Papa Tom

Rode this ~12 mile path from Bronxville to Valhalla today with my wife. We do it at least once a year and, no matter how I try to convince myself it's not that much nicer than the Bethpage Bikeway, I always come away feeling otherwise.

Those of you who are into hammering, don't bother with it, as the variations in surface, alone, are enough to slow you down plenty. However, anyone who wants to get away from the city, take a leisurely, peaceful ride, and head toward an awesome historical destination (the Kensico Dam) should check this one out. Details are at my website NewYorkRides .

On the way home, I also got to see more of the bikeway that runs through Pelham Parkway to City Island and Orchard Beach, and all I could think to myself was, "Wow...New York is really turning into the cyclist's haven I dreamed about twenty years ago."

1nterceptor

It's good you wrote about this pathway. It's really nice
and more people should be made aware of it. I think part
of the route for the Tour de Bronx goes there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U930...IoDLA&index=35

bktourer1

Did you find the path that goes along the Hutch and under it to connect to Orchard Beach too?

Papa Tom

No, but I've seen it from the highway and hope to ride it one of these days.

zacster

I've been on most of the paths in the Bronx and I'm usually the only one there, except during the TdB or the NYC Century. Some are pretty nice, others not so. I took the one down the Hutch and came out around the Bruckner interchange with no place to go. That wasn't very pleasant. Pelham Pkwy/City Island are nice, Bronx Park is nice but doesn't connect to much.

Papa Tom

The Bronx River Bikeway, on the weekend at least, is very busy. You can't go more than five minutes or so without seeing walkers, joggers, or other cyclists.

While I agree that most bike paths lead to nowhere, the Bronx River route passes through some towns and ends up at the Kensico Dam, a cool attraction.

I've only ridden part of the Pelham Parkway/Orchard Beach/City Island bike path and I've only done it once, so I can't form an opinion about it. I think any path that leads to a beach and/or to a lively town with a lot of restaurants is a good thing.

JBHoren

I grew-up in Scarsdale, from the 1950s through the end of the 1960s; back then, the Bronx River Parkway was smoooooth, and the train station in Valhalla was a "working" station. On top of the station was a large billboard, which read: "Welcome to Valhalla -- Best Place to Live by a Dam-Site!"

Papa Tom

Hmm, and today, you spend what seems like forever waiting for the dam train!

UnfilteredDregs

I bike around the Bronx quite a bit...My short loop is Orchard Beach and Glen Isle area:

Bike Ride Profile | Orchard Beach & Glen Isle Loop near Bronx, NY, USA | Times and Records | Strava


I also hit the South County Trail quite a bit:

Bike Ride Profile | Move Thy Lazy Arse near Bronx, NY, USA | Times and Records | Strava

I've taken it all the way up to Carmel, all together it's the old New York Central Putnam Division ROW:

Bike Ride Profile | Century North Putnam Trailway... near Bronx, NY, USA | Times and Records | Strava

I still need to hit the Aqueduct trail through Yonkers, closer to the river and such... mostly unpaved from what I understand...


I'm pretty familiar with the area, if you have any questions feel free to ask...

Papa Tom

I, for one, will get back to you when I have some time to revisit the Orchard Beach/City Island area.

ChiroVette

Sounds like a nice segment to add to one of my longer rides through Manhattan. Tom, what would be the best way to get to this path from the Greenway at the George Washington? If I did this route, I would probably go across Brooklyn (I live in Southwest Brooklyn near Canarsie and Kings Plaza), into Manhattan, Greenway up to GW, then whatever route I would need to get to that path.

UnfilteredDregs

Not Tom... But since I do this all the time...

Most cyclists cross into the Bronx from the West Side Path via Broadway onto the Kingsbridge across the Harlem River. You can then shoot North to Van Cortland Park and you have many options from there.

The Bronx River path in its Southern section is chopped up crap. You're better off going North via the South County Trail way for a bit and then swinging over East to the Bronx River Path.... Reality is the local streets are smoother rolling...

Take Bronx River Road to Scarsdale to Fox Meadow...

The best riding is North of the dam in all actuality.

ChiroVette

Thanks! I am looking at maps of the two paths now, and I am wondering how far north would you go on the South County Trailway before you start heading east? If you could give me a few street or avenue options of where to cross over that would be awesome. It looks like you can grab the Bronx River Path at the intersection of where Sherwood meets Oak Street (both travel east west and one turns into the other). Or are you suggesting entering at a different point?

Papa Tom

I wouldn't say the southern end of the Bronx River Bikeway is "crap." It goes to hard-packed dirt and gravel at a few points, but nothing that will end your ride. If anybody would have trouble with it, it would be my wife on her skinny little comfort bike -- and she rolled right over it without batting an eyelash. In my opinion, the scenery on the southern end of the BR is much nicer than the South County, and the whole bikeway is a very pleasant experience -- except for the low bridges.

