30 Hours in NYC - A Trip to See Lael Wilcox
Lately, I’ve been craving some spontaneity. I love my day-to-day, but every now and then, it’s good to mix things up. One morning while scrolling Instagram, I saw that Lael Wilcox was heading to Chicago for a group ride and film screening of Lael Rides Around the World. I checked the schedule and saw she’d be in NYC the following Wednesday April 23rd, hosting a midday ride starting and ending at the Rapha Clubhouse, with a screening that afternoon.
I jumped into planning mode—could I make this work? How much are flights? Where would I stay? What bike would I ride?
Within minutes, I booked a round trip and lined up a place to stay with my friend Chelan, who also planned to join for the screening and offered to lend me her bike for the ride.
NYC travel always stresses me out—so many moving parts. It feels like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Will I get where I need to be on time? Will I be safe? Where will I use the bathroom? My mind raced with logistics.
On Tuesday night, I schedule my Lyft for 4:45 AM and set my alarm set for 4:30 AM. I’m ready to go.
Wednesday morning, bright and early, the alarm goes off. I hop in the Lyft and head to the airport. My flight is at 6:20 AM. Everything goes smoothly—easy security, especially since I packed light with just a backpack and fanny pack. I nod off on the flight, read a little, and land in NYC around 8 AM.
The plan is to meet Chelan at her office in Manhattan to pick up her bike, ride to a coffee shop and work for a bit, then head to Rapha for the group ride.
From the airport, I take the Q70 to the subway station, then the F train. It’s packed with commuters. I get off a few stops short and decide to take a CitiBike instead—only 3 miles to go. I ride along the Hudson River Greenway and reach the Financial District by 10 AM. Chelan and I hug, exchange excited greetings, and I grab her bike before heading to La Cabra Coffee. The line is out the door and I’ve got 15 minutes until my first meeting, so I head next door to La Colombe. It’s loud and chaotic. I look up nearby hotels and end up at The Crosby Street Hotel, a stunning boutique hotel. I take my meeting in their courtyard—warm weather, quiet space, perfect setup.
At 11:30 AM, I head to Rapha, just a few blocks away. I store my backpack with a staff member and join the crowd waiting for Lael. People are mingling, sipping espresso, snacking, and lounging in their gear. I talked with a few folks about photography, riding, and what brought me to NYC. A few are surprised I came just to see Lael. I wondered, do I come off as a super fan? I’m not—just someone who deeply supports women doing bold things. Lael is a big inspiration to me and many other cyclists.
Lael arrives, and we all gather for a group photo outside. At noon, we roll out toward Central Park via the Greenway. I see Lael riding solo, so I ride up to introduce myself. We chat about NYC, bike infrastructure on both coasts, and I tell her about The Bike Library. She’s easy to talk to—positive, welcoming, and down-to-earth.
Central Park is packed—tourists walking, riding, running, talking, even in horse-drawn carriages. It’s hectic, but we manage one loop. It’s 1:30 PM and I have a meeting at 2:30 PM, so I head back solo to Rapha. I hang out there, chat with staff, sip some matcha, and move over to Chobani Café once the store gets crowded. I spent the afternoon working there.
At 4:45 PM, Chelan meets me at Vesuvio Bakery for espresso and cookies to catch up. At 6 PM, the doors open for the film. We grab front-row seats and wander the store, checking out memorabilia from Lael’s trip. She took one Polaroid each day, recorded daily podcast episodes, and collected all kinds of keepsakes. Rapha provided sandwiches and drinks, and it was a great time to connect with other riders.
At 7 PM, the film starts. I got emotional at points—chills throughout. Watching Lael’s journey was incredibly inspiring. The film had such an optimistic tone.
During the Q&A, someone asked about discomfort—since the film didn’t focus on suffering. Lael explained her trip was meant to be inclusive. Yes, there were tough moments—highways, food poisoning—but the purpose was to show that doing hard things can be fun and possible.
After the Q&A, everyone rushed to get Lael’s signature. I was happy with my earlier photo and didn’t feel the need to stick around. By then, I was exhausted. Chelan and I took the subway back to her Brooklyn apartment and called it a night.
The next morning, we were up by 6:30 AM. We strolled to Herbert Von King Park and grabbed breakfast at Nostrand Roastery—cappuccino for me, flat white for Chelan, and two burritos. It was a slow and easy morning in a not so slow and easy city. After that, we parted ways in the subway.
