The Five Borough Bicycle Club has a customary November day trip to Piermont, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. 5BBC leaders like the legendary Bipin Batra, would lead it, from the Plaza Hotel at 59th St. & 5th Ave. The location near Central Park and their luxurious rest rooms with valets was a unique New York City treat.
Yours truly, has carried on the tradition, for the last few years, on a different note. This time we started from Chelsea Piers, instead of the Plaza Hotel. The famed hotel, in recent times, way before 9/11, has restricted access. Big and burly doormen, in heavy woolen double-breasted overcoats would let you in if you had a guest key. Bicyclists in need of a rest stop were turned back most of the time, especially after 9AM.
Chelsea Piers, on 22nd St. & 12th Ave., has 24-hour rest rooms with staff happy to welcome you.
It was also on the Hudson River Greenway, which is a bike and pedestrian path on Manhattan's west
side. Spanning from 181st St. to the Battery, the greenway attracts cyclists from all five boroughs.
Although laced with annoying faults in need of improvement, the Greenway is a popular path for
cyclists, nearly free of auto traffic.
Ed DeFreitas and Brian Hoberman were my co-leaders. Both gentlemen have made unique contributions
to the 5BBC. Ed, from Brooklyn, has led an average of 25-45 rides a year, usually on Sundays.
New York City is his stomping grounds, road and off-road. Wet weather and slightly freezing
temperatures doesn't faze him. He has coordinated the Borough Perimeter series, the Frost Bite
series and Off-Road Vista series. By far, Ed has led the most 5BBC rides since 1996. In 1999,
he was awarded the Golden Spoke, the 5BBC's highest award.
With nice weather (and my expectation of a turnout less than 5), nearly 30 people showed up.
Lots of familiar faces: Sark Akian, with his sturdy bike and endless assortment of bike gear.
Like extra neatly folded tires and a billy club. The ageless Sark has a physique of an ancient
Gladiator yet is a true gentleman with a sense of humor. Jay Cheung, who rode a vintage road bike
from Bay Ridge. Richie Stevens, with a new Jamis road bike. Andrea Mercado, with a new LeMond road
bike. Daryl Marion, with her trusty hybrid. There was also a very charming lady, Vivian, dressed in
black, with a borrowed celeste green Bianchi.
Andrea, Vivian, Peter, Terry, JC
Andrea, Vivian, Peter, JC, Bonnie
Brian, from Queens, (by way of Kings Park, Suffolk County, Long Island) is the 5BBC weekend
trips coordinator. He has carried on producing the club's multi-day trips, to Cape Cod,
various tie-ins to bike events (e.g. Longest Day, Middletown, Pumpkin Patch & Sea Gull) and a
weeklong New England "Island Hopper" itinerary. In addition, Brian had done two-wheeled tours of
his own, to France, Montreal and the California coast. He is a very insightful & knowledgeable leader.
Brian has led day rides to Wave Hill, Sunken Meadow Park and Jones Beach.
Cycling north towards the GW Bridge on the Hudson River Greenway.
Vivian & Daryl
Ed, Joe, Sark, Stacey, Nick
My ride was co-listed with the New York Cycle Club, as a "C14." The NYCC seem to have lots of people who know me but I don't them. One veteran NYCC leader, Hindy Schacter, showed up. Peter Morales, who has done great things for the Cycle Club (e.g. Escape From NY and club accounting) came with his trademark Spectrum titanium bike, from Brooklyn. Several strong silent type guys with very lightweight road bikes, who looked like they should be on Cycle Club "A" rides, came aboard.
It was seemingly chaotic, people scattered around Chelsea Piers. But we were ready. Brian got people signed up and gave cue sheets. Ed got the crowd together on an empty parking lot. I did my speech. We were underway about 5 minutes, with more people coming in. Hello Bonnie and Ed Ravin.
Riding on the Greenway was very relaxing, with quaint views of the Hudson and New Jersey, something that wasn't possible a decade ago. Segments near the passenger ship terminal, Riverside Park South and Cherry Walk wasn't built yet. Time patience, along with city planners and determined people in various communities made the Greenway a reality, by 2001.
Cherry Walk is known for it's well, Cherry trees (fruit was finally blooming) At the end, we waited a bit. One fellow had a flat tire. Ed DeFreitas stayed with him to help. He was fine. People took time to enjoy the views. Some had film and digital cameras to take pictures.
