The climb to Bear Mountain, NY
 

Has anybody of you riders from the TriState area has done it, and what was your experience doing it?

Any steep parts that should I be aware of?

I've personally never done but plan on doing it from the Sven lakes rd. approach anytime soon,
any feedback will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Corsaire :D

I hiked over Beat Mountain once when doing some section hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Part of the AT is actually on Perkins Road (IIRC) which I think is the main biking road. There was one dude riding it who looked pretty strong. I gave him a good "Vengavengavenga!". :D Since then I've been thinking of making a little personal century out of riding up there and back (including the climb, duh). I'd love to know the "stats" so I could get an idea of how tough it is compared to, say, "Alpine d'Huez".

I know already certain stats. like:

Avg Grade: 7%
Distance from base: about 4.5 miles from Rte 9W
Elevation Gain: 1,103 ft.
Climbing Elev : 1,448 ft

But would love feedback from the guys who have already done it.

Corsaire :D

What are the road conditions? My friend from work told me it was pretty shi**y pavement all the way up, wouldn't wanna descend in that.

The road looked great, at least the section I hiked up. Maybe it was recently repaved? The backside we crossed a crappy road a couple of times IIRC. Dunno, I was pretty tired and dehydrated by then after hiking and rock scrambling two days on one arm (this was right after my dooring --> elbow sprain) so my memory may be a bit faulty.

7% for 4.5 miles. IIRC "Alpine d'Huez" averages just under 7% and it's 2.2km or so if you start from the river level. So BM is like 3-3.5 times as long at roughly the same grade. Sounds like a nice challenge for climb-deficient NYCers. :)

OK - here's the straight dope. My buddy and I did the ride for the first time three weeks ago.
1) apparently they have repaved the road to the top. it is smooth and better than a carnival ride coming down.

2) you best be ready to spend the better part of a day if you start in Manhattan. We left from the NYS side of the GWB and it was 94 miles total distance. we started early, but it got hot near midday. If you want shorter, consider driving to Piermont or Nyack and starting there or riding up the mountain and across the river to the Metro North station in whatever the heck that town is.

3) you absolutely MUST go to the top. it is not crazy steep, but it's pretty long. a very good climb in my opinion, cuz you can keep a nice rythm.

4) there is an annoying climb on 9 as you approach the park, followed by a wicked downhill, which of course means you have to gain it all back again when you turn into the park.

5) One of the best rides I have ever done. you should do it.

I don't know what the Sven Lakes approach road is, but we started descending the wrong road for a short bit (I think the one that goes into Jersey rather than back to 9W?) and it sucked really bad - super rough and very unpleasant. we whipped down for about 2 minutes, realized it was the wrong road due to its rough suckiness, then climbed back to the top to get back on the right track. smoothness in 1) above only applies to the way I went. good luck.

OK - a google search reveals that crappy stretch to be:
Variation C

For a great view: After continuing about 0.1 mile past the tower, turn R and go down about 0.7Mi on the East side -- for the best view, there's no need to go all the way to the end of the road. Then turn around and climb back up, turn R to rejoin the main downhill.

Variation C sucks. but it has nothing to do with Seven Lakes. it's just a jaunt at the top.

http://www.roberts-1.com/bikehudson/...ue_sheet/b.htm

I grew up in that area, and while I haven't road Bear Mountain in 15 years or so, it is a great ride. Beautiful scenery, like another poster said, steady climb where you can find a rhythm, and just a blast. And I agree, definately have to go to the top, worth the trip.

And in the fall, with the foliage, it get's even better, an absolutely beautiful ride (be careful not to ride on a Saturday with an Army home football game though). Enjoy.

From Sloatsburg, NJ via Seven Lakes Road to the top of Bear Mtn. is almost 20 miles, so a round trip of 40 + miles is not bad at all. I know it can be made as hard as you want it, like coming from Northern Jersey via Gate Hill Road (106) a nasty long uphill (4 miles) road with an aveg. grade of 6% as your entrance into Harriman State Park, Gate Hill is your warm-up before assaulting Bear Mt, about 20 miles later.

I'm just waiting for cooler weather really, I'd hate to do it in high humidity, ughhh!

