Gotham Bicycle Tours

There’s no better way to spend a day on a bike than riding a car-free bike path that ends at a great local brewery. Lunch, beer and beautiful scenery are all included on this great day out!

The Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad – the “Old Put” – used to chug commuters into New York City from communities in Westchester and Putnam Counties. First run with steam trains, then with diesels, the route was ultimately abandoned in the 1950’s as the region’s highways were constructed. Fortunately, much of the railroad right-of-way was left in tact, and now it is a bike path stretching 48 miles between Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx and Brewster which is now part of the Empire State Trail.

This bike tour will take you on the northernmost 35 miles of this trail – a ride that is mostly free of cars, with plenty of scenic views along the way. You won’t believe how close you are to NYC and its suburbs while you are on this trail! Historic markers and remnants of the old railroad line the route, giving you an opportunity to learn about the history of the railroad and the communities it served.

When you reach the end of the ride, you’ll get to experience Captain Lawrence Brewery and taste a selection of their beers! A made-to-order picnic lunch is also included!

Ride on New York’s newest car-free bike path! Easy to get to by train from NYC with vehicle support, guides and break stops. It’s the longest state-wide bike path in the nation! Get out and enjoy this beautiful trail on your bike with our Empire Trail Service!

The Empire State Trail is an off-road bike path for its first 100 miles north of New York City, making it an ideal day trip for anyone from the New York Metro Area. The trail was entirely constructed along former railroad lines that once carried passengers and freight throughout the Hudson Valley. Now it’s an amazingly scenic bike path that is relatively flat and takes you past beautiful lakes and farms, over breathtaking bridges and through quaint towns bursting with history.

Experience the trail at your own pace with the convenience and peace of mind of an organized tour Our Empire Trail Service is designed for riders of all abilities to enjoy a day out on a 40-mile section of this scenic, remote, car-free bike path at your own pace while still having the convenience, support, safety and peace of mind that comes with an organized tour. Ride by yourself or with one of our guides and have access to break stops with refreshments. A support vehicle is available throughout the day where you can store your belongings while you ride. You can pack your own lunch or order a lunch ($17) and everything is available to you at the break stops. In addition, our staff is always available in the general area to help you with any mechanical breakdowns or to pick you up in the support vehicle if you cannot finish the ride.

This ride has it all: beautiful scenery mixed with delicious locally produced Hudson Valley wine, spirits and food. This bike ride packs a lot of highlights into a great 30-mile itinerary that is perfect for all abilities and includes off-road bike paths and quiet back roads with up to 5 food and beverage related stops.

This bike tour has spectacular scenery as you ride along the flat Wallkill River Valley with a view of the majestic Shawgunk Ridge off in the distance. Our staff will meet your group in Gardiner, NY where there is plenty of free parking. We can also shuttle your group over from the Poughkeepsie train station if you are coming from NYC. We’ll send you on your way with GPS navigation and plenty of snacks and beverages as you ride through a fertile valley that is home to a number of wineries, micro-distilleries and farm-to-table restaurants. You can stop and any – or all – of 5 stops. Our support vehicle will meet you at each of them and you can store any products you buy at each stop in the vehicle along with any personal items you do not want to carry while you ride.

Highlights

• Rail Trail Cafe in Rosendale – Farm to table food served in 100% outdoor setting next to a bike path
• Coppersea Distilling – Whisky distillery offering outdoor tastings and whisky slushies
• Robibero Family Vineyards – Outdoor wine tastings
• Tuthilltown Spirits – Distillery specializing in a variety of spirits including whisky, gin and vodka
• Whitecliff Vineyard – Outdoor wine tastings or wine by the glass

PRIVATE TOURS ONLY – Tour price starting at $900 per group (not per person) of up to 8 people

One of the best ways to see New York City is by bike. New York City has over 1,000 miles of bicycle lanes and paths, reaching every corner of the five boroughs. With so much to explore, choosing the right NYC bike tour can be overwhelming. That’s why we offer customized tours that are tailored to what you are interested in seeing.

All of our NYC bike tours are guided by Lukas Herbert, the owner of Gotham Bicycle Tours. Lukas is a professional urban planner who knows a lot about the city, its infrastructure, buildings and history as well as the best routes to ride. Lukas is also licensed by the City of New York as a sightseeing guide and is credentialed by the City as a “star guide” due to his extensive knowledge. (NYC DCA License # 2062201)

Our rides are also ideal for more advanced riders who are looking to ride a longer distance (and see more) than what might be offered on a standardized tour open to riders of varying abilities.

Suggested itineraries include (a 2-hour tour could more than one of these):

• Central Park and the surrounding “museum and mansions” neighborhoods
• Historic and cultural sites of Harlem
• Manhattan and Brooklyn waterfronts, including the Brooklyn Bridge
• Greenwich Village and the historic sights of lower Manhattan
• Coney Island and the beaches of New York City (including the infamous “Dead Horse Bay”)
• Brownstone Brooklyn and Prospect Park
• Brewery rides in Brooklyn and Queens
• Historic sites of the Bronx ending at the Bronx Brewery or Yankee Stadium
• Ride along the city’s famous aqueduct system, past the historic estates along it

Customized bike tours start at $250 for up to 6 people

The Empire State Trail in the Hudson Valley should be on every touring cyclist’s list. Gotham Bicycle Tours is the local company that has been offering tours in the Hudson Valley for more than 10 years. Having spent our entire lives here, our knowledge of this region is unmatched, as is our service to our customers. If you want to really see New York, take a ride with us!

