The Ultimate Guide to Bike Month NYC 2012

ULTIMATE GUIDE THE

BIKE MONTH NYCTO

AND THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE

NEW AMSTERDAM BICYCLE SHOW

SPONSORED BY:PRESENTED BY:

PRESENTED BY:

A MANHATTAN MEDIA PRODUCTION

Saturday & Sunday, April 28–29Skylight SoHo, 275 Hudson Street, NYC, 10am–7pm

Tickets on sale now at NewAmBikeShow.com

$15 online, $20 at the door

BIKE MONTH NYCTO

AND THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE

NEW AMSTERDAM BICYCLE SHOW

PHO

TO B

Y AN

DR

EW S

CHW

ARTZ

(Above) NYC’s Biketastic Brigade: From left, Julie Hirschfeld, of Adeline Adeline; David Trimble, of the Redhook Crit/Trimble Racing; Kevin

“Squid” Bolger, legendary Racer and messenger; David Volach, repair guru of Bicycle Habitat; and Susi Wunsch, editor of Velojoy.com.

2 • ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIKE MONTH NYC • April 19, 2012 NYpress.com

By Paul Steely White

Welcome to the New Amsterdam Bike Show!

Biking is booming in our great city. And as you and I know, this is some-thing to celebrate. Bicycling makes our streets, our neighborhoods and our city

more enjoyable.Every year for the past five years, bicycling has

enjoyed double-digit growth. From the continued expansion of our bike lane network to the agreement announced last fall that will allow for the completion of the East River Greenway, more New Yorkers than ever before are biking for transportation, fun and well-being. Like no other mode of getting around, biking has the power to knit us together and make us happier.

This bike boom is about to get a lot bigger. New York City will soon boast North America’s largest public bike share system, making bicycling as much a part of our city’s fabric as the crowded subway or the yellow cab. With 10,000 public bikes at hundreds of kiosks all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, more New Yorkers than ever before will discover all the joys and benefits of urban bicycling.

These thousands of new bikers will also discover how much work still needs to be done to make bicy-cling safer and more accessible to all New Yorkers. By being part of the New Amsterdam Bike Show, you

are joining Transportation Alternatives in our grow-ing effort to win more bike lanes, better designed bike lanes and paths and better enforcement of reckless driv-ing. And, by coming to the New Amsterdam Bike Show and supporting the advocacy, organizing and promotional efforts of Transportation Alternatives, you are making sure that the bike share system expands to every corner of the city.

Thank you for making this, the second annual New Amsterdam Bike Show, a celebration of all that bicycling has to offer our cities and ourselves. Make some new friends, check out some great new exhibits and don’t forget to fill your tank before you bike into the city sunset.

Enjoy the show! Paul Steely White is executive director of Transportation Alternatives, the beneficiary organi-zation of the 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show.

The Show Fuels the NYC Bike Boom Message from the editorIt’s almost impossible to cover everything happening in the trans-formation of New York into a premier world biking center right now. From the new Bike Share program to the latest cycling trends to stories of iconic personalities changing the face of bike riding in New York City, like Susie Wunch and David Trimble, this issue is a snap-shot of where we are and where we are going. We hope you enjoy it!

Allen Houston is an executive editor at Manhattan Media.

InsIde the 2012 new AmsterdAm BIcycle show Issue

Table of ContentsBIke month lIstIngs pg. 4

FInd your style pg. 7

BIke shArIng ProgrAm pg. 14

Books on BIkes pg. 16

5 trAIls outsIde nyc pg. 20

recycle-A-BIke pg. 22

trImBle’s red hook crIterIum pg. 24

BIke trAIn pg. 26

Q&A wIth susI wunsch pg. 28

new york cycle cluB’s sIg ProgrAmpg. 30

We began making our cycles in New York City in 1898.

We still do.Some things are just meant to last.

worksman cycles

N.Y.C. 1898

“America’s Bicycle Manufacturer”™

www.worksmancycles.comCome visit us at the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show, April 28 & 29

Worksman Cycles

The Worksman Classic Retro Cruiser: $549.

NYC -built Worksman Bikes start at $319

NYPress.com� Apri l �19, �2012��•� �ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIKE MONTH NYC • 3

Become a fan on Facebook!facebook.com/RaleighBicycles

Follow us on Twitter!twitter.com/RaleighBicycles

-Lugged Reynolds 520 Butted Chromoly Frame-4130 Chromoly Flat Crown Lugged Fork-Shimano 105 10spd Drivetrain-Shimano 105 Brakes

At Raleigh we’ve never based our success by what we do today, but by how many of our bikes we continue to see on the road. That kind of passion and pride allowed us to establish a brand that has stood strong for 125 years… and counting.

HERITAGE: OUR PAST. OUR PRESENT. OUR FUTURE.

R A L E I G H U S A . C O M

1887-2o12


Upcoming New York City Bike EventsBike expo NYC

May 3-5 pier 36—Basketball City, South & Montgomery Sts.bikenewyork.org

Presented by Eastern Mountain Sports, this expo will have manufacturers includ-ing Shimano, Raleigh, Timbuk2, TrailRail and VIVA showcasing their stuff, as well as hands-on programming throughout the three-day event. Thinking about tour-ing the country on your bike? Eastern Mountain Sports will be giving an intro course to bike touring that caters to both newcomers and experienced bikers. BE Chic, BE NY will be hosting a fashion show that will display the latest and greatest in bike gear, bike wear and bikes in general. Adding to the plethora of bike stuff will be authors David V. Herlihy and the famous Bike Snob NYC (Eben Weiss), who will be giving talks and signing their books. Since this event precedes the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Recycle-A-Bicycle will be doing free bike repairs.

MooNlight Ride—CeNtRal paRk

May 4, 10 p.m.-12 a.m. Columbus Circle (at the intersection of Broadway, Central park South, 59th Street and Central park West)times-up.org

On the first Friday of every month, Time’s Up! New York City’s direct action environmental group, takes bikers on a peaceful, approximately 10-mile ride through Central Park that begins at 10 p.m. and ends around midnight. Start off this year’s Bike Month by taking this scenic, relaxing ride through the dark in Central Park with trusty bike guides who ensure a leisurely trip infused with all the nature this great city has to offer. Grab your bikes, bring your helmets and lights (optional) and enjoy this unconvention-al aspect of New York City nightlife you never expected. This moonlit bike ride happens all year round, so if you miss the May foray, you can still partake on the first Friday of every month (June 6 is the next ride). May 4 is also Star Wars Day, so if you have a light saber handy, you should defi-nitely bring it along for the ride. May the fourth be with you!

BleSSiNg of the BikeS—MoRNiNgSide heightS

May 5, 9:30 a.m.St. John the divine, 1047 amsterdam ave., at 112 St.212-316-7540

fix YouR Bike WoRkShop—BRooklYN/loWeR eaSt Side

throughout MaySundays 6 p.m., Wednesday 6:30 p.m. (6th St., off Bedford avenue right under the Williamsburg Bridge)

thursday 6:30 p.m. (156 Rivington St. on the leS in the basement)times-up.org

Do you have a bike but haven’t ridden it in a while because you’ve been pro-crastinating fixing that flat tire? Time’s Up! New York City’s direct action envi-ronmental organization, is giving every-one the opportunity to learn how to fix their own bike. Use their tools and stands while experienced mechanics stand by to answer questions and monitor your work.

td BaNk five BoRough BaNk touR

May 6Ride through all five boroughs during

the TD Five Borough Bank Tour. Regular registration is closed but you can still par-ticipate in the Ride for a Reason charity event—volunteers are welcome as well. For more information, visit www.bike-newyork.org

StReet SkillS ClaSSMay 16, 7-8 p.m.Bicycle habitat, 250 lafayette St., betw. prince & Spring Sts. www.bikenewyork.org

Bike New York is providing this free, 90-minute crash course in what it means to be a street-smart biker. In a city like ours, the dangers of the road are obvious, with honking and screeching tires and irate cabbies hell-bent on running you over. As an interactive class, students will learn through real-life scenarios of city riding that will help them ride safely and stress-free. Certified bike instructors teach the class on the rights and responsibilities

of bikers on the road, understanding traf-fic principles and various other aspects of street riding. This course will provide adults and teens with knowledge that will help them drift and swerve through traf-fic congestion with the grace and eye of Bobby the Urban Hawk.

Bike CoMMutiNg 101May 17 and 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m.eastern Mountain Sports, 530 Broadway, at Spring St.bikenewyork.org

Are you terrified to ride your bike through the bustling, borderline psychotic streets of New York City? Then attend Bike New York’s free, ongoing Bike Commuting 101 workshops, two of which will be held during Bike Month at Eastern Mountain Sports in Soho. The one-hour presentation will inspire and reassure bikers willing to take their horseless, two-wheeled chariots to work. This informational workshop will include tips on bike selection, bike usage, riding in daylight and darkness and other useful tips to ensure a safe and seam-less ride through the streets. No biking is involved during this workshop, but there will be giveaways!

