Central Park Triathlon

Welcome to the Third NYC Velo Fire Tower Brevet (FT3)! A special thanks to the folks that helped us put this together:

The Team at NYC Velo

Search and State All Road Apparel

Chris McNally Drawing Studio

We're following up the success of the first 2 editions of the Fire Tower Brevet (thanks to all of you who took part!) with a new route & 5 new towers! The new route spends little time in our beloved Hudson Valley, opting for adventures westward. This new uncharted terrain (by Fire Tower Brevet standards) includes immersion in the New Jersey Highlands, the Delaware Valley, and the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The new route for FT3 explores notable areas of Northern NJ & Eastern PA: Hackensack & Patterson NJ, High Mountain Park, Jungle Habitat, High Point State Park, Stairway Wild Area, Hickory Run Forest, Hell Mountain, and, notably, Staten Island. While there are some lengthy sections of flat terrain, the 5 Fire Tower ascents include gradients, often unpaved, that can exceed 20% (all 5 tower ascents this year are rideable, apologies again for the gut punch that was Mt Beacon). Though it may be argued that this ride isn't for everyone we've made accommodations so that those of you

uninterested in a death march in the mountains can still enjoy a great adventure:

• The goal of the Fire Tower Brevet is to push the limits a bit of Brevet-style riding and to explore parts of the Mid-Atlantic & Hudson Valley regions that may be off the radar of NYC cyclists. Scroll down for details of the ride & prizes, and links to the route. The ride is Brevet-style, starting and ending at NYC Velo - East Village (66 2nd Avenue)

• The 5 Controles (checkpoints) on the route are 5 historical Fire Towers throughout Northern NJ & the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, chosen for their location and bike accessibility, these include:

• Ramapo Station Fire Tower (Heart hole punch)

• Buckhorn Ridge Fire Tower (Rectangle hole punch)

• High Knob Fire Tower (Star hole punch)

• Pohopoco Fire Tower (Diamond hole punch)

• Mauch Chunk (Bear Mountain) Fire Tower (Circle hole punch)

• The "Suggested Route" is approximately 330 miles. Riders are not required to follow the route, only to visit the 5 Controles

• Riders who plan to participate are required to register here on BikeReg and will be issued a Brevet card (designed by the artist Chris McNally)

• At each Controle there will be a uniquely-shaped hole punch used to punch the corresponding Fire Tower on the Brevet card

• Riders will also produce digital proof of successful Controle check-in/route completion (via a GPS/Strava file and/or Instagram/social media photos of themselves at the Controle) to qualify for the tiered Rewards

• The official ride start is 5:00am Saturday July 11 2026 at NYC Velo East Village though riders may complete their own adventure at anytime between July 11 and 11:59pm October 31 2026

• This is an unsupported ride – riders are responsible for their own navigation, hydration, nutrition, equipment, and safety - the use of e-bikes, cars, trains, etc are prohibited for Tier 1 & Tier 2 consideration

• Riders should take appropriate caution riding on open roads, use appropriate lighting for low light or night time riding conditions, and use appropriate safety gear at all times (including helmets, reflective apparel, etc)

The Suggested Route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55755950

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The Tiers of Participation:

1. Tier 1 Participation: Riders must start and end at NYC Velo East Village and complete all 5 Controles within 48 hours. Riders may follow any route but may use only 1 human-powered bicycle (i.e. no e-bikes, trains, or Ubers). Riders who complete the course (starting & ending at NYC Velo East Village) and collect punches at the 5 Controles in any 48-hour period from opening day (July 11) through October 31 2026 will present documentation to Andrew at NYC Velo East Village or by emailing [email protected].

2. Tier 2 Participation: riders complete the course in 1 continuous ride but take longer than 48 hours but less than 120 hours -- for example if they want to expand the route to take 4 or 5 days and visit other locations in the Catskills, or they simply want to stretch the ride across more days (starting & ending at NYC Velo East Village). Tier 2 Participation will be open through October 31 2026.

