Brooklyn by Bike

Stumbled upon this video with my namesake and had to post it up. According to the guy taking us over the Brooklyn bridge to Williamsburg (which doesn’t even take you there) you can find David Byrne’s bike rack called the “hipster.” Good for a laugh. Enjoy.

Recycle-A-Bicycle will be holding its 15^th Birthday Celebration: A Benefit Auction Featuring the NY400 Fleet of Batavus Bicycles & Bike-themed Art at Superfine 126 Front Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

Recycle-A-Bicycle has been creating an arsenal of bike art from hand-crafted from bike parts by volunteers for a sale at the event.

Tickets to RAB’s benefit and 15 year birthday start at a $20 donation and include food and drink – not mention that you can meet your favorite cycling blogger, yours truly at the event! You can find the event on Facebook or online at www.recycleabicycle.org.

You might remember last year of a major dispute between the Hasidic community and bicycle community in Williamsburg regarding the Kent Ave bike lane. While that lane though redesigned stayed, last week the DOT stripped 14 blocks of bike lane off the street neighboring Bedford Ave with no warning or community voice. Bedford Ave bike lane provides a direct connection for cyclists to the the Williamsburg bridge – possibly the most highly trafficked bike commuter bridge in the city. The community is understandably upset considering how much work and community support must go into installing a bike lane. Apparently removing one requires no thought at all.

Yesterday Gothamist reported that a few people were arrested by the Shomrim or local watchdogs for trying to repaint the lane on Bedford though other sources report no one was actually arrested. Regardless, a group called  “OccupyEverything” succeeded in repainting the lane anyway!

1. Biking Rules PSA and Film Competition – Nov 17th

Transportation Alternatives presents an evening screening of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to promote why Biking Rules in NYC. Come see over the premiere of jury-selected PSA entries at BAM Cinematek. The evening will include prizes and a special reception afterward with free beer courtesy of the Brooklyn Brewery. Tickets are $11.

2. Cranksgiving – Nov 21st

An annual charity ride that collects food for the homeless and funds for City Harvest and the New York Bike Messenger Foundation. It’s been happening for over a decade now and has spread to at least a dozen other cities. But this is where it started, in New York City. Free registration for the race is at 2pm on November 21, and the race will begin at 3pm.

3. Weekend Bike Ride in Cobble Hill – Nov 8th

The Cobble Hill Association and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative are hosting a 10-mile casual bike ride that will start at Cobble Hill Park and pass through Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, the Columbia Waterfront District, Red Hook, and Carroll Gardens then loop back to Cobble Hill. RSVP cobblehillbikeride@gmail.com

4. How Much to Fix My Crappy Bike?

Alright so this isn’t an event but Brokelyn sent around @Bushwickwill in search of the cheapest bike repairs in Brooklyn for his girlfriend’s crappy bike. Check it out, it’s good stuff.

Got any other bike related events I should add to the calendar? Comment below!

Sunny 60 degree weather in October spent on a bicycle with a group of friendly people had to have been the best way to end a season of rides here on Brooklyn by Bike!

Our Gears & Grub ride with VendrTV hit famed street food spots in Brooklyn from Sunset Park Chinatown to the Red Hook ball fields and the Brooklyn Flea.

[For more photos from the ride check out Flickr. Were you on the ride? Add you photos to our Flickr pool or to our Facebook event page! Map is below.]

Thanks to everyone who came out! I had a blast. We’ll do it again next season (unless I get that winter ride together)!

View Larger Map

Check out this video from streetsfilms explaining the different types of New York City bike lanes and examples of the their implementation. We’re on our way to becoming a world class cycling city! [via Streetsblog]

Bike lanes: In some cities people are so desperate for them they’ll go so far as to mark their own. Here in New York City, it

This past Saturday, we completed an epic Tour de Taco Ride through Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. The ride itself was around 36 miles. Though nine stops were planned, we only made it to six taco joints – a pretty decent showing nonetheless. (See the list and map below.) Along the way each taco was rated on a scale of 1 -5 in the categories of tortilla, filling, guac and spices.

[For more photos from the ride check out our Flickr. Were you on the ride? Add you photos to our Flickr pool!]

Personally I thought Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, a tortilla factory and taco place, killed the competition.  Their tacos had the best marinated meat and a crispy soft taco shell.  That combined with the ambiance of sitting in an actual factory, placed it high on many lists.

Once the Tour de Taco ratings are complied, I believe the winning taco joint will receive an award. We’ll keep you posted!

Here’s the list of taco places with the tour map below

01. Taqueria y Fonda – Amsterdam btwn 107th & 108th, Manhattan
02. Tortilleria Nixtamal – Corona, Queens
03. Papacitos – Greenpoint, BK
04. Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos – Bushwick, BK
05. Tacos Matamoros – Sunset Park, BK
06. Tacos Nuevo Mexico – Park Slope, BK
View Larger Map

Out in the heart of Queens there is a little known velodrome buzzing with track racers from the area. We rode out there this past Sunday to watch the New York state elite finals. Though most us of didn’t know the first thing about track racing (no brakes, no gears), a racer from MIT was kind enough to explain the matches and the rules.

[More photos are on Flickr. Were you on the ride? Add photos to our group pool! Our map of the ride is on Ride the City.]

That's MIT Mike on the right.

We learned a little something, got to watch the 20 lap races and meet some fantastic people on our way. Post ride we even had our second #bikenyc tweetup at Berry Park. As one of our riders put it, “cycling must really be marginalized if this is the big state event and you can’t even get a sandwich.” It’s true. We could all stand to support our local cycling community a bit more and I definitely recommend you check out the Kissena velodrome. They have some upcoming labor day events. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen.