Welcome to Gravel NY

GrNY is an informal club for gravel riding in the New York metro area. Rides involve dirt and paved surfaces, since it is difficult to string together continuous dirt routes in our area. The goal is to get away from traffic and seek gravel where we can find it.

Join us for rides that emphasize:
– Fun exploration
– Non-competitive atmosphere
– No dress code (whether lycra, MTB baggies, or flannel)
– Some members enjoy challenging rides, but the goal is the experience, not speed/stats
– Pacelining on dirt roads is strongly discouraged.

Important information:

– How to Join GrNY

– GrNY Guidelines

We expect everyone to read and agree to our guidelines before joining us on a ride. You can find our guidelines in the links above.

Disclaimer: GrNY rides are completely informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. Our rides are not supported events. We expect everyone to be an experienced cyclist who can repair a flat, carry appropriate food and hydration, and navigate independently if they lose the group. We do not offer training or bicycle education.

Westchester Dirt! (Aug 9, 2025)

Join us for a scenic, dirt-heavy route in Westchester County! We’ll start from Katonah, but on a different route from the Spring Gravel Series. We will have our usual three “pace groups”. After the ride, we’ll gather at Paulie’s Deli for drinks and food. Paulie’s has good sandwiches, fun beers on tap, as well as non-alcoholic beverages for rehydration.

RSVP Link: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/2176919

QUESTIONS? You can email Steve at track “dot” smart “at” gmail “dot” com, but be sure to read all of the information below and the group information on the GrNY.org website first.

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DISCLAIMER: This is totally informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. This is not a supported event. We expect everyone to be an experienced cyclist who can repair a flat, carry appropriate food and hydration, and navigate independently if they lose the group.

NEW Jersey Dirt (Aug 3, 2025)

We rode from Bedminster, NJ on a series of routes provided by our resident NJ dirt guru. David leads a weekly ride from Bedminster most Fridays. We had only done these new routes once, last year, hence NEW Jersey Dirt for the ride title! These routes are a bit flatter (fewer steep sections) and spend more time in pastoral areas than our typical NJ routes, for a nice change of scenery.

Overall, it was an excellent ride with a fun post-ride picnic in Burnt Mills Park at the end. We had cold drinks, fresh baked goods (courtesy of Kathy), watermelon, salty snack, the works. We were tremendously lucky with the weather – it was almost fall-like at the ride start and we completed the ride before temperatures could climb too close to their summer highs. As with the first time we did these routes, the pace groups finished in a similar amount of time, we overlapped multiple times during the route – including at our refueling locations – and a good time was had by all. Thanks everyone who joined us today and made it a fun occasion!

You can find a few more photos on Steve’s activity post on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/15333299492

There were great pastoral views throughout our ride.

Steve hitting the dirt with our Long-Distance crew (i.e., faster pace).

Saturday, July 26 – Black Rock Forest & Stewart Forest

This ride is over, but we’ll get the next ride posted soon! See here for a short ride report and some photos from the day’s adventures: https://www.strava.com/activities/15245451036

Overall: It was a fun day of exploration! Black Rock Forest was beautiful, as always. Stewart Forest was also a fun place to explore, though sections of our route where pretty overgrown – expect to travel through quite a bit of long grass – we advise using bug spray and checking yourself for ticks later, just in case. Expect the biggest climb at the end of the ride (sorry!), it’s the only way to get all the way back up to Black Rock Forest.

Come ready for adventure! We have an entirely new set of routes that will encompass the jeep roads of Black Rock Forest AND Stewart State Forest. Black Rock Forest is a hidden gem in our region. Steve and Kathy have been there in all seasons on bikes, snow shoes, and in hiking boots. The image at the top of this post should give you a flavor of what to expect.

RSVP HERE for the Black Rock Forest Ride

Ride Report: Our Dutchess County Gravel Grinder on July 12th was a lot of fun! Rolling hills, country roads, farms, forests, and great views from end to end. Plus a fun celebration at Kelly’s Creamery and Food Truck after the ride (ice cream, hot food and cold drinks).

You’ll find a quick recap and some photos on Steve’s Strava activity, here: https://www.strava.com/activities/15092008126

Photos from the Dutchess County Gravel Grinder (below):

Thank you to Ek for this photo of the Medium distance riders on the road.

One of the many dirt roads along our route.

A few of the Long group at the top of Tower Hill Rd. Sadly, it was too hazy to see the Catskills in the distance like we often can from this spot! Thank you Leslie for taking this photo.

Some of the pastoral views along our route.

Medium group tackling Tower Hill Rd, which turns to dirt at the top. Another photo from Ek.