Navigating through a dark road and up a garden, we took a "secret" shortcut to Riverside Dr. on 139th St. Instead of going up 165th St., we took a less hilly approach at 155th St., before getting on the \ George Washington Bridge.
More people were waiting on the Jersey side. "Is this the ride to Piermont?" The ride rose to nearly 40 people. On this part of the ride, I had to make constant announcements for people to ride single-file. The local police between here and Piermont will ticket those who do otherwise.
I had a set route, but it would take long to get there with lots of cyclists. So a more direct route-Hudson Terrace to the end, then turn north on Rt. 9W. Brief rest stop at Palisades Interstate Park (Police Headquarters) at River Rd. Then turn left at Rt. 340, after several miles from the border separating New Jersey and New York State. We got to the midpoint, which was at the Piermont Bicycle Connection shop, which had very friendly staff.
Brief note: Piermont was named as a combination of it's "Pier" landing and the Tallman mountains. This Rockland county town is a popular spot, along with Nyack, for cyclists.
During lunch, I saw more familiar faces. Harvey Minsky, a 5BBC leader and a NYCC A-SIG teacher, was cycling with his wife Maureen and Margie Schaffer, the new 5BBC newsletter editor. Jennifer Benepe, a bike racer. Eva Wirth, my NYCC B-SIG teacher. They all went their separate ways. Nice to see them.
Those who came on the ride: Irv Schachter, another NYCC ride leader and Hindy's husband. And Eva Frank. She just came back from a month-long business trip to Brazil. She missed the start. With impeccable Teutonic mettle and rugged mountain bike, Eva made it and joined up.
Bonnie had a problem with a flat. Ed Ravin was trying to solve the problem. It had to do with the tire sidewalk. Most of us were eating our lunch on the sidewalk near the bike shop. Some went to a warm diner for a sit down meal.
Around 1:30pm, we were ready to move. But Ed Ravin was finalizing repairs. Irv needed to warm up a little in the shop. With Brian staying in wait, Ed DeFreitas and myself brought interested cyclists to the "Pier." It's the waterfront that Piermont is known for. In another time and age, about 150 years ago, the landing was used as ferry terminal to transfer passengers to trains. Breathtaking moment and more pictures. By the time we returned to the bike shop, Brian had time to acquire several riding jerseys.
Pam & Vivian and Eva & Bonnie
Vivian & Bonnie
Ed at work
Richard, Alfredo, Sark, Andrea, Joe, Vivian and JC's hands
South facing view of the City from GW Bridge
The ride called for a hilly return. Tough climbs through Tallman State Park and Rt. 9W south. I was ready. However with bad weather from the previous weekend, most people including my leaders did not ride. Instead of sticking to the script, we went back on Rt. 340, due south. Leaders know when to improvise.
Again, I nearly got coarse commanding people to ride single file. Several detours got me mixed up before getting on track. With so many people, I tried to satisfy all riders, with some success. At the front, we rode an 18mph pace for the strong silent type guys and Irv. For the not-so-fast, we made timely stops for food and rest, at Trautwein Farms and Bicycle Workshop, respectively. Time for more pictures.
Some fast Cycle Club people objected. NYCC rules state "C" rides called for frequent stops but I indulged in the guilty pleasure of pace-bustering, which was a no-no (I was supposed to maintain a 14mph pace at all times.) As a result, some couldn't wait and went ahead, which was fine with me. We had about 25 people remaining.
Quoting John Forrester, a ride is boring unless you have a hill. Eliminating Tallman State Park and 9W, there was no avoiding Churhill Rd. Gave the strong silent guys the green light to go ahead to the top. Everybody else was equally up to the climb.
After Churchill, we enjoyed a breezy return back to the bridge and New York City. Remarkably, most of the 25 stayed until 139th St. and Riverside Dr.-the "secret" entrance to the Greenway. In the end, it was just Brian, Ed DeFreitas, Eva and myself approaching 59th St. A wonderful and memorable ride was finished.
Postscript: Brian was awarded the 2002 Golden Spoke award during the recent 5BBC holiday party. Ed was elected 2003 5BBC Day Trips Coordinator. I celebrated a birthday.
Many thanks to Bonnie, for presenting this humble narrative, on her website.
© 2002 Bonnie L. Hammer. All rights reserved.