Each tour is unique because of seasonal changes, and prices vary for packages with different combinations of days.

• August: NYC to Lake George – journey to an iconic New York vacation destination! Click here for itinerary and pricing.
• October: NYC to Saratoga Springs – enjoy autumn foliage and dining at the Culinary Institute of America! Click here for itinerary and pricing.

Gotham Bicycle Tours has partnered with several hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts in the Hamptons to offer overnight “escape-by-bike” packages from New York City that are custom made for you.

The Hamptons are a spectacular destination for getaways from New York City. Beautiful beaches, wildlife areas, historic sites, wineries and more await you – there is something for every interest. The Hamptons are also a great destination for cycling. There are many quiet roads that take you past breathtaking landscapes. If you know where to ride, a cycling adventure in the Hamptons can be a highlight of any trip.

Head to your accommodations with Gotham Bicycle Tours in the morning and get a ride designed just for you that ends at your room at check-in time. There’s no better way to ready yourself for relaxation than to enjoy a beautiful bike ride. There’s no crowds or traffic and our staff takes care of all of the details, including the transportation of your luggage while you ride.

The beautiful scenery of the Hudson Valley has long provided peaceful inspiration for those who have traveled through it for centuries. Now thanks to its quiet roads, farmstands, locally-sourced restaurants and historic sites, it has become a premier bike tour destination. Let Gotham Bicycle Tours show you the best of what this region has to offer! We know all the great spots for riding, swimming, farm-to-table dining and more.

You can experience the joy of riding in this beautiful region with a customized tour package of any length and duration. No matter what you are looking for, we can put a great Hudson Valley bike tour together for you after an initial consultation. Our overnight tours can feature a range of accommodations from luxury hotels to camping and you can choose how much you would like to ride each day. Or choose a day ride and get the same level of personal service, with all of your bags and equipment carried in our support vehicle while you ride.

Example 3-Day Itinerary

• Haarlem Valley
• Hudson Valley
• Wallkill Valley

Montauk Point, with it’s lighthouse and rocky shoreline, is one of New York State’s most iconic landmarks.

Riding to Montauk by bicycle, or anywhere on the eastern end of Long Island, is a fantastic experience. You can ride on low-traffic roads past stunning landscapes with beautiful beaches, sand dunes, wildlife areas and mansions. Wineries and farms on the North Fork also offer a beautiful setting to sample some of this region’s food and wine.

You can experience the joy of riding in this beautiful region with a customized tour package of any length and duration. No matter what you are looking for, we can put a package together for you after an initial consultation. Our overnight tours can feature a range of accommodations from camping to luxury hotels and you can choose how much you would like to ride each day. Or choose a day ride and get the same level of personal service, with all of your bags and equipment carried in our support vehicle while you ride.

Example 2-Day Trip Itinerary

• The Hamptons
• Shelter Island & North Fork

Biking across an entire state is an accomplishment that can give you bragging rights as well as a tale to tell of your experiences. And no state gives you as much variety in a 3- to 5-day ride as a New Jersey bike tour. Start in the mountains at High Point and descend into valleys carved by quiet streams and dotted with farms and historic sites. Take in the majesty of the Delaware River as you pass through historic mill towns and past George Washington’s famous crossing. Then ride by dark red cranberry bogs and through fragrant pine forests as you experience the solitude and nature of New Jersey’s Pinelands. Then have the opportunity to visit several wineries as you ride through the coastal plain on your way to Cape May with its iconic lighthouse and magnificent beaches. Each day is different. Each day is special.

NJ is the perfect state to ride across if you are looking for a ride that does not have strenuous climbing that you can finish in less than a week. A 4-day tour is about 60 miles each day, generally going from an elevation of 1,804’ (the highest point in NJ) to sea level across the four days. A New Jersey bike tour also offers a wide variety of accommodations that range from the budget (or camping) to the luxurious. Dining options abound along this route as well, offering something for everyone.

This is a tour for people who love wine and beautiful bike rides that go through varying landscapes.

This fantastic winery bike tour tour starts at the ocean and takes you inland on the Henry Hudson rail trail where the landscape changes before your eyes. Soon you’ll be in the agricultural heartland of New Jersey en route to Cream Ridge Winery. The owners are bicycle adventurers themselves, and so they have offered us an opportunity to camp in their vineyard after you enjoy food and wine, and whatever activities might be going on at the winery that day. If you don’t want to camp, there are also a number of nice accommodations a short distance away.

The next day we ride north through scenic western Monmouth County to Princeton, where the Delaware and Raritan Canal bike path awaits. This takes us to Duke Farms, a large nature preserve on an old estate filled with bike paths for you to explore.

All of your bags and equipment are carried in our support vehicle while you ride. This includes any wine you buy at Cream Ridge Winery

This winery bike tour offers flexible mileage options since you can start the tour from different starting points. Riders coming from NYC on transit have the most options since they can use the SeaStreak Ferry to Sandy Hook and begin the ride on the beach. A shorter option begins the ride in Aberdeen, NJ at the train station which drivers can also access by parking in Secaucus and using the train. Depending on how far you want to ride on the second day, the tour ends in either Princeton or Somerville, both of which provide train access back to NYC or the parking lot in Secaucus.