A cyclist shares a favorite route, safety tips
(Note: This is the text of an article written by me as it appeared in 11/18/22 Record Review, the local newspaper for the Pound Ridge/Bedford area. This is the second part of a two-part series and the first part can be accessed here.)
My favorite ride is a 23-mile route from my house through Pound Ridge to New Canaan, Connecticut and back.
Total elevation is 1,506 feet, for a moderately hilly 65 feet per mile average, an ideal biking elevation. It is well below extreme climbing rides on roads going up mountains that have ratios eight times higher. Leg busting rides like that are not in my future plans.
The loop in this route between Scott Corners and New Canaan covers 17 miles. From Scott Corners, go north on Trinity Pass Road, then right on Eastwoods Road. Left on Hack Green Road until right on West Road, another right on Lukes Wood Road and then left on Michigan Road. Continue until it ends, turn left on North Wilton Road, right on Laurel Road and another right on Canoe Hill Road. At its end, a short right on Smith Ridge Road, then left on Country Club Road and another left on Lambert Road which feeds into Oenoke Ridge and Main Street. Right on Elm Street, another right on Park Street and left on Oenoke Ridge begins the return leg. Left on West Road and another left at the intersection with Oenoke Ridge brings you back into Scott Corners to complete the loop.
This ride is mostly on less traveled streets. Oenoke Ridge can be busy, but most of it has wide shoulders. The route lends itself to expanding or contracting total distance while staying on bucolic terrain. I’ve ridden most of the variants, but I keep coming back to this route as it offers everything I want in a bike ride — challenge, release, excitement, beauty. A repetitive bike route becomes more familiar and therefore safer. Progress, or lack thereof, can be measured with a Garmin or a smart phone app.
A bike is subject to the same traffic rules as a car. Hand signaling prior to turning is a safety essential. When it comes to bike safety, Pound Ridge police emphasize visibility, both in terms of being seen and seeing everything, and recommend multiple lights and small rear view mirrors. Always wear a helmet.
Also, biking shorts with padding to avoid any saddle discomfort are a good idea. Biking shoes and pedals allow for cleating in the rider with the bike and makes for a better ride.
While Connecticut and two-thirds of the states have laws requiring at least 3 feet when cars pass bikers, New York law only states cars must pass at a safe distance. In my opinion, a distance of anything less than 3 feet is unsafe. Three years of data show New York’s biking fatality rate is 33% higher than Connecticut. New York needs to update its law requiring a minimum of 3 feet.
Solo rides are great, but cycling is safer in a group. Cars give a wider berth to a group than a single rider. The multiple eyes and communication of a group works to the benefit of all riders. You might consider joining a cycle club. Westchester Cycle Club is the largest in the country with rides at many skill levels.
The sheer joy of an exhilarating ride in our area cannot be over-emphasized. Biking has clear health benefits, as well, including a 46% lower cardiovascular disease risk for active bikers. It’s also a great way to shed excess weight. Two hours of biking in our area will burn around 1,750 calories. That alone translates into losing half a pound a ride, based on a typical person losing a pound for each daily 3,500-calorie deficit. If that’s not a goal, biking lends itself to guilt free consumption.
Biking is also good for the environment. If we all cycled like the Dutch, who average 1.6 miles per day on their bikes, global carbon emissions would decrease 700 million tons per year. That amount exceeds the total carbon footprint of both the UK and Canada.
Consider replacing a car trip with a bike ride when running local errands, like picking up a prescription or small grocery item in Scotts Corners. Going out for coffee at Kitchen Table, picking up bread at 123 Dough or a weekend pastry at BreadsNBakes are all treats enhanced if you arrive there by bike.
This time of year, the air is crisp and a few autumn colors still remain. The upcoming Thanksgiving reminds us to appreciate and be grateful for the surrounding nature we are fortunate to call home. Now is a particularly great time to bike. Saddle up and experience Nirvana!
Jock McCown, an internationally recognized expert on container shipping and maritime commerce, is a biking enthusiast and 23-year Pound Ridge resident. This is the second article in a two-part series.
