MARS rides - GW Bridge

Back to the main page for this ride

Route description: GWB/Piermont-Nyack

It's not really worth doing a cue sheet for this ride, because there are only a few turns and landmarks to watch for.

Start: Hudson Terrace (under the NJ end of the GW Bridge)

Follow Hudson Terrace north, about 2 miles to the end.

Left turn, then right onto Route 9W

Follow 9W for about 13 miles (a few small uphills from mile 2 to mile 4, some good downhills after mile 9).

NOTE: There is no shoulder from mile 2 until mile 4 - RIDE SINGLE FILE

You will see a large sign welcoming you into NY State (about mile 12) at the end of a stretch of good rollers. This is a good spot to regroup; pull into the small parking lot on the right, next to the entrance for the Earth Observatory.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Anyone who feels they cannot handle the climb on the way back should turn around here! The climbs coming back are not absolute killers, but they are pretty stiff. If absolutely necessary they can be walked.

Continue north, get ready for a great 3/4 mile downhill, on which it is possible to hit 50 mph! Be careful; there`s a curve and a traffic light at the bottom of the hill (Oak Tree Road). The light can be seen from a distance, so don`t worry about going full out!

After the traffic light there is a series of three or four big, steep rollers (keep your speed up and you won't have to grind up them). Look for the well-marked, easy-to-spot golf driving range on your left. SLOW DOWN HERE.

Take the next left turn onto Route 340.

UPDATED INFO FOR 2003: The bridge just after the Rt. 340 turn has been completed, so it's now possible to just continue north on 9W. If you did that, though, you'd miss Piermont....

Rt. 340 is a sharp, steep downhill, so SLOW DOWN!!

At the bottom, take the next right on Piermont Rd. Ride along the canal into Piermont. The road will curve sharply to the left and cross the canal. If you want to visit the pier, turn right at the light just after the crossing and follow the signs. If you just want to head into town for lunch (or to head up to Nyack), go straight through the intersection.

Piermont is a good place to end the ride. There are plenty of places to eat, rest and just hang out and watch the amazing flow of cyclists, who will be grinning from the ride north or dreading the ride south. The group might enjoy buying lunch and taking it out to the pier.

If you need a bike shop Piermont Cycles is just off the main street, in a large condo/shopping complex.

The ride can continue north into Nyack if desired. Be aware that the road north out of Piermont is posted: Bikes Ride Single File: Penalty $250. Also, this road and the street heading up into Nyack itself are rather narrow, rough-surfaced and can be congested.

To get to Nyack, just continue about 3 miles on Piermont Rd. You'll pass under Interstate 87, and do a very short corkscrew climb. After this, take the first left , then the first right and follow the street into Nyack.

Look for the Runcible Spoon on your right after maybe a mile. It stands out because of the bike racks and cafe tables out front.

The return route to the GWB is simply the reverse of the ride out. No surprises. Remember, when you pass the Earth Observatory and the state line all of the really bad climbing is over.