These were rides in January - February 2004. Click here for current rides.

Here we list only a selection of 5BBC day rides. All 5BBC rides are described in the club's newsletter, which is mailed to current club members. If you are not a 5BBC member for 2004, you can join - or rejoin - by printing and mailing in the membership application. Prospective members can obtain a sample newsletter by leaving their names and addresses on our voicemail at (212) 932-2300 x115.

Indicates relaxed pace, easy ride

Click here for more information on our day rides.
Click here for more information on ride locations.
Click here for the "DayTripper Column" (periodic yammerings from the Day Trips Coordinator).

Is my ride cancelled? For late-breaking news, including weather-related cancellations, visit the 5BBC Message Board.

Please note that helmets are required on all 5BBC rides.

Saturday, January 3rd

FREEZER JAM RIDE
10 a.m., Bridgemarket (East 60th St and 1st Ave, Manhattan), 25 miles

The Freezer Jam is a series of informal scouting and exploratory rides through quiet back streets of industrial sections. Each of these rides will be moderately paced and no more than 25 miles. Inaugural ride to Northern Manhattan and the nearby Bronx. Temp below 30 or precipitation cancels. Leader: Danny Lieberman.

Sunday, January 4th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
8 a.m., White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you either to White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Colisted with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 5: NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS
10 a.m. Plaza Hotel, 25 mostly flat miles.

Elly’s Spangelberg’s perennial ride. Smell the roses at one of the foremost American public gardens, in the Bronx. See the train show display and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for “A World of Plants” in a warm environment. Check trip-related www.nybg.org website. Bring a camera, lock & money for lunch, plus $3 admission for the gardens. Co-listed with NYCC. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas, Phil Goldberg, et al. Pace: relaxed.

Saturday, January 10th

AN OVERDOSE OF PALISADES PARK
9:00 a.m., GW Bridge bus terminal (Ft Washington Ave & West 178th St), 30 miles Terrain: lots of hills

The doctor has prescribed an overdose of New Jersey’s majestic Palisades Interstate Park. We start with a visit to the park museum in Ft. Lee. Our destination is the State Line Lookout Inn, the highest point in the park, where we’ll have lunch. En route, we ride the hilly Henry Hudson Drive (a.k.a. River Road), both ways, end-to-end, including a 500 ft. climb in Alpine, and admire the view across the Hudson and the palisade cliffs that give the park its name. Bring lunch or $ for it, and an appetite for a healthy workout. Pace: Moderate. Leader: Jim Zisfein. Cue sheet and ride info located at http://zisfein.com/5bbc/palisades or email Jim at jzisfein@yahoo.com.

CHINESE FARMERS RIDE
9:30 a.m. Plaza Hotel, 25-30 miles

Green country fields? Happy mooing cows? Red barns in the sunset? Forget that stuff! You’re a farmer in Gotham! Just park your tractor and hop on your bike. We’re going down under; no, not to Australia but to a basement farm in Chinatown where they grow bean sprouts. We’ll even learn some Chinese along the way as we take a leisurely route over the Queensborough Bridge into Queens, then Brooklyn, and over to Chinatown. Bring lock and money for lunch in Chinatown. Leaders: Richard Sanford, Manny Sanudo.

Sunday, January 11th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
8 a.m., White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you either to White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Colisted with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 6: CONEY ISLAND DREAMIN’ (ON SUCH A WINTER’S DAY)
10 a.m. City Hall, 25 mostly flat miles

Spend time in Brooklyn complete with that famous bridge, Prospect Park, the Shore Parkway Greenway, and unparalleled views of the Narrows. We’ll have lunch at Totonno’s Pizza, then visit the boardwalk before returning to Manhattan. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and TBA, co-listed with NYCC. Pace: relaxed.

Sunday, January 18th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
8 a.m., White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you either to White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Colisted with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 7: ASTORIA AND UNCLE GEORGE’S
10 a.m., City Hall, 25 miles

Rudyard Kipling wrote: East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet. Guess he never visited Astoria, which is teeming with diverse neighborhoods and direct evidence of East meeting West. A stop at Uncle George’s for fine Greek cuisine may be in store on this ride. This ride will also include an excursion on the Queensboro Bridge bike path. Pace: relaxed. Leader: Ed DeFreitas

Monday, January 19th (MLK Day)

MATZO BALL SOUP OR BUST
10 a.m., Plaza Hotel, 30 miles

Join us as we ride to a mystery destination somewhere in the metro area for some delicious matzo ball soup (and perhaps some pastrami on rye?). Will we head up to Riverdale, down to the Lower East Side, out to Kew Gardens or beyond? You’ll have to show up to find out. Bring a lock & $8-16 for lunch. Ride will be a bust if temp at start is lower than 35F or if roads are snowy/icy. Leader: Brian Hoberman. Pace: relaxed.

