Bicycle racing in New York City
Despite what you may think, there is a vibrant racing scene in the Big Apple. The season starts at the end of February and runs until the end of September. Most weeks you can run two or three times without having to leave the five boroughs. Running in New York has always been a clandestine affair, and while the internet has made it a lot easier, it can still be tricky to find the starting lines if you’re new to everything. So if you’re interested in racing in Gotham, here’s some information that may come in handy.
The races
As with most races in the United States, New York races are divided into separate fields according to the United States Cycling Federation category system. Categories range from Cat. 5 for beginners to Cat. 1 for elite hobbyists. Points are awarded for the first places (the depth depends on the type of race and the number of participants). Promotion from one category to the next is based on earning a specified number of points in a 12-month period (with the exception of going from Cat. 5 to Cat. 4, for which you need to run ten times). The vast majority of local races in New York (that is, races where you can ride your bike) are circuit races that consist of several laps around a closed circuit. circle.
Typically, there is a combination of Pro / Cat. 1 / Cat. 2 / Cat. 3 field, one cat. 3 / Cat. 4 field and a Cat. 5 field. In some races, there are also separate fields for Women and Masters (i.e. runners over a certain age, usually 35 or 40). Each field leaves a few minutes after the previous field and competes for its own places and prizes. P / 1/2/3 runs are the longest with distances ranging from 30 to 50+ miles. Depending on the place and time of year, the fields are filled to their limit, which can be up to 110 runners. The large fields make the races quick, and while there are some successful getaways, many of the races come down to a field sprint.
The places
Most of the New York City calendar is made up of what are called “park races” because they take place in a park. There are three main locations.
Central Park (Manhattan): Right in the middle of Manhattan, six-mile Central Park Drive is the premier Monday-Friday training ground for the thousands of cyclists who live in Manhattan. The start / finish line is on Cat’s Paw Hill on the east side, just north of the 72nd Street entrance on Fifth Avenue. The circuit consists of undulating terrain with low power climbs. The east side is flat and fast culminating in a quick descent to the top of the park. Harlem Hill, a large half-mile ascent ring, begins the part of the west side that consists of three additional rollers.
The section that goes through Tavern on the Green as you near the end of the park is fast, followed by a slight incline and a slight downhill that leads back to Cat’s Paw for the end. The races take place on the weekend when the road is closed to traffic. They are usually 5-7 laps and start at 6 am or 6:30 am so they can finish before the park fills up.
Getting there by bike: Central Park is bordered by 60th Street to the south, 110th Street to the north, Fifth Avenue to the east, and Central Park West to the west. You can enter from almost anywhere and once inside you want to enter the main path of the park. It drives in a counterclockwise direction, so follow the path until you reach the Boathouse restaurant, passing the 72nd street exit / entrance on the east side. The start / finish line is at the top of the hill, just past the Boathouse, which will be on your left.
Prospect Park (Brooklyn): A staple for Brooklynites, the loop at Prospect Park is 3.4 miles long. The start is on the east side, just north of the Lincoln Road exit that leads to Ocean Avenue. The loop is mostly flat with a large ascent ring at the top of the park leading to Grand Army Plaza and a corresponding downhill at the bottom of the park where speeds can exceed 40 mph. As with Central Park, the races take place on weekends when the road is closed to traffic and early, usually at 6:30 a.m., before the park fills up.
Getting there by bike (from Manhattan): The easiest way to get to the park is to cross the Brooklyn Bridge. Once you have crossed the bridge, go straight (even if you turn right) onto Adams St./Brooklyn Bridge Blvd. After crossing Atlantic Avenue, take the second left onto Dean St. Follow Dean St. to Flatbush Avenue and turn right on Flatbush. Take Flatbush to Grand Army Plaza. The entrance to the park is at the top of the circle at Grand Army Plaza. Once in the park, drive in the opposite direction (clockwise) to reach the start / finish line.
