Biking Adventures: Preparing for the Century Tour

Well it's here! The weekend of the NYC Century Tour! To prepare, I rode a LOT last weekend. I wanted to make sure I had the endurance I am going to need this Sunday. I didn't have one big final destination as my goal, just a lot of riding around Brooklyn and into Manhattan. Here's what I did and are some of my favorite photos from the two days.

First of all, Saturday, I had no luck in my endeavor -

I left my apartment with the intention of going to Gorilla Coffee, then Prospect Park, with a ride around the outside of Greenwood Cemetery, where bikes are apparently not allowed. Here are some photos of that morning's ride through Williamsburg-

I love this message on South 4th St in Williamsburg-

I have been trying to get this shot for 2 years, but normally pass this area at dusk and it photographs terribly. This is the first time I caught it in morning light. Perfect! (Kent Ave with the Williamsburg Bridge in the background)

I made it to Gorilla Coffee (5 miles away) and was next in line when it suddenly occurred to me "I remember taking the water pitcher out of the fridge to fill it up, but I don't remember putting it back in the refrigerator. Did I leave the kitchen sink on?!" Now yes, dear blog readers, I know I have a bit of the OCD but checking and rechecking things is not one of my afflictions. I actually HAVE done this before while in my apartment - began filling up the water pitcher, left the kitchen and came back to a huge mess. So the fact that I had no mental recollection (I have a photographic memory) of turning off the sink or putting the pitcher away, there was a pretty good chance I had left it on.

I left Gorilla Coffee and biked back home, which took nearly an hour. As if that wasn't bad enough, on the way home, my chain fell off my bike! This was pretty terrifying and had never happened to me before. When this happened, I had no control over my bike - I couldn't pedal and had no breaks (I have a one speed with no hand breaks)! I was on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, around South 2nd or 3rd St when this happened, and headed slightly downhill. I had to think fast so I didn't kill myself. I pulled onto the sidewalk, angling back uphill and into a fence to force myself to a stop. Like I said, VERY SCARY! I managed to figure out how to get the chain back on after a few minutes, but I was still freaked out.

After that ordeal I made it home, ran into the kitchen where I found the sink NOT on and the water pitcher full and in the refrigerator. I couldn't even believe it!

I left the apartment again, headed for the same places. I got about 2 miles away from my apartment when the chain came off again, this time on Wythe just past Division. Again I put it on and continued riding. Not half a mile away, it came off AGAIN by Flushing! Again, I had to stop carefully and put it back on. I also had to retrieve my shoe which came off my foot in the confusion about a half a block before I could stop (no comments on my inappropriate footwear, thank you!) Now I realized I needed to go to the bike shop. I could not ride like this.

So I headed back towards home, to B's Bikes. On the way there, riding along Kent, the chain came off yet again - this time getting trapped behind a bolt. I sat there on the sidewalk in the blazing sun for a good 10 minutes before I could even retrieve the chain, but once I did, I finally got it back on the bike. And then I proceeded very cautiously (I noticed that coasting or hitting any sort of bump in the road made the chain pop off so I tried to keep pedaling, choosing inclined streets and smooth surface areas), and finally arrived at the bike shop.

The owner, Brendan, was outside and I practically begged him for an emergency repair. I told him what happened and showed him my hands and nails, which were covered in black grease. He simply told me the chain was too loose and this happens over time. He took out a screwdriver and moved the wheel back, which tightened the chain and charged me 2 dollars. (That's all?! I nearly killed myself and that's all it was?!) I tried to give him more money, but he wouldn't take it. That has to be the nicest bike shop on the planet.

Finally, 3 hours after I set out for my journey, I had done nothing and was back at the beginning. I decided the coffee shop and park were not meant to happen, so instead I went to Target on Atlantic Ave to pick up a few things.

