renting a nice bike in NY state?

[d_douglas]

Hi there - I might be fishing a bit here, but I am visiting NYC in January and was thinking of taking a day to get outside of the city and maybe go for a cruise. Is there any shop near to Manhattan (within a two hour bus/train ride) that rents/loans nice road bikes (hell, a mountain bike would be OK) I would just like to go for a cruise and not on a crap bike in Central Park.

Just had a thought that will possibly answer this question: is it miserably cold and icy in NY in mid-January? I am a Westcoast Canada wimp who can right year round, so it may not be possible to do this at all.

Maybe I could travel to Serotta and demo a bike (it is my next intended bike purchase, after all!) How far away is the factory from NYC? Dumb question? I tried using Mapquest and can't seems to get a clear answer...

I would only have a day out of the city, as my wife is there for work, so I am tagging along - I suppose that I shouldn't spend a night hanging out in the sticks when she's sitting alone in the city!

Any comments or suggestions?

[manet]

what size?

[d_douglas]

Well - I might as well be picky. I would like a 58x58cm, but would take a 57 or 59 if they're available. Preferably a top tube no longer than 58cm.
Thanks!

[manet]

i have an old merlin road you may borrow.
it is a 59 ct with a 57.5 tt, and old ultegra 8 speed.

just bring the tank back full.

[Ken Robb]

there you go--the Serotta Mob comes through again, but my question would be: Why not go to the Met Museum, MOMA, Gugenheim, Museum of Nat. History, etc? You travel 3000 miles to go for a bike ride in probably terrible weather and miss world class museums? Presumptious asumption on my part and probably mistaken-----------I hope. :)

[manet]

there you go--the Serotta Mob comes through again, but my question would be: Why not go to the Met Museum, MOMA, Gugenheim, Museum of Nat. History, etc? You travel 3000 miles to go for a bike ride in probably terrible weather and miss world class museums? Presumptious asumption on my part and probably mistaken-----------I hope. :)

http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/

http://www.amnh.org/

http://www.frick.org/

http://www.racycles.com/

http://togabikes.com/site/index.cfm

http://www.nyc.com/shop/Bicycle.25180200/all_nyc_shop.aspx

[d_douglas]

Ha Ha! That is a good point. I am going ot be there for 5 days and have been there before, so I have seen some of those things already.
The MOMA is on the list (again), but the MET has been done already (sounds cynical, but I have a particular opinion about spending hours upon hours inside amazing museums when I travel) I am more interested in urban art culture than a formalized collection of art. Don't get me wrong - I loved the MET when I was there, but museums like that tend to be a one time event for me.

Has anyone ever been to PS1? The Storefront for Art and Architecture? I have heard and talked about both of these places, but have never actually been there, so this trip will have these destinations on the list.

As for bike shops, I am going to try to avoid them.... ugh, that hurt. I know that its good for me, though!

[manet]

ps 1 is a most excellent venue. easy subway ride.


___________________________________________
? urban center, cool arch. book store:

http://www.urbancenterbooks.org/
___________________________________________
other:

http://www.stormking.org/

http://westchelseaarts.com/

[d_douglas]

WOw, that is very generous of you!! It's not often that someone offers you a Merlin to take a cruise on! I will work out the details of the trip and let you know what happens. (I know that I will be there from the 10-15th of January)

Where do you live relative to Central Manhattan? How would I get there? (no car)

:Thanks again...

[manet]

WOw, that is very generous of you!! It's not often that someone offers you a Merlin to take a cruise on! I will work out the details of the trip and let you know what happens. (I know that I will be there from the 10-15th of January)

Where do you live relative to Central Manhattan? How would I get there? (no car)

:Thanks again...

p.m. me

[xspace]

Where do you live relative to Central Manhattan? How would I get there? (no car)

Where do you think you're going to take a "cruise" in Manhattan? More like a frenzied taxi dodge through freezing slush.

Hal

[d_douglas]

Actually - I am hoping to travel outside of the city for a ride, ie., take a train or bus to some outlying area and ride. Is this geographically unlikely?

