pencil it in... 2012 Bike Rides in/around NYC

one beautiful bike calendar

The list below was originally compiled by Glen, from NYC Bicycle Shows, of 2012 popular recreational rides in the NYC area...  I've added a bit to it and plan to keep updating. Let me know if you know of anything that should be added below!

♥ 2012 BIKE RIDES IN/AROUND NYC ♥

February 26

SPIN-FOR-SIGHT

http://usheriii.org/index.php

Spin-a-thon, exclusively benefiting research for Usher Syndrome Type III hosted by Rebecca Alexander at The Sports Club/LA Upper East Side

May 5

The 14th Annual Blessing of the Bikes

www.bicycleshows.us

Ride to this FREE EVENT at St. John the Divine in NYC

May 6

BIKE NEW YORK/The Five Boro Bicycle Tour

www.bikenewyork.org

40 mile, all five boroughs + traffic-free ride for 32,000 cyclists

May 12

2nd Annual Tour de Staten Island
http://tourdestatenisland.org

18 mile ride by Transportation Alternatives

May 20

The Bloomin’ Metric

http://www.soundcyclists.com/BloominMetric.htm

25 - 62 mile ride options along scenic roads of Fairfield County Connecticut

May 20

Bike MS: Traffic Free Ride

www.nmssli.org

13 mile ride through the Massapequa Preserve

June 3

8th Annual Tour de Brooklyn
http://tourdebrooklyn.org

18 - 20 mile ride by Transportation Alternatives

June 3

6th Annual Ride the Ridge Bike Challenge

http://www.ridetheridge.org

5 - 50 mile ride options in Stone Ridge, NY benefiting the new High Meadow Performing Arts Center

June 3

Bike Boat Bike

www.sbraweb.org

25, 50, 65, 106 and 137 mile options ending in Long Island's East End

June 3

Tour de Cure NYC

http://tinyurl.com/7zsc8e9

7 - 100 mile ride options, 100 mile ride ends at Bear Mountain benefitting the American Diabetes Association

June 8

Bike to the Beach NY

www.biketothebeach.org

100+ mile ride benefitting Autism Speaks from Union Square, NYC to Westhampton Beach, NY

June 8, 9, 10

Get Your Guts In Gear

http://www.ibdride.org

150 mile ride through the Hudson River Valley to raise funds and awareness for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 

June 16

Ride to Montauk

www.bicycleshows.us 

30, 70, 100, 145 mile ride options

 

June 24

Nassau to Suffolk Bicycle Challenge

www.n2sbc.org 

25, 50, 62 mile ride options on North Shore's Western Long Island benefitting the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center

July 8

5th Annual Tour de Queens 
http://www.tourdequeens.org
18 to 20 mile ride exploring northeastern Queens organized by Transportation Alternatives

July 15

Mansion Ride for Autism

www.MansionRide.com

16, 40, 62 mile ride options only Long Island's North Shore 

July 22

Harlem Valley Rail Ride

http://Harlemvalleyrailride.com

25, 50, 75, 100 mile options 

July 27, 28, 29

The Farm Ride(s)

www.thefarmride.com

In and around Amherst, MA

July 28
The 4th Annual Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ridehttp://brooklyngreenway.org
40-mile ride from Newtown Creek in Greenpoint to Rockaway Beach via the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts organized by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative

August 12

Discover Hudson Valley

www.bikenewyork.org

15 to 100 mile ride options in the Hudson Valley

August 18

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée

http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/randonnee.html 

64 - 160K ride options celebrating 300 years of carriage roads in Franklin County, MA

August 26

The Ninth Annual North Fork Century

www.northforkcentury.com

25, 50, 70, 100 mile options on Long Island

September 2

The Golden Apple

http://www.westchestercycleclub.org

In and around Westchester, NY

September 9

23rd Annual NYC Century Bike Tour

http://www.nyccentury.org/
15 - 100 mile ride options -- the only "urban" century tour in the U.S., the NYC Century is Transportation Alternatives' premier annual bike-event.

