Howdy Boys and Girls,
Here’s a list of some of my favorite rides in the NY/NJ/CT area for 2008, plus a few legendary rides located out of town. Please note:
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•This is NOT a complete list of every ride everywhere -- these are just some of my personal favorites.
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•MOST of these rides are NOT run by me -- my own rides are highlighted in red.
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That means that if you want info on someone else’s ride, give them a shout (contact info below) -- I’m sure they’ll be glad to hear from you.
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(This is the most polite way I can think of to state, “Please don’t call me at home at 5 a.m. to ask me what time The Seagull Century starts, since I don’t run that ride!”)
OK? OK!
xoxo
Glen
BIKE RIDE CALENDAR 2008
MAY 4
Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour (31st annual)
212 932 2453
The Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, America's largest cycling event, attracts 30,000 cyclists to New York City each spring for an unforgettable 42-mile ride through traffic-free streets. From Manhattan's skyscraper canyons to the majestic Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, there's no better way to see New York! Registration is limited, so sign up early at www.BikeNewYork.org.
MAY 18
The Bloomin’ Metric
Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club's 31st Annual Bloomin' Metric™ bicycle tour will once again be offering three great scenic rides in the Spring of 2008 - 25 miles, 75 kilometers and 100 kilometers.
As in the past, a portion of the proceeds from the entry fee for Bloomin' Metric™ 2008 will be donated to help support Fairfield County Safe Kids. Fairfield County SAFE KIDS has set a new standard in the area of injury prevention by bringing together two hospital institutions as the core of the Coalition. They have also partnered with many other organizations both locally and nationally to work in a collaborative effort to reduce unintentional injury to our youth.
MAY 25
Tour de Brooklyn
212-629-8080
Tour de Brooklyn is an 18-mile family friendly bike tour around the best borough in the City, Brooklyn! This year's tour will highlight neighborhoods from Red Hook to Weeksville! Registration is free.
JUNE 1
Tour de Causes
A Fund Raising ride for all Deadly Diseases that ourselves or someone else suffers from across the U.S. The tour will have 4 routes: 15, 35, 65 & 100 mile routes. It will start in Central Islip, LI and go from the North Shore to the South Shore and as far out as the Hamptons. Great Parking and great accessibility to all roads. Rest Stops, Sag Wagons, Medical and Mechanical Support, Food & Much More! Funds can go to local research or national group of your choice. Come and help those who can't ride!!!
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Bike Boat Bike
SBRA invites you to cycle Long Island's East End. Tour through the woodlands, fields, and shoreline of the North and South Forks. Take the ferry to Shelter Island. Cycle through the scenic coves and byways of beautiful Shelter Island. We are sure you will enjoy the tour. Bike-Boat-Bike has flat to gently rolling routes of 25, 50, 65, 100 and 125 miles with Rest Stops and sag wagons.
JUNE 8
Mansion Ride for Autism 7
Seventh Annual Mansion Ride visits six of Long Island’s famous mansions. Choose 25, 50, 62 miles. Perfectly spaced, stocked rest areas with cold Power drinks, great food, FREE parking. CONVENIENT to LIRR. Begin/End at same location. Excellent road markings, Cue sheets. SAG, marshals, police support 100% of registration fee is donated to charity--Ascent School for Children with Autism. Flat fee or choose to fundraise, top fundraiser wins night in South Beach VERSACE MANSION.
JUNE 14
The Tour de Cure
212-725-4925x3410
The Tour de Cure is the premier cycling event of the American Diabetes Association. The ride starts in Riverhead, Long Island and continues along the North Shore. We have something for everyone. Ride lengths are Family fun ride (5 miles), 15, 32, 62 and 100. Come out and join us for a family fun filled day of entertainment and biking.
JUNE 21 (Summer Solstice -- the longest day of the year!)
The Ride to Montauk
Pedal from the city through the Hamptons to the ocean! This is a spectacular FLAT ride with THE BEST rest stops and support.
Glen here, your Montauk tour director and humble servant since 1997 -- creator of the quiet back-roads route to Montauk.
Your choice of routes from 30 -- 145 miles -- everyone winds up in Montauk! Mansions, the ocean, farms, windmills, and the most beautiful sections of the Hamptons. The pedaling is flat, Flat, FLAT!
