Urban Athletics: NYC at Night Bike Ride

New York is a completely different city after dark. During the day, people are out riding bikes, soaking up the sunshine, and pretending they enjoy paying $8 for coffee. But once the sun goes down, most cyclists tuck their bikes away and head home. That’s like ordering a pizza, throwing away the cheese, and proudly announcing that the crust was the best part. You're missing half the experience.

If you're a fellow night owl—or simply someone with questionable sleep habits—come join me for a late-night ride through the city.

The plan...

We'll meet in Union Square and pedal our way around some of New York City's most iconic landmarks. They're impressive during the day, but at night they transform into something even better: beautifully illuminated and, in some cases, suspiciously free of tourists.

Our route includes the Washington Square Arch, the Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport, the World Financial Center, Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, the Plaza Hotel fountain, the glowing Apple cube, the sensory overload that is Times Square, the New York Public Library and its famous stone lions, and the Flatiron Building. We'll also do a loop through Central Park after dark, stopping at Bethesda Fountain and Belvedere Castle—because nothing says “good decision-making” like wandering through a giant park at midnight with a bunch of strangers from the internet.

The important stuff...

• The ride will be about 28 miles round trip at a casual pace of roughly 12 mph. If midnight is normally when you transform back into a pumpkin, this may not be the meetup for you—we'll be out late.
• We'll stick to bike lanes whenever possible, but the city planners, in their infinite wisdom, neglected to place protected lanes directly in front of every famous attraction. You should be comfortable riding in traffic. Helmets and bike lights are absolutely required, both for safety and to improve your odds of being seen by taxis.
• Please make sure your bike is in good working order before the meetup. Bring a lock, a spare tube, a patch kit, and a pump. New York has many wonderful qualities, but fixing your flat at 1:00 a.m. on the side of the road is not one of them.
• Check your email before heading out for any last-minute updates and my phone number, which will be sent to everyone who RSVPs.
• And speaking of RSVPs: please only sign up if you genuinely plan to come. Space is limited, and "I totally meant to make it" sadly does not propel a bicycle. Serial no-shows and last-minute cancellers may be removed from the event.
• Sorry, no guests for this one.
• Rain cancels the meetup, because while we enjoy adventure, recreating scenes from The Dark Knight on two wheels is a bridge too far.