September 9

Bike MS: East End Ride

www.nmssli.org

25, 50, 75 and 100 mile route options ending in Southampton, NY

September 21, 22, 23

Braking the Cycle -- Boston to New York

www.brakingthecycle.org

10th anniversary of Braking the Cycle, benefiting the HIV/AIDS services of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Fully-supported, 3-day ride from Boston to New York City

September 22

ESCAPE NEW YORK

enyinfo@nycc.org

50, 65 or 100 mile ride options from Manhattan into Bergen and Rockland counties hosted by the New York Cycle Club

September 23

Cycle For Life

http://manhattan.cff.org/cycleforlife

32 - 62 mile ride options around Brooklyn benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

September 23

Tour of the Hamptons

www.massparkbikeclub.org

25, 50, 70, 100 mile options fundraising for Make-A-Wish Foundation

September 29 @ 11:59PM

Bike the Night -- The Night Ride

www.bikethenight.com

Evening long ride on the Long Island Sound ending at the beach -- at dawn!

September 30

Bike New York Twin Lights Rides

www.bikenewyork.org

30 - 100 miles tour through the back roads of Monmouth County, NJ

September 30

Bike MS New York City

bikeMS@msnyc.org

30, 50 or 100 miles including the FDR and West Side Highway 

October 5

Seagull Century

www.seagullcentury.org

100 mile ride along the scenic roads of Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties benefitting Women Supporting Women, Habitat for Humanity and the Alzheimer’s Association

October 14

Bike the River Valley

www.biketherivervalley.com

30, 70, 100 mile options in Hudson River Valley

October 21 (TENTATIVE)

Tour de Bronx

http://tourdebronx.org

Organized by Transportation Alternatives

Cycle EXIF Bicycle Calendar 2012

... thirteen of the world’s most beautiful custom bicycles, from builders including Bishop Bikes, Feather Cycles, Icarus Frames, Fast Boy Cycles, Pereira Cycles and Stanridge Speed.

daytripping: Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Prospect Park West

These sunny and mild-weathered weekends have been simply amazing. Couldn't believe I had yet to discover something in Prospect Park (having lived in Park Slope for over 7 years) -- but, alas there was! Last weekend we stumbled upon the Lefferts Historic House Museum just off the road/bike path loop, tucked away near the carousel near the Flatbush/Ocean Ave. entrance. If your ever looking for a pit stop while on a leisure ride in Prospect Park, I recommend...

The Lefferts Historic House is one of the few remaining Dutch settlement period farmhouses in Brooklyn. Built in 1783 the house serves as a museum which has furnished period rooms and activities that reflect daily life in the 18th and 19th century. The grounds outside the house includes brick oven, a garden with common crops, and this awesome traditional Wigwam which the Lenape Tribe would use to house 1-2 families (from 900-1700). This one was built by students using local saplings... 

Being a fan of quilting, it was serendipity that our visit to the Lefferts House coincided with their 20 year anniversary quilt exhibition...

You can also check out these quilts, along with many more, when they move to Prospect Park's Audubon Center Boathouse for a reception and raffle on Saturday, December 10th from 4-6pm.

While there, we just had to pop in to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (across the street) to check in on the magnificent bonsai trees...

Dekalb Market - open air market of all things Brooklyn

An empty lot + salvaged shipping containers + food vendors + design goods + a radio station... in downtown Brooklyn. A few weeks ago I rolled up to Dekalb Market on a Friday afternoon just before the evening commuters filed in and was happily surprised to find a number of interesting activities and vendors in the currently undeveloped lot at the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Willoughby which (someday, post-crisis) is destined to become the home to a high-rise. The space is so large it's also hosting events, workshops, has a farm and your likely to ask yourself, "Am I still in Brooklyn?!"

My friend Helene helped found BBOX Radio located in the market - they built out a container, fit out the space with equipment, crafted furniture, selected 20+ radio shows from an open call, and started streaming pre-recorded shows on their website. Loved hearing a live broadcast and watching the DJs through the containers glass windows.

The Pratt Design Incubator has a Pop-up shop which recently featured DARGELOS cycling accessories -- including the cool minimal Trans//Porter convertible tote/backpack which comes in this super nice bright red colour combo. 

And the ever popular... Lightning Vest!

3RD Ward's 'ShopBox' had a few cyclist friendly products on display including the Mopha Tool Roll and TOPO's mountain-meets-city street Klettersack -- both below.

Depending on your culinary mood, you'll find a cup of Joe, Sour Puss Pickles, 'international soul food' at Mazie's among the food vendors...