July 12: Dutchess County Gravel Grinder – Summer Edition!

Our next “three speeds” ride will be on July 12. Join us for a spectacular ride on the dirt-roads of Dutchess County. After cresting Tower Hill Rd, be sure to stop around the corner for some views of the Catskills in the distance (i.e., the cover photo for this post). It’s a nice payoff for your efforts! We’ll end at Kelly’s Creamery & Food Truck, so everyone can celebrate together at the end of the ride!

You’ll find all of the details on the Strava event page: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/2118672

Our thanks to everyone who joined our last two rides (October Mountain and The Tunnel)! You can find photos and a quick recap of those rides on Steve’s Strava posts, here:

Photos from The Tunnel & Lake Waramaug (below):

Photos from October Mountain Gravel Century (below):

Two upcoming GrNY Rides: June 21 & June 28

Our recent NJ gravel ride was a ton of fun! Thanks everyone for joining us. A few photos are included in this post. You can also check out Steve’s Strava activity for a very quick recap and some additional photos.

New Business: Two upcoming GrNY Rides!

Saturday June 21: October Mountain Gravel Grinder (CT to Berkshires). RSVP here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/2096935

Saturday June 28: THE TUNNEL and Lake Waramaug (regular 3-speeds ride with three different pace groups and associated ride leaders.) RSVP here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/2101834

Join us if the routes, pace groups, and distances suit you. The Strava links, above, contain more complete ride information.

Important info before you ride with us: https://grny.org/guidelines


TLDR version…
1) Please take two seconds to fill out the online waiver form on the GrNY website. You only need to do this once.
2) Please RSVP to the ride via the Strava event links.
3) If you’d like to support the club with a few bucks, you’ll find info on how to do that in the link above, but there’s no cost to join the ride or the club itself. After reading our guidelines, and signing the waiver… Just show up and ride!

Questions? You can email Steve at track.smart@gmail.com, but please read all of the information in the above links first.

Disclaimer: GrNY rides are completely informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. Our rides are not supported events. We expect everyone to be an experienced cyclist who can repair a flat, carry appropriate food and hydration, and navigate independently if they lose the group.

The spectacular Teetertown Ravine climb from our recent New Jersey gravel ride.

Views from our recent NJ ride.

The Spring Gravel Series Continues!

GrNY’s fourth annual Spring Gravel Series continues! Our next SGS ride will be Far Hills, NJ on the weekend of June 7, you can RSVP here. It’s a gorgeous ride! We hope you can join us. See here for full details about the Spring Gravel Series.

Thank you to everyone who made our first SGS rides a success! You will find photos and short summaries of those completed rides at Steve’s activity posts on Strava:

A HUGE THANKS to everyone who has contributed towards club expenses! GrNY will remain free to join and free to ride, but contributions to help cover expenses are greatly appreciated! You can find out more at this link.

BIG NEWS: Gravel NY is going ‘official’ for 2025!

Gravel NY is now a Bicycle Club recognized by the League of American Bicyclists!  We have obtained liability insurance under the League’s provider.  Members and first-time guests are covered under this insurance during GrNY club rides.

This means that you must fill out a digital liability waiver form before your first ride of 2025 – it takes only seconds to complete.   Click here to sign the Digital Waiver

Please see Guidelines for more information about other updates, including how club membership will work for 2025.

2025 Spring Gravel Series!!! April 19 to May 17

We are happy to announce Gravel NY’s fourth annual Spring Gravel Series! We have planned five weekends of gravel rides, starting on April 19, 2025. Each ride will have three “pace groups”, which will differ in speed, distance, and intensity of climbing. There will be a common hangout location after each ride, so all groups can socialize over food and drinks. Participating in all five rides will take you to all of the major gravel riding zones in our region – a true gravel tour! We hope you can join us!

Questions? You can email Steve at track.smart@gmail.com, but please read all of the information below first.

Disclaimer: GrNY rides are completely informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. Our rides are not supported events. We expect everyone to be an experienced cyclist who can repair a flat, carry appropriate food and hydration, and navigate independently if they lose the group. We do not offer training or bicycle education. Please visit this page for important membership information and guidelines.

