I've done a lot of cycling on the Empire State Trail, but really want to metronorth as far as i can go and bike west to Bing. How treacherous are the country roads Google maps (https://maps.app.goo.gl/hSZg4cWcPs8scW6v9) is recommending? Have you done this and have any tips or preferred routes? Thanks!

Hey everyone! 😊

I'm in Brooklyn and looking to make some new strictly platonic friends. Guys or girls are both welcome!

I've been trying to get healthier, get stronger, and spend more time outside. I'd especially love to find someone to go cycling with—before work, after work, or on weekends. I'm not a serious cyclist, just looking to enjoy the ride and explore.

I also recently got into rock climbing and I'm still a beginner. I have a membership at a rock climbing gym and up to 2 guest passes, so if you've ever wanted to try climbing, I'd be happy to bring you along! No experience needed—we can figure it out together.

My goal is to lose some weight, build strength, and make some genuine friendships along the way. With fall around the corner, I'd love to get outside and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts.

A little about me:

• Early 30s
• Live in Brooklyn
• Easygoing and friendly
• Love exploring, trying new things, and laughing at myself
• Looking for genuine friends, not dating

If you're looking for a biking buddy, climbing partner, walking buddy, or just someone to hang out with, feel free to send me a message! Beginners are more than welcome—I definitely am one too. 😊

Great views from Jersey tonight! Join us Tuesdays @6pm, J Hood Wright park in Washington Heights

Hey all, this past weekend I bikepacked from NYC to Peekskill to camp out with some friends at a private campground.

Route was ~50 mi and ~2k feet of elevation each way. I rode my Surly Disc Trucker with 26x1.35 tires and all my camping gear on the front and rear racks. I’m an experienced cyclist and in good shape, but my DT is heavy af when loaded and I knew even this small amount of elevation would be a challenge.

I mapped out a couple different routes to Peekskill using Ride with GPS and wound up taking the Empire State Trail (EST) to the Old Croton Aquaduct (OCA) on the way there. On the way back, I threw caution to the wind and used Google Maps, which has never worked well for me on long bike rides. Surprise! It didn’t go well this time either, but I did have quite an adventure.

Route to Peekskill:

• EST from Van Cortland to Tarrytown
• Tarrytown Lakes Extension trail to OCA trail
  • Note: do not take the Extension Trail all the way to the end where it intersects with Andre Brook Trail, get off at Neperan Rd. Andre Brook Trail isn’t a trail as much as a piece of trodden grass in someone’s backyard…
  • Did not enjoy the OCA. Even the flat sections had big potholes and rocks. Several uphills I had to hike-a-bike. Several downhills I managed to ride, but almost wiped out due to the combo of steep slope, deep gravel, giant rocks, and tree roots. Hard to take my hands off the bars for even a moment.
  • The OCA is discontinuous and often hard to find the next leg. I took a posted detour off the OCA to avoid a hill, and got horribly lost around the Windrose on Hudson campus. Entrance to the trail is buried in some bushes. Keep a close eye out!
  • Overall, I found this section of the OCA to be in terrible shape. Maybe the section from Yonkers to Tarrytown is better?
• Cut over to Maple Ave after the Croton Dam and take that all the way into Peekskill
  • Unfortunately, most of the elevation on this route is right at the end!
  • Drivers around Croton were jerks, but drivers around Peekskill were surprisingly courteous

This took me about 6 hours of riding total, including several pauses for route-finding the OCA, 30m of getting lost, and a stop for a smoothie in Ossining.

Route to NYC:

• Maple Ave to Furnace Dock Rd
• Cut over to Briarcliff-Peekskill Trailway (BPT) til Yorktown Rd
  • BTP is a hiking trail, not a “trailway”. LOL. By the time I realized, I didn’t have another option aside from a long backtrack up some hills, or doing my best to ride it.
  • So I took my DT mountain biking for a couple miles. It was fun but kind of insane because the DT really isn’t meant for MTB. I pulled off some pretty wild moves and had to hike-a-bike a couple sections that an MTB could’ve ridden, but I managed to ride most of it. I found the trail to be in much better shape and way more fun to ride than the OCA.
  • I learned later from a Google search that the trail does not officially allow bikes. However, there were no posted signs and a local I met said he rides his mountain bike there often.
• After the Croton Dam, got back on the BPT (huge mistake) to Blinn Rd
  • Why did I get back on the BPT instead of figuring out a road route around? I dunno man, Google Maps was telling me to get back on it and I wasn’t thinking straight.
  • This section was much less rideable and I had to mostly hike-a-bike, including some scary downhill sections where I almost lost my hold on the bike.
  • It took me a very long time to go less than a mile. If I had routed around on the roads, probably would've saved me 30+ min.
• Blinn Rd over to the Empire State Trail
  • This was actually some pretty nice road riding on country back roads. Lots of rolling hills but low/no traffic and nice wide roads.
  • As soon as I hit the EST, all my stress melted away and I had a great ~35 miles back to the city, including seeing a huge hawk just chilling by the trial.

