Deep Westchester

This is a gorgeous route through wooded countryside, past reservoirs. There are lots of hills (though no real climbs), but also lots of bailouts on Metro North. The ride begins with a train from Grand Central Terminal to White Plains.

White Plains train station has restrooms and a magazine stand with cold drinks & candy. The first pit stop is in 13.5 miles but has no food, so bring pocket food with you from home. You'll be in traffic for the first mile and a half, but then it eases off. Much of the route is ex-urban, with wooded areas, reservoirs and expansive homes (some visible, some not)

Nine miles into the ride you cross into Connecticut and ride through wooded rolling hills to the Audubon Society, where you find the first opportunity for a pit stop. Enter the grounds and ride down the drive to the building. Restrooms are to the right upon entering. Check out the exhibits and gift shop if you've a mind.

John Street and Round Hill Road lead you back into New York State past low stone walls that define the Greenwich estates and white board fences separating the horse pastures. Deeper woods and more stone walls line Bedford-Banksville Road, four miles of rollers - let your momentum carry you from one hill to the next into the village of Bedford. There you'll find a couple of delis. If the weather's nice, eat out on the Village Green. Restrooms are in the Public Library (leave a donation in the box) or downstairs in the movie theatre.

Continue riding through more idylic countryside as you pass through Pound Ridge and partially circle the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. A gas station on the right as you turn onto NY-35 will be your only opportunity for a pit stop for another 12 miles.

Four-tenths of a mile after you turn onto Mead Street, you'll see a lovely stone chapel on the left. Gear down! Mead makes a righthand curve onto a sharp little hill. It's a "gotcha" if you're in the wrong gear.

NY-116/Titcus Road takes you past the Titicus Reservoir in North Salem. Your eyes will be on the gorgeous scenery, but beware of some rough road. There's no shoulder and there will be some cars, so be careful if you're swinging out around a rough patch.

At mile 41.9, you'll find the Purdys Metro North train station, if you want to shorten the ride. You'll see the road down to the station just after you cross over I-684. On weekends trains leave for Manhattan every hour (currently at 23 minutes past the hour).

After Purdys, you'll bear left on NY-100; then make a right into the Somerstown Shopping Center where you'll find a Bagel shop. This is your last opportunity for food, water and restrooms for the next 24 miles. For the next 10 miles you'll be on busy Rte. 100. There's a wide shoulder for most of this, but the last mile has no shoulder.

When you make the right onto Hardscrabble, be prepared to gear down. In very short order you'll be on a steep section of a 0.7-mile hill. (The RWGPS profile doesn't show it, but many a Garmin has read 10% at the beginning of the hill.) Hardscrabble is a lovely 4-mile long rollercoaster...have fun!

In another 12 miles, you'll be in Tarrytown. Mrs. Green's Market is a nice place to pick up some food & drink. Restrooms are downstairs past the coffee bar. You can catch the train back to Manhattan at the Tarrytown Metro North Station.

The final 25 miles still hold some interest, in particular the nice views over the Hudson River. But you're getting back into traffic, suburbs and eventually city riding. Broadway (US-9) coming south from Tarrytown is busy and has some rough road. There isn't a real shoulder, but the lane is wide so the cars shouldn't feel right on top of you. Warburton has some lovely sections. Watch for pedestrians as you pass through Hastings. Yonkers, where it turns into Riverdale Ave. will feel busy, and soon enough you'll be back in the Bronx, where you can pick up the subway or ride all the way back into Midtown.

Important Reminders
You'll take the train from Grand Central to White Plains at the start, and you may want to shorten the ride by taking the train home from Purdys or Tarrytown.

Bring pocket food and fluids - there are longer stretches without stops.

Author: Carol Waaser

rs 11/25/23

Roboviva Cue Sheet: http://snuggl.es/roboviva/routes/7587389