GlennR

I fold the rear seat, remove the front tire and put it in the trunk.

Steve B.

I have a Forester. I keep the rear seats folded down, a blanket across the back and just lay the bike in, front wheel on. It fits just fine. I have a Thule roof rack with bike trays that I'll use if transporting 2 bikes and have a 3 bike trunk rack that attaches with straps if needed. I don't keep the roof rack on so use the trunk rack about as frequently.

A hitch is the better choice then a roof rack in some respects, if you find yourself needing to move 2 or more bikes on a regular basis. The investment is about the same for hitch vs. roof (about $450-$500), with the hitch having the advantages of better gas mileage, tons easier to install and remove (once the hitch is installed) and easier to get the bikes on/off then a roof rack on a tall SUV. Roof rack has the advantages of up on top and out of the way (so easier to get in the back of the vehicle), you can re-purpose the roof rack for kayaks, roof boxes for camping gear/ski's, lumber etc... As well some cops looking for an easy ticket will ticket for a hitch rack obscuring the license plate.

kaos joe

Both paths are great for feeling out and dialing in a new bike. Bring a set of Allen keys so you can make adjustments as you go and immediately feel the effects.

The Jones Beach path is flat and you won't be doing much shifting, so the Bethpage option, which has some moderate hills, might be better in that regard. The section between the Southern Parkway and the Bethpage traffic circle is full of poorly patched cracks & root heaves, and while less pleasant, will certainly let you know if anything is loose and rattling

FormeriPhoney

Great information man! I was wondering if people just threw the bike in the back of the truck or were totally fancy pants with the hitch rack lol.

For now it will just be my bike. My son just turned 3 & my wife & I are expecting another boy in November.
We rent a place in Ocean city every summer so I plan on taking the bike (August)

FormeriPhoney

I took note.
I have free tune ups & adjustments for a year at the lbs I purchased it from (Brands in Wantagh)
I'm going to pick it up Thursday & go take it for a nice ride then maybe stop back in if I need adjustments.

I'm still looking for a decent helmet, travel pump & patch kit & maybe a spare tube (700x32)

FormeriPhoney

I'm trying to locate the exact spot to park & start for the Massapequa preserve / Bethpage trail. I'd rather not pay for the park fee if possible. Are you familiar?

Papa Tom

Except for the three bridges.

FormeriPhoney

Luckily both of those paths are about 10 min from my LBS

Papa Tom

Does anybody know if they finished the parking lot at Washington Avenue yet?

FormeriPhoney: The Bethpage Bikeway actually begins well north of Bethpage Park, so there are many places to park and ride. I'm not crazy about the ride from my neighborhood (Syosset-Woodbury) to the park, so I often start at Haypath Road, a quiet neighborhood off Route 135.

Your other option is to ride the path south to north. On Sunrise Highway in Massapequa, there is a decent-sized parking lot for the bikeway - right next to a very large parking lot for the LIRR. This means that, in addition to having free parking - you can ride the train to the Massapequa Park Station, head east a short distance through the parking lot, and get on the bikeway. You'll end your ride at Bethpage State Park, where you can have a picnic lunch or find your way to nearby Broadway in Bethpage and find a place to eat or drink.

I know I keep pushing this, but my website at NewYorkRides has answers to a lot of your questions.

Steve B.

As a dedicated map reader I take great exception to this. The US standard for roads, etc... is they start in the south or west and progress north and/or east. Thus the Bethpage bike path (or Multi Use Path, MUP for short) starts at Merrick Rd. and Ocean Ave. in Seaford (south shore) and ends at Sunnyside Blvd. and Woodbury Rd. in Syosett (north shore sort of). Length is near abouts (that's a map term) 13 miles one-way.

This is is SO like you north shore folks, Tom, to assume Syosett, where the path ENDS, is the center of the known universe.

(tongue planted firmly in cheek).

Steve B.

Parking for BP trail, assumes you can find it on Google maps

- On residential streets near Merrick Rd. And Ocean Ave.
- Limited space lot on Sunrise at the brick water pumping station. The trail is adjacent. Sometimes in the adjacent Massapequa LIRR lot, not commuting times.
- Brady Park, on Lake Shore Dr., just south of Clark, ride up to Clark. Go left and the path crosses. Limited spaces, so busy on weekends.
- On street at Northwest Dr. in Farmingdale
- Bethpage Park picnic area parking lot. Paid lot ($8 ?) April thru Nov.
- Town of OBY lot in Bethpage, 1/2 mile west of park and path on Powell Ave. Free lot, pay attention to time limits in certain spaces.
- On residential streets near Haypath Rd. And Old Bethpage Rd. where the path crosses those roads.