Look at this beautiful old subway entrance-

One of my favorite buildings in Brooklyn, the old Williamsburgh Savings Bank (tallest building in Brooklyn)-

Beautiful buildings in Brooklyn-

I watched a seagull fight traffic for a while as he tried to eat a large piece of pizza-

I don't know where or when I captured this shot. It was accidental, but I like it!

This is a great Police Headquarters building (at least that's how it's labeled) that looks like it's straight out of the movies. I found this on Bergen St by 6th Ave in Brooklyn-

I returned home from Target with my goodies and had biked a total of 34 miles on Saturday. That was ok, but not enough...

On Sunday, since my bike was repaired, I knew I would do my big ride, so I took out my map to plan my way to Prospect Park, but Littleton thought this was an invitation to show off his cuteness. While super cute, it was not at all helpful!

I made my way to Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn -

And from there I entered Prospect Park, where I did 3 laps around the park. It was my first time I got to bike around the whole park. It's nice, and a little hilly at points but it's only about 3.5 miles around. It reminded me of Central Park, just much, much smaller.

While I was there I heard someone yell "Bitch Cakes!". I turned around to find a woman I didn't recognize. But once she introduced herself, I knew exactly who she was - she had emailed me a while ago from the website Brokelyn. We chatted for a while, and her friend took this photo of me, which she used in an article on the website this week! (Thanks Faye! Nice meeting you!)

I left the park but only had done about 20 miles. I called my Dad to find out where he was working that day so I could pay him a visit. He was in midtown, on the west side. So I headed to DUMBO and over the Manhattan Bridge (since I hate the asshole cyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge - seriously those are the most obnoxious cyclists on the planet!), then headed west and north.

When I got to the location my Dad had told me, I couldn't find the store, so I stopped to call him. And boy is it a good thing I did! If I had not stopped at that exact moment and missed that light, the following events would have never occurred...

So I was standing there, waiting for the light to turn so I could cross the street. I heard a woman walk behind me and stop on my right. I did not see her but I think I subconsciously recognized her voice because I turned to look at her (something I rarely do) and who was it, but KRISTEN SCHAAL! From my favorite show, Flight of the Conchords!!! I just about squealed, I was so excited! I probably went a little fan crazy on her telling her that I saw her at Radio City earlier this year, and that I love the show, she's awesome yada yada. She was so nice and down to earth, she was asking me about my bike/ride/what I was doing. I explained I was doing a big bike ride today and was up to 23 miles so far but wanted to hit at least 40. We chatted a few minutes (she even asked about my 'dead cat' tattoo, RIP Smokey, I miss you!!!) and of course I asked her to take a photo with me, which she kindly obliged to (good thing she had someone with her to snap it!)

It was such a whirlwind conversation and experience that I didn't even get to ask her what the odds are of Jemaine Clement going out with me. Damnit! That was probably my only chance! Anyway, she told me to say hi to my Dad and we went on about our lives.

After visiting my Dad, where I told him all about my run in with Kristen, I "twizzled" (my Dad calls tweeting "twizzling") the encounter. Then I left the store all smiles. I couldn't believe my good luck running into her. I would have never been on that corner or in that neighborhood if I had not gone to visit my Dad. The fact that I was there the exact second that she was blew my mind. Awesome!!

I still had about an hour and a half of daylight and I had to get at least 40 miles in, so I headed to the west side bike path and biked north - all the way up to 88th Street.

I then biked south on Riverside Drive and on 11th Ave. I took this shot of the New Yorker Hotel and Empire State Building from 35th Street-

As I passed through the West Village, I captured this sign again. I just love the neon (even though I would never eat there)

And then I found this great sign on Bleecker St-

When I finally made it back to Greenpoint, I was up to 48 miles. So I biked around my neighborhood for a little while longer till I pulled up in front of my apartment -

That's right, I did just over 50 miles that one day! And I felt awesome! That means over the course of the two days I had biked 85 miles! I am sure I'm ready for Sunday's 65 or so. We are even supposed to have nice weather! Now I just need to plan an outfit...