Of which I took advantage by setting out for a leisurely interborough bicycle ride.
My original plan was to head over the bridge pictured above, but sometimes I just feel compelled to stay inside the city limits, so I wended my way down to Central Park instead. I also relieved myself in a public bathroom on the Hudson River Greenway I've ridden by about a thousand times but never actually used:
The beautiful thing about both cycling and New York City is that you never stop discovering new things, and that includes urinals.
Speaking of micturation, I was almost home when I stopped behind an Uber at a red light. As I stood there, I noticed the driver side door open, and minutes later multiple rivulets of urine started flowing from beneath the car and right in my direction. Thinking immediately of my fancy Donnelly LCV tires I scuttled out of the way just in time. So voluminous was the urine cascade that it was clear the driver hadn't been urinating; rather, he was no doubt emptying the pee bottle every for-hire driver keeps under the seat. (It's usually a Poland Spring bottle, and the curbs and gutters of New York City are littered with them.)
By the way, I shared this anecdote on Twitter, upon which one user reminded me of this:
Finally, since I mentioned the Donnelly tires, I might as well follow up on how they're doing since I've probably crossed over the 100 mile mark on them by now. Basically, I still think they ride beautifully, and despite being a lightweight race tire they still show no cuts, even after being ridden in a rainstorm and through glass-strewn city streets:
I mean sure, it's only a matter of time, but at least for now they truly make my New-To-Me Titanium Forever Bike sing:
The streets are alive, with the smell of urine...
Nice touch with the photo of the wet tire.
ReplyDeleteIs that really true???The pee bottle under the seat? Ugh. Guess you rode home and read the best seller, Yellow River by I.P. Freely. Podium?
ReplyDeleteForeshadowing with the pic of your bike in the bathroom. Your literary education is showing.
ReplyDeleteLiving vicariously through BSNYC
ReplyDeleteAs fate would have it, I saw the one and only Tan Tenovo pedal dancing up Broadway, under the el. I had just stepped out of the local fancy supermarket when I saw his exposed calfs flashing by. I sent him my telepathic advice: "oh no, not the GWB ride again. Spice it up a bit."
ReplyDeleteDooth,
ReplyDeleteGarden Gourmet!
--Tan Tenovo
Urban wetness - another compelling reason to stable road bikes with LR brakes - room for fenders and reasonable tires. I'm confident there's ti bikes built for 57mm of reach out there. And when there's no need for the fendies, supple 32mm tires (inflated to the proper PSI) ride like supercharged cadillacs on rails that also handle 2-inch minus gravel with aplomb as well as most common grass conditions.
ReplyDelete@Beck the biker 9:40pm, Ti bikes built for standard 47-57mm reach caliper brakes- here’s the list I come up with:
ReplyDelete1) Hamsten Strada Bianca
2) ...?
2) Honey MidDurance titanium (randonee and brevet bike). Seven Cycles’ sister company.
ReplyDeleteAs I type this the street outside my window is soaking wet, but not with urine. Still, I wouldn't ride without mudguards. Not that I could; entering my sixth month post-injury.
ReplyDeleteI finally got approval to see a pain management specialist. As Lob is my witness, I will ride again.
+1 for "micturition," which I learned from the Big Lebowski. A word uncommon enough to get the red underlining thing. Had to look it up to be sure; it's actually spelled with an "i" where you have an "a"; I would have expected an "a" and indeed used one at first, but it gets the red underlining either way. As does Lebowski, so shows what they know.
ReplyDeleteHeh, bottles may seem gross, but (male) cyclists in races just pull it out with cameras and sometimes fans around, so whatevs.
they're called piss jugs, and they're the way of the road.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the bathroom at the Payson Playground on Dyckman, but the strava map doesn't confirm it. (I depend on that one since the parks department removed the portapotty by the GWB tennis courts.)
ReplyDeleteWhile I like your rule, you need to add to it "When it's nice outside AND YOU ARE A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL SEMI-TIRED BIKECYCLE BLOGGER you go for a ride. That's the rule."
ReplyDeleteFor the rest of us
"When it's nice outside and you are chained to your desk you wish you could go for a ride like a semi-professional semi-retired bikecylce blogger. That's the rule."
AND
ReplyDeleteYES T-SHIRTS!
16 inches of snows in my neck of the woods so no beikcycle cycling for me. But I got in my cardio, resistance and endurance training without leaving my driveway.
ReplyDelete"I miss New York so much sometimes I fill my humidifier with urine." --Emo Phillips
Bike Snob,
ReplyDelete$8 for organic black pepper!
Dear Yabby,
ReplyDeleteI am hard pressed to say, but the winter months really constrict my style. I yearn to spring free from all these layers of fleece and gore-tex and recall those summer months when I hung out freely in baggy shorts.
Sincerely, Rod.
To Rod,
I know the winter time can really make me itch for warmer times, and emotionally I get all shrunk and shriveled. But no fear - you just need to thrust yourself out there and get back in the saddle again. In no time you'll be butting heads with fellow members on group rides. But don't get cocky, the holiday season is a time for togetherness. In fact, since we're so close I'll come with you on every ride.
-Yabby
I used to play by that rule while living where winters were worse than NYC. Then I moved to California and got nothing done for the first year. It takes real discipline to survive in a climate this ideal.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I went.
ReplyDelete