Here's what we did in 2005

I hope you were able to attend our 2005 General Meetings. We learned about greenway development, firefighting and the FDNY Cross Country Bike Tour, sports nutrition, bicycling vacations in Ireland and France, environmental and transportation initiatives in Manhattan, beautiful self-guided rides in rural countryside close to NYC, the innovative Peloton Project of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Bronx bicycling initiatives from the Bronx Borough President, producing a bicycling program for television, and editing America's premier bicycling magazine.

Then we finished out the year with a great party!

Click here to see what's coming up next.

Barry Hartglass, 5BBC Program Coordinator

December 2005 Holiday Party

Saturday, December 10, 7-11PM

Location: 17 Murray Bar & Restaurant, 17 Murray Street (Between Broadway & Church), New York, NY 10007

Let's party! In celebration of the success of the 2005 Montauk Century and record number of new club members, we are having a catered event this year and the club will pick up a portion of the cost. The low admission price of $20 per person ($25 on or after 12/3; children 12 and under are free) includes sumptuous dinner buffet and dessert, wine or beer on the house (discounted price for mixed drinks) and live D.J. for your dancing pleasure. We also planning a terrific raffle, $2 per ticket, 3 for $5.

November 2005 General Meeting

Monday, November 21, 6:30-8:00PM

Location: Hostelling International, 891 Amsterdam Avenue (at 103 St), Manhattan, Room 111 (Board Room). Subway: #1 to 103 & Broadway.

This is Election Night for your 2006 Executive Board.

And, as a special treat, cyclist extraordinaire Tod Moore will return to tell us about his 6-week 2005 summer vacation to the Lorraine Valley and Provence regions of France (for our wine and food connoisseurs!) as well to the Alps. Tod (www.todMoore.net) does self-contained rides with a high-performance folding road bike from Bike Friday. This type of riding may be particular interest to those who dread the disassembling and assembling of bikes for travel. Tod will also provide useful tidbits on packing a full size bike for travel as well as tips on doing laundry while on tour.

Tod’s Presentation will be preceded with a red wine (French, of course) and cheese party.

October 2005 General Meeting

Monday, October 17, 6:30-8:30PM

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Our speaker is Loren Mooney, Associate Executive Editor of Bicycling Magazine and a dedicated cyclist herself. Ms. Mooney will talk about editing the premier magazine for bicycle enthusiasts, how bikes and accessories are tested, the fascinating history of Rodale Press that started with Prevention Magazine, the innovative BikeTown program, and future directions of Bicycling that could include more aggressive bicycle advocacy.

Immediately following Ms. Mooney's presentation, nominations for the 2006 5BBC Executive Board will be taken.

You don't want to miss this meeting! I expect it will be among the most interesting of the year, and it might even lead to a Bicycling article about our club.

September 2005 General Meeting

Monday, September 19, 6:30PM

Buy a raffle ticket and support the Widow's and Children's Fund. You could win a Giant Revive bicycle!

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Come to this meeting for a chance to win a new bicycle!

NYC firefighter Josh Gallo spoke with us at our snowy February meeting about his participation in the 2004 FDNY Cross Country Bike Tour, a fund raiser for the Widow's and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. We've invited him back to display his photos and to discuss future events.

As a special feature of the meeting, Josh has been given permission by Giant Bicycles to raffle off the Giant Revive recumbent bike that was used as a pace bike for the tour. We are asking $10 for a raffle ticket. Proceeds go to the Widow's and Children's Fund. We invite you to come out to show your support for the FDNY!

The meeting will be covered by bikeTV, a cable-access show on bicycling in the NYC metro area and beyond. We get to preview a new episode of bikeTV and a film segment produced on the FDNY ride. BikeTV CEO and 5BBC member Clarence Eckerson will be at the meeting to discuss his unique program.

August 2005 General Meeting

Monday, August 15, 6:30PM

Location: Office of the Bronx Borough President, Suite 201, 198 East 161 Street, Bronx, across the street from the Criminal Court, 2 blocks east of Grand Concourse. Subway: D/4 to 161 St.

Mark your calendars! Our General Meeting this month will feature Bronx "beep" (and fellow cyclist) Adolfo Carrión Jr. Mr. Carrión will speak on the history, present status, and great future of bicycling in the Bronx, and show us how a bike-friendly Borough President can lead the way to a bike-friendly borough.

Of course, no presentation on Bronx cycling would be complete without mention of the annual Tour de Bronx, New York's largest free cycling event, to be held this year on Sunday, October 23.

The 5BBC wishes to thank Doris Quinones of Mr. Carrión's staff for helping to arrange this meeting.