SpRiNg BRooklYN Bike JuMBleMay 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.336 3rd St., Brooklyn nybikejumble.com

Join the New York Bike Jumble this Bike Month for their fourth annual Brooklyn Bike Jumble at the Old Stone House in Park Slope’s Washington Park. This event is a bike flea market where vendors will be selling used bikes as well as new and used

bike accessories to all who cannot afford a $500 fixie to jumpstart their eco-friendly, economically sound biking lifestyle.

NatioNal Bike to WoRk daYMay 20, 7 a.m.

Give the environment a break and get some exercise all on the same day with National Bike to Work Day. Ride to work instead of driving, and pick up a free iced coffee and a bite to eat at various stations around the five boroughs. Join members of the Department of Transportation who will lead the ceremonial kickoff ride Friday, May 20 at 7 a.m. at Poe Cottage at Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road in The Bronx.

Bike BRooklYN BeeR Blitz 2012May 20, 12-4 p.m.370 Metropolitan ave., Brooklynlevysuniqueny.com

Expand your knowledge of New York City’s alcohol production by taking a $25, four-hour bike tour of Williamsburg, East Williamsburg and Bushwick. Levy’s Unique New York tour guides will take rid-ers on a biking excursion into the city’s brewing neighborhoods. Riders will com-pare brewing buildings from their original, 1880s-1920s build to how they currently stand and function in these historic neigh-borhoods. The $25 fee includes a mid-tour pit stop at Matt Tourney’s for a quick brew, then it’s back on the road again. Aside from the breweries, the tour will also include a look at German churches, banks and social halls. So BYOBike and RSVP to [email protected] more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

New Bike From an Old MasterAfter the amazing benefits of steel in

a cyclocross bike were realized in a typi-cally odd conversation about landlords in the raleigh office, the new roper and Furley were born into the CX family.

Designed as valuable tools not only for cross races but for commuting and trail riding, the smooth durability of steel in the landlord collection provide a sim-ple solution for do-it-all bikers who want a do-it-all bike.

For the nutty single-speeders out there who don’t see the need to change gears, the Furley is offered in the same frame as the roper and drops the extra baggage for a lighter, more nimble option. ideal for riders who enjoy minimal main-tenance and the insurance they get with a steel setup, the Furley also comes with promax 720rA disc brakes and beefy Kenda tires for variety of conditions ($820).


SUBSCRIBE ONLINEFOR $1 PER ISSUE

Bicycling_newamst_fullpg.indd 1 3/30/12 2:29 PM


Asking the Bike Experts

We asked a few of the ven-dors in this year’s New Amsterdam Bicycle Show all sorts of cycling ques-tions—everything from tips on buying bikes and acces-sories to advice for the next

mayor and suggestions to ease tensions with pedestrians. On the last one, someone advised, “Make contact, smile and say hello.”

Phil MarMetOffice/salesManager,aBUs MOBile secUrity, inc.

What is the most essential bike accessory and the best splurge item?

The most essential bike accessory for New York City would be a good lock—without your bike, there is no place to mount the other cool accessories you can find at the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show.

What is the best lock/security system to use? Do any of the less expen-sive ones give you good security?

I would recommend the high-security locks from ABUS. Chains like the Granit City Chain 1060 and 1010 offer excellent

protection from even the most extreme attacks, and the Bordo Granit X-Plus and U-54 U-lock are great security options as well. I use a Bordo Granit X-Plus in Chicago. www.grolsch.com

Imported by: Grolsch Importers, Washington DC

NOTE: Gray field surrounding ad is not to be printed. Gray field is placed in order to show the white edges of the ad.


ElaynE FowlEr MarkEting dirEctor, ElEctra BicyclE coMpany

what bikes do you recommend for daily commuters, casual riders and the fit-ness-focused in new york city?

Electra has 5 collections of bicycles that are appropriate for New York City—uptown, downtown, crosstown, over the bridge and Central Park riding. Your choice depends on your personality, style preference and func-tional needs.

Verse is a stylish, lightweight aluminum 700c fitness and everyday transportation bicycle that you can easily add accessories to customize for your specific needs. It comes in 21- and 24-speed.

Ticino is designed with the heritage enthu-siast in mind; it’s a lightweight aluminum 700c bicycle with artisan craftsmanship atten-tion to detail. It’s offered in variety of gearing options—1, 7-, 8- and 20-speed.

Amsterdam is a lightweight alumi-num 700c elegantly updated Dutch city bike. Sophisticated fashion and classic designs evolved with modern components to provide practical and stylish transportation, while patented Flat Foot Technology sets the standard in comfort and control.

Townie is a lightweight aluminum frame with 26- and 24-inch wheels. It combines the industry innovation of patented Flat Foot Technology with a completely different ride experience, setting the standard in comfort and control.

Cruiser has aluminum and steel frames with 26- and 24-inch wheels. It’s a modern interpretation of all-American classic, burst-ing with personality and Electra’s coveted pat-ented Flat Foot Technology providing addi-tional comfort and control.

who is best suited for electric bikes? do people ever have to overcome a “guilt factor” before getting one?

Electric bikes are a good option for those who need a little boost to help them on their ride. They’re also a good option if you don’t want to get as sweaty during a ride. However, they are fairly expensive and heavy—you don’t want to bring one up five flights of stairs in a walk-up—but they definitely do have a market.

what are the advantages of a cruiser bike and what types of riders tend to like them best?

Cruisers are simple and sturdy and are a great option for riders looking for a fun and comfortable way to get around. Some cruiser models are inexpensive, making them a smart choice for those with lim-ited budgets.

what advice do you have for riding in new york city?

Always be alert and be familiar with your surroundings. Always wear a helmet, follow the rules of the road and use good lighting if riding at night.

what’s your favorite biking trend?The increased popularity of urban

cycling in general. More and more peo-ple are turning to cycling as an everyday transportation solution.

is there anything bikers should do to ease tensions with pedestrians?

Make contact, smile and say hello. Also, follow the rules of the road and be a courteous cyclist.

what is the most essential bike acces-sory and the best splurge item?

A helmet is the most essential bike accessory. A cycling-specific smart phone app, such as Strava, makes for a fun way to log and review your ride. And a stylish pair of quality sunglasses is always a nice accessory for a ride.

what is the best lock/security system to use? do any of the less expensive ones give you good security?

Buy the lock that best suits your bud-get and needs—and don’t skimp. You’re better off buying one step better in a lock for enhanced security.

do some bikers relax too much in bike lanes? what should they be on the lookout for?

Even though you may be in a bike lane, always be aware of your surround-ings. Be on the lookout for illegally parked cars, pedestrians and any other potential hazards.

468 Bergen St.718-857-7433www.ridebrooklynny.comRide Brooklyn is New York City’s fastest growing bike shop. Ride Brooklyn’s top priority is the customer’s experience, whether seasoned racer or rst time commuter.

Be sure to drop by Ride Brooklyn's booth atThe New Amsterdam Bike Show!


Ryan ZagataPResident, BRooklyn CRuiseR

What bikes do you recommend for daily commuters, casual riders and the fit-ness-focused in new york City?

Two words come to mind for daily com-muters: comfort and durability. You want a bike that you feel physically and emotion-ally good riding, but also a bike that will stand up to the rigors of your daily com-mute. We advise internal gearing systems and are also partial to coaster brakes, which tend to be a bit more weather agnostic.

If your commute is more than 10 miles, a lightweight, multi-geared bike might keep you from being sweaty and exhausted when you get to work. If you have a short com-mute, I’d advise riding something that keeps your clothes clean and you feel happy and comfortable riding. It’s always awkward seeing a man in a business suit hunched over a racing bike with all his tailored garments stretched to their limit.

Casual riders should choose something they think they looks good on and reflects their ability or casualness.

Fitness-focused New Yorkers don’t have much time, so they like to get in a good workout as quickly as possible. If you’re going to do laps in Central Park or Prospect Park, make it your own personal Velodrome. Get yourself a track bike—it’s said that a 30-mile ride on a track bike is the equivalent to a 50-mile ride on a geared bike.

What are the advantages of a cruiser bike and what types of riders tend to like them best?

The cruiser is pure cycling joy. It’s what we felt the first time we shed our training wheels and experienced the freedom of independent rolling. The cruiser doesn’t care about speed or performance; it allows the rider to simply expe-rience the world as it rolls steadily by without thinking too much about handling the bike.

What’s your favorite biking trend?The trend playing itself out here in New

York and in other cities across the globe: that cit-ies are slowly accepting is that cycling is going to be a major form of transportation and they are making accommo-dations for that. I think it’s starting to affect who is getting on a bike in the city. It’s not just the cycling diehards—I mean honestly, my

grandparents ride bikes too.


Obey all traffic laws—this includes riding with traffic, stopping at stop signs and red lights and looking both ways before turning. Stay alert; never assume drivers or pedestri-ans can see you or hear you.

What is the most essential bike accessory and the best splurge item?

