NYCMTB.com

jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

Hey everyone!

I am two weeks away from a one-way ticket from Spokane, Washington to your fine city. A new opportunity beckons.

The one downside (amongst _many_ upsides) is that I will not be able to afford a car. I have already reduced my bike collection from 5 to 2 and I was hoping to bring them both with me. One road bike, one mountain bike.

My question is: does anyone else do the "no-car" mountain biking thing? I sort of thought I could ride up to Highbridge as my local trail system (I'll be in UWS) and then on the weekends do Zipcars or trains to head out to better/bigger areas.

Is it worth it? Or should I just take up knitting or something...

-jslatts

6thElement · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 4:57 pm Post subject:

Most mountain bikers don't own cars here, and why did you trim the stable? Very Happy

I have 5 bikes in my apartment, don't own a car, but manage to ride road or mountain most days. Metro North trains will take you up to Westchester for the various MTB parks up there. There's also biking in Queens and further out on Long Island you can reach on Subway or train. The only time you need a car for other localish riding is to get to any of the NJ mountain biking parks for XC, or Mountain Creek for DH. Quite often there's generous car drivering bikers heading out to those places who'll give you a ride for gas and toll money.
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rossp · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

6thelement typed quicker than me.... I didn't bring a bike when I moved to manhattan and left with 1 road bike and 3 mtbs.... Smile

(when I moved to the burbs with more space for bikes!)
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jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

My wife said all the bikes could live in our new tiny studio apartment if I was willing to find a place to sleep in Central Park Smile

I negotiated for two!

That is great to hear that I won't kneed to become a knitter.

What is it like taking a bike on the train/subway? Do you ever get hassled?

When I was in Barcelona in Jan. their trains had tons of nice bike hook storage space. Lot's of MTB riders everywhere I went.

jslatts

Ahab · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject:

Five samolians will get you a bike pass for the train for life. Good XC riding to be had within a 40-minute train ride from Grand Central. As 5th said, there's always a crew heading out to the local-ish bike park at Mountain Creek if that's your thing, as it is many of ours.

And yes, we're NYCMTB for a reason. We've got legal trails right here in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Very Happy

PS - Ross loves to knit.
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rpet · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject:

I didn't own a car for 7 years and rode MTBs quite a lot.

Then I got a car, started driving to work, and over-strained my out-of-shape knee because of it.

Lesson learned - don't get a car!
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jbogner · Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 10:04 pm Post subject:

Don't hate on the knitters, yo. Very Happy

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Dynastar · MetLife Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 115

Also not mentioned - probably because this is a MTB website - there is a lot of great road riding around NYC. Cross over the GWB and within a few minutes you can forget that you are in a huge metropolitan area. A lot of guys here own roadies.
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dedwards225 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 8:02 am Post subject:

Welcome to NYC!

Spokompton huh? I've done tons of racing on Beacon Hill, Mt. Spokane and Schweitzer mountain doing the WIM series. (I'm from Tacoma)

Without being to redundant with the posts above, you can get away with not having a car and still being able to ride. There are a few of us with cars and coordinating rides to local trails usually isn't a problem. Just post up here on the nycmtb, plant the seed for a ride and get a group together.

If you like chair assisted riding, starting June 1st, there will be a bus leaving from Times Square twice a month going to Mountain Creek Bike Park. Or again, post up here as there are always people going.

And to you point of downsizing the fleet, I did the same thing when I moved here and within 9 months, back up there with multiple bikes. (find a manhattan mini storage for a locker, they are open 7:00am to 10pm everyday. Pretty convenient.)

Jamie, my grandmother taught me to knit when I was child. I'm not a hater.
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jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

dedwards255: I prefer to call it Spokanistan. Beacon rocks! Spokane has really been amazing for trail access. I just went on a 2+ hour ride yesterday starting from my driveway. It's just not amazing for anything else Razz

I used to live in Seattle and I have been up to Whistler to ride a few times. Best experience of my life. I would love to be able to do more lift assisted DH. I don't own a DH bike yet... but I did trim the stable for a reason Smile

I'm guessing the bus to Mountain Creek doesn't have room for bikes. Do most people rent? Do they allow knitting on the bus?

I had not even considered storing bikes outside of our apartment building... going to have to investigate this.

I can't thank you all enough for having this forum. I wasn't going to bring my full face helmet, pads, and other gear, but now I am. Looks like I'll be able to maintain a satisfying two wheeled lifestyle after all!

I may be AWOL for a few weeks while I complete the move, but once we are settled, I'm gonna pester you guys until you let me come ride!

jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

dedwards225 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

The bus has room mfor 6-7 bikes underneath. We mainly service the water park but leave. A few seats open for man bikers.

Did you ride exit 27 or 38 while you were in Seattle? If we weren't in BC, Bellingham or Mt hood, those two exits were where we rode mostly.

Wait 2 weeks for the undead, it's going to be sweet.
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jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

Wow. Didn't know about the undead. That bike looks amazing.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Exclusive-Evil-Undead-First-Look-2011.html

I never made it to Exit 38 for MTB, though I did go there a bit for rock climbing. I was just getting into mountain biking when I moved to Spokane. I had a ton of fun up at Whistler on the Rocky Mountain Flatline Pros they rent but I certainly don't qualify as a legit downhiller. Unless you count A-line as legit Wink

I'm not really XC either. I like 6" travel bikes that can climb up and go down. I was going to by a DH bike if Steven's Pass ever got their act together.

dedwards225 · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject:

jslatts · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 13

That's really sad. I really hate that something as awesome as powder carries with it such risk.

I'm glad Steven's finally opened. I am seriously disconnected from the West side of the state. Maybe I can get a ride in this summer when I go visit.