pgoat

Thought I'd start a thread since I'll be going up there at least a weekend or two every month till the winter....should be going this weekend - anybody up for an early Saturday ride?

Pls PM if you need directions/more info. I'll post the links when I get home tonight.

sukram

I do a lot of riding up that way, I often head up to around the rail trail, usually starting around Hastings or further north. This past Saturday I started off in Millwood and did a nice hilly ride up to Tinker Hill. Ouch. My legs still feel it. That route didn't use the rail trail much, but started off from there.

I'll keep an eye on the thread, my schedule is pretty varied but I may be able to make it. Great riding up there.

pgoat

Cool - hope to see you soon

jyossarian

I did this ride the first time last year and it was a blast. Took Metro North up and rode 50+ miles back. Great way to see the fall foliage. Should be awesome during the spring and summer months.

pgoat

awesome. we'll have to try that one time. If you start at the north end, that's gotta be closer to a century, no? Or metric, at least

jyossarian

Who knows. I don't even remember what town I got off at. I just followed the internet strangers I was with. But yeah, close to a metric century. Something like 55 miles to Washington Hts.

sukram

The trail starts/ends in Carmel up in Putnam. Runs all the way down to Yonkers/Bronx border at Van Cortland Park.

I usually don't do anything south of Hastings on Hudson though, I get enough junk miles commuting so I like to skip the city on the weekends if I get a chance to ride.

Here's one fun route I semi-regularly do:
https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...ytown/20605146

Here's one I just did Saturday. Ouch...
https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...24033394320067

pgoat

here's the section we do: https://www.westchestergov.com/PARKS/...tyTrailway.pdf


moar here

Air

Really enjoyed the trip we took last year - looking forward to Saturday!

pgoat

the trees looked a lot thinner this year (not sure if cause it's early in the season, or whether they've done more post-winter storm cleanup?)...and that infamous 'bump' in the road has gotten bigger

jyossarian

That the bump that made me wonder if the cheapest carbon fork I could find was a good idea?

sjauch

Sounds interesting, unfortunately I can't make it this Saturday. I'll keep my eyes open for the next ride.

pgoat

Probably. It also drums up business for proctologists in the greater Metropolitan area.

pgoat

we'll be up there a lot - I'll be sure to bump this when we're going, or pls let me know if you want to do a specific weekend.

creakier

Whats the story here? is this civil looking route north a real thing? do all the trails connect yet? in the literature beside the maps there was the implication that they would someday. Has that day dawned? I'm kinda bored with 9W, and have not mastered the zen of flatland queens.

sukram

Well, if you guys happen to see someone on a Bianchi Volpe with a yellow 'n red helmet around, that's me. Weather pending though. Starting off a bit south of Millwood, headed back to Tinker Hill though, so skipping the rail trail mostly. Getting ready for the Montauk 145... heh.

One of these days when I win the mega-millions I'm going to buy the old run-down rail station by Millwood and convert into an ice cream and deep fried burger joint. Beer 'n burgers by the rail trail...

jyossarian

The trail is mostly old railroad paved over w/ blacktop. It's pretty continuous except for where it crosses the highway which isn't often. Seemed pretty popular w/ the locals for walking and riding. And yeah, ice cream and burgers right alongside the trail would be awesome.

pgoat

I'll probably have a red helmet, brown trek old school bike.

sukram

OK, what's up with the weather? Rain rain rain rain rain rain...

I don't care, I need to hit Tinker Hill again. Well, White Hill, Tinker Hill and Bryant Pond Road... I won't be satisfied until my legs feel like jelly again. I am soooo out of shape...

roadiejorge 

Looks interesting. Is this a trail where you can travel at a brisk pace in peace or is it used by joggers/dog walkers etc?

sukram

Really a mixture of both. There are places along the trail that are pretty desolate, but some sections that are fairly busy where you'd want to slow down to make sure you avoid the kids. There are some really popular roadie routes it runs near too, route 100 and 134 around the Croton Reservoir spring to mind.

I use it as a central line that I base routes around. There's also some scenic areas on it and nearby, like the Croton Reservoir and crossing the old Croton Dam. Or wild turkeys just south of the Tarrytown Reservoir.

roadiejorge 

Thanks for the info, I think I'll have to check it out.

pgoat

exactly. There are some parts where you can obviously see to take it easy but plenty of chances to let loose. Lots of people ride along the highway that runs parallel to the trail (in fact, the trail puts you out on the highway for a spell, so some folks just stay out there)


this weekend is looking rainy now, so I'll be playing it by ear for tomorrow morning....

pgoat

well no ride for us the past weekend

the next time we go up (maybe this Sunday) we may try driving, but doing the ride up from the Metro North station, just to see how bad it is...nice to climb a hill for the first time with a personal sag wagon support vehicle

sukram

I always drive up, I often park in Hastings but sometimes head further north. I've got a 2 bike trunk rack that I load up for my friend and I. I ride so much in the city that I'm so glad to skip the junk miles if I'm going on a fun weekend ride.

We were lucky enough on Saturday. We got a good early start and while it was overcast with a bit of light rain here and there overall it was brilliant. We tackled this nice hilly route again, Tinker Hill being the steepest. It's so nice to get out to ride the bike just for fun instead of sucking fumes and fighting traffic on the way to work.

One of these weekends I'll have to catch up with you folks if you're headed up that way. I'm trying to convince myself that I can do 145 miles to Montauk in 2 weeks right now so this weekend I'll be out tackling some pseudo-training riding.