I am coming to New York on spring break in April (driving) with my family, staying at The Warwick on 54th and Avenue of the Americas. I was thinking of bringing my road bike (Cannondale R5000) to ride in Central Park in the mornings before the fam woke up. I would store it in the hotel room or the hotel said they would store it in the bellman's storeage area. Two questions: 1) am I nuts for bringing my bike to NYC and 2) is the loop around the park easy to follow, i.e. is it clearly marked for a first timer? I have never biked in Central Park before. My rides typically range from 20 to 70 miles. Thanks for your help.
Bring my bike to NYC?
Thu, 03/30/2006 - 10:39am
Thu, 03/30/2006 - 10:51am
#1
No, your not nuts to bring your bike. The club has over 1500 members. We're not all crazy.:-)
As you mentioned, the park drive is a loop. Just go counter clockwise for about 6 miles. If your there between 7 and 10AM, follow the cars. Have fun.
Thu, 03/30/2006 - 10:52am
#2
http://www.nyrr.org/divisions/training/cpdistances.html
here's a map of the park.... it's a big loop not really anyway you could get lost. all you need to do is remember where you entered!
Thu, 03/30/2006 - 11:00am
#3
riding with groups
If you want to ride with people, there are several groups who meet to do laps in the park--mornings and evenings. You can check this message board for meeting times and places.
Thu, 03/30/2006 - 1:01pm
#6
Hudson Riv Park
If you find you want a change from the Central Park loop, you might also consider the west side bike path. You won't get the same speed (what with grade crossing, other users, etc) but it's nice to ride with the water on one side and the city on the other. (To the south, you end up downtown near battery park and Ground Zero; to the north you can get into Riverside Park and beyond).
Tue, 04/04/2006 - 12:22pm
#7
Where does one pick up the west side bike path? Thanks.
Tue, 04/04/2006 - 1:26pm
#8
greenway entry
"Several Places depending on where you are. South of 59th Street, or thereabouts, you go as far west as you can go on any street and then find a traffic light to help you cross over the 6-8 lanes of traffic on West St. / 11th Ave or whatever they call the big road along the Hudson at each particular point. The path starts at Battery park on the west side of West St.
North of W 59 St there are particular entry points shown as yellow dots on the map at http://www.nyc.gov/html/edc/pdf/greenway_mapside.pdf
Particularly convenient are the entries at W 72nd St & Riverside Drive (into the park near the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt) at W 95th St & Riverside Drive (another entrance to the park immediately next to a freeway exit) & at 181st St & Riverside Drive (the bike/pedestrian overpass over the Henry Hudson Pkwy). Some of the other entrances have staircases and at 79th St you would have to walk through an outdoor restaurant, which is possible, but can be interesting, depending on the time of day & the size of the crowds.
There is a slightly confusing discontinuous segment near W 125th St where you have to go out onto a parallel city street for several blocks (going northbound, its a right and then a left onto this street, Just try to follow all of the Greenway signs). Going northbound from 125th St on this parallel street, after several traffic lights, there is one traffic light where most of the cars turn toward the river (toward a freeway entrance ramp). You should continue straight, however, and turn left at one of the traffic lights north of here. (It's the left turn where the painted bikelane on the southbound side of the road ends; I guess it's where it begins in the southbound direction.) You turn left & then turn right underneath the freeway overpass onto a driveway through what look as though they are toll booths. The path continues alongside the freeway for a while and then curves into the rest of the park (through a gate in the chain-link fence on the north side of ""Riverside State Park"", the Parking-Garage-like structure built out into the Hudson River)."
Thu, 04/06/2006 - 11:17am
#9
Thanks for the directions. I'll check it out. I'm staying on 54th at Ave of the Americas, so I'll take 59th over and pick it up.
Thu, 04/06/2006 - 11:42am
#10
localspeak
"You mean 54th & 6th.
(Nobody calls it ""Avenue of the Americas."")
Welcome =^>"