Then the state added parking lots for the path extension north of BP State Park, all are right next to the path and are free.
- East Bethpage and Old Country Rd
- Washington Ave. and Executive Dr.
- Small lot Sunnyside just east of Woodbury.

Papa Tom

Actually, in 1854, when the Long Island Rail Road extension project between Hicksville and Cold Spring Harbor stalled at Syosset, we WERE the center of many farmers' universe for a number of years, as growers from all the surrounding areas had to use our train station if they wanted to ship their crops to larger markets. I think that's where the arrogance comes from.

Seriously, neither "end" of the Bethpage Bikeway is any place spectacular. Woodbury and Massapequa are both nice places, but the trailheads are in pretty remote locations that are without destinations for hungry, thirsty, or tired cyclists. Bethpage State Park is really the only worthwhile destination on the whole path, so would that make IT the official "end" of a bikeway that has two starting points, one in Massapequa and one in Woodbury?

Steve B.

Oooooo.... This is good.

Great reply !

FormeriPhoney

Steve you really are a plethora of navigating knowledge!


Would any of the Bethpage entrances assure me that I'll follow into the Massapequa preserve section? That's what I'm aiming for.

GlennR

Very simple.... Take the Southern State and get off at exit 31, Linden Street. Make a left and park on the side of the road. The path crosses there, so go north to head to Bethpage or south into the Massapequa Preserve.

NumbersGuy

Hey guys. I haven't posted in quite a while but I just completed my first century yesterday and wanted to share. I combined my regular 40 mile round trip from Patchogue to Babylon on Middle Rd, Montauk Hwy and Union Blvd with a 60 mile route I've done a few times, east from Patchogue via S Country Rd, Montauk Hwy, north on Horseblock Rd to Woodside Av west to Patchogue Holbrook Rd, Portion Rd, Motor Pkwy, Vets Hwy, Sunrise Bike Path, Spur Dr west to 5th Ave then back to Patchogue. Completed 101.45 miles in 5:54 for a 17.2 average riding solo. Really enjoyed the ride, and happy to have a century under my belt as it's been a goal since I started cycling a couple years ago.

Papa Tom

Congratulations, NumbersGuy.

I am 53 and I still haven't done a century. I've decided to wait until I am 100.

Steve B.

If taking mass transit such as LIRR,

- LIRR to Massapequa.

- At north and east end of parking lot, a paved path into the woods heading east, take it (you can see this on Google maps. The path from the LIRR lot quickly meets the main Bethpage Bike path.

You are now in the Massapequa Preserve, south (right) 1.5 miles to southern start of path or left and north for 12 miles.

Note that the Massapequa Preserve is the southern section of park(s) that the BP Path travels in. The preserve itself is from Merrick Rd. in the south to Linden St. in the north. Once the path crosses over the Southern State Parkway, it is now in the wooded right-of-way for the Bethpage Parkway till that ends at Bethpage Park. Then the path is in the park. At the north end of the park at Haypath, the path travels in the right-of-way of Trailview State Park as far as Washington Ave., then heads west along the LIE and Northern Parkway right of ways to the northern terminus at Woodbury Rd.

kaos joe

NumbersGuy

Congrats on your first century! That's a pretty impressive time too.

The first one my wife did, she made me take a pic of the odometer reading when it hit 100.0. It happened to be right in Montauk village on the way to the lighthouse.

Steve B.

I recall my first century as a 45 mile morning ride with some triathlete buddies, then deciding to hook on the back of an LIBC group that was just heading out, then when one of those riders figured out I had 85 encouraged me to finish to 100.

So big congrats in order, especially the time, a solo, riding central Suffolk with lights, stop signs, traffic, etc... can really tire your butt out.

Impressive ride !

NumbersGuy

Thank you guys for all the congratulations and kind words on completing my century. I'm so glad to have gotten into cycling, it's really a great and rewarding sport.

GlennR

I rode with MPBC to Fort Salonga. 41 miles at a "B" pace.

https://www.strava.com/activities/607216628

kaos joe

Slept in after a late night visiting a hospitalized friend.....did a very relaxing 31 miler with another couple in the heat. You know by the wind we rode the new bike. We've got almost 300 miles on it and I can only remember one time we used it that the wind wasn't really blowing.

GlennR

Late afternoon ride... 19 miles. The Bethpage path was nice and shady.

GlennR

Ride to Jones, after dropping the car off for service.