Social Distance Cycling - Recap

Is it safe to ride outside?


Yes — as long as you’re alone. When people congregate together and someone sneezes or coughs, droplets get onto objects that people touch, and then people touch their face. The best plan for riding right now is to go out and ride solo and enjoy the outdoors, in non-crowded areas.  And, try timing your rides for when you know your route will be less crowded.

 

Getting in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to brisk activity can help your immune system keep viruses at bay. Be sure you know what’s going on in your area and if there are any restrictions or mandatory self-quarantines. And, if you’re sick or at-risk of spreading the virus, you shouldn’t go out." - Bicycling Magazine


Social Distance Cycling in NYC - Central Park & Prospect Park
Both parks are car-free and there’s plenty of roadway width to maintain 6+ feet between you and others.
Central Park Full Loop (6.1 miles, 340 feet of climbing)
Central Park – fewer hills (5.2 miles, 247 feet of climbing)
Central Park – Harlem Hill repeats (1.5 miles, 111 feet of climbing)
Prospect Park (3.4 miles, 136 feet of climbing)

 

Central Park to Wards & Randalls Island: 

If you want a quieter, more chill experience away from crowds, this is a good option. It’s not a “go fast” sort of place, but that’s perfect right now. The only downside is that the paths you’ll be cycling on aren’t as wide as the roads in Central Park or Prospect Park so there may be brief moments where proper “social distancing” is difficult. But generally you’ll pass far fewer people on Wards & Randalls than you will in Central Park. Since you may never have gone there we’ve included safe routes between Central Park and Wards & Randalls Island.


https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177694 (5.1 miles, 123 feet of climbing)


https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177674 (4.1 miles, 107 feet of climbing


https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177727 (5.1 miles, 112 feet of climbing)


https://ridewithgps.com/ routes/32177579 (4.0 miles, 93 feet of climbing)


Best route from Central Park to Wards Island
Best route from Wards Island to Central Park

 

Suggestions For Safe Cycling During The Pandemic:

  • Never ride if you’ve lost your sense of smell (loss of sense of smell indicates you may have a mild case of COVID-19 and could easily infect others)
  • Never ride if you don’t feel up to it (malaise is an early symptom of COVID-19)
  • Never ride if you have a low grade fever, cough or shortness of breath.
    Think twice about riding if you’re in a risk group for complications from COVID-19.
  • Never encourage someone else to ride.
  • If you have high viz outerwear, wear it. 
  • Use flashing lights front and back during daytime rides – they reduce your chances of crashes by 19%.
  • Do not ride at dusk or dawn – that’s the most dangerous time for cyclists
    Think twice about cycling at night. It’s safer to cycle during the day.
  • Take it easy, slow down, and don’t push yourself. 
  • Know your limits and stay well within them. Never try to keep up with someone else, or do what someone else does if you wouldn’t normally do it yourself.
  • If something is potentially dangerous (an intersection, a pothole, a curb, etc.) handle the situation with an abundance of caution. Spend the extra 5-15 seconds it will probably take to handle the situation most safely.
  • Choose routes that are as safe as possible and as uncrowded as possible (see list below for suggestions).
  • Avoid taking the subway or a train to the start or from the end of the route.
  • Try to stay 8 feet from other people when stopped (since you may underestimate how close you are). If you can both stretch out your arms and have your fingers touch, you’re definitely too close.
  • Stay 20+ feet behind other riders except to pass. 
  • If you pass another rider on a roadway, use the entire lane to get distance between the two of you.
  • If you pass another person on a trail, go to the far edge of the trail and pass as quickly as you (safely) can (most trails are only 6-8 feet wide).
  • Check out Bicycling.com’s suggestions for cycling safely during the pandemic. 

RIDES AND EVENTS CALENDAR

SAT

14

JAN

New York Gallery Tours - recap
non-riding event

WED

18

JAN

Info Session - OutCycling Provence Bike Trip! - recap
Info Session - OutCycling Provence Bike Trip!

WED

01

FEB

SAVE THE DATE - NYC LGBT Sports Network Spring Season Kickoff - recap
SAVE THE DATE - NYC LGBT Sports Network Spring Season Kickoff

SUN

12

FEB

Prospect Park Laps - recap
16.75 miles

THU

16

FEB

OC Travel - Info Session - recap
Cycle in Beautiful Provence this September

SAT

18

FEB

Manhattan Skyline Tour - recap
app. 21 miles

SUN

26

FEB

Prospect Park Laps - recap
20 miles

SUN

05

MAR

SUN

12

MAR

OC France Trip Info Session - recap
5-day Bike Adventure in beautiful Provence, France

SUN

12

MAR

Prospect Park Laps - recap
20 miles

SUN

19

MAR

Prospect Park Laps - recap
14 - 20 miles

SUN

19

MAR

Prospect Park Laps
20 miles - cancelled

SUN

26

MAR

Prospect Park Laps - recap
14 - 20 miles

THU

30

MAR

2023 Season Kick-off Party - recap
Welcome Back to Cycling

FRI

07

APR

Friday Lunch Ride to Market Diner - recap
30 approx miles

SAT

08

APR

SAT

15

APR

SUN

16

APR

STS1 – Market Diner & Nyack - recap
41 miles (or 29, 35, 56, or 26 🚆 miles)

