Northeast - Any one from Long Island?

I see there are millions of people from NYC but is anyone from the island? Nassau or Suffolk County?

I am looking for some spots to ride my bike ( Road) and any input would be appreciated. I am in Nassau Country on the very south shore. Anyone know some good riding spots or websites with info regarding LI riding?

Thanks

I see there are millions of people from NYC but is anyone from the island? Nassau or Suffolk County?

I am looking for some spots to ride my bike ( Road) and any input would be appreciated. I am in Nassau Country on the very south shore. Anyone know some good riding spots or websites with info regarding LI riding?

Thanks
Here's the Montauk Century...
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=203345

When I visit my mom, on the North Shore I love riding 347/25-A/25 and just heading east.

I am also from Long Island on the very South Shore; Long Beach to be precise. I am going on a 50 mile group ride with the Suffolk Bicycle Riders Association (http://www.sbraweb.org/) If you go to the Ride Calendar you'll see a complete listing of all of their rides. Unfortunately the 35 miler this past Sunday was cancelled because of the rain.

I am also doing the Escape NYC Century (http://www.nycc.org/rides_eny.shtml) ride with the New York Cycle Club (http://www.nycc.org/) on Saturday Oct 14.

Where do you live on the South Shore? Shoot me an email if you're looking for someone to ride with.

Where do you live on the South Shore? Shoot me an email if you're looking for someone to ride with.


I live in Bellmore. Its a small town noone ever knows but its near Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, and if you still dont know any of those towns Massapequa.

I just got my bike about a week ago so I am new and just looking for casual places to ride untill I get comfortable on the bike. I will definately e mail you though. Thanks

I know exactly where Bellmore is. I grew up on the Island! :) I also know all of the other towns you listed.

Do you work on the Island or in the City? I work out in Melville and bring my bike(s) with me every day. I plan on riding the LIE Service road after work today. Hoping to get in ~30 miles. I generally ride the Wantagh Bike Path after work, but that's being closed on the Oct 10th until next May because they are laying down a cable from NJ.

I know exactly where Bellmore is. I grew up on the Island! :) I also know all of the other towns you listed.

Do you work on the Island or in the City? I work out in Melville and bring my bike(s) with me every day. I plan on riding the LIE Service road after work today. Hoping to get in ~30 miles. I generally ride the Wantagh Bike Path after work, but that's being closed on the Oct 10th until next May because they are laying down a cable from NJ.

Good to see someone else familiar with Long Island. I was starting to think every person was from NYC.

Currently I work on the island, but its just a part time job as I am still a student. I ride with my brother who is out of school and has a job on the island (farmingdale). I see people riding on the service roads of the LIE all the time and it looks like a great place to ride.

When you say you ride the Wantagh Bike Path, do you mean the one from Cedar Creek Park to Jones Beach? If so thats just my luck, buy a nice bike and then they shut down a bike path very close to my house for work. Where do you live?

Anyway I have heard of some other spots but have not been to them yet. People mention a trail from Massapequa to Bethpage I think. Not sure exactly where it is.

I live in Long Beach.

Yes, I am referring to the path from Cedar Creek Park to Jones Beach... closing Oct 10 until May 2007.

The path from Mass to Bethpage is very short, can't be more than 2 miles. Also a ton of branches and leaves and lots of people walking. Wantagh is much more open and a better path.

I'll know after work today how the LIE Service road is... hopefully it's good. Unfortunately I left my contacts home and will be riding "blind". lol Should make for an interesting ~30 miles.

Are you a student in HS or College?

Hi there...I am also from Bellmore. To be honest the Bethpage Path from Massapequa (from Sunrise Hwy)to the Bethpage is 6.5 miles one way. I do agree that especially on the weekends that the path has too many people walking, walking their dogs and walking with strollers. The Cedar Creek Path is about 5 miles one way. If I take back roads from my house round trip for the Bethpage Path is about 22 miles and Cedar Creek is 18.

However, we found a nice route from my house in Bellmore going to Farmingdale College, looping around the campus then home gives me just about a 30 mile ride.

I hope this helps you out and welcome to the wonderful cycling world Turboem1.

really the path from Massapequa to Bethpage is 6.5? Never thought it was that long. Only rode it 2 or 3 times and each time I had a Boy Scout troop with me.

The Wantagh path is 4.4 miles each way, plus you have the aerodome which is a 1 mile loop with a nice uphill at the south end of it. Lots of people ride that 1 mile loop both solo and in packs every day.

People shouldnt be riding on the "aerodrome" in cedar creek. THe signs say not to, and a lot of the riders think it's a closed circuit for them. I am from merrick and did all of my riding along the LIE service road. I would take merrick ave to the LIE and go out about 25 miles and 25 back.

A guy named Jaime at brands runs a weekly ride that leaves the shop on the weekend mornings. It s a decent pace ride from what i remember. Jamie is also an excellent guy to go to for roadie stuff.

