I huffed, puffed and pedaled the Tour de Bronx

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The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the streets were calling.  I hopped on my two-wheeled steed and took off through the streets of the Bronx to the start of the 2014 Tour de Bronx.  I’ve ridden in many of Transportation Alternative’s bicycle tours, but the Tour de Bronx remains my favorite.  I’m not sure if it is because of  the route through little known neighborhoods, the community members cheering riders on as we pedal by, the energy and camaraderie of the riders or my borough pride — I love it all! 

I was greeted by upbeat tunes and smiling faces as I rode into the staging area in front of the Bronx County courthouse.  The sign in process was quick and efficient, and I was soon on my way to meet my riding partner, Julie, in the 40-mile start corral.  As we waited for the police escort to start, you could feel the excitement rising as riders chatted about past experiences on this and other rides.

Once the starting horn blew, the riders took to their bikes, pedaled hard up 161st Street and made their way through Melrose and Morrisania.  The few people who were out, mostly churchgoers and families with bags of groceries, cheered us on as we flew by. 

I’ve lived in the Bronx for over eight years, and I love that I can still discover new things about my borough.  Doing so by bicycle is even more impactful because it forces you to slow down and really see and connect with the communities you are passing through.  I saw so many improvements happening along the Bronx River that it warmed my heart. All of the new bike and pedestrian paths along the river from West Farms to Clason Point were just the start. 

The first reminder of how many riders were on the Tour came when we hit Pelham Bay Park. The bike path was overwhelmed with riders, and we slowed to a crawl.  Unfortunately, I witnessed my first and only accident of the day here, when a guy went down as he was cut off by another rider at the entrance to one of the paths.  All of the other riders around him came to his aid, helping him up, making sure he and his bike were okay and directing others to stop or go around slowly. 

Tour de Bronx, Alix Cotumaccio, Biking
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