Floyd Bennett Field (Brooklyn): No longer active, Floyd Bennett Field was New York’s first municipal airport. The former tracks and service roads now serve as a racing field that is 2.3 miles long. The course is flat and windy with a bumpy asphalt. Since no one else is around, there is never any traffic or pedestrians / runners to deal with, allowing for longer runs on the occasional weekend and midweek races as well.
Getting there by bike (from Manhattan): Once again, the Brooklyn Bridge is your best option, and you’ll want to follow the directions above to Prospect Park. Instead of entering the park, turn right onto Flatbush Avenue just past the park entrance. Stay on Flatbush a little over 7 miles. Once you pass the Belt Parkway, look for the first break in the median to cross Flatbush Avenue. There is a bike path that runs against Floyd Bennett Field and will lead to an entrance to the field and the racetrack.
The calendarWith several series of races, the calendar is packed most of the year.
Tea New York City Spring Bike Racing Series It is the oldest racing series in New York. Comprised of ten one-day races, the Spring Series marks the beginning of the season. It traditionally begins the first weekend in March and ends at the end of April. Most of the races are held in Central Park and in April, some move to Prospect Park. This year there was an individual time trial just for fun. There is a leader’s jersey and, in addition to individual race payouts, there are trophies and prizes for the overall winner of the series, as well as the winner of the series in each category.
Tea Cadence cup is a series of seven one-day races that take place in Prospect Park. Spread over the calendar from February to August. In addition to the overall leader jersey, there is a King of the Mountains competition and a sprint competition.
Tea New York Cycling Series It consists of five one-day races that take place in Prospect Park from May through August and have been staples on the calendar for a long time. In addition to individual race payouts, there are trophies for the series winners in each field.
Tea Cadence Racing Series Tuesday Night it’s a season-long series at Floyd Bennett Field, as you might guess, on Tuesday nights. Short and intense, these races are tough and fun. There is an overall series leader jersey, as well as a green jersey for the sprint king.
Every father’s day, there is the Classic Harlem skyscraper biker, a four-corner yardstick on the streets surrounding Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. It’s not often that you can race on the streets of New York, so this race usually fills up fast and the field is packed with spectators. This year’s event will be the 36th in a row.
The end of August brings New York City’s most prestigious race, the Mengoni Grand Prix. Sponsored by Fred Mengoni, who helped bring Greg Lemond to Europe, George Hincapie is among the previous winners. Held in Central Park, the race is organized by the Century Road Club Association (CRCA) and is limited to a P / 1/2 field, a Cat. 3 field and a women’s field.
There are also many races within easy reach of Manhattan, including two races also hosted by CRCA at the Bear Mountain race course in Harriman State Park. A 14 mile scenic loop with lots of climbing and a 50+ mph descent.
Another career option: A word about the CRCA which is a club, in fact it is the largest in New York. The club hosts many races in Central Park throughout the year that are open to members only. It is an attractive option for people who live in Manhattan and want to run in Central Park. For more information, visit the CRCA website at crca.net.
Some useful websites
You must have a USCF license (which you can get from the USA Cycling website) or an international UCI license. If you don’t have a license, you can buy a one-day license on most races. One-day licenses are good for Cat. 5 field only.
There are two excellent websites to help you determine when the races will take place. NY Velocity.com is a New York cycling portal where you will find a list of upcoming races, race results, photos, and much more.
The other site to keep bookmarked is BikeReg.com, which allows you to pre-register for most of the races listed above. The fields are especially crowded in the summer, so pre-registration guarantees you a spot and also dramatically simplifies the race-day registration process. Show your license, sign a waiver, and take your number. That is all.
Bicycle races in New York are alive and vibrant. While not the typical road racing found elsewhere, circuit racing is tough, fun, and for the most part as safe as racing can be. With a six-month season and many racing series to fill the calendar, there is a race in New York waiting for you.