QUEENS

a summer story

By VITTI Cycling

November 7^th, 2022

Queens Summer... A film by Henry Hung

“Christ it’s hot."

“Yeah, brutal."

The first thought when we suited up for the day of riding in Queens was for the unbearable heat. It was August in the city, the wind didn’t move at all, the heat and humidity sat over everything like a damp towel. The sun rose and the humidity rose along with it. The best thing about cycling in the heat is creating your own breeze, it’s when you stop pedaling that you realize how hot it actually is.

It’s Autumn now, the weather is cool, the leaves are changing and falling, it's perfect for a day on the bike. The contrast of weather makes the heat of that summer day seem probably worse than it was. Memory tricks us, changes how things might have actually been. Either way for sure it was hot, miserable and loud and busy and hot…did I mention it was hot?

This was a day to ride in and out of the light and shadows cast by the train tracks overhead, the rumbling and ear piercing screech of them a constant soundtrack. It was a day to get strange homemade ice cold fruit drinks from giant glass bottles and eat amazing food from street vendors.

It was a day to ride around the parks, past basketball courts where kids played and little kids ran through water parks, their moms and dads sitting in the shade where they could find it. It was a day for ice cream.

It was a day to explore the eclectic neighborhoods just outside the door, a day to ride in the heat and the noise and the crush of people and enjoy all the sights and sounds that is Queens in summer.