Event Info (http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/lihr/event_info.html)

google maps of start and finish (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=3388725909384621875,40.832183,-73.440070%3B5287119381456411822,40.845781,-73.407595%3B9543190156212536765,40.848067,-73.402054&saddr=Round+Swamp+Rd+%26+W+Jericho+Turnpike,+Huntington,+NY+11743&daddr=Cold+Spring+Hills+Rd+%4040.832183,+-73.440070+to:E+11th+St+%4040.845781,+-73.407595+to:E+10th+St+%4040.848067,+-73.402054+to:40.848619,-73.391461+to:eatons+neck+road+and+tudor+dr&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4&sll=40.848294,-73.383865&sspn=0.014511,0.031414&ie=UTF8&ll=40.930893,-73.393307&spn=0.014493,0.031414&z=15&mid=1211762499)

I'm looking to do this ride, interested in hearing any comments from people that have done the past rides?

Event Info (http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/lihr/event_info.html)

google maps of start and finish (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=3388725909384621875,40.832183,-73.440070%3B5287119381456411822,40.845781,-73.407595%3B9543190156212536765,40.848067,-73.402054&saddr=Round+Swamp+Rd+%26+W+Jericho+Turnpike,+Huntington,+NY+11743&daddr=Cold+Spring+Hills+Rd+%4040.832183,+-73.440070+to:E+11th+St+%4040.845781,+-73.407595+to:E+10th+St+%4040.848067,+-73.402054+to:40.848619,-73.391461+to:eatons+neck+road+and+tudor+dr&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4&sll=40.848294,-73.383865&sspn=0.014511,0.031414&ie=UTF8&ll=40.930893,-73.393307&spn=0.014493,0.031414&z=15&mid=1211762499)

I'm looking to do this ride, interested in hearing any comments from people that have done the past rides?

It's actually a brand new ride but Bike NY usually does a great job with their rides.

Long Island Rail Road will operate according to its regular bike rules (http://mta.info/lirr/pubs/bikerulelirr.htm) on this date. Permits are required for bikes, and space on the trains is extremely limited. The closest station to the start is Brentwood on the Ronkonkoma line.

I wonder what the likelihood of getting my bike on a train out of Penn Station might be. I'd hate to pay the registration fee, get up early, and then not be able to get there.

I wonder what the likelihood of getting my bike on a train out of Penn Station might be. I'd hate to pay the registration fee, get up early, and then not be able to get there.

There's a message board dealing with getting/offering rides to the event.

http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/lihr/getting_there.html

Might be worth a try.

LIRR has an application for an annual fee of $20 to bring a bike on the train (OFF PEAK ONLY). That's all I know.

Edit: This is wrong, see information posted below

I already have a $5 Bike Permit but that doesn't guarantee they won't reach the maximum of 8 bikes per train before I can board. :(

Thanks FrankieV. I added my post on their message board. So far it's only six would-be passengers looking for rides. No rides looking for passengers :p

Many of my miles over the past 20 months has been route research for this event on behalf of Bike New York.
It is indeed the first year for this event and designed to geographically complement the other 2 rides BNY does: Twin Lights and Harlem Valley.
As to Stacey's question: There's not an LIRR set up as for the 5 Boro Bike Tour (limits and passes waived unless you get a cranky conductor), so standard rules apply. Since there is one train per hour on this line, there is no Plan B. As noted on the BNY site, closest station is Brentwood. Maybe a 15-20 minute ride. Since this is a new event, there is no historical reference as to how much LIRR usage to expect. Personally, I'm never quite trusting of these things, so I'd try to get a ride with someone. SCCC starting area is 2 couple of minutes off the L.I.E.

LIRR has an application for an annual fee of $20 to bring a bike on the train (OFF PEAK ONLY). That's all I know.

Whoa - they dramatically changed that huh?

Whoa - they dramatically changed that huh?

Not according to their site today:
Long Island Rail Road

* Bicycles are allowed aboard LIRR trains at most times outside of rush hours and major holidays. See the Long Island Rail Road bike pages for details.
* A $5 lifetime joint MNR/LIRR Bicycle Permit is required. Permits may be purchased at ticket booths, onboard trains, and by mail.
* On weekdays, a maximum of four bicycles per train is allowed. On weekends, a maximum of eight bicycles per train is allowed. Special weekend “bicycle trains” can accommodate more than eight bicycles; these trains are indicated on the published timetables.
* Folding bicycles are allowed onboard trains at all times and do not require a permit. Please fold your bike before boarding and don’t block the aisle or doors.
* Bicycle event group organizers must contact LIRR Group Travel at 718-558-7498.

Phew - that's a relief. That would have been pretty steep.

