FIVE ONE SIX

i'm trying to map out a safe Montauk Century for next spring from Penn Station to the Montauk Lighthouse, but i've never ridden a bike in the city and am really struggling as far as coming up with the city to queens to west Nassau part of the route. i know there's a 140 mile version of a Montauk Century that usually happens every May, but i couldn't find any cue sheets online for it. the only route i was able to find from Penn Station is this route ( https://connect.garmin.com/activity/321363366 ) but like most Garmin routes the red line drifts over several streets when it changes directions and i don't know the actual roads that were turned on and were taken. i could pretty much figure it out from say Merrick to Montauk, but any help getting from Penn Station to Merrick would be GREATLY appreciated...

bman52

The montauk century route goes over the Williamsburg bridge, to Grand street, to Metropolitan Avenue which merges with Jamaica Avenue eventually. Then take a right on Merrick blvd, which will take you to Rockville centre. From here you can continue on Merrick or head north to Lakeview which is a quieter parallel street. Lakeview will turn into Seaman Avenue which will then run into Grand Avenue eventually. Make a left and then a quick right to continue on Seaman. At Babylon Turnpike make a right, which will bring you to Merrick.

GlennR

Sounds like a smart route.

Steve B.

I think the century route goes down Franklin Ave. in north Valley Stream to meet Lakeview.

Then it's Lakeview - Seamon - Babylon Tpk - Smith - Grand - Wilson - Park - Clark - Sunrise - (now in Suffolk County) Oak - Union Blvd. - Montauk Hwy, with assorted detours thru some towns.

In general, Merrick Rd. in Nassau is to be avoided as it's 2 lanes, 40-50mph, no shoulder, many, many shopping centers, etc.... it's a truly miserable road to ride a bike on. The roads listed above are typically just north of Sunrise (also a poor biking road) and are the east-west route as shown on the NY DOT Bike map for L.I.

TransAlt: Nassau County Bicycle Map - Section

bman52

The route isn't on Merrick (which I personally don't think is too bad, although I'm used to riding in heavy city traffic) for a long time, and trying to take back roads coming from the city gets really convoluted and there is a good chance of getting lost (TRUST me, I know from experience ). Of course, it's still possible. Up to the OP

Bezalel

Be sure to bring regular shoes or they won't let you into the lighthouse.

FIVE ONE SIX

i was away for a bit with PC problems, but thanks for the help guys...

SBinNYC

The safety of any route depends on time of day. The Montauk Century leaves Penn Sta on a Saturday/Sunday around 5am. Just about any route is safe at that time. Your only concern is that you are riding into the sun. Sunrise may blind any driver behind you and prevent you from seeing you. It's a good idea to use a rear light in these conditions.

One problem with using the Montauk Century route on your own is that it avoids places where you may fuel up along the way. That's not a problem on the Montauk Century because food stops are provided. However, you may starve, if you follow the Montauk Century route. It's difficult to find a route on Long Island that's devoid of roadside food for 45 miles. The Montauk Century route manages it.

Steve B.

I've never ridden the route east of Great River, but know that in Lynbrook, Rockville Center, Baldwin, Merrick, Bellmore, Seaford, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Amityville, etc... As well as most of Union Ave. east of Babylon, you need only detour a block or so to find an abundance of deli's, bagel stores, etc..

It's really not that difficult.

D1andonlyDman

Probably the LIRR

SBinNYC

The Montauk Century route between Eastport and Watermill does not have any services. It's also is a long way from Montauk Hwy. The route through Westhampton avoids the services. The route after Watermill avoids services until after Amagansett.

Steve B.

The idea on the MC route is to avoid congested downtown areas and for good reasons. Thus you are correct that there are fewer services when you follow the main route (especially in the last 40 miles or so), as the official ride provides rest stops.

So your point is well taken that if a solo rider follows the marked route, in some area's especially as you've indicated, the route is designed to avoid area's with deli's and bagel stores.

But it's also not difficult to detour a short distance to find a place to get food.

We had this problem on older Tour of the Hamptons centurys, as the last official rest stop before Montauk Point was at Fresh Pond and then you went back to Fresh Pond for the next rest stop, something like 40 miles. So we stopped at the point for water and again in Montauk Harbor at a deli for food, a few blocks from the designated route.

Which is something the OP can do as long as they are aware of the need to make the occasional and usually short detour.

But it's not the Mohave Desert which is how it sounded.