Biking Experiences

This page is a collection of biking trips and tours, mainly in the New York area.

TD Five Boro Bike Tour (40 Miles)

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour, with its 40-mile route, offers 32,000 cyclists opportunity to bike through all five boroughs of New York City free of traffic. For amateur cyclists, this was a new and fun way to experience biking in New York City, with the crowd, energy that comes with it, lack of traffic, and the knowledge of participating in a charity ride that helps fund biking education classes.

Coney Island to Poughkeepsie (100 Miles)

This might be the smoothest 100-mile biking route around the New York metro area, with the majority of the ride on separated cycling routes and trails that require minimal stopping: Hudson Greenway up Manhattan, South County Trailway and North County Trailway up Westchester Country, and Dutchess Rail Link straight to The Walkway Over Hudson. That said, it is still a challenging ride, particularly through the hills of Putnam County, not to mention the sheer length of it. In order to get to the Walkway before it closes at dusk, start the ride early on a summer day. Cross the bridge over to Highlands, and come back to Poughkeepsie via Mid-Hudson Bridge and take the Metro North back.

Click here for the route as given by Google Maps.

Bike to Montauk (100+ Miles)

Montauk, located at the eastern tip of Long Island, is around 120 miles away from Manhattan. This biking trip began at Columbia University and took place over the course of 2 days. Mechanical difficulties and mishaps derailed the original plans, but the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) allows for flexibility in the itinerary, providing the option to prune some parts of the route in order to meet timing demands and importantly, reaching the end.

Bike to Bear Mountain (50+ Miles)

Bear Mountain is located around 50 miles north of Manhattan. With the arduous climb up (over 1000 feet gain in elevation) and thrilling descent down, along with scenic views of the Hudson Valley, it makes for an exciting day-trip, aided by the Metro North Railroad for the return. The trip almost entirely follows northbound Bicycle Route 9, on the west side of Hudson River. After the descent from the mountain, cross the Bear Mountain Bridge to catch the train at nearby Peekskill station.

Pelham Bay Park to Tottenville (45 Miles)

This is an nontraditional bike ride from one edge of New York CIty to the other, rerouted slightly to traverse through all 5 boroughs, with the bulk of the ride through The Bronx and Staten Island. The 45-mile journey (including ferry) starts from Pelham Bay Park in The Bronx andends at Tottenville in Staten Island. Start by riding the 6 trains uptown to the terminus at Pelham Bay Park. Ride down and cross RFK Bridge into Queens. Continue down along Queens and Brooklyn waterfront, and cross back into Manhattan via Brooklyn Bridge. Proceed to and take the Staten Island Ferry. At last, the longest segment of the journey awaits on Staten Island, with nearly 15 miles along Hylan Boulevard until Tottenville and Conference House Park, the southernmost point in New York State.

Bike to Stamford (40 Miles)

Stamford, CT is a one-stop express 45-minute ride back to Manhattan on the Metro North after the 40-mile bike ride. Starting the trip from Midtown Manhattan, the route roughly parallels the 6 train through The Bronx and the New Haven line of Metro North for the rest of the journey. While there are no dedicated biking lanes along this route, a stretch of roads have been designated as the East Coast Greenway, assisting in the navigation. From The Bronx, traverse through New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye, Port Chester, before entering Connecticut, going through Greenwich and ultimately reaching Stamford.

Click here for the route as given by Google Maps.

Bike to Croton Point Park (40 Miles)

This is another ride that goes out to an express stop on the Metro North, for a quick journey back into the city. Starting from Midtown Manhattan, follow the route to Van Cortlandt Park and continue through Westchester County via the South and North County Trailway. Exit the trail at Braircliff Manor near the city's public library. Continue through local roads for the next 7 miles through Ossining. The final stretch includes a short ride on the highway (Croton Expressway) to cross the Croton River to reach Hudson River and the park. The stretch of the highway does have wide shoulder for cyclists.

Click here for the route as given by Google Maps.

NJ Gold Coast Loop (40 Miles)

This is a 40-mile journey (including ferry) along both side of the Hudson River. Bike up Hudson Greenway on the west side of Manhattan and cross the George Washington Bridge. Ride down the New Jersey coast, from Fort Lee to Bayonne. Cross over into Staten Island via Bayonne Bridge and proceed to St. George to catch the Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan.

Jersey Shore Ride

The start and ending point can be customized depending on the desired length of the journey. Regardless, the most difficult part is the start, as there are no easy paths to bike from lower Manhattan to New Jersey. Taking the PATH or NJ Transit train may be a better choice. A trip starting from Woodbridge and ending at Bay Head via the Highlands is a 50-mile ride. Bay Head is the terminus of the North Jersey Coast Line of NJ Transit.