Hi I live in Syosset.The wife blades the path from Cedar Creek Park to Jones Beach. If your a roadie in full gear (kit) you belong on the road! Not with bladers, joggers, & families with kids on their bikes waiting for, or the cause of, an accident to happen. Me, I do my 20 - 50 weekday rides on the LIE Service road.
just my .o2

The path from Mass to Bethpage is very short, can't be more than 2 miles. Also a ton of branches and leaves and lots of people walking. Wantagh is much more open and a better path.

I'll know after work today how the LIE Service road is... hopefully it's good. Unfortunately I left my contacts home and will be riding "blind". lol Should make for an interesting ~30 miles.

Are you a student in HS or College?


I am in my second year of college. I will be riding the trail to jones beach as much as I can now if they are going to be closing it.

Actually the Jones Beach Path which is what most people call it is actually called the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway. She was a member of the Massapequa Bicycle Club and it was named after her. It was meant to be a BIKE PATH.

I am a road rider and only ride backroads to make up decent milage cycling loops. Bottom line, Long Island needs to educate motorists to "Share the Road". Most motorists thing we all (full kit or not) belong on the sidewalks. Most other states have signs on the road with a bicycle on it saying "SHARE THE ROAD". Not that half of them read it might the message might catch on.

Getting back to the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway, yes roadies do belong on it.

Not going 20+ with families 10 - 15 maybe

agreed there....I am usually 15-18. However, I will give the path this much....I found that most all that use it, respect one another, very unlike the Bethpage Path, especially people with dogs and casual women walking two and three abreast. More so from Clark to about Farmingdale. For the rare times I go on that path, in that area I try to keep it no faster than 12.

Anyway, none of us can use it until Spring of next year anyway.

I have a few low-traffice rides that I do. I start from home (North Babylon) and ride north on Carll's Path. I then go west on Old country Road or North to Huntington Harbor. There are a few big hills but most of the riding is flat.

Hi, I'm from Cedarhurst/Long Beach. Did frequent rides between the two last summer on my crappy MTB. Getting road bike soon and hoping to find some decent roads in the area...

Hi all,
Also from Long Beach. Just got a road bike after a long spell. Daylight savings starts this weekend. See you on the road soon.

I go back and forth - if a few of you want to get together let me know! Just rode my bike from the train station last night to my parents place - it's nice not having cabs beating on your ass every mile!

Getting back to the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway, yes roadies do belong on it.

There's no alternative legal way to ride to Jones Beach, so there's really nothing to talk about.

Actually the Jones Beach Path which is what most people call it is actually called the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway. [. . .] It was meant to be a BIKE PATH.


Here's some (slightly out of focus) proof for ya.

Ah, Long Island riding! I lived in Huntington a few years ago and found riding there, um, stimulating. I commuted 11 miles, one way, to Oyster Bay along Rt. 25a and it was wild. I definitely feel more comfortable riding in an urban setting than on those roads. Anyways, I heard there were great mtn trails out towards the Hamptons, though never got the chance to check them out. On a related note, anyone ever ridden from the ferry down the North Fork? I have been wanting to take the ferry from New London, CT over and then ride down the North Fork and all the way into Queens. Any suggested routes would be great! Thanks.

I have a Long Island question. I kind of recently moved to Forest Hills, Queens, and don't yet know the area that well, nor do I have a car. I'm starting to think about the upcoming season and routes. Anybody know any good routes starting in or around Forest Hills going east? I've been doing little rides on 73rd Ave out to Alley Pond Park, and it's pretty good, wide bike lane roads. But I want to go a lot further out. What about the Montauk century route? Is that doable when traffic is about? and does anybody actually have the routes on a map. Town names, street names and highways don't mean much as I'm completely ignorant there.

My NYC cycling map ends at the Long Island borders.

Ah, Long Island riding! I lived in Huntington a few years ago and found riding there, um, stimulating. I commuted 11 miles, one way, to Oyster Bay along Rt. 25a and it was wild. I definitely feel more comfortable riding in an urban setting than on those roads. Anyways, I heard there were great mtn trails out towards the Hamptons, though never got the chance to check them out. On a related note, anyone ever ridden from the ferry down the North Fork? I have been wanting to take the ferry from New London, CT over and then ride down the North Fork and all the way into Queens. Any suggested routes would be great! Thanks.I dont' know if it is local/town/county/etc but there are "bike ourtes on the island.

I have a buddie who rides Brooklyn to Rhode Island every summer (in a day...!) He basically does the standard LIE Service Road/Rt 25 out to the North fork. I bet if you try the best routes site at 5BBC (?) you can find that. If not post back and I'll get it for you next week.

I've ridden eastern Long Island a lot. I love the ride form Port Jefferson out. I prefer Rt 25-A/Rt 347 for as long as I can. Less crossing traffic/more scenic.

I have a Long Island question. I kind of recently moved to Forest Hills, Queens, and don't yet know the area that well, nor do I have a car. I'm starting to think about the upcoming season and routes. Anybody know any good routes starting in or around Forest Hills going east? I've been doing little rides on 73rd Ave out to Alley Pond Park, and it's pretty good, wide bike lane roads. But I want to go a lot further out. What about the Montauk century route? Is that doable when traffic is about? and does anybody actually have the routes on a map. Town names, street names and highways don't mean much as I'm completely ignorant there.

