It was a hot summer in the big apple, Saturday, 15th of July, 2006. Hot
like when you smell something burning and discover it's your feet.
At -AROUND -1PM we all made introductions and re-introductions. David
S., the lifetime dictator, Dave B (ultimate wheel dave), Adam, Brian,
Ken, Nick, Joe, Teddy, and me (i hope i didn't forget a name). All
rode 36ers except Dave B. and Brian, who rode geared 29ers.
The NYC uni club gathered for their twice a month congregation at
Grant's Tomb, on Riverside Dr. There were a bunch of big wheelers here
for this ride in particular, but also there was Rob, just getting his
7th, 8th, 9th, (and so on) free-mounts, and David S's kids Fiona and
Emmett, 10 and 7, who were free-mounting and cranking around merrily
like they were motorized.
Some of us easily-impressed older guys watched and Brian filmed as a
couple of the riders, Joe and Nick hucked the 4-step stone stairs down
off the Grants' Tomb platform. Joe nailed it 3 out of 4 that I saw,
but his miss was a fairly gnarly looking rollout on the pavement. "Hey
Brian, didja film that one? Good!" Maybe Joe will watch it and decide
to wear a helmet.:eek:
Not only that, but they rode up the steps as well. It actually
inspired me to try and succeed at "rolling" up over a curb, first ever,
woohoo! Small steps.
After not too much, well ok alot of delay, we took to the streets.
From 122nd and Riverside we rode the mean streets of Manhattan's upper
west side south to 110th St. (all figures are aproximate) We hung a
left and shot across avenues Broadway, Amsterdam and Columbus,
alternating between sidewalk and street riding. Many strange reactions
came from people upon seeing first one fast-riding big wheel and then
realizing it's a whole line of us, as we buzzed east across the city
and finally came to the northwest corner of New York's famous Central
Park.
Entering the park we rolled onto the 6 mile loop bike-path and charged
the hill, the whole pack of us towering over the runners and bikers and
bladers. A couple stops were made so Brian could film Joe and Nick
riding off these rocky protrusions on one side or other of the bikeway.
A couple of low-angle, big-wheel ride-by scenes that Brian set up
should end up really cool, too. I almost rode over him in one of
those, but I don't think he knows.
It was interesting to watch as Brian the film-crafter worked. A few
times, someone suggested filming something and Brian would quickly
explain why it's not going to look good on film. And he himself got
into the action when Adam filmed Brian ride off one of the dropoffs.
And he STUCK it, too, I'd add.
After some more bikepath riding we left the park onto Central Park
West. We zigged and zagged back over to the west side of Manhattan
down some quieter cross streets in the hundred-teens. There we passed
families out on their brownstone porches and we recieved much cheering
as we razored past them on the sun-dappled street.
We twisted northward and before we knew it we were back at Grant's Tomb
and into the thick of the uni club activities. There was
wheel-walking, uni-jumprope, hop-twists, custom cokers and kids with
slushies. Also, there was juggling! While doing some low-level stuff
myself, I saw some fantastic jugglery, up to and including a 5-club
cascade, niiiiiiiice.
After meeting a friend who needed a ride north, I took ultimate-wheel
Dave's advice, and busted straight north on Riverside until I saw the
signs for the George Washington Bridge. Back to Albany and ice the
knee, and when I close my eyes, I'm still riding that lively Central
Park bikepath.
--
steveyo
steveyo
...like having your own personal rollercoaster...
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