SAT

22

APR

SUN

23

APR

STS2 - Orchard Beach, City Island, and Bronx Bikeways - recap
52 miles (many 🚇 options along the way)

TUE

25

APR

Monthly Club Social - recap
Club Social and Drinks

SAT

06

MAY

SAT

06

MAY

STS3 – Saddle River and Westville - recap
62 miles (or 25 🚆, 41 🚆 miles)

MON

08

MAY

OC Travel Zoom - recap
OutCycling France Trip

SAT

13

MAY

STS4 – Saddle River & The Orchards of Concklin (+Nyack option) - recap
75 miles (or 42, 52, 59, or 87 miles)

SAT

13

MAY

SUN

21

MAY

STS5 – Valhalla, Armonk, and Bedford - recap
89 miles (or 75, 61 or 12-23, 43 🚆)

SUN

21

MAY

TUE

23

MAY

May Club Social - recap
May Club Social

SAT

27

MAY

SAT

03

JUN

STS6 – Chappaqua & Tarrytown - recap
61 miles (or 51 or 70 miles)

SAT

03

JUN

STS6 - Just the Picnic - recap
Join us for a picnic even if you're unable to join us for the ride!

THU

08

JUN

OutCycling Pride Ride Kick OFF Party - Jersey & Number Pick-up - recap
Come get your OC Pride Ride Jersey's at Boxers!

SUN

11

JUN

SUN

18

JUN

STS7 – Oyster Bay & Locust Valley - recap
61 miles (or 50 miles or 27 🚆, 36 🚆, 48 🚆)

SUN

25

JUN

NYC Pride March 2023 - recap
March or Ride app. 2 miles

SAT

15

JUL

Coney Island Ride - recap
30 approx miles

SAT

22

JUL

The Whitney Hopper Ride - recap
60 Miles

SAT

22

JUL

THU

27

JUL

July Club Social - recap
July Club Social

SUN

20

AUG

Asbury Park Beach Ride - recap
30 - 50 miles

SUN

27

AUG

Rockaway Peninsula Ride - recap
~35 miles

SUN

03

SEP

Divine Provence Bike Trip! - recap
210+ miles

SAT

23

SEP

Market Diner Delight...
Approximately 25 miles - cancelled

SUN

01

OCT

Classic Nyack! - recap
approximately 40 miles

FRI

06

OCT

SUN

08

OCT

Hudson River 2-way NOW ON SUNDAY! - recap
app 50 miles

WED

11

OCT

Mass Bike Action - recap
2.5 miles

THU

19

OCT

Fall Happy Hour -- New Date - recap
Time to Celebrate!

SAT

21

OCT

NJ Leaf Peeping
90 miles - cancelled

SUN

22

OCT

Tour De Bronx - recap
10 / 25 / 40 miles

SAT

28

OCT

SAT

11

NOV

SAT

18

NOV

SUN

19

NOV

Exploring gravel trails around New Paltz Team Ride - recap
45 miles (or less)

SAT

02

DEC

Brewster to the Bronx Team Ride - recap
~48 or 28 miles

SAT

02

DEC

OutCycling Holiday Party! - recap
OutCycling Holiday Party

SAT

09

DEC

Prospect Park Laps (4) - recap
13.4 miles

SAT

09

DEC

The “Million Dollar Ride” Team Ride - recap
42-60 miles

SAT

16

DEC

Prospect Park Laps (5) - recap
16.75 miles

WED

28

FEB

OC Travel Gathering - recap
Chelsea Hotel Happy Hour

THU

07

MAR

OC Happy Hour - recap
Happy Hour!

MON

18

MAR

Opportunity Awaits - - recap
Leadership Team Information Session

THU

04

APR

2024 Season Kick-off Party
Welcome Back to Cycling Season

SAT

06

APR

SAT

13

APR

SRS1 – Market Diner & Nyack
41 miles (or 29, 35, 56, or 26 🚆 miles)

SAT

20

APR

SRS2 Coney Island and The Rockaways
45 (many 🚇 options along the way or NYC Ferry from Rockaways)

SUN

21

APR

SRS2 - Intro To Road Cycling – Ride 2
17 miles one way (35 miles round trip)

SAT

27

APR

SRS3 - Orchard Beach, City Island, and Bronx Bikeways
52 miles (many 🚇 options along the way)

SAT

11

MAY

SRS4 – Valhalla/Kensico Dam
61 miles (or 75 or 12-23, 43 🚆)

SAT

18

MAY

SRS5 – Oyster Bay & Locust Valley
61 miles (or 50 miles or 27 🚆, 36 🚆, 48 🚆)

SAT

01

JUN

SRS6 – Chappaqua & Tarrytown
61 miles (or 51 or 70 miles)

SAT

01

JUN

SRS6 - Just the Picnic
Join us for a picnic even if you're unable to join us for the ride!

SUN

02

JUN

SUN

09

JUN

THU

01

AUG

Speed Freak Fast paceline ride Steady Eddy Moderate paced ride Easy Rider Gentle paced ride


RIDE LEVEL KEY

A - Speed Freak - Fast paceline ride

B - Steady Eddy - Moderately paced ride

C - Easy Rider - Gentle paced ride

The 'Ride Speed' indicates the target cruising speed on flat roads.