I’ll just assume everyone wears helmets, so beyond that, lights, front and back—get them. Splurge on nice wheels; they say a half a

“all the next mayor needs to do is retain Janette sadik-khan as commissioner of dot—she gets it, she really gets it.”

Continued on page 12

Introducing the eco2bike—the world’s most earth-friendly bicycle!

w w w . n e w a m s t e r d a m b i c y c l e s . c o m

D u tch & E u ro p E a n B i c yc l E s & a cc E s s o r i E s


pound off your wheel set feels like a full pound off your frame.

What are the latest trends in helmets? How do you make sure you are wearing them properly?

I think ergonomics have come a long way in helmets; right now we are spinning wheels and pulling straps that make it feel like there is a little tailor running around inside your helmet. Helmets are becoming more fashion-able, too, from flashy glitter helmets to tweed caps that look like you should be mounting a horse for polo. I have seen many times hel-mets worn backwards—I appreciate the com-ic effect, but you’re compromising your safety. Make sure the straps are tight enough to keep the helmet on your head if thrown from the bike, but just loose enough not to choke you.

What is the best lock/security system to use? Do any of the less expensive ones give you good security?

I’ll always say the best security system is to take your bike inside with you—it prevents

exposure to the elements and deters the unsa-vory characters on the street. If you do leave it on the street, be certain that both wheels and the frame are locked to a steadfast holding. A cable lock is going to be good for a minimal amount of time in a well-trafficked area, otherwise, it’s vir-tually useless in stopping an able thief.

Do some bikers relax too much in bike lanes? What should they be on the lookout for?

We have seen this on occasion, the same way some drivers get a bit too relaxed. We encourage riders to treat bike lanes no dif-ferently than if they are driving a vehicle: obey traffic laws and ride defensively, always assuming that others do not see you.

The next mayor may not be as bike-friendly as the current administration. What should he or she know about urban biking and what’s the next step New York City should take?

All the next mayor needs to do is retain Janette Sadik-Khan as commisioner of DOT—she gets it, she really gets it.

From page 10

Julie HirsCHFelDOWNer, ADeliNe ADeliNe, 147 reADe sT.

What bikes do you recommend for daily commuters, casual riders and the fitness-focused in New York City?

For commuters we recommend any bike with fenders and a chain guard. Personally, I prefer a more upright ride. It’s much more comfortable in street clothes and it makes you more visible to traffic. We are big fans of Pashley, Linus and Bobbin.

What advice do you have for riding in New York City?

Ride defensively and enjoy the view.

What’s your favorite biking trend?Small-wheeled bikes. They evoke ’60s cool

and are easy to ride and easy to store.


Stop riding on the sidewalk. Not riding against a light through pedestrian traffic would help, too.

What is the most essential bike acces-sory and the best splurge item?

Essential: sadly, a lock. The best splurge item is the Brooks Millbrook leather bicycle bag.

What are the latest trends in helmets? How do you make sure you are wearing them properly?

We focus on simple skate-style helmets in neutral colors. We also carry Yakkay from Denmark, which looks more like a hat than a helmet. A helmet should fit snugly enough that it doesn’t move around on its own, but not so snug that it gives you a headache.

What is the best lock/security system to use? I’m a big fan of Abus locks. They’re very

well-made and easy to use. In New York City

we recommend either a U-lock or a heavy-duty chain lock—these are not for the faint of heart.

Do some bikers relax too much in bike lanes? What should they be on the lookout for?

Being overly relaxed is not how I think of the typical New Yorker. Mostly, I look out for cars in the bike lane.

The next mayor may not be as bike-friendly the current administration. What should he or she know about urban biking and what’s the next step New York Cityshould take?

We need a continued focus on infrastruc-ture and safety. There is no reason New York City shouldn’t be a fantastic biking city.For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.


250

TREAD BIKE SHOP

212 544 7055


Bike Share Starts July—You Ride It, City Stores It By Laura Shin

Small groups of Upper West Side resi-dents recently huddled around maps of their neighborhood and discussed where they believed would be the best locations for bike stations, hitting city streets this July with the launch of the NYC Bike Share program.

“I think the bike share is wonderful and way overdue,” said Michael Rosenthal, a cyclist of 46 years who attended the plan-ning workshop.

Announced last September, NYC Bike Share will bring 600 stations and 10,000 bikes to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Users will be able to pick up a bike from any of the self-service stations, ride it around and return it to any station within 24 hours.

“Let’s say you take the subway to work. It’s a beautiful day out and you want to ride a bike back home. With Bike Share, you can do that,” Nina Haiman, a city Department of Transportation (DOT) rep-resentative, said at the workshop.

The program will be run by Alta Bicycle Share and funded entirely by user fees and private sponsors. Since the program’s announcement, DOT and Alta have host-ed numerous demonstrations and plan-ning workshops around the city.

Each community board included in the bike share program had its own workshop where community members were invited

to offer their input on which sidewalks or streets they would like to see a bike sta-tion. The Upper West Side Community Planning Workshop was the last of 13 workshops.

Alison Cohen, president of Alta, said there are many reasons why New York is a great city for a bike share.

“There are tons of opportunities to shave minutes off of short commutes that are not well connected by public transit, such as the crosstown trip in Manhattan,” she said.

“The city is flat and densely populated, and most people don’t have space in their apartments to store bikes,” she added.

NYC Bike Share will offer annual, weekly and 24-hour mem-berships. No matter which you choose, the first 45 minutes of every trip is free, Haiman said. After your 45 minutes are up, you will be charged a rate based on the type of membership.

Scott Gastel, a DOT spokesman, said the most common question New Yorkers ask is what happens when there are no bicycles available at a station. The station kiosks will offer real-time availability of

bikes at nearby stations, Gastel said. Bike Share’s website and smart phone

app will also offer real-time information on bike and station availability.

One concern raised at the workshop was the fact that Bike Share would not offer helmets.

“I’m worried it might encourage people to ride without helmets,” said Rosenthal, who added that he might not be alive today if it weren’t for helmets.

Haiman explained that there is cur-rently no safe, hygien-ic way to offer shared helmets, but that Bike Share will strongly encourage riders to wear helmets and refer them to nearby bike shops where they can buy one.

Bike Share will cov-er Manhattan up to 79th Street and reach

into parts of Brooklyn. If it is successful, it will expand to other parts of the city, Haiman said.

And while the planning process for choosing locations has been very thorough, the stations can be easily moved if a location doesn’t work out, Haiman said. The solar-powered stations only take 20 minutes to install and require no digging or roadwork.

As for the bikes, they will have step-through frames, three speeds, front and rear LED lights that are constantly on for safety and an adjustable seat. New Yorkers can check out the bikes at an open house hosted by the DOT May 5 at the Grand Central Library from 2-4 p.m. For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

“The city is flat and densely populated, and most people don’t have space in their apartments to store bikes.” A workshop to prepare for the bike show

program. PHOTO COURTESY OF DOT


Books on BikesBy Anam Baig

Bike SnoB nYC, The enlighTened CyClisT

Bike Snob NYC has long looked at the New York cycling scene through his own unique lense of humor and betterment. His new book deflates some of the tradi-tional smugness associated with biking in the city and the joys and dangers of bike commuting in the city.

Your first book, Bike snob, was more about the history of biking and encour-aging new riders. What are you trying to achieve in The enlightened Cyclist that you didn’t in that book?

My first book was about cycling in gen-eral, whereas this book focuses specifically on commuting and all the joy, frustration and controversy that comes along with it. I’m trying to encourage practical cycling and inject it with some much-needed humor to counteract all the smugness often associated with it.

How do you think a city like new York can transition from horses and cars to bikedom?

Amsterdam wasn’t built for cars or bikes, and they seem to do all right. To me

it’s not about transitioning to “bikedom” so much as it is about incorporating all the ways people get around into the way the streets are designed. We already have bikedom. Sure, there are lots of new rid-ers, but there have also been lots of people riding bikes here ever since the time they were first invented. We just need the infra-structure to finally reflect that, which has started to happen.

GrAnt PeterSon, JusT Ride: A RAdiCAlly PRACTiCAl guide To

Riding youR BikeGrant Petersen, founder and owner of

Rivendell Bicycle Works in Walnut Creek, Calif., is the author of Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike. The book will come out this May, during New York City Bike month. The eight-part guidebook covers everything from riding to safety to the biking philosophy known as “velosophy.”

What encouraged you to write this tell-all, back-to-basics guidebook?

I think people don’t just ride their bike for fun or recreation or for the right rea-sons. Bike riding is really fun, but it can become more of a job if you get caught up in the trappings of bike racing and com-

petitions, of riding harder and longer. Pros don’t ride practical bikes; in fact, they ride really specialized and refined bikes that are quite impractical for just riding. And these bikes have become the default choice for the middle-aged man who starts riding a bike and has the money to buy those bikes. It’s not a good choice and I will defend that to my death.

Any pastime, certainly any that requires equipment, has the inevitability to get weird. Riding is more about having fun with a bike and using it in your life as warranted.

