The following is reproduced without any kind of permission or license or knowledge or approval from anybody whatsoever. It is extracted from Graham Healy's biography of Shay Elliott. Elliott was the first Irishman to wear the Yellow Jersey, and also won stages in the Giro and the Vuelta and wore the leader's jersey in the latter. I think he was the first non continental to win stages in all three grand tours. I just put down the book. I should remember that. For some strange reason my short term memory is shot to pieces. Anyway.

Hello,

I'm a freelance reporter affiliated with the Columbia Journalism School writing about some of the bicyclists who did not let the hurricane interrupt their riding schedules. I would like to talk with anyone who has experience riding in bad weather or knows someone who decided to go biking during Sandy. Better yet, please contact me if you were out riding yourself.

I just received this word from the Central Park Conservancy:

"We are working very hard to clean up Central Park in the wake of the hurricane. The damage is widespread and has included the loss of 250 mature trees. Our first priority was to attend to the perimeter where there is a public sidewalk,  and then we focused on the marathon route. We are now moving into the mid-Park and north-Park areas to clean debris, prune limbs and remove downed trees. There are also numerous benches and fences to repair.

Many blacked out areas and not all have generators.

9W north highly passable as are many roads. We only went to Palisades Market, then cut west toward the reservoirs.  On side roads, occasional "get off and walk round a tree/wires . . or chose to go under them".  Also numerous narrow spots where debris at side of road forces cyclist into traffic lanes. Not all cars were patient.

Not many stores open.   Food/bev sources open at present are : Palisades Market on 9W; Tenafly Deli, Rivervale Deli.

As of 3:00 p.m. today (Thurs.) the Greenway is closed north of 59th St. for as far up as it is in a City park.  I believe the section that is in a State park is open.  (Not sure where that starts.)  This time they have put sturdy fencing at the 59th St. entrance to keep cyclists and pedestrians off.

C/B Ride, ~40 miles, 9:30 AM, from Eleanor Roosevelt Statue (72nd & Riverside.)

No advance sign-up. No waiting around. Just show-up.

Plan is to head downtown, cross the Manhattan Bridge, head east past the Brooklyn Navy Yard, thence north on Kent, etc. to the Pulaski Bridge, then continue north on Vernon to our favorite pizzeria in the shadows of the TriBoro Bridge.

Possible stop at the new FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island on the return route. Many return options available.

Email us if desired. Otherwise, just show up!

Does anyone know what the situation is on any of those?

I'm thinking it's washed out. Anybody know?

NM

I dont see a vote prompt anywhere when I log in

when I log in I get an orange bordered white rectangle at the top that is blank - is that where the prompt is?