City Cycling

Spring has finally hit New York and I couldn't be happier. Every time I think about moving to a warmer climate, I think about the feeling I get when the temperature hits the mid 50s, and I realize how much I'd miss what that means to me. The windows get opened for the first time in months, it's no longer dark when I leave work, and most of all, my bicycle comes out of storage.


Technically, I bike all year, but not really. During the late fall and throughout the winter, I take spin classes at the gym, and if I can, I'll bike there so I don't have to wait for a bus. But it's not the same. Partially because I take Jessica's bike so mine doesn't get subjected to the cold weather. (What? It's my version of a convertible.)

So I've only had my bike out for a few rides now, but it's been just wonderful. I've biked to our Saturday morning Group Training Sessions (GTS), which involves a fantastic ride over the Queensboro Bridge and through Central Park. I've biked through various areas of Queens to get to different appointments. And I biked to work, which is the best of all: it shaves 30 minutes off my commute and I get to ride past the East River, taking in the sun as it reflects off the water. (Hopefully next time I do so, I'll remember to back a work shirt. I looked pretty stupid in work pants and an undershirt. Thankfully, I was the only one in the office that day.)

City cycling is a funny thing. There are a lot of things I hate about it. Nearly every street I ride on is going to have either broken glass, awful potholes, or a combination of the two. Without a lot of trees nearby, even with the wind going past me, I can feel the heat of the concrete underneath. There's a lot of stopping and starting for traffic lights, people jaywalking, and car doors opening into traffic. And let's not forget the wonderful smells of the city. One of my favorite Jessica-isms: "In New York City, every day is garbage day."

And yet, there are a lot of things I love about it, too. Riding in the city requires discipline. You have to be on heightened awareness at all times, because there are so many opportunities to get your ass knocked off your bike. At any given time, I'm watching a million things at once: the aforementioned potholes, broken glass and open car doors, the traffic lights, the walk/don't walk signs, the people randomly hanging out in the street. I'm listening for traffic behind and around me. I'm scanning all four corners for any signs of the messenger cyclists, who tend to "salmon" (riding the wrong way on a one-way street) and speed through all lights without stopping -- without helmets and while listening to iPods. These all seem like negatives, but there's something really great about being in full control of all of your senses like that. It's tiring too, but I also find it really exhilarating.

Somehow, throughout this heightened awareness, I manage to let part of my brain go, too. That's the part of my brain that's singing a song to myself, thinking about a problem I haven't yet been able to solve (these sometimes get solved while riding, which is awesome), and, in today's case, formulating this post! But the best part is noticing the people and culture around me. I'm not much of a Brooklynite, but I love biking through that particular borough, because I get to take a mental snapshot of so many different walks of life, all at once. Despite the traffic, I love riding through Brooklyn in the morning, because I get to see how all these different people start their commutes in different ways. The white-bread yuppies, the Hasidic Jews, the Hispanic, Asian and Indian populations...it's all different and yet also the same, somehow. It's probably one of the only times where I really feel like I'm a part of the city.

I admit this doesn't have much to do with the triathlon...although had I not got into cycling a couple of years ago, there's absolutely no way I'd be doing what I'm doing right now. I'm just finding another way to enjoy cycling. It's a cycling sandwich, I guess.

I couldn't recommend cycling more to anyone. It's a great form of cardio, it feels like a workout without tuckering you out as much as running, it's low-impact, and it's fantastic for the environment. Oh, and there's that awesome feeling when you get to be that guy. You know, the one who races by you when you're stuck fifteen cars deep at a traffic light because jerks keep blocking the box? That guy. That's a fun feeling too.

If you're interested in cycling but are new to it, I'd highly recommend Bike New York's education program as a great starting point. And the fine folks at Transportation Alternatives -- one of my favorite non-profits -- are doing yeoman's work in making the city safe for cyclists. And any time you want to go for a bike ride, give me a call. Seriously. Just as our triathlon coaches seem to love sharing the joy of tri with all of us, I feel the same about cycling. Always ready for a bike ride!