What is your message to bikers in your book?

Navigate around the racer-centric mes-sages that are out there in the media and bike shops. There tends to be this idea once you’ve settled in as a bike rider that you need to start ramping it up, riding lon-ger or harder, and that those kinds of rides are qualitatively better, but those rides would give anyone numb crotch. The most concise way to say my message is to just mellow out a little bit, not just for the sake of mellowing out but changing your rela-tionship with the bike, feeling less bossed around and riding on your own terms. Not my terms. Certainly not racing terms.

Steven reA: hollywood Rides A Bike: CyCling wiTh The sTARs

What started as a Tumblr blog, “Rides a Bike,” images of Hollywood stars riding bikes, has turned into a 160-page hardcov-er book of more than 125 vintage images. Author and movie critic Steven Rea has painstakingly unearthed photographs that show our most beloved old-time stars,

Continued on page 17


Please bring this add and receive 10 % OFF

NYC BICYCLE SHOPSales, Repair, Parts and Accessories,

Rental and Tours

250 West 49th Street New York ,NY 10019 (212) 655-9629www.nycbicycleshop.com [email protected]

· degreaser· de-crayoner· moisturizer· lip balm in one!

don’t leave home without it!

available online and in fine stores everywhere

perfect for riders, mechanics, and moms

“This stuff is amazing!”

“Removing grease is so easy now!”

vegan · organic, simple ingredients · created by cyclist mom

perfect for riders, mechanics, and moms

“Removing grease is so easy now!” “Removing grease is so easy now!” “Removing grease is so easy now!”

vegan · organic, simple ingredients · created by cyclist mom

www.LeezAll-Purpose.com 646-537-5790

“Everything I need in one tube!”

made with love in nyc

such as Rita Hayworth, Paul Newman, Robert Montgomery and Doris Day, both in and out of costume, candid or posed, riding bikes. These black-and-whites of gorgeous stars on beautifully crafted tandems, cruisers, roadsters and more, delight movie lovers and bike lovers and provide a glimpse into bike mania of yes-teryear with that Hollywood haze.

What inspired you to start collecting these images and compile a book of them?

Well, my two greatest passions are movies and biking. So a few years ago, I started to collect photographs of movie stars on bikes. To find Humphrey Bogart or Veronica Lake on a bike was a pleasure for me, so I started collecting these pho-tographs from Jerry Ohlinger’s in mid-town, movie cards, Hollywood memora-bilia and even eBay.

What is the appeal of these images? Why do people want to see these old stars riding bikes?

They are a lot of people into old cin-ema, vintages, Turner Classic and Film Forum; likewise, there are people into bikes who are into vintages bikes. There’s also this whole cycle chic movement, where people are riding bikes in clothes that look like they’re going to a cocktail party. These photos represent that glam-or. The stars are wearing out-of-costume regular clothes or in some cases they’re actually in costume riding bikes between takes. I find this element of chic and cool-ness really charming.

This all started as a Tumblr blog, and now I have 500 followers, and when I look at their Tumblr blogs, a lot of them are kids, sort of the Urban Outfitters wearing kind, definitely a lot of hipsters. But even if you don’t know the complete filmog-raphy of Gary Cooper, you know, there’s something cool about looking at their images riding a bike. And also, it couldn’t make me happier if people checked out the movies.

For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

From page 16

18 • ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIKE MONTH NYC • APRIL 19, 2012 NYPress.com

Main FloorMain Floor

Hudson Street

33 32 31 30 29

28

275251504948474645

4439

40414243

1

2 3 4 5 6

38

37

25242322

1211109

2120191817161514

87

13

26

3435

36

53 54

Ladies RoomMensRoom Bikelandia

S1

Storage Room

00

Beer Garden

(Seminars & Lectures)

NON-PROFITS

ENTRY

55

57 58

S4

S6S5

S7

S2 S3

Book SigningArea

Pod

ium

THE 2012 NEW AMSTERDAM BICYCLE SHOWABUS KG (Mobile Security) 40abus.com

Adeline Adeline/Velojoy 16adelineadeline.com/ Velojoy.com

Al’s Cycle Solutions 52alscyclesolutions.co

American Diabetes Association (Tour de Cure) S3tour.diabetes.org Bern Unlimited 42bernunlimited.com

Bicycle Habitat 57bicyclehabitat.com

Bicycling Magazinebicycling.com

Bicycle Paintings 9bicyclepaintings.com

Bicycle Works 12bikecult.com

Bike MS S3bikems.org

Bike to the Beach 27biketothebeach.org

Bobbin Cycles 17 & 18 bobbinbicycles.co.uk

Braking the Cycle S3brakingthecycle.org

Brooklyn Roasting Company S5brooklynroasting.com

Brooklyn Cruisers 2brooklyncruiser.com

Brooks Saddles 00brookssaddles.com

Cleverhood S3cleverhood.com

Cooper USA 29cooperbikes.com

Cycle Monkey 4cyclemonkey.com

Echelon Cycles 54echeloncyclesnyc.com

Electra Bicycle Company 30 & 31electrabike.com

Fabric Horse 10fabrichorse.com

Formigli Bicycles 51formigliusa.com

Fountainhead Transmedia 3fountainhead.com

Gazelle/Yepp 15gazelle.us.comgazelle.us.com/brands/yepp-products

Globe 14specialized.com/us/ed/globehome.jsp

Green Mountain Energy 24greenmountain.com

Grolsch S7grolsch.com

Horse Cycles 5horsecycles.com

HUB/YUBA 32 & 33Hudsonurbanbicycles.com / Yubaride.com

Iride Italian Bicycles 1irideusa.com

Jamis 20jamisbikes.com

KLM 35 & 36klm.com

Lazer Sport 53lazersport.com

Light & Motion 47lightandmotion.com

Linus Bike 41linusbike.com

Momentum 34momentumplanet.com

Montecci 43montecci.com

New Amsterdam Bicycle Company 50newamsterdambicycles.com

Nutcase 46nutcasehelmets.com

NYC Bikes 13NYCbikes.com

Opus 44 & 45opusbike.com

Paragon Sports 48 & 49paragonsports.com

Playdate 55playdatebikeclub.com

Raliegh USA 37 & 38raleighusa.com

Ride Brooklyn 21ridebrooklynny.com

RockiNoggins 22rockinoggins.com

Rolling Orange Bikes 23rollingorangebikes.com

Rosko Cycles 11sirosko.com

Tern Bicycles 58ternbicycles.com

The Pedal Pushers Club 7pedalpushersclub.com

Transportation Alternatives S1transalt.org

Truce Designs 28trucedesigns.com

Twin Six 39Atwinsix.com

Uvex/Magura 19magura.com

Vandaag S6vandaagnyc.com

Vaya Bags 8vayabags.com

Walz Cycling Caps 39walzcaps.com

We-Flashy 6we-fl ashy.com

Worksman Cycles 25 & 26worksmancycles.com

SPONSORED BY:

39A

NYPress.com Apri l 19, 2012 • ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIKE MONTH NYC • 19

Main FloorMain Floor

Hudson Street

33 32 31 30 29

28

275251504948474645

4439

40414243

1

2 3 4 5 6

38

37

25242322

1211109

2120191817161514

87

13

26

3435

36

53 54

Ladies RoomMensRoom Bikelandia

S1

Storage Room

00

Beer Garden

(Seminars & Lectures)

NON-PROFITS

ENTRY

55

57 58

S4

S6S5

S7

S2 S3

Book SigningArea

Pod

ium

THE 2012 NEW AMSTERDAM BICYCLE SHOW

BIKELANDIA EVENT SCHEDULE(Please note: Amazing bicycles, accessories and raffle prizes will be given away by our exhibitors and sponsors

in between speakers and panels. Be sure to sign up at participating booths and check in for the results)

SPONSORED BY BICYCLING MAGAZINE

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Emcee: Allen Houston, execu-tive editor of NYPress.com and the Manhattan Media Newspaper Group.

11 a.m.: Clarence Eckerson Jr., founding director of Streetfilms, will show a selec-tion of videos from Streetfilms’ 450-film collection and share secrets about mak-ing NYC a world-class biking city.

12 p.m.: Loredana Costantino, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Taking “social” to new heights) director of market-ing and e-commerce, talks about

the many travel benefits for cyclists going abroad on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

1 p.m.: Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer film critic and author of Hollywood Rides a Bike: Cycling With the Stars, pays an affection-ate visual homage to two of the author’s great passions—clas-sic movies and classic bicycles. (Followed by a book signing in the back of BIKELANDIA)

2 p.m.: The New Am Bike Fashion Show in BIKELANDIA! See the bikes, the bags, the lights and helmets and how real NYC cyclists utilize them with ease and style. Featured items

include Hamish Bowles knickers by B. Spoke and one fab portable sound system by Boombotix! Co-produced by Hudson Urban Bicycles and Momentum Magazine.

