My boyfriend & I are looking to meet new people/sporty couples to ride with + explore new trails!

We venture out about 5 times/month to the Westchester area (Blue Mtn, Graham Hills). It seems as if we're the only MTB riders leaving the city to take advantage of the nearby trails. I looked online, but can't seem to find any local MTB organizations....

Any suggestions?

Cheers.

Check out the following web sites for rides and info. There is a lot going on in the NYC area. If you take Metro North to Blue Mountainon the weekend, you should meet dozen of riders in the train car. By the way where are you located in NYC.

http://www.visionmtb.com/forum/portal.php

http://5bbc.org/

http://www.amc-ny.org/amcnynj.shtml

http://www.climbonline.org

http://www.wmba.org/

do you go east to LI? Those are the gems! Rocky Point, Cathedral Pines, Calverton etc.
-g

We are located in Manhattan (75th) and take the train from Grand Central via Metro North. It's crazy, but we have yet to see any MTB riders on the train! I will defn' check out those websites - thank you!


QUOTE=BobKreyole]Check out the following web sites for rides and info. There is a lot going on in the NYC area. If you take Metro North to Blue Mountainon the weekend, you should meet dozen of riders in the train car. By the way where are you located in NYC.

http://www.visionmtb.com/forum/portal.php

http://5bbc.org/

http://www.amc-ny.org/amcnynj.shtml

http://www.climbonline.org

http://www.wmba.org/[/QUOTE]

do you go east to LI? Those are the gems! Rocky Point, Cathedral Pines, Calverton etc.
-g

:)

Just found C.L.I.M.B online - you're right, LI has alot going on. *Any LI trails that are easy to get to from Manhattan via train?

I'm in NYC and ride Westchester a fair amount! Been riding solo a great deal lately and am looking to break that trend.

I generally don't ride LI for a couple of reasons;
1.) I'm from Fairfield County,CT orignally and can't get past that!
2.) The parks are narrow and small for the most part and not so challenging as aerobically stimulating.

I am planning on heading out to Blue this Sat. for some fun in the mud!

I'm in NYC and ride Westchester a fair amount! Been riding solo a great deal lately and am looking to break that trend.

I generally don't ride LI for a couple of reasons;
1.) I'm from Fairfield County,CT orignally and can't get past that!
2.) The parks are narrow and small for the most part and not so challenging as aerobically stimulating.

I am planning on heading out to Blue this Sat. for some fun in the mud!


Hi Tame Ape,

Should be muddy alright. I'm heading back home for a few days, my boyfriend wants to go riding this w/e - maybe you guys could hook up. We've been going to Blue Mtn alot lately, we love the challenge of the rocks & roots. We defn' prefer Blue's level of difficulty.

Hi Tame Ape,

Should be muddy alright. I'm heading back home for a few days, my boyfriend wants to go riding this w/e - maybe you guys could hook up. We've been going to Blue Mtn alot lately, we love the challenge of the rocks & roots. We defn' prefer Blue's level of difficulty.

Sure, that could be good. I am on the slower side. Send an email ethanbenton at hotmail

:)
LI has alot going on. *Any LI trails that are easy to get to from Manhattan via train?

You can ride to Bethpage park in about 3 minutes from the station (head east on Powell Ave). You can link the park up with the greenbelt and also Stillwell, but as others have noted, I'd rather spend my time in westchester or yonkers.

If you like Blue Mountain LI will be very disappointing. I rode Rocky Pt., Cathedral Pines, and Stillwell for years. They are not technical. They do not even compare to Blue, Graham, or Sprain! The only thing they are good for is an aerobic workout, maybe. Let me know when you want to hook-up.

Thanks for all the helpful info! :D

I'm pretty new to mountain biking, but a couple of friends and I are trying to get into a semi-regular riding routine. Been up to Blue Mountain on Sunday afternoons, riding 'til dusk or so. Needless to say, we'll venture to other parks soon enough.

Looks like you'll never be short on company.

If you like Blue Mountain LI will be very disappointing. I rode Rocky Pt., Cathedral Pines, and Stillwell for years. They are not technical. They do not even compare to Blue, Graham, or Sprain! The only thing they are good for is an aerobic workout, maybe. Let me know when you want to hook-up.

Can you tell me which specific spot in Westchester is better than LI, specifically Stillwell? I have riden Stillwell many times and I cannot imagine a place with the fun factor that it has. People complain about the sand and erosion, but I always seem to have a good time there until I run out of gas. The trail is awesome since there is not a single uphill that is too long for the aerobically challenged (like me) and by riding this trail as fast as you can, you really get a rush. Let me know about the places people boast about in Westchester. If these are better than Stillwell, I would be pretty happy. Thanks!

Can you tell me which specific spot in Westchester is better than LI, specifically Stillwell?

All of them!

All of them!

Ha! So true. Its like asking if ice cream is good. :)

Ha! So true. Its like asking if ice cream is good. :)

Guys, thanks for your 2 cents, but please be more specific like...where to park, enter on what street/path, trial maps, etc.

Thanks!

Guys, thanks for your 2 cents, but please be more specific like...where to park, enter on what street/path, trial maps, etc.

Thanks!

I'm generally on bike already, but I found all my directions through the sites listed above. You can always hook up with someone when you get to the park to give you a quick run about.

Guys, thanks for your 2 cents, but please be more specific like...where to park, enter on what street/path, trial maps, etc.

