Road Cycling - Awesome Bike Ride in NYC

Yesterday I had an awesome ride, probably my best this spring/summer.

I biked from my apartment in Corona Queens up to Inwood, but instead of taking the Hudson Greenway or the East side Greenway like I usually do I biked up Riverside Drive starting at 72nd Street.

Wow, there were lots of nice hills to climb, the scenery was great, passed by a bunch of historical sites like Grant's tomb, some beautiful churches and lots of great architecture.

By the time I got to 160th street I was already tired but then you start climbing this huge hill until 181st street, then I took Cabrini Ave., up another great hill, up to the Cloisters museum and then downhill again to Dykman street, where I went to my friend's martial arts dojo.

It was fun, I recommend it to anyone in NYC who's bored of doing laps in the parks.

i was in that area last weekend. you're right, there's a few good climbs around there. although they are kind of short. nice break from the park though.

another option which i did for the first time was to ride across the GW bride into jersey. Then i think it's route 9 that you can ride along. i don't know much about it, but it seemed pretty nice. saw a bunch of other bikers as well.

Going up riverside or even amsterdam or broadway, you run into some nice hills. If you cross the GW into jersey and take route 9W, that'll take you all the way up to bear mountain in about an hour for some scenery.

Going up riverside or even amsterdam or broadway, you run into some nice hills. If you cross the GW into jersey and take route 9W, that'll take you all the way up to bear mountain in about an hour for some scenery.

just stay on route 9W for an hour or so, and you'll run into bear mountain? is it a safe ride for cyclists? i might want to try this this weekend. what about bear mountain itself?

just stay on route 9W for an hour or so, and you'll run into bear mountain? is it a safe ride for cyclists? i might want to try this this weekend. what about bear mountain itself?

Personally I haven't gone all the way up but the route's here, it seems to lead right to it. If you want one weekend, we can get up there. A friend of mine, his dad used to bike up there a lot, says its pretty safe.

I'm in, please don't forget me.

Im in, hope this is in 1 or 1.5 weeks. Gotta wait 'til my bike comes. :)

It was fun, I recommend it to anyone in NYC who's bored of doing laps in the parks.

It amazes me how many of you guys continue to do laps around Central/Prospect Park week after week. I got tired of both after the second time! There is a whole world out there other than doing circles around the same park.

Get your bike on the MetroNorth Train and head all the way up! After you done that, it's time to move onto the LI railroad and explore all those stops. After that, it's time to ride all the subway lines to the very end including the Staten Island railroad. Still bored? Time to take Amtrak for some long distant riding!

I'm in, please don't forget me.

With all you've done for us here, we'll never forget you.
(man I sound like a eulogy at a funeral :D)

I'm planning on doing this route too, but I just have my fixed gear.

I was talking to a cyclist in CP and he mentioned this route, the main thing is that I'll probably do it on a weekday and he said 9W has a lot of delivery trucks, River Road is supposed to be quieter, but hilly and maybe hard on a fixed gear bike.

It amazes me how many of you guys continue to do laps around Central/Prospect Park week after week. I got tired of both after the second time! There is a whole world out there other than doing circles around the same park.

Get your bike on the MetroNorth Train and head all the way up! After you done that, it's time to move onto the LI railroad and explore all those stops. After that, it's time to ride all the subway lines to the very end including the Staten Island railroad. Still bored? Time to take Amtrak for some long distant riding!


The main reason I like going to CP, and I think a lot of cyclists do for the same reason, is that it's the best place to ride in Manhattan. The road is great, it's fairly low traffic (if you don't count foot and rollerblade traffic). You can easily keep track of your mileage and you don't have to pay anything to use it. Going out to LI or upstate requires a whole day trip, which busy city folk can't afford to take on a daily basis.

I'm planning on doing this route too, but I just have my fixed gear.

I was talking to a cyclist in CP and he mentioned this route, the main thing is that I'll probably do it on a weekday and he said 9W has a lot of delivery trucks, River Road is supposed to be quieter, but hilly and maybe hard on a fixed gear bike.

Unless you are in super shape, a 48x15 will not get you up the 1 mile climb at the end of River Road to the police station.

When I'm in good shape I can comfortably do it in a 42x23/21, when I'm in bad shape I need help in a 39x23 by shifting to my 25. :(

The other problem with River Road is the road surface is utter crap with pot holes, uneven surfaces, rocks, refuse, etc.... Its not well maintained.

9W north is still being worked on, so some sections are narrowed which would make for some narly passes by trucks. But, most of 9W is nice smooth tarmac going up through Piermont.