3 p.m.: Bicycling magazine’s Matt Seaton, author of “Bike Lane Backlash,” Will discuss the critical issue of cyclist behavior, based on his feature in Bicycling’s May issue.

4 p.m.: The Bike Snob—New York City’s own, fresh from a nationwide book tour—will put on a book-relat-ed appearance to promote his latest book, The Enlightened Cyclist. (Book signing will take place at the Brooks booth, #00, after his presentation)

5 p.m.: The State of NYC Racing, moderated by Kevin “Squid” Bolger with panelists David Valloch, Ann Marie Miller and J.D. Eustice, plus other surprise racing guests. This panel will be intense…just like the races discussed.

6 p.m.: Stunning films by director Daniel Leeb, CEO/chief creative offi-cer of Cinecycle. Leeb directed The Perfect Circle, a short film featur-ing Matthew Modine—another New Amsterdam Bicycle Show friend. Leeb also captures and shares experiences such as Brooklyn’s own exhilarating night race, Red Hook Crit 2012, as well as many other cycling events in NYC.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

Emcee: Matt Levy 12 p.m.: “Bike Share Sneak Peak with Brooklyn Spoke.” Doug Gordon, the editor of BrooklynSpoke.com, presents a sneak preview of New York City’s new bike share system. Representatives from the New York City Department of Transportation and the people behind Bike Share will talk about their plan to put 10,000 bicycles and 600 sta-tions in Manhattan and Brooklyn this summer.

1 p.m.: Grant Peterson, owner of Rivendell Bike Works (some of the most beautiful rides on the planet), will discuss his latest book Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike. Peterson says he wrote the book “to point out what I see as bike racing’s bad influence on bicy-cles.” This presentation promises to be a thought-provoking New Am crowd-pleaser.

2:30 p.m.: Ben Fried, editor-in-chief of Streetsblog, will share the scoop about how Streetsblog makes an impact through effective advocacy journalism.

3:30 p.m.: Sarai Snyder, editor-in-chief of Girlbikelove.com and founder of CycloFemme, will present “Women in Cycling—A Revolution in Motion.”

cool rides

road buddies yum-o food

FUNnyc

cyclersa city bike coach group

fun bicycle school & coaching

for riders of all ages

City Cycling: Traffic Skills 101Learn How to Ride

Kids and Parents I / IICommuting 101 · Group Riding

How to Fix Flat Stroller TiresPrivate Classes and Coaching

all rides and classes

led by certified

instructors

(917)536-6120

www.CityBikeCoach.comto see rides and sign up!

Saturday/Sunday Rides6 Annual Holiday Rides

[email protected]


Four Bike Adventures Just Outside New York City

Columbia County Columbia County, located just two

hours north of Manhattan, is easily acces-sible by car or train (Metro-North to Wassaic). Meandering country roads offer the cyclist breathtaking views of unsur-passed rural beauty. Several trails are avail-able on the Columbia County Tourism website, but here’s one of the favorites:

Copake Falls to Ancramdale, in the southeastern part of the county. Begin your ride in Copake Falls—Bash Bish Bike Shop is nearby where bikes for all ages are available for rent. The ride is characterized by mostly country roads and a few high-

traffic sections with no real steep hills; the toughest hill is at South East Ancram Road and is 130 vertical feet of climbing. The 23-mile ride past some of the pretti-est farmland in the county has gentle to moderate hilliness but can be shortened to an even gentler 11-mile version or 8 miles of nearly flat terrain. Stop for lunch in Ancramdale or Copake, hamlets with characteristic charm, or finish your ride with a swim at Taconic State Park or a hike to beautiful Bash Bish Falls. For more infor-mation, visit columbiacountytourism.org.

DutChess CountyDutchess County is about an hour and

a half drive or train ride on Metro-North from New York City. Nestled in the center of the Hudson Valley, Dutchess County has many bike routes that showcase the scenic beauty of the Hudson River. There are six suggested bike ride itineraries through different sections of the county.

The Dutchess Rail Trail and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail allows cyclists to ride through the scenic routes that people in Dutchess County adore. But first, kick-start your day watching the sunrise on the Walkway Over the Hudson.

The Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie has been a popular state park since it opened in 2009. Cyclists are invited to ride across the longest elevat-ed pedestrian bridge in the world at 1.28 miles. When you are finished, head over to the Dutchess Rail Trail.

The Dutchess Rail Trail allows cyclists to travel southeast from Poughkeepsie at

Morgan Lake. Enjoy 12 miles of educational points of interest and wildlife found along the trail. Take a break at the bridge over at Sprout Creek, filled with trout every year.

Are you a cycling aficionado without a car? Check out the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. This 10-mile trail begins at the Wassaic train station, accessible from Metro-North on the Harlem Line. Bring your bikes from New York City and hit the trail. For informa-tion, visit dutchesstourism.com.

orange CountyBiking trails of every stripe can be found in

Orange County. The Heritage Trail offers rid-ing on a paved rail trail for 12 miles through scenic villages and farmland. Expert riders may prefer the paved roads that wind through Bear Mountain State Park. These byways are shared with cars, but are not major roads. Stewart State Park offers a bit more adventure for mountain bikers along dirt paths that were once residential streets. The park is off-limits to vehicles, so riders are left to pedal on these well-marked, now unpaved roads through the scenic foliage, wetlands and waterways.

Views over the Hudson can be seen from the protected path on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. The dedicated path is also open to pedestrian traffic.

Last summer, Route 218 around Storm King Mountain was closed to vehicular traffic on Sundays for hikers and bikers. The road is carved out of the face of the mountain and offers expansive views of the Hudson River. We’re expecting this route to open again as a trail, but it has not been confirmed. Accomplished bicyclists can navigate it on their own without the closing, but should be aware that this is a winding, narrow road. For more informa-tion, visit orangetourism.org.

WestChester CountySince 1974, Westchester County resi-

dents have enjoyed the popular Bicycle Sundays program that opens a 6.5-mile stretch of the historic Bronx River Parkway to bicyclists and other non-motorized use on a series of Sundays each year. Bicycle Sundays will commence this year on May 6 at the County Center in White Plains. No motorized vehicles are permitted.

The Bicycle Sundays route is a 13.1-mile round trip from the Westchester County Center in White Plains to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. Bicycle Sundays are held in May, June and September, with the exception of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Participants travel through White Plains, Hartsdale (a ham-let in the Town of Greenburgh), Scarsdale, Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Yonkers as they complete the Bicycle Sundays route.For more information, visit friendsofwest-chesterparks.com.


Quality, Comfort, Style

biria.com | 201.461.1980

Defi ning the very nature of boarding a bicycle in the easiest manner possible, relaxed in attitude and comfortable by na-ture, the Biria is the original and authentic “Easy-Boarding”

Old world chic styling intersects modern technology to provide the optimum ride


www.rodalebooks.comAVAILABLE MAY 22, 2012

Whether they know it or not, cyclists belong to bike tribes. And, as strange as some of the tribes may seem, members of every tribe are curious about the others. From commuters and road racers to tattooed messengers and mountain bikers, Bike Tribes is a light-hearted romp that breaks down and classifies the various subcultures of the cycling community—uniting cyclists through their shared, abiding love of bikes.

Which Tribe Do You Belong To?

New_Am_BT.indd 1 3/30/12 5:36 PM


Overhauled with CareThe behind-the-scenes process of refurbishing a bicycle at Recycle-A-BikePhotos & Text by Veronica Hoglund

As the weather continues to get warmer, there is no question that most of us will be spending our free time outdoors soon. With that in mind, now might be the perfect time to invest in the bicycle you know you’ve been wanting. I decided to check out the wares at Recycle-A-Bike (75 Ave. C, betw. 5th & 6th Sts.), located in the East Village. The cycle technicians at the shop take old, worn bicycles and

give them a facelift, providing you with a beautiful, fully functional refurbished bike while creating no new waste in the process—a process that takes only four hours to complete.

After a long four hours, a once-exhausted bike has been transformed into one ready for the streets. A set of refurbished Recycle-A-Bike wheels will set you back $250-$350 dollars, but considering the care and love put into these pieces, it is well worth the price.

The bike first comes to the shop as a donation, usually bikes that have been sitting in basements or have been left behind by former building ten-ants. “The bikes just need a little love,” manager Patrick Tomeny told me. Recycle-A-Bike has been providing a vast variety of New Yorkers with recy-cled bicycles since 1994, in addition to facilitating youth programs in and around New York City.

From the moment you walk into the shop, it is clear how meticulous the process of refurbishing a bicycle can be. The tiny shop is packed with tools, parts and various pieces of equipment. As the Recycle-A-Bicycle team prepares to tackle their latest project, a vintage Schwinn World Tourist, they begin by taking apart the bicycle and wiping down the various parts. As staff member Brendon Brogan explains, the team does an “overhaul” of the bike, completely disassembling it to “guarantee the quality of the bike.” Bear in mind though, about 85 percent of the refurbishing process is simply cleaning, which mainly consists of wiping it down with a concentrate of water and Simple Green.

