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Ride at your own risk. Helmets are required for all bike rides. Shatterproof eye protection is strongly recommended. Bring 2 spare tubes. Bike gloves not only pad your hands during a ride, but could protect them in the event of a fall. Always bring plenty of water, and enough food to carry you through the day. Sometimes we find food along the way, but you can't count on it. Bring a cell phone if you have it. Basic first-aid supplies are a good idea. In some situations, a bike lock could be useful. Bring a friend to ride with. Remember, stuff happens. We do not provide mechanical support, a sag wagon, or medical treatment. We do provide moral support and occasional laughs. Please read this quote from Edward Abbey, author of the book, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness: "A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches – that is the right and privilege of any free American."
For local trips, call the Trail Boss Hotline (631-499-3953) after 6:00am on the morning of the trip for a recorded message. For away or weekend trips, follow the instructions included with the trip information, below.
LIE Exit 70. South to Route 27 (Sunrise Highway). East, through Southampton and Watermill to Bridgehampton. Turn right on School Street (between Bridgehampton Community House and the Candy Kitchen). Make the first left into the municipal parking lot, and park in the back of the lot. Distance from Commack is 60 miles; driving time is 90 minutes. Arrive by 10:00am. Ride at 10:30am. 20 miles. Flat. 4 hours.
The Nissequogue is a tidal river, which means that the current changes direction as the tides change. The trip will be timed so that we will be paddling in one direction, with the current. Canoes should be reserved on an individual basis in advance by calling Bob's Canoe Rental at (631)269-9761. Mention that you'd like to start with George Waldbusser, as per the schedule below. You must have a partner to rent a canoe. Or, you could rent a kayak to paddle solo. If you wish to try to find another person looking for a partner, send an email through the Yahoo Group by clicking here: BikeAroundLongIsland@yahoogroups.com. Trail Boss is not responsible for the results of any partnerships thus arranged.
Directions to starting point: Long Island Expressway to exit 53 - Sunken
Meadow Parkway. Go north on parkway to exit SM3E, Route 25 (Jericho
Turnpike). Take Jericho eastbound 4 miles to Paul T. Given Park on right.
Park is just past the Route 25 and 25a merge, diagonally across the road
from the statue of the Smithtown Bull.
FAQs
(compliments of Bob)
Bob's Basic
Instructions
More helpful info:
Release of Liability - print and bring along one copy for each participant
Dress as you would for the beach.
Be sure to wear something on your feet that you can walk in the water with.
Bring a waterproof bag (or 2 large garbage bags) and rope to tie your loose stuff to the boat and keep it dry.
Bring food and drink - definitely lots of water.
Don't forget the sunscreen and bug spray.
Some have been known to bring water guns. (It must be those rowdy bikers).
Bring cash - no credit cards accepted. The price was $50 last year. We may get a discount if we have at least 6 canoes, and we're able to sign up at the same time. We might try letting Bob's people know when we arrive, but tell them we want to wait for a headcount to see if we have 6 or more before we pay. Trail Boss has known Bob for about 25 years, and good will has always been the way of doing things (in both directions). Please maintain your sense of humor if you are requested to pay the normal rate.
The schedule (8/22/09):
10:00am - Meet at Paul T. Given Park (across from The Bull). Park your car, gather your stuff and greet your friends. On a nice day, the place can get chaotic, and the parking lot full. (HINT: Arrive early). The parking lot has 2 sections, and cars may be parked in either section. The first section is where you enter from Jericho Turnpike. The second section is beyond that, where the canoes are launched. Meet the group near the canoe launch site (in the second section). Try to get a headcount before paying, to see if we get a discount. Pay Bob's people for your canoe rental. Bring cash, as they cannot accept credit cards.
10:30am - Bob's bus will drive us to Kings Park, where we will get our canoes. Line up for a canoe, and hop in when told. Expect beautiful scenery and no rapids. Try to keep the rest of the group in sight. This is not a race. I've seen people get in their boat, take off, and we never see them again. (At least not that day, but they eventually turn up somewhere). Conditions permitting, we will look for a place to "hang out" on the banks of the Nissequogue.
About 3 hours after starting - Arrive back at Paul T. Given Park (across from The Bull), and turn in the canoes.
Rain or foul weather:
I know what you're thinking. Rain? Impossible! But, just in case, call the Trail Boss Hotline (631-499-3953) after 8:00 AM on the morning of the trip, just to be sure. A chance of a shower might not scare us off, but a chance of a thunderstorm should be taken seriously.
