[Arby]

Hola:

Yesterday I woke up and just wanted to ride. The weather was beautiful. I knew that the forecast called for thunderstorms later in the afternoon but thought that if I could get out of the house by 8:30 (which I did) then I had a chance at a real challenge ride. I have been wanting to attempt a metric century for a while now and thought today could be the day. I was wrong. I got home with only 50 miles under my belt (half a century). Nevertheless, it was a hell of a ride and I can now say that I've ridden from my house in Washington Heights, to Coney Island, floated around in the ocean, and rode back home.

The ocean was cold but felt fantastic on my legs and after stretching in the water I soon found myself floating about on my back taking in the sights. Coney Island is so cheesy; I love it. Below is the route I took which I mapped on the ever so handy Runmeter iPhone app.

I made it all the way back to my hood and was only 10 blocks away when the sky opened up and just DUMPED rain. I got home completely soaked.

I snapped a few random pictures here and there along the ride with my iphone so here ya' go!

Arby

The 50 Mile Route I took:

My first stop was in Washington Square Park. I always refer to this arch as the Arch de Triumph:

The infamous Brooklyn bridge:

View looking north from the Brooklyn Bridge. That's the Manhattan Bridge which I rode across on my way back home:

More Brooklyn bridge; looking back into Manhattan:

I stopped at Patiserie (sp?... some frenchy type pastry shop) and scarfed down a delicious pear caramel turnover. While paying at the register I contemplated buying a hard boiled egg and noticed dried leaves stuck in my helmet from the last time I was mountainbiking:

The delicous caramel pear turnover:

Ahhh... finally... Coney Island. Russians, broken glass, super mayonaisy white people (like me) and tacky roller coasters:

I stripped down and started wading in the water, contemplating weather or not I wanted to fully commit to swimming or not. I haven't ridden with a soggy diaper (soaked chamois) since the last time I got caught in a storm:

The waves were pretty big actually. Around 3.5' to 5' on average:

Woah, Arby put your shirt back on man:

There's something about walking barefoot in the sand. It's cool and refreshing. ... and probably helps get rid of athlete's foot. If you have it:

I air dried on a bench while sea gulls swooped around overhead:

Some Coney Island tackiness:

The Wonder Wheel, which looked fun actually. Those little carts the people were in slid all over the place as the wheel spun:

This is the iconic ride of Coney Island. I forget what it was called but it does nothing now. I think it was some kind of parachute drop type ride:

Nathan's Hot Dogs. Classic:

Oh, another classic, The Cyclone. Wooden roller coaster. There is nothing more authentic than a splinter in the @ss:

When I was only 10 blocks away from home lightening cracked and the sky let loose with a storm of biblical proportions. I stopped into a restaurant and a waitress gave me a plastic bag for my precious iPhone.

 

[mike2g]

Woah that is some serious rain! Congrats on finishing what looks like a great ride, it looks like you timed it just perfectly (good thing you didn't spend more time in the ocean).
:thumbsup:

 

[saf-t]

The Cyclone is one of my favorite rollercoasters- took my kids on it when they were little, and just stayed in the front row of the front car for 4-5 circuits.

I'm waiting for "Arby rides to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade"- those pix are gonna be fun......

 

[MB1]

Oh man Arby, you got style. :thumbsup:

Now get a tan! :yikes:

 

[majura]

Nice city ride.

I always have a zip-lock bag for phone and camera - good against rain and sweat.

 

[Arby]

The Cyclone is one of my favorite rollercoasters- took my kids on it when they were little, and just stayed in the front row of the front car for 4-5 circuits.

I'm waiting for "Arby rides to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade"- those pix are gonna be fun......

Yeah, last year I went to the mermaid parade and it was a lot of fun! (even though it rained)

I'd like to ride the Cyclone sometime. I wish a lot of the older rides were still in operation.

Arby

 

[Arby]

Nice city ride.

I always have a zip-lock bag for phone and camera - good against rain and sweat.

Yeah I definitely done learnt somethin' this time.

 

[Arby]

Oh man Arby, you got style. :thumbsup:

Now get a tan! :yikes:

Do not look directly at the light...