So when you guys are going out? Should we meet at some place in Mahattan/Brooklyn and get a ride sometimes? I don't know any street here besides PP and Shore road so I need to go with someone. And just in case I get flat tire :).

nam, slvoid and I should meet each other around brooklyn to go there. We all live fairly close. I believe Nam is at 3rd Ave, slvoid is at 8th and I am at 16th :(

if you guys are serious about doing a ride like this, i'd be up for it. i'm not sure where a good meeting place is, but i would suppose somewhere along the west side bike path or central park would be easy enough for everyone to find. next weekend might be a bit better for me.

nam, slvoid and I should meet each other around brooklyn to go there. We all live fairly close. I believe Nam is at 3rd Ave, slvoid is at 8th and I am at 16th :(


looks like i responded the same time you did....i live in the L.E.S. of manhattan but can meet up anywhere really.

nam, slvoid and I should meet each other around brooklyn to go there. We all live fairly close. I believe Nam is at 3rd Ave, slvoid is at 8th and I am at 16th :(

Wish I could go, but I work weekends. If any of you are interested in going on a weekday definitely let me know! I'm off this entire upcoming week except Wednesday.

if you guys are serious about doing a ride like this, i'd be up for it. i'm not sure where a good meeting place is, but i would suppose somewhere along the west side bike path or central park would be easy enough for everyone to find. next weekend might be a bit better for me.

Central Park is fine, we (PriO, slvoid, and I) can ride to CP and we all can start from there, or wherever is closest to the place we're going.

ultra-g, I'm free weekday too, and I know slvoid is also free on some weekday.

Though I never done 10 laps PP, I get bored with it already. I do back and forth on Shore road about 8 times, one time = 4.3 mile = approximately one lap in PP = about 30 miles a day, which is pretty weak but I'm focusing on cadence now, not long endurance. Shore road is nice because of salted air, but the road is very bumpy.

I did the Riverside Dr/GWB/9W ride last weekend from Flatbush and back. I used to do this ride all the time when I was much younger, long before the west side bikeway was open. In fact, I rode on the old elevated highway a couple of times before it was torn down.

I've been back on my bike the last year or so, and I had been using the bikeway almost exclusively, but I was finding it a little too slow going in a lot of places. I try to be considerate on the shared areas, like by the boat basin. This past weekend I came back on Riverside and remembered why I liked it so much when I was younger. Almost no cars, when going south no lights with any cross traffic, a little hilly and NO PEDESTRIANS/Bladers.

I still like the PP loop though, I can get to it in a few minutes after work, do 3 laps, and be back home in well under an hour. It does get boring, but even in the winter on my trainer, I would simulate the ride. I know every minor up and down, where the one hill levels slightly and then gets steeper again etc...

Central Park is fine, we (PriO, slvoid, and I) can ride to CP and we all can start from there, or wherever is closest to the place we're going.

ultra-g, I'm free weekday too, and I know slvoid is also free on some weekday.

Though I never done 10 laps PP, I get bored with it already. I do back and forth on Shore road about 8 times, one time = 4.3 mile = approximately one lap in PP = about 30 miles a day, which is pretty weak but I'm focusing on cadence now, not long endurance. Shore road is nice because of salted air, but the road is very bumpy.
I rarely goto shore road now. Now thats its warm people always fish there and stinkin' up the place. Im free some weekdays aswell, but it varies.

Well I'm now officially full time, so only weekends free for me. But if anyone wants to ride up there after work, we can make it up there in like 3 hours and back in 3. So we should be home by midnight. Otherwise weekends are good, especially sundays. Saturdays is usually a bike/golf day for me.

How old is everyone here from NY? I think i might be the youngest one at 20.

How old is everyone here from NY? I think i might be the youngest one at 20.

i think slvoid might be the oldest. he's been a member since 1946. :p

btw..i'm 26

i think slvoid might be the oldest. he's been a member since 1946. :p

btw..i'm 26

Just because I've been a member since 1946 doesn't automatically mean I'm 58. I'm actually 22. :)

How old is everyone here from NY? I think i might be the youngest one at 20.

I'm 27, turning 28 in August though. By the way, I'm sure you guys have posted it somewhere on the forums before, but what bikes do you ride?

My stamina is pretty good, but I'm a slowpoke, especially up hills.

