Monday, January 16, 2012

Bike New York or Bike the Drive?


As stated previously, my goal for 2012 is to participate in three organized bike rides
.  
Registration Bike New York’s TD Five Boro Bike Tour opens tomorrow. The ride which will take place on the first Saturday in May is open to 32,000 riders.  Due to the demand for spaces in this ride they have instituted a lottery system this year and you must pay a $6.00 fee to enter the lottery. If chosen,  the fee to ride is $75.00. This ride is 42 miles and touches on all five boros of New York City.  I grew up in New Jersey and have lived in New York City on more than one occasion. It would be fun to ride through my former living and working neighborhoods.  

Registration for Chicago’s Bike the Drive which takes place on the Sunday before Memorial Day begins on Friday.  This appears to be a less intense experience than the Five Boro  and I am considering this ride instead. I have never been to Chicago and would supplement the ride with one of the guided bicycle tours through Chicago neighborhoods that are offered.

In either event, there is good information on the Bike NYC website on how to prepare for a ride of this length. According to the website the first step is to begin by following the CDC's physical activity recommendations: 150 minutes of moderate activity (like brisk walking) or 75 minutes of intense activity (like running) each week. I got in 30 minutes of moderate activity at the gym today, including riding a stationary bicycle. I found even this small amount of exercise challenging.  I've got lots of work to do.  

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
-- Lao-tzu (c. 604-c. 531 B.C.)

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