Yeah - the slush... could be lethal. It snowed lightly here yesterday and I stayed off of my bike, so maybe that's a sign that I am not interested in taking my chances with a wipeout. Maybe I''ll end up lounging in coffee shops and bookstores in Manhattan after all!

In my past trips to the NYC, I thought it would be a riot to ride there - maybe that's just me being idealistic, but it looked fun. I commute here in Vancouver, but Manhattan would definitely be taking it up a notch (or three).

[Kevan]

I'd be more than glad to show you the riding in northern Westchester county just an hour's train ride from Grand Central Station (midtown 42 & Park) to Chappaqua.

January will most likely be cold. Freezing cold. Bring your armor. Snow and icy shoulders on the roads here are a risk. Please be assured that all us cyclists here are praying every night before climbing into our beds, that our winter be mild and the snow limited only to the ski and sledding slopes.

MOMA is simply outrageous with its recent building upgrade. Not too far is the American Folk Art museum that puts a twist to gallery art: http://www.folkartmuseum.org/default.asp?id=518

You might want to check out too the new Darwin exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History and see how the world's creatures have evolved. Sandy's still bit of a mystery however:

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/?src=h_h

My offer is open, assuming the weather's relatively nice. I don't do sub-freezing riding; I'm too smart for that.

[manet]

kevan, how far are you from the bear montain bridge?

[Kevan]

by car about 45 minutes, a good portion of that time on the Taconic and Bear pkwy. By bike well over an hour, maybe 2.

[torquer]

Not sure what you mean by "urban art culture", and this is a "formalized collection" (and not even urban, to boot) but it is amazing.
One hour plus train ride north of Grand Central (with great Hudson River scenery along the way), this is a former Nabisco box plant converted to display large-scale contemporary art works; imagine three huge Richard Serra walk-through sculptures in one vast room. Image 20 such rooms, each filled with some artist's, or group of artists', works.
Some (OK, much) of the stuff I don't get, but if you go with any sort of open mind (or a patient guide) you will find something that will change the way you look at things. At the risk of sounding academic, I discovered a key point about Warhol's work I never really "got" since studying art in college many moons ago.

http://www.diabeacon.org/bindex.html

If you have access to a car, Dia Beacon can be combined with a visit to Storm King, which was mentioned in another post.

[Kevan]

Just was there during the T-bird weekend. I'd agree with your assessment. The two main corridors, with their major real estate, that could have been put to better use, "lost me", rather than what was intended to happen in "drawing me", with that sequence of chromed circle and squares placed on the floor.

Other areas of the exhibit were very entertaining.

I drove there, but you're right, that's a scenic train ride of the Hudson river.

[christian]

If manet's offer doesn't work out for some reason, I have a 58x57.5 Pegoretti Palosanto and a 60x58 Rivendell Rambouillet you can ride.

I live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Take the 1 train to 86th St. or the 2/3 train to 96th St.

I have cue sheets for nice rides into NJ, too. Dress warmly.

- Christian

[xspace]

Actually - I am hoping to travel outside of the city for a ride, ie., take a train or bus to some outlying area and ride. Is this geographically unlikely?

It's very doable. Actually, if you want to take a short train ride to NJ I could pick you up at the train station (with your bike) and take you to the nicest metric century you've ever ridden. This is a route I've just completed planning near my home in Dover, NJ. I got to ride one half of it before the weather got crappy, and I ALMOST got to ride the other half yesterday (so close I could taste it) but events and scheduling conspired against me. I haven't ridden the whole thing together (obviously) but it's first on my list as soon as the weather breaks.

All scenic country back roads 40 MPH and under (except for 1/2 mi), all very quiet with little traffic, good surfaces, good sight distances, decent shoulders, farms, fields, great scenery, etc. Terrain is mostly gently rollers with enough little climbs to add interest (and no agony grinds.) Of course I'd supply you with maps and cue sheets to take with you.

