Biking Challenge: 5 Boro Bike Tour Wrap-Up. I did it!!

I barely slept last night, I was so anxious about today's ride. I woke up @ 545 and left my apartment at 645. Here's my 'before' shots:

It was already drizzling when I left. There are few things I hate more than biking in the rain, but I was determined to do the ride anyway.

As I rode over the Williamsburg Bridge to get to the starting point, I was thinking how cycling is like life: There are challenging parts that need a lot of determination, focus and strength to get through; and then there are the easier spots where you get to coast and just enjoy the ride. The analogy worked nicely for the whole weight loss/getting healthy journey too. Sometimes it's more difficult and that's where you have to dig deep and find your inner strength to persevere, it's those moments that allow us to learn and grow. And then sometimes you're fortunate enough to have moments that don't require as much work - you should cherish those moments. I know I do.

I made my way to lower Manhattan (6 miles). It took a while for me to find my friend Michelle, but eventually we met up.

The tour started late, it was supposed to kick off at 8am but I don't think we left our position on Church St until close to 9am.

It started off great, I was full of smiles and super excited. 30,000 people on bikes is a pretty amazing and overwhelming sight. We rode up 6th Ave, passing Radio City as we headed into Central Park. Everything was awesome - despite the annoying drizzle.

But in Central Park we had our first taste of a recurring annoyance: we had to stop and walk our bikes when it was too crowded. First in Central Park, then on the FDR, and again coming off the FDR leading up to the 59th Street Bridge, exiting Astoria Park in Queens, again in Long Island City on the way to the Pulaski Bridge, in DUMBO, on the BQE and in Staten Island!

That's one thing I was not expecting - having to WALK my bike - not because I was too tired ride, but because they were funneling so many cyclists through so many turns and bottlenecks that it became literally impossible to stay on your bike at those points. I wonder if it was because of the weather, or where I was in the pack, or if the route just wasn't planned out well. Or maybe it's like that every year. I don't know but those parts just sucked so badly. Especially to have to stand there in the freezing rain and cold (apparently the worst weather they've had in years-lucky me!). Here are some shots of us stopped and walking our bikes-

On the FDR in Manhattan:

Here I am in front of the sign for the Queensboro Bridge:

On Vernon Blvd in Queens:

On Front St in DUMBO (Brooklyn):

When we stopped in Astoria Park (I made it! I didn't have to take the shortcut!), I actually met a blog reader. We shared a quick high five, but I'm sorry I didn't get her name. If she's reading this I hope she leaves a comment. She told me that she and her friend were doing the tour because of me! That was awesome. I hope they had a great time!

Here is a picture from Astoria Park, under the Triboro Bridge-

As for the ride itself, the most difficult aspect was, by far, dealing with the weather. That took a lot of mental energy to overcome. I made sure to concentrate on the road and other cyclists, enjoy the scenery and otherwise distract myself from the sheer misery I was enduring. Before we were even at the half way point in the tour, I was completely drenched. I had no socks on and couldn't feel my fingers or toes because they were so cold. In fact, when I stopped to use the restroom, I had to ask a women to unbutton my pants. I tried repeatedly but could not get my fingers to work. That was pretty awful, I must admit.

But during the whole ride, I was just waiting for that last big climb onto the Verannzano - the most challenging part of the entire tour. As I approached, I saw people dismounting their bikes. I overheard bits of dialogue "This is the worst part", "Use xxx gear", "Are you sure you're ready for this?"... I knew it was going to be bad and I had mentally prepared as much as possible. But it was also mile 37 or so and I was starting to feel tired. That's when I turned to the tools I mentioned in last night's blog - I started to psych myself up. I told myself to just do it - go slow, but don't give up - keep pushing. And I thought of Rasha, and how proud (and amazed) she would be that I was doing this. I even thought of Tara from the Biggest Loser (she's such an inspiration for me). And I continued to think of them as I climbed that bridge slowly, but surely.

As other cyclists passed me, they actually acknowledged that I was going at a good clip for a one-speed. Even they realized I had an extra challenge considering the bike I was on. And I kept pushing those pedals. One after the other. It took forever, but eventually I was at the point on the bridge where I could finally coast. It was a very long climb, but I did it. I made it!

From there, it was onto the festival in Staten Island which would have been nice if it wasn't raining, freezing and full of mud. I didn't spend any time there - only a minute to grab a tee shirt and go.

After that, it was a few more miles to the end of the tour and then to wait for the Staten Island Ferry to take us to Manhattan. This was, by far, the WORST part of the entire day. I think it took about an hour and a half from the point the tour ended until I was back in Manhattan (roughly what, 2 miles?). That entire time was spent shivering outside waiting for the ferry, then shivering on the ferry. It was miserable, but I also knew the tour was over and I had completed it. I tried to focus on my achievement instead of how uncomfortable I was.

Eventually I made it back to Battery Park - right where I had started. From there, I cycled another 6 miles back home to Brooklyn. After a long 10 and a half hours outside, I was finally back home, having bicylced about 54 miles today. FIFTY FOUR MILES! It took a long while for me to get dry and warm but it was worth it. What an awesome adventure!!

Here are my after shots:

After I took off my helmet and cardigan. (How insane do I look? Awesomely insane!)

Trying on my awesome souvenir tee shirt- which I totally earned!

I am really so proud of myself. I almost can't believe it's over. I feel like if I could do this, I could do anything. Who knows what's next?


Note: There were so many moments I wished I could have taken a photo, but stopping to take photos was just not a good idea, so I took very few photos - here is a link to my flickr set.