In about 1-1.5 weeks I will be riding a Cannondale R600(older model)

looks like i'm the grandpa here at 28.

i'd be down for the bear mountain ride on a weekend - what's the mileage on that trip like? i haven't been out of the city on the bike in forever. i just don't have the time. i have an hour and a half or two here and there, typically.

anyway, i live in dumbo and i'm in prospect park fairly regularly, though lately i've been leaning more towards central park. it's a faster ride, i like the long straightaways and since it's a 6 mile or so ride just to get there for me, i find i've dropped 30 miles before i realize it. 30 miles in PP seems like an eternity.

this is my whip - i'm switching to a threadless headset and ouzo pro fork at the end of next week, if all goes well.

http://www.thirdrate.com/misc/serotta_csi.jpg

did u ride at PP today brunning? i think i saw a bike like yours
i also saw a nice cervelo today, wow that was a sweet ride

Here's the state's info on Route 9:

/Start

Bicycle Route 9 traverses the Hudson and Champlain Valleys of New York State. On this bike route, you travel through the cradle of American History, enjoying numerous National and State historic sites and parks, numerous local communities and a multitude of attractions set in outstanding scenic beauty. Whether you are bicycle touring for vacation or taking a short trip, there are many opportunities to travel Bicycle Route 9.

Bicycle Route 9 consists of two sections, 'Bicycle Route 9 South' and 'Bicycle Route 9 North.' Bicycle Route 9 South runs from New York City across the George Washington Bridge, then travels the west side of the Hudson River to Bear Mountain, where it crosses the Bear Mountain Bridge (along with the Appalachian Trail). It then follows the east side of the Hudson River Valley through Poughkeepsie to Rensselaer and Albany.

Bicycle Route 9 North travels through several Hudson River communities in the Capital Region, past the gateway of the NY State Canal System in Troy and Waterford, then continues up the Hudson and Lake Champlain Valleys and the eastern Adirondacks to the Canadian border. The route joins Quebuc route 223 north of Rouses Point, and follows the Richelieu Valley and the Chamblay Canal Towpath to Montreal.

This route is approximately 345 miles in length (George Washington Bridge to Canadian border). It travels through rolling hills in the Hudson Valley and along Lake Champlain, and is relatively level through the Capital Region.

/End

Brunning, the ride itself from the GWB is 92 miles. Add in another 10 miles to get up there from brooklyn, 14 miles for nam, prio and I, and it's between 112 and 120 miles.

Pri0, I saw a girl walking out of her house on a sweet cervelo, she was fully dressed going the other way, probably to central park. And I was going the other direction to work, I was looking behind me screaming, "I love you! I love you!"

I think I have a few years on all of you. I'm 49. My bikes are Davidson, custom frame with old Campy NR, Zilioli, custom built from a "stock" frame with all original Campy Super Record w/ pantograph chainrings, and a Trek 8000 mtb. There are a few other Davidsons in NY, but I've never seen another Zilioli anywhere outside of Cuneo, Italy. He was a rider from the 60s/70s.

Everyone said the old Campy stuff would last forever,and it does. Everything works as if it were new.

I'm 26, looks like most of us are about the same age.

Really nice bike brunning.

Btw, anybody interest in going for this trip tomorrow Sunday?

BRONX PERIMETER RIDE
8:30AM (Quick Spin, approx 15-18mph)
9AM (Regular Group), Yankee Stadium (East 161st St & River Ave), 35 miles

Our tour of Da Bronx starts and ends at Yankee Stadium. Sorry rest of the world but, the national pasttime lives in NYC's only claim to the US mainland. The rest are all islands. We'll conquer the wilds of Riverdale, touch on Westchester, pass Coop City, a fort tucked under a bridge, the isle of the unclaimed dead and more. Come circumcycle Da Bronx and put another peg towards your patch. Mostly flat with some hills. Leaders: Jesse Brown and Rodney “Dave” Millard (Quick Spin), Ed DeFreitas & TBA (regular group).

thanks!

the bronx ride sounds nice, but i'm band practice all day tomorrow and playing tomorrow night...

just got back from a nice 50 miles in central park, though.

just wondering what ever happen to this? did it take place? any plans on doing it again?

I don't think it ever happened, but I'll be up for it once I get my new road bike (end of Aug)

I'm down, too. I've been doing some nice rides on the NYC side of the river, up to White Plains etc. Not too fast; just playing with gear on my touring bike to prepare for an upcoming trip - but I'd be happy to do a faster version unloaded, too. I'm 29, so I
fall someplace inbetween...

would anyone be interested in going to nyack instead of bear mountain. nyack is along the same route, but about half way. going to and from nyack would be about 50 miles as opposed to over 100 for bear mtn. just a thought for those of us who might not have time to do a 100 mile ride....

