Allison Lazur Photo
The tour group.
It was perfect weather early Wednesday evening for 32 bicyclists, of all ages, backgrounds, and experience, to hit the streets. After gathering at the New Haven Green, they set out to explore the city on the New Haven Picnic Basket ride — in search of local food.
As Laura Burrone, one of main guides responsible for the tour reviewed the rules of the road, riders saddled up like a troop of comrades.
The New Haven Picnic Basket ride is organized by Elm City Cycling and part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. This year is the 150th anniversary of the bicycle patent, and Burrone and Paul Proulx’s sixth year leading the ride itself. Both Burrone and Proulx are active members of Elm City Cycling, with years of riding experience.
Proulx was quick to explain what makes the New Haven Picnic Basket ride most enjoyable for him. “It combines the three things I like most,” he said. “Biking, socializing, and eating.”
The view from the street.
With nine stops over the course of about two hours, bicyclists visited Cedarhurst Café, Skappo Merkato, Crepes Choupette, Nica’s Market, Chabaso Bakery, Elm City Market, Aladdin’s, The Kettle Corn Guy, as he was affectionately referred to throughout the trip, on the corner of Elm and High Street, and Ashley’s Ice Cream Café. Signature food was collected from each venue and carefully placed in bags and baskets strapped to the tour guides’ bikes until the end of the trip. Nica’s Market sliced up a medley of grapes, pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe and melon upon our arrival. Aladdin’s offered creamy, mouth-watering hummus. There were luscious spreads like sweet fig jam to smother on the baked rolls from Chabaso, and vanilla ice cream from Ashley’s that was delivered to the picnic upon conclusion of the ride by one of the tour guides, for fear of melting.
But there was eating along the way. The Kettle Corn Guy whipped up a fresh batch of sweet and salty popped goodness for all to sample. Choupette doled out crepes in several varieties, including a jam and white chocolate combination wrapped in a pocket of delicate, buttery heaven.
The tour at Skappo.
As all 32 bicyclists shuffled into Skappo’s quaint, intimate market, the owner of the authentic Italian family-owned establishment discussed the food to be found there, including lush, fresh mozzarella balls, imported prosciutto, and rich homemade cookies.
The cyclists in the group were not just from New Haven; some had traveled from Shelton, Stratford, and Guilford. Alice Valley, from Guilford, has been biking with her parents since she was about three or four years old.
Nathan Katz and Kate Pipa, from Shelton, and crepes.
“My favorite part about riding in New Haven is the people watching,” Valley said. She went on to say how in New Haven during the festival she got to hear music and perhaps see a dancer while she was “queuing up for the ride.”
“I just love this city, it’s so fun,” she added.
Lior Trestman, who just moved to New Haven this past September, commented on his experience bicycling throughout the city and his enthusiasm for upcoming events.
“There’s a great community of bikers in New Haven,” he said. “We are actually working on a project called 4 Lanes 4 New Haven, which is promoting four continuous bike lanes throughout the city of New Haven to bring the neighborhoods together and let everyone take part in the biking culture. Stuff like that makes me excited. It’s great for me to bike around alone, but when you can do it with other people and see other people enjoying it, that’s what’s really exciting.” (Stay tuned for much more about 4 Lanes 4 New Haven on Monday.)
As the tour continued, this group of strangers and friends grew closer, united by their affection for cycling and the city. When a bungee cord was needed to secure the box of rolls from Chabaso’s, another rider was quick to offer up her extra. There was looking out for one another on the road, pointing out potholes and making sure no one was left behind, while welcoming newcomers and encouraging them to attend future rides.
The tour concluded just before the sun began to set with a group picnic in the courtyard, outside of Sterling Library. Riders shared blankets with their old and new friends, after taking turns collecting plates of food from the smorgasbord offered while discussing the city, cycling and their personal lives. By the time the meal was done, we were a community.
I wanted to go on this when I saw it as part of the schedule, but then I remembered you have to wear a helmet on the bike tours, and no.