Thanks!

the WMBA site will be of particular good use. They are all sanctioned trails so there are no secrets you need to be told. It will provide all the info you need to have a very enjoyable ride.

My advice would be to start off at Sprain Ridge Park. Sprain is the Jackson Ave. Exit off of the Sprain. Head west on Jackson Ave about one mile and the enterance will be on your left (clearly marked). Sprain is relatively short. There are two "trailheads" in the first parking lot. The main difference between Sprain and Stillwell are the rocks (which make Sprain much more technical). There are also two hills which are very challenging (near the back of the pool area). Compared to Stillwell, Sprain is just much more technical. I think you will need to get off the bike because you won't clear certain things. No offense, I don't clear them either (like some of the logs). Just take a gamble and try it. It will only cost you $8 in tolls.

My advice would be to start off at Sprain Ridge Park. Sprain is the Jackson Ave. Exit off of the Sprain. Head west on Jackson Ave about one mile and the enterance will be on your left (clearly marked). Sprain is relatively short. There are two "trailheads" in the first parking lot. The main difference between Sprain and Stillwell are the rocks (which make Sprain much more technical). There are also two hills which are very challenging (near the back of the pool area). Compared to Stillwell, Sprain is just much more technical. I think you will need to get off the bike because you won't clear certain things. No offense, I don't clear them either (like some of the logs). Just take a gamble and try it. It will only cost you $8 in tolls.

Steve is 100% Absolutely on the mark. I started Mt. Biking 4 years ago, and learned in the Westchester area as well as Stewart. I was told about Rocky Pt. and Stillwell, went and was not very impressed. If you're interested in improving your skills and becoming a better and stronger rider, you must do Sprain, Blue, Graham, Ninham, Stewart. Some of the best riding on the east coast.

I want to give a shout out to everyone who replied to this thread - thanks for all the great advice - will be in touch to meet for riding soon. Been out of town, anxious to ride Westchester. If the weather's decent, we're going to head out this coming w/e

:D

Hey Chaudette, me and my girlfriend just started riding, but are pretty damn good if i say so. lol. We are gonna be at stillwell on sun and probably mon(labor day). Look for a black VW Gti parked. Ill be on a blue/yellow trek 3900, her a black one. We will be riding all day. Hope to see ya guys. Im 24 she is 23.

Hey Chaudette, me and my girlfriend just started riding, but are pretty damn good if i say so. lol. We are gonna be at stillwell on sun and probably mon(labor day). Look for a black VW Gti parked. Ill be on a blue/yellow trek 3900, her a black one. We will be riding all day. Hope to see ya guys. Im 24 she is 23.

i was wondering how much time it takes to finish the entire loop. i have done it in 50 min starting from the parking lot and ending there. i'm sure it can be done in less time and i'd like to set a realistic target for improvement.

To be honest, I really don't have a clue. We had done it and gotten to what seemed the end. Then we just came back. It was our first time there, so we don't know how to do the loop. Then we rode across the street into those woods and went all the way to the end and back. I'd love to learn the actual loop for both sides, and I'm still unsure of which one is stillwell and which one is the green belt.

Hi Follow MTBers,

Have you guys ever try any trails in NJ? I live in Central NJ but work in Manhattan. I've only ridden on NJ soil and its pretty nice. The main places I've ridden at are Sourlands and Chimney Rock. My friend and I are planning on riding Ringwood in Norther Jersey this weekend. I heard is one of the best places to ride on the East Coast. Let me know if you guys ever venture west for the Hudson and we might be able to ride together. :D

Ringwood is great. A nice mix of trails, from ridiculously fun ultra-technical trails to mile after mile of gentle fire-road. Good freeriding spots. Excellent XC race course. And you CAN get there via trains! Take NJ Transit out of Hoboken (or take it out of Penn Station and connect to the correct line at the Secaucus junction) to Sloatsburg, NY. Ringwood is 4 miles from the Sloatsburg train stop, and while there's a nasty uphill on your ride in, on your ride back to the train it's all downhill.

However, the maps available for Ringwood are not that great- it's a big park which connects to other parks like the Ramapo State Forest, and it's easy to get lost if you don't know your way around. Always better to ride with someone who knows the trails, at first.

so, im new to NYC, a singlespeed biker, how exactly do you get to trails in westchester area? How much is the train? anyways, happy riding...

hey
theres tons of people with bikes in the city..
LI sucks dont bother.

westchester is good though as you mentioned for th etrain access, saxon and ghills are close and pretty fun.

check out mt creek before it closes though, that is the jewel of the area i must say, you can take a bus if you dont have a car..does treads stull run that shuttle?

Does anyone know if it's ok to ride in Stewart this time of the year, or are there lots of hunters there?
BTW I'm alos looking for some riding company if anyone is intetrested feel free to drop me a line at trener1 at gmail dot com


hey
theres tons of people with bikes in the city..
LI sucks dont bother.

westchester is good though as you mentioned for th etrain access, saxon and ghills are close and pretty fun.

check out mt creek before it closes though, that is the jewel of the area i must say, you can take a bus if you dont have a car..does treads stull run that shuttle?

Does anyone know if it's ok to ride in Stewart this time of the year, or are there lots of hunters there?
BTW I'm alos looking for some riding company if anyone is intetrested feel free to drop me a line at trener1 at gmail dot com

i went to stewart the weekend before they close for hunting season on oct 1.