Tag Archives: Catskills Cycling Bicycle Routes

Dug is my Copilot

Only 3 days of riding in the last 7 days, totaling a less-than-astonishing 95 miles. (Sorry for the massively overexposed pictures: between the snow and the sun it was tough to get a good shot).

The first ride was a failure. I rode north of the Ashokan reservoir in search of Pitcairn Mountain Road which, according to my map, is a nasty, twisty road with 1500 feet of climbing.

Unfortunately, I rode all that way only to find that Pitcairn Mountain Road was private. But almost all rides are good rides…I ended up exploring some of the roads nearby instead, which–happily–were gravel.

The route offers splendid views of the Ashokan Reservoir.

I emerged onto Route 28 hungry after some great gravel miles, and–thankfully–there was a little restaurant with excellent food.

I didn’t take any pictures after this because the roads were familiar to me. In fact, I entered what can only be described as a fugue state for the next 20 miles, aided by Youme and Meyou on repeat in my head. It was almost like being hypnotized. I didn’t realize it until I stood to climb a huge hill and realized I was breathing so hard that I was close to vomiting. I have no recollection of those miles, but when I looked down at my computer, my average speed was 23 mph. What a great way to train!

I took this picture after I emerged from my fugue state.

…and would someone please save this Jaguar E-Type? Contact me if you want the address.

Here’s the route for those of you who might be interested in a shorter ride around here.

I didn’t take pictures on the next ride, because it was truly for training only. It involved me riding up and down a hill until the drool froze on my face. Appetizing, I know.

The weather started getting markedly nicer later in the week, and after many hours of working on a new drug with a name that, when letters are accidentally transposed when typing fast, spells “Asslympics,” I felt it was my duty to get out and ride. Plus, my girlfriend went to LA for meetings and I had a craving for a sub.

Yes, I rode 30 miles to get a sub. Here are a few pictures (click on the third one for full size, it’s pretty cool).

On my way home, I met my copilot, Dug the Dog, so named because she lives on Dug Road. I am tempted to take her home…she’s always running around without a collar in the road, and although she’s very friendly, she’s extremely hand shy, which leads me to believe she isn’t treated well.

The back end of the ride included 15 miles on gravel.

Yes indeed, that’s my lunch ride.

That’s all for this week, although on Saturday I have a 75-mile ride planned out to the Neversink Reservoir with my human friend Doug (not Dug, pictured above). Along with new winter routes (mostly less than 50 miles) I literally have dozens of old 80- to 120-mile rides remaining to post, complete with GPS and cue sheets. I’m hoping to get all the old routes up before the end of winter, because starting in March it’s time to get serious again about longer-distance rides, which means I’ll have fresh long-distance routes to post.

John

medicalwriter.net

The Summer Classic: Brewster to New Hamburg

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Update: An anonymous benefactor was kind enough to update the route (7/2013). The updated route can be found here.

When I mapped this route several years ago, I had almost no knowledge of the local roads north of Brewster. So I just used Ride With GPS to sort of randomly draw a course on what looked like back roads in Putnam and Dutchess. I had no idea it was going to become the all-time summer classic ride!

After I posted this ride on Flickr a few years ago (and well before I had a blog) I started getting very positive feedback about the route from complete strangers via e-mail and Flickr mail. So it is a truly happy accident.

Anyway—at least in my opinion—this is one of the best moderate-effort rides within easy reach of New York City. In fact, I enjoy this route so much that it is one of the few longer rides I repeat multiple times a year. It’s approximately eighty miles. Virtually no traffic, in fact for 90% or more of the ride it is perfectly safe to ride side by side. It alternates between perfect road surfaces and gravel. Big climbs, some on gravel, and long, long descents.

The route begins at Southeast Station, the last direct stop on the blue Metro North line, and only 2 to 3 minutes past the Brewster stop. Here, I showed my friend Tom the route and elevation profile. Tom only rides with us occasionally, and you can see from this picture how he felt about it.

The station is in a deep hole that you’ll have to climb out of. A nice warm up for the rest of the day. Note that there’s a diner with acceptable food at the top of the hill if you want to stop for breakfast before continuing.