Saturday, January 24th

FREEZER JAM RIDE
10 a.m., Bridgemarket (East 60th St and 1st Ave, Manhattan), 25 miles

The Freezer Jam is a series of informal scouting and exploratory rides through quiet back streets of industrial sections. Each of these rides will be moderately paced and no more than 25 miles. Western Queens and nearby Brooklyn. Temp below 30 or precipitation cancels. Leader: Danny Lieberman.

Sunday, January 25th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
8 a.m., White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you either to White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Colisted with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 8: UNDER AND OVER THE HUDSON
10 a.m., City Hall, 25 miles Terrain: some hills.

We’ll catch a PATH train, and then ramble through the towns of New Jersey’s Gold Coast. Look for a dangling Vespa while en route. We’ll make the climb to the George Washington Bridge to return to Manhattan for a warm sit down lunch. Bring a lock and $ for lunch. Leader: Ed DeFreitas. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: relaxed.

Saturday, January 31st

A WINTER FILLMORE RIDE
9:30 AM, AYH

This will be an easy flat ride of 30 miles through the borough of Queens. We will circle the globe and eat in a pub like atmosphere. Join us on this warm winter journey for a trip around the world and a great lunch. Bring $10.00, for a real lunch- Bring bike lock, restaurant is bike friendly, and a good attitude. Leaders Ed Pino (646-734-7114) and Liz Baum

Sunday, February 1st

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
10:30AM (Note time change, was 8AM), White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you to either White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 9 : FLAT ROCK NATURE PRESERVE
10AM City Hall, 30 miles

Terrain: some hills.
This is a privately owned and volunteer run nature preserve just inside New Jersey. A little known treasure that is worth our support. Hike the paths, eat lunch and enjoy the nature center. Bring a lock and money for lunch. Leader: Ed DeFreitas. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: 10-15mph

Saturday, February 7th

MERCHANT MARINE CONVOY
10AM, Cunningham Park, 35 moderately hilly miles

Warm up those dormant cycling muscles on a leisurely ride to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, overlooking Long Island Sound. We'll bike through lovely residential areas, eat lunch indoors, and then proceed to the Academy. On the way back, we'll enjoy waterfront views in Douglaston Manor and along the Joe Michaels Mile Bike Path. Note: Temperature below 32 degrees one hour before the start, or ANY ice or snow on the road, cancels. Leaders: Ira Najowitz (librarius1@yahoo.com before 4 pm Friday) and Bob Castro. Pace: relaxed.

ALL AMERICAN GLASS WITH CLASS
10AM, Prospect Park - Grand Army Plaza, 25 miles

This ain't no K-Mart bowl for your M&M's. It's top of the line cut glass where even the slightest flaw would send a New York Corning glassmaker jumping off a glacier. We'll visit the Steuben glass store on 61 Street and Madison Avenue where you can warm up indoors while watching an Eskimo (in glass of course) attempt to harpoon his lunch (also in glass). We'll find out a bit about the art of glassmaking too. After that it's back to the "normal" pace of life for lunch at an uptown deli-cafe. Bring lock, money for lunch, and any credit cards that are not maxed out if you wish to make a purchase at Steuben Glass. Leader: Richard Sanford.

Sunday, February 8th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
10:30AM (Note time change, was 8AM), White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you to either White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 10 : SHEEPSHEAD BAY AND BEYOND
10AM City Hall, 25 flat miles

Ramble through some of the finer neighborhoods of Brooklyn, have lunch in Sheepshead Bay, then pedal along the to the old naval station at Floyd Bennett Field. Leader: Ed DeFreitas. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: relaxed

Saturday, February 14th

PRESIDENT'S WEEKEND RIDE
9:30 AM AYH, 30 miles

This will be an easy flat ride of 30 miles through the borough of Queens. We will circle the globe and eat in a pub like atmosphere. Join us on this warm winter journey for a trip around the world and a great lunch. Bring $10.00, for a real lunch- Bring bike lock, restaurant is bike friendly, and a good attitude. Leaders Ed Pino (646-734-7114) and Liz Baum

