Best Summer Events

By Dave Kraus

Summer just seems to get better and better for cyclists in Upstate New York. There are so many beautiful places to ride already, and now as we head into the height of cycling season the calendar is chock full of great events all over the Northeast for riders of all kinds. Take a look… 

June 29 – Capital Region Road Race & NYSBRA Road Racing Championship presented by the Capital Bicycle Racing Club – CBRC is the premier race club in Upstate and this annual road race offers events for any rider 15 or older on a 21-mile race loop that spins out to a flat and fast finish at the local high school. It’s the perfect events for veteran and aspiring road racers of almost all ages. There’s no day of event registration, so visit: bikereg.com.

July 12 – The North Winds Gravel Classic presented by the Adirondack Foothills Cycling Club: “Adirondacks” means “bark eater” and this combo race-ride event in the “Dacks” lets you just ride along for fun or eat some serious bark, racing on 34 and 67-mile courses that offer some of the fastest gravel in the Northeast in one of Upstate New York’s most remote areas on the Tug Hill Plateau. There’s fast hard racing for traditional elite and masters racers and exciting challenges for recreational riders and new cyclists alike. The plateau lies between Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks and is the size of Rhode Island. This event is sponsored by the Adirondack Foothills Cycling Club and as you might expect at a gravel gathering, there’s post-ride music, food, and craft beverages. Plus, proceeds benefit local charities All Kids Bike and Encompass Recreation. Register: bikereg.com.

July 11-13 – Champlain Islands Fondo (7/13) & Weekend Getaway (7/11-13) from Farm to Fork Fitness – Farm to Fork is back this year with a complete schedule of large group fondo mass start rides and three-day Weekend Getaway tours, and the Champlain event lets you savor the Vermont experience without pedaling up any big climbs. The Getaway Weekend starts Friday and gives you an in-depth sampling of the great riding in the vibrant Burlington-Shelburne-Champlain area, with visits to the Burlington waterfront, the spectacular Causeway Trail north, and Philo Rodge Farm south of the city. Then on Sunday join with the big group in the fondo, cycling on the (almost) totally flat North and South Hero Islands in Lake Champlain. Your Getaway Weekend features fully guided and supported rides and the fondo ends with a sumptuous BBQ dinner and live music at Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero. More info and register: farmtoforkfitness.com.

July 13 – Ride for the River by Bike Adirondacks – Bike Adirondacks always put on great events, and Ride for the River is one of their highlights, taking in the stunning scenery in the Wilmington area and northward. The “River” in the name is the Ausable River that drains northeastward into Lake Champlain and is home to some of the most stunning scenery (and riding) in the Adirondacks. Start with the small group “Tailgater” ride on July 12, then do one of the main Ride for the River routes from 20-40 miles the next day. Both ride routes feature rest stops and on the road support, plus a finish line lunch accompanied by live music at the Wilmington Town Beach. Jump in for a swim after you ride to support the Ausable Freshwater Center’s efforts to protect the clean waters, natural hydrology, diverse ecology, and scenic beauty of the Ausable. Register: bikeadirondacks.com.

July 20 – Pedal for Presents – This new event in the area featuring a 46-mile ride is part of the Santa’s S.L.E.D. campaign to honor fallen law enforcement officers and offer continuing support to their families in crisis with Christmas gifts for affected families plus year-round support and encouragement. What began in 2017 as an effort to support a corrections officer battling stage 4 esophageal cancer has grown into a powerful movement of compassion and community. When you ride, start from Elm Avenue Park in Delmar and enjoy a fully supported, casual paced ride to the NYS Police Officers Memorial for a tribute, then head back to the park’s large pavilion to share a meal and spend time together. Your ride will have on-road escorts, sag support, plus the post-ride celebration and picnic at the park. Register: opsantassled.org.

July 20-28 – Tandem Bike Tours: French Canada Spas & Chocolate (7/20-28) and Thousand Islands (8/16-24) from Gear-to-Go Tandems – If you and a riding partner are itching for a tour with fellow tandem owners, this is the place for you. These two tours feature limited sign-ups to keep the group small and friendly, plus seven full days of riding and lodging, most meals, post-ride happy hour get-togethers and baggage transfers. From the beautiful farm country near Montreal to the rolling countryside and rich history of the 1000 Islands region, there’s something for everyone. Register: gtgtandems.com.