After climbing out of the hole, you’ll take a right on Dykeman Road (Route 312). Be careful here, because it’s a busy road. Luckily, you’ll only be on it for about 1.5 miles before you take a turn onto Farm to Market Road to head into the hills.

You’ll continue to Route 164, take a quick left and then the first right at the pond onto Cornwall Hill Road/Country Road 292, which you’ll follow past Whaley Lake. At the north end of the lake, around mile 14, you’ll find an outdoor hotdog/burger stand, probably blasting the worst music you’ve ever heard at high volume. The people I ride with always want to stop there for second breakfast (yes, I ride with hobbits), but between the gristle burgers and the awful music, I wouldn’t recommend it. They open at 10 am, if you’re interested in trying it out regardless. The hot dogs are safe.

Continuing on, you’ll take a left on Route 55…and then the fun begins. Hynes Road is a nicely groomed gravel path the swoops through the countryside through a tunnel of trees.

You’ll continue on Clove Road/Country Road 9, and at mile 25.5, you’ll take a left for one of the nastiest climbs in Dutchess County…Brush Hill Road. It certainly doesn’t compare to climbing Slide Mountain or Platte Clove on the other side of the Hudson, but it is not easy. My memory of it may be warped by the fact that we tend to ride this route on the hottest summer days; also, now that I live in the mountains I’d guess that I’d no longer find Brush Hill terribly challenging.

From there, you’ll cross Camby Road onto Flint/Overlook Road into some nice, rolling terrain.

This is our traditional first rest stop, on Hoxie Road. Pictured here you see my Rene Herse, Guy’s very special Jonny Coast randonneur and a James’ Hampsten.

You’ll continue to a brief stretch on 343, and then turn onto the appropriately named Little Rest Road. Off in the distance is the mountain I live next to now.

You’ll cross Route 44 in Mabbettsville at mile 33. For some reason, my GPS tells me to take a right here. Don’t listen to it, just continue straight past the deli. You might stop for a refill here, but you don’t have long to go to get to the lunch spot.

Continuing on, you’ll follow this road through mile 41. It goes through a variety of name changes in this 8-mile span: County Road 66, North Mabbettsville Road, Ludlow Road, Shuman Road, and then, finally, Bengall-Amenia Road. I’m not sure why, but Dutchess is notorious for random road name changes. In any case, just keep following the road.

I didn’t take any pictures of Bangall-Amenia Road, for the simple reason that I was going too damn fast to whip out the camera. This picture was taken while stationary.

Now, listen carefully: Ignore your GPS for a moment and follow Bangall Amenia Road all the way to Hunns Lake Road. Take a left, and about 300 feet down the road you’ll see the Bangall Whaling Company. Lunch. We’ve been there a number of times now, so they are familiar with the clan of lycra. The first time we showed up, though, we got some odd looks. We made friends, and they ended up giving us a bottle of wine, which my friend Guy subsequently had to haul over another 40 miles of hills. Luckily, he had panniers that day! Check ahead before you plan on stopping for lunch, their hours seem to change seasonally. They should be open for lunch during the summer, though.

Return to Bangall Amenia, go up a short hill, and take a right onto Duell Road, and then another right onto North Anson Road at mile 42. This is where many miles of serious gravel begins.

Eventually, you’ll end up on Petit Road. At the crossing with Canoe Hill Road at mile 48.5, Pettit Road is often blocked; if I recall correctly the sign says something about “The Cary Foundation”. No worries if it is, though—just take a right on Canoe Hill Road and then the first left (Fowler Road, although it is unmarked) to rejoin the route.This leads to one of my all-time favorite cycling pictures, my good friend Guy doing some impromptu roadside repair work next to a pestilential swamp deep in the forests of Dutchess county.

Nearby, you’ll see signs for the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. They own some beautiful land; if you have a chance take a right into the preserve, take a break, and enjoy some nature.

At mile 54, you’re in for a dirt-road climbing treat on Milewood Road. The first time I did this, it was in a stiff rain and I didn’t make it to the top because I couldn’t get enough traction. The fourth or fifth time I did this (and alone, this time), I lost traction and tipped slowly over onto the drive side of my bike, unknowingly knocking my derailleur out of adjustment. I got to the top of the hill, shifted into the biggest cog and bam! derailleur shifts into the spokes, bending the hanger and rendering my bike completely inoperable. Luckily, I was able to hitchhike to a train station. Don’t worry mom, it was with a nice older couple with their grandson in the back.

