Neil,
I usually ride from my home up north thru Englewood> Tenafly> Cresskill> Demarest usually making my way to Peirmont road and making Sparkill the top of my ride before looping back. Gets me around 30-35 miles. I also work in Paramus and will ride from there in the afternoons to Upper Saddle River- gets me 27- 30 miles. I did the path once that you spoke of and hated it! Too many others(walkers, runner, trikes, and roller bladers) on there forcing you to keep your speed down. It was not my idea to go there, but the others in the group wanted to go.