Fitness Files: 5 Boro Bike Tour

On Sunday I rode the 5 Boro Bike tour with my mom, sister, and a friend. We joined 32,000 other bike riders for the largest charitable bike ride. The ride benefits Bike New York, a program that teaches over 16,000 people about biking. The tour is a 40-mile bike ride through all 5 boros. The car-free tour starts in Lower Manhattan, goes through Central Park, into Harlem and the Bronx, down the East River on the FDR Drive, and into Queens then Brooklyn. We rode over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and along the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the Finish Festival on Staten Island. It was incredible to bike through New York and to see what everything looks like when you aren’t in a car. It’s a great way to see the city. It was so energizing to see cheerleaders, bands, and people watching on the sidelines. There were rest stops with snacks, bands, and great places to stop for pictures. It was such a fun day. We ended up biking home so it was a total of 50 miles! I was tired after but now I can’t wait to do it again next year!

5-Boro-Bike-Tour

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The Route:

A Few Tips:
-Train in advance. I trained by taking spin classes, working out, and taking long bike rides on the Hudson River Greenway.
-Pack lots of snacks and a big water bottle. We packed bananas, almond butter, dried banana, and trail mix. They’ll also have snacks, drinks, and water stations along the way.
-Don’t forget to wear sunscreen. I made that mistake!
-It’s crowded. Let people know if you’ll be passing them on their right or left.
-Stop to take water and snack breaks or pack snacks and drinks that you can enjoy while riding.
-Use downhills as an opportunity to stretch your legs. I do the same stretch that I do at the end of spin class.
-It’s really crowded and can be hard to stick with your friends. Plan out places where you’ll meet up.

A Few Pictures:

Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 8.55.36 PM Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 8.55.52 PM Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 8.56.11 PM I’m already looking forward to next year!

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