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Bike
New
York
-
5
May
2002
Story
and
photos
by
Scott
Schaffrick
(Click
on
thumbnails
for
larger
images)
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Although
the
goal
of
the
Daily
Peloton
is
to
provide
our
readers
with
the
most
current
and
up
to
date
information
on
the
European
and
American
racing
scenes,
this
year's
Bike
New
York,
a
five-boro
tour,
was
a
cycling
event
that
we
felt
we
needed
to
participate
in.
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Bike
New
York
is
the
world’s
largest
cycling
tour
with
participation
this
year
exceeding
30,000
cyclists.
Whether
you
are
a
fan
of
the
sport
of
cycling
or
just
merely
a
spectator
caught
up
in
the
events
of
the
day,
the
sight
of
a
30,000-member
peloton
creating
a
rolling
sea
of
colors
as
they
head
down
the
Avenue
of
the
Americas
is
a
sight
to
behold.
As
a
tour,
participants
come
in
all
sizes
and
shapes,
and
almost
every
age
group
is
represented.
For
one
day,
they
all
come
together
to
enjoy
the
sport
of
cycling.
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The
goal
is
to
complete
a
42-mile
journey
through
the
streets
of
New
York
and
for
one-day,
the
streets
are
completely
theirs.
The
City
of
New
York
has
allowed
the
cyclist
to
reign
supreme,
freeing
us
from
the
daily
adventures
of
combating
vehicular
traffic
and
pedestrians
walking
out
in
front
of
us
as
we
roll
along.
They
have
blocked
off
all
traffic
routes
and
provided
a
full
police
escort
on
this
grand
parade,
making
sure
nothing
comes
between
the
rider
and
the
destination.
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| Some
have
been
attending
this
event
every
year
and
make
a
family
outing
of
the
tour.
Others
are
new
and
worried
as
to
what
lies
ahead
of
them;
did
they
have
enough
to
finish
the
ride?
There
are
road
bikes
that
look
as
though
they
have
just
been
unloaded
from
the
team
vehicles,
mountain
bikes,
tandems,
recumbent,
children’s
bikes
and
trailers
too.
Almost
every
major
bicycle
manufacturer
and
apparel
company
is
represented
in
the
masses.
There
are
riders
with
state
of
the
art
equipment
and
clothing,
others
with
a
borrowed
bike
and
a
pair
of
gym
shorts.
For
each
rider,
the
tour
represents
something
different
and
you
can
see
it
in
their
faces
as
they
depart
from
the
start
line.
For
some,
it
is
the
opportunity
to
ride
shoulder-to-shoulder
with
members
of
the
Saturn
pro
squad,
as
Andy
Lee
has
brought
Rhasaan
Bahati
and
Kimberly
Davidge
to
town.
It
allows
the
opportunity
for
the
everyday
rider
to
feel
as
though
they
leading
the
break
or
watching
an
attack
from
within
the
group.
For
others
it
is
the
opportunity
to
get
out
and
enjoy
a
beautiful
day
with
friends
and
family.
This
is
evident
by
the
various
attachments
and
addition
made
to
the
helmets
to
show
they
have
come
as
a
group.
With
plastic
beer
bottles,
wind
fans
and
fly
swatters
added
to
the
helmets
it
resembles
something
of
a
college
frat
party
gone
awry.
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Pamela
Tice,
the
Executive
Director
of
Bike
New
York
summed
it
up
best
when
she
said
that
"New
York
needed
to
have
this
event
and
this
event
needs
to
be
in
New
York."
This
is
true
for
several
reasons;
this
is
the
first
big
cycling
event
to
occur
since
the
tragedies
and
merely
holding
it
shows
a
sign
of
normalancy
in
our
routines.
Also,
what
better
way
to
show
unity
then
bringing
30,000
cyclists
together
with
hundreds
of
volunteers
and
support
staff,
and
then
setting
them
free
on
the
streets
with
10,000,000
people
cheering
them
on.
You
want
to
talk
about
a
sign
of
unity?
There
is
no
better
way
-
united
they
rode.
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As
if
the
event
itself
and
everything
it
represented
this
year
were
not
enough,
this
also
marked
the
25th
anniversary
of
the
tour.
Since
it’s
inception
in
1977,
Bike
New
York
has
grown
in
size
from
a
mere
250
participants
with
the
NYPD
leap-frogging
to
intersection
in
attempts
to
stop
traffic
to
well
over
30,000
cyclist
shutting
down
the
roadways.
If
you
think
this
is
something
that
you
would
like
to
do
in
the
future,
please
contact
the
staff
of
Bike
New
York
and
join
the
thousands
who
traveled
from
all
over
the
world
just
to
participate.
Swell
with
pride
as
the
announcer
calls
out
the
name
of
your
hometown
as
you
pass
under
the
starting
banner
and
you
head
out.
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| This
year’s
event
paid
respects
to
all
who
were
involved
in
the
events
of
September
11,
2002.
Not
just
those
who
paid
the
ultimate
price,
but
those
who
heeded
the
call
for
help
and
responded
anyway
they
could.
At
the
start
of
the
day’s
festivities
a
moment
of
silence,
reflection
and
prayer
was
held
for
the
victims
who
perished
only
blocks
from
where
we
all
came
together.
A
special
thanks
was
handed
down
to
the
members
of
the
NYPD
who
were
on
hand
in
full
force
for
our
safety.
They
were
on
foot,
in
every
intersection,
in
cars,
on
motorcycles,
and
on
bicycles
with
us
as
we
rode
as
one
through
the
streets
of
New
York.
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Fuji's
Kevin
Moran
with
New
York's
finest
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| The
day’s
festivities
conclude
as
the
tour
crosses
over
the
Verrazano
Narrows
Bridge,
after
having
commandeered
the
whole
lower
level.Then
they
roll
into
Fort
Wadsworth
for
a
six-hour
festival,
complete
with
massages
for
the
riders,
live
music
and
a
host
of
vendors
giving
away
sample
after
sample
to
the
weary
riders.
Today
has
been
a
great
day
and
one
I
will
come
back
to
enjoy
next
year.
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| A
special
thank
you
to
Sergeant
Simmons,
who
coordinated
my
day's
events
and
Officer
Secreto,
who
assisted
me
all
day
in
addition
to
his
regular
duties
with
the
tour.
Also,
to
the
members
of
the
5th
Precinct
who
shared
their
offices
and
coffee
so
early
in
the
morning:
Thanks,
guys.
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We
leave
you
with
photos
of
Saturn
Team
members
Rahsaan
Bahati,
Kimberly
Davidge
and
Andy
Lee,
and
the
great
Lady.
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Officer
Jim
Secreto
with
Saturn's
Kim
Davidge
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Rahsaan
Bahaati
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Kimberly
Davidge
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Andy
Lee
(Director
of
Operations,
Saturn
Cycling)
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Copyright © 2002-2011
by Daily Peloton.
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