JUNE 29
Long Island Harbors Ride
212 932 2453
JULY 20 - 26
RAGBRAI
The granddaddy of all multi-day bike rides -- 10,000 cyclists pedaling across Iowa for a week. I can’t say enough good things about this ride -- every cyclist should to it at least once.
JULY 27
Harlem Valley Rail Ride (5th annual)
212 932 2453
Bike New York's Harlem Valley Rail Ride treats riders to a car-free rail trail and beautiful back roads in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Five distances including a family-friendly 22-mile ride and the challenging Three-States Century, with Hill Climb Time Trial, accommodate riders of all levels. Make it a weekend with group rides and non-cycling activities the day beforehand. After the ride, enjoy the festival featuring food, music, rides, and more. Transportation from Manhattan available.
AUGUST 1
The Farm Ride (Early Arrival Day)
Optional early-arrival day for The Farm Ride. Pedaling starts on August 2 (see below.)
Two days of riding through farmland in beautiful Amherst, MA. Full century on Day One (66 or 100 miles) plus a new 25-mile route. A post-ride meal at a local farm featuring food that was still growing the morning of the ride, plus free beer courtesy of Harpoon Brewery. A series of beautiful optional rides on Day Two. Stay on the University of Massachusetts campus. (Dorm rooms or hotel). Transportation available from NYC.
AUGUST 2
The Farm Ride continues
Two days of riding through farmland in beautiful Amherst, MA. Full century on Day One (66 or 100 miles) plus a new 25-mile route. A post-ride meal at a local farm featuring food that was still growing the morning of the ride, plus free beer courtesy of Harpoon Brewery. A series of beautiful optional rides on Day Two. Stay on the University of Massachusetts campus. (Dorm rooms or hotel). Transportation available from NYC.
AUGUST 3
The Farm Ride continues
Two days of riding through farmland in beautiful Amherst, MA. Full century on Day One (66 or 100 miles) plus a new 25-mile route. A post-ride meal at a local farm featuring food that was still growing the morning of the ride, plus free beer courtesy of Harpoon Brewery. A series of beautiful optional rides on Day Two. Stay on the University of Massachusetts campus. (Dorm rooms or hotel). Transportation available from NYC.
AUGUST 10-16
Empire State AIDS Ride
(917) 817-5775
Join us for an unforgettable 560-mile ride from Niagara Falls to NYC, stopping along the way at the Baseball Hall of Fame. You'll ride along the shores of Lake Ontario, camp along the Finger Lakes and ride the magnificent "Gunks." Proceeds benefit the AIDS Research Institute at UCSF and the Harvard AIDS Institute's breakthrough grants for a cure.
AUGUST 17
The Ramapo Rally
Presented by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey (BTCNJ)
This ride will feature everything from a flat-to-rolling 12-mile family ride, to a hilly and extra-challenging 125-mile ride, with routes of 25, 45, 63, and 100 miles also available. As they did last year, the longer routes will head for rural and parkland areas of Morris County, NJ, with the midpoint of the century in the lovely town of Chester, NJ. We'll also have led rides on all distances and for various levels, with our usual great support, SAG, and light meal afterwards.
AUGUST 24
The Sixth Annual North Fork Century
Pedal along the beautiful north fork of Long Island past farmland, vineyards, Orient Point, and Long Island Sound. The 50- and 66-mile routes are flat, flat, FLAT! The 100-mile route has a couple hills that you can handle. Fresh corn, Briermere Farms pie with whipped cream made on the spot, wine tasting, ice cream, FREE custom Sockguy CUSHY socks for early sign-up, post-ride meal, hot showers, and a few surprises. Shuttle available from NYC.
SEPTEMBER 7
New York City Century Bike Tour
212-629-8080
Not your everyday Sunday stroll through New York City! Choose your distance, 15, 35, 55, 75 or 100 miles. Bring your friends and ride at your own pace. See New York City from the best vantage point, your bike! This is Transportation Alternatives largest fundraiser to support our bicycling and walking advocacy work.
SEPTEMBER 13
Twin Forks Bike MS Ride (Day 1)
631-864-8337
This is a fantastic ride of Long Island's south and north forks. Each
day is approx. 75 miles, with a 50 mile option. Proceeds raised from
the ride benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, LI Chapter.
