there at Noon.

Nychas I always ride my bike over the Gil Hodges Bridge. Doh! I have been an outlaw!

Cool. Hopefully we'll see you

Of the 15 or so bikers I've observed on that bridge, 0 were walking their bike. Doesn't make it right, but... :P

yeah, I've never had trouble riding over the bridge, though it does sometimes get a wee bit hairy if you're passing someone else riding in the opposite direction (it's narrow!).

Now, taking pictures under the bridge is another story... :roll:

Yeah, really, what goes on under there? That's where I spotted the inflatable "woman" doll--off to the side of the bridge. Ewwww. Actually, maybe I don't want to know.

I really want to go but I'll be on Fire Island. I love Riis Park Beach and the pitch & putt. Anyone up for some weekday pitch & putt, PM me.