Originally Posted by
wilfried
I hope this is an OK question to ask here. Since I got my Brompton folding bike a few months ago, I commute to work and have ridden all over New York City, so I'm fine with dealing with all sorts of city traffic. Now I'm contemplate this route in the country, and I think it might be a different ball game:
http://tinyurl.com/be8lyt9
I'm mostly concerned about the part along 9W, which is four lanes becoming two. It looks like it moves pretty fast, and I'm told it's busy, as it's one of the major routes through Ulster County. And it looks like there's no shoulder to speak of. There's also rather a hill after the bridge, and I only have a three speed, but as it's on a bike path, so I think I can manage it one way or another.
New York City traffic is a lot of things, but it generally isn't fast, and it's usually possible to duck out of a dicey situation. Once I'm on this road, I'm stuck. I gather this sort of ride would be the norm for many on this forum, but for me it's new and different.
So, should this relative newbie urban biker try this? And tips if I do try it? Thanks for any input.
Hi. I just so happen to work in the area you are describing! I would say you'd be fine except I would turn right onto SR-299 and then onto 9W a little further south. Jane Wood/North Riverside is a shoulderless country style road and that may be the scariest part. Speeds on 9W are 55-60+ but most of it has a decent shoulder. You could avoid hitting 9W at all if you wanted to ride around a little bit... out towards Eltings Corners and then to Floyd Ackert... just a thought, but it's way more country. The 9W corridor is very busy but the path allows you to avoid most of that. The hairiest part would be right at the end as you leave Lloyd and get into Esopus just because of the speeds. I can't think of any hills along the path... it's a converted railroad bed, so it's pretty flat. I'm not familiar with your bike, but if you can ride in the city with the kamikaze cabbies, you should be able to do this.
Feel free to PM me.