To begin a 200-mile journey from Albany to New York City, 175 cyclists will ride along the Hudson River, absorbing the peace and beauty of the water before landing in bustling downtown Albany. From August 4 to August 9, the riders will bike against the view of the Catskill Mountains, the wildflowers of Sojourner Truth State Park, and various historic sites as part of Parks and Trails New York (PTNY)’s Cycle the Hudson Valley fully-supported bike tour. Registration is open until July 31.
PTNY is the state’s leading advocate for public parks and land. In Cycle the Hudson Valley, cyclists bike an average of 47 miles a day, stopping at overnight campsites like the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz for a bed, a hot shower, and a meal. On the tour, cyclists learn about the history of the area they’re biking through by visiting sites like Hopewell Depot Museum. The tour stops in Albany, Hudson, New Paltz, Carmel, and Brooklyn, allowing cyclists to experience the local culture and history of each area after their ride.
Cycle the Hudson Valley grew out of Cycle the Erie Canal, PTNY’s initial group ride. “With the completion of the Empire State Trail in 2020, there was this obvious question of, ‘Should we have a ride that goes along the Hudson Valley to be that complement to our Erie ride?’” says Dylan Carey, a cyclist and organizer from PTNY.
By virtue of spending so much time together, close connections from on these bike tours Cyclists come with long-distance friends and catch up together on the tours, or with families, or sometimes they come alone and meet friends along the way. People have met and fallen in love; families wear matching jerseys each day of the ride; people that would have otherwise never met are drawn to each other.
“Every time you ride a trail, you’ll see something new. You’ll find out some new piece of history, and you’ll be riding with new people who will give you a new perspective. You’ll meet new friends along the way. You’ll chat with new people and have lunch in some of these communities,” says Carey. “It really is just a blast. It’s the best vacation you can have on two wheels.”
Beyond making connections with each other, riders experience the most scenic areas of the Empire State Trail. They’ll ride over Walkway Over the Hudson at dawn and through miles of Hudson Valley countryside, giving riders the chance to appreciate the natural world around them.
Cycle the Hudson Valley, in addition to being a fundraiser for PTNY, also helps support the communities that bikers ride through. PTNY recruits local musicians, historians, vendors, and caterers to provide for the cyclists along the tour. They also offer shuttles from the campsites into the downtowns of the areas that they stay at so that cyclists can immerse themselves in the communities they pass through.
The Cycle the Hudson Valley tour is meant for cyclists of all ages and skill levels. “The best part is that you don’t have to be a Tour de France level pro cyclist to be able to do it. You just get on a bike and ride,” says Carey. “I’m just excited about seeing the joy on the riders’ faces when they complete it.”
An adult ticket to the tour costs $900. Tickets for children ages 6-17 cost $600, and tickets for kids 5 and under cost $300. Aspiring cyclists can register here.
