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SUMMER FUN A TOKEN AWAY:BY ROB TAYLORBefore Greg LeMond won the Tour de France and before bike-riding couture became fashionable, I was pumping my French-made ten-speed through city streets and along open roads preparing for triathlon competitions. Often, when training for a race you forget what is around you opting instead for improving speed and technique.But this summer I decided to slow down. With the endurance I%u2019ve build from competitive training, I%u2019ve taken several long treks through some of the city%u2019s neighborhoods at a relaxed pace, catching some of the real sights offered in New York.My two favorite trips %u2014 one to Coney Island where I eagerly rode for three sacks of Nathan%u2019s french fries, the other across the Brooklyn Bridge and up Sixth Avenue to Central Park %u2014 are recommended to%u25a0 m D m n U v n T o n r eU V U R V / 1 / I 1 I J %u25a0 * %u25a0 O 'Or C hart Y our O w n Course W ith These TipsIf you%u2019re looking for some good bicycle routes in Brooklyn, there are several options that can take you through parts of the borough providing good exercise and none of the hassles of driving a car or taking public transportation.Prospect Park %u2014 For good exercise as well as entertainment, try the three-mile road circling Prospect Park. The road is closed to traffic on weekends and during weekday evenings.Shore Expressway %u2014 A bike path runs along New York%u2019s Harbor from Owl%u2019s Head Park to Dyker Park next to the Shore Expressway. The route is separated from the jogger%u2019s path until it reaches the Verrazano Bridge when the road becomes a little more crowded.Ocean Parkway %u2014 A ride from ParkSlope down Ocean Parkway to Brighton Beach is also enjoyable for the more ambitious riders. A bike lane is on the west side of the street. Cyclists are advised to make sure they watch the street signals as the path crosses all the side streets in route to the beach.Brooklyn Bridge %u2014 Few people realize that the south side of the pedestrian walkway across the Brooklyn Bridge is set aside for bicycles. The cyclist can get onto the bridge at the access area in the middle of the intersection at Tillary and Adams St. The ride is uphill, though once you reach the middle of the bridge you%u2019ll find that the effort was worth it.Always ride with a helmet and pay attention to car doors and street signals. %u2014 R.T.P rospect Park%u2019s U rban Rangers G lennE m m erson (above c e n te r) and B arney R afferty (rig h t) talking w ith cyclist G e o rg e Zhoro ff b efore tour begins. Phoenix rep o rter RobTaylo r rests under th e shade a fte r th e threehour bike excursion. (Taylor, Kirk P hotos)anyone wanting a little adventure with their exercise.But, if you don%u2019t want to ride on your own, but prefer the experience of a guided tour, the Urban Park Rangers offer the ideal opportunity for a novice cyclist who would like to get to know Brooklyn.The tours, although not regularly scheduled but announced with plenty of advance notice, operate out of Prospect Park and take the cyclist to several other Brooklyn parks and include some of the more interesting neighborhoods and vantage points along the way.NOT OUT TO KILL ANYONEWhile the ride takes in several small hills, including a four-block uphill course to Sunset Park, it is an easy 20 miles that takes approximately three hours. %u201cI%u2019m not out to kill anyone on the trip,%u201d said tour leader Barney Rafferty.All that is needed is a working bike %u2014 at least a five-speed %u2014 and a safety helmet. While the tour requires a reservation, the number of participants is normally small, according to Rafferty, making the trip more manageable and the possibility of problems arising from flat tires or other mechanical failures minimal.My particular tour included two bike enthusiasts from Midwood, George 23ioroff and George Lemer, both experienced trekkers with a lot of local knowledge to share. In addition to Rafferty, the Urban Park Rangers sent Glenn Emmerson along as an assistant.This is one of the advantages of a group tour, that a lone cyclist does not have.Lemer and Zhoroff were both from Brooklyn and had their own stories about the neighborhoods we visited. During the morning ride, our conversations also covered a variety of topics from housingContinued on Page 24Honoree Herb J. Brauer, (center) shares a happy momentwith General Chairman, Ehvin S. Larson, and Sister GeorgeAquin O %u2019Connor, Pres. of$/C, at the Kickoff Cocktail Receptionf o r committee members held at the Bargemusic.FOURTHANNULDINNERDANCEFO R T H E B E N E F IT OFThe Building FundHonoringH e r b e r t J. B ra u e rSenior V ice President M anufacturers Hanover Trust ( .oFridaySeptember 26, 1986Colonie FI ill Hauppauge, N Y.Cocktails 7 P.M. Dinner 8 PM Black TieGeneral ChairmanK lw ln S. I .a rs o nPresident & ( h ief H xeeutive ( Jflicer The B rooklyn I'n io tt (>as( oManufacturers Hanover Vice Presidents Ted Witterbalt, TomFalsigiia, and Richard Minierijoin reception f o r committee.!Hane ialek(St. Joseph %u2022 i ntiar. n %u25a0. wn mi W; ,HobHailey (XV. lei.) and H nue lim n er (C m h i) plancommittee actii Hies.j b R oe B ou le va rd P atch o gu e . N .Y 11772 ;5 16) 664-3200.654-3602HEW YORK%u25a0 %u25a0umaaewimAon AW W toi l i i i v i Vm im ic V (d'nrve \%uuin tout SHtrustee Fred A Mci%u2019biUiamy, Senior t'.P oj BrooniYn %u2022 itiontwits Co. ( fa r right} in nmgralulating Herb Rrmu-rFor Dinner ricketsand journal \\ds,ail or W rite:A ugust 21, 1986, T H E P H O E N IX , Page 13