3. Tier 3 Participation: riders complete all 5 Controles on separate visits over any length of time (weeks or months), but always by bike. Controles may be completed over separate outings and in any order. Tier 3 Participation will be open through October 31 2026.

Rewards:

1. For successful Tier 1 completion: Coleman Camp of Type 3 in Brooklyn has come on board to make custom Musette Bags, available for the first 20 riders to successfully complete the Tier 1 challenge. Tier 1 winners will also receive a custom Fire Tower Brevet enamel pin and sticker pack.

2. For successful Tier 2 completion: NYC Velo will send out a custom Fire Tower Brevet enamel pin, sticker pack, & Search and State cycling cap (limited to the first 50 riders)

3. For successful Tier 3 completion: NYC Velo will send out a Fire Tower Brevet sticker pack (Tier 3 is unlimited)

Additional Ride Notes:

Though it's assumed that all who have signed up for this adventure are seasoned and thoughtful riders, riders are implored to make safely their highest consideration when attempting the Third Fire Tower Brevet:

• Always have appropriate lighting on you and your bike during low or no-light situations

• Pay close attention to your hydration and nutrition plan & stay hydrated

• Please be aware of the dangers of over heating/heat exhaustion -- trust that this ride isn't worth it

As of 7/9/26 the hole punches have been Please see below for some course notes from my recon(s) of the route:

• The hole punch has been attached to the Southwest leg of the Ramapo Station Fire Tower

• The hole punch has been attached to the Northeast leg of the Buckhorn Ridge Fire Tower

• The hole punch has been attached to the Northeast leg of the High Knob Fire Tower

• The hole punch has been attached to the Northeast leg of the Pohopoco Fire Tower

• The hole punch has been attached to the Southwest leg of the Mauch Chunk Fire Tower

NOTE that as of Thursday 7/9 all hole punches were attached to their respective towers. It is possible that this may change as time goes on and other punches disappear - if that happens just document your visit to the tower (i.e. Ramapo Station, etc) with a selfie - there is a backup set of punches in the shop and you can get your card punched after the fact, just record the time with a photo (and send it to [email protected]) for credit of the Controle.

• Be sure to tag @nycvelo and #firetowerbrevet & #FT3 on your social media posts -- thanks!

• Be prepared with insect repellent during the ride -- you'll be swarmed by biting insects (flies, mosquitos, etc) on some sections of the route, especially on the climbs where you can't outrun them

• I again implore people attempting this course to keep the temperature conditions, hydration and nutrition front of mind as there are food (& hydration) deserts outside of the city and major highways and many things close early in the mountains

Extra Credit:

Maybe it's because we've been working on this ride for so long, but we have a list of some additional can't miss things close to the "suggested" Fire Tower Brevet route. Any registered rider who accomplishes any of the items below during their attempt at the Brevet and posts a photo of it on social media (be sure to tag @nycvelo so that I see it) will get a separate Brevet patch:

• The first “Extra Credit” is so important that it should just be considered “Credit” – visit the High Point of NJ – it's on the route!

• Grab a coffee or bite to eat at Abraço (81 East 7th STreet in the East Village, @abraco_espresso)

• Make a rubbing of a Geological Survey Marker at any point on or near the course

• Add some additional climbing on the ride (but you can deviate from the route if you like) to reach a total elevation gain of 29,032 feet (a form of "Everesting" without the 24-hour time limit)

• Spend the night camping at a lean-to along the route.

Enjoy the ride!

Please email [email protected] with questions

Welcome to the Century Road Club Association 2026 Season! - Race 7

Start time: 5:30am *All fields line up 5-10 minutes prior to start

You will be racing 4.5 laps (Wdev), 5.5 LAPS (Mdev)

Finish line : W91 Finish

Attn new racers: Pick up a paper race number at boat house parking lot at least 15 minutes before start. You will be given a paper race number, once you've taken your first skills session you'll receive a cloth number that will be your number for the season.

CRCA Club membership is included with all Development Registration.

If you are new to bike racing or picking the bike up for the first time after a long winter, we offer skills sessions and coaching FREE to our members. Skills and Coaching Calendar can be found here

We encourage new racers to take a skills session prior to racing, though not required.

