Biking Adventures: The NYC Century Tour 2011!

This Sunday was my latest bike tour - the NYC Century Bike Tour! You may forget this, but I only started riding my bike a lot 2 years ago, after my first tour in 2009 (the 5 Boro). That year I did the 55 mile course of the Century and last year I did the 75 mile course. This year, however, I was ready to do the full century. That's right, 100 miles! Check out the map (the orange line is the 100).

Of course I also needed to bike myself to the starting line and then back home, so I actually knew I'd be doing closer to 115. Whatevs. What's an extra fifteen or so miles at that point, right? I'm awesome and I can do it! Before I tell you about the event, I have to tell you about an incident that occurred the day before...

I went to Whole Foods on the Bowery to stock up on my produce. As I'm locking up my bike, I look up and see a face that can only be described as flawless. Angelic. Phenomenal.

I saw THIS face:

That's Tyson Beckford - he's so beautiful and symmetrical. Look at that face!!!

That's right ladies (and my many gay male readers), it was TYSON FREAKING BECKFORD in the flesh!

I stopped in my tracks when I realized it was him, looked him right in the eye and said "My GOD you are GORGEOUS!" His reply? "So are you!" (um, what?! stop it! who?! me??? No, YOU!!!) I was trying really hard not to be flustered but I was pretty flustered. Good thing he was so sweet and personable. He told me he was watching me ride my bike across the street and couldn't believe I was doing it in heels. He told me it was very sexy (seriously, he said that). I was becoming more flustered and babbling on about how much I love my bike and my big bike tour on Sunday and how I'd be riding that bike over 100 miles. He told me I was strong and had great legs. (Tyson Beckford said I had great legs! Is this really happening?!) I knew that if I encountered any challenging hills on the NYC Century Tour I would be telling myself "Tyson Beckford said you have great legs. You can do this!" He actually asked me if I have a website and I didn't think of telling him to google "BitchCakes". I just said sherylyvette.com! I hope he remembered and sees this. Or googles himself and finds it. Anyway,  he could NOT have been more sweet. Really, he was incredible. And since I'm pretty shameless when it comes to meeting celebs, I asked if we could get photos. He kindly obliged!

Yes please

because one photo is just not enough

That was incredible. Thank you, Tyson!

Anyway, back to Sunday, here's how the day went...

0400 After a mere 5 hours of sleep, I woke up, ate breakfast and got ready. I went with this as my official bike tour outfit:

official outfit of my longest bike ride to date: The NYC Century!

I wore:

• Nude bustier from Orchard Corset (about $40)
• Skirt from American Apparel ($70)
• Belt from Payless ($10)
• Stockings from Nordstrom ($9)
• Shoes from Payless ($20)
• Black Cardigan from Banana ($30)
• Leopard jacket from Target ($40)

At 5:15 I left home, riding to the start alone to the starting line in Central Park. It was pretty cold out (thus the leopard jacket) and still dark outside:

Leaving Greenpoint before sunrise

I rode over the Pulaski Bridge to Long Island City (Queens) and then over the 59th St Bridge-

On that bridge, I ran into a few other friends who were also riding in the tour. Here's some of them when we were waiting for the light at the Manhattan side of the bike path-

Eric, David Patrick 1A and Elliot

By 6:00 I arrived in the Central Park at the starting line (way up on 110th St) Dave and crew still needed to check in and get their bibs-

But I already had mine (I always pre-register) so I took off, starting the tour alone around 6:10. My plan was to meet up with Amanda, Robbie, Ann & Matt at their starting line, in Prospect Park. But it took much longer to get to that portion of the tour than I anticipated, so they started without me.

Before long, and after the sun came up (around 34th St on the west side of Manhattan), who caught up with me but one of my favorite cycling & drinking buddies, David Patrick 1A!

(I <3 that he calls me ma'am. Such a gentleman.)

Those boys took off (I don't mind, I know I'm slower than most other cyclists) and I continued on my own.

Which way, did they go, sir? Oh, south on Broadway? Thanks!

