Some upcoming highlights include…

Street Skills Cycling Workshop – May 15th

Sideluck Bike Show – May 19th

Brooklyn Bike Jumble – May 20th

This Friday April 13th, come out to Red Lantern Bikes (one of my favorite shops and place of our fall meetup) to support Krys Blakemore, a fellow #BikeNYC member and mechanic who was hit by a car on Atlantic Ave earlier this month. Can’t make it? Throw some buck here to the recovery fund.

Red Lantern Bicycles - 345 Myrtle Avenue, $5 donation

Eleanor’s, a pop up shop in Dekalb market is turning into an online store and blog for women’s cycling accessories.

Apparently riding your bike can be bad for your lady parts says the New York Times blog. If you ride your bike like the woman in their photo, I can understand why.

Chris Arnade, famous for his NYC pigeon series, has an excellent set of #BikeNYC photos up. Different from your usual cycle chic and fixie bikes, he cronicals bike clubs in Bushwick and East New York.

photos by Chris Arnade

Tonight, December 5th from 6:30-9:30pm is Recycle a Bicycle’s Annual Benefit. Tickets start at just $25 and go to a great cause. Join us tonight at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe at 126 Crosby Street in SoHo, NYC MAP Click here to purchase advance tickets, to make a donation, or to become a member of RAB.

December 14th at 7pm, join us for our #bikenyc winter edition meetup at Bicycle Habitat. We’ll be making mulled wine and catching up with the lovely cycling community here in NYC. RSVPs are now open!

Also! We have a new ride to Red Hook and Performa 11 this Saturday, Nov 12th. Come join!

My first trip was an ill-fated one to see the Jardin Botanique. I spent more than the allotted 30min Bixi time getting lost on my way to the park. I should mention that riding a Bixi is the equivalent to riding an SUV bike. They are 3 speed, heavy, upright machines. Having been used to my road bike in NYC, I wasn’t prepared for the time difference and the bikeshare is built for short commutes. It begins charging after 30min, 60 min and so on. (Later I learned that it is easy to dock at any station for two minutes and then set off again.) When I arrived at my destination, I discovered a full bike rack which meant, asking for more time and cycling a bit out of my way for the next rack. So much for my first experience but it still beat taking a Metro and bus and I ended up using the system four more times throughout the day without problems.

As with most bikeshares, the majority of stations are concentrated downtown. For my first three days in the city, this wasn’t a problem since I stayed in the center of town. I also got to use the Bixi system as a member which allows you to swipe your key and take a bike right away. I found it easy to head off to the Mile End area of town and then back downtown to the Musée d’Art Contemporain (both of which are fantastic and recommended). I also questioned the need for 3 speeds on the bike until I cycled part way up Mont Royal and over the Jacque Cartier bridge. It was then that I learned it is possible to cross bridges and cycle hills on a three speed dutch bike!

up the hill to Mont Royal, the old hospital

I spent my last two days further out in the city as a paid 24 hr member. This required me to swipe my credit card every time and obtain an unlocking code. Not totally inconvenient, but I did encounter two stations where the computers did not work. I also found more empty bike racks on the outskirts of the city. Even with these issues, I still had the best time cycling everywhere in Montreal. It cost me $12 to get around for the week and I experienced one the great joys in every city, riding fast downhill.

While you’re there check out some of my favorite spots, Le Cagibi, Drawn & Quarterly, Patati Patata (for poutine!) and hike up Mont Royal. The colors are perfect this time of year.

at the top of Mont Royal

Nite Ize Spokelit Bicycle Light, $7-8 

Simple and bright, these lights attach to your spokes and light your wheels green or red. They come in a strobe or solid function, are easy to install and increase your side visibility.

Monkey Light Bike Light, $59.99

You might have heard of these guys from their Kickstarter project. These 23 LED lights and display full color 8-bit graphics on your spinning bike wheel. They are programmable and allow for you to select different colors and patterns. Looks for a product review coming soon!

LED Flash Tyre Wheel Valve Cap, $4-5

These LEDs which screw into your bicycle valves are the most economical choice. They come in blue, pink, yellow and green. Be sure you have Schrader valves or the won’t attach. They are cheap and the accelerometer can be spotty at times.

The itinerary included:

1. Los Hermanos – Bushwick
2. El Globo – Corona, Queens
3. Roosevelt Ave Taco Trucks
4. Acapulco - Greenpoint
5. Tulchingo Deli IV – Sunset Park
6. After party @ DeKalb Market

We didn’t make it to the last two due to time but opted to grab a beer and tacos at the Woods in Williamsburg before heading to DeKalb Market for the after party. The boys of the ride loved all the meat tacos at El Globo, recommended by Jeffrey Tastes at the Nixtamal killer. The veggie tacos there were pretty awful though. Overall, Los Hermanos was a group favorite again as well as the trucks on Roosevelt Ave.

Were you on the tour? Which was your favorite?

For more photos check out our Flickr and add to our pool.

What I like…

• Schwalbe Marathons are one of the cheaper heavy duty performance tires. I paid around $39.50/tire on Amazon. In NYC you can easily find bike shops charging $55+ for the same type of tire.
• Tires handle just as well as lighter tires on the road. With the thicker tread, I actually feel less bumps on the road.
• They are under the radar in the US but tried an true in Europe. Paris’ Velib bike share trusts them!
• Reflective side walls!

What I don’t like…

• Tires are harder to put on your bike because of the stiff sidewalls.
• The Marathons are heavier than my stock tires.

I’ve been riding the Marathons almost everyday since August with no problems and no flats. I only once wiped out on these treads during a heavy rain night but to the tire’s credit I was riding a curve with a grate at a very high speed. I suppose that’s my own stupidity:) Overall they are extremely durable and responsive tires which are worth the investment on NYC city streets!

Ming taught us a bunch about the history of Chatham square and gave us a very personal look into her life and knowledge of Chinatown. Did you know that Lin Zexu, the leader against the English-Chinese opium trade, statue stands with his back facing Wall St? Ming also intorduced us to her favorite restaurants and even a secret passageway. It was the first of a series of tours so if you didn’t make it out this time, more are in the works!

Also a big thank you to everyone who came out to the #bikenyc meetup on Oct 4th at Red Lantern Cycles! We had a huge turnout, of 40/50ish people, great vibes and one of the best birthdays I’ve had in awhile. Thanks to Brian of Red Lantern for being so awesome, providing the space, tunes and keeping the beer flowing. All of this was made possible by Google Places. Thanks! Until the next one, keep riding. If you have photos, please send! Seems I was too sloshed to take any proper photos.

Next up, Tour de Taco #3 this Sunday, Oct 9th. It is going to be epic.

Tour de Taco 2011 will include five stops through Brooklyn and Queens. It is a fun and causal ride brought to you by three friends who love tacos and bicycles -myself, Emily and Tishon.  This year’s ride will be capped to 75 people. If you show up and we are over the limit you are welcome to ride on your own.

Taco joints (subject to change) include:

• Los Hermanos – Bushwick
• TBD – Sunset Park
• La Esquina – Williamsburg
• El Globo – Corona
• Roosevelt Ave Trucks – Queens
• After party & group reunion @ Dekalb Market

For a pre tour meetup, come say hello at our #bikenyc meetup on Oct 4th @ 7 pm at Red Lantern Bicycles (345 Myrtle). There will be free beer, fun cyclists and your friendly organizers.

We love you but do not take responsibility or liability for you on this ride, so please ride safe!

Photos from our first ever tour are here.