| Despite what you might think, there is a vibrant road | | | | and windy with some bumpy tarmac. Since there is |
| racing scene in the Big Apple. The season starts in | | | | no one else around, there is never any traffic or |
| late February and runs through the end of | | | | pedestrians/runners to deal which allows for longer |
| September. Most weeks you can race two or three | | | | races on the occasional weekend and weeknight |
| times without having to leave the five boroughs. | | | | races as well. |
| Racing in New York was always an underground sort | | | | Getting there by bike (from Manhattan): Again the |
| of affair, and though the Internet has made it much | | | | Brooklyn Bridge is your best bet, and you'll want to |
| easier, it can still be tricky to find the starting lines if | | | | follow the directions to Prospect Park above. Instead |
| you are new to it all. So if you are interested in | | | | of entering the Park, make a right on to Flatbush |
| racing in Gotham, here is some information that might | | | | Avenue just past the Park entrance. Stay on |
| prove helpful. | | | | Flatbush for a little over 7 miles. Once you pass over |
| The Races | | | | the Belt Parkway, look for the first break in the |
| As with most races in the United States, New York | | | | median to cross over Flatbush Avenue. There is a |
| races are divided into separate fields based on the | | | | bike path that runs against Floyd Bennett Field and |
| United States Cycling Federation category system. | | | | will lead to an entrance to the field and to the race |
| The categories range from Cat. 5 for beginners to | | | | course. |
| Cat. 1 for elite amateurs. Points are awarded for the | | | | The CalendarWith several racing series, the calendar |
| top placings (how deep depends on the type of race | | | | is full most of the year. |
| and the number on entrants.) Upgrades from one | | | | The New York City Spring Bicycle Race Series is the |
| category to the next are based on earning a | | | | oldest racing series in New York. Made up of ten |
| specified number of points in a 12 month period (with | | | | one-day races, the Spring Series marks the beginning |
| the exception of the move from Cat. 5 to Cat. 4 for | | | | of the season. It traditionally starts the first weekend |
| which you need to race ten times.) The vast | | | | in March and finishes at the end of April. Most of the |
| majority of local races in New York (i.e., races to | | | | races are held in Central Park and in April, some |
| which you can ride your bike) are circuit races | | | | move to Prospect Park. This year there was an |
| consisting of multiple laps around a closed loop. | | | | individual time trial just for kicks. There is a leader's |
| Typically, there are a combined Pro/Cat. 1/Cat. 2/Cat. | | | | jersey, and in addition to individual race payouts, |
| 3 field, a Cat. 3/Cat.4 field and a Cat. 5 field. At some | | | | there are trophies and prizes for the overall series |
| races, there are also separate fields for Women and | | | | winner as well as the series winner in each category. |
| Masters (i.e., riders over a certain age, usually 35 or | | | | The Cadence Cup is a series of seven one-day races |
| 40.) Each field goes off a few minutes after the | | | | that take place in Prospect Park. Spread across the |
| previous field and competes for its own placings and | | | | calendar from February to August. In addition to the |
| prizes. The P/1/2/3 races are the longest with | | | | overall leader's jersey, there is a king of the |
| distances ranging from 30 to 50+ miles. Depending on | | | | mountains competition as well as a sprint competition. |
| venue and time of year, the fields fill up to their limit | | | | The New York Cycling Series consists of five |
| which can be as many 110 riders. Such large fields | | | | one-day races held in Prospect Park held from May |
| make for some fast racing, and although there are | | | | through August that have been staples on the |
| some successful breakaways, many of the races | | | | calendar for a long time. In addition to the individual |
| come down to a field sprint. | | | | race payouts, there are trophies for the series |
| The Venues | | | | winners in each field. |
| The bulk of the New York City calendar is comprised | | | | The Cadence Tuesday Night Race Series is a season |
| of what are called "park races" because they take | | | | long series at Floyd Bennett Field on, as you might |
| place in a park. There are three primary venues. | | | | guess, Tuesday nights. Short and intense, these |
| Central Park (Manhattan): Smack in the center of | | | | races are hard and fun. There is an overall series |
| Manhattan, the six mile Central Park Drive is the | | | | leader's jersey, as well as a green jersey for the |
| primary weekday training ground for the thousands | | | | sprint king. |
| of Manhattan-based cyclists. The start/finish is on | | | | Every Father's Day, there is the Skyscraper Harlem |
| Cat's Paw hill on the east side, just north of the 72nd | | | | Cycling Classic, a four corner criterium on the streets |
| street entrance off Fifth Avenue. The loop consists | | | | surrounding Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. It's not |
