The 32,000 rider 5 Boro Bike Tour took place on May 5th, and the Club had a table at the packet pickup/expo on May 2-4 and at the Finish Festival on May 5th. Club volunteers spoke to hundreds of people and explained who we are, our rides, and how we operate. And had fun chatting with potential members.

Allan Friedman worked the expo and finish festival on all 4 days. Allan was joined at the Expo by volunteers Margery Cooper, Janice Fortune, Jonathan Merrill, Rachel Pousson, Al Randolph, Michael Tassone, Erigove Thomas, Mary Walsh and me.

In addition, many 5BBC members were volunteer marshals on the ride itself. 5BBC members helped make to a glorious day for a ride by keeping 32,000 cyclists and pedestrians safe, helping with flats, repairs and injuries, and distributing food and drinks to hungry and thirsty riders.

Thanks to all 5BBC members who volunteered! We couldn't have done it without you.

5BBC Members: the Club needs a few volunteers who can talk to potential members for a couple hours at the Brooklyn Bike Jumble in Park Slope on May 18. We especially need help from 2:00-4:00 pm. Please click the "Read More" link for details.

I hope 5BBC members will join me in thanking Mary Paul, Maureen Gaffney, and Ed DeFreitas for promoting the Club to riders at the Tour de Staten Island on April 21st. Thanks to their efforts, the Club's visibility increased and potential members learned about the Club and how we do our rides.

Thanks Ed, Maureen, and Mary!

The Club needs members to serve as Club ambassadors at the Five Boro Bike Tour Packet Pickup on May 2, 3 and 4, and at the Finish Festival at the end of the ride on May 5. Please email Volunteer Coordinator Eric Brooks at volunteer@5bbc.org if you can volunteer on any of those days and include "Volunteer" in the subject line.

Click "Read More" for more details.

News Letters

Five tips to move you off of the waitlist and onto the ride.

A Poem by Bernie Brandell

Prose and Poetry

In addition to being a great rider and mechanic, Club member Bernie Brandell writes poetry. Here is his latest:

"THE BIKER" by Bernie Brandell

GIVE ME A BIKEWAY -- ALL PAINTED GREEN
A SAFE/DIVIDE FROM TRAFFIC SCENE
POINT OUT THE WAY -- TO TREE LINED TRAIL
I MAY ZOOM BY -- WITH WIND AT THE TAIL

LEGS STRAIN TO PEDAL
RIGHT FROM THE START
FIRM ON SADDLE
KICK-START THE HEART

PEDAL PRESS SPRING 0R SUMMER
FALL, A RIDERS CALL
WINTER WEATHER IS A BUMMER
WHEN BIKES ARE HUNG IN STALL

GLASS CANYONS GOODBY
I'LL SEEK OPEN SKY
STAY TRIM AND IN SHAPE
GREAT OUTDOORS ESCAPE

S0 ABANDON YOUR CARS
JUST FOR A DAY
GRIP HANDLEBARS
ON YOUR MERRY WAY

Here are Holiday Carols sung....well, "sung" would be a very charitable and expansive description....at the December 13 5BBC holiday party.

Hark! I’m On A Bike Club Ride!
(to the tune of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”)

Hark! I’m on a Bike Club ride!
I hope I picked one that fits my stride
Not too slow and not too fast
Not too short and not too vast
I started with a Happy Face
Then advanced to a moderate pace
Should I try something more advanced?
(For a full Quick Spin, I’m a bit askance)
Maybe a ride that’s a tiny bit faster
One step at a time, then all I will master!

(Click the link to see more carols.)

A Poem for the holidays

Kaizening Your Route

Annual Club Memberships and First Time Membership/One Month Trial

Remembering Bob Castro

Not all Scout Rides Work

Bob Castro, 1937-2021

You don't have to log thousands of miles to gain rewards from riding a bike.

You have a bike. You have ridden around the neighborhood. Maybe you commute. Now, you have decided to join the 5BBC. And you wonder, what makes a good club rider? This article will attempt to answer that question.

Borough by Borough

Consider helping us do more, please :)

A guide to Winter Riding

How to ride with the 5BBC

Personalize and send this letter to your City Council representative

How to be a little safer...for you and other cyclists

Cyclists encountered a seal during a ride.

They partied like it was 1999, because it was.... how they met:

Sharon Behnke describes why she bike rides.

Bicycling for a cause

To Phil and Tod and Our Vacation in Ireland

A Guide to Riding with the 5BBC

The Gentle Giant Who Made You Laugh

Thoughts In Memory of Phil O'Reilly by Mary Lou Martinez

A short guide to Winter cycling

See you down the road

Why to ride in Queens

Newbie 5bbc Member adjusts to commuting

Why to ride in the Bronx

Montreal Bike Tour Report

Cycling the Erie Canal Tour 2014

A Guide to Cold Weather Riding

Why Ride with the 5BBC?

In-depth discussion of current science-based views and recommendations

Ventures in Vermont: A recently discovered account of my mother's 1944 bike trip

A bicycle ride to High Bridge with Helen Rosenthal, Member New York City Council

Did you know?

Inspiration for a future 5BBC bicycle course?

Safe Riding Series

Safe Riding Series

A North of the Border Adventure

What the B&O hath wrought, we can use for a path.

Survival Guide

Synchronized sweeping, friendly procyonids, aerial symphonies; what's not to like?

How YOU can help us list more on 5bbc.org! Easy as 1-2-3!

Some important bike safety tips

Anatomy Of A Ride Not Taken

2014: A Personal Biking Review

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Cross Town Streets: Should I Be On the Left or Right?

5BBC on a Global Scale?

The 5BBC Guide to Safe Biking

Becoming a leader

A moral dilemma arises on a 5bbc ride in Brooklyn

Cycling in Sevilla - Getting it Right.

5BBC Benefits - Overseas Edition

Introduction to Bike Commuting. Why commute by bike?

A Tale of Two Montauks

Common symptoms of improper bike fit

Me and The Truck

Defensive cycling

Preparations to make for rides

Information about Quick Spin rides

West Maui Tour Report