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.
Robin G.
Paul R.
Ted H.
Madeleine E.
RIDES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
WED
28
FEB
THU
07
MAR
MON
18
MAR
THU
04
APR
SAT
06
APR
SAT
06
APR
THU
11
APR
SAT
13
APR
SUN
14
APR
SUN
14
APR
SAT
20
APR
SUN
21
APR
SUN
21
APR
SAT
27
APR
SAT
04
MAY
SAT
04
MAY
SUN
05
MAY
TUE
07
MAY
WED
08
MAY
SAT
11
MAY
SAT
18
MAY
SAT
18
MAY
SAT
18
MAY
SUN
19
MAY
SUN
26
MAY
THU
30
MAY
SAT
01
JUN
SAT
01
JUN
SAT
01
JUN
SUN
02
JUN
THU
06
JUN
SUN
09
JUN
SAT
15
JUN
SUN
23
JUN
THU
27
JUN
FRI
28
JUN
SUN
30
JUN
SUN
07
JUL
TUE
09
JUL
TUE
16
JUL
TUE
23
JUL
TUE
30
JUL
FRI
02
AUG
SAT
03
AUG
TUE
06
AUG
TUE
13
AUG
TUE
13
AUG
TUE
20
AUG
THU
22
AUG
TUE
27
AUG
SUN
01
SEP
THU
05
SEP
SUN
08
SEP
SUN
15
SEP
SAT
21
SEP
TUE
01
OCT
FRI
04
OCT
SUN
06
OCT
SAT
12
OCT
SUN
13
OCT
SAT
19
OCT
SUN
20
OCT
SAT
26
OCT
SAT
26
OCT
SUN
27
OCT
SAT
02
NOV
SAT
09
NOV
SAT
09
NOV
SAT
16
NOV
SUN
24
NOV
SAT
07
DEC
SUN
08
DEC
SAT
08
MAR
SAT
15
MAR
WED
19
MAR
SAT
22
MAR
SAT
22
MAR
SAT
29
MAR
WED
02
APR
THU
03
APR
SAT
05
APR
SUN
06
APR
SUN
13
APR
SUN
13
APR
TUE
15
APR
TUE
15
APR
SAT
19
APR
SUN
20
APR
TUE
22
APR
SAT
26
APR
SUN
27
APR
TUE
29
APR
WED
30
APR
SAT
03
MAY
SUN
04
MAY
TUE
06
MAY
TUE
06
MAY
SAT
10
MAY
SAT
17
MAY
SAT
17
MAY
SAT
31
MAY
SAT
21
JUN
WED
09
JUL
THU
18
SEP
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.
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