The remainder of the ride is a blast, because it has a distinct downward drift. Yes, there are a few stiff hills, but for the majority of the ride after mile 60 you’re going more down than up.

One final note: At mile 59.5, the route crosses the Taconic State Parkway. You heard that right: it doesn’t go under the Taconic State Parkway. It doesn’t go over the Taconic State Parkway. It crosses it at grade. Be very careful!

You’ll end in New Hamburg after a high-speed descent on Sheafe Road.

This is a fun ride, and nowhere near as challenging as riding on the other side of the Hudson in Ulster County. If you’re in reasonably good shape you should be able to make it, although there are a few genuinely difficult spots. It would be a good introduction to long-distance riding or a pleasant route to repeat a few times a year.

To get there: take Metro North to Southeast Station to start, return from New Hamburg. You’ll definitely need GPS for this, as many of the roads are unmarked. The route is here (and the updated route is here). Links to train schedules and general advice can be found on the About page.

Do yourself a favor: Skip 9W one weekend and try this!

John

medicalwriter.net

Mapped that for you: Peekamoose loop from Poughkeepsie

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This blog is only 3 weeks old and I’m already getting complaints!

I’ve gotten a few comments that it is difficult to string together routes from the directions I’ve given…in other words, putting together the “getting there” stages with the desired routes. For this reason, I’m starting to remap all the best routes in single files/cuesheets. Here’s the first.

A few weeks ago, I posted a great route through the mountains on Peekamoose Road. Here’s a complete route in a single file, starting at the Poughkeepsie train station. This takes you from Poughkeepsie to Olivebridge, where the route starts, and then back from near Kerhonkson, while keeping you off Route 209 as much as possible.

I also chose to use the “easy” way from New Paltz to Rosendale: instead of going over the Shawangunk Ridge, you’ll take a flat, fast bike path. That way you can save your energy for Peekamoose, and it also has the advantage of minimizing time on 209. Don’t worry, the return route takes you over the ridge in the most brutal manner possible.

I’ll take care of Platte Clove and other routes over the next few weeks. Enjoy!

John

medicalwriter.net

Worth the Trip: Platte Clove

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When I was living in New York City, I heard rumors of a climb…a climb so awful that people flip off the back of their bikes if they’re not careful. A climb that makes pros cry like babies and walk their bikes up the hill.

After a little research, I found it: Platte Clove Road, just west of West Saugerties. The climb is so steep—averaging 12% for 2 miles with maximum extended grades exceeding 22%—that professionals riding in the Tour de Trump had to get off their bicycles and walk. I set this as my goal ride for 2012. But, being who I am, I set out to conquer Platte Clove only 2 weeks after moving up here.

I set out late on a Sunday morning, with the intent of riding the 65 miles and being home in time for an early dinner. The route starts with a nice, easy, rolling warm up on Krumville Road. “Down the Lane” road was closed, so I took a brief 2-mile detour to get back on track (instructions below), spinning past the Ashokan Reservoir and some lovely scenery.

I stopped at a gas station in Woodstock to top up my bottles and get a little food. Past this point, there are few opportunities to eat or refill your water bottles until Phoenicia, so be sure to do so now. Here, I had my only encounter this year with another road cyclist. Cyclists seem to be an exotic species out here in the Catskills. Alternatively, the relative scarcity of roadies in the area might be explained by the fact that we’re more spread out than people riding out of NYC—on any decent weekend, there’s a bicycle traffic jam on 9W north from the George Washington Bridge. Depending on where you live it can take an hour or more of misery to even get out of the city on a bicycle, and 9W is unpleasant at best, particularly north of Nyack. You would think that some of them might consider taking a train to ride somewhere decent. Maybe there’s safety in numbers?

I waved, he waved, and I continued north on West Saugerties Road to my date with destiny.

West Saugerties Road will lead to a T intersection. Take a left, and continue on West Saugerties Road, where you’ll have your first sighting of the challenge ahead.

