Northeast - Brooklyn to Marist College, Poughkeepsie

I'm planning to do an all-day ride this weekend, and chose Poughkeepsie as the destination (going in both directions; should be 150 or 160 miles. At worst, I expect to be near or in the city at night, provided that I start at 6am). Is there anyone here that rode up there? Looking at the terrain map, it looks like I can expect some crazy climbing towards the end. Am I right?

yes.
no . . . or Maybe.

What route are you taking to get up there? Route 9?

Man, that's a long day on the bike.
If I were doing it, I'd go up the west side of the Hudson (at least as far as Bear Mtn Bridge) and return on the east side. That way you avoid riding through the Bronx & Yonkers twice... but have Metro North as a bail option on the return.
I think you'll have pretty substantial elevation any way you slice it - even if you don't do something silly like take a detour up Perkins on your way up there ;>

Metro north, hudson line, is on the east side.

As to Bronx and Westchester vs GWB and the west bank of the Hudson, they both have +-s so it probably does not matter. The Hudson line is on the east side, but is not necessarily easy to from where you will be riding. On the east side there are long stretches without and real towns, unless you want to take scenic detours. The route by the river is also a narrow truck route so you when I was there I felt I had to keep an eye out behind me.

As far as the grade, I have not gone up to poughipsie but 9 is a fairly constant grade. I do not remember steepness, just a constant grade all the way.

Obviously prepare for a break down as some places are isolated.

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrmap.htm

that's a long day on the bike.
June is the month for that sort of thing.
I'm eager to ride up to Poughkeepsie in a day -- with Sharon on our tandem -- but then we just want to keep going . . . all the way to Albany by nightfall. (Maybe one of the days this weekend?)
About the same distance is riding to Poughkeepsie and back. Just more interesting. I've thought of doing Pok and back, but so far it doesn't engage my energy like riding one-way to Albany does.


If I were doing it, I'd go up the west side of the Hudson (at least as far as Bear Mtn Bridge) and return on the east side. That way you avoid riding through the Bronx & Yonkers twice... but have Metro North as a bail option on the return.
That's a sensible strategy.
When Sharon and I have done it one-way, we've taken the west side between the GWB and Pok (then the east side between Pok and Albany). No doubt I just like riding the west side better as far as Pok -- here's some discussion of
the route we did last time (http://www.roberts-1.com/bikehudson/v/nyc_albany/main/reports/kenr_june-2007.htm)

But actually I think if I were doing Pok up and back, I'd make lots of figure-8 "criss-crosses" of the Hudson River -- so I'd cross the Newburgh-Beacon and Bear Mt bridges twice -- because crossing the river is one of the prettiest parts.
For me a key part of doing such a long ride is keep up motivation, so it's more important to find an interesting route than the shortest or least hilly route.

Ken

I'd agree with Ken in that just riding up 9 would be boring and occasionally harrowing. 9 is used as a major highway (think of 9W with narrow breakdown lanes) for routes between 87 & the Taconic. It won't affect you much, but 9 can get really clogged in the morning & evening rush hour.

Riding 9D on the east side and 9W/218 on the west side might be a better route. Crossing at least 1 or 2 bridges is worthwhile.