Though much more com-plicated than the guys make it appear, the bike is pulled apart piece by piece, screw by screw. In what seems like an instant, all that is remaining is the bicycle frame.

Once everything has been disassembled, it’s time to rebuild the bike. First, each part is given all the way from the bicycle chain to the handlebars—is given a good clean. When able, parts used are taken from the original bicycle and are replaced only when necessary. Then, the many parts are reassembled, using fresh grease to get the bicycle moving the way it should.


Catch The Wave Not The Traffic

• Olympic Size Swimming Pool• Cabana and Locker Rentals• Full Cabana Services• Refurbished Cabanas

Clear Water Beach Club

• New Restaurant• New Beach Bar• Valet Parking• Affordable Rates

40 Minutes From Manhattan

If you are looking for your summer beach this is it!Call today for a personal tour.(516) 239-5511

www.ClearWaterBeachClub.com

DIRECT FERRY SERVICE FROM NYC TO:

Sandy Hook Kids Ride Free

(Monday thru Friday)

MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA

Departs East 35th St every weekend during the summer

beginning May 24th

JUNE HOTEL PACKAGES ARE

AVAILABLE

SANDY HOOK BEACH, NJ

Departs East 35th St/Pier 11 Monday thru Sunday, all

summer long beginning May 26th 30 Minutes to the beach.


The Man Behind Red Hook’s Criterium Race By Noah Wunsch

David Trimble is a Red Hook pioneer, looking to build the community up and out. However, he’s not heavily engrained in the political side of things, nor is he looking to be. Trimble is a cyclist whose Red Hook Criterium race has drawn attention to the athletic, artistic and artisanal offerings of Red Hook.

David has been surrounded by bikes his entire life. His father and uncle built bike frames for a living for the family company, Trimble Aero Cycle. It took David a few years to rec-ognize the family offer-ings, first getting his taste of competitive racing as a 12-year-old kart driver. Due to sparse sponsor-ship funds, Trimble was forced to retire his helmet in 2003. After two years of malaise, he sought comfort in the form of a bicycle and hasn’t looked back since.

Moving to New York City, Trimble started participating in Alleycat Races, which force bikers to use the city as their race strip and obstacle course. Dodging cars and pedes-trians is part of the field. So did the Red Hook Criterium start in the hope of glori-fying this underground race scene? No. It started as a birthday party.

“It was a way to bring my bike racing friends together to celebrate my birthday,” said Trimble. “Normally, they’re in bed by 10 p.m. and up at 5 a.m. to race in Central Park. There’s no way to bring them all out unless personal glory is in line.”

Since the race began in 2008, it has drawn more attention each year. This year will see its European inception in Milan and, soon to come, Berlin. The race is unique in that it’s an unsanctioned crite-rium, is held at night and it involves track

bikes, which do not have brakes and require con-stant pedaling.

“The track bikes on a technical course make it totally different,” he said. “It changes the race dynamic. It makes it very exciting.

Rather than an open peloton, where you can’t see what’s going on, it’s spread out—very spectator-friendly. The setting is spec-tacular. It’s a post-industrial neighborhood right on the water.”

The format of the race also makes it more biker-friendly. “There’s always one or two small crashes,” Trimble said. “By mak-ing it more technical and difficult, it makes it safer. There’s a bigger separation between the skilled rider and the amateur. Rather than a 30-rider pile-up, it might be a two-

bike crash.”The laid-back vibe of the

race offers spectators a look at competitive cycling in a lax party atmosphere, while spurring the racers into a competitive frenzy. Fixed-gear racing is dangerous because racers can go faster than when they have brakes, but fixed-gear racing at night is just plain crazy.

“There are so many spectators now,” said Trimble. “Only a small percentage are hardcore cyclist fans. It’s a cross sec-tion of the Brooklyn and Manhattan crowd.”

This year’s track was lined with art pieces around every bend. “Artists see how visually interesting the race is and want to create art around it,” Trimble added. “I’ve always considered it a performance art piece. The Red Hook art scene has really grown as well. Being a part of that community will really cater the race to a new audience.”

This year Trimble has also signed on a number of local sponsors for the race, hoping to call more attention to local busi-nesses in Red Hook. Future plans for the Criterium include expanding it to more

major international cities. “Milan is definitely going to happen

October 13. Berlin, we’re in the early stages of planning,” he said. “We need sponsor-ships to get the races going, but we have the course set. In the future, our dream is to have three races in Europe, three in America and then a championship and a world final in a city that could change every year.”

The only thing that remains station-ary in this race is Trimble’s support for Red Hook.For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

“I’ve always considered it a performance art piece.”

David Trimble is the founder of the Red Hook Criterium. PHOTO BY BOW COBIN

Free Brompton folding bike tours!

Every Thursday! from 5:30 – 7:30pm

Bromptons and helments provided free of charge! Try

the worlds best folding bike on a tour of NYC’s Upper East Side!

1603 York Ave, New York City, 10031 (212) 737 3078 www.nycewheels.com


SPCARBON.COM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

( smart ) living by bike,DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR 5 TIMES A YEAR!

Subscribe to MOMENTUM MAG and

SAVE 20% OFF the newsstand price


Biking Pair Says ‘All Aboard’ on Group Commutes By Sean Creamer

Biking in New York City has grown immensely in the past few years. It’s com-mon to see a few lone cyclists mounted upon their bikes at a stoplight, as if they were riding in the Old West. While cycling alone is an activity that can soothe the mind and invigorate the body, it can also be daunting when you are just starting out on the pothole-ridden roads of New York City.

This is why Kimberly Kinchen and Kim Burgas created the bike train, a collec-tion of cyclists who mimic a subway route and create an environment where people can ride in good company and help new riders. Both recall that when they began cycling in the city, it was an ominous trek but they eventually felt comfortable on the bustling streets.

The two joined efforts when they met and realized they were working on the same project from different angles.

Kinchen moved to New York from Seattle 10 years ago; she was a cyclist there, but only started riding in New York City about a year ago. Soon, she began her own bike train project after seeing how successful it was in places like Portland, Ore., and Ontario.

Burgas began cycling in her hometown of Cincinnati. Once she moved to New York City, she too was fearful, but after a while

she warmed up to the busy streets and began commuting to work. Her inspira-tion for a bike train began when her office workers would ask, “How do you manage to get to work on a bike?” She responded that they should join her on the road.

The pair envisioned cyclists connecting via the Internet and meeting up for rides

that follow the bike lanes in Manhattan. It is a way to break down the silence between riders at red lights and meet like-minded people who, Burgas said, “Will never ask you to explain why you rode to work in ‘that weather.’”

They hope to create a public forum welcoming riders from all walks of life and

frame size, from the fixed-gear enthusiast to the parent with a child seat strapped to the back. They consider themselves the creators of a friendly bike gang.

Earlier this year, Burgas and Kinchen developed two routes: Inwood to Midtown and Prospect Park to Midtown East. Each of the “lines” runs periodically and has a conductor, either Burgas or Kinchen. They remain in contact with riders via smart phones and Twitter using the hashtag #bikenyc.

“Some days it’s Kim and I,” said Kinchen. “Other days there are much more people.” Burgas said there are generally about 15 people in the group.

While there are only two routes so far, the duo are currently planning expansions to have other operational routes for the month of April. They are also developing an application so riders can connect easily via their smart phones.

As the group grows in size, “the logisti-cal problem grows,” said Kinchen, echoing one of Burgas’ concerns. “The main thing is that people get in touch so that we know to wait for them.”

Burgas said that because of her back-ground in technology, she was apprehensive at first about developing further, “but in this case it will help out a lot to have this app.”


Kimberly Kinchen and Kim Burgas created bike train, a safer way to travel the city.

MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE 10% OFF SELECT ITEMS IN STOCK***

***Certain restrictions apply. Valid through May 31, 2012.

AL’S CYCLE SOLUTIONS693 Tenth Avenue (47-48), New York, NY 10036 212-247-3300

www.alscyclesolutions.com [email protected] Open 7 days a week.

TUNE UP SPECIALS STANDARD TUNE UP ONLY $39.99* Regularly $49.99

PRO TUNE UP ONLY $74.99* Regularly $99.99

*Parts not included. Valid through May 31, 2012.

TD FIVE BORO BIKE TOUR RENTALSHYBRID ONLY $40.00** ROAD BIKES START AT $60.00** (Helmet Included with Rentals)

AUTHORIZED BIANCHIDEALER

Free Bianchi water bottle with Bianchi test ride.

**Major credit card and advance reservation required. Deposit required which is refunded upon return. Includes overnight fee. Pick up after 5 p.m. day before race, return by 8 p.m. day of race. Must have credit card available both days.


Blogger Tries to Put More Women on a Pedal (Actually, Two)By Ashley Welch

New York City resident Susi Wunsch runs the bicycling blog velojoy.com, where she writes about the latest biking news,

features new bike accessories and shares her experiences as a cyclist in the city. We recently spoke with her about her site, practical tips for riding in the city and ways to get more women involved in biking.

