Pedal Pedal Wherever You Are

This post is long overdue. Well, four days so.

Four days ago, April 30, marked the one year anniversary [for lack of a better word] of the loss of my Green Monster.



Correction: not 'loss'. Edit: '..since my bike was stolen, since someone rode off with it as if it were his.' ..There went yet another a-hole, a year and four days ago.

Three days ago marked the first day of May and the first day of Bike Month in NYC. The timing could not have been better considering this warm weather we've been graced with and especially after that seemingly never-ending winter.

One day ago the 'largest recreational cycling event in the United States', aka. the 5 Boro Bike Tour, was held. It's amazing to cruise down the FDR on a bicycle, no doubt. It's also amazing that about 32,000 people participated this year. Way to go (literally) NYC!

Biking really is HealthyButJuicy.

Health-wise, it's a great form of physical activity: pedal pedal; for cardio: pedal faster; for strength: pedal uphill-- try Amsterdam in Harlem, or Lexington between 102 & 103 Sts. Moreover, it's not hard on your knees like running and you don't even need to necessarily take time out of your day-- biking is a great means of transportation, in which case, add 'green' to its perks. As for juicy, yes, it leaves your buns firm and so.


For bicycle newbies, here are some tips..

HELMET. Period.

Skin protection: Sunscreen and perhaps fingerless gloves.

More protection: Invest in good lockS if you're going to park your bike and walk away— biking's not fun when you don't have a bike. This dood from Bicycle Habitat, a bike shop in Soho, takes you on a bike lockup critique walk. Search YouTube for 'How To Lock Your Bike' for more references.

Hydration: Water. Slurrrrrrp.

Air: Pump your tires before you head out-- flats are fun for girls' feet, not biking.

The 'day of rest': Make it a day of pedaling instead. If you're nervous about traffic try starting on a Sunday. Drivers are typically fewer in number, not in a rush, and in better moods after a whole Saturday off from the jobs they're not happy with.

For more adventurous types (in NYC) you can also try bike polo. Briefly, like polo with horses but on...

...Bikes! Yes!.. Good job.

The folks— boys and girls — are a friendly bunch and write:

Now, our home court is The Pit at Chrystie & Broome Streets. We play there on Thursdays & Sundays. We play on a tennis court in Brooklyn on Flushing between North Portland & North Oxford on Tuesdays.. ..

Newcomers are always welcome. Come out with a bike and we’ll loan you a mallet. It might look & sound like a dangerous sport, and it is, but we’ll take it easy on you the first few times.

For more info: check out the NYC Bike Polo website.


Happy Healthy Juicy, Biking Buns!