Black Cow Ride

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Croton on Hudson, NY, US

Route Overview

Kevin Kidder

Any day on the bike is a good day

34 mi.

2,165 ft.

Black Cow Ride between coffee shops.

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Route Details

This ride starts and ends at the @poi[Black Cow Coffee Company](1805124) in Croton on Hudson, NY, and makes a stop at the only other Black Cow Coffee Company in Pleasantville, NY. The route is mostly paved, with some hard-pack dirt on the return trip. This is a moderately hilly route, as is typical for Northern Westchester.

Starting from the Black Cow, parking is available in the municiple lot around the side of the building or on the street where available. Parking is available for only 2 hours on these streets and in the municiple lot, but there is additional parking that is unrestricted on nearby streets as well as in the nearby CVS Shopping Plaza. It can be fun to start with a cup of coffee before the ride begins. Going to the light at Grand Street, making a right and following the road through town, you will merge on to Rte 129 here. Be aware of traffic, as @point[this corner](d,53627.68) doesn't have great visibility. In several hundred feet, @point[turn left on to Batten Rd](d,1074.26). This quiet road will climb for a little while, stay to the right at the fork. The climb is worth it as it provides a great vista of the Croton Dam off to the right. Be careful on the descent, as it sweeps through several 90 degree bends.

Turn left on to Rte 129 again, and follow the road for approximately @slice[6 miles](d,3152.78,12653.31), until you reach the entrance to the North County Bike Path in Yorktown. Here you are treated to the old Tressle Bridge over the reservoir. Follow the path to the end, where you will turn left on to Rte 100. The shoulder is wide here, and the terrain is flat. In approximately @slice[3 miles](d,18580.34,23303.86), you will diverge from the road on to the bike path again for only a few hundred feet. At the Briarcliff Manor Library, @slice[turn right in to the library and follow the driveway out to make a left on Pleasantville Road.](d,23235.91,23671.51)

The ride from here is easy, following Pleasantville Road for 2 miles, and the road will become Bedford Road. Turn left at the 4th intersection on Tompkins Avenue and then left again on Manville Road. The first left will be Wheeler Ave, which is a one way street. The @poi[Black Cow](1805125) will be on your left.

After you have had some tasty baked goods, and a fresh cup of coffee, walk back up Wheeler Ave to Manville Rd and make a left. At Pleasantville Rd, turn right, following your path in for 1/2 mile before turning right on to @point[Hardscrabble Rd](d,26118.13).

Now the hills will set in, so be ready. Follow Hardscrabble Rd North for 5 miles until the traffic light at Quaker Rd. Turn Right on to Quaker Rd and left on to Seven Bridges Road. Here is where the hill climbing will pay off. Seven Bridges Rd is a fast and gentle descent for @slice[2.5 miles](d,36222.84,40156.34).

At the end of Seven Bridges Rd, turn left on to Rte 100, and then a right on to Rte 134 (Kitchawan Rd). Here you will have the second-to-last climb of the day, which can be explained as three smaller climbs. The first climb is the steepest that takes you around the first and second curve. It is relatively short and then relaxes to a manageable 3-4% grade for a while. With two sections done, take a breath on the descent, preparing for the longer steeper section. At the top, turn right on to @point[Aqueduct Road](d,43964.52), and in a few hundred feet you are done with going uphill for a while. The descent down Aqueduct Rd can be steep in sections, and fast.

At the bottom, turn left on to @point[Croton Dam Rd](d,46108.26). Here the road becomes a hard-pack dirt road, which is the perfect place to enjoy the scenery of the Croton Reservoir to your right. After a short climb, turn right to stay on Croton Dam Rd, which will take you over the top of the @poi[Croton Dam](1805132). This breathtaking scenery is picture worthy.

After the dam, cross Rte 129 again back on to Batten Rd, now climbing easily up the back side of the slope and down the other side. Merge back on to Rte 129 again and turn right at the traffic light on to Old Post Rd. You have arrived back at the starting location, for some snack or goodies.

Black Cow Ride

Route Overview

Route Details

Other routes by Kevin Kidder

Around Croton Reservoir

North County Bike Path

Danny's Cycles to Bear Mountain

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