On Lafayette, by Canal St

Leaving Manhattan, riding over the unmistakeable and undeniably beautiful Brooklyn Bridge

I stopped up there for a moment to get a photo of the incredible sunrise behind the Manhattan Bridge and while up there, another rider asked to get a photo of me. I said sure, as long as she got one for me too!

Sunrise behind the Manhattan Bridge

On the Brooklyn half of the Brooklyn Bridge - the light was beautiful!

Eventually, I made it into Prospect Park

Still riding through Prospect Park

somewhere in Brooklyn - I love these things!

I actually stopped to get this photo. I almost never stop on a bike tour. But I had to get this one for Panda cause it's a unicorn!

And then I waited for a passerby to snap this awesome shot!

I'm not sure where we were at this point, but I'm guessing Bay Ridge since we were close the Verrazano. This is Ashton (you may not recognize him with his shirt on). I met him at this year's World Naked Bike Ride in July.

I'm a fan of signs. And pointing at stuff. Tour is that-a-way! Let's go!!

Passing Nathan's at Coney Island

And passing the Cyclone at Coney Island

I stopped at the first rest stop for water and I was so delighted to stumble upon my crew!! I can't believe they waited for me! I was a happy girl.

Ann, Me, Amanda

My crew, ready to roll! Robbie, Amanda, Ann, Matt.

We made it to Queens taking the same Gil Hodges bridge we took many times this summer on our beach/bike trips. But this time we had to pass Fort Tilden, Jacob Riis and Rockaway Beach, not stopping at Rockaway Taco like we did many times this summer. RIP Summer Times 2011

We continued on in Queens and I have no idea where we were or how Ann saw this while riding, but I was half a block ahead before I knew we were pulling over. She scored a Cabbage Patch kid phone and could NOT have been more thrilled. Congrats on your score, little lady! (if you're wondering, yes, it works!)

I had an eyelash emergency and had to remove and re-glue it on at the next stop. What, doesn't every cyclist carry emergency eyelash glue?

While there I met this character. His name is Bill, from Kalamazoo Michigan, and he rides a recumbant. Turns out he knew who I was and his wife, Nancy, reads my blog! (Hi Nancy!)

This is my friend Matt, who has a fantastic moustache. He was marshaling the tour and not only helped lots of cyclists along the way, but was also a huge help to me (as you will see later)

Oh no! We rode through mud and the HK Cruiser got dirty :( (if you notice pink in my bustier, it's tissues. My allergies have been out of control for about a month)

Panda in the muddy water. She took it slow and didn't make a mess.

Somewhere in Queens. Matt & Me - I love this shot!

We hit Flushing Meadows Park - which you might recognize from the Tour de Queens

I love this shot - Robbie rides towards the Unisphere

I made Ann & Amanda do the Victory Arms pose with me, even though we weren't anywhere near done...

We were in Queens FOREVER. Seriously. For hours. I saw more of Queens on this day than I've seen in my entire life. And whoever planned out this route was evil. I am fairly certain they found EVERY hill in Queens and made us ride them. There were a few that were *so* steep I didn't think I would make it. Of course I have no photos of those because I'm holding onto my handlebars for dear life on those hills. I can't lift an arm to get a photo. Suffice it to say, I made it and I was shocked more than once. Yes, I was slow, but I did it! (and so many other cyclists that saw me gave me props for being so strong)

I love when my bike makes shadows, and I like that I caught part of my bib in my rear view mirror

Did I mention we were in Queens for what felt like a YEAR?

Still in Queens. That's the Throgs Neck Bridge to the Bronx. But we weren't taking that one...

Passing the Candela Structures

We were by both LaGuardia and JFK airports. I could not get over how enormous the planes were as they came in for a landing. I actually screamed after taking this because this plane was even bigger and lower - it terrified me!

another bridge we did not ride over

Passing Rikers Island

At the Queens rest stop under the Triboro with Malaika (of Packable Feast) & Mandy (aka The Bike Writer) At this rest stop, we lost Ann but picked up Malaika.

This is where Matt came to my rescue. He carried my Hello Kitty Cruiser (all 50 pounds of her) up and down multiple sets of stairs on the Triboro Bridge pedestrian walk. I could not have done this myself, I'm so thankful he was there - thank you, Matt!

on the Triboro headed to Randall's Island

Over the Triboro, in Randall's Island and at the split - no question, we are continuing straight on for the 100!

