We chatted with Tommy, the fastest male rider of the Virtual TD Five Boro Bike Tour (and winner of a brand new Stages SB20 Smart Bike Indoor Trainer!), about virtual rides, training in the winter, NYC, and more.

Bike New York: Did the Virtual Tour motivate you to ride every day or regularly?

Tommy: Absolutely! The Virtual Tour and rides on FulGaz are incredibly motivational due to their realism, and that dynamic is essential during winter months when riding outdoors is impractical. Even more, I love the city and was supposed to be there this month for work (New York Toy Fair at Javits), but due to the pandemic, my annual outing was canceled. The Virtual Tour was able to provide not only a consolation in not being able to travel to New York, but truly made me feel as though I was there!

 

BNY: Have you participated in the in-person TD Five Boro Bike Tour before?

T: I have not, but hope to within the next couple of years.

 

BNY: How did you like being able to ride at your own pace?

T: Being able to ride at my own pace, via the reactive or challenge mode in FulGaz, is an amazing feature. I especially enjoy the ability to compete in on-screen segments that connect to Strava’s virtual ride leaderboards, perfect for intervals when [appropriately] applied, or just going all out and getting sweaty!

 

BNY: Any impressions of NYC or the TD Five Boro Bike Tour that you’d like to share based on your Virtual Tour experience?

T: I like to explore different rides on FulGaz, which feature a wide plethora of options featuring video/content from all over the world. I have a soft spot for New York, and the TD Five Boro Virtual Tour is easily in my top 3 rides on FulGaz. It was an amazing experience and has inspired me to ride the real thing in the next couple of years.

 

 

The Virtual TD Five Boro Bike Tour will be available to ride until Thursday, March 31. Get a head start on training for the in-person TDFBBT, scheduled for Sunday, May 1!