Tours and Rides – Ride Hard, Feel Good

By Dave Kraus & Darryl Caron

Multiday cycling tours across New York can open the door to whole new worlds for cyclists. Seeing new places, making new friends, and supporting worthy causes are all great reasons to take a look at these extended rides across the state.

The 12th annual Empire State Ride to End Cancer on Saturday-Saturday, July 25-August 1 is a seven-day, 500+ mile fully-supported cycling adventure from New York City to Niagara Falls. It raises funds to fuel lifesaving cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo but makes a worldwide impact as one of only 4% that holds comprehensive status from the National Cancer Institute – and it has affiliated hospitals in Albany and Schenectady.

Ride founder Terry Bourgeois originally rode the New York City to Niagara Falls route solo in 2014, and since the first group ride in 2015 with only 10 participants, riders have raised more than $12 million for the cause with $2 million raised for cancer research last year. Nearly 250 riders started the Empire State Ride in 2025 at Wagner College on Staten Island, including 46 cancer patients or survivors, and the weeklong adventure for 2026 is officially FULL! If you’d like to get on the Priority Registration List for 2027, now’s the time.

However, you can join the big ESR group for the Two-Day Ride from Weedsport to Niagara Falls – to the finish line! This option is perfect for those that are new to cycling, with a busy schedule, or who need more flexibility in their mission to end cancer. There’s a $100 registration fee and $1,000 fundraising commitment.

Another option is to join ESR’s 500+ Mile Hometown Challenge to be a part of it from anywhere in the world – by riding 500 miles during the month of July. Rally your community for the cause or ride solo. Your dedication to riding and raising funds for cancer research has an impact. There’s no registration fee and no fundraising minimum. Register to get started.

Geoff Wilk, 66, of Delmar is captain of the Cuss Brothers team and a longtime runner, hiker and biker. He said, “Money raised by the riders is matched by $23 in grant money for each dollar raised for the ride. The staff covers every detail for the riders, you need only sign up, fundraise, train, and ride – they take care of the rest!” This is his sixth year on the ride and he’s planning on doing it again into the future. 

Some of Geoff’s highlights are “arriving in lower Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry after sailing past Lady Liberty, seeing the Freedom Tower and all of New York City at 15mph, George Washington Bridge, lunch at Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, team pictures on the Walkway Over the Hudson bridge in Poughkeepsie, draft beer near the rest stop in downtown Albany, dinner at the Shaker Heritage site in Colonie and then traveling west through Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester along the Erie Canal, and arriving in Niagara Falls to hundreds of cheering supporters for the final two miles as we bike two by two with a police escort to the falls overlook.”

Geoff enjoys the sense of accomplishment in training and then completing this 560-mile ride across the state. He stated, “It can be hot, humid or cold, rainy or windy, however I keep it in perspective bempirestateride.comy remembering that my little bit of discomfort along the route is nothing compared to the struggles of the people who are battling cancer, those for whom we ride – that makes it all worth it.” As the ESR folks remind riders, ‘It’s the hardest bike ride you’ll ever love.’ Geoff adds, “If you ride a bike you need to do this ride!” There’s plenty of fundraising support, and it’s open to individuals and teams: empirestateride.com.

Parks & Trails New York offers two multiday tours. These and other events help support their work advocating for public lands and driving change that’s grown to include trails, outdoor recreation, active transportation, plus bicycle and pedestrian issues.

The 28th annual Cycle the Erie Canal from Saturday-Sunday, July 11-19 on the historic Erie Canal. This 400-mile fully-supported bike tour takes riders from Buffalo to Albany in eight days. The relatively flat trail is now more than 85% off-road and suitable for all ages and abilities. 

The fourth annual Cycle the Hudson Valley takes place from Monday-Saturday, August 3-8, highlighting the communities, culture, history, and scenic landscape of the iconic Hudson Valley. It’s a fully-supported five-day, 200-mile tour from the Albany area, following the Hudson River section of the Empire State Trail, to New York City. The trail is 63% paved, 13% crushed stone dust, and 24% on road. It includes flat and rolling stretches on the trail, some climbs on rural roads, and urban streets that connect gaps of the off-road trail.

Both tours cover 40-60 miles per day, cyclists experience scenic vistas, pivotal history, and some of the best riding anywhere in the Northeast. The tours largely follow the New York Empire State Trail, which winds for 750 miles from Buffalo to Albany, then south to New York City and northward to the Canadian border. 

On both events, riders will have all the support they need as they camp overnight at various locations, with both indoor and outdoor camping, catered food, shower truck, and even optional Comfy Campers services that provide tents, gear rentals and set-up. Hotels are also available. On the road each day there will be staffed rest stops with snacks and drinks, sag and mechanical support, plus baggage transfer to the next daily stop.

PTNY’s Director of Policy and Planning Dylan Carey says they’ve put together bike tours that will give riders an experience they’ll want to repeat. “They’re immersive journeys through New York’s landscapes and history. They are an unforgettable experience with many like-minded people from around the country.” Learn more and register: ptny.org.

Dave Kraus (dbkgrafik@gmail.com) is a road and gravel cyclist, photographer, writer, and professional guide for Discovery Bike Tours and Farm to Fork Fitness who would be happy to show your bike tour group a good time all over the Great Northeast.