There are several tiers of membership options allowing you to choose what best suits your availability and budget making an inclusive entry into CRCA park racing.

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Basic Rules of CRCA

• *Do not ride in the recreational/runner's lane

• *Do not ride backwards on the drive

• *Do not ride on footpaths

• *Do not urinate publicly

• *Treat club members, racers, officials, park users

and the public with respect

Upcoming Races:

May 30, 2026

June 14, 2026

July 12, 2026

July 25, 2026

Check out the Full Season Calendar here

The NY Tourist is an East Coast homage to The L.A. Tourist Race.

The NY Tourist departs from Two Seas Cyclery in Brooklyn, NY at 0800 sharp and sends you into the greater New York area in search of “checkpoints” at specific GPS locations.

The objective is to route and navigate yourself to each “checkpoint”. On your journey you will encounter NYC traffic, trails that are actually river beds, iPhone scrolling j walkers, luxury gravel roads, downed trees, over-the-ear noise canceling headphone wearing dog walkers, single track, and hopefully areas of the East Coast you haven’t ridden a bike before.

This is a self supported and self navigating event, and It’s highly recommended to use a bike computer for navigation. Each “checkpoint” is one of the GPS coordinates, once you get to the “checkpoint“ you must tear a page from the book that matches your event entry plate number.

First one back to WeisMFG after collecting all pages wins. Failure to get the correct page number, miss a “checkpoint”, or lose a page will results in an automatic disqualification.

Take your ride to the next level with our optional enduro-style timed segments. These specially selected sections are designed to add excitement and challenge to your journey, giving you the chance to win a chance at a separate podium.

To qualify, simply upload your full ride to Strava. The fastest time on each segment for the day wins.

Party With Purpose 5K is back! As one of the biggest races in Hoboken, this event supports local youth charities, including Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County, HOPES, Mile Square Theater and Community Lifestyle. After the kids of the Boys and Girls Club and other charities have their fun in the afternoon, the evening kicks off with 500+ runners on Pier A with the best waterfront views during the 5K. Immediately upon finishing the race, our after party begins! The live DJ and a beer/wine garden along the pier is a great way for volunteers and runners alike to end a successful night.

Welcome to Randall's Island Crit

Presented by Central Park Raccoons, New York Bike Lawyers and Cozine Dental Group

Race will happen rain or shine.

NYC Cup Series Information

This event is part of the NYC Cup Series.

Only select fields earn NYC Cup points and are eligible for series (overall) awards.

All races remain open for USA Cycling upgrade points.

NYC Cup Series Awards by Field

Cat Pro/1/2/3 - $5000 overall awards (Top 7)

02/07/26 Groundhog Classic

02/22/26 Brooklyn Icebreaker

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium

06/27/26 Brooklyn Classic

07/19/26 Randall's Island Criterium

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium

09/12/26 Breezy Time Trial

09/20/26 Diamond Mountain Classic

Cat 3/4 - $2000 overall awards (Top 7)

02/07/26 Groundhog Classic

02/22/26 Brooklyn Icebreaker

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium

06/27/26 Brooklyn Classic

07/19/26 Randall's Island Criterium

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium

09/12/26 Breezy Time Trial

09/20/26 Diamond Mountain Classic

Masters 40+ - $1000 overall awards (Top 5)

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium

09/12/26 Breezy Time Trial

09/20/26 Diamond Mountain Classic

Masters 55+ - $500 overall awards (Top 3)

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium

09/12/26 Breezy Time Trial

09/20/26 Diamond Mountain Classic

Women Road - $500 overall awards (Top 3)

02/22/26 Brooklyn Icebreaker (free separate field)

07/19/26 Randall's Island Criterium (free separate field)

09/12/26 Breezy Time Trial

09/20/26 Diamond Mountain Classic (free separate field)

Men Fixed - $1000 overall awards (Top 5)

02/22/26 Brooklyn Icebreaker

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium

07/19/26 Randall's Island Criterium

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium

Women Fixed - $500 overall awards (Top 3)

02/22/26 Brooklyn Icebreaker ( separate field, free registration)

05/31/26 Coney Island Criterium (mixed field, free registration)

07/19/26 Randall's Island Criterium (free separate field)

07/26/26 Riverside Criterium (separate field)

NYC Cup Technical Guide - Required Reading

The NYC Cup Technical Guide contains complete series rules, points system, overall awards, field eligibility, and enforcement policies and applies to all NYC Cup events.

