ywchan

Hi members,

I am planning on doing a ride to Stony Brook University, can you guys help me figure out a route? I see the google map default is showing me in a lot of smaller streets. Will it be better if I stick to the big road (N Hemstead Turnpike)? It is a bit far, so I want to get some input before I just start the trip following the google's direction.

Thank you very much,
George

pjdrew

I've done this from Queens, taking the LIE service road as far as Woodbury Rd, then going north and taking Pulaski Rd East from there. It's possible to stay on the service road even further, but I like the Pulaski route.

I'll look around for a map, as there are a couple of turns around Smithtown that I don't remember off the top of my head.

pjdrew

Here's my map from last summer: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/19870018

Also, I just remembered that I got this route from Papa Tom's advice in this thread (thanks Tom!):
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/626082

ywchan

Hi, thank you very much for the reply.
Do you have any advice or tips on this trip?
And where did you stopped and take breaks?

Thank you very much,
George

estasnyc

Here's a PDF link for a Long Island bicycling map: https://www.4commute.com/downloads/LI...ilways_map.pdf

lukasz

Here's my route. Check out the Queens parts. Riding through all those parks is pretty nice.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/60586560

pjdrew

Interesting route, lukasz - I often take Old Country to Sweet Hollow in order to go north from there, but have never proceeded east on Old Country. Can you comment on route quality from there to where you pick up Pulaski?

ywchan - if you're carrying your own nutrition, there are plenty of places you can stop to refuel. Triangle Park in Little Neck, Syosset Library parking lot, Greenlawn Park are a couple that come to mind. If you need to buy en route, there aren't a lot of options along the LIE - maybe a few delis from around Francis Lewis to Marathon Pkwy. After you're off the service road, there are some delis along Pulaski. There's a 7-11 in King's Park, and a pretty good deli in St James, almost as soon as you get on North Country Rd. But by then you're almost to Stony Brook anyhow.

lukasz

I find there to be an ample shoulder almost the whole way and not too much traffic. A lot of it is actually pleasant! I came up with this route in part to avoid Woodbury Rd North from the LIE. I don't like that two lane stretch at all. The least pleasant part of my route might be Burr Rd, just because the suburban sprawl is a bit dense there. I can't give a more informative opinion right now because I haven't ridden that route in a few months. I hope to make a trip sometime in December though.

Once you go North do you begin heading East again? What's your route?

DSchlichting

Great route, lukasz. Hard to improve on this. I often ride this route from here in Great Neck to Old Country Road and Wolf Hill Road, and back. There is a park there which has rest rooms open most of our likely riding times, including winter, and nobody bothers you there.

pjdrew

Sounds nice - I'll give it a try next time I'm out that way.

I've most often used Sweet Hollow as route north towards Pulaski Rd (via Cold Spring Hills & W Rogues Path), from which point I'm usually heading east, either to family in Northport or Stony Brook. I've also used this eastbound route on a DIY century route I've ridden a couple of times (https://j.mp/fZSdEZ).

ywchan

lukasz, when you do the ride again, mind if I join?
I am a little on the slow side however!... 14mph ish...

ywchan

pjdrew, Thanks for the tips on the break. I figure I have to find some place to rest, now I know where to look for thank you! I am still in the planning stage, and trying to get stronger, I have been riding 25miles everyday, and 2 45 miles last week. When school is over, will be when the trip happens! (I hope the weather won't be too cold).