« Cafe Bustelo | Main | Thinking of Vienna »
October 22, 2006
12th Annual Tour De Bronx
So today was the 12th Annual Tour De Bronx and it was my first time riding in it. Its a FREE Bike Tour that takes you through the Bronx. There are two routes, a 25 mile and 42 mile. Monika told me about it about a month ago but I sought of turned my nose up in the air about it because big organized bike rides can sometimes be a drag. Later after that a friend of mine Sara talked with me and Monika about it wich then led to another conversation between me and Monika about it and I started to think maybe this was something not to be missed. A chance to represent my boro, my hood, a chance to ride on streets that otherwise are ruled by cars and or pedestrians, a chance to represent bikers, as well as a chance to bring more attention and awareness to bikers. So we decided to join in on this annual ride.
I have to say that this ride was a great ride and I really enjoyed seeing it. I was also really happy to be able to explain many of the neighborhoods to Monika as we rode through them. I was even pleasantly surprised to see some changes that happened in some areas that I hadn't seen in quite awhile ie. the sound view waterfront park and bike path. I was also surprised to find an area in west bronx just below Riverdale and North of Washington Heights/Inwood that had very beautiful old English Tudor, Victorian, and other old houses. This hidden suburbia just a stone throw from the 1 train and projects was a place I wasn't aware existed in the Bronx. I mean City Island, Country Club, Throggs Neck, Eastchester, and Pelham Parkway have beautiful homes, rich neighborhoods and expensive property tax to match but this was like a secret treasure.
From the begining I have to say that the event was well organized. We were greeted by Bronx Boro President Adolfo Carrion Jr., a couple of congressmen, other politicians, radio DeeJays, tv commercial celebraties and others. The rest stops offered up food and drinks, and much needed toilets. On the street there were these little code letters with arrows telling you were to turn. It wasnt until the end that I learned this, I was suprised that Monika seemed to know where to go even when we were at the head of the pack and didnt have a crowd to follow. Of course being on the ride and taking photos is difficult and as the ride went on I shot less photos and had to concentrate on biking. The cruelest part of the ride was after about 24 miles ( Orchard Beach ) biking close to our home and wanting to just go home and lay on the couch to watch some football and eat some popcorn. Thanks to Monika we kept on to finish the ride and see some of the Bronx that I wasnt so familiar with. Here are just a few of the photos I took. I'd like to say that the Transportation Alternatives citzens group is doing a great job in bringing bike awareness to the people and very active in street events and getting others involved in this battle.
Posted by Victor at October 22, 2006 11:39 AM
Comments
Victor you took some nice pictures. Could we see the black and white pictures you posted in color?
Thanks.
Posted by: Kassi at November 9, 2006 08:19 AM
Ey, ey, ey!!!
Dónde va toda esa gente? Por el Bronx en bici? a la gente de allí le gusta mucho las bicis, eh? si si...
me alegro de que estés haciendo cosillas. Un saludo, hermano.
PD. Cuándo viene el bebé? jejejeje
Posted by: david at October 29, 2006 10:15 AM
Yes voluntarily. The distance is from the start line that we biked to that is a few miles from our house so we really biked about 45 to 46 miles on that day. Towards the end of the ride we reached some pretty big hills, not as big as the hills I've biked in Vienna and Austria. ;-) We bike to work 2 to 3 times a week and the distance is 22 miles each way. The past weeks have been a little busy at work so we are lucky to get 1 ride in for the week. If you look at the link for the Tour de Bronx you can see the routes we took.
Posted by: victor at October 25, 2006 11:59 AM
42 miles? Now that CAN NOT be a coinsidence, right?
Almost 68 kilometers through the bronx? Voluntarily? RESPECT!
Posted by: Martin 'm3' Leyrer at October 25, 2006 11:17 AM
Hey thanks Martin! Actually that is the under pass that goes under Fordham Rd. It takes the middle lanes of The GrandConcourse to the other side with out having to deal with the heavy traffic of the Fordham rd shopping district.
Posted by: victor at October 23, 2006 04:42 PM
i like the third image best. good composition and light. the second image is the bridge on grand concourse right? right by yankee stadium...
Posted by: Martin at October 23, 2006 02:26 PM