"Is anyone aware of a long, paved and safe bike route? I am new to the area and amazed by the pot holed and unmaintained bike paths. Any suggestions? I live in Westchester but willing to travel to the ""right"" path.
Thanks!"
Long, Paved and Safe Route?
Sun, 04/24/2005 - 3:24pm
Sun, 04/24/2005 - 3:34pm
#1
From where are you coming ... and to where are you going.
Otherwise all roads are the same.
Are you commuting or just doing recreational riding?
If recreational, heres the link for Westchester bike paths.
http://www.westchestergov.com/parks/brochures/TrailwayBrochures.htm
Was on the South County Bike path this morning for part of a ride. As nice as it gets.
Alternately, get a bike with fat tires and suspension.
Sun, 04/24/2005 - 4:05pm
#2
I am training for an Ironman so the big tires and suspension will likely not work although I very much appreciate your South County Bike patch suggestion.
Sun, 04/24/2005 - 7:34pm
#3
"""I am training for an Ironman""
Ok, but unless you train at really odd hours you should expect to share such rail-trails with runners, dog-walkers and 3 year olds with training wheels, etc.
I'm sure there are other NYCC-ers, also in training, with ideas.
""so the big tires and suspension will likely not work""
Then you definitely wouldn't care for the Wednesday night ""Urban Adventure"" rides. :)"
Sun, 04/24/2005 - 4:00pm
#4
bike & skate sundays
The Bronx River Parkway in White Plains is closed to cars on certain Sundays.
http://www.westchestergov.com/Parks/What'sNews/BikeSkateSundays.htm
Mon, 04/25/2005 - 5:58pm
#5
NOrth Trailways I beleive is paved and will give you about
30 miles each way , maybe more.
Wed, 04/27/2005 - 2:53pm
#6
Where's the starting point for the North trail way? (eom) (nm)
Wed, 04/27/2005 - 3:08pm
#7
Starting point for the North Trail and suggestions
The North Trail starts near the Eastview exit of the Saw Mill River Parkway. If you take that exit you see a commuter parking lot and the entrance to the trail right there.
The trail goes north, but you can also see going south from there, but last summer it stopped pretty soon. They were working on connecting it with the end of the South Trail in Elmsford, but I haven't checked it out this summer yet. When that connection is ready then it will go all the way south to the Farragut Ave exit of the SMP.
With regard to the original post, I doubt these are good roads to train for an IronMan as they are usually crowded with pedestrians, slow bikers and (the worst) rollerbladers. They are excellent commuting tools though and great for families out on a stroll.
In the summer I commute regularly to work from NYC to Eastview by bike (though I haven't started yet this season) and I don't think the roads in Westchester are particularly bad. Route 9 south of Tarrytown was being repaved last year so it should be OK this year. I second the suggestion to go to the Croton Reservoir area, I also like to ride around Croton Falls, and on route 301 from Carmel to Cold Spring.
Wed, 04/27/2005 - 2:26pm
#8
Which Ironman are you doing?
Your best training area in Westchester for a full or half Ironman is going around the Croton Reservoir System. I just created a 28 mile loop for somebody doing a half Ironman. I can easily send you some longer loops that could easily get close to the 112 mile 2nd part of an Ironman Tri.
If perchance you are doing the Lake Placid Ironman, you will need some more vertical than Croton loops. For this I would send you into Harriman State Park, or into Putnam County.
Send me an email by clicking on my address, and send me some details -- where's the course, do you have the route, what town you live in, how do you want to train, and a phone # so we can chat briefly
Wed, 04/27/2005 - 7:50pm
#9
Relatively untraveled, but may not be totally open.
"I used to do a 15-20 mile route that was relatively quiet (it's been at least 5 years and lots may have changed.) Credit activist Charlie Komanoff for this. It appeared in a mag called ""In Traffic"" in 1994 and I have a yellowed copy. Once you leave Mt Kisco, there are no shops, gas stations or food/pit stops.
Mt. Kisco to Ossining or Croton
Start - Mt Kisco RR
L - Main St
R - Kisco Av (after RR tracks)
R - Croton Lake Rd (at T, climb)
L - Meeting House Rd (hardpack)
R - Lake Rd
R - Crow Hill Rd
R - Pines Bridge Rd (cross reservoir)
L - Rt 118
Stay - Becomes Rt 129
L - Gatehouse Rd (unmarked, cross reservoir. This may be the problem with this ride. May be closed due to national security. ""Worst case scenario:"" continue on 129 to Croton.)
R - Croton Dam Rd (unmarked, pass several ""road closed"" signs. Same issue as above.)
L - Aqueduct Rd (unmarked, climb parallel to Taconic Pky, cross on highway bridge)
L - Illington Rd (unmarked, continue climb)
R - Rt 134/Kitchawan Rd
To Ossining:
L - McDonald Rd
Stay - Hoag Cross Rd
R - Pines Bridge Rd
L - (sharp) Inningwood Rd
R - Vail's Lane (frog pond)
R - Rt 133/Somerstown Pike
Stay - Croton Av into Ossining
L - Rt 9
R - Main St to RR Station
(Reverse from Ossining to Mt Kisco offers a nice climb out of Ossining.)
To Croton:
QR - Spring Valley Rd
R - Blinn Rd
Stay - Applebee
R - Quaker Ridge Rd (at T)
QL - Croton Dam Rd (cross Croton Dam)
Alt 1:
L - Rt 129, into Croton
Alt 2:
X - Rt 129
L - Batten Rd/Rt 129 into Croton
Take a detailed map of upper Westchester. IIRC, there's a nice pizza place with tables outside along the route in Croton. There's a nice jail in Ossining."
Thu, 04/28/2005 - 8:53am
#10
Another Idea
A very nice, easy to follow 45 mile route is to take Peekskill Hollow Road to 301, turn right (east) on 301, take 301 to Gypsy Trail (left). Take Gypsy Trail Farmer's Mills Road (left) back to 301 then to Dennytown Road (left) which becomes Canopus Hollow Road and take back to Peekskill. Do it twice to start, then maybe add some miles to the loop's north end.
Assuming you are doing the Lake Placid Ironman, the above route nicely simulates the course, with one long gradual climb, one moderate climb, a couple rollers, and a fast downhill on Dennytown Road.
With the exception of the loops start/end around Peekskill, traffic is moderate. All the roads are well paved and the scenery is outstanding.
Mon, 04/25/2005 - 6:07pm
#11
North Trailway
Is excellent, especially on weekdays with less bike & ped. traffic. Good maps avail from Westch Parks Dept
