This ride is not for the faint of heart as we’ll climb a fair share of hills and fly some fast descents but the views of the Hudson River are worth every inch of every climb! We’ll try to keep a decent pace but we’ll stop often to compress and catch a breath and we will use the point, drop and sweep system. We’ll take the train out of Grand Central Station at 7:43 a.m. and WE'LL GET BACK WHEN WE'LL GET BACK, DON'T MAKE ANY PLANS FOR THAT EVENING;) The ride is 65 miles, on roads with some traffic and with a total elevation gain of around 3500 feet.

This ride is listed as advanced moderate due to the combination of the distance and the hills but the pace will be more like a moderate ride so you don't have to be very fast but you have to be able to deal with long climbs effectively and maintain at least 12mph throughout most of the ride:)

Please meet us at the station no later than 7:30 a.m. We’ll meet somewhere in the Main Concourse area on either side of the round Information Booth. Please don't be late! This is a popular train for cyclists so we'd like to get on the train early to make sure we grab good spots for our bikes. If you arrive late and we're not there any more, just go directly to the track, you can learn the track number from the large displays above the ticket boots. Look for 7:43 a.m. train to Poughkeepsie.

We’ll start riding from Croton Harmon around 9 a.m. and we’ll stop at around mile 20 for a brunch at a deli. Then we’ll circle Hudson Highlands and cross the Hudson River at the Bear Mountain Bridge and stop at the Bear Mountain State Park for a break. From Bear Mountain we'll ride over to the US Military Academy in West Point. If there is enough interest we can stop at the USMA Museum (free admission). Then we will ride through the USMC grounds as the academy is opened to the public on weekends during the Summer. IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE ACADEMY GROUNDS EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT ISSUED ID (a driver license or a learner permit, green card, military ID, passport). If you don't have an ID you will not be able to continue the ride and will need to go back on your own.

Next, we’ll climb some more hills and stop at the Storm King Highway Overlook to enjoy beautiful views of the Hudson River. Then we’ll continue North along the river to Cornwall where we’ll have lunch at mile 44 at The Trestle Restaurant (http://www.thetrestlecoh.com/menu.html).

After lunch the route will become significantly flatter and easier. We will cross the Hudson River again (hence "Double Cross") at the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and turn back South, then pass the Hudson Highlands again and finish the ride at the train station in Garrison where we’ll try to catch the 5:24 p.m. train back to Grand Central (arrives at GC at 6.41 p.m.). If we miss that one the next one is at 6:24 p.m.

There will be a bailout option at mile 50 in Beacon, we'll be passing near the train station right after the bridge.

Related Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/267714556748003/

THIS RIDE HAS SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

1) YOU NEED AN MTA TRAIN BIKE PERMIT. IT’S $5 AND CAN BE PURCHASED AT A TICKET BOOTH AT THE TRAIN STATION AND IT’S GOOD FOR LIFE.

2) YOU NEED A REAR RED LIGHT. WE’LL BE PASSING THROUGH A LONG, DARK TUNNEL AND WE NEED AS MUCH VISIBILITY AS WE CAN. PLEAS TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY! THIS TUNNEL IS TRAUMATIZING BUT THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT.

3) YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION TO GO THROUGH THE CHECKPOINT AND ENTER THE MILITARY ACADEMY GROUNDS. IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE RIDE!

TRAIN FARES AND TICKETS

Purchase the tickets at Grand Central Station; they cost more if purchased from a conductor onboard of the train. Also: buy both tickets in the morning as we may not have enough time in the afternoon, unless you plan to bail out early at another train station.

Out: from Grand Central to Croton Harmon: $9.75 (off peak).
Back: from Garrison to Grand Central: $13.75 (off peak).
Bike Permit: $5 (good for life). If you're planning to buy the permit in the morning please have an application ready to save the time: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrbikepermit.htm

RIDE CANCELLATION POLICY

Check this 5BBC ride page or the 5BBC Event Facebook page after 9PM the night before to see if the ride is on! A cancellation notice will be posted on both at 9PM on the night before the ride. We will NOT meet if the ride is canceled! If it’s raining in the morning the ride is also canceled!

