As many of you know I am a hardcore cyclist, in fact you may notice that as the weather gets better I rarely post on the weekends, for I am off riding my three bikes on rural back roads, at some skate park or through the woods on some snaking trails with no one for miles. One may think that my move to Monsey from Albany took a devastating toll on my cycling lifestyle- but in fact it didn’t. A little known fact is that Monsey is probably one of the greatest Jewish settlements for mountain bikers, but not for road bikers unfortunately.
Albany sucked for mountain biking, I had to drive at least 40 minutes to reach anything that I could be entertained with for more then an hour and even that got boring. The road riding however was awesome and I had several scenic loops just outside my door that required no driving to, and that I didn’t have to fear for my life from angry SUV drivers jealous of my renewable energy mobility.
Switch to Monsey and all the sudden my roles were switched, I went from mostly road riding to mostly mountain biking, with several options of great trails within 30 minutes or less driving from my house. My 18 pound bike lay in the back of a dark closet gathering dust and resembling most bikes across the land began to lose tire pressure. This is why most Americans are fat by the way- because they are too lazy to pump their tires up with air, and so their one exit out of obesity lays on their porch rusting away, until their spouse yells at them to get their fat asses off the couch, and one backbreaking ride later its back to the TV and video games.
So the other day I was feeling under the weather, but it was one of those days, you know around 6pm when the sun is beginning its descent and the cool breeze just beacons you outside- for some outdoors frolicking. So I made the conscious decision that I would ride from my house and roam around Monsey. This is a big deal, for driving in Monsey is awfully scary- kal vachomer- the riding must be insanity and it was somewhat.
Besides for hitchhikers that love to walk right in front of traffic without looking or paying attention to horns, you have to contend with a serious lack of blinker usage, cabs just driving like maniacs, little kids and the best of all- the crappiest pavement ever, which when riding a very light bike without shocks- can lead to severe problems with regards to getting it up and arthritis.
So I ventured out my door and passed by all of the half built section 8 housing on my block, dodging nails and stray pieces of sheetrock. I felt like I was on an obstacle course and people in steel behemoths were trying to kill me as I barreled down Maple avenue- the potholes were huge and the cars were unmoving- Monsey is downstate to me and therefore everyone drives like New Yorkers. Once out of the congested areas of Maple the riding was great. I did make the mistake of coming back down Maple to the infamous dangerous intersection with route 306, I felt like I was in Israel again, except here no one yelled, they just honked and opened up doors without warning, oh and stared at the dude in spandex.
I did notice something interesting from my ride in Monsey, and I have taken one other ride on my trick bike, to bust out some moves by the post office near my house. Chassidic kids love bikes, and in turn I love them. I have developed this special affinity for these kids because once you get past all the stereotypical judging you realize that they are just curious- kind of like when I see a women who has a full size lock hanging from her ear, I know not to stare, but I can’t help it. So to with little Chassidic kids, so what they stare.
I was doing tricks off this little ramp by a loading dock a few weeks ago on erev shabbos and I caused a crowd of about 25 little boys and girls mostly on bikes to form a semi-circle around me and just watch. I felt super cool and I also started chatting with them, I got to trying to teach them how to pop wheelies and other maneuvers that would probably get them killed- but were fun as hell. This one guy was the communicator for the bunch, kind of like at bar mitzvahs when one boy and one girl are seen as the communicators for the two bashful groups. I then told all the kids I was Jewish and orthodox and they didn’t believe me until I started rocking “a bissle Yiddish” – these kids loved me and when the parents came this guy was like “do that trick again” in a thick Monsey accent of course.
So I’m riding the other day down 306 and I’m on the street cruising at a cool 23 miles per hour and suddenly this teenage Chassidic kid on a department store bike, I am looking to see some dude on a fancy bike- this kid starts racing me, his peyos and jacket tails are flying and he is pumping his bike while I cruise. Its way different when your on a bike with tires pumped to 120 psi, but it was hilarious and we both had huge grins on our faces.
I got to hand it to the folks in Monsey- because of all places it seems to be that every kid is playing outside, whatever community you happen to be in- the kids are playing ball, playing with construction supplies, running around in the half built homes, or just playing ball and of course riding their bikes.
26 responses so far ↓
1 Nemo // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:50 am
Grew up mountain biking daily but stopped that when my seat got stolen years ago. I started riding again recently in Brooklyn, which happens to be a lot of fun. Picked up a new Cannondale mountain bike, which sucks for city streets but can be awesome when I take it to Prospect Park, which of course is the closest thing that I can get to real mountains.
Of course the down-side to all my fun is that since I rode so much I got an infection in a place where riding is no longer comfortable. Doc says it’s from all the bumpy impact on my bottom. Hesh, do you think it’s possible to get a new seat that would soften impact without having to upgrade to a full-suspension bike?
2 heshman // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:07 am
Well I would actually suggest a harder seat, the fancy mountain bikes all have very little padding, I also sit down mostly on my bike when riding up and on flats and then stand on downhills.
I would suggest buying a suspension seat post- which would be way cheaper then a full suspension.
3 hadassah // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:21 am
Hesh - this post had me grinning - your love for biking really came through. question for you - see any female chassidic kidlets on their bikes?
4 heshman // Jun 5, 2008 at 10:37 am
Well I’ll tell you the chassidic girls don’t ride bikes, but all of the litvishe bais yaakov types ride them- the block where I work has loads of girl bikers from yeshivishe homes.
5 hadassah // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:20 am
would be interested to know how they manage to ride bikes and stay tznius…..when i bike with a long skirt it gets caught in the chain, when i wear a shorter skirt it rides up way above my knees, however when i ride in jeans i am covered but apparently not tzanua. wonder how the BY girls manage it…
6 Q // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hesh, great post. I once was riding up the hill on Bennett Avenue in Washington Heights and was waiting for a friend who was behind me, so instead of unclipping I did a trackstand for a minute or so. I didn’t realize that some yeshiva kids were watching me from the sidewalk and was pretty surprised when I heard applause from them! It really brought a big smile to my face.