TECHNICAL RULES

EQUIPMENT

Fixed Gear bikes must be in excellent working condition and meet all of the following requirements:

• Track bike with horizontal dropouts (no conversions)

• Drop handlebars with tape/grips and plugged ends

• Lock ring must be present and secure

• Clipless pedals only (no straps or cages); cleats must be in good condition

• Rear wheel must sit fully within the rear dropout

• Tubeless and tubular tires are permitted

• Computers and mounted cameras are permitted but must be securely attached

• Spoked wheels only; disc wheels and tri-/aero-spokes are prohibited

• Brake levers, calipers, cables, and hoods are prohibited

• Lights and reflectors are prohibited

Road bikes must be in excellent working condition and meet all of the following requirements:

• Drop handlebars with tape/grips and plugged ends

• Clipless pedals only (no straps or cages); cleats must be in good condition

• Tubeless and tubular tires are permitted

• Computers and mounted cameras are permitted but must be securely attached

• Spoked wheels only; disc wheels and tri-/aero-spokes are prohibited

• Lights and reflectors are prohibited

APPAREL

• Helmet must be properly fastened and in visibly good condition

• Helmet lights (mounted or integrated) are prohibited

• Race numbers must be clearly visible during qualifying heats, ACR, and finals

• Jackets or vests covering numbers must be removed before the start

• Numbers must be pinned on the LEFT side

• Riders with non-visible numbers will not be scored or advanced. No exceptions

RACE RULES

All riders are responsible for knowing when and where they are required to be for their races. Riders who miss their scheduled start or qualifying heat will not be permitted to race.

If a field exceeds the venue start limit 7 days before the race, the event may be conducted in a multi-round race format. The schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Any format changes will be published in advance and communicated to registered riders

RACE COURSE (Road & Fixed)

record is here: https://www.strava.com/activities/9419991115

Length: 1450 meters (0.9 miles)

Terrain: Flat

Turns: 7 right / 3 left

Direction: Clockwise

Width: 4 meters (narrowest) to 8 meters (widest)

The start/finish straight is short, measuring approximately 122 meters total, with about 65 meters from the exit of the final corner to the line.

Turns 1 and 2 form a tight chicane. Turn 1 is narrow and 90 degrees, requiring careful speed control to set up for the wider exit of Turn 2. With a single fast line through the chicane, positioning into the straight will be contested.

Turn 3 has a wide radius with a slightly uphill exit.

Turn 4 is a straightforward 90-degree corner with a wide exit.

Turn 5 follows a long arc around the trees and requires heavy braking. Limited sight lines and a narrow exit make this corner challenging. While there is runoff, riders may exit into the grass.

Turn 6 is a long, sweeping corner at the bottom of a steep downhill section. Positioning here is critical for the next turn.

Turn 7 is a classic hairpin with downhill entry and high speeds. Braking skill is essential. This corner is often decisive for the finish.

Turn 8 is a wide, fast hairpin that allows continued pedaling and positioning for the finish.

Turn 9 is a straightforward 90-degree corner with a wide exit.

Turn 10 is a fast, wide 90-degree corner that allows a sprint to develop after the exit.

