OSSINING FOR THE HILL OF IT

Fast and Fabulous Cycling/Front Runners New York
March 26, 2000

by Bob Nelson

This 65-mi. route has plenty of hills as you approach Ossining.  There are several places to stop in Tarrytown, including a gourmet grocery store and a bakery; both have a few chairs and tables and both are located on the west side of Route 9 after the main intersection in Tarrytown.  Unfortunately, El Viejo Rincon burned down in 2003; if anyone has news of whether it’s been rebuilt, please pass it along.
 

Key: R = Right turn L = Left turn BR = bear right BL = bear left QR = quick right QL = quick left GF = Gaily forward! (not "go straight"!) X = Cross. Like Joan Crawford. x.x = cumulative mileage

1. Get Out of Town!

0.0 L From the Boathouse, north on East Drive.
2.2 L West 110th St.
3.0 R Riverside; continue north.
5.8 GF At 165th St., do NOT make right uphill. Continue on Riverside, which becomes West Side Highway. Bikes can ride on shoulder.
7.8 R Exit at Dyckman St. Watch for grate on right side of exit. L First left, before the light, onto Henshaw. One block downhill.
7.9 R Dyckman. Go two blocks, and at the light 8.0 L Up short hill onto Seaman. (You will pass corner of Seaman and Cumming.) Continue to end.
8.8 R West 218th St., up short hill. Columbia stadium on left.
9.0 L Broadway. Cross Broadway Bridge over the Harlem River. Take expansion joints at angle left to right.
9.4 L West 230 St., under elevated subway. Pass U-Haul on left, then proceed to second light.
9.8 L Irwin uphill. Bear right at top, go under Henry Hudson Pkwy to end.
10.6 GF Kappock, short downhill.
10.8 R Palisade Ave. This is a back road through Riverdale.
11.8 R West 248th. Sharp, nasty little uphill bearing left; watch for traffic.
12.0 L At top of hill; this is Independence Ave. Wave Hill on left.
12.5 L West 252nd. Extremely sharp downhill; use brakes. Day school on left.
12.6 R Palisades. Continue past Hebrew Home for Aged on left.
13.2 R West 261 St. College of Mount St. Vincent on the left.
13.4 L Riverdale Ave.

2. Hudson Views

15.2 GF Through downtown Yonkers; becomes Warburton. Follow through Hastings-on-Hudson, to end.
19.7 L Route 9 / Broadway.
21.2 L After short downhill in Dobbs Ferry, at light. Supermarket on right for pit stop, if needed.
24.5 X Over New York State Thruway east of Tappan Zee Bridge.
26.2 L In Tarrytown, following Route 9. GF Through North Tarrytown and Briarcliff Manor. You'll know you're close to Ossining when the hills start getting steeper.
31.5 STOP at El Viejo Rincon, a Colombian restaurant that will let you bring bikes indoors. It's across the street from Ossining High School, imposing structure on right. Delish rice and beans for $4.

3. Homo bound!

31.5 R Onto Route 9; follow south as before.
36.1 R Sharp uphill in Tarrytown, then right at top, following Route 9.
38.5 X Over New York State Thruway.
42.6 L Sharp left at light at four corners, onto Ashford in Dobbs Ferry; supermarket is across the street.
43.6 X Over Saw Mill Parkway.
44.7 X Old Sprain Rd.; Ashford becomes Ardsley and you go uphill.
44.0 X Over Sprain Brook Pkwy., then immediate
44.2 R Sprain Valley Rd.
45.9 QL, then QR;
46.0 X Jackson Ave. onto Grassy Sprain Rd.
48.6 L Tuckahoe Rd., will cross Rt.100.
49.1 R Very first right onto Bronxville Rd.
49.7 L After Boyd, Pondfield around circle, through Bronxville.
50.2 R Before RR tracks, onto Parkway. Bronxville RR station on left.
50.3 BR Dewitt.
50.4 X Sprain Brook Pkwy.
50.5 L First left onto Desmond.
51.6 X Midland, at overpass. GF Street changes names, to Bronx River Pkwy. to Webster Ave.
54.2 X East 233rd St.
54.5 L Gun Hill Rd. before overpass.
56.0 L Jerome Ave. under elevated subway. QL East Moshulu Pkwy. QR Grand Concourse, to end.
~60 R East 138 St.; cross bridge. No expansion joints, but watch gratings.
~65 L Fifth Ave. around Marcus Garvey Park to Central Park. HOMO!