New York’s biggest multi-day bike tour departed from Buffalo Sunday and is expected to arrive in Albany on July 16th. 750 cyclists from 40 states and Canada are taking to the trail as part of the 25th anniversary of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour, organized by the statewide nonprofit Parks & Trails New York (PTNY). Covering between 40 and 60 miles a day, cyclists will travel along the now 85% off-road Erie Canalway Trail, the east-west leg of the 750-mile Empire State Trail.
On Tuesday, cyclists will leave Clyde in the morning and travel through the canal corridor en route to Seneca Falls where they will camp out overnight on the grounds of Mynderse Academy.
Organizers say Cycle the Erie Canal, which is now in its 25th year, is an exceptional tour accessible for cyclists of all levels.
“It’s more than just a tour. Like a magic loom, Cycle the Erie Canal weaves people and experiences together as they move through the landscape. We’ve seen grandparents riding with their grandkids. We’ve celebrated the weddings of folks who have met on the tour. Riders come back again and again, bringing more friends and family to experience the tour with them. Every year we’re not only welcoming upstate New Yorkers, but we’re also hosting folks from all over the United States and the world,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York. “We are so thankful to share such a meaningful experience with all our riders, not to mention the amazing towns along the canal who really go above and beyond, year after year, to roll out the red carpet for our riders. With more of the Erie Canalway Trail completed year after year, and an even greater sense of celebration and joy from the towns and cyclists, Cycle the Erie Canal truly just keeps getting better and better.”
For a map of the full eight days, visit the interactive story map. Riders will spend the eight nights camping in Buffalo, Medina, Fairport, Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie, and Schenectady, before finishing on Sunday, July 16 at Corning Preserve in Albany. For updates on the ride and the communities that riders are passing through, follow Parks & Trails New York on Facebook (@parksandtrailsny) and Instagram (@parkstrailsny).