I'd ride it WITH you but...I'm not sure about riding in January. Brrr!

If I rode back and forth from my house to this ride it would be a complete century (plus some BIG climbs!) That's my goal (and why I spent months meticulously planning this route.) Maybe by the end of next season I'll be up to the challenge, but for now I'm driving the 15 minutes to and from.

If you wanna be the first to ride it, let me know.

Hal

[d_douglas]

Thank you for all of the offers and suggestions. I would love to see the Serra sculptures actually. Has this gallery justrecently opened? It's great to see buildings being reused in creative ways, in my opinion.

The train ride North along the Hudson sounds good too. I am becoming a bit skeptical about the weather in mid-January - the last thing I need is to get injured on a bike ride on a vacation. I will keep these offers in mind and let you know as the time approaches.

Any other 'off the beaten track' activities for sightseeing for my lady and I would be welcomed - our first task is to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, something that I have always wanted to do (apparently there's a great pizza restaurant underneath the bridge on the Brooklyn side).

Thanks again!

[team_sheepshead]

It's great that you've gotten offers for loaner bikes--rather than having to hassle with a rental--because in mid January you cannot count on riding at all outside of NYC. At that time of year, it only takes one semi-serious snow or ice storm to turn the roads outside of NYC into narrow, slippery, salty tracks.

So keep in mind that even if the weather is clear and you end up borrowing someone's sweet ride, you might want to consider the hour you would spend cleaning the bike of all the winter road grime, salt, gunk, etc. And use fenders unless you intend to pack dirty, gritty bike clothes in your luggage.

If you don't want to ride outside, I know a studio in Bklyn that offers "virtual racing" on Computrainers with a big-screen monitor. You would need to bring a bike, however. But if you are intent on taking a "cruise" through the street of NYC, don't take it lightly. It's a chaotic zoo. I'd be glad to show you around Manhattan's relaitvely safe perimiter bike paths, though.

Better yet, check out the new Russian exhibit at the Guggenheim on 5th Avenue.

[Ahneida Ride]

The Serotta Factory is about 3 hours from NYC.

Take Thruway North to 87 North.
87 North to Saratoga.
Almost all Interstate driving.

[manet]

Thank you for all of the offers and suggestions. I would love to see the Serra sculptures actually. Has this gallery justrecently opened? It's great to see buildings being reused in creative ways, in my opinion.

The train ride North along the Hudson sounds good too. I am becoming a bit skeptical about the weather in mid-January - the last thing I need is to get injured on a bike ride on a vacation. I will keep these offers in mind and let you know as the time approaches.

Any other 'off the beaten track' activities for sightseeing for my lady and I would be welcomed - our first task is to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, something that I have always wanted to do (apparently there's a great pizza restaurant underneath the bridge on the Brooklyn side).

Thanks again!

dia beacon is f'kin incredible _ the train ride is easy, cheap, and very
interesting.

i walk across the bridge to grimaldis' pizza fairly regularly.
!CASH ONLY!
http://www.grimaldis.com/

(the bridge is open 24/7)
http://www.wirednewyork.com/bridges/brooklyn_bridge/images/brooklyn_bridge_walk_12june04.jpg

and a little joseph stella for 'ya:
http://www.brooklyn.net/img/stella_brooklyn_bridge_01.jpg

[d_douglas]

I couldn't remember the name of the pizza place. My buddy said she has never had better, plus her grandparents were both born in Grimaldi, Italy. Your opinion confirms that it isn't just about her grandparents!

I will take my wife there for a 'date nite'!

[mikemets]

"My offer is open, assuming the weather's relatively nice. I don't do sub-freezing riding; I'm too smart for that."

Hey, I resemble that remark. ;)

If its too cold for Kevan, contact me, I'm good to 0F

[christian]

Yeah, Grimaldi's is the business. Two thumbs up!

- Christian

[gary135r]

Where do you think you're going to take a "cruise" in Manhattan? More like a frenzied taxi dodge through freezing slush.

Hal
Ditto