Cancelled Fall in the Mid-Hudson River Valley

This Ride has been Cancelled

This ride is a fixed-base or semi-fixed-base ride, please read the ride description for more details.

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: “Fall in the Mid-Hudson River Valley” is a self-directed, fixed base, bicycle tour that features rides through scenic roads of the Mid-Hudson area of NY.  Rides will be on the east (Poughkeepsie/Rhinebeck area) and west (New Paltz/Kingston) sides of the Hudson River.

The Hudson River Valley is not flat, with the Shawangunk (the “Gunks”) and Catskill Mountains on the west, and the Taconic Range on the east.  Daily routes allow riders to choose from 2-3 distances and elevation gains, with shorter routes 2B rated and longer routes often exceeding 2B.

Our base will be New Paltz, NY, a college town (SUNY New Paltz) with lots of interesting places to visit nearby.  Historic sites include the FDR Library/Springwood Home, the Vanderbilt Mansion, the D&H Canal museum, Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, and the arts community of Woodstock. Outdoor pursuits off the bike include rock climbing in the “Gunks”, Minnewaska State Park (hiking, mountain biking and swimming), and riverboat cruises out of Kingston. Foodies can visit the Culinary Institute of America, and there are several wineries and a distillery open for visitors.

Since this is a fixed-based trip, there are no mandatory riding days. Routes have been planned for riding Monday through Thursday. After checking out of the hotel on Friday, there are optional rides before returning home.

RIDE RATING: The ride is rated 2B overall, as each day will have at least one 2B (or lower) ride available, with option(s) for more mileage and/or climbing (and higher ratings!). Also available are optional rides for Friday, for those wanting a few more miles before returning home.

The designated set of rides for the next day will be announced at Happy Hour the day before. Weather will play a large factor in deciding which set is chosen for a particular day.  The sets include:

• Gunks” Crossing day – For climbing enthusiasts, the signature ride is over the Shawangunk Mountains ridge, across the Rondout Valley and back over the Gunks. For those wanting less climbing, don’t worry - a 2B route is available.
• Wallkill Valley day – rolling rides, with a few climbs that follow along both sides of the Wallkill River and the farms alongside it.  Views of the Gunks along the way. Options to stop at 1-2 local wineries, depending upon ride chosen.
• East Hudson day – riding on the Walkway Over the Hudson (longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world), then riding to the FDR/Vanderbilt historical sites, Aerodrome or Dutchess Rail Trail.  Remote start possible for those wanting fewer miles.
• Ashokan Reservoir day – The Ashokan provides the water for NYC and also scenic riding in the Catskills.  Riding through Woodstock is an option on this day. This is a remote start day.

Optional Friday Rides before heading home:

• Paved rail trails - Returning to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, continuing onto the Walkway Over the Hudson and then onto the Dutchess Rail Trail.
• Packed dirt/gravel rail trails - Wallkill Valley Rail Trail (accessed in New Paltz) or O&W Rail Trail (accessed in Kingston). Hybrid or mountain bike is recommended (can be rented in New Paltz).
• Any of the rides you didn’t do from previous days.

The designated set of rides for the day (Monday through Thursday) will have leaders riding and an emergency SAG car for the routes. Participants may decide to ride something outside the selected group, understanding that there will be no leader or emergency support. There will be no leader/emergency support on Friday. Since this is a fixed-based trip, there are no mandatory riding days.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES: GPS data, cue sheets, and routes details will be accessible in Ride Leader Docs for this trip on the BAC web site. GPS tracks (.gpx format) will be provided, but it is up to you to know how to download the .gpx files and upload to your GPS device before the trip begins.  Also included is a map book featuring all 17 possible rides.  The removable pages include topo maps and color-coded cue sheets to make them easier to follow.  

WEATHER:  Fall weather in the New York is unpredictable.  Generally, daytime temperatures range from mid 50’s to 70’s. We can have cold spells or a fall heat wave. Rain is always a possibility.  Plan to dress in layers.

LODGING & MEALS:  We will be staying at the Hampton Inn in New Paltz, NY.  They have a free breakfast buffet, with a variety of hot and cold choices. Also available is a fitness center, indoor salt water pool, Wi-Fi in all rooms and free self-parking. Coin-op laundry available on-site.

Trip fee includes 5 nights of lodging (Sunday through Thursday nights), 5 breakfasts, 2 group dinners (Sunday and Thursday) and 5 Happy Hours. Other meals, housekeeping gratuities, breakfast gratuities, and alcoholic beverages at group dinners are not included.  There are many restaurants in New Paltz, and lunch opportunities along the ride will be discussed at the Happy Hours.

LOGISTICS: You can fly into Albany or Newark/LaGuardia/Kennedy airports, or the smaller Stewart International in Newburgh, and then rent a car.  You take Amtrak to Poughkeepsie, but will then need to take a taxi/rent a car to get to the hotel. You will also need a car for remote start rides.  The Hampton Inn is right off the NY Thruway (I-87) at Exit 18.

The first meeting is Sunday, September 27th, 2020 for happy hour followed by a welcome dinner. The last full ride day is Thursday with a farewell dinner that evening.  The trip ends Friday morning, October 2nd after breakfast when we move out of our hotel rooms. There will be optional rides for Friday for those who want to ride again before heading home.

We plan evening happy hours where we will discuss rides and options for the following day, enjoy some beer/wine/soft drinks, appetizers and share experiences.

If you want to arrive early or stay later, you can make arrangements directly with the Hampton Inn, New Paltz (internet under www.hilton.com, searching for New Paltz, NY)‎, or by calling 845-255-4200.  September/early October is a very busy time in the Mid-Hudson, so if you are thinking of adding days, make reservations early.

Note that the Hampton Inn does not have enough storage space to accept shipped bikes.  If you are shipping your bike, please contact Bicycle Depot in New Paltz (845-255-3859, www.bicycledepot.com), who has agreed to accept and store a limited number of shipped bikes provided they are not stored for more than a few days. They will also accept and assemble your shipped bike, and disassemble and ship your bike out after the tour, for a fee

COST & ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $50 non-refundable BAC fee, the estimated tour cost is $1,000 per person based on double occupancy and includes 5 nights lodging, 5 breakfasts, 2 group dinners, 5 happy hours and cue sheets/.gpx tracks.  A $500 deposit will be required upon your acceptance onto the ride.  The balance (also $500) will be due by June 1, 2020. A limited number of single rooms are available for a single supplement of $425.

If you prefer not to bring your own bike, a limited number of road bike rentals are available from TRT Bicycles in Rosendale, NY (845-658-7832, christian@trtbicycles.com, www.trtbicycles.com).  Arrangements must be made directly with TRT Bicycles and are the sole responsibility of the trip participant renting the bike.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until May15, 2020 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $425 solo supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leaders will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leaders.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  You will then receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit ($500) by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leaders, "click" the names at the top of this Ride Description.