Brooklyn!

Hard to believe it’s been just two hours since I took off for parts East. Rode the Hudson River path down to Warren and took that over to the Brooklyn Bridge access. Warren had lots of bike-lane abuse by cars, so I did as much walking as riding. Lots of people can weave in and out. Either it’s my bike or my balance, but I don’t yet have the confidence (or hubris) to do this. Ninnies rule! I took the sidewalk.

The Brooklyn Bridge – everyone knows it, and most people know it walking. The path is split with wider parts for pedestrians than bikes, but as a cyclist my main complaint is the wooden planks that form the crossing and are full of vibration. You wouldn’t notice it as a pedestrian (I didn’t). Maybe racing bikes have better shocks. I didn’t find it all that pleasant, though of course the views are spectacular, both of the Bridge and of Manhattan.

Some interesting graffiti.

Here's an interesting artifact I had not seen before: love locks. Lovers lock them to bridges (sometimes to bad effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_lock. Let's hope it doesn't take off here.

As I emerged I had my choice of whether to go along the waterfront or back over the Manhattan Bridge (or Bklyn if I wanted). Kind of lost – you really need to know just a couple of streets to get around, but I was unfamiliar – I followed what I thought was a sign to the Manhattan Bridge, only to find myself on a highway on ramp with no shoulder and a concrete abutment to my right. EEEEEK!!! Not what I had intended! I got as close to the abutment as I could and stopped there, hoping traffic would pass me by and allow me to back up. A concerned biker stayed with me from the other side, until the light changed and it was easy for me to reverse course. That was the worst part of my journey and one I now know better than to repeat.

Dumbo views beautiful as always. 

After that I had trouble getting my bearings. Looking for the waterfront path, I took the wrong direction. I consulted a construction worker - there is TONS of construction in Dumbo of course, as developers hurry to lure buyers into purchasing the best views of the City before the water rises and their main views are of their flooded basements - but he couldn't help.

Many cobblestone streets and flagstone sidewalks later I stumbled upon it – it exists, it’s long and it’s glorious! Well worth the ride out there, definitely going back! Incidentally, I’m not the only one who couldn’t find it – I was practically the only cyclist there.

And now for a little bike rant. The more I cycle, the more I take on the entitlement of a cyclist: indignant about bike lane abuses of all sorts, clueless bikers – and pedestrians - with headphones who can’t hear a bell (let alone a car horn), parked cars, pedestrians stepping into the bike lane to hail taxis, taxis. My latest peeve is speed bumps on the bike path. The Brooklyn waterfront path is quite wide. And they have put speed bumps in the part designated for bikes. In (another) futile attempt to legislate morality, the thinking is that cyclists will go slower. No. They will take the pedestrian path. Because speed bumps are not comfortable even if you are going slow. They are just an incentive to go somewhere else. There are a few along Riverside Park too – very aggravating. And BTW, Brooklyn Urban planners, the Brooklyn path you’ve provided isn’t all that smooth; it’s not that rewarding to hot dog anyway.

I took this path as far as I could take it, and I could have gone farther because the streets are pretty sleepy out there. Just warehouses mostly. Totally lost track of time. Felt as though I were in another world. There are large piers you can ride around, and many more opening up. Fun!!

When I came back (asked for directions this time, better than trying to use my map, although now I will consult and see what I actually did) I revisited the scene of my on-ramp debacle and found yet another path which I took for awhile. In sum: once you have a clue, there is GREAT biking in Brooklyn!

FYI, here's an interesting way of dealing with traffic...

Took the Manhattan Bridge back. Much more of an urban experience: as I was crossing, so was the D train right next to me – I liked that! No wooden planks, tho the concrete slabs are set about 15 ft apart so you’ll always feel that. The hill up was great training for Fiend’s Hill in Central Park – though to be honest I was in 3rd gear this time – because it’s longer. But it makes for great aerobic exercise and the Manhattan side is an easy coast; you don’t end up wearing out your brakes.

As for biking technique: I need to practice leaning to stop on my right side. This will lessen stress on my left shoulder. Otherwise, becoming more and more confident.

From the Manhattan side, I took Chrystie Street uptown (who knew it was so great for biking?). Should have jogged over to 1st Ave to go up, but made my way eventually up to East 9th (that’s Christopher) and over to the River where I felt I had the best air all day: the smell of  the harbor, of fir trees (first love, first kiss). Kind of sorry to come home.

One more thing. I took my scale downstairs this morning and put Lucille on it: 28lbs! That’s DOUBLE what a racing bike would weigh! She’s portable and handy (and very snazzy), but weighty. All the more incentive to put some time into upper body workout. When I did some research, I found that all folding bikes are upwards of 20 lbs. And it’s no good telling her to to go on a diet: Lucille is just big boned.