If in doubt email bikerides@a-world.net or call or text Adam DZ at 718-757-4102 in the morning after 6 a.m.

If you have registered for the ride on the 5BBC website you will receive a confirmation or cancellation email around 9 p.m. on Friday.

MAPS AND CUE SHEETS

Ride With GPS route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5251268

Cue sheet, GPX/TCX tracks and routes:
http://a-world.net/bikerides/hudson-river-double-cross-65/

Ride to the Blue Point Brewery in Patchogue, LI. No sweat on the ride out ... and if there is, the beer at the brewery will take care of that. Meet at Cunningham Park at 8:30 am - sharp.
Bring mta bike pass, $ for lunch and drinkstuffs as well as lirr train fare from patchogue ($9.75). Trains returning to Jamaica, Brooklyn and Penn Station are at 3:35 pm, 4:23 pm and 5:10 pm.
No point/drop/sweep. However we will travel as a group, compressing as needed.
Note that we will walk back to Patchogue train station after our stop at the brewery.
Note also that riders from Brooklyn are most welcome because the leaders know you will like this one !
Leaders: Wuid Alexandre and Dennis Griffin

This is an “extended summer remix” of my favorite Spring training ride to Locust Valley. This version adds few extra miles here and there to make it a 52 mile ride and tries to avoid Union Turnpike on the way back for a while longer. We’ll stop for lunch at the usual Delicious Pizzeria in Glen Cove. Hopefully I won’t have to Photoshop our group shots at the beach this time to add summer backgrounds!

It's a moderate and relaxed 52 mile ride with only 1700 feet of elevation gain. We'll stop frequently to take photos and goof around and remember the time we did this ride and our ears were freezing.

We start at 9:00 am from Cunningham Park in Queens.

Related Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1564902280403888/

RIDE CANCELLATION POLICY

Check the 5BBC ride page or the 5BBC Facebook page after 9PM the night before to see if the ride is on! A cancellation notice will be posted on both at 9PM on the night before the ride. We will NOT meet if the ride is canceled! If it’s raining in the morning the ride is also canceled!

If in doubt email bikerides@a-world.net or call or text Adam DZ at 718-757-4102 in the morning after 6 a.m.

If you have registered for the ride on the 5BBC website you will receive a confirmation or cancellation email around 9 p.m. on Friday.

MAPS AND CUE SHEETS

Links to Ride With GPS route and cue sheets will be posted here couple of days before the ride.

This is a unique and experimental dayride, in a way that the starting point at the Taconic State Park is only reachable by a car and it is 2.5 hours one way from NYC. Trippers will need to drive up there or carpool. The club does not provide transportation for this ride and, for legal reasons, cannot arrange a carpool. The trippers will need to arrive at the start location on their own but, of course, may organize carpooling among themselves.

Related Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1472144423024365/

THIS RIDE REQUIRES REGISTRATION AND
IT IS OPENED TO CURRENT CLUB MEMBERS ONLY.

We need to have at least 10 riders registered to do this ride. There is no upper limit but the place we’ll be stopping at for lunch is small and may have hard time serving 10+ people quickly. In case of a large turnout we may have to split for lunch, but there are other food establishments in town.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a moderate-advanced ride and it’s meant for experienced cyclists as it is 66 miles long, services are scarce and it’s rather hilly with about 3200 feet of total elevation gain with one long killer hill right at the beginning, then with some long and gradual climbs and some nice rollers. Around 15 miles are completely flat though as the route runs along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail (HVRT).

The ride starts and ends at the Taconic State Park Copake Falls in Copake, NY. The park has a picnic area, bathrooms, showers and a swimming pond. From there, we will ride through three states: NY, MA, CT and back to NY. A large part of the ride goes through the area where the annual Harlem Valley Rail Trail Ride takes place. The lunch will be at mile 30 in “When Pigs Fly Southern BBQ” in Sharon, Connecticut. It’s a quiet location with outdoor tables and we can keep our bikes within sight.

