The Jane!

The Jane was an experience. Let’s put it that way. It was the best of times and it was the worst of times. We stayed at the Jane Hotel in New York City. The morning we arrived, we had an amazing time biking along the Hudson on both the New Jersey and New York City sides. We had excellent weather and breathtaking vistas.

But when we arrived at The Jane, the shit kinda of hit the fan. We were also coming off seven days of hard cycling, through the beautiful yet rather hilly Green Mountains. People were tired. People were sore. You could tell people were longing for soft beds, warm showers and some space to relax in. The Jane has some of that, but it was somewhat lacking in the space department.

What’s captivating about The Jane is that it’s built like a ship. It was built for sailors, well over 100 years ago, and one of its historic claims-to-fame is that it housed the survivors of the Titanic when they were brought to shore. But it is cabin-style bunk rooms, which means that for two people sharing, each with 2 x 90 L duffel bags, there’s no where to walk. Keeping your bike in your room was out of the question. After storing the bikes in a safe off-hotel location and booking another room just for luggage, people settled in somewhat more comfortably.

After the initial shock, however, the character of The Jane really started to charm the crowd. From the stuffed peacocks in the lobby, to the roof-top bar and patio, to the turn-of-the-century (the last century) lounge and bar on the main floor that’s only opened up twice a week, to the always helpful and courteous staff, the rest of the stay was a joy. In the heart of the Meatpacking District, near the start of the High Line Park, and a block from the Hudson, the location couldn’t be beat. Convenient to the bike lanes for easy city touring as well. Indeed, many of the people on the tour said that if they ever came back to New York, they would definitely stay at The Jane again.

So, while perhaps this wasn’t the most practical place to stay on a cycling tour, it certainly was an interesting one. And we found a hidden gem in the city for sure.