START

• Riders must start with one foot on the ground

• Track stands and leaning on railings are prohibited

• Bicycles will be inspected prior to each rider’s heat

FINISH SPRINT

• After the finish, continue straight to the lawn area if it is safe to do so

LAPS

• The number of laps will be announced prior to the start

• A lap counter will be displayed on the truss at the start/finish line

• A bell will signal prime laps and the final lap

• Lap counts are subject to change at the Chief Referee discretion

LAPPED RIDERS

• Riders must exit the course immediately when instructed by race officials or marshals

• Pulled riders will be ranked based on their last completed lap

• The sweeper moto will run approximately 15 seconds ahead of the lead moto

• When approached by the sweeper moto, riders must exit the course promptly

• Riders must exit the circuit safely and under control

• Race officials may signal riders to exit the course at any time

• Riders who refuse to exit will be disqualified

REGISTRATION

The check-in desk is located in the large parking lot near the Start/Finish line. Check-in opens 1 hour before the first race/heat and closes 10 minutes before the first heat start.

A valid USAC or UCI license is required. A $10 late fee applies to day-of registration. Timing chips from other races may remain on the bicycle.

Registration transfers to another rider are available through your BikeReg account at no charge.

AWARDS

Top 3 finishers in each race must report to the podium area within 10 minutes of their race for awards and media. Riders must be present to receive prizes. Prizes will be forfeited if the rider is not present.

RESULTS

Results will be posted on Road-Results.com and the USA Cycling website, typically within 48 hours.

PHOTOS

Will be posted at Verrazano Team Facebook page in a day or two after the race.

2023 photos by @SnakeGod_Cyclist are here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KVZpFjE4XopoBZUqUyx3ZBWDwVwNL6w7

2024 photos by Robert Lai: Pre-race, Gallery 2, Gallery 3, Gallery 4, Gallery 5, Gallery 6, Gallery 7, Gallery 8, Podiums.

2024 photos by Jun Aishima: Men Road Bike, Women Road Bike, Men Fixed Bike, Women Fixed Bike.

2025 Photos by Jun Aishima:

Road bikes: Women Open, Cat5, Cat4, CatP/1/2+3

Fixed Gear Bikes: Women, Men

Video from 2025 race:

Video from 2021 race:

Video from 2021 race:

Video from 2020 race:

NEUTRAL RACE SUPPORT

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DIRECTIONS

By car: Take the Triborough Bridge to Randall’s Island and follow signs to Icahn Stadium. Parking is available next to the stadium.

By bicycle: From the 102nd Street bridge (Q train at 96th St), turn left immediately after the bridge and follow the bike path to the wooden bridge on the left. The course begins immediately after the bridge. Follow marshal instructions for safe access to the Start/Finish area.

WATER, BATHROOMS & TRASH

A water fountain is located to the left of the Icahn Stadium entrance. Permanent restrooms are located to the right of the entrance. Trash receptacles are available near the registration desk.

SPONSORS

Central Park Raccoons is NYC's nocturnal cycling club focused on recruiting, training and clinic/race organizing with the main goal of bringing more Fixed Gear races into NYC.

New York Bike Lawyers (Flanzig and Flanzig, LLP) is a nationally recognized law firm representing the rights of seriously injured cyclists, pedestrians, and their families. We are avid cyclists and safe street advocates with a combined 65 years of experience litigating on behalf of seriously injured crash victims in New York. Partner Daniel Flanzig serves on the Board of Directors and is a legal advisor to the New York Bicycling Coalition, New York's only statewide bicycle advocacy group. Daniel serves as a "Bike Law" educator with Bike New York, the country's leading bike education program holding monthly classes around New York City educating his fellow riders on their rights if involved in a crash. Mr. Flanzig has authored numerous articles and frequently lectures on bicycle litigation in New York. He has been featured in both The New York Times and Bicycle Times Magazine for his work as a leading Bicycle Law Advocate and a New York Bike Crash Lawyer.

An avid cyclist himself, Dr. O'Neal is a compassionate clinician treating populations of all backgrounds and ethnicities with empathy and respect. A wealth of experience dealing with traumatic and developmental maladies of the maxillofacial complex. Familiar working in most clinical settings, from Hospital to private practice. Constantly organizing and assigning doctors and support staff for full and efficient utilization of clinic resources while maintaining minimal operational overhead. An active team player in group practice, regularly coordinating with other treating clinicians whether formulating comprehensive patient treatment plans or executing treatment.