ChiroVette

Tom I am looking at this map of the path:

Bronx River Pathway Bike Map | NYC Bike Maps

Where do I pick it up and what do you reccommend as the best route to get there from Fort Washington Park in Manhattan? It looks like you pick up the path at Oak and Sherwood? The only thing is from that map it looks like to the right (east) of the river, there is bike path that is not the one you are referring to and goes about a half mile north and then does some kind of a look. How do I differentiate that from the Bronx River Path? Signs I assume?

UnfilteredDregs

The southern end begins in The Botanical Gardens, not Bronxville.

The Bronx River Bike Pathway needs quite a bit of work to go before it's complete... The South & North County Trailway are in far better condition.

The path is prone to being strewn with debris and is quite potholed. I've ridden thereabouts a few times this last month. Although Bronx Blvd is in shoddy shape, it's still a better choice than the path. Taking the Blvd up to Nereid Ave and crossing over to Bronx River Road, continuing onto Midland Ave, then Parkway Drive, then Pondfield to Parkview to Scarsdale-Popham-East Pkwy-Fox Meadow-Walworth, and then connecting with the northern section of the Bronx River Bikepath at Greenacres, for the final leg to Kensico, is far smoother rolling. It picks up nicely and is real smooth once you get on Bronx River Road. The Pathway isn't up to snuff like the South & North County & Putnam Trail way which gets far greater use by area cyclists.

I ride 28mm tires...

UnfilteredDregs

Good luck with signs! lmao...Bring your smartphone/GPS...use Google maps and check your positions until you know the route....Palmer is a good option to cut over from one to the other...

Here's a route from Manhattan, mostly bike paths:

To Kensico from The West Side Via South County and Bronx River Bike Paths... - A bike ride in NYC, NY

ChiroVette

Wow that looks really complicated!

I may have to wait to do that route until I buy a bike GPS that you can program in a route and it will give you turn-by-turn GPS directions. I don't mind a complex route, but on a bike where (as you are hinting at) with rare or non-existent street signs in an area I don't know very well, sounds like I will spend most of my time lost in space.

I am actually looking at the Garmin Edge 1000 or 810 or possibly the Magellan Cyclo 505

Papa Tom

Chiro:

I'm not really sure how to get the path from Manhattan, as I usually drive from Long Island to Paxton Avenue in Bronxville and start from there.

I assume Dregs' 28mm tires are narrow and slick. I ride with 26" X 1.5 Specialized Armadillos on mountain bike rims, so I've never even given a thought to the potholes Dregs describes. Neither has my wife, and she rides slick 700c's. Either I'm oblivious or this is another case of us damned cyclists over-thinking everything!

UnfilteredDregs

I think the confusion may stem from you consider the start of the Southern section of the trail as beginning in Bronxville on this map that's section two...The southernmost section starting in the Gardens, where the path actually originates, is depicted on google here...(Turn on "Bicycling" to see the paths) I don't know why the Parks Department hasn't updated their documentation yet...

I ride 28s and blow through most everything, but in terms of the smoothness of the tarmac the Southern section beginning in the Gardens needs quite a bit of work...

UnfilteredDregs

You don't need a GPS. I don't have one. It's actually a very sensible route and most of the roads flow from one into the other. There are bike path markings and such... Just look over the route, make up a queue sheet that makes sense to you, and give it a shot. Just double check against your smartphone, If you sign up and install Ride With GPS you can reference the route as you go along. This is a very commonly used route in the area. You're fairly new to the city? If so, this is definitely something to get memorized, great options up here.

Chriscc63

Hi guys I try to do this trail twice a week in the morning before work and I at least do it once a week. I start around Pelham parkway and go to the Whitestone bridge park. Considering this is the city and aside from the highway crossings its not to bad ride. The trail is a little unkept , overgrown and some of the crossings suck. For me its about a 12 mile round trip.
I have a few video clips of it here.
https://youtu.be/ZKJ3CEm3HMM

and
https://youtu.be/qJyxDT66jnU

Chriscc63

Unfiltered:
Great strava ride posts. I was particularly interested in the South C. T. link to the Bronx R. trail. I will try that switch over next time.

I also the exact same rides you do and for the Brewster ride I clock in exactally 109 miles also, so you must be right around the block from me. LOL

I plan on going again on 9/6, maybe I will bump into ya.
Chris

UnfilteredDregs

Around the corner indeed... Look me up on Strava...

I'm going to be hitting "The Whip," with a slower group on Sunday, Hopefully on the way back I'll be able to drag them along down Mamaroneck Ave to Palmer & New Rochelle... It's very easy to hold 25mph solo on that road, but it is busy.

9/6? I know a few others who may be interested...that's a nice casual roll, beautiful area up in the watershed. I can't wait until the Fall, I bet it's something else with the foliage changing.

Tomorrow I'll be doing repeats on Ranger Station...Hills make you faster!

UnfilteredDregs

Note to all...be careful in White Plains... the police are especially vigilant when it comes to traffic violations.