Old Croton Aqueduct Trail w/ Chappaqua Start - Recap
Saturday, March 14, 2020 - Recap
A lovely ride in the woods…
48 miles (or less)
Saturday, March 14, 2020
The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail is a great introduction to gravel. It's generally hard pack and easy to ride. A strong, adventurous rider can ride it on fairly skinny (28mm) tires with no problems, but average riders will want 35+ mm tires.
This is the route we'll be going…
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30832419
We’ll take the 10:20 MetroNorth train from 125 to Chappaqua. (Make sure you have your MNR or LIRR bike pass, and if you want to start from Grand Central, just let me know.) We start by going through Chappaqua (sorry, we won't be going past the Clinton's place). Then we ride a little bit on the North County Trail and then take mostly quiet streets over to Gate House Bridge on the New Croton Reservoir. We then ride along the south side of the reservoir (much of which is a lovely gravel road) to the dam, which is quite cool. Then we ride down pretty much the entire length of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.
The weather will be chilly, but OK with the right gear. The temp when we get to Chappaqua will be ~43º, but will feel like ~36º due to the winds. By the time you get back to the City it will be ~52º and feel like ~49º. So dress in layers and know where you'll put the layers you take off.
There is one point that's a bit challenging in that you have to walk your bike up a steep hill and then manage to get down the other side (easier said than done, but it's worth it). But generally it's a nice relaxing ride in the woods on a generally flat path.
The ride is officially 48 miles (which gets you back to Harlem). But you can do less by taking MetroNorth back or the subway once we get to The Bronx.
[This ride is cross-listed with GravelNY on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/673682]
Ride Details
| Distance | 48 miles (or less) |
| Start Location | Sent to registered members |
| Date | Saturday, March 14, 2020 |
| Meet Time | Sent to registered members |
| Start Time | Sent to registered members |
| Level | B - Steady Eddy |
| Speed | ~15mph on flat pavement, slower on dirt. |
| Ride Organizer | Jay H. |
Riders
Jay H.
Paul R.
Madeleine E.
Ted H.
Robin G.
RIDES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
FRI
22
FEB
TUE
05
MAR
WED
06
MAR
SUN
02
JUN
SAT
22
JUN
MON
01
JUL
THU
04
JUL
THU
04
JUL
SUN
07
JUL
TUE
09
JUL
TUE
09
JUL
TUE
09
JUL
SAT
13
JUL
SAT
13
JUL
SAT
13
JUL
SUN
14
JUL
SUN
14
JUL
SAT
20
JUL
SAT
20
JUL
SUN
21
JUL
FRI
26
JUL
SAT
27
JUL
SUN
28
JUL
SAT
03
AUG
SUN
04
AUG
TUE
06
AUG
TUE
13
AUG
THU
15
AUG
SAT
17
AUG
SAT
24
AUG
SAT
24
AUG
FRI
30
AUG
SUN
01
SEP
TUE
10
SEP
SUN
15
SEP
SAT
21
SEP
SAT
28
SEP
TUE
08
OCT
SUN
03
NOV
THU
07
NOV
SUN
10
NOV
SAT
23
NOV
FRI
06
DEC
SAT
14
DEC
SAT
21
DEC
FRI
27
DEC
SAT
28
DEC
SUN
05
JAN
SUN
23
FEB
SUN
08
MAR
TUE
10
MAR
WED
11
MAR
SAT
14
MAR
THU
26
MAR
THU
30
APR
MON
11
MAY
SUN
17
MAY
MON
25
MAY
WED
27
MAY
SUN
31
MAY
SUN
07
JUN
SUN
21
JUN
TUE
23
JUN
SUN
28
JUN
SAT
11
JUL
SAT
11
JUL
FRI
17
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
18
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
25
JUL
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
01
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
08
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
15
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
SAT
22
AUG
MON
24
AUG
SAT
29
AUG
WED
09
SEP
SUN
13
SEP
TUE
22
SEP
FRI
09
OCT
SAT
10
OCT
SUN
18
OCT
SAT
24
OCT
SUN
25
OCT
SAT
31
OCT
SAT
14
NOV
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.
Comments:
Heather H.
March 10, 2020
Since I'm coming from Brooklyn, I'll be getting on the train at Grand Central (the 10:10). Will keep a look out for yall.
Madeleine E.
March 10, 2020
Looking forward to this ride! Does anyone know if the Harlem MetroNorth station will be staffed on Saturday morning and able to sell me a bike permit before I hop on the 10:20 to Chappaqua?
Jay H.
March 10, 2020
Madeleine – I'm 90% certain the 125th Street station will be staffed to buy a bike pass. If not, the conductors will sell them. But my understanding is that the ones sold at the stations are good forever whereas the ones sold by the conductors are only good for 60 or 90 days. That said, 90% of the time they don't ask to see them.
Madeleine E.
March 10, 2020
Wonderful, thanks!
Heather H.
March 13, 2020
Darn! I am having some mild cold symptoms, so I have to cancel.