Brooklyn Blitz THIS SUNDAY!
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When: Sunday, September 20 at 3pm.
Where: The race starts in Williamsburg-Brooklyn @ 426 Wythe Ave. between Broadway and South 6th street. The finishline is the southeast corner of Tompkins Square Park @ Avenue B and E. 7th st.
Course facts: The route is 4.5 miles through New York City’s hippest hoods. The course starts one block south of the Williamsburg Bridge on Wythe street. Skaters will start heading East on South 6th street then turn left on Bedford Ave. This is the most crowded stretch of the race. The roads are decent in Williamsburg but beware of wandering hipsters! Bedford Ave. is the Mecca of the ultra hip New York City social scene. This is a good opportunity to turn your swag on and show off your steez. The 1st segment of Bedford is a casual DH grade with two stoplights at the bottom at Grand St. and Metropolitan Ave. Approach with a slight footbrake if the lights are red, go hard if they’re green. The 2nd segemt of Bedford is a slight uphill with another casual DH grade following. No sliding speed check is necessary on Bedford but be extra aware of pedestrian/vehicle traffic as Bedford often gets congested.
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The next turn is left on North 12th street heading east toward the East River. The grade is a comfortable DH section that ends at Kent Ave which runs along the East River. Do not fly through the stop sign at the bottom, instead make a controlled left turn onto the bike path that runs along both sides of Kent Ave. This is the flat power section. Step up your pace and make up time on this flat section with breathtaking views of Manhattan and east River.
As you approach the Williamsburg Bridge that towers over you, turn left on South 5th street and kick the uphill section to the Williamsburg Bridge Greenway path at the base of the Bridge @ S. 5th and Roebling. Watch for bike/pedestrian traffic exiting the bridge bike path. Make a right turn on the path and get ready for the best uphill section of the race, a 3/4 mile carefully engineered uphill push to the top then the best DH segment crossing the East River and dropping into New York City.
The Williamsburg Bridge DH section is easy to carve out without speed checks and quite fast and smooth if you decide to bomb. Be aware of bike traffic in both directions and STAY IN YOUR LANE!!! There are many videos of the Williamsburg Bridge, I suggest you review them and prepare accordingly. The Manhattan side of the bridge ends somewhat abruptly between Eastbound and Westbound Delancey St. traffic. DO NOT RIDE INTO TRAFFIC, YOU COULD DIE. Ride out the bridge and take note of a small curb you will hop over if going too fast. No worries, the bridge has a controlled run off area but practice caution if new to this area.
Clinton street is directly across Delancey street at the bottom of the bridge. When you regain speed control check for vehicle traffic and cross Delancey skating north on Clinton street, which changes to Avenue B after a few blocks. There is a bike path on Clinton and you will be skating with traffic. This is the final stretch of the race before you reach Tompkins Square Park at 7th street so step up your pace and finish well.
See link below for a detailed map.