You’ll see this sign, which marks the beginning of Platte Clove Road, one of the most difficult—if not the most difficult—climbs in the northeast. Over 1200 vertical feet in only 1.4 miles.

Platte Clove Road is officially closed and unmaintained from November to April, but I don’t think anyone is going to stop you from riding it even in the off season. Just use some common sense and don’t try to climb it in inclement weather. And don’t ride down Platte Clove Road. There’s no guardrail, and even though the southern edge of the road is nicely shaded with trees, it’s a long way down if you blow a turn.

I am proud to say that I did not walk at any point. I am less proud to admit that my achievement was primarily attributable to sensible gearing. Vanity gearing has its place on easy Bear Mountain runs from New York City, but out here it’s just not advisable, even if you are an exceptionally strong rider.

The climb is well worth it. The Clove is beautiful and has been the deserved subject of many paintings by Thomas Cole and other members of the Hudson River School. This view is arguably one of the most painted in the Hudson Valley.

Incidentally, you can also pick up Devil’s Path from Platte Clove Road. The aptly named Devil’s Path features 4 summits, little water, and is one of the toughest hikes in the Catskills. There’s a parking lot about halfway up the climb if you’re interested in hiking a section, just don’t bring children or pets, hikers are injured and some even die every year on Devil’s Path.

Platte Clove Road leads to one of the most inaccessible parts of the Catskills. At the top, you’ll find the Bruderhof (literally, “place of brothers”), a Christian community founded in 1920 by a Protestant theologian named Eberhard Arnold, his wife Emmy Arnold, and her sister Else von Hollander. Arnold was born in 1883, and at age 16 had an experience that he later described as God’s acceptance and forgiveness of his sins. He left the Protestant state church in 1908, and, as near as I can tell, joined the Hutterite branch of the Anabaptists. In 1920, he founded the Bruderhof in Germany, a Christian group that believes in living “in full community,” meaning that there is no private property. Seventeen years later, in 1937, the Nazi government ordered them to leave the country. They moved to England, but as German nationals during World War 2, they were offered the choice of internment or emigration. They chose to move to Paraguay, and finally–in 1954–to the United States.

The Platte Clove community, home to 250 people, was founded in 1990. It’s located on land formerly owned by the New York City Police department, which had built a resort hotel—informally known as “Police Camp” —complete with a movie theater, casino, bar, lounge, swimming pool, and ballroom. The Police Camp opened in 1921 and closed in 1983.

I was then treated to a cold rain. The camera went in a zip lock, so I didn’t take a photo; the following image is from the Platte Clove Community website.

The Catskill Bruderhof and the new Police Recreation Center are open to the public every day. I’m not sure if they will feed you, but you may be able to refill your water bottles.

After Platte Clove Road, you’ll ride over some gently rolling terrain high in the mountains. A nice recovery from the climb, and some beautiful scenery to keep your mind off the pain.

From there you’ll take a left onto route 214…

…and after a few more miles of a gentle false flat you’ll hit a 16.5 mile descent past Notch Lake and Hunter Mountain. At mile 46 you’ll pass through Phoenicia, which—despite its population of 306—hosts a number of good restaurants. As usual, I skipped a formal meal in favor of some Power Bars and a Coke in the local gas station. On your way out of Phoenicia, you’ll briefly follow Esopus Creek, famed for its trout fishing.

From there, you’re home free!

I rode 75 miles—about 10 miles more than the planned route. Although it was a short ride by my standards, the steepness of the climbs make it as tough as any single day ride I’ve done before or since. This is what I’d call a destination ride—it’s worth the trip and even a stay in a hotel in Stone Ridge or Woodstock. Here’s the original route without detours:

The Garmin file for the route, starting from near my house, is here. If “Down the Lane” Road between miles 5 and 6 is closed, simply take a left on 213, a right on 28A, and then a right on Beaverkill Road to rejoin the route. If you want to start in Stone Ridge, take this route to the start on Krumville Road. You could also start in New Paltz or Poughkeepsie (you will need to follow route 209 from Kerhonksen to Schoonmaker Lane, just before Stone Ridge, to pick up the route).

