Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Philly <--> NYC

Anybody ridden their bike between NYC and Philly? I'm looking for suggestions on best routes -- like the nice one along the delaware or the ****e one through jersey. What have people done, and what should I avoid?

Can't be done. Don't try it.

i also want to know...

Can't be done. Don't try it.

are you saying because of the terrain? It's approx 85-100 miles, depending on what route you take. The distance is perfectly feasible.

chinatown bus is the correct route to take

PM Rikardi 151. He's done it.

Ask these guys: http://bangboston.blogspot.com/

I think some (all?) of them are on this forum.

Ask these guys: http://bangboston.blogspot.com/

I think some (all?) of them are on this forum.

YEP! that group was Me, Stet, Mattgarfield and another person who is not on the forums. I was going to say "Check out the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia" (http://www.phillybikeclub.org/) since they have a lot of que sheets on their site, but when I checked for myself, they didnt have any posted for NYC. I have a cue sheet on my wall that will bring you from philly to NYC if you would like it. I have no way of scanning it but I can make a copy of it for you if you are in philly. Anyway, PM me and we can arrange it. Its not a horrible ride, gets a little hilly in North Jersey but with the right gearing you will be fine.

Have fun!

YEP! that group was Me, Stet, Mattgarfield and another person who is not on the forums. I was going to say "Check out the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia" (http://www.phillybikeclub.org/) since they have a lot of que sheets on their site, but when I checked for myself, they didnt have any posted for NYC. I have a cue sheet on my wall that will bring you from philly to NYC if you would like it. I have no way of scanning it but I can make a copy of it for you if you are in philly. Anyway, PM me and we can arrange it. Its not a horrible ride, gets a little hilly in North Jersey but with the right gearing you will be fine.

Have fun!


also, over the past few years this topic has come up about a bazillion times. If the "search" feature is working you may find some good advice. If not, you may just have to go searching yourself. It seems like this topic gets posted everytime the colleges have a break.

What have people done, and what should I avoid?

This summer we took Rt 13 to get from Philly to Trenton. I later learned that it may not have been entirely legal, but it was reasonably safe and quiet. We had to dash across Rt. 1 to get to the Trenton Makes bridge to get out of PA, but that was doable. Then I think we took 206 from Trenton to Princeton, but I can't remember for sure. Whatever we did, the route was pleasant. We stopped in Princeton for lunch.

One thing I won't forget is that taking Rt. 27 between Princeton to Newark is possibly the scariest thing I've ever done. I'd avoid that.

I'm thinking of trying this tomorrow:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=612216

Comments or hints?

Edit: actually for various reasons it can't be tomorrow. but hints and suggestions still welcome.

approx how long does it take? factoring in breaks and flats and all

I'm thinking of trying this tomorrow:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=612216

Comments or hints?

Edit: actually for various reasons it can't be tomorrow. but hints and suggestions still welcome.

Newark of all places...hah, i guess you could then take the train over to nyc or find a way to a bridge...but anyway, when you leave philadelphia and get into the bensalem area, dont take knights road to street rd. instead, stay on frankford until you get to humeville, and take humeville to old lincoln highway. i used to have a friend that lived up there and i know that this is a nicer ride than taking street road

I used part of this guy's (http://www.mattababy.org/~belmonte/Home/Bicycle/NewYork_to_Baltimore/) route to do it, but took the NJT over the river into Newark and rode an alternate road to route 27 instead. The rest of NJ is pretty easy. You end up on a highway for a while after entering PA but once you hook up with 13 you're good to go. It was 70some miles.

I used part of this guy's (http://www.mattababy.org/~belmonte/Home/Bicycle/NewYork_to_Baltimore/) route to do it, but took the NJT over the river into Newark and rode an alternate road to route 27 instead.


What was your alternate road? I'd like to try a different route the next time I do this...

if you check the local NJ road maps between rahway and newark, you will find route 1 which is an absolute pain to ride on. bad conditions and vehicles zooming right up your ass. total MiG alley - avoid it if you can.

however, just a few blocks over to the west is a parallel road that is much quieter and follows alongside the NJT tracks all the way up to newark. you're riding thru suburbs at first, and as you get closer to newark it gets a little rougher. still, an easy ride.