RB1

 

[Ridgetop]

Wow, I can't say I've ever rode to the beach before. Very cool. Coney Island looked very quiet and very worn! Nice report.

 

[Dave Hickey]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Arby ride posts are my favorite.....,

 

[tarwheel2]

You rode from NYC all the way to Paris?

I bet you hit (or ran) a lot of red lights. Looks like a lot of fun tho. I have much more appreciation for riding in the city since I started bike commuting. I live in the burbs and tried to get my riding buddies to join me in ride downtown and back one Sunday, but only 2 of them showed up. The three of us had a great ride, stopped for a fantastic lunch where we could eat outdoors, and returned on some cool greenbelts.

 

[jd3]

I really like this ride report. That shot of the parachute drop ride is wicked to see. I had no idea that thing would even still be there.

 

[MarkS]

You rode from NYC all the way to Paris?

I bet you hit (or ran) a lot of red lights. Looks like a lot of fun tho. I have much more appreciation for riding in the city since I started bike commuting. I live in the burbs and tried to get my riding buddies to join me in ride downtown and back one Sunday, but only 2 of them showed up. The three of us had a great ride, stopped for a fantastic lunch where we could eat outdoors, and returned on some cool greenbelts.

Arby's urban traffic riding skills are amazing. Every time I rode with him in Downtown Baltimore when he lived here, he would be blocks ahead of me in the blink of an eye. He could squeeze between lanes of traffic, moving trucks and busses, etc. the way that a mouse squeezes through a crack in a wall. Although I probably could not keep up for more than a block or two, it would be very interesting (and entertaining) to see Arby riding in New York traffic.

 

[Arby]

Arby's urban traffic riding skills are amazing. Every time I rode with him in Downtown Baltimore when he lived here, he would be blocks ahead of me in the blink of an eye. He could squeeze between lanes of traffic, moving trucks and busses, etc. the way that a mouse squeezes through a crack in a wall. Although I probably could not keep up for more than a block or two, it would be very interesting (and entertaining) to see Arby riding in New York traffic.

That's funny. I used to be a little hellion when I lived in Baltimore. The streets were smaller, I knew the traffic patterns very well and I was really on top of my game, so to speak. But I've mellowed out quite a bit here in NY. I take it a lot easier and don't take the same risks I used to. In Baltimore I was caught up in the hype of alleycat races, my messenger friends and never riding slow. Looking back, I don't regret it but it wasn't very bright.

It seems these days I am riding even more for myself, at a pace I enjoy and I still get the same satisfaction from every ride. I go where I want to, stop to explore interesting areas etc. The ride is what you make it. Weather you ride fast or slow, on a tricked out bike or a beater. ...Woah I'm scaring myself.

Arby

 

[MarkS]

That's funny. I used to be a little hellion when I lived in Baltimore. The streets were smaller, I knew the traffic patterns very well and I was really on top of my game, so to speak. But I've mellowed out quite a bit here in NY. I take it a lot easier and don't take the same risks I used to. In Baltimore I was caught up in the hype of alleycat races, my messenger friends and never riding slow. Looking back, I don't regret it but it wasn't very bright.

It seems these days I am riding even more for myself, at a pace I enjoy and I still get the same satisfaction from every ride. I go where I want to, stop to explore interesting areas etc. The ride is what you make it. Weather you ride fast or slow, on a tricked out bike or a beater. ...Woah I'm scaring myself.

Arby

When I read stuff like that coming from you I feel really old.

 

[MB1]

That's funny. I used to be a little hellion when I lived in Baltimore. The streets were smaller, I knew the traffic patterns very well and I was really on top of my game, so to speak. But I've mellowed out quite a bit here in NY. I take it a lot easier and don't take the same risks I used to. In Baltimore I was caught up in the hype of alleycat races, my messenger friends and never riding slow. Looking back, I don't regret it but it wasn't very bright.

It seems these days I am riding even more for myself, at a pace I enjoy and I still get the same satisfaction from every ride. I go where I want to, stop to explore interesting areas etc. The ride is what you make it. Weather you ride fast or slow, on a tricked out bike or a beater. ...Woah I'm scaring myself.

Arby

Amen Brother!