The LI Chapter serves the needs of more than 42,000 people affected
by this disease. The ride includes lunch and dinner on Saturday and
breakfast, lunch, and a barbeque on Sunday. Lodging is available on a
first come, first serve basis, for a small fee. The LI Chapter pays
for your ferry (to get to Camp Qunipet day one, and to leave the
island day two)! The ride is fully supported with SAG vehicles as
well as with mechanics.
Start at Elks Club in Southampton
day is approx. 75 miles, with a 50 mile option. Proceeds raised from
the ride benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, LI Chapter.
The LI Chapter serves the needs of more than 42,000 people affected
by this disease. The ride includes lunch and dinner on Saturday and
breakfast, lunch, and a barbeque on Sunday. Lodging is available on a
first come, first serve basis, for a small fee. The LI Chapter pays
for your ferry (to get to Camp Qunipet day one, and to leave the
island day two)! The ride is fully supported with SAG vehicles as
well as with mechanics.
Start at Elks Club in Southampton
Day one finish and overnight (dinner and awards party too) at Camp
Quinipet on Shelter Island
Quinipet on Shelter Island
Day two finish line and barbeque is at the Elks Club in Southampton
SEPTEMBER 14
Twin Forks Bike MS Ride (Day 2)
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The Missing Children Ride
• • •
The Golden Apple
This is a five level ride, self paced, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 mile route, all starting and stopping at Goldens Bridge, NY.
SEPTEMBER 20
Escape New York
Escape the crowds and cycle with us in our favorite territory: the West Hudson Highlands. We have several rides that are sure to appeal: Century Challenge, 100 miles; The Rockland Roll, 62 miles; and Piermont Pleasures, a Half Century.
SEPTEMBER 26
Braking the Cycle – Day 1
212.989.1111
Bring your compassion to life! Ride Braking the Cycle, the three-day, 275-mile AIDS ride from Gettysburg to Manhattan September 26-28, 2008. Be a part of our rolling community of hope on this fully-supported, hotel-based ride that benefits the HIV/AIDS services of the Center. Learn more at www.brakingthecycle.org or 212.989.1111.
SEPTEMBER 27
Braking the Cycle – Day 2
SEPTEMBER 28
Braking the Cycle – Day 3
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MS- Tappan Zee
The Tappan Zee MS Bike event is a one-day, 20 or 60 mile route. The event begins in Tarrytown, crosses the Tappan Zee Bridge - up route 9W, crosses over Bear Mountain Bridge then follows 9 south back to Tarrytown.
OCTOBER 4
The Seagull Century
Located in Sallisbury, MD, but popular with NY-area cyclists because it is VERY flat. If you haven’t booked your hotel room yet, it might be too late.
OCTOBER 5
24th Annual bikeMS New York City
212-463-9791
Let’s Ride! Every hour of every day, someone new is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While many of us will never know what it’s like to live with MS, we can do something for those who do. bikeMS New York City is a unique and exhilarating ride through the most exciting city in the world. Ride traffic-free on the FDR, West Side Highway and through a closed tube of the Lincoln Tunnel on our 30, 60 or 100 mile routes. 60 & 100 mile riders will enjoy the Hudson River-hugging Palisades, upstate New York’s Rockland County and the thrill of riding over the George Washington Bridge. Join us as we raise nearly $3 million for a world free of MS.
OCTOBER 11-13
The Green Ride
Ride the three-day 230-mile loop from NYC to the magnificent Black Rock Forest in Orange County. You'll stay at the Black Rock Forest Lodge, the standard in green architecture, taking a century loop on day 2 to Cragsmoor and the beautiful Minnewaska Trail. Finish your fully supported ride on Columbus Day back at Fort Tryon in Manhattan.
OCTOBER 19
The Tour de Bronx
212-629-8080
Join us for the largest FREE bike tour in New York City, The Tour de Bronx now in its 14th year. Choose the 25- or 40-mile route. Each has snacks, rest stops and includes a section of the temporarily closed Sheridan Expressway.
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Rides Put on By Our Friends
Photo of RAGBRAI 2006