Corsaire :eek:

I'm curious, where is "Alpine d'Huez"? Is that on 9W somewhere? This thread has convinced me to try this BM climb soon - thanks for the info.

Hehe I only learned the nickname recently. Do you know the route known as "The Seven Sisters"? Well, the "Alpine d'Huez" would be the 7th sister. The road is the stretch of the Pallisades Park north of the George Washington Bridge. Supposedly there are seven "hills" thus the seven "sisters". I've never really counted, as as most of them aren't really "hills" in terms of length. The "Alpine" is so named because the town at the end of this stretch of park road (where this climb is) is named Alpine.

Edit: Unsatisfied with my lousy explanation, I give you this. That's the top of the climb. The little bit that makes it longer by starting by the water doesn't show on the map, but you can clearly see the boat docks. You can get a better view of that little stretch by switching to the sattelite / hybrid views and zooming a bit.

that explanation was good, i thought. alpine d'huez is a nice length for hill repeats. it's a fun decent too, although watch out for park employees driving 60 mph in their god damned park trucks.

Nice - up until now I've called it "that big hill at the end of River Road". I've never tried repeating it though! Thanks for the info.

Is OK. Not steep. I certainly won't bike there just to climb the route. I would stick to the Alpine climb for 4 to 5 hill repeats if I need some hill climb training.

What's 7% elevation like?

What's the elevation of the hill in Prospect park?

Yeah I'll go out to the "Alpine" to ride it maybe 4 times from the bottom. That's about my limit, though not from the climbing -- the descent sucks! Really, that road needs to be repaved in a major way. OTOH, going up on the rough pavement makes you feel like you're riding the crappy roads of the early years of the TdF, you know, hardcore. :D

Don't know that I'd want to do the hill at the 40 mile mark from NY. But one could also take the bike on Metro North (gotta get a permit, cheap) on Sat & Sun up along the Hudson and get off right near Bear Mountain Bridge at Manitou (slightly north) or Peekskill (slightly south, though more crowded). Then, hit the mountain and ride back in to the city, which should be every so slightly downhill. Or ride around all day in the area and take the train back.

I used to do this all the time in the mid-90s with my mtb. Nice ride up the Hudson, nice towns all the way from Peekskill to Cold Spring.

Here's Metro North bicycle regs:

http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/bikerule.htm

Way better than riding the loop in Central Park!

Now that's an idea. I used to take that train to get to work (bike-to-train-to-bike) so I already have a permit. So to get across the BM Bridge, does bikes take the foot path or the bridge road?

Maybe we should do an organized BF train'n'ride to BM. :)

Thanks guys for all the good info... I'm actually planning to go up there next week (either Tue or Wed) by Metro North an climb it, and maybe go back to NYC by bike (NJ side via GWB)... Thanks again.

I'm assuming you guys went up the West Side of Hudson. Any crappy (or dangerous) sections of the road (above Nyack)??? Also, did you take the 9W or the "Old Route 9W" around the Dunderberg (near Bear Mountain)??? Is the old one rideable (I read on Roberts site that it is dirt suitable to MTBs). Thanks.

PS: Just checked out the route in Google Earth, looks very enticing... ;)

I can't remember about getting across the bridge. Anybody else out there? Since I was on my mtb, I usually went to Fahnestock, as it had better mtb trails.

I live in CO these days. Have fun up there.

I'm totally in for this organized ride but um, for the love of god, not a weekday, I have work. :(
Well, maybe I'll take the day off.

Wish could join in, but Tue & Wed are my 'weekend' days :D:D:D At least, for the time being...

I'll try to do it next week, and post a quick report here... I will either take a train to Peekskill and go over the Bear Mountain bridge, climb it and then return through NJ and GWB... or, if I sleep well on Monday and it isn't too hot & humid, I might just head up there on a bike (again through NJ), climb it and see how I feel and either return the same way, or jump on Metro North in Peekskill and come to NYC... ;) Hope the weather will cooperate... Extended forecast doesn't look too good :(:(:(

I ride over the BM Bridge often and always take the bridge road accross, no issues so far. I live/work up here, so let me know when you guys are coming!