Canoe rentals should be arranged on an individual basis in advance by calling the Peconic Paddler at (631-727-9895). Ask to start at 9:30am with George Waldbusser. You must have a partner. There is no group discount. Rental kayaks are not available for this trip. Ask the Peconic Paddler for advice on canoe capacity (2 adults plus a child in one boat is okay). If you bring your own boat, you can make arrangements for transportation with the Peconic Paddler. LIE exit 71. Turn right. Go 4 miles to the traffic circle. Go 3/4 around the circle and turn right. Pass the Peconic Paddler on the left and park in the municipal parking lot on the right. Arrive by 9:00am to do your paperwork. The truck leaves at 9:30am to take us to the starting point. Start paddling at 10:00am. The river will take us back to the Peconic Paddler - usually before 3:00pm at a casual pace. Expect beautiful scenery and wildlife. No rapids. Visit the Peconic Paddler website for more information. Dress as you would for the beach. Be sure to wear something on your feet that you can walk in the water with. Bring a waterproof bag (or 2 large garbage bags) and rope to tie your loose stuff to the boat and keep it dry (just in case). And don't forget the sunscreen. Conditions permitting, we usually hang out at the 'ole swimmin' hole for a while."
This ride begins and ends at Trail Boss's humble abode in Commack. Meet at 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 17 miles. Some "good" hills. 2 hours. Directions are here. OR, for fans of Google Maps, go here.
LIE Exit 70. South to Route 27 (Sunrise Highway). East to exit 65 (Flanders Road). South to Montauk Highway (Route 27A). East to County Road 62 (Newtown Road). Left on County Road 62, go under the railroad tracks, and make the first right turn. Go to the canal and turn left. Park along the canal. Driving distance from Commack is 47 miles. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 17 miles. Flat-moderately hilly. 3 hours.
NEW OPTION!!! - We may try something a little different. We'll start from the usual place, eliminate the northern and eastern parts of this trip, and keep going west on Dune Road until we reach Cupsogue Beach County Park. This should give us about a 34 mile ride. Directions here.
This one's for everyone, whether you want to ride or not. It's also something
we've never done before, so it's a bit of an experiment. You could think of it
as a family party. As such, we'll try to keep the format of this as flexible as
possible - almost as if it wasn't even planned.
Bring along food and drink, in coolers, as appropriate. Grills are available if
you'd like to barbecue. Bring your own chairs if you don't like sitting on wood
picnic tables. A tablecloth will make for a more pleasant dining experience, as
will something soft to pad the wooden seat. Bring layers of clothing, as there
can be a cool breeze this time of year. Bring any games that you might want to
share with your friends. Oh, and don't forget your bike and bike stuff if you
plan to ride.
Information about Heckscher State Park, including directions, is
here.
A map of the park is here. Go to Parking
Field #1, and head to the corner furthest from the entrance. There are about 5
bazillion picnic tables, and usually far fewer than that many people. If you're
one of the first to arrive to just hang out, grab a table and make yourself
comfortable. We could have a few people, or a lot of people. Those who are
riding, be ready to ride by 10:00am. We may have maps for a ride, and we may do
some improvising, depending on the size and inclination of the group. Those who
are not riding should show up whenever they like. Eventually, we should all end
up in the picnic area.
As usual, call the Trail Boss Hotline (631-499-3953) after 6am on the morning of
the event.
LIE to exit 44S. Rt.135 to exit 8. Left on Powell Avenue, and cross over Rt.135. Turn left into Bethpage State Park entrance. Follow this road to the end in the parking lot. Depending on the time of year, there may be a parking fee (see NOTE, below). Arrive by 9:00am. Ride at 9:30am. 30 miles. Flat. 5 hours. Most of the ride is on a bike path. The path has many turns that limit visibility ahead, and is often used by small children who may act unpredictably. Be prepared for sudden stops, and always give a vocal warning when you are about to pass someone. Sounding a bell or horn sometimes works, but at other times may cause confusion especially around younger riders. Never ride next to another rider. Some parts of the trail may have broken asphalt, or the shoulder could be missing. Pay attention at all times. Bring a lock - sometimes the bikes must be left at the end of the bike path, while we walk to the beach (although I try to avoid that at all costs). A concession stand is available at the beach. Rest rooms are available at the beach, and at Cedar Creek Park, which we pass at the 10- and 20-mile mark on the ride. Click here for ride directions.
NOTE: If you use New York State Parks often, you might consider getting an Empire Passport for $59, which is good for unlimited access to state parks for one year.
Empire PassportLIE exit 73. Go east on routes 58 and 25 for 10 miles. Pass through Aquebogue, Jamesport, and Laurel. In Mattituck, turn left on Love Lane. Turn left into the parking area by the railroad tracks. Driving distance from Commack is 45 miles. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 15 miles. Mostly flat. 3 hours. Easy ride.
LIE exit 73. Go east on routes 58 and 25 for 10 miles. Pass through Aquebogue, Jamesport, and Laurel. In Mattituck, turn left on Love Lane. Turn left into the parking area by the railroad tracks. Driving distance from Commack is 45 miles. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 25 miles. Mostly flat. 4 hours. This ride covers Mattituck, Cutchogue, and Southold, and is being used as a replacement for the former Southold ride.