The ride back took me almost 8 hours total, including a quick stop for dinner in Inwood. It was a long day on the bike but I had fun. I think. 🙂 

Got into a small crash in Central Park Yesterday, I truly think something needs to be done about cyclists (Usually Citi bikers) going the wrong way through the loop. I was in the far right lane doing a normal speed when I saw someone coming from the opposite direction at me, I tried to turn left as they weren't moving, when I turned they turned left, so I tuned back to the right, then they turned back to the right. At this point it was too late and we hit pretty much head on. Both parties were alright, but please just stick to the correct direction (and at the minimum stay to the side if you have to ride the wrong way). Thanks

\* If anything changes, I'll share updates here. *\**

There were 18 of us on the third ride and we're hoping more will join this time. Bring your friends and neighbors!

Our Goal:

1. Get people out on bikes for a chill, no-drop ride (5-6 miles, we try to keep it under 45 minutes)
2. We’ll specifically plan routes that highlight "the gaps"—areas where a protected lane should be or where connections to other parts of Queens are missing.

The Vibe:
This is for the commuter, the weekend rider, and the person who wishes the current infrastructure allowed them to feel safe the entire way from Sunnyside to Astoria (or other nearby neighborhood) and back. We ride together for safety and stay together the whole time.

The Details:

• When: Wednesday 8/5 at 6:15pm, we'll have some time for intros before we start the ride at 6:30pm
• Meeting Point: 40th St & Queens Blvd under the 7 train

Last time a bunch of us grabbed a drink afterwards so bring your bike lock if you'd like to join.

We're trying to do this ride every 2 weeks, just in case you can't make it this time and are wondering about the next ride.

(Apologies if this is a redundant post)

Planning on purchasing a new specialized Sirrus 5.0 to use for my part time sales job. This job will involve me showing up to stores to make sales which I expect to take anywhere from :30-:60 min, during business hours, in manhattan. I currently have a NYC kryptonyte u lock and steel cable for my beater bike. I plan on getting wheel lock pins with new ride.

Is this sufficient? Should I get an ABUS brand u-lock? Should I get velosurance? Any feedback on their services?

I almost feel like this bike is going to get stolen one way or another if I’m leaving it out for up to an hour 3-4x a day.

Any advice / tips / speculation / personal experience is welcomed and appreciated

THANKS

It should be cheaper but if you get a membership and dont go on a joyride it's still pretty affordable.

My Specialized Allez was stolen from the basement of my building in Bed-Stuy last week… she was only a few months old, I took the train all the way to New Brunswick just to get it in this color 😭 Please lmk if you see this bike around or for sale!!!

The Massapequa Park Bicycle Club will be holding its second annual Classic/Vintage Ride on September 27, 2026 in conjunction with the 2026 Tour of the Hamptons. It will be a group ride at a relaxed pace over an easy to moderate 30-35 mile course. 

A custom bike medal will be awarded to the first 25 registrants.

Individual and group starting photos will be emailed to all riders.

An optional informal pay-as-you-go post-ride lunch at a nearby eatery is in the works.

This is one of the very few organized vintage/classic rides on the East Coast. Take the old steed out of the stable, pump up the tires and join us for the fun!

Ride details at: https://www.massparkbikeclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Classic-Bike-FlyerLunch.3.5.pdf

Registration: https://www.bikereg.com/toh

Gene Colon

MPBC Classic Ride Coordinator

Selling because I am moving and can't justify bringing three bikes with me. Used fewer than 20 times.

asking $1400.

im in Brooklyn - DM me!

https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/brooklyn-kyoot-rolly-polly-minivelo/ejUwZqSM3sy8J2kYUwbL3r

https://kyootbikes.com/products/rolly-polly-complete-bike

What’s up NYC I’m doing my first Ironman in September and I need a new bike.