Finally headed to the Bronx!

in the Bronx

I like painted No Parking signs

Lines & colors in the Bronx

On Southern Blvd, passing the Bronx Zoo

Marshals at the Van Cortlandt golf course rest stop in the Bronx

While we were at that rest stop, (the last one!), we got word that they were packing up the t-shirts back in Central Park. OMG no! I couldn't NOT have a tour t-shirt! I have a t-shirt from every event I've ever done!! I must get a shirt! But I also found out they were *gasp* taking down the FINISH LINE banner! NOOOOOO! I wanted a photo in front of it! I gathered my peeps and told them we had to (cue Tim Gunn)  "go, go, go"!

on the Broadway Bridge, leaving the Bronx and crossing back into Manhattan

At a light in Manhattan and really glad we are not going up that hill there on the right.

along the Harlem River - I thought that was so sweet

Amanda, Eric & Me. Eric is (believe it or not) the guy that rode the pennyfarthing in the Tour de Queens this past July! He did the century tour on a more traditional bike.

Somewhere in Manhattan, on our way back to Central Park. I was trying to get a photo of the 3 cops in front of that store but this passerby got in there. I kind of like it anyway.

At this point we were just blocks from Central Park and the adrenaline and excitement kicked in - I couldn't believe we had done it, we rode into the park, about to finish strong!

And over 12 hours after leaving 110th Street, I was back where I started.

Sure enough, the finish line had been taken down but that didn't dampen our spirits. There were high-fives, smiles & congrats all around. Here we are posing for our unofficial finish line photo-

Back in Central Park where the finish line *should be* - We did it!!!!! We rode the Century Tour!! What an awesome group!

And I managed to score a shirt as they were packing them up (yes!)

By the time I made it back to Central Park, I had ridden about 112 miles. And believe it or not, I felt fine. Nothing hurt, I was just looking forward to getting back to Greenpoint because I had another item on my agenda: celebratory beer & fries! (not that I'm predictable or anything)

Riding home over the 59th St Bridge - yes, back in Queens!

It figures - the drawbridge to Brooklyn was open on the Pulaski, delaying me from beer & fry goodness. But that just heightened my desire for them, so it was ok.

Finally! My meal of champions! I made it to Habitat! And ordered a wheat beer & waffle fries. ZOMG, yes!

Here is a snapshot of my cyclometer:

It says 117.29 miles, but it was closer to 120 because for a short while I didn't have it on (it goes off when I'm in rest stops and I have to remember to turn it back on)

And my traditional post tour photo with event shirt. (The bear was given to me by a friend. It's in reference to the Tour de France, where the cyclists get bears. How cute is that?)

What an awesome event! The weather actually cooperated - it was warmer and sunnier than expected (yay!) I totally did it! I mean, I knew I could do it, but this was a big one - my longest distance ever in a single day - and I wasn't even tired or sore. I didn't even have a mild ache or pain the day after, either. I just needed a LOT of sleep. I did that tour on 5 hours of sleep, so I needed extra sleep to recover from it. (and if you're wondering, no I didn't stretch. I always forget to stretch)

Here are my heart rate monitor stats for the day (note: for approximately 30 minutes during the tour, my HRM was paused. That affects all the numbers, but here is what I did record on my device)

Total Time: 11 hours, 57 minutes
Minutes in Cardio Zone: 10 hours, 53 minutes
Percentage of Time in Cardio Zone: 100%
Average Heart Rate: 134
High Heart Rate: 174
Total Calories Burned: 4579
Cal Fat: 26%
Total Miles: 120

(for more pics, my entire flickr set can be seen here)

I want to thank Transportation Alternatives for such a well organized event and GREAT snacks at the rest stops (Peanut Butter and Co packets?! Whole wheat pitas with hummus and tabouli?! Bananas and oranges?! Best bike tour snacks EVER!), thanks to B's Bikes for giving my bike a new chain and few other repairs just days before the event, thanks to my crew who were a pleasure to ride with and thanks to Tyson Beckford whose kind words about me & my legs popped into my head a few times. It was a lovely distraction on those tough hills.