This is an Advanced Moderate Ride (15mph) for experienced cyclists only. This is not a beginner ride. A road bike or light hybrid is required, no mountain bikes, no folders, no heavy hybrids, no knobby tires. Your bike has to be in very good shape and you need to be self-reliant and be able to maintain 15 mph pace. There will be no bail-outs along the way. The ride is moderately hilly but with no killer climbs and it is all on roads with traffic. If you've done my other Hudson Valley rides you won't have any problems with this one.

We'll take the usual 7:43am train from Grand Central but this time we get off in Beacon. We cross the Beacon-Newburg Bridge to the West Side of the Hudson Valley and ride up towards the Walkway Over The Hudson and end the ride at the Metro North Station in Poughkeepsie. Lunch will be at mile 30 in Gardiner (Cafe Mio: http://www.miogardiner.com). Short snack stop at mile 17 at Stewart's Shop.

If you're getting on the train at 125th St. or meeting us in Beacon, please let me know ahead of the time, email me at bikerides@a-world.net. Do not be late! Be at the Beacon station at 9:15am! We need to do the intro and the bike check and we're leaving Beacon by 9:30am!

The train arrives in Beacon at 9:14am and we will start rolling promptly by 9:30am. If we make a good time we should be able to catch the 3:54pm from Poughkeepsie which will arrive at Grand Central at 5:42pm. If we miss that one then 4:37pm or 4:54pm.

We meet at Grand Central in the main concourse area, left from the round information booth, by the unused ticket windows. Find us there, don't board the train unless you find us first! Please be at the station no later than 7:20am and buy both tickets from the ticket machines before getting on the train (out Grand Central to Beacon and return Poughkeepsie to Grand Central, both off peak). We get on the train at 7:30am sharp. Also, get some breakfast to eat on the train.

NO CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED ON THE TRAIN!

Please bring:

- helmet (REQUIRED)
- MTA Train Bike Permit (REQUIRED)
- two spare bike tubes (REQUIRED)
- lightweight bike lock
- pump
- TWO BOTTLES of water or hydration pack (one bottle is not enough)
- SNACKS
- cell phone (fully charged please!)
- lunch money
- bring some cash as credit cards don't always work

RIDE CANCELLATION POLICY

Check this 5BBC ride page or the 5BBC Facebook page after 9PM the day before the ride to see if the ride is on! A cancellation notice will be posted on both at 9PM on the day before the ride.

We will NOT meet if the ride is canceled!
The leaders will not travel to the start location if the ride is cancelled!

If in doubt email bikerides@a-world.net or call or text Adam DZ at 718-757-4102 in the morning after 6 a.m.

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

CUE SHEETS AND MAPS

GPS files and PDF cue sheet:
http://a-world.net/bikerides/beacon-poughkeepsie/

Ride With GPS route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5364342/