If we manage to finish the ride early there will be time for a dip in the pond so bring a bathing suit and a towel. You will be able to change at the bathhouse.

We will try to maintain a moderate pace around 12-15 mph on flats, however the ride is categorized as advanced moderate due to the combination of distance and hills. We will use the Point, Drop, Sweep system and we’ll follow all the rules of a regular 5BBC dayride, please see the club website for more information: http://5bbc.org/about-day-rides and http://5bbc.org/what-bring-ride.

The route is very rural with services far apart so bring three bottles of water, or a Camelbak, and some snacks and electrolytes if it’s very hot. There will be no services and no restrooms other than Nature’s Facilities for the first 22 miles.

You must have a helmet, two spare tubes and, if your bike requires any special tool to remove the wheels, you must bring that tool with you as well. Your bike must be in good working order. There is only one bike shop at the very beginning of the ride (i.e. not much help) and there are no good options to bail out during most of the ride.

THE WEATHER

That area is generally somewhat cooler than New York City (5 or more degrees) and the weather conditions can be quite different as well.

Check the weather forecast for Copake Falls, NY. Do not base your decision on NYC weather! We only ride if the weather forecast for Copake Falls is very good.

Significant chances of rain cancel the ride.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

As mentioned earlier, driving is the only option to get to the Taconic State Park. The club does not provide transportation for this ride and, for legal reasons, cannot arrange a carpool. The trippers will need to arrive at the Taconic State Park on their own but may organize carpooling among themselves.

Please note that there are two Taconic State Parks. One is called Taconic State Park Copake Falls Area and it’s located in Copake and the other is called Taconic State Park Rudd Pond Area and it is located near Millerton. We’re going to the one in Copake.

Be on time! We will start riding at 9 a.m. so you are encouraged to leave NYC at 6 a.m. as it takes solid 2h 30m to get there.

1) Take Taconic State Parkway to Rte 23 (Claverack exit). It’s the next exit after the Taghkanic State Park. There is a small diner right there on Rte 23, to the right of the exit if you want to grab some breakfast. Exit to the right onto Rte 23.

2) In Hillsdale (7 miles) turn right onto Rte 22. (IGA supermarket in Hillsdale before Rte 22 on the right)

3) In about 4 miles keep an eye out for the Taconic State Park sign on the left, at Old Rte 22 and turn left onto Old Route 22.

4) In about 0.3 mile you will arrive at a small triangular intersection with Taconic State Park sign in the middle, turn left onto Valley View Road/Rte 344.

5) Park entrance will be on your left in about 0.25 mile.

6) Drive through the entrance, pay the fee and drive straight up towards the parking lot.

Park entrance fee is $7 per car for the entire day. All other facilities are free except for campsites and boat rentals. If you feel adventurous, you can arrive the day before and camp!

Please note that commercial vehicles are not allowed on the Taconic State Parkway!

IF THE RIDE IS CANCELED

The official cancellation or confirmation notice will be posted on 5BBC ride page and on Facebook at 9PM the evening before the ride. Also, a notification email will go out around 9PM.

Check your email, check the 5BBC ride page and the Facebook page before leaving! The leaders will not travel to the start point if the ride is canceled. If in doubt email bikerides@a-world.net or call or message Adam DZ at (718) 757-4102.

MAPS AND CUE SHEETS

Links to Ride With GPS map:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4100717

Cue sheets will be posted here few days before the ride. For now you can download a ride brochure here:

http://a-world.net/bikerides/three-state-bike-ride/Three-State-Bike-Ride...

The Brooklyn Perimeter (with a moment in Queens) is back again this year to take you along the edges of the borough showing off Brooklyn's diversity from beautiful waterfront, to industrial centers, from HIP neighborhoods to old time neighborhoods. And we have a stop in the most surreal of places "the Hole", where one side of the street is Brooklyn and the other Queens. It is a mostly flat ride with one real climb. Bring water, sun screen, a lock and money for lunch. The ride is listed as moderate, but will maintain a steady urban pace over the 50-55 miles of the ride. Start point is Brooklyn Borough Hall by the fountains in front of the courthouse.