July 2005 General Meeting

Tuesday, July 19, 6:30PM

Location: for a change of pace, this meeting is at Paul Nicaj's Battery Gardens restaurant, where we have made arrangements for attendees to purchase a beer and light grill in the $10 to $15 range. The restaurant is inside Battery Park, opposite 17 State Street in Manhattan. Subways: 1 to South Ferry or 4/5 to Bowling Green. Meeting is rain or shine; will be outdoors weather permitting.

Club member Michael Wolf will be speaking to us on his involvement as a volunteer Regional Mentor with the Peloton Project of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Peloton Project is a grassroots fund raising endeavor aimed at cancer education, public health, research, and advocacy. These four themes tie into the now-famous yellow wrist bands of which 47.5 million have been sold. Join us for a presentation that will be both informational and motivational, and for camaraderie with other cyclists in a classic New York setting.

June 2005 General Meeting

Monday, June 13, 6:30PM
Note: This meeting is on the 2nd Monday of the month, not the 3rd Monday.

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/9/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Cyclist, author, and tour guide Gerry Brooks of Brooks Country Cycling Tours (www.brookscountrycycling.com) will be chatting with us about his one day self guided 40 mile loop rides in the NY, NJ, CT, & PA areas, many of which can be accessed via railroad. These rides as well as others are detailed in his new book Backroad Bicycling near New York City which the author promises to have on hand for a book signing.

The beginning of the summer is a great time for these one day trips. Many of Mr. Brooks's rides are adjacent to one another, and he will discuss how one can simply combine two of them into a long weekend!

Light refreshments will be served.

May 2005 General Meeting

Monday, May 23, 6:30-8:00PM

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/9/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Environmental and transportation initiatives in Manhattan will be the focus of a presentation by Rick Muller, policy analyst (and fellow cyclist!) from the office of Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields (www.cvfieldsmbp.org). Light refreshments will be served.

April 2005 General Meeting

Monday, April 18, 6:30 PM

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/9/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Come join the 5BBC for a belated St. Patrick's Day party with all the trimmings, including Irish soda bread and O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer.

Cyclist extraordinare (and our friend) Tod Moore will be giving an overview presentation of his cycling adventure this past summer to the Conamar region of Ireland (west coast - County Galway). We are hoping that some of his merry band (some well-known 5BBC members!) will be present to share with us in this festivity.

For background on Ireland, we suggest the following web site: www.tourismireland.com.

March 2005 General Meeting

Monday, March 21, 6:30 PM

Location: Lenox Hill Community Medical Group, 215 East 95th Street, Manhattan. Subway: 6 to 96th St. Indoor bicycle parking is available.

We are pleased to announce that Gerard P. Hickey, R.Ph., of Invite Health will be our featured speaker. The topic is sports nutrition and cycling. Mr. Hickey is a leader in the area of nutraceuticals and botanicals, and is Chair of the Society of Natural Pharmacy. He has published and lectured extensively. He is also featured regularly on talk radio station WOR.

We think that you will find this to be a most informative presentation. Co-sponsored by Five Borough Bicycle Club and Lenox Hill Hospital.

February 2005 General Meeting

Monday, February 28, 6:30 PM

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/9/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Joshua Gallo is our featured speaker. Mr. Gallo is an active New York City firefighter (FDNY) who participated in the FDNY Cross Country Bike Tour from Los Angeles to NYC this past September and October. The event was a fund raiser for the Widow's and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA). He will discuss his ride, the fund, and life as a firefighter (he works two 24-hour shifts per week).

Also: our Weekend Trips Coordinator Ted Kushner will be on hand to talk about the great lineup of weekend trips scheduled for this year.

There will be a raffle for a Team Bike from Giant. Proceeds will be donated to the FDNY Widows & Orphans Fund.

Please check back here for updates.

January 2005 General Meeting

Monday, January 24, 6:30 PM

Location: Lower Manhattan Business Improvement District, 104 Washington Street (near Rector Street), Manhattan. Subways: 1/9/R/W to Rector, or 4/5 to Wall Street.

Do you ride a bike in NYC? If so, this meeting is about your bicycling future.

Our speaker is Jennifer Hoppa, Deputy Director of Planning for the NYC Parks Department. Her department is building 350 miles of greenways that will grace this city, and is working with the Department of Transportation on the bicycle lane network that will connect the greenways. Ms. Hoppa will update us on greenway development, but much more importantly, she wants our feedback. That means YOU, for once, will have a voice in planning the future bikeways of New York.

But only if you're there. Let's all be there and give her an earful!

Light refreshments will be served. Members and non-members are welcome. Admission is free.

Optional: drop me an email at programs@5bbc.org if you think you're coming to this meeting. I'm trying to figure how many chairs to set up.