HNT Retro Edition
Posted by hubman38 on May 6, 2009
First a note- For some reason, none of the links to the other bloggers who wrote about their first times worked yesterday and I didn’t realize it until sometime in the evening. The link to Errant Wife at the top is good and she listed everyone, so if you missed the others, go to her first. Sorry about that 
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It’s the first Thursday of the month, which means it’s retro HNT time! So no actual nekkidness this week…
On Sunday I published a post anticipating what my day might be like as I rode in the Five Boro Bike Tour of NYC. Little did I know that when the weather channel predicted 60% chance of showers, what they meant was 100% chance of showers all fucking day long! I took the Long Island Railroad into the city, carried my bike up the steps from Penn Station to 7th Avenue, stood there for a moment getting my bearings, and felt the first rain drop. And it never really stopped all day. Thank God for Gortex water repellent outer-wear!
This is the podium where the opening ceremony took place. We’re on Church St and about 1/2 mile down the street behind me is Ground Zero, were the new Freedom Tower to replace the World Trade Center is being built. Even 8 yrs later, there is a solemn, almost reverential feel to the area. From the top floor of my high school on LI, on a clear day, I could see the NYC skyline, dominated by the WTC, in the distance. Fourteen people from my hometown died on 9/11. I’ve been back to the city only a few times since then, but being around Ground Zero always affects me, and not necessarily in a good way.
Riding down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway there are some pretty cool views of the lower Manhattan skyline
8 years ago the WTC would have been towering over all of the other buildings in the view below.
Did you try to *click* on any of the pictures? There are some pictures of me, including what I was wearing under my Gortex 
Veronica is up to the letter “M” in her Alphabet HNT series. And don’t forget to see Osbasso and check out all of the other half-nekkidness this week!
Vixen said
Very sobering pictures.
Did love the clicks though!
Emmy said
Very nice post!
I still feel cold for you. Living in the land of rain, I know how it is to be dumped on and cold on top of doing exercise.
That last click thru looks familiar to me for some reason.
danimo21 said
it’s one of those generational things we’re all going to remember, none of us entirely correctly, for our own reasons and in our own manners. i remember being a freshman (in high school *cough*) watching the news play unfathomable video feeds over and over again — and at that time i didn’t even know what the world trade center was!
i’m sorry it’s hurtful/painful/strange to return to new york — but if it’s any consolation, you look hott biking through it.
hhnt, hubman.
Dana said
Mmmmmm … bike shorts! Nothing like a little spandex on a butt!
13messages said
I respect you so much. I’d love to be a bike rider on that level. One day…
Amorous Rocker said
We lost some relatives in my family on 9/11. I doubt I’d ever forget it happening anyway but remembering my family waiting to hear about the relatives and then finding out the only thing to hear wasn’t good… I won’t forget that.
Really great pictures. All 6 of them. =) Happy HNT.
Amy said
8 years, was it as long as all that?
I remember seeing Ground Zero when I went to New York, and it really is very sobering.
Other than that, New York is such an amazing amazing place, the skyline is still so striking.
As is your ass in those shorts, mister
Happy HNT!
xxxx
Another Suburban Mom said
Every time I see the skyline without the WTC it just seems so wrong, like a beauty queen missing her front teeth.
Still you looked hot baby!
Lilly said
Very nice NYC foggy pics! You must have buns of steel with all that bike riding
red rider said
Great post – both inspiring and respectfully sobering. The pictures capture the somber gray mood that must have been present in that part of the ride. I had friends that lost family as well as co-workers that managed to get out in time on that day – still makes me well up when I think of it. Thank you for sharing!
Southern Vixen said
Great pictures and great ride! I’m just so sorry that it rained the entire time.
Nice ass, too!
Hair Bows & Guitar Picks said
Looks like a good ride sorry about all the rain.
Love ALL the pictures
southerngirl said
Live the picks and click throughs. I have never seen the hole where the towers stood, am sure it is quite sobering.
Jobthingy said
great pics hun.. looks cold and damp tho.. the kind of day that you hurry home to cuddle with hot chocolate and a warm body
IM Sexy Runners said
Great pics and reflection. Speaking or retro…..that LeMond is totally retro. Nice ride.
aoefe said
Every person I know who has visited NY and ground zero has expressed there is a feeling there. I’m a Canadian and far away in the West, but I will always remember the day it all happened.
P.S. – You are a sexy man – clothed or unclothed. Yum.
Angel said
What a great HNT! The pictures are breathtaking.. one of these days, I am going to see NYC for myself..
HHNT
Alis said
The pictures are stunning – the rain may not have been pleasant to bike through, but it sure made for some amazing pictures.
vanimp said
How did I not find you before ( I am dense hehe) Hmmm the weather in those pics reminds me of todays weather here. Wet and horrible. Although there’s something refreshing about exercising in the rain. Nice pics and nice butt *giggle*. xx
Sienna said
Breathtaking pictures, in both a sobering and inspiring way.
Still great click thrus
Sam said
The photos are bittersweet, I’ll always remember it as the day the whole world turned inside out.
Just Me... said
There are many emotions regarding NYC.. And anything I could say would be inadequate..
But on a personal note, I did want to add this..
Damnation! Love the bike shorts!!
Lil Bit said
Wow, really cool!
I was recently in the Hilton, and my room (13 floors up) directly overlooked Ground Zero. My first view of it. Sobering and introspective.
Thanks for the series … and you’re looking good in your biker get-up.
What’s this “retro” stuff I keep seeing around… some new theme for HNT that I’ve never heard of??
femmeblt said
I worked in NYC when I first graduated college. The last time I took the train down to see my folks in the south, I got my first glimpse of NYC without the towers as we came down the Connecticut side. It was like seeing an old friend who’d been through a severe accident and come out totally maimed. You don’t know what to say. And I’m rarely speechless. Thanks for posting (and for the clicks – nice ass-ets!). I’m RSS’ing you. Looking forward to more great reads.
Kimberly said
These are great shots! Thanks for sharing them with us!!