How did you get started with your blog?Well, I’ve been very enthusiastic about

bicycling for the past decade. I also have a background in freelance writing and marketing. I started velojoy in May 2010 to be more oriented toward road cycling, because that is where I began.

Not long after that, I got my first com-muter bike and started riding in the bike lanes of New York City. There were so many interesting facets in what was start-ing to happen with cycling in the city at that time; more people were embracing cycling as a form of transportation and commuting. So the blog then became what it is now—a site devoted to city cycling—in the fall of 2010.

How did you come up with the name?Velo is a word for bike. It’s probably

more recognized in Europe than it is in the United States. If you put that together with ‘joy,’ that perfectly expresses what the blog is about.

What are some of the issues you address on velojoy?

We want to help people consider cycling as a form of transportation and perhaps demystify it. We know based on studies that many people would like to bike more but are hesitant because of safety concerns. This is an obvious issue in a city with tons of traffic, but we want to show people that there are steps they can take to ensure a safe commute.

One of the key issues we’re interested in is the considerable imbalance in the num-bers of men and women who ride in the city. That ratio is about three to one. In the United States this is not unusual, but in many parts of Europe, it’s quite unusual. So another goal we have is to particularly get women to consider bicycling.

What are some of the reasons for the difference in the numbers of male and female riders in the city?

Studies show that women have more reservations about riding for safety rea-sons than men. But also, in a city that’s as image-conscious as New York, we find many women have practical concerns—perhaps having one’s hairdo messed up by a helmet or perspiring on the way to work. We’re interested in having people recog-nize that these barriers, in the end, are not

unlike the barriers you face when you’re getting on the subway. On a summer day, you take the train and it’s going to be really hot, then really cold, then hot again. There are things you can plan for, and in that way cycling can be as normal a part of your day and transportation as any other option.

What do you recommend for people who have safety concerns or are wor-ried about their appearance?

There are some great classes offered here in the city. Bike New York, for example, offers free classes to learn about safety and road skills and ways to make commuting more comfortable and efficient. I myself got a lot out of the Commuting 101 class. We are also so fortunate to have an always improving infrastructure here in the city.

As far as appearance, there are endless amounts of accessories out there to address every need. If your pants are floppy and you don’t want to get them caught in your bicy-cle chain, Brooks makes beautiful leather straps. If you have a lot of stuff to carry—extra clothes, a laptop, a briefcase—there are panniers that you put on a bike rack that are waterproof and can fit everything you need. There are ways to illuminate and stay safe after dark, both in terms of bicycle lights and apparel. It used to be that the only option available was a bright orange safety vest, but now major brands like Vespertine and Angella Mackey design clothing that helps you stay illuminated during the night in a way that’s really attractive.

What would you say to people who may never have considered biking to con-vince them to give it a try?

Bicycling is really such a great pleasure. It offers a different point of view of the city. You’re higher, moving through space and encounter-ing the outdoors in an entirely different way. It’s also a good way to stay healthy and fit, and reduces pollution, so it’s great for the environ-ment. It’s really a win-win and makes the city as a whole a more enjoyable place. For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

PHOTO BY DmiTrY GuDkOv

A 4 hour bicycle tour of Williamsburg, East Williamsburg and Bushwick and the former brewery buildings of the most densely packed brewing neighborhoods in America, circa 1890!

See historical photographs of various brewery buildings when they were built, between the 1880s and 1920s, compare them with vintage 1970s photos (in the heart of Bushwick’s deep dark arson-and-gangs era) and observe them as they stand today, re-purposed but obviously the same brewery buildings. German Churches, banks and social halls will also be observed. The tour will end at Evergreen Cemetery on the Brooklyn/Queens border, where many of the Brewers are buried . . . with a surprise!

$30, includes 1 beer! A historical, educational, beer-drinkable adventure! BYOBike and helmet.

For more info: [email protected]

Also available for private tours.

A 4 hr Bike Tour of Bklyn’s Former Breweries! May 20th, 12’to 4pm.

BIKE BROOKLYN BEER BLITZ!


For the Love of Cycling and RidersNew York Cycle Club’s program leads to better skills and marriage By Grace Lichtenstein

The most significant contribution made by the 75-year-old New York Cycle Club (NYCC) to local bike riding and to thousands of rid-ers is our annual spring series, called the SIGs. Each one consists of a series of weekly pro-gressive training rides that increase in speed and distance. An acronym for special interest groups, the SIGs are perhaps the most valu-able free benefit available to club members.

They are led by experienced volunteers, who teach their peers the skills they need to ride well in groups. Conducted from March through May, the SIGs offers cyclists an ideal way to build speed and endurance and to jumpstart their season. The first SIG, back in the 1980s, was the brainchild of Christy Guzzetta, an A-level rider and club activist, and it was truly an act of love.

At the time, hardcore male club riders—the ones with shaved legs, tight wool shorts, bikes with snazzy Camponolo components and shoes with cleats nailed to their soles—would zoom out of Central Park on A rides and those who could not keep up with the pack were dropped.

There were almost no women. Guzzetta, who was a bachelor, was eager to encourage,

rather than intimidate, women who might be willing to give these difficult rides a shot. One particular woman was recovering from a bad knee injury. How could she ever ride with the guys?

Guzzetta came up with an idea. Why not invite Jody to start out early in March with a short, slow ride and continue the following week with a few more miles and a bit more speed? This would allow her to grow stronger little by little, so that after three months or so, she would have a rehabbed knee and be a faster rider.

She agreed; Guzzetta invited along several strong B riders who also wanted ride skills help. He put a notice in the club bulletin, and the first SIG was born. Forty riders turned up that first Saturday in March 1986. Seventeen weeks later, there were eight new pace-line-riding, speedy A riders, including the formerly bum-kneed Jody Saylor. To cap its success, Guzzetta and Jody had become a couple and they eventually got married.

The SIG series was so inspirational that it was repeated the following year and the year after that. Soon, so many club members want-ed to participate that two additional levels were

added: one for beginners and one for those aiming to go from the beginning C level to B.

By March 2012, the SIGs were the club’s signature series, with four levels: A-classic, for the fastest rid-ers, plus A-19, B and C levels. There is such anticipation that sublevels have been devised within the B and C categories to accommodate as many riders as volunteers can handle while keeping groups at a reasonable size. Thousands of members have enhanced their skills and enjoyed the camaraderie of a SIG.

What’s more, scores of SIG graduates have repaid the club by becoming vol-unteer SIG ride leaders. A second series, dubbed the STS (Spring Training Series), with no education element but with the emphasis on simply building endurance, is now part of the club’s schedule.

Over the years, SIG graduates have become officers, leaders of regular club rides 8rac-ers. Several have attended ride camps at the Olympic Training Center and others have added to their recreational activities by enter-ing duathlons and triathlons. And more than a

few SIGGies, as we call them, have followed the original model by meeting a mate and marry-ing one another.

As cycling’s popularity in the city mush-rooms, the NYCC continues to refine what has become its most important tradition, the SIGs, a program that rewards mem-bers with better and safer riding skills while providing a benefit that’s priceless: lifelong friendships, on the road and off.

Grace Lichtenstein is the NY Cycle Club’s public relations director.For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

A SIG Graduation ride 2011 at Bear Mountain Park. PHOTO BY BOW COBIN

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Don’t just ride, Bike MS.and experience New York City traffic-free. BIKE MS: NEW YORK CITY ///

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 2012 ///

LIMITED TO 5,000 RIDERS ///

REGISTER TODAY /// BIKEMSNYC.ORG OR CALL 212 463 9791

New York City2012


4202 Third Ave.Brooklyn, NY

RIBBONROADROAD

where the

meets the212-989-1111 • brakingthecycle.org

Boston to new YorkSeptember 28–30, 2012 10

Years!

Benefiting

Hit a bump in the road?

East River Medical Imaging is pleased to offer the best in quality and comfort for extremity imaging with the

GE 1.5T high field Optima MRI

Have a happy and safe

National Bike Month!

eastriverimaging.com ~ (212) 288-1575

NYC Velo

64 2nd AvenueNew York, NY 10003 212 253-7771 www.nycvelo.com

NYC Velo

64 2nd AvenueNew York, NY 10003 212 253-7771 www.nycvelo.com


Biria USA

Ten years ago Biria USA started a trend in the bicycle industry, and that was to bring a Europe-an bicycle culture into the United States. The use of the commut-ing bikes has been getting more popular over the years. Biria of-fers a wide range of city bicycles and has dealers in most cities in US and Canada. The range of Biria bikes can be seen at www.biria.com.

www.biria.com

At Cyclelogical we offer lifestyle bicycle bags, bicycle accesso-ries, bicycle clothing and very cool T-shirts. We try to manu-facture as much as we can in the USA--and attempt to use as many re-claimed, organic or environmental friendly materials as possible. We want to bring the best travel and bike commuter gear to the market. Our gear will get you to and from your destina-tion safely and in style. Whether you are riding to the office, meet-ing up with friends, or going to the grocery store, we have the right equipment and options.