My NYC cycling map ends at the Long Island borders.I put the cue sheet from last year's Montauk in gmap. (I only rode from Babylon so the first 45 miles is per the sheet only.)

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=203345

Just what the doctor ordered!! Thanks Hambone.

Another Long Islander here (Huntington, specifically). I'll ride the Bethpage to Jones Beach path occasionally (usually with less experienced riders), but prefer roads.

Lake Ronkonkoma here.

Great Neck here.
Just follow those bike route signs on 73rd Avenue and you will be at the Long Island Expressway service road. One of the better ways East --in off peak hours . . .

Lake Ronkonkoma here.
sorry...forgot to include a route. I just moved here so for now its patchogue holbrook road south to 101...ride out on woodside ave. I also like going up to harbor hills (97N).

albertson. right by mineola, i usually ride fixed but i'm getting my road bike tomorrow. hopefully gonna do some MTB this summer too

hey...i'm from centereach out in suffolk county. if i'm strapped for time, i'll do a quick 20 mile loop that brings me up through setauket and port jefferson. but if i have time to spare, i'll head east out to whiskey road and take that to the end, head up to 25a, then go on rocky point landing/lower rocky point road west into north country road. the best road to get out east is sound avenue, though. the road is pretty flat, hardly and lights, no stop signs, minimal traffic. check it out if you get a chance!

... hopefully gonna do some MTB this summer too
Check out these sites:
visionmtb.com
climbonline.org

Shelter Island here.

Just letting some local people know the Jones Beach Bike Path (Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway) is now open. I went down there and rode it today. It is a nice ride. Since it is repaved it is VERY smooth. There are the occasional sharp turns in the beginning to avoid trees but after that you can keep a very fast pace. It wasn't to crowded. The only down sides are there is always a lot of wind since its right on the water and on the way back when you ride next to the bushes it was a nonstop bug fest. My arms were filled with gnats and I swallowed a couple. You really need to keep your mouth closed. Not sure if its always like that though.

I'm from Cedarhurst.

One of my favorite rides is Long Beach via the Atlantic Beach Bridge from Cedarhurst. It's 15 miles round trip and 25 if you go to Point Lookout and back.

I also commute to Brooklyn a couple of days a week through the Rockaways.

A great ride form the Western end of the South Shore is heading North towards Great Neck, then out on the LIE service road, then back the same way or head back south and back via the South Shore on Sunrise Highway. This can easily be a 50 mile loop.

I'd love to get to ride with some of you guys and get some other ideas for rides in Western Nassau County.

I'm a big guy (6' 3" 220lb.) and ride a Cannondale Cyclocross Disc, so if you see me, make sure to say hi.

island park here

ex, and never going back...

Question for the LI peeps. I'm thinking of riding out to Port Jeff soon - how is the LIE service road to ride on? Any particular times (besides rush hour) that would make sense to avoid?

Question for the LI peeps. I'm thinking of riding out to Port Jeff soon - how is the LIE service road to ride on? Any particular times (besides rush hour) that would make sense to avoid?

man, just from having driven on that road i don't think i'd go near it on my bike. That being said, i'm sure there are people that do it.

I'm from a town right near Port Jeff. A couple friends and I are looking to race this coming spring, but Long Island road racing seems to be fairly rare. Also, does anyone know if there are any developmental teams on the Island for my son to get involved with?

And in response to AIR, your best bet would be to drive out to Port Jeff then bike from there out east onto 25A then onto Sound Ave for a good ride.

I could - though I'm starting from the city and my folks are out there. Would rather take the train back in. I'll check that out though!

Air,

The service road has a lot going for it - direct (for the most part), pretty quiet (try Sunday morning), and some nice shoulders in a lot of areas.

It does get interrupted in some areas - Douglaston, Commack and farther out east - but I think you would enjoy.

Once you get near Lake Ronkonkoma you might want to start cutting the angle on quieter roads so you don't have to take route 83 or 112 north to PJ.

Yeah, from Ronkonkoma I usually head up Hawkins --> 25 --> Mark Tree --> 25A.

Taking 25A out the whole way from the city would be scary though, right?

Thanks!

...Taking 25A out the whole way from the city would be scary though, right?
Right!

Port Jeff Station here, attempting to commute to Stony Brook University on a more regular basis this spring/summer.

Aeneas

Shelter Island here.

I grew up in Cutchogue on Nassua Point. My very first long ride back in the 1960's was from home to Shelter Island. What a beautiful place to ride!
Wells Horton

Port Jeff Station here, attempting to commute to Stony Brook University on a more regular basis this spring/summer.

Aeneas

My Alma Mater. Take a hook up to Old Field for some climbing practice :D [Oh wait - you've got bigger hills in PJ, my bad!] :D

By the way, went out to Huntington last week, picked up my glasses and took the train back - 48.5 miles. Got some great tips that saved my arse and only got lost once even with the GPS (I mislabeled a point). I'll post the route if anyone's interested.

While I have all you Long islanders here....a question.
Can I ride along the belt parkway path all the way out to Lynbrook?
I'll be starting out in Sheepshead bay and have never ventured further than Rockaway Parkway on that path.