"Does anyone have a reasonably precise figure for the length of the Prospect Park loop? Failing that, Central Park?
I'm looking to corroborate/re-calibrate my computer, so I'm afraid I do need something more precise than ""a bit over 3 miles"".
Also, if you remember, roughly where in the roadway were you measuring? E.g., outside edge of the bike path (for the most part)?
Thanks,
Peter Storey"
Prospect Park Loop Distance? Central Park?
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 8:20am
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 10:18am
#1
Central Park look
I'm sure this is bound to open the floodgates of messages from dozens of people only too happy to tell me my bike computer is inaccurate, but I have found the Central Park loop to be consistently 6.1 miles. I usually measure from the first lamp post on the lefthand side, just south of the 72nd Street entrance. I've never ridden around Prospect Park, so I have no idea. Good luck!
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 12:52pm
#2
9W mile markers
Not the answer you want but if you ride on 9W you can check your cyclometer against the mile markers posted along the side of the road. I've found them to be very accurate with my cyclometer.
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 1:23pm
#3
According to NYRR
"The estimable NY Road Runners Club (http://www.nyrrc.org/divisions/training/cpdistances.htm#1) cannot quite make up its mind, saying it's either 6.0273 mi or 6 miles and 33 yards (i.e. 6.0188 mi).
I assume that's measured in the runner's lane.
On the very crude assumption that the loop is a perfect circle, riding an average of 1 yard outside the runners lane would add 6.3 yards to the total distance (i.e. 2xPi). Personally, I reckon that I average about 6-8 feet outside the runners lane, allowing for cutting of some corners, which adds about 15 yards.
The net result is 6.03 miles, which is the number I use. It's not perfect, but it's probably accurate to +/- 0.2%, which is less than the variation caused by modest changes in tire inflation."
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 2:50pm
#4
another set of figures
Fri, 11/21/2003 - 7:21pm
#5
This is easier...
20 city blocks, that is streets up a parallel avenue, is/are one mile. Ride a straight line.
Mon, 11/24/2003 - 9:00am
#6
"""even more"" easier ;-)"
Good idea, Hank. Or find an outdoor (high school) track, if one is available. One lap is precisely a quarter mile.
Sat, 11/22/2003 - 8:04am
#7
PP
Prospect Park, from my cyclometer, is 3.34 miles, center lane. Six laps is just over 20 miles.
Sun, 11/23/2003 - 7:33pm
#8
Pro Park
Yup...I've gotten anywhere from 3.33 to 3.35 miles as the loop distance in Pro Park, so JP's 3.34 sounds like a perfect compromise.
Mon, 11/24/2003 - 8:24am
#9
And, in fact: (i) that's what the PPark website says (Duh! Should have gone there first) and (ii) that's what I've been getting too.
Thanks for all the help folks. This is a great Message Board!
Peter Storey
Tue, 11/25/2003 - 5:46pm
#10
Pi schmi
I don't care what the official figures are, or what kind of geometry you're doing. The only way to figure out the circumferential distance around any park is for 6 riders in an absolutely straight paceline (each rider equipped with a computer) to ride the full course in the outside lane.
Then, according to an old club rule -- which I sincerely hope is or will be codified in the NYCC bylaws -- the person whose computer shows the most distance is the one who has the correct mileage. Of course, this same rule applies to all club rides.
Personally, I've managed to get my mileage for one turn around Central Park all the way up to 13.72 miles. Of course, I had to tinker with the calibration a little, but a rule is a rule. ;-)
Tue, 11/25/2003 - 7:16pm
#11
Two magnets per wheel
Doubles your speed, too.
Mon, 11/24/2003 - 7:54pm
#12
and the climb?
And what is the climb for a lap in central park? 250ft or so?
Wed, 11/26/2003 - 12:27pm
#13
Under 100 vetical feet.
Fri, 11/28/2003 - 7:49am
#14
less than i thought
Wow! That is considerably less than I would have thought. I would have guessed something like:
Harlem Hill - 70 ft
Cat' Paw (by the boathouse) - 40 ft
Little hill after Harlem hill - 30 ft
Hill from the row-boat pond up to Tavern - 30 ft
Misc - 50 ft
Total 220 or so.
Fri, 11/28/2003 - 9:27am
#15
Misread
I thought you meant just the hill... You are correct.