LIE Exit 70. South to Route 27 (Sunrise Highway). East, through Southampton, Watermill, Bridgehampton, and East Hampton to the village of Montauk. In the center of town is a grassy field on the left side with a gazebo. When you see the gazebo, make your first right turn and go 2 blocks to the ocean. The Ocean Beach Resort will be on the right. Call George Waldbusser before Thursday at 631-499-3953, or beginning Thursday at the Ocean Beach (631-668-4000). Anyone who might be in Montauk on Friday night may want to meet at O'Murphy's for dinner around 6pm - check with Trail Boss on that. On Saturday morning, we will meet outside the hotel at 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. Stay for the weekend if you can. For other hotels, visit Montauk-Online.com On Sunday, we might go to Block Island, or do an off-road bike trip around the Montauk area. Bike rentals and repairs are available at Montauk Bike Shop, just a short walk from the Ocean Beach Hotel. NOTE: Hotel rooms fill up as early as February - don't hesitate!
Some useful links: Montauk-Online.com ▲ Montauk Weather ▲ Other
LIE exit 71. Turn right. Go 4 miles to the traffic circle. Go 3/4 around the circle and turn right. Pass the Peconic Paddler on the left and park in the municipal parking lot on the right. Distance from Commack is 37 miles; driving time is 45 minutes. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 20 miles. Flat with some hilly stretches. 3 hours. Afterwards, we may eat in a restaurant in Riverhead, or have a picnic lunch next to the Peconic River.
Local bike shop: TWIN FORKS BICYCLES, 419 OSBORN AVE, RIVERHEAD , NY 11901, PHONE 631-591-3082 (map)
LIE exit 70. South to Route 27 (Sunrise Highway). East, through Southampton and Watermill to Bridgehampton. Go north on Route 79 to Sag Harbor. Park in the municipal parking lot on the left side at Spring and Main Streets. Distance from Commack is 60 miles; driving time is 90 minutes. Arrive by 10:00am. Ride at 10:30am. 13 miles. Hilly. 2 hours. Afterwards, we may walk around Sag Harbor, and/or visit a South Fork winery.
LIE exit 73. Go east on routes 58 and 25 for 25 miles. Follow the signs for Greenport and the Shelter Island Ferry. Park at the Greenport Railroad Station. Driving time from Commack is 90 minutes. Arrive by 9:30am. Board the ferry at 10:00am for a 10-minute trip. Rest rooms are available on Shelter Island near the ferry. The trip consists of a 12-mile loop with 3 optional pieces that bring the total mileage to 30. Moderate to very hilly. Lots of beautiful scenery and water views. If we're lucky, the ice cream shop won't have closed for the season. Take the ferry back to Greenport by 3:00pm. MAP
Piccozzi's Garage & Bike Shop
Bridge Street, Shelter Island Heights, NY, 11965
631-749-0520 ...
MaritimeFestival (annual Fall event in Greenport) (September 18 through the 20th, 2009).
LIE exit 73. Go east on routes 58 and 25 for 17 miles past Riverhead. You will pass through Aquebogue, Jamesport, Mattituck, and Cutchogue, before reaching Southold. Park behind the Main Street Grill (deli) on the left (north) side of the road (opposite Mechanics Street ). Driving distance from Commack is 55 miles. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 14 miles. Moderately hilly. 3 hours. Picnic lunch on the beach after the ride if the weather is good, and it's still legal. (We've gone to this beach for years, and I can't believe they haven't placed any residency requirement on it. It's so out-of-the-way, they probably don't get many outsiders).
LIE Exit 68 North (William Floyd Parkway). Go past Route 25, to Route 25A East. Bear left on Sound Avenue. Turn left on Hulse Landing Road (about 4 miles from William Floyd Parkway - watch for sign for Wildwood State Park). Continue on Hulse Landing road past the Deli on the left. Follow the right fork directly into Wildwood State Park. Expect to pay a parking fee. After the toll booth, continue straight ahead into the main parking lot. Driving distance from Commack is 35 miles. Arrive by 9:30am. Ride at 10:00am. 18 miles. Flat & hilly. 3 hours. Picnic lunch in the park after the ride.
This is one of the largest bike events in the world, with over 30,000 bikers participating. (Trivia: Trail Boss has done this every year since 1985). Visit the Bike New York website for registration and tour information. Go here for a map of the route (as of 2009). Order Bike New York t-shirts and other items from Image Impact. After the trip, it's become a tradition for us to meet at Jeremy's Ale House near the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. Join us as we trade stories of our adventure and celebrate our accomplishment over cold beer. Bring your bike, your helmet hair, and your sense of humor. To find Jeremy's: Take FDR Drive south. Use the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall exit. Follow the signs to "Civic Center". Go down the exit ramp. Turn left at the traffic light. Go under the bridge. Take the first left turn (Dover Street). Go 2 blocks to Front Street. Turn right on Front Street. Jeremy's is at 228 Front Street between Peck Slip and Beekman Street. Their phone number is (212)964-3537. Helpful hint: Park near Jeremy's early in the morning so your car is where you need it to be later. I try to get there around 6:30am.
Contact Trail Boss:
