NYC and Philly
CABDA East and Philly Bike Expo
March 2024
Pictures from my trip to CABDA East and Philly Bike Expo
I flew to LGA. American offered me a first class upgrade for about $20 more than the cost of the fees for 2 bags (one bag, bike) so I took the upgrade. Bag fees are $35 for the first bag, $45 for the second bag. The bike is one bag w/in the size limitation and < 50 lbs.
The best part was being able to see my bike and my bag loaded onto the plane. It took me a while to put my bike back together. I had plenty of room and it was cool in baggage claim. The maintenance lady discarded my box for me. I kept all my packing material to reuse it on the way home. My duffle bag that I checked had one pannier and everything else for my trip. I packed light since I’d need to bike everything with me in NYC and Philly. I only had one pair of shoes. Once I reassembled my bike, I had already looked at satellite and street view maps to figure out how to bike from the terminal. The key is walking down to the intersection of La Guardia/94th then using the ped crosswalk to cross La Guardia Rd. and again 94th St. then you bike from 94th no problem. If you want to see the route, all the routes are here.
I planned most of my routes at home before I left. CABDA was 2 days at the Meadowlands in Seacaucus, NJ just over the George Washington bridge. There was a great view of the city from the bridge. I had a few days to explore NYC on bike and got to ride both the Harlem River Greenway, the Hudson River Greenway, Central Park, Brooklyn. I didn’t go to all the boroughs but I did ride in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn. I skipped Staten Island and the Bronx. And I got to take Leah’s sister, Heather for her first ride in NYC on her Rivendell Clem. We rode on the Hudson River Greenway to the Staten Island. In Brooklyn, I stopped in to see Joe at 718 Outdoors. He leads bike tours and microtours. What a wealth of knowledge and what a great idea! Then to Penn Station to take Amtrak to Philly.
Philly Bike Expo
PBE is always fun. I was scheduled to present Sun, lead ride Sat night to the Keystone Bike Party and lead a Sunday morning ride. There was a Sat ride scheduled that we rode too. I stayed w/Leah and her one of a kind, raspberry Platypus. She loves her bike as much as I love my Betty. There are no other bikes as well loved as our Rivendells. There are so many bikes, all the great bike parts and the best bike people.
One example of the best bike people is Eric Marth. He volunteered to fix my broken shifters when I lamented I wish I could repair them but didn’t know how. I’m so glad I got to meet him and thank him in person. Next are the Riv Sisters. We all love our Rivendells and we got to meet each other at PBE. Next are the folks from Rivendell HQ – Will, Vince, Rich, James. We’re so lucky they put so much attention to each and every part to make our bikes useful, long lasting, dependable, beautiful and enjoyable. Old friends like Sylvia who lived in Charlotte several years ago and met her late husband on a bike ride I led many moons ago came to the Sunday ride. And we had a unseasonably warm day to enjoy riding to the Expo. I brought my bike to my presentation about how you can do everything on your bike and what you need. I’d been living off my bike for 11 days so it had everything on it. For my flight home, I actually saved money by upgrading to first class since I was prepared to pay the fees for my bag and bike anyway. It goes without saying how eternally grateful I am to Rivendell for making my bike. It does so much for me. Taking me to NYC, Philly and everywhere in between.