Enjoy, and let me know if you can make it up Platte Clove Road without a break! In a few weeks I’ll post my favorite 80- to 90-mile route out of Brewster, the last direct stop on Metro North. A summer classic, and perhaps one of the best rides ever. So good, in fact, that it is one of the few rides I repeat multiple times each summer.

John

http://www.medicalwriter.net

Getting There: Part I–The Hard Way

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Over the next few weeks, I’m going to post a number of different routes to the starting points of my rides. We’ll start with one that I’d consider intermediate difficulty. The route starts in Poughkeepsie, New York, which is easily accessible by Metro North Rail from Grand Central Station.

It includes one long, but not particularly challenging, climb over the Gunks on route 55.

You’ll pass over the Walkway on the Hudson–the world’s longest pedestrian bridge–and continue for 5 miles on a bike path.

If you’re using my GPS route, your device will go crazy here. Don’t worry…for some reason Ride With GPS will no longer allow routes to follow bike paths, so I had to draw lines. Just silence your device and follow the bike path until you come out at a ball field nestled in the hills.

Ultimately, you’ll emerge on Route 299. This road is busy, but there’s a wide shoulder and it is ever so slightly downhill into New Paltz. You can easily complete this short segment in a few minutes at 25-30 mph, provided the wind cooperates. Continue through New Paltz, down the hill, and cross the bridge over the river.

Here, you’ll have a decision to make…either way you’re in for a climb. If you take a right, you’ll climb on Mountain Rest Road. If you go straight, you’ll climb on 55 through the middle of Minnewaska State Park. Today, we’ll pretend we went straight, continuing on County Road 6 past this lovely field.

I’d actually recommend this route for the trip out to the good stuff, and then taking Mountain Rest Road on the return trip. You can find a description of that climb on the Rapha site. Trust me, it’s not as bad as it sounds; in fact, my friend who rides a 30-lb bike has accompanied me on several occasions up this climb, no problem. More about that in a separate post.

Between mile 16 and 17, you’ll hook around to the right and start climbing on 55. At the base of this climb, though, there’s a German restaurant, the Mountain Brauhaus, with excellent food, albeit decidedly 70s decor. There is also a convenience store across the street as well as a tiny Eastern Mountain Sports shop. Have some spatzle and fill your water bottles. At some point, I’ll post a route with the Brauhaus closer to the end. It’s not a good place for a meal at the beginning of a ride, but it sure would be welcome after a hundred miles!

When you’re done admiring the waitresses in their lederhosen, continue up 55. The climbing begins at mile 17, and continues through about mile 21. It’s a Cat 2 climb; average grade 3.5%, maximum grade 9.2%.

You’ve reached the top at mile 21. Not much to see there, but if you pause during your 7-mile 50 mph descent, you’ll get a great overview of what lies ahead.

At the base of the descent, you’ll reach a T intersection. There’s a gas station where you can refill or get some packaged food; if it’s hot out you’ll definitely have gone through two bottles on that climb.

Where you go from there is up to you, but try to minimize time on 209, which is the only really busy road in the area. If it’s hot out and you need a break, take a left on 209, a right on Lundy, and continue to the secret swimmin’ hole. Just don’t tell the locals who told you how to find it!

You can find the train schedule here. You should have a bike pass, although in 5 years I was only asked for one once. They can be had for $5 at any window in Grand Central. Also bring a bungie cord to attach your bike wherever you can find a spot in the car. The best spots for bikes on Metro North are, unfortunately, usually adjacent to the bathrooms.

The GPS route can be found here.

No more posts until next week; I’m off to California to lend my wisdom to an advisory board.

Enjoy!

John

www.medicalwriter.net

Worth the Trip: Peekamoose 52

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(Retrospective note: I have also mapped this complete route out of Poughkeepsie. You can find it here.)

This past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to have excellent weather for what I thought would be a quick 52-mile ride up and over Peekamoose Road, a narrow, poorly maintained road passing through the Catskills. This was the route I developed on Ride With GPS; I planned from the beginning to follow it only loosely because I wanted to explore some of the side roads that extend off of Peekamoose into the deep mountains.

I had planned on getting an early start. However, my wonderful girlfriend decided to cook me breakfast, so it wasn’t until 10 am that I set out with a belly full of pancakes and fruit salad.

