Tag Archives: touring

by Lorenz M. Worden | August 7, 2017 · 10:54 am

Champlain Canalway Trail Annual Bicycle Ride – 8/20/17

The Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group is pleased to announce the 6^th Annual Champlain Canalway Trail Annual Bicycle Ride to be held on Sunday, August 20, 2017.

For details and to register, please visit https://www.bikereg.com/champlain-canalway-trail-annual-bicycle-ride. CCT Ride 8-20-17 A

The ride will begin at Hudson Crossing Park near Schuylerville, cross the Hudson River via the historic Dix Bridge, and proceed north to Fort Edward. There, the tour will pick up the Feeder Canal Trail to Murray Park in Hudson Falls, where lunch will be provided by Forged restaurant. Murray Park is adjacent to Jack & Jill’s Ice Cream.

After lunch, riders will backtrack to Lock 7 at Fort Edward, where they have the option of boarding the paddle-wheeler Caldwell Belle of Mohawk Maiden Cruises for the return to Hudson Crossing Park or biking back to the start.

CCT Ride 8-20-17 B

Along the way, the group will stop at various sites of historic interest, such as an old mule barn and the five combination locks on the Feeder Canal. The total distance of the basic daylong tour will be 20 to 30 miles depending on the option chosen. There also will be a 45- to 50-mile ride, with or without the cruise aboard Mohawk Maiden Cruises.

Lunch is included for those who register before August 15, and the first 30 registrants will receive a token from Common Roots Brewing Company for a beverage on a future visit.

For details and to register, please visit https://www.bikereg.com/champlain-canalway-trail-annual-bicycle-ride.

A Century of Riding Bliss

A Century of Riding Bliss

As another step toward exploring all the bicycle paths in New York State, cyclist Ed set out over the 2016 Labor Day Weekend to complete the following Century.

Summary – Home in the New Scotland Ave. area of Albany – to Slingerlands, Albany, Mechanicville, Ballston Spa, Amsterdam, Niskayuna, and back to home. Total per Google maps – 107.6 miles and with various diversions – 115.0 miles.

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2.2 miles Home to Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail
7.0 miles Albany County Rail Trail to Corning Riverfront Park/Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail
5.0 miles to Watervliet
5.8 miles through Watervliet/Green Island to Black Bridge and the Delaware Ave. Trail through Van Schaick Island and Peebles Island, Cohoes, to Waterford.
9.0 miles Rt. 4 from Waterford to Brookwood Rd. to Old Champlain Canal Trail (gravel) Upper Newton Rd. to Rt. 4 to Mechanicville/Main St.
4.1 miles South St. /Pruyn Hill Rd. climbs to Johnson Rd., right onto Staniak Rd., to Coons Crossing Rd., to Zim Smith Mid-County Trail
9.1 miles Zim Smith Mid-County Trail to Ballston Spa
0.8 miles left E. High St. right Low St. to Ballston Spa Front Street Park
3.6 miles Rt. 67/Rt. 50 South from Ballston Spa to left Outlet Rd.
4.0 miles outlet Rd., right on Ballston Bicycle Path to Ballston Lake, right on 146A
Few yards north on 146A, left on Lake Hill Rd.
15.2 miles Lake Hill Rd. becoming Stage Rd. in Charlton, jog left to Maple Ave. Left on Packer Rd. to EaSt.ern Ave. becoming WeSt.ern Ave. in West Charlton. Right Westline Rd. Left Waite Rd. to Rt. 67 north of Amsterdam
4.8 miles Left Rt. 67 to Amsterdam to roof of Riverfront Center parking lot (this included about 2 extra miles looping around downtown Amsterdam looking for the route to cross to the Riverfront Park/Gateway Overlook Bridge.
0.5 mile bridge/elevator from roof of Riverfront to “Riverlink Park.” Over the new (August 2016) Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge to Erie Canalway Trail just past Erie St.

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29.0 miles Canalway Trail/5S thru Pattersonville, Rotterdam Junction, Schenectady over to Scotia – on a (nasty, nameless) trail at end of Collins Park to Freemans Bridge
Back to Schenectady/Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail to Lions Park, Niskayuna
3.2 miles Left Old River Rd., Right Rosendale Rd., Left Rt. 7, right British American Blvd (bike lanes) to Cornell Rd., to Shaker Trail (paved), and to left on Airline Dr
2.3 miles Airline Dr that becomes S. Family Drive to left on Sand Creek. Sand Creek to right Morello Drive – left on Central 1 block, to Lincoln Ave.
3.2 miles Lincoln to the City Dump and Six Mile Waterworks Trail, Rt. on Multi-Use Trail along Fuller to Circle by UAlbany, Tricentennial Dr.
4.6 miles UALBANY Bike Path to WeSt.ern Ave., left on WeSt.ern to HomeSt.ead, left on Hazlehurst which becomes Berkshire to Right on Ormond becomes Friebel Rd. / left on Krumkill to New Scotland, Right on New Scotland, and back home.

This is a good ride to gain an appreciation of the touring opportunities in the area. The ride could be broken up into two or three segments for those wanting to commit to a “century” ride. [Ed.]

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“The Joy of Bicycle Travel”

This was one of the main points by Jim Sayer, ED of Adventure Cycling, during his talk in Saratoga Springs on 1/26/15. As is his custom, Jim was taking a swing through part of the US to drum up bicycle touring but also, of course, to promote Adventure Cycling as the lead bicycle touring organization in the US and as an international leader. He highlighted the many different types of tours offered ranging from van supported, inn-to-inn, family fun, and self contained.

Jim covered the Adventure Cycling program and urged attendees to support their local advocacy group – League of American Bicyclists, New York Bicycling Coalition, Albany Bicycle Coalition, Parks & Trails New York, Bike Toga, and so on. He made a big push for the United States Bike Route System which, when realized, will be the world’s largest. An audience of about 50-60, including at least 6 ABC members, also heard about touring initiatives and routes around the world and in Canada.

One of the major points raised – and of interest to local advocates for the Erie Canalway Trail “close the gap” push, the Madison Avenue Traffic Calming/Protected Bicycle Lanes initiative, and the multi-sponsor South End Bikeway Link was the many economic impact studies that demonstrate how bicycle tourism generates BILLIONS in states like Oregon, Montana, Michigan, and Arizona.

Jim’s enthusiastic presentation and the programs he described were quite inspirational. We were all grateful to Bike Toga for hosting the event including a nice spread of beverages, fruits, and snacks.