Cyclelogical

Visit us at www.cyclelogicalgear.com

Echelon Cycles

51 8th Ave. West Village New York Cityecheloncyclesnyc.com

Echelon Cycles, the fastest growing name in the NYC cycling scene, started only two years ago right here in the West Vil-lage. They carry the top names in high end road bikes like Colnago, Focus, Scott, Fuji, Kestrel, Masi and more. They are also fully stocked with all other bike types. EC serves their local community with the necessary essentials such as flat fixes, tune-ups, and repairs. Whether you’re looking to restore the glory of your old bike, or need accessories - locks, lights, or a helmet, or difficult to find parts - visit Echelon Cycles in Greenwich Village. Check out their brands on the web: echeloncyclesnyc.com

Bfold

bf ldImagine a stress free commute that is cheaper than the subway and faster than a cab. This dream is a reality with a folding bicycle.

Folding bicycles provides a portable means of transportation for anyone who has limited space or wants to travel with their bicycle. They fit under a desk, into the trunk of a car and travel easily aboard trains and airlines.

For the last decade Bfold has focused exclusively on folding bicycles and has introduced countless commuters to this life-changing mode of a trans-portation. We specialize in quality folding bicycles and scooters, includ-ing Brompton, Tern, Dahon, Xooter, Bike Friday and more. Come visit us in Manhattan’s Lower East Side to experience a folding bike first hand.

224 E. 13th Street, Unit #1212.529.7247


What: A century ride benefiting Autism Speaks When: Before sunrise Friday, June 8th, 2012 Where: Manhattan to Westhampton Beach, NY

Why: Every 20 minutes a child isdiagnosed with autism

REGISTER . DONATE . VOLUNTEERwww.biketothebeach.org

biketothebeach Follow usbiketothebeach Follow usbiketothebeach Follow usbiketothebeach Follow us@

AUTISM SPEAKS TM

It’s time to listen.

Sponsored By:

www.biketothebeach.org

A FUN, QUALITY, AFFORDABLE BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL PROGRAM

ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER CAMP

FOR AGES 6-14

TAKE YOUR GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL!• A Fun, Quality, Affordable Baseball Program

• Players learn in small groups with energetic and experienced coaches.• Beautiful fi elds in Riverside Park • Round-trip transportation is available• For Ages 6-13 • One Week Sessions Available• Offering year-round programs including After School, Weekend Clinics and School Vacation Camps!

Space very limited Visit www.KidsofSummer.com or call 917-572-2423 [email protected]

URGENT CARE

UPPER WEST SIDE& MULTISPECIALTY PHYSICIANS

COMING SOON638 Columbus Avenue at 91st Street

212-828-3250 www.mountsinai.org

WHENYOU DON’T HAVE

TIME TO WAIT

OUR DOCTORS ARE ON YOUR SCHEDULE.

At Mount Sinai’s new Urgent Care Center

you’ll receive VIP treatment by board-certifi edemergency medicine physicians from one

of the country’s top medical centers. We’re right here in the heart of the Upper West Side

and ready to serve you with exceptional and compassionate care where and when you need it most.


new york city’s bike shop64 2nd ave @ 4th street ny 10003

212.253.7771nycvelo.com

chrome chrome chrome chrome chrome chromewcivia civia civia civia civia civia civia civia cchrome chrome chrome chrome chrome chromewsurly surly surly surly surly surly surly surlycivia civia civia civia civia civia civia civia c

scott scott scott scott scott scott scott scott scott

mission workshop mission workshopmissiongore gore gore gore gore gore gore gore gore mission workshop mission workshopfelt felt felt felt felt felt felt felt felt felt felt felt feltgore gore gore gore gore gore gore gore gore

tubus tubus tubus tubus tubus tubus tubusscott scott scott scott scott scott scott scott scottortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortliebgiro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro gortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortlieb ortlieblevis levis levis levis levis levis levis levisgiro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro giro g

kona kona kona kona kona kona kona konasurly surly surly surly surly surly surly surlyscott scott scott scott scott scott scott

Be a Traffic Beater. Go GreenPath.GreenPath Electric Bike Company is an elite Manufacturer and Distributor of Electric Bikes and Electric Bicycles in New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx, Westchester and Nassau Counties, across New York State and the United States.GreenPath Electric Bikes is the only exclusive luxury electric bike company with its own retail store in New York City. As a Green Company, Greenpath Electric Bikes are all built around the highest qual-ity aluminum frames and electric motors providing the utmost in high performance urban transportation while leaving no carbon footprint. Our Electric Bicycles are pollution free, protect the environment, save money and are just plain fun.

GreenPath Electric Bike Company

4202 3rd AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11232718-788-1181www.greenpathelectricbikes.com

Light & Motion

www.lightandmotion.com

Light & Motion has been design-ing and building state-of-the art lighting solutions for divers, cyclists, and adventurers for over 20 years. We are a company of outdoor enthusiasts who tread lightly by designing and building our products locally in Monterey California. We have been recog-nized for our pioneering business practices and a smart footprint including the 2011 “Cool California Award” for greenhouse gas reduc-tions, the 2008 “California Small Business of the Year” award, and W.R.A.P. award for reducing our waste stream 2006-2011.

NYCeWheels is an alternative transport bike shop. We do not carry any “regular” bicycles. We specialize in everything regular bike shops don’t: folding bikes, electric bikes, and kick scooters. Our small shop on the Upper East Side is a busy 365 days a year thanks to a huge online presence and dedicated experts on staff. For professional advice in choosing the right vehicle for your ride call NYCeWheels!

We are the US leaders in folding bicycles, electric bicycles, and kick scooters.

1603 York AvenueNew York, NY 10031212-737-3078 [email protected]

NYCeWheels

Celebrating our 12th year, limited to 200 lucky bikers from across USA. Come earn your bragging rights! Bike 500 challenging miles from Niagara Falls to Saratoga Springs at horse racing season. We ride quiet back roads (many without a yellow stripe) visiting Finger Lake wineries, quaint little towns, fresh fruit stands, and waterfalls. Hotel option for those who prefer not to camp. Bus option from Saratoga to start. We proudly contribute to Dou-ble H Ranch (www.DoubleHranch.org); voluntary donations cheerfully accepted; pledges not required.

The Great Big FANY Ride

[email protected]

July 22-28, 2012(meaning Five hundred miles Across New York)


SPCARBON has created our own brand of road bikes & New York city commuters. We incorporate advanced design elements and strive to push the envelope of technology. Our team has been in the industry for over 25 years. SPCARBON staff caters to a select clientele who appre-ciates an enhanced level of service. We feel more like artists crafting your high end bicycle. Each SPCARBON is unique, hand assembled for its owner. We create from a private studio space in Tribeca and work on a by appointment basis. Please like us on www.facebook.com/spcarbon or visit our online showroom.

SPCARBON

www.spcarbon.com

STRADA CUSTOMS

www.stradacustoms.com159 Mott St.New York, NY 10002

STRADA Track bikes are our solu-tion for riders who desire a classic track bike with a contemporary touch. Built from 4130 Chromoly, the Track bike is strong and lightweight, designed for speed and comfort. Whether you are a competitive racer or a leisure rider, the Track bike conveys a level of style and perfor-mance that is unmatched.

Committed to assembling the finest personalized bicycles, Strada works with you, to assemble the perfect custom bike. Each bike is assembled individually with care and it will be evident once you ride a Strada. From shopping our site to riding our bikes, we bring you unparalleled quality every step of the way.

BMCC Tribeca PAC is Downtown Manhattan’s premier presenter of the arts, reaching audiences from the college community, downtown residential and business communi-ties, local schools, families, and au-diences of all ages. BMCC Tribeca PAC strives to present a broad global perspective through the presentation of high-quality artistic work in music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts. BMCC Tribeca PAC is located on the Borough of Man-hattan Community College campus, 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich Avenue & West Street) and is convenient to the 2/3, A/C/E and R subway lines and the New Jersey Path Train.

For more information please visit our websitewww.tribecapac.org

BMCC Tribeca PACTread Bike Shop

Tread bike shop is located uptown Manhattan. The store is 2800 sq ft of pure cycling bliss with over 300 bikes on our sales floor. It’s one of the biggest shops in NYC. Located just three blocks from the beginning of the NYC greenway. It’s the perfect spot to start your ride with either one of our rentals, or getting your bike tuned up by our service department, most repairs are done while you wait. We have lots of cycling clothing, gloves, and accessories. We have a very professional and courteous staff, willing to answer any questions you might have.

www.treadbikeshop.com

www.stradacustoms.comfull customtrack bikes449$

Free u.s. shipping


Taking you to the biking capital of the worldKLM is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 New Amsterdam Bicycle Show

klm.com | facebook.com/klmusa | twitter.com/klm_us

The Ultimate Guide to Bike Month NYC 2012

Documents

Transcript of The Ultimate Guide to Bike Month NYC 2012