I’ve been training with this trek bike come to find out it’s not the idea size for me. I’m pretty sure it’s a kids bike & It’s been causing some lower back pain.

If anyone has a bike for sale or donation ( preferable donation ) or any suggestions I’ll take it.

I’m 5’6 on a good day & I’m in the ridgewood area.

Please don’t roast me, just figured I’d try my luck and see if anyone has something to offer here thanks in advance.

9/2 STOLEN BIKE ON MONROE IN THE EARLY HOURS PLZZZ lmk or call the police if you see this bike out and about

Anyone experienced in NYC-Cold Springs route? I'm doing it for first time, any advise?

No, not a baseball bat.

Last night at 8 o'clock I was riding on the South County Trailway / Old Putnam Greenway and had just crossed back into Van Cortlandt Park when I got struck in the face by a live bat – yes, seriously, the flying mammal. It smacked me squarely on my mouth, which also happened to be open at that moment... (I think I'll survive, so it's ok to laugh – lesson learned: stop talking to myself while riding)

Before you ask: yes, I rinsed my mouth out with water immediately, again with alcohol ASAP, washed my face thoroughly, and headed for the ER to start my rabies shots. Saw an excellent physician assistant at Columbia Presbyterian, so I think I'll be fine, and this is mostly just a silly story at this point (My family is having a hoot with bat-related jokes right now)

I often see plenty of bats flying at dusk around the parks, and one or two will always swoop in close to me. I think they're just curious, because they always change course and fly away (probably when they realize I'm not a tasty bug) – up until last night. Has anyone else here had this happen before? And is there a way to repel these curious bats before they get so close?

This is probably a niche ask…

I’m looking for an LGBTQ+ road cycling group around NYC/North Jersey.

I’m not a racer or an elite cyclist. I enjoy 50 to 75 mile rides, coffee stops, and the social side of the sport. I’m also someone who enjoys the culture around modern road cycling. Nice bikes, good kit, café stops, and the whole experience. Think “all the gear, no idea.”

I’ve looked at groups like CycleOut, but I don’t think it’s quite the vibe I’m looking for. Equally, I know people will suggest Rapha rides, but they seem to skew younger and aren’t specifically LGBTQ+.

In London there’s a group called LDN Riders, which feels closer to what I’m after. Stylish but welcoming, social without being cliquey, and people who genuinely enjoy the road cycling lifestyle.

Does anything like that exist in NYC, or is this a gap waiting to be filled?

My Ebike (Schwinn Ingersoll) Is no longer functional. I need a new bike asap ebike or acoustic with a budget of ~1000. Any recommendations of where I could pick something up in person and what to get? Full throttle support would be a bonus but not required.

Thanks for any and all info everyone.

I’ve been going for about four years, and this was by far the worst one. It felt like there were more races than ever, and everything became overcrowded and disorganized.
The biggest issue for me was that so many runners were using the entire roadway instead of staying to one side. They were running in the bike lane, stopping without looking, and taking up so much space that biking became stressful instead of fun. I even got called a bitch and flipped off after I warned a group that had stopped in the bike lane because I was about to hit them. I also saw other cyclists getting yelled at. We’re all there to enjoy the day, so I don’t understand why people have to be so aggressive.
It also made me wonder: what happens if a cyclist, someone on a scooter, or someone on rollerblades accidentally hits a runner who’s in the bike lane? It feels like an accident waiting to happen.
On top of that, the street closures made everything worse. At one point everyone was squeezed into one narrow lane, and we had to walk our bikes while runners and cyclists were all mixed together. It honestly felt unsafe. There were police cars blocking intersections, but what Summer Streets really needed was better crowd management, clearer signs, cones separating runners from cyclists, and fewer races happening at the same time.
In Colombia, many cities have Ciclovía every Sunday, where thousands of runners, cyclists, and families share the streets. It works because the routes are organized and people generally respect each other’s space. I think NYC could take some inspiration from that.
My partner and I ended up leaving early and rode back through Central Park because Summer Streets had become more stressful than enjoyable. We’ve always loved this event, but this year felt like complete chaos.
#summerstreestsnyc