July 25-27 – Cape Cod Weekend Getaway from Farm to Fork – In case you forgot, Cape Cod is almost totally flat, and this event takes full advantage of the geography to offer great coastal riding, a cornucopia of seafood, and multiple stops wine tastings, a fish market, and visits to the landmark Nauset Lighthouse and Cape Cod National Seashore. There’s also the signature Farm to Fork curated special dinner with the best of what the area kitchens have to offer. Register: farmtoforkfitness.com.

August 3 – Churney Gurney Mountain Bike Races – No racing license is needed for this annual mountain bike event that uses the 13 miles of professionally designed mountain bike trails in the Gurney Lane Park in Queensbury. Gurney Lane offers technical, rocky trails with hard lines and easier alternative lines, to wider bench cut trails featuring berms, rollers and endless amounts of flow. There are races for all ages including 12 and under and cash awards for the top finishers in the pro/open race. This race is also a big social event with a big BBQ for everyone, available beer, and local bike shops Rick’s and Grey Ghost on hand for mechanical support. This is one of the premier events for mountain bikers in the region – plus, there’s a trail running race the day before. The Gurney Lane Park has been rated the top mountain bike trail system in New York State by singletracks.com. Register: nysmtbseries.com.

August 1-3 – The Weekender at Paul Smith’s College by Bike Adirondacks – This is the perfect event to attend with a group of friends, with special discounts and bonuses for groups of ten or more. Ride out of the beautiful Paul Smith’s College campus for three days on routes of 25-50 miles, and new for this year are segments of the vehicle-free Adirondack Rail Trail. As you might expect from Bike ADK, all rides offer clearly marked routes, well stocked rest stops, and on the road support when you need it. Overnights are on the rural, beautiful 14,000-acre lakeside college campus. The event supports the New York Bicycling Coalition and features great fully supported riding plus lodging on campus, meals, live entertainment, and guided hiking or canoe adventures. It’s a great weekend for a worthy cause but sign up soon because there’s a 150-rider cap. Register: bikeadirondacks.com.

August 8-10 – Coastal Maine Weekend Getaway from Farm to Fork Fitness – This three-day weekend tour in the Brunswick and Freeport areas of coastal Maine combines both coastal and inland scenery to provide varied riding experiences including inland farms, quaint coastal villages, and pristine beaches. Add to that the Farm to Fork Signature Farm Dinner (Lobster!), complete on-the-road support, and stops at local farms, seafood shacks, and orchards and you get an unforgettable weekend. Register: farmtoforkfitness.com.

August 23 – Pat Stratton Ride by Bike Adirondacks – Named after a local plumber and cycling enthusiast, the Pat Stratton Ride is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a road cycling tour featuring some of the most stunning scenery and terrain in the northern Adirondacks. Choose from a 25 or 50-mile ride or “treat” yourself to a century, all starting at the Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center in Saranac Lake. There are the usual fully stocked rest stops and on-road support, plus an event T-shirt – and tasty pie at the finish! Like all Bike ADK events, this one supports a worthy cause–area youth programs including a bike rodeo, free helmets, a school backpack program, and support for foster children and summer camp scholarships. Since its start, the Stratton Ride has raised over $130,000 for area youth programs. Register: bikeadirondacks.com.

August 22-24 – Pennsylvania Dutch Fondo (8/23) and Weekend Getaway (8/22-24) from Farm to Fork Fitness – The Pennsylvania Dutch region of Pennsylvania combines unique culture with a rich farm-to-table tradition and rolling farmland scenery that offers great riding. If you’re doing the Getaway there’s two days of special ride experiences and food with behind-the-scenes farm visits and tasting that show you the best of the region’s food and culture. The finale of the weekend is the fondo where you join hundreds of other cyclists on one of four routes from 12-62 miles, followed up with a post-ride BBQ dinner and more local treats. Register: farmtoforkfitness.com.

Dave Kraus (dbkgrafik@gmail.com) is a road and gravel cyclist, photographer, writer, and professional cycling tour guide who would be happy to show your bike tour group a great time all over the Great Northeast. Visit: ciclismoclassico.com/guides/dave-kraus.