Many of my miles over the past 20 months has been route research for this event on behalf of Bike New York.
It is indeed the first year for this event and designed to geographically complement the other 2 rides BNY does: Twin Lights and Harlem Valley.


Can you tell us how this ride compares, in difficulty, to the Harlem Valley Ride.
Last year's 55 mile Harlem Valley was beautiful but the last 15 miles or so of hills
kicked my a**. :giver:
Thanks

I wanted to sign up for it, but I'll be busy in a pre lil' munchkin class. Looking forward to the route map someone will kindly post after the event... :)

Always looking for another nice century...

I have never done the Harlem Valley Ride, so cannot compare.
However, the 50/75/100 routes all go west on the L.I.E. Service Road to Pinelawn Road, then north on Sweet Hollow Road/Hartman Hill Road and eventually into Cold Spring Harbor via Route 108/25A, then up Snake Hill Road. You stay along the water (hence, hills) across Huntington, past (not into) Sunken Meadow Park, then to Nissequogue. The 50 turns south back to SCCC from the rest area at Nissequogue State Park, the 75/100 continue to Head of the Harbor and finally to Port Jefferson. The 75 will head more or less south and rejoin the L.I.E. at Hawkins Road, while the 100 does the same after a loop from Port Jeff to Brookhaven. Randall Road is the eastern most leg of the 100.
Hope that helps.
Could always use some volunteer help; check relevant page on the BNY site if interested.

Can you tell us how this ride compares, in difficulty, to the Harlem Valley Ride.
Last year's 55 mile Harlem Valley was beautiful but the last 15 miles or so of hills
kicked my a**. :giver:
Thanks

Oh, man, me too! The Harlem Valley was the first longish ride I ever attempted after getting my confidence up with the Five Boros. But that 55 was harder than the centuries I've since done out on Long Island.

Great T-shirt, though...

According to http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/lihr/event_info.html the 30 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 1,115 feet. The 50 mile route has a cumulative gain of 3019 . The 75 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 4,633 feet. And, the 100 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 5,774 feet.

Cumulative gain for the Harlem Valley ride appears on http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/hvrr/event_info.html is 2,030 foot gain for the 30 mile route, 3,920 feet for the 55 mile route, 5,590 feet for the 75 mile route, and 8,105 feet for the century.

I'm thinking about this ride as well. I would ride the 50. I have another Long Island Century June 14 for the Tour De Cure. Might be a little too soon. We'll see. As we approach the date, and if I ride it, I will offer a car ride there.

This time I may choose according to cumulative gain rather than distance :p

According to http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/lihr/event_info.html the 30 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 1,115 feet. The 50 mile route has a cumulative gain of 3019 . The 75 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 4,633 feet. And, the 100 mile route has a cumulative elevation gain of 5,774 feet.

Cumulative gain for the Harlem Valley ride appears on http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/hvrr/event_info.html is 2,030 foot gain for the 30 mile route, 3,920 feet for the 55 mile route, 5,590 feet for the 75 mile route, and 8,105 feet for the century.

Thanks Stacey.
You did what my lazy brain should have done in the first place....compared them.
Seems like the Harbor Ride is a bit easier than the Harlem Valley.
I may torture myself and do the 75 in the Harbor Ride but stick to the 55 in the Harlem Valley.

Thanks for the route description Dschlichting.
Much appreciated.

None of this is easy ;)

I'm registered.
They say there is limited registration.
I registered now just to be sure.

I have never done the Harlem Valley Ride, so cannot compare.
However, the 50/75/100 routes all go west on the L.I.E. Service Road to Pinelawn Road, then north on Sweet Hollow Road/Hartman Hill Road and eventually into Cold Spring Harbor via Route 108/25A, then up Snake Hill Road. You stay along the water (hence, hills) across Huntington, past (not into) Sunken Meadow Park, then to Nissequogue. The 50 turns south back to SCCC from the rest area at Nissequogue State Park, the 75/100 continue to Head of the Harbor and finally to Port Jefferson. The 75 will head more or less south and rejoin the L.I.E. at Hawkins Road, while the 100 does the same after a loop from Port Jeff to Brookhaven. Randall Road is the eastern most leg of the 100.
Hope that helps.
Could always use some volunteer help; check relevant page on the BNY site if interested.

UP SNAKE HILL ROAD? you can't be serious! I've ridden down Snake Road many times but I've never met anyone who attempted to ride up that hill !

UP SNAKE HILL ROAD? you can't be serious! I've ridden down Snake Road many times but I've never met anyone who attempted to ride up that hill !

People do it.

Look at the 25 mile mark. Goes from less than 25 ft to over 200 ft elevation for Snake Hill road.

I've included the second pdf with the grade, showing over a 15% grade at the 25 mile mark.