Mid-Summer Rides

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

August has great events for every ability and with distances and variety for everyone. Check out these races, rides, and bike trips that combine riding with experiences with fellow cyclists and the community. Enjoy your ride while knowing you’re supporting worthy causes. 

First up is the Cole’s Woods Summer Mountain Bike Race Series. On Thursdays, July 24, 31, August 7 and 14 at 6pm, gather at the Glens Falls YMCA at Cole’s Woods for this fun series for kids, teens and adults. The course is between 1.5-2 miles with options for one lap for novices, two for sport and three for expert. The rides are free and there’s also a kids’ fun race. Stay for the raffle prizes. The series is organized by Friends of Coles Woods, a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining and improving Cole’s Woods, home of North America’s first lighted cross-country ski trails. Learn more: friendsofcoleswoods.org.

Enjoy a full weekend of riding at The Weekender at Paul Smith’s College by Bike Adirondacks on Friday-Sunday, August 1-3. 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 Adirondacks, 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. 

Whether you stay in the dorms, tent, or RV on campus, or stay in local lodging, the Weekender is all about relaxation and exploration, on and off your bike. Paul Smith’s 14,000-acre lakeside campus is the perfect hub for you to explore the beautiful Saranac Lake region by bicycle. It’s a few paddle strokes on a pristine pond while listening to the enchanting call of a loon. It’s drinking in crisp forest smells while strolling a boardwalk along a nearby bog. And, of course, the cycling is amazing. 

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. Spaces are still available. Register: bikeadirondacks.com.

No racing license is needed at the annual Churney Gurney Mountain Bike Races on Saturday-Sunday, August 2-3. This mountain bike event takes place on 13 miles of professionally designed mountain bike trails in the Gurney Lane Park in Queensbury. Gurney Lane Recreation Park 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 super Churney Gurney Trail Running Race on the same trails the day on Saturday: runsignup.com. The Gurney Lane has been rated the top mountain bike trail system in New York State by singletracks.com. Register: bikereg.com.

Lichen Bike Tours aims to make multi-day bikepacking adventures open and available to all in the Hudson Valley. From beautiful gravel trails in the Catskill and Taconic Mountains to the back dirt roads of historical hamlets, Lichen offers a range of non-competitive events for bike enthusiasts of any skill level. There are four trips to choose from and a range of three- to six-day bikepacking trips. They even offer a beginners-focused, hands-on class at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson to get you started.

On July 10-13 and September 20-23, there’s a four-day trip that averages 60 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing per day with 220 total miles and 18,000 feet of total climbing. On August 3-7 and 17-21, they offer a five-day trip that’s challenging but also allows for time off the bike for fun rest stops. The average daily mileage is 40 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing  

Traveling with a group and an experienced guide makes the journey more enjoyable. You’ll ride with like-minded cyclists at a similar fitness level, ensuring a comfortable pace while building connections along the way. Rides are on safe, scenic routes that avoid heavy traffic, while your guide monitors the weather and adjusts plans as needed. With food, water, and shelter planned at every stage, you can focus on the ride without worrying about logistics. If you’re introducing a friend, partner, or child to bikepacking, a guided group ride is the perfect way to build their confidence in a supportive environment. Rides are led by NYS DEC licensed guides with extensive experience in wilderness and outdoor safety. Visit: lichenbiketours.com.

The 22nd annual Chrissy’s Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday, August 10, offers several options from The Hub at Brant Lake. Enjoy beautiful scenery as you ride along the rivers and lakes. A post-ride lunch is included at The Hub. There’s a 40-mile and 25-mile options that take you along the Schroon River, Loon, Friends and Brant lakes and a 15-mile option along the Schroon River and Brant Lake. Day of registration.

The ride is named for Christine Nicole Perry, an amazing young woman whose life was taken in a tragic automobile accident in January 2003 at the age of 18. Chrissy was an extremely generous and talented young woman whose zest for life was wide and infectious. In honoring Chrissy’s memory the Christine Nicole Perry Memorial Trust, donates to local community organizations that represent Chrissy’s diverse interests. Since 2003 Chrissy’s Fund has given over $100,000 to individuals and organizations, among them High Peaks Hospice and Palliative Care Inc, and Glens Falls Hospital to name a few. Learn more: chrissysfund.com. Register: bikereg.com.

New to the scene is the North Creek 4-6er Marathon MTB Race & Endurance Fest. On Saturday, August 16, the North Creek Ski Bowl Trails will host four- and six-hour races. Register as an individual or as a team. The team relay allows one rider per team on the course at a time. Organizers welcome all categories and levels of riders, racers, spectators, friends, and family. There will be vendors, merchandise, food, and drinks for purchase, plus cash prizes and swag. This endurance festival combines top level riding mixed with a festive vibe that everyone will enjoy. 

The launch event is at Beck’s Tavern on August 15. Pre-register, pre-ride and eat, drink and listen to music. The event aims to end veteran suicide and support veterans with PTSD or brain injuries and their families. Unify Cycling is the organizer of this new event in conjunction with the Upper Hudson Trails Alliance. Learn more and register: unifycyclingny.com.

Another long-time staple is the 25th anniversary Pat Stratton Ride on Saturday, August 23. Named after a local plumber and cycling enthusiast, the Pat Stratton Ride is celebrating with a road cycling tours featuring some of the most stunning scenery and flat to rolling terrain in the northern Adirondacks. Choose from a 25- or 50-mile routes or sign up for the century 100-miler, all starting at the Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center in Saranac Lake. There are the fully-stocked rest stops and on-road support, entry to the post-ride raffle, cookout, live music, plus an event T-shirt – and tasty, homemade pie at the finish! 

This ride supports Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club 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.

Sign up for a ride, race or trip, support great causes and explore the beauty of Upstate New York by bike!

Mona Kulkarni Caron (mona@adkports.com) is a race director of the Good Karma 5K Run/Walk, mentor for the Run for Women 5K Training Challenge, and enjoys running, cycling, and the outdoors, when she’s not working as the Director for Trails & Stewardship at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.