The days are getting shorter so don’t miss this scenic upstate ride!

The ride is 50 miles long with around 2000 feet of total elevation gain, meaning there will be few hills but nothing terribly hard. It's a moderately paced ride (12-15mph) but for experienced riders only.

The ride has two modifications that makes it more challenging than our other moderate rides: we ride as a group and won’t be using the Point, Drop and Sweep unless absolutely necessary and there are only three rest/food/water stops during the entire ride (see the list of stops below). There will be brief compression stops as needed.

You need to be a member to join us on this ride.

BE PREPARED FOR A RURAL RIDE AND FOR LONG STRETCHES

You must absolutely have two large bottles of water (three would be even better, highly reccomended!) and snacks, as the longest stretch without any services is 22 miles. That's nearly two hours of riding!

Road bikes and light hybrids only! Your bike has to be in excellent shape and you must have two spare tubes, and a pump (or CO2 cartridges). There are 0 (zero) bike shops along the way past New Paltz (Sorry: I forgot there is a bike shop in Gardiner) . There are NO bail-out points!

LIST OF STOPS

• Mile 12 - Wallkill View Farm Market: restrooms, fruit, bakery, drinks, water (30 minutes)
• ***** no services for 22 miles!*****
• Mile 34 - Cafe Mio in Gardiner, lunch stop, restrooms, water (1h)
• Mile 46 - Dunkin Donuts and Convenience Store, restrooms, drinks, food, coffee (quick, 10-15 minutes)

There is a small change. Cafe Mio in Gardiner is closed this Saturday as they will be catering a wedding. We'll eat at Pasquale's Pizzeria in Gardiner instead. We've been there before too, there is indoor and outdoor sitting and room for bikes. And I forgot there is a bike shop in Gardiner as well!

TRAIN INFORMATION

• We take the 7:43 AM train from Grand Central (7:54 AM from Harlem-125th) which arrives in Poughkeepsie at 9:44 AM. 
• Meeting point is the Grand Central Station's main concourse, in the vicinity of the round information booth.
• Be there at 7:15 AM with round-trip off-peak ticket in your hand to Poughkeepsie (you can order them also online in advance)
• We are boarding at 7:30 AM sharp to avoid the cycling crowd.
• You can also join us at Harlem-125 Street. Give us a notice so that we can watch out for you.
• Poughkeepsie is the last stop of the train so you can be in any car.
• Our aim is to catch the 4:52 PM return train from Poughkeepsie which arrives at Grand Central at 6:48 PM. Sunset will be at 6:59 PM. If we miss this train the next will at 5:54 PM arriving at GCT at 7:48 PM.

WHAT TO BRING

• helmet (REQUIRED)
• MTA Metro North Bicycle Permit (REQUIRED)
• two large bottles of water or hydration pack - three bottles even better (REQUIRED)
• energy snacks (REQUIRED)
• lightweight bike lock
• bike lights 
• bungees or straps to secure your bike on the train
• two spare bike tubes
• pump
• cell phone
• lunch money (please bring cash!)
• since we'll be riding in rural areas you should carry an ID an health insurance information

RIDE CANCELLATION POLICY

Check this 5BBC ride page or the 5BBC Event Facebook page after 9 PM the night before to see if the ride is on! A cancellation notice will be posted on both at 9 PM on the night before the ride. We will NOT meet if the ride is canceled! If it is raining in the morning the ride is also canceled! DO NOT SHOW UP FOR THE RIDE without checking the status first! If the ride is cancelled the leaders WILL NOT go to the meeting point.

If in doubt email bikerides@a-world.net or text (please do not call!) Adam DZ at 718-757-4102 in the morning after 6 AM.

If you have registered for the ride on the 5BBC website you will receive a confirmation or cancellation email around 9 PM. the day before.

RIDE WITH GPS ROUTE

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10251488/

PDF CUE SHEET and GPS FILES

http://a-world.net/bikerides/summer2015/End-of-Summer-Ramblings/