Biking Adventures: Tour de Bronx 2011

Last weekend was the final bike tour of the year, the Tour de Bronx. You may remember that I did this tour last year also. Every bike tour is special to me - this one because it's in the Bronx, which is where I was born and spent the first 8 years of my life. The tour goes through parts of my original borough that I'm familiar with (including the block where I grew up), but also a few sections that I hadn't seen before this bike tour. The Bronx is huge! Here are my pics of the day...

Bike tour outfit

I wore:

• Shirt from Filene's Basement $17.00
• Belt from Payless $12.99
• Skirt from American Apparel $74.00
• Tights from Target $9.00
• Shoes from Payless $20

I left Brooklyn and rode over the Pulaski Bridge to Queens -

they are re-graffitying the building in 5 Points again (Long Island City, Queens)

These runners were SO FAST! I was doing 7mph going uphill on the 59th St Bridge and they kept the same pace with me. I didn't pass them until the downhill. I congratulated them as I (finally) passed them.

Weeeee! Riding down the 59th St Bridge to Manhattan.

When I got to Manhattan, I rode straight up 1st Ave to the Willis Ave Bridge at 125th St.

My bike poses for a photo on the Willis Ave Bridge

Look at that! One of my favorite graffiti artists, Jim Joe, was here!

I thought I'd be taking the pedestrian path to the Bronx but that "Stairs Ahead" was no joke. I decided to NOT do the stairs with her. I ended up picking up by bike (60 pounds!) and lifting her up & over that concrete barrier shown above -  from the ped path to the car/truck portion of the Willis Ave Bridge. Note: I do not recommend riding on that bridge if you can avoid it. Cars do over 40 mph and it's quite terrifying but I had no choice.

Phew! I made it over the Willis Ave Bridge and into the Bronx.

I photographed this corner last year too. They painted over most of this wall since then.

I took Grand Concourse to the starting point. I loved these rounded fire escapes.

How cute is this car wash sign on the Grand Concourse!

I got to the starting point just in time!

Woo hoo! I made it with mere minutes to spare.

I ran into my friends Malaika & Marcus shortly after arriving.

Me & Diana - a woman I met in Weight Watchers last year.

At the line up, about to begin.

When the tour started, Amanda & Robbie had not made it to the start yet. I rode near Ann, Ross and Marcus. Unfortunately, after not long, Ann had a serious problem with her bike and had to abandon the tour. I felt awful her. I continued along alone, which I really don't mind.

Check out these two stylish folks!

My friend Malaika on a gorgeous bike she won through an auction during NY Fashion Week

RIP Tinks

Hey, there's Marcus behind me!

I remember this sign from last year too!

Elevated subway line in the Bronx

We're on a car exit of I-95. I love the subway rolling in.

There's fellow cyclist pals and bloggers: Mandy and Malaika!

Well hello boys! (I love shots like this, where every person is looking at me. Adorable.)

On our way into City Island

In front of my favorite neon sign in City Island. I love that crab with sunglasses and wine glass!

I love this enormous neon lobster too!

King Ave :)

City Island is such a cute little fishing town... in the Bronx!

I have no idea where I am but this proves how many trees are in the Bronx!

Looking down

I'm sure you remember Ross?

I love this shot. (Inside Maritime College)

Me with the Throgs Neck Bridge behind me

I love bridges!

Leaving Maritime College

Hello, boys! Thumbs up!

We had another rest stop at Orchard Beach. I had been here 3 weeks earlier, with William, for the Down & Dirty Mud Run!

Do you remember this? I was here a few weeks ago for the Down and Dirty Mud Run! Check out this photo!

These are some of the young men I photographed earlier - in the shot where they were all looking at me. How cute are they?!

Me & my bike at Orchard Beach. Yes, my heels are sinking into the sand.

Just like last year, we were on Matilda Ave, which is where I grew up. I broke off from the tour to get a photo of my bike in front of my childhood home. This is the sidewalk where I learned to ride a bike over 30 years ago.

I rode around the block to rejoin the tour and had to get a photo of the McLean Bowl O Drome sign which I've loved since I was a child.

From there, we rode through beautiful Woodlawn Cemetery, where many of my relatives are buried.

in Woodlawn Cemetery

Hangin out on the corner

Tour de Bronx, that a way!

I love the shadow of my high heel in this shot!

On Jerome Ave, under the 4 Train

At the last rest stop, in Riverdale.

At this stop, I had a quick bite and used the facilities. And much to my surprise and delight, I ran into Amanda & Robbie! They hauled their asses off to make it this far this quickly. I was so happy to see them!!!

Leaving this rest stop, we would be riding through Riverdale. This is the most challenging portion of the whole tour. This is where the big hills are. But it's also very beautiful. You feel like you're riding through the woods.

Amanda, and Robbie waits up ahead.

Mine & Amanda's shadows

Robbie & Amanda behind me.

I like that bee!

Yay, so good to have my favorite riding peeps with me :)

omg it's over! We're at the finish in the Botanical Gardens.

Amanda, Malaika, Me & Mandy

Marcus & Me showing off the post tour shirt

I met twitter follower, Amy! Congrats on your first bike tour!

Ashton & Me (you may remember him from the Naked Bike Ride and Century Tour)

Me & Cruiser Dolly aka Christina

History in the making, folks: ROBBIE SENT HIS FIRST EVER TWEET! (yellowbikebk)

Come on crew, lets get back to Manhattan and then home! (Robbie, Amanda & Malaika)

On the Grand Concourse

Beautiful old theater on the Grand Concourse

I love, love, love this shot!!!

Hell yeah! Bronx, represent!

Passing the new Yankee Stadium

On Macombs Dam Bridge, entering Manhattan. Look at that sunset!

me on the bridge

We cut through Central Park at 110th St and rode south to get to the 59th St Bridge

Finally! Back in Brooklyn for my post tour ritual of Beer & Waffle Fries at Habitat!

and back at home, in the tour event t-shirt

Here are my heart rate monitor stats:

• Total Time: 6 hours, 59 minutes
• Minutes in Cardio Zone: 5 hours, 27 minutes
• Percentage of Time in Cardio Zone: 78.04%
• Fat %: 29%
• Average Heart Rate: 128
• High Heart Rate: 171
• Total Calories Burned: 2367
• Total Miles: 70

I admit I'm kind of sad that it's the last bike tour of the year/season. I'm already looking forward to next year!

(the entire set of photos can be seen here)