Cycling In Westchester County

Coaches Corner — Coach Jon Reitzes

Cycling inWestchester County

Where should you start? It depends on where you are in your journey -- and that's a great place to begin.

One of the things I love most about coaching this team is that everyone comes in at a different place. Some of you have been riding for years. Some of you are just getting your bike out of the garage for the first time since last spring. And some of you are brand new to cycling altogether. All of that is completely fine -- that's exactly what this group is for.

Our group rides are designed to be fun, social, and progressive. We build mileage as the season goes on, we rotate locations to keep things fresh, and most importantly, we ride together. But here's the honest truth: if you have specific distance goals for the summer, our bi-weekly rides alone won't get you there. You'll need to be putting in miles on your own too.

Spin classes are fantastic -- I recommend them up to twice a week. They're great for your cardiovascular fitness, your leg strength, and your mental toughness. But after that, you really want to be on your own bike, moving through actual planet Earth. There's no substitute for it. You learn how to handle your bike, how to pace yourself, how to read terrain, and how to manage your energy over longer distances -- and none of that happens in a studio.

The goal is to build a handful of repeatable 15-20 mile routes near your house that you can knock out in about an hour. Doing the same routes consistently is actually a feature, not a bug -- it lets you track your progress week over week, watch your times improve, and feel the fitness building in real time. That's motivating in a way that varying routes constantly just isn't.

Not sure where to start near your neighborhood? Reach out and I'll help you map something. Seriously -- that's what I'm here for.

In the meantime, here are some great options right here in Westchester to get you started.

Self-Guided Routes

Route 01

North County Trailway

A beautifully paved former railway line running through the heart of Westchester -- this is one of the best dedicated cycling paths in the region. The rail trail surface is smooth, the grade is gentle (it was a train line, after all), and the scenery is gorgeous. It connects all the way up toward Mahopac as part of the Empire State Trail, so you can make it as long or as short as you like.

A word on rail trails: No cars is a gift -- but stay alert. Hikers, kids, dogs, and cyclists wearing headphones all share the path, and they don't always stay to the right. Ride with awareness, call out when passing, and keep your speed sensible around blind curves.

Wikipedia Empire Trail Info

Route 02

South County Trailway

The South County Trailway is the southern counterpart to the North County, running from Yonkers up through the county on another paved rail trail. It's a great option for riders in the lower part of Westchester and connects with other trails to let you build longer rides. Same rules apply as the North County -- share the path and stay alert.

TrailLink Wikipedia

Route 03

Bronx River Parkway Cycling Sundays

This is a Westchester classic and genuinely one of the best things about living here. On designated Sunday mornings from May through October, a 13-mile stretch of the Bronx River Parkway is closed entirely to cars and opened up to cyclists, joggers, skaters, and walkers. It's a beautiful, car-free corridor through some of the prettiest parts of the county -- and a great way to get comfortable riding on a wider road surface without traffic. Perfect for newer riders building confidence.

Bicycle Sundays Info

Worth Joining

Westchester Cycling Club

If you want more miles, more company, and more structure, the Westchester Cycling Club is one of the best resources in the county. They run rides practically every day in the summer at varying difficulty levels, starting from different locations around Westchester. It's a welcoming community, and riding with more experienced cyclists is one of the fastest ways to improve. The price of entry is remarkably reasonable for what you get.

Membership: $40/year

Join the WCC →

Need a Route Near You?

Let's Map Your Home Base

Tell me your neighborhood and I'll help you build a repeatable 15-20 mile route you can ride all season. Watching your times drop on a familiar route is one of the best feelings in cycling.

See the Full Training Schedule →