| of rolling terrain with short-power climbs. The east | | | | often you get to race on the actual streets of New |
| side is flat and fast culminating in a quick descent at | | | | York, so this race usually fills up fast and the course |
| the top of the park. Harlem Hill, a half-mile, big ring | | | | is lined with spectators. This year's event will be the |
| climb, starts the west side portion which consists of | | | | 36th running. |
| three additional rollers. | | | | The end of August brings the most prestigious race |
| The section past Tavern on the Green as you near | | | | in New York City, the Mengoni Grand Prix. Sponsored |
| the bottom of the park is fast, followed by a slight | | | | by Fred Mengoni, who helped bring Greg Lemond to |
| incline and slight downhill leading back to Cat's Paw | | | | Europe, George Hincapie is among the former |
| for the finish. The races take place on the weekend | | | | winners. Held in Central Park, the race is put on by |
| when the drive is closed to traffic. They are usually | | | | the Century Road Club Association (CRCA) and is |
| 5-7 laps, and start at 6 am or 6:30 am so that they | | | | limited to a P/1/2 field, a Cat. 3 field and Women's |
| can finish before the park fills. | | | | field. |
| Getting there by bike: Central Park is bordered by | | | | There are also plenty of races a short drive from |
| 60th Street to the South, 110th Street to the North, | | | | Manhattan, including two races also put on by the |
| Fifth Avenue to the east and Central Park West to | | | | CRCA at the Bear Mountain race course at Harriman |
| the west. You can enter from just about anywhere, | | | | State Park. A scenic 22.4 km (14 mile) loop with |
| and once inside, you want to get on the main park | | | | plenty of climbing and an 50+ mph descent. |
| drive. The drive is ridden in a counter clockwise | | | | Another Racing Option -- A word about the CRCA |
| direction so follow the path until you come to the | | | | which is a club, in fact, it is the largest in New York. |
| Boathouse restaurant just past the 72nd Street exit | | | | The club puts on many races in Central Park |
| entrance on the east side. The start/finish is at the | | | | throughout the year which are open only to |
| top of the hill just past the Boathouse, which will be | | | | members. It is an attractive option for folks who live |
| on your left. | | | | in Manhattan and want to race in Central Park. For |
| Prospect Park (Brooklyn): A staple for the | | | | more information, go to the CRCA website at |
| Brooklynites, the loop in Prospect Park is 3.4 miles | | | | crca.net. |
| long. The start is on the east side just north of the | | | | Some Useful Websites |
| Lincoln Road exit that leads to Ocean Avenue. The | | | | You need to have either an USCF license (which you |
| loop is mostly flat with a big ring climb at the top of | | | | can on the USA Cycling website) or International UCI |
| the park that leads towards Grand Army Plaza and | | | | license. If you do not have a license you can buy a |
| the corresponding downhill at the bottom of the park | | | | one-day license at most of the races. One-day |
| where speeds can top 40 mph. As with Central Park, | | | | licenses are good for the Cat. 5 field only. |
| the races take place on the weekend when the road | | | | There are two excellent web sites to help you figure |
| is closed to traffic and early, usually 6:30 am, before | | | | out when the races are being held. NY is a New York |
| the park fills up. | | | | cycling portal where you'll find a listing of upcoming |
| Getting there by bike (from Manhattan): The easiest | | | | races, race results, pictures and whole bunch more. |
| way to reach the park is to cross over the Brooklyn | | | | The other site to keep bookmarked is which allows |
| Bridge. Once over the bridge, stay straight (although | | | | you to pre-register for most of the races mentioned |
| get over to the right) on Adams St./Brooklyn Bridge | | | | above. Fields do fill up especially in the summer, so |
| Blvd. After crossing over Atlantic Avenue, make the | | | | pre-registering ensures you a spot and also |
| second left on to Dean St. Follow Dean St. to | | | | dramatically simplifies your race day sign in process. |
| Flatbush Avenue and make a right on to Flatbush. | | | | Show your license, sign a waiver and take your |
| Take Flatbush to Grand Army Plaza. The entrance to | | | | number. That's it. |
| the park is at the top of the circle at Grand Army | | | | Bike racing in New York is alive and vibrant. Although |
| Plaza. Once in the park, ride in the reverse direction | | | | not the typical road races found elsewhere, the |
| (clockwise) to reach the start/finish line. | | | | circuit races are hard, fun and for the most part, as |
| Floyd Bennett Field (Brooklyn): No longer active, Floyd | | | | safe as racing can be. With a season that runs six |
| Bennett Field was New York's first municipal airport. | | | | months and plenty of race series to fill the calendar, |
| The old runways and service roads now serve as a | | | | there is a race in New York waiting for you. |
| race course which is 2.3 miles long. The course is flat | | | | |