My observation is that no girls from the Bais Yaakov or Chassidish crowd ever ride a bike once they’ve reached a certain age (probably bas mitzvah).
With all the new construction in Monsey, done without any regard to how much traffic the narrow roads can handle (the chassidim have the politicians in their pockets), it will only get worse to ride there.
7 heshman // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:44 am
actually I think the construction is great for riding because while everyone is waiting for the other person to go I can just breeze through- it also gives the kids something to play with- I know as a kid I loved to play around construction sites- it what my father does for a living.
8 Shevers // Jun 5, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I used to ride in long skirts and be fine. The best I think though is a mid calf skirt of heavier material like jean, it won’t blow up as much but won’t get caught in the chain either.
9 Tamara // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I understand tzinus and such but I think it’s sad that girls don’t ride because of it. Couldn’t a girl wear a skirt to her knees (so it doesn’t get caught in a chain) but with leggings under it so you can’t see her under garments?
As far as girls not riding after a certain age, is this because of the belief that going over bumps can…argh how to say this nicely?…. bleed? Yes, it’s true.
10 Shevers // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Really? No… really? That seems silly.
11 gp // Jun 5, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I do love that the kids play outside a lot as opposed to being glued to the TV or PC, unfortunately they play under our windows. Also, I miss biking, I biked at home (europe) until age 15, but I’m not about to become the first married woman to bike in monsey, I’m wary oh them rocks!
12 s(b.) // Jun 5, 2008 at 2:26 pm
gp, my stepmother bikes in the monsey area. probably in below-the-knee shorts.
13 heshman // Jun 5, 2008 at 3:07 pm
GP you can be the trendsetter. You can also just drive your bike to rockland lake or something 3 mile loop around
14 s(b.) // Jun 5, 2008 at 3:55 pm
There are some great tips for biking in a skirt, if you do a web search for skirt biking or kilt biking. Skirt guards sound like a great idea.
15 literatura // Jun 5, 2008 at 4:38 pm
mountain biking is lame
16 Hesh // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Well I mountain bike, road bike, dh, xc, trials, dirt jump and skate aprk- oh and freestyle
17 Batya // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:00 pm
My son commutes to work in Jm by bike; says it’s faster than anything else, and it keeps him fit. He needs the fitness for work and his knees can’t take too much running.
18 M // Jun 5, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I bike in places where there are no frum people- I am usually wearing whatever, but the best skirt is definitely a strong denim skirt that’s not too long that it’ll bother you but not too short that it’ll go up.
When I was a kid I used to ride my bike wherever, but that stopped once I got old enough- yeah- bas mitzvah sounds about right. Older girls don’t generally ride simply because it just isn’t done- so when you do ride, you stand out a lot. It really depends where you go, though. In BP it’s not accepted at all- Flatbush I’m not sure. Ocean Parkway yeah, but not the really yeshivish, and Ave J and Coney, that area, no.
Great post, btw. You really got a storng feeling there. It must’ve been nice to bond like that.
What’s a trackstand?
19 Lion of Zion // Jun 6, 2008 at 1:24 am
“in spandex”
my father has some and jacob also told me about it. i’m sorry, but it’s just not right.
20 A Jewish Music Insider // Jun 6, 2008 at 4:20 am
Hesh,
Great post as usual. I’m wondering if you can tell us , being a serious biker and all…Do you use any safety measures when biking i.e. helmet etc.. Call me a kill joy but I’m willing to bet many of the kids you saw had no helmets…am I right?
21 heshman // Jun 6, 2008 at 9:14 am
You know I have to say I’m pretty impressed because many of the kids in Monsey do wear helmets, its the older kids who usually prefer to wear their hats- which may be stronger then helmets since they do not have the same crush factor ratings as bend downs.
On another note I saw some Chassidish girls riding bikes yesterday in full out skirts and stockings so maybe they do ride as well.
Lion or Zion- I also felt the same way about spandex for years, as well as the general roadie population- after all mountain dew chugging, long haired - punk rockin, guys who lunge themselves off of cliffs- do not like spandex wearing rice cake eating roadies. But then I discovered how amazing spandex was and first wore shorts over it and then I tried without and I will never go back.
I can remember this one time riding through Albion-NY in the middle of nowhere and this car pulls up and starts Gay bashing at me- and for once I felt like an ass. They thought I was gay- a compliment mind you- because I do not have the fashion sense to be gay.
I do wear a helmet and gloves- and when I ride trick style I wear shin/knee pads
22 Anonymous // Jun 7, 2008 at 11:23 pm
“Don’t have the fashion sense to be gay.”
LOL!
23 redhead // Jun 8, 2008 at 1:26 am
Being a frum young woman who bikes definately makes you stand out. I know that in the small New England town that I live in, people in stores and around the community know me as “the girl-who-bikes-in-the-long-skirt.” (And, yes, the best is a not too long, not too short, denim skirt) Also, I was definately the only girl who used to bike to Beis Yakov every day. Well, until my bike got stolen in 12th grade. Perhaps that was sign from HaShem that I shouldn’t have been riding my bike after my bas mitzvah
And mountain biking is awesome!
24 Mindy // Jun 8, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Hey, RedHead- do I know you? When did you graduate?
25 Mindy // Jun 8, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Whoops whoops whoops sorry- scratch that.
26 utubefan // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Thought you might be interested in this. I stumbled across something called Hazon (Chazon) which is having an environmental bike ride in NY on Labor Day Weekend. I can’t post links here so google Hazon and the rest.
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