I am in but waiting for my new frame to arrive next week. Is an Orbea Lobular Carbon. My racing season is pretty much a done deal. May have one more race to do in Jamstown RI. Just getting ready for the MS Bike Tour. The Sunday after the 22nd is good for me though.

im in aswell if someone is willing to set up this meeting

how does the 29th sound? that's a sunday. i think a while ago we were thinking central park would be a good meeting spot, but if anyone else has any other ideas let us know.

I have recently done the ride from the Manhattan, across the GW, and up 9W to Bear Mountain. I went across the Bear Mountain Bridge and continued about 15 miles into Putnam Valley. I took the train back from there. The total ride was about 70 miles and about 4000ft total ascending. After the climb to the police station before leaving Pallisades Park, there are rolling hills all the way to Bear Mountain, many of which are quite long. The climb up to Bear Mountain on 9W is very long, especially after riding for a while already. It is very pretty though, and check out the town of Piermont along the way. After Nyack, the shoulder on 9W becomes very narrow and you practically have to ride in the same lane as the cars, especially over bridges. There is no shoulder at all on the climb up to Bear Mountain. There are signs pointing off to the right for a "bike route" just before the climb begins, but the road did not look great and I didn't try it. Crossing the Bear Mountain bridge can be done via the pedestrian walkway (only the Westbound side was open two weeks ago) - beware this is very narrow (about 30"). You might try riding on the shoulder in the main bridge lanes instead of the walkway. After the bridge you can go right or left to ride around the old army base. Going right is much steeper (2nd half is mostly downhill), narrower, thinner shoulder, more traffic, but it's shorter. I didn't go the other way but I do know it has less hills and is a bit longer. Perhaps I'll join you guys for another attempt! Good luck in any case.

would anyone be interested in going to nyack instead of bear mountain. nyack is along the same route, but about half way. going to and from nyack would be about 50 miles as opposed to over 100 for bear mtn. just a thought for those of us who might not have time to do a 100 mile ride....

Sure. But another alternate would be to take MTA back from Bear Mountain - there's a bridge back to the NY side up there, and the Metro North is apparently two or three miles beyond that bridge. So anyone wanting to do just a 50 could comfortably do so, even if others decide to ride back...

-chris

i'd be down for a ride on the 29th.

50 miles, 100 miles, whatever.

anyone else in for the 29th? i think i'd probably go up to nyack and head back myself. i think the route is pretty easy to follow (by the way, thanks for the info SAB), but i'll start looking into that. anyone have preferences on a start time\location?

I am in.

early-ish (10-11?)

we can meet somewhere easy to get to in CP and head west from from the north side of the park.

i don't remember it offhand, but i wrote down the best route i found from CP to the GWB and have it saved on my computer at home. you leave from the north side of the park, go across town, meander up past grant's tomb and then to the bridge. i'll post it later.

nice to see your version of early is the same as mine. i have a hard time with the pre-9:00 stuff. alright, this is looking good, i'm looking forward to it. let's all stay in touch as the week progresses and if anyone has ideas feel free to PM me or just post here.

i might be in, but im not 100% yet. ill let you guys know when it gets closer

Sheut....I remember I have some work obligation on the 29th. I could still make it on the 28th Sat. Working retail sucks. :)

Here are the directions as I have them written down....

Exit Central Park at the top of the loop and turn left onto 110th Street (this is just after the "big decent" and at the base of the "big ascent") (110th St is the top of central park)

Ride west on 110th street until the intersection with Morningside Drive (about 2 blocks - just after you pass the bottom of Morningside Park on the right) then turn right onto Morningside Dr. (up the hill). As you ride up Morningside, you'll pass St. John the Divine Cathedral immediately on your left

Morningside continues north until it curves left and turns into 122nd street street going westbound. Go three more blocks west on 122nd and turn right onto Riverside Drive (Grant's tomb will be just in front of you)

Stay on Riverside until 165th Street. Here, you have to cut around Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Turn right on 165th and go up the hill. Turn left at the first light (Ft. Washington Ave, I believe).

Continue north on that street to around 178th. You'll see the Cross Bronx Expressway.

There are signs around here pointing to the GWB bike/ped path, but the south side is currently closed, so assuming that's still the case, you'll have to ride north a few more blocks, under the highway, and make a left on 179th (i think). There are signs pointing to the north side path.

Climb up the stairs, ride over the bridge.

Route 9 is fairly obvious once you're on the other side. Ride north on 9. I think it's about a 15 mile ride north in NJ until you hit the NY border again, and then you can keep riding all the way to Canada.