Northeast - The Great Big FANY Bike Ride

A quick report on a great ride that repeats annually. I just got back from the 8th running of the FANY. FANY is an acronym for Five hundred miles Across New York. It was a seven day, 547 mile blast. 155 happy weird cyclist of all shapes and sizes. Great route selection with daily maps and cue sheets. Course Niagara Falls to Saratoga Springs with lots of North and South, Up and Down in between. Speculator was the high point about 1500 ft higher than the beginning.
Trucks carry tents and gear and portable showers, Hotel accommodations available. Evening meal provided as option, daily fresh towel too.

Just really well done. I may do it again. One guy had done it 7 of the 8 years.

I did it - and it's the at the bottom of the ranking of about a dozen week long rides I've done. Route was great but the organization was lacking. Picture: 100 tents in a small city park with no horizontal surface; 150 people crammed into a small town elementary school. Really not bad, bike touring is always fun, but not a ride I'd do again. And I won't mention rain.

A quick report on a great ride that repeats annually. I just got back from the 8th running of the FANY. FANY is an acronym for Five hundred miles Across New York. It was a seven day, 547 mile blast. 155 happy weird cyclist of all shapes and sizes. Great route selection with daily maps and cue sheets. Course Niagara Falls to Saratoga Springs with lots of North and South, Up and Down in between. Speculator was the high point about 1500 ft higher than the beginning.
Trucks carry tents and gear and portable showers, Hotel accommodations available. Evening meal provided as option, daily fresh towel too.

Just really well done. I may do it again. One guy had done it 7 of the 8 years.

Yes, it's a great ride - I'm one of the ones who's done 7/8. Also Wilf has done 7 and Tom has done 7-1/2 out of 8. He could only get time off for the first half of the first ride.

Actually, the high point was on the way to Speculator, about 2150 ft before descending to Speculator. Around 3500 feet of climb that day.

I'm one of the slow riders and was always on the road when the downpours came. What can you say - once you get wet, you can't get any wetter. The main effect of the rain on the ride for me was that I took fewer pictures.

Are you the Don that had breakfast with Jane and me (Ed) in Manley's diner on the last day?

- Ed

I did it - and it's the at the bottom of the ranking of about a dozen week long rides I've done. Route was great but the organization was lacking. Picture: 100 tents in a small city park with no horizontal surface; 150 people crammed into a small town elementary school. Really not bad, bike touring is always fun, but not a ride I'd do again. And I won't mention rain.

Hey Peter, I'd like to hear about the rides you liked better. I thought the lack of horizontal was a planned effect to allow people to use there analytical physics skills to choose the driest place. Horizontal would have meant ALL equally wet.
I notice the word SMALL city park and SMALL town elementary school. I kinda like SMALL and I don't think you find BIG in such beautiful places. BIG places may have once been beautiful. I guess that's why they make ties in different colors. To each...
Oh, and I don't think the organizers planned or should get credit for the rain. I sure liked it over heat for the climbs.
See you on the road.

Yes, it's a great ride - I'm one of the ones who's done 7/8. Also Wilf has done 7 and Tom has done 7-1/2 out of 8. He could only get time off for the first half of the first ride.

Actually, the high point was on the way to Speculator, about 2150 ft before descending to Speculator. Around 3500 feet of climb that day.

I'm one of the slow riders and was always on the road when the downpours came. What can you say - once you get wet, you can't get any wetter. The main effect of the rain on the ride for me was that I took fewer pictures.

Are you the Don that had breakfast with Jane and me (Ed) in Manley's diner on the last day?

- Ed

Ed Thanks for the corrections. I'd guess my errors were small on an astronomical scale. I didn't take many pictures either and I'm a former Kodaperson. I saw that Jane made up for us.

Yes I'm the Manley's Don. Breakfast with you and liquid refreshment Jane. Thanks for your part in making the trip fun. I'll be watching for that whirlygig! I noticed the money missing from my shorts.

Don

Reply to "donob08": TRIRI (Indiana) is a much better ride of similar size. AIBR, GITAP (Illinois) about the same price, with meals. I like week long rides sponsored by clubs - usually smaller and much cheaper.
The "SMALL" venues would be OK for 50 participants or so. "BIG" was available, but it would have cost the organizers a bit more. Also, the hotel "option" was not really an option - the hotel people were on their own, except that their bag was transported (at a significant extra charge).
P.S.: pictures at: http://turula.com/FANY

[QUOTE=Peter-DG;7201631]TRIRI (Indiana) is a much better ride of similar size. AIBR, GITAP (Illinois) about the same price, with meals. I like week long rides sponsored by clubs - usually smaller and much cheaper.

Peter

Thanks for the info I'll have to look into TRIRI, AIBR and GITAP. Have you looked into BRAT? About the club sponsored rides, do you have to be a member?

Enjoy the summer's rides, Don