Northeast - Traveling to Long Island, NY - Ride suggestions?

I will be traveling to Long Island, NY at the end of June. I am looking for some suggestions for rides there. I will be staying with my wife's family in Ronkonkoma. I will need a place to rent a road bike. I was looking at one way ride to Montauk but don't know how I would get back to Ronkonkama. Looking for a scenic bike friendly route. I will have a rental car. Keep in mind that I am a beginner rider. I have been riding for about 6 months.

Ronkonkoma to Montauk - that one is easy. Take either Ronkonkoma Ave or Ocean Ave South to Lakeland Ave. Lakeland ends in Sayville. Straight across Montauk Ave is Middle Country Rd. Follow the red Mc symbols to Montauk (those symbols on the road belong to the Montauk Century, which was run today. They will be there until winter). Total distance will be about 90 miles.

Getting back to Ronkonkoma is not easy in anything but a car. With a bike in tow it will almost be impossible. You could take a train out of Montauk to Babylon, take a bus to the Deer Park Train Station, then that train to Ronkonkoma, but... Bikes are only allowed on the Montauk and Ronkonkoma lines a certain times and I don't think they overlap, and they are not allowed on the bus. You could also take the Montauk train all the way to Jamacia Queens, then take a train back to Ronkonkoma, but you have the same train problems. See the LIRR web site for the details, schedules, and required permits.

If you are brave and no one needs the rental car but you, you could drive to Montauk the day before, then take the train home as described above, then ride out and get the car. Obvious concerns apply. I have done this many times, but the ride home (Babylon) is simpler, I have friends and a wife to bale me out if something happens, etc.

As far as bike rental goes, Ronkonkoma is a big place. Do a google on the place and call around. I am sure there is a LBS somewhere that will help you out.

What kind of shape are you in? How many miles have you ridden in one trip? Are you OK with some moderate hills?

I regularly take my wife, who is a casual rider at best, out to Greenport, where we then take an awesome bike/ferry ride across Long Island's forks to a little Hamptons village called Sag Harbor. You can find this ride on my website at http://www.geocities.com/NYRides/road_rides.htm . This page also includes a ride from Greenport to Orient Point, the eastern end of Long Island on the north fork, where you can catch a ferry to Connecticut and ride to some cool places there.

The best thing about your home base in Ronkonkoma is that you can catch a train there all the way to Greenport without any transfers.

Get back to me with more details about your riding ability (be honest!) and I might be able to make more specific suggestions.