SCHEDULE OF RIDES*

Saturday, April 19: Katonah, NY. Ride some of the best and most scenic rural roads in Westchester County. [This ride is over, but you can see a quick report and photos via Steve’s Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14227145215]

*SUNDAY*, April 27: Dover Plains, NY. This ride has been moved to Sundy due to rain. Join us on the picturesque dirt roads of Dutchess County. It is worth the drive or train ride! [This ride is over, but you can see a quick report and photos via Steve’s Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14305908378]

*SUNDAY*, May 4: [This ride was cancelled due to weather! We offered a “Before the Storm” ride that started early in the morning on Saturday instead. You can see Steve’s activity with photos and description, here: https://www.strava.com/activities/14366766493]

Saturday, May 10: Pawling, NY. We will spend much of the ride in gorgeous Litchfield County, CT. The NY/CT border has some of the nicest gravel riding in our region. [This ride is over, but you can see a quick report and photos via Steve’s Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14439248660]

*SUNDAY*, May 18: Moved to Cold Spring, NY. Much of the ride is near Fahnestock State Park, with lots of fun and challenging climbs. [This ride is over, but you can see a quick report and photos via Steve’s Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14522754132]

Saturday, June 7, Far Hills, NJ: Spectacular ride that goes through the Teetertown Ravine and Lockwood Gorge – worth the trip! We skipped these routes previously due to weather and competing events, but we will be making up for it soon! Please RSVP here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/513005/group_events/2054906

* For all rides, the default rain date will be Sunday of the same weekend. We will generally start each ride around 9am, with adjustments for train schedules. Ride schedule and routes are subject to change or cancellation due to weather or other factors.

PACE GROUPS

Long (60-65+ miles, faster speed, and killer climbs): These rides will be led by Steve. 17+ mph (“Strava speed” on paved solo rides); 19-20mph (NYCC standards); ~14MPH average on gravel rides with 100ft/mile of elevation gain.

Medium (45-55 miles, moderate speed, skips some of the deadliest climbs): Kathy will lead these rides, which will still be challenging, but travel at a slower speed. Pace expectation: 14 mph (“Strava speed” on paved solo routes);l 16-17 mph (NYCC standards); ~12 MPH average on gravel rides with 100ft/mile of elevation gain.

Short (40-45 miles, no-drop): Ralph will typically lead these rides. This group will stop more often to rest, take photos, and enjoy the scenery, riding at a friendly, no-drop pace. Pace expectation: 12-13 mph (“Strava speed” on paved solo routes); 14-15 mph (NYCC standards); 10 MPH average on gravel rides with 100ft/mile of elevation gain.

“Strava speed” = actual recorded average speed for long, solo paved rides on relatively flat terrain (i.e., not group rides with drafting).

EXAMPLE RIDES FOR EACH PACE GROUP

It is difficult to describe pace for rides that include dirt, pavement, and substantial climbing. You can compare these examples to your own gravel rides over similar distances and elevation gains. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE ELEVATION GAIN. THESE WILL BE HILLY RIDES.

Long: 63 miles, 6300 ft climbing, >14 MPH.
– Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/9023394582

Medium: 47 miles, 4500 ft climbing, ~12 MPH.
-Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/9023193918

Short: 40 miles, 3700 ft climbing, ~10 MPH.
-Example: https://www.strava.com/activities/11234424900

[These examples are from a previous year’s SGS rides]

RIDE ORGANIZATION

We will have at least one place to buy food and drink on each ride, but we are only doing grab-and-go during the ride itself (e.g., gatorade + portable snacks). Each group will have a few “wait for everyone” stops. That said, the Long and Medium groups will not wait for riders who are considerably behind the pace. The Short group will be no-drop – with some limits. If you are walking the hills and suffering, even at the slower ride pace, please take a shortcut back to the start and tell the rest of the group to travel without you. We can all hangout after the ride.

THREE REQUESTS

1) Please choose a ride group based on your riding speed, not distance. We want the groups to finish around the same time, so we can all hang out post-ride. We understand you can go the longer distance, but it will be more fun if people ride together (rather than get dropped) and then hangout for food and drink after the ride.

2) Ride safely! Please read our ride guidelines: https://grny.org/guidelines. Key points:
– Control your speed when traveling downhill. Racing downhill is how many serious injuries happen. If you’d like to ride hard, save it for the climbs! Then wait at the top.
– Being predictable to other riders and cars will keep everyone safer. Never pass a rider on the right. If you want to pass, call out, and then pass on their left (like a car).
– You need some form of off-line navigation and should have a backup navigation plan. Why? Many areas won’t have cell coverage. And phone batteries can die during long rides. Examples of offline navigation: Dedicated bike computer (Garmin, Wahoo, etc); Phone with paid subscription to Ride with GPS or Strava and remembering to download to route for offline usage before the ride; Paper map + cue sheets.

3) Don’t blow up your pace group.
– If one or two riders are traveling much faster than the group leader, others will chase them. Then everybody will get strung out riding alone.
– If you are faster than the group average, wait at the