Pretty brilliant idea -- hope this becomes a trend with more vacant lots!

Bike the Night gets cancelled (another post-Hurricane Irene post)

via nycbicycleshow.com

Just as I was all ready to share with you details on the upcoming Bike the Night ride, I sadly got the news the ride had to be canceled. The North Fork of Long Island is still dealing with clean up efforts due to Hurricane Tropical Storm Irene and is not permitting large organized bike rides since the streets won't be cleared in time... hence the photo below taken this week along the ride's route. Glen, the ride organizer had the following to say:

Believe me if you think that you're bummed out about the cancellations and I'm bummed out, imagine the crew at the Greenport Fire Department, who we hire to prepare our post-ride meal. They took the largest financial hit of everyone, and you know they would have moved forward with this if they could.

via nycbicycleshow.com

While Bike the Night (organized by the same nice people who host the North Fork Century and Ride to Montauk) won't be rescheduled this year, here's more about the ride just to ensure you get excited for next year's 72 or 50 mile route options which start at the traditional 11:59 pm(!)...

We’ll be in Orient NY out on the North Fork of Long Island.  This is what the Hamptons must have once looked like -- farms, vineyards, small towns...  start riding just before midnight and pedal under the stars on roads lit by a full moon.  These are quiet back roads lined by trees and marsh grass.  There’s a beautiful old lighthouse.  Several beaches.  Some special views of the water. By dawn we’ll be out at the beach where we’ll have breakfast (included in the price of the ride) before finishing our ride.

'til next year, North Fork...

by Steve Jones via bikethenight.com

afternoon on Governors Island w/ Bikes, Jazz Age Lawn Party and Bill Cunningham

Was such a nice breezy sunny day yesterday that on a whim we hopped onto the free 10 minute ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park over to Governors Island with our bikes. Checked out Mark di Suvero's vibrant orange sculptures which are currently on loan from Storm King and savored an ice cream from Blue Marble Brooklyn's custom Workman Cycles, which are at Picnic Point again this year!

And by complete serendipity the annual Jazz Age Lawn Party - the 1920's dance party which is well attended by many dressed to the nines who've practiced the Charleston - is taking place this weekend! How have I ended up on the island at the same time as this party for three years in a row, I do not know?! OH, but the party continues today...

would love to see the prints from this old school photography shoot

So nice running into Katy in white lace who rode up on her banana seat cruiser... with a pearl purse in her bike basket!

♥ ♥ ♥ What completely stole my heart at the event was spotting Bill Cunningham (above) in total work mode in his blue french workmen shirt, though sans bike ♥ ♥ ♥

Same as last year, the ferry to Governors Island from Brooklyn departs from Pier 6 (at the foot of Atlantic Ave.) in the new extension of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you bike you'll be able to check out the bike path that keeps improving along the waterfront and have a drink or bite at along the strip - I particularly like the view from the outdoor Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar at Pier 1 and the rooftop of  BARK at Pier 6, both are open until midnight on weekends!

And if you are without bike, you can always rent a Townie once you arrive - which are free on Fridays...

daytripping: Sandy Hook, NJ with a bicycle

the seven mile bike trail on Sandy Hook peninsula
 
 

abandoned brick homes line Officer's Row at Fort Hancock with views of the bay...
hello, perfect spot for (one of) my dream homes

riding over the bridge to the Highlands

Sandy Hook, NJ proved to be one marvelous way to spend Memorial Day -- the very convincing unofficial start of summer! Ocean beaches, bike trails, cold beers, fresh (or fried) oysters, and Nike Nuclear Missiles!!! Can you tell it was my first time going? Taking the high-speed ferry from lower Manhattan was incredibly easy --and gets you and your bicycle there in just 45 minutes. I won't deny it was sad to re-board the ferry homeward bound, even though the views of the bridges and skyline were spectacular from the ferry deck on such a warm sunny evening.


To take the SeaStreak with your bike you just need an extra $5 ticket. I would also suggest getting there a minimum of 30 minutes before departure since the line for tickets gets long + and paying with cash can be easier. There's also the option to rent a bike once you arrive at the docks in Fort Hancock!

Map of Sandy Hook {here} + came across this wedding invitation with a cute illustration of the area...