Climbing

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Bear Mtn for everyone - shortest access and for hill repeats

Way Points: 

Manitou Metro North stop (start)> 9D south, Bear Mtn Bridge> 9W south> South Entrance Rd> 7 Lakes Drive> Perkins Memorial Drive> top of Bear Mtn> Perkins Memorial Drive> 7 Lakes Drive> 9W north> Bear Mtn Bridge> 9D north> South Station Rd, Garrison> Garrison Metro North southbound railroad platform (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Hank Schiffman
Signature Route : 
Level(s): 
A
B
C
Vertical Gain: 
1936
Difficulty: 
39
Difficulty Rating: 
4 out of 5

This route is the shortest on access to the top of Bear Mtn, aka Perkins, via Metro North.

Manitou is a stop on most outbound trains from GCT on weekends, please check that it is on the train you are planning on using. You can only exit the train in the last 2 cars of the train at Manitou. And there is no platform so you need to carry your bike down steps, a rather awkward maneuver. If this does not work for you, you can take the train one stop further to Garrison and go south on 9D, cycling the extra distance.

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The Hills of Northern Manhattan

Way Points: 

Hudson Greenway just south of the GW Bridge (start)> Hudson River Greenway (north)> 182nd St overpass> 181st St> Cabrini north> 190th St> Overlook Terrace> 187th St>  Dyckman St> Payson St> Riverside Dr> Broadway, north> Bennett Av> 187th St> Overlook Terrace> Fort Washington Avenue> Fort Tryon Park> Fort Washington Av> 190th St/Overlook Terrace> 187th St> Broadway> Nagle> Fort George Hill bike path> Fort George Av> Amsterdam Av> 182nd St> Broadway> 181st St> Riverside Dr> Hudson River Greenway (south) > south of GW Bridge (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Hank Schiffman
Signature Route : 
Level(s): 
B
C
Vertical Gain: 
660
Difficulty: 
15
Difficulty Rating: 
4 out of 5

Note of December 2022: The Hudson River Greenway north of 181st St to Dyckman St is closed due to reconstruction; it needs it! Recommended re-route is 182nd St overpass> 181st St> Cabrini north> 190th St> Overlook Terrace> 187th St>Broadway, north> Bennett Av>. You will be doing the first half of the descent from Ft Washington Ave on Overlook to 187th to Broadway going north, then taking a left onto Bennett. You will now be back on the route. I did not update the GPS file or the cue sheet.

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Denville Dairy w/Lunch at Sunset

Way Points: 

Denville NJ Transit RR Station (start)> Lincoln Park> Denville  NJ Transit RR Station (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Mitch Rubenstein
Signature Route : 
Level(s): 
B
Vertical Gain: 
3200
Difficulty: 
83
Difficulty Rating: 
4 out of 5

Check NJ Transit time table for current train times both directions.

Very hilly!

Updated cue sheet.

HS 3/31/15

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Margaretville Ride

Way Points: 

start, Main St Phoenicia> Rt 214 south> Rt 28 west> Rt 42> Rt 47> Rt 28> Rt 49A> Margaretville, lunch> Rt 30 north> Rt 36> Rt 28> Rt 214> Phoenicia, end

 

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Jeff Vogel
Signature Route : 
Region Name(s): 
Level(s): 
A
Vertical Gain: 
4700
Difficulty: 
109
Difficulty Rating: 
5 out of 5

No mileage, you will need a map. Hilly. "Vogel Route" which loosely translates into a worthwhile adventure with some hard pack thrown in. Or, as Jeff says, "A "Vogel Route" means it has beautiful scenery and very low traffic but a total disregard for road surface and "tilt" of the road. This route has 3 sections of 16-17% grades. If that doesn't make it a "5" what does?"

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Beacon access Black Rock Preserve via Mtn Rd

Way Points: 

Beacon Railroad Station, start> 9D, Beacon Newburgh Bridge> Water St> 9W> Shore Rd> Rt 218> Mtn Rd> Reservoir Rd, Black Rock Preserve, end

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Signature Route : 
Level(s): 
A
B
Vertical Gain: 
1200
Difficulty: 
23
Difficulty Rating: 
3 out of 5
There is no way to access Black Rock Preserve on a bike without an ascent. Mtn Rd goes right for your jugulars, but it is paved. The culvert tunnel under Rt 9W at the top of Mtn Rd is the rabbit hole into this wonderland.
 
A bike permit is required for Black Rock Preserve.
 
 
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NYC-Little Tor-Buckburg-Storm King-Beacon

Way Points: 

NJ side of GW Bridge (start)> 9W> Greenbush> Clausland Mtn Rd> Tweed Blvd> Skuyler> Christian Herald Rd> Storms > Ridge Rd> S Mtn Rd> Little Tor> Central Hwy> 9W> Buckberg Mtn Rd> Mott's Farm Rd> 9W>Rt 218> Mtn Rd> Deer Hill> Duncan Ave> Grand> 9D> Beacon Metro North RR Station (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
John Z
Signature Route : 
Level(s): 
A
Vertical Gain: 
61
Difficulty: 
132
Difficulty Rating: 
4 out of 5

Sadly, Mine Torne Rd may be closed to non-military use. Route now goes up 9W/Rt 218.

Mtn Rd above Cornwall on Hudson at mile 57 should wake you up.

HS 4/9/15

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[Berkshire Weekend] Bash-Bish Classic

Way Points: 

Mt Everett School parking lot, Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, Ma (start)> Rt 7 north> Sheffield Egremont Rt> Rt 71> Rt 22 north> Austerlitz/ Rt 5> Rt 24> Rt 9> Rt 203> Rt 7> Rt 21> Rt 217> Rt 23> Rt 11> Copake Lake> West Copake> Copake> Copake Falls> Rt 344 (Bash Bish ascent)> Mt Washington, Ma> Rt 41 south> Berkshire School Rd> Mt Everett School parking lot, Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, Ma (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Jeff Vogel
Signature Route : 
This is a Signature Route
Region Name(s): 
Level(s): 
A
B
Vertical Gain: 
4600
Difficulty: 
127
Difficulty Rating: 
4 out of 5

The Bash Bish ascent is quite steep. Without proper gearing you will either suffer or walk.

Thanks John Semel for converting this route to RWGPS!

HS 5/19/2015

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[Berkshire Weekend] Bash Bish Shorter

Way Points: 

Mt Everett School parking lot, Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, Ma (start)> Rt 7 south> Silver St> Cooper Hill Rd> Taconic Rd> Hammertown Rd> Rt 41 south> Salisbury> Salmon Kill Rd> Farnam Rd> Lakeville> Belgo Rd> Rt 62> Rt 63> Rt 22 north> Copake Depot> Rt 344 (climb Bash Bish)> Mt Washington, Ma> South Egremont> Sheffield Egremont Rd> Mt Everett School parking lot, Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, Ma (end)

Status: 
Approved
Author: 
Gerry Wendrowski
Signature Route : 
Region Name(s): 
Level(s): 
B
Vertical Gain: 
3500
Difficulty: 
91
Difficulty Rating: 
3 out of 5

You don't have to be an A or upper level B rider to do this iconic Berkshire ride. Take the shorter (55 miles), somewhat easier version of this gorgeous route. Yes, there's one really steep climb, but it's short and there's no crime in walking that last part  -  you'll still get the street cred for conquering Bash Bish.

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5
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