Sunday, February 15th

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
10:30AM (Note time change, was 8AM), White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you to either White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 11 : GIUSEPPE AND ALICE
9:30AM City Hall or
10:30AM parking lot near St George Ferry Terminal and ballpark
25 miles with a few hills

Start off with a cruise. Take a journey to visit the homes of Alice Austen and Guiseppe Garibaldi. We'll go in even if they're not at home. Check out their websites at www.aliceausten.8m.com/museum and www.statenislandusa.com. Bring a camera, lock and money for lunch at the Cargo. Leader: Ed DeFreitas. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: relaxed.

Monday, February 16th (President's Day)

FREEZER JAM RIDE
10AM, BRIDGEMARKET (East 60th St and 1st Ave, Manhattan), 25 miles

The Freezer Jam is a series of informal scouting and exploratory rides through quiet backstreets of industrial sections. Each of these rides will be moderately paced and no more than 25 miles. DUMBO and Red Hook, Brooklyn. Temps below 30 or precipitation cancels. Leader: Danny Lieberman.

Saturday, February 21st

THE HOT CHOCOLATE RIDE (reprise)
9AM City Hall

What could possibly be better than the Chocolate Ride (July 2002) ? A winter version featuring HOT Chocolate, of course! Last year's offering was impacted by the bad weather, so I'm trying again on what I hope will be a slightly better date. Sample some of the world's finest chocolate drinks, but be warned, this is for the real chocolate lovers. Please bring locks and $$$ for lunch and hot drinks. Leader: Danny Lieberman.

Sunday, February 22nd

TEMPERATURE REGULATORS
10:30AM (Note time change, was 8AM), White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway, 40 miles

The Temperature Regulators will take you to either White Plains, Rye, or Byram, CT at a QUICK SPIN pace that is sure to keep you warm. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: 15+ mph. Leader: Jesse Brown

FROSTBITE RIDE SERIES 12 : ASTORIA AND UNCLE GEORGE'S
10AM City Hall, 25 flat miles

Rudyard Kipling wrote: East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet. Guess he never visited Astoria, which is teeming with diverse cultures and direct evidence of East meeting West. A stop at Uncle George's for fine Greek cuisine may be in store on this ride. This ride will also include an excursion on the Queensboro Bridge bike path. Bring locks and $ for lunch. Leader: Ed DeFreitas. Co-listed with NYCC. Pace: relaxed.

Saturday, February 28th

THE EARLY BIRD'S TRAINING RIDE (Montauk Training Series # 0)
9AM, Plaza Hotel, 25 miles.

This is the early opener of the series and really just a short and quick warm-up. Exact destination not decided at this time, but look for the email update with the details. Who needs a quick spin when you're only going 25 miles? Are you ready for the Spring Series? Leaders Brian Hoberman and others. Bring a lock and lunch. Don't forget a spare tube.

Sunday, February 29th

THE WORLD'S GREATEST PANCAKES : FROSTBITE SERIES (13) BLOWOUT!
9:30AM City Hall or
10:30AM parking lot near St George Ferry Terminal and ballpark 30 miles

The Frostbite Finale is all about pancakes and the best are always freshly cooked at the Broadway Diner in Bayonne, New Jersey. These pancakes are as good as the marvelous views from the top of the Bayonne Bridge you take to get to them! Return to Manhattan either by ferry boat or PATH train. Bring locks and $ for lunch. Leaders: Ed DeFreitas and others. Pace: relaxed.

Saturday, March 7th

MONTAUK CENTURY TRAINING RIDE #1
9AM Plaza Hotel, 30 miles

We might have a quick spin for these early bird training rides, look for the email updates or web listing for the latest information. Complete details will be available in the March-April Bicycletter. Are you ready for the spring series? Start the season off right with the 5BBC training series of progressive rides.

Sunday, March 8th

MONTAUK CENTURY TRAINING RIDE #2
9AM, Cunningham Park, 35 miles

We might have a quick spin for these early training rides, look for the email updates or web listing for the latest information. Complete details will be available in the March-April Bicycletter. If you couldn't make it to last week's early bird or yesterday's inaugural ride, get ready with our progressive series.