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:

https://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.

I can't say how comfortable you'll be. If I had the opportunity, I would definitely ride that route. It's beautiful around there. But it's up to the individual.

You work at the monastery?

Look up the blogs and other web pages that tell you how to deal with traffic of various types. There's a lot of information out there. Books are good, too.

Most people here won't be able to advise you one way or another since we can't see the actual road, or observe the actual conditions. However, the thought that a possibly fast, busy, and major thoroughfare without a shoulder or a bike lane, would give me some pause for alarm.

However, if it's not that fast, but just busy, and has a bicycle lane, I wouldn't give it a second thought. I'd go for it!

It certainly wouldn't be a restful journey (it's a defacto freeway). That said, it does seem to be the only viable option to where you're going, so you gotta do what you gotta do.

You know the area better than I, but maybe explore the 'walking directions' instead of 'bike directions'. Or go multimodal and hop a bus or train for that sketchy stretch.

+1

This is the best advice!

Thanks for the input. To answer some of the comments above, I have been there before, but I can't say I know the area. No, I don't work at the monastery, but I go there on retreat a couple of times a year (very nice place, good food, and reasonable cost; great place for rest and refreshment). "Multimodal" means taking a cab; there is nothing else. That's what I've done in the past, but since I wasn't driving, I never paid any attention tothe road. to the road. I don't really remember how much traffic there was, but I do remember it moving pretty fast, now that I think about it. All I know about the road conditions is what I can see in Street View on Google Maps. I'm now very comfortable dodging traffic, merging, taking the lane, etc. in city traffic going 20 or 30 mph, but 50+ with no way off the road seems like a different ball game, which I haven't really experienced.

A more experience friend came up with this route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1947332

It's much longer (and pretty hilly at least for me on my 3 speed Brompton), but it avoids almost all of 9W. He also suggested taking a cab going up, and the next day ride around the area. Then I can decide whether I want to ride to the train station on the way back. That seems sensible. Or I could just take the plunge and ride to the monastery. This route could be work, but it doesn't look too risky. And we have to see what the weather looks like. That could moot the whole project.

Seemed like a long trip. I'd take your friends advice...cab up...try to explore the area on your folder and then make the decision about riding back.

I haven't had google send me to an entirely unsuitable highway. It won't let me make a route which would be illegal. For instance, I can't plan a cycling route through the Lincoln Tunnel or on an Interstate Highway, because it's not legal to ride a bike in those places.

You can start with your friend's route, knowing it will be pleasant or safe or both, to varying degrees. That might be the maximum number of miles it will be, so you can estimate how long that will take. Or you can start the one Google cooked up. That should be quicker. It might not be as nice, since it's not hand picked.

Once you do one of these enough, you'll figure out how to modify it. But either is a decent starting place. In general, most roads where it's legal to cycle have a good shoulder if the speed limit is over 35 mph. At least that's been my observation in the NYC area, in NJ and NY.

How often do you want to do this route, and how much time can you realistically spend traveling it? If you can afford the time and if you're fit enough to ride 15 moderately hilly miles all at once, then you should do it. I don't think I'd want to commute 30 miles a day five days a week, but if this is a once-in-a-while type of trip, then yes, cycle it. You'll have fun and adventure and exercise, and you'll save money, too.

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.

Wilfried, you seem to be asking what we think about a longer section of your route on US 9W. I have never been there and I have never rode my bike there. But looking at Google StreetView (and that's all I have to base my opinion on) I would never, ever ride on that highway. It looks like one would have to expect speeds in excess of 60 mph, which would be suicidal in my opinion. Sorry to be so blunt, but I really don't think this would be safe at all.

Thanks all for helping me to think this through. There seems to be a difference of opinion about 9W. The better part of valor seems to make sense, so I think I'll take the scenic route, at least until I see the lay of the land myself. I'm OK with the distance, I've done more than 16 miles in the city without much trouble. I think it's mostly inexperience and unfamiliarity, and hills, that give me pause. I found that by extending the ride a mile, I can cut off some of the hills so the part in the middle is mostly flat. New route here:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1957089

That seems to be the thing to do? Also, the big hill is at the end going down to the river, so it might make sense to just take the plunge and take the route to the monastery, and decide if I want to tackle the big hill on the way back. Noglider, I want to get there before dark, so if I time the train right, I can give myself all afternoon.

Puckett, I appreciate the local insight. Have you biked these back roads, or 9W? Do you see any problems with the route in the link above? In Street View, the shoulders look narrow and crumbling, but then those pictures look old; there's no sign of the Rail Trail.

I've also prepared myself with a tube, tire levers, and patch kit (still have to get a wrench), and I'll practice fixing a flat, which I haven't done since high school. I've been meaning to learn, but haven't had to; I've had no flats, and there's always alternative transportation in the city (except in the aftermath of Sandy, but then the bike got me around powerless, trainless lower Manhattan better than any of the alternatives). Not so much in Ulster County. Anything else I should prepare myself with?

When it's all done, I'll probably think I overthought the whole thing. I overthought everything when I started riding in the city. So I ramble. Anyway, thanks all.

Here's hoping for good weather...