The route starts with Grassy Ridge Road, a rolling but easy warmup for what’s to come. I definitely needed the warmup after that breakfast.

We continue on High Point Mountain Road, which leads past the Ashokan Reservoir. This is the low point of the ride. Not emotionally…in elevation.

Watson Hollow Road leads into the mountains. I took my first detour here onto Moon Haw Road, which leads high into the mountains and ends in what looks like a few trails into the park.

The climbing begins with a slow and painful crawl up Peekamoose. The climb is steady from mile 8.0 to mile 13; maximum grade, 16.5%. I was swearing at myself by the time I got to the top, and I took a few moments to contemplate the sheer stupidity of what I do for fun. As a note, you’ll want to carry ample water and perhaps some food if you are taking this route during the off season, as there are no convenience stores for a refresh. During the season, you’ll see a shed at about the half way point, run by a local who sells the basics.

Once you make it the top, though, you are rewarded with a high-speed 7-mile descent into the next big climb, and some very nice scenery.

If you’re using my GPS route (link below), note that your GPS will occassionally indicate that you are off course. You’re not, and your GPS will find the route again in a few seconds. It’s not like there are any other roads to take, anyway.

Peekamoose tops out at 2100 feet after a second climb (not as brutal as the first). I know it’s not much compared with the Rockies, but it’s what we have to work with. From what I understand, though, the roads around here are a lot less forgiving–that is to say, the people who planned and built them didn’t give a damn about extended 15% to 22% grades (more about that later, when I write about Platte Clove).

Here’s the view from the top of the ride.

From Peekamoose, I turned onto Mill Road, which after a terrifying descent on broken pavement quickly turns into gravel. At exactly the wrong time, meaning just when you’ve hit 50 mph from the descent.

From there, it’s a quick trip on Route 55 to Naponach and a diner with edible food. You’re looking at the Gunks in this photo; if you continue on 55 you can climb up and over, ending up in New Paltz and, ultimately, Poughkeepsie. There are easier ways to get there, though.

The route as shown is 53 miles. With exploratory detours, I rode 72 miles with about 7300 feet of climbing. Not counting the 5-mile section on route 209, I probably saw 10-15 cars the entire day.

A good day.

This route is definitely worth your while. Add in a trip to and from Poughkeepsie (preferably over the Gunks) and you can have a great 100-mile day. I’ll post later this month on good routes from Poughkeepsie to the starting points of my rides.

The complete GPS route can be found here.

John
medicalwriter.net

Introduction

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On September 17, 2012, I finally left New York City behind and moved to Olivebridge, New York. I had been riding up here for years, always taking the train from Grand Central and then leaving from Poughkeepsie. I always had this notion that someday I’d live here. Well, here I am in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, and this is the view from my window.

And why not? Our neighborhood—South Street Seaport—was going the way of the East Village circa 2003, mostly due to the fact that the fish market had moved out. We both work from home and have no particular reason to be in the city any more.

We were particularly lucky because, just a few weeks after we moved, our neighborhood was flooded and our building was rendered more-or-less permanently uninhabitable.

I’ll be honest: I mostly moved up here because of the riding. This blog will focus on riding in the Catskills, particularly the rough and dirty rides on back roads, on gravel, and occasionally cross country (although the latter is almost always accidental).

I’ve had a chance to ride most everywhere in the Tristate area and beyond, and—take it from me—this is the best riding to be found in three states, and perhaps anywhere in the US. All of it accessible by train from New York. I’ll try to provide guidance on the best rides, where to start, where to refill your water bottles and eat, and what to avoid, and I’ll include maps and GPS files. I’ll also talk about my bikes, post an occasional product review, and lots of pictures of animals.

Enjoy!

John

Riding the Catskills

Gravel road cycling rides and routes in Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, Delaware, Orange, and Rockland Counties, New York

Tag Archives: Catskills Cycling Bicycle Routes

Dug is my Copilot

The Summer Classic: Brewster to New Hamburg

Mapped that for you: Peekamoose loop from Poughkeepsie

Worth the Trip: Platte Clove

Getting There: Part I–The Hard Way

Worth the Trip: Peekamoose 52

Introduction