Hi.
I bought new bike, actually first from last 15yrs. As you can imagine i have no idea where i can cycle in NYC. I tried to find android bike paths app but cant find any ( usually gps and track my route ). Also i google it and cant find anything.
Do you know where i can cycle in NYC? Im looking for off raod trials because i would like to enjoy riding with nice view. Not paying attention on car drivers, lights, stops, streets and thinking where should i go, etc. Just ride and enjoy.
Also if you know android app like https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....bikemap&hl=en with trails reviews and picsa - omg would be brilliant

Last weekend I did a 92 mile tour around the boroughs of NYC and found many streets had bike lanes, bike traffic lights and other bike bike specific features. The bridges had separate bike ramps and lanes with no tolls. Also, Central Park has lots of bike paths.

I would continue to search, look for a cycle club or ask your LBS. With as many cyclist that I passed last Sunday (more than cars), biking in the Big Apple is very popular and it has lots to offer. I intend to go back again this year.

Regardless of where you ride, get used to the idea of paying attention to your surroundings, other bikers need an eye kept on them as well as pedestrians, horses and other uses of the paths. As far as a good cycle app goes, Cyclemeter or Strava work well and are popular.

If you enable Bikes in the preferences of Google Maps, it'll show you the NYC bike paths and lanes. You can view this on an Android phone. Some of these are paths that are not on the street, such as the west side path in Manhattan, or the Belt Path on the south and east shores of Brooklyn, most though are on street lane markings as a bike lane or a shared "sharrow" lane. Note that many paved "bike" (really a multi-use path, so expect other users), are in the varied city parks.

As a piece of advise, get used to riding in traffic. By utilizing the vast system of bike lanes, you can avoid the dedicated paved paths, that get inundated on weekends and early evenings, with other cyclists, some of whom have poor skill levels, as well as hoards of runners, walkers, baby carriages, dog walkers, toddlers, etc...... You are possibly more likely to have an accident on a dedicated path then on a street.

As to off-road, this usually means a dirt road or trail. In the NYC parks, only Highbridge park in upper Manhattan and Cunningham park in Queens have legal and marked trails for mountain biking. All other dirt trails/roads in the city parks are off-limits to bikes.

Are you willing to buy a $5 pass and take the Long Island Rail Road out to the suburbs? If so, there are lots of car-free paths within reach of NYC.

Ummm, outside of Bethpage and Jones Beach, where else ?. Oh and some crap at Eisenhower Park.

NYC has tons more mileage in MUP's then L.I., just sayin'

NYC DOT publishes a map of bike paths and lanes.Many bike shops carry it. You can also find it online at NYC DOT - Bicycle Maps
I'm not sure where you're located but I often ride the West Side Greenway. It runs around 14 miles from Battery Park to the northern tip of Inwood Park.

Not just Long Island. Westchester has some REALLY good bikeways. And so do Brooklyn, Queens, Joisey, and Connecticut...all within a train ride of Manhattan. Check out my old website at NewYorkRides for a bunch of 'em.

+1. My local club does an annual ride from New Hope, PA to Brooklyn. We take the ferry from Hoboken and to the Midtown dock and ride down the path along the Hudson before cutting over the Brooklyn Bridge via Warren St. On a light day it's crazy. When the weather is really nice it can be insane for the reasons you note.

Last Sunday i couldnt find anything so i decide to ride somewheree. And as first ride was really good.
Now i try t be ready for another ride this weekend but somewhere Long Island or out of city.
Papa Tom-i have no problem to get out of city with LIRR and thtas what ill do this weekend if ill have saturday off.
But the question is where! If LIRR then i would like to cycle and see beautyful view: )
Any ideas?

Last Sunday i couldnt find anything so i decide to ride somewheree. And as first ride was really good.
Now i try t be ready for another ride this weekend but somewhere Long Island or out of city.
Papa Tom-i have no problem to get out of city with LIRR and thtas what ill do this weekend if ill have saturday off.
But the question is where! If LIRR then i would like to cycle and see beautyful view: )
Any ideas?

One option, the Jones Beach ride.

Take LIRR to the Wantagh LIIR stop. Go east a block to Beach St. and go right

Cross Sunrise Hwy and head south on Beach to Merrick Rd. Diagonally on the left is the entrance to Cedar Creek Park. Once in the park and at the first parking lot on the right is the paved paths that lead to the JB bike path, which is the break in the fence right near the bike rider monument.

The path is 5.5 miles south to the east bath house. Just before you dive under the parkway on the 2nd underpass, the path continues east on the north side of Ocean Parkway. It's 3.5 miles one-way to the turn-around at TOBAY beach. So 20 RT.

If the winds are strong south or east and you don't want to hit that, other path on LI is the Bethpage.

Take LIRR to the Massapequa LIRR (not Massapequa Park). On the east and north side of the station at the corner of Veterans and Parkside, is the entrance to the path. From this point it heads north (with an almost immediate left when you hit the pond) 6.5 miles OW to the picnic area at BP State Park, or continue north to Washington Ave. another 3.5 miles, for a 20 RT. The path continues another 2.2 miles on the north side of the LIE service road to Sunnyside Lane and eventually to Woodbury Rd. (tht last stretch is less interesting - IMO). An option if you do the whole thing is to stop at Bethpage and take the LIRR train home from there, which also ends up as a 20 mile ride. Or head back to Massapequa for 24. And extend by doing the path south and back of Sunrise for about another 3 RT, making it 27.

It's all on Google

I found Blue Mountain Park at Westchester. What do you think about it?
Is 2.5hr traveling from my location with Metro North but i have fun traveling so another plus.
Have anyone been there?
Or can you share your trails or spot.

If I remember correctly, Blue Mountain Park is a pretty rugged mountain bike trail, not what I'd call a "path." Am I thinking of the right place?

Also, you asked for suggestions on Long Island and in Westchester. The link in my previous e-mail NewYorkRides lists a whole bunch of places all over the tri-state area. Note, however, that I have not returned to all of these places on a regular basis, so if you see a ride you like, Google it for up-to-date info.

The Jones Beach ride that Steve B suggested is a definite must-do for the summer. If you like low-traffic road rides, I would also look up the "Across The Forks" ride on my website. It's on the east end of Long Island, but you already suggested you might be willing to travel 2.5 hours.

Let me know if the link to the website does not work.

Blue Mt is considered an intermediate to expert mt. bike park. Do a Google for mt. biking in Westchester, the local club has trail maps for BMR, Graham County Park and Sprain Brook.

If you like a distance ride, either ride up to Van Cortland Park, then north on the South County, then North County, then Duchess Rail Trail to Brewster, then Metro North home. All paved except the first 1.5 in VCP, probably 50-60 miles.

I second these suggestions!

Thank You for suggestions. I checked already ale ill have eye on it for sure.
If Blue MT is like you described im thinking about Hook Mountain. The trick is i can't get there with any public transportation. I have to take train to Nanuet and from there cycling 1 hr.
What im thinking after 1 hr ill go to Haverstraw, take a break for drink and eat ( because i see there some places to eat/drink )

and from there straight down through State park.

What do you think about this trip? Have anyone been there ? Is Hook Mountain/Nyack Beach Bikeway good to cycle ? On the map loks like with amazing views

It looks like a royal pain to get to with a short view of the Hudson.

I'd rather do the Wantagh LIRR, then a mile to the Jones Beach path, then views of the bay and ocean for the next 18 miles (RT), as the path is right along the parkway with tremendous views.

I'm not sure where you are starting from or how far you want to ride but you could take the A train to 179thSt and ride across the GWB and follow bike Rt 9 to Nyack, about 40 miles round trip. From NYack continue up Broadway to Nyack Beach State park where you can hit the path to Haverstraw. The path is crushed stone, pretty flat and runs along the river. It might be narrow in spots where it has been washed out by storms. If going all the way into Haverstraw for lunch you're looking at around 60 miles RT, and there are a couple of steep hills to deal with on 9W

Here's a view of the Nyack Beach Trail. I haven't done it in a while, but I do remember the views like this one being kind of limited. Also, be aware that there's a section that's a lot of uphill pedaling.

If you do go to Nyack, at least do the ride dendawg describes above and take in the rest of this great little city. There's a very popular cyclist's hangout there called The Runcible Spoon. It's a bakery/cafe with fairly good stuff, but mostly a lot of cyclists to chat with.

Is safe to ride A train with bicycle? And to 179th?

People take their bikes on the subway all the time though I wouldn't recommend rush hour :-). Another option for nice views and light traffic is Henry Hudson Drive commonly referred to As River Road. It runs through the Palisades Interstate Park NJ, under the cliffs for around 8 miles from Edgewater to Alpine. You make a right turn on the sidewalk when you come off the George Washington Bridge, then a cautious left into the park after you go down the hill. Mostly rolling hills along the river with 2 steep climbs. A short one after you pass the Englewood Boat Basin, and a mile long one, the Alpine Approach Road. You can return the way you came or exit at Alpine and head south on 9W, which is downhill most of the way back. If taking 9W, just make a left on Palisades Ave in Englewood, and the first right onto Hudson Terrace which will take you back to the GWB

Thats what I did today.I take A train and from 175 GWB then right to Hudson Terrace up to E Palisade Ave . My map shows take left but I saw Henry Hudson Dr. I asked cylist (a lot of them on all my trip ) can i cyxle on Hudson because there I couldn't see that road. After hearing yes I can and few tips I take first food break at Snak Shack. Food was good so if you don't know (ekhm...ofcaurse you know lol ) you can eat there. Today they had pulled pork on bun with FF. Good taste and juicy. Plus beautiful view and you can just step to The Hudson River. The same level as ground so the view was great.
Anyway. Was great cycling HH Dr. But I don't know why ( I know why but sshhh) other cyclists we're staring at me like what I'm doing here (I bought Trek 8.6DS which also is good for road but doesn't look like road bike so... plus I was there visiting do some picture and enjoy beautiful view, no exercise like they. And another thing is that was my,first ride except almost 3hr. Sunday. So that was silly. And one older guy asked me how I'm doing while he overtaking me. I answered good thank you. And you? He said that silly phi shaking his head)
So I reached end of HH Dr. And was thinking about come back bcs won't be late at home , had plans for rest of the day. But I decide to go further reach Runcible Spoon. I visit beautiful village Piedmont, did few pics of Hudson and something was telling me it's enough come back. That's what I did but this way I took 9w all the way to home. Was nice to cycle through Manhattan. From 175 I take HH pkway. Cycle Manhattan where your wheels are few ft. from river? Why not. Another good spot to remember.
As first ride was kinda overreacted but I'm happy and most time I spend on GWB and Snak Shake.
Thank you for this trip and info. I'm about to plan another next weekend.
I sent few pics for my friends and they want to buy a bike now lol.

Ohh ... another thing. Do you really prefer road bike instead of DS? Question is which trails are more? For road bike or something like DS?

Aad remember - don't be silly or jerk on the road. If you don't know his story don't judge him.

I think the DS is known as a hybrid.

700c sized wheels and skinny tires like a road bike, flat handle bar like a mt. bike.

The advantage I find to a road bike is the racing style "drop" handlebar. Offers a lot more hand positions which makes it more comfortable for longer and faster rides. As opposed to a flat bar where your hands are essentially in one place, on the grips.

As well, a bit of a forward lean onto the h-bars (on a road bike) can be a more powerful position, allowing better use of certain leg muscles. You can go faster with same effort.

If you're looking for a short off road option you can try the Clark Rail Trail that runs from Sparkill to Nyack. It is gravel and dirt above Piermont, dirt in Grandview and crushed stone in Nyack, running parallel and above the river. It follows the path of the old Erie RR.
Old Erie Path | New York Trails | TrailLink.com

Yes, the Joseph Clark Rail Trail, which intersects with the Old Erie and the Raymond Esposito Trail, is a cool ride, too. I stop at Piermont and take in the pier and the town before heading further.

Here's the page from my website:

NYACK RAIL TRAIL "+"

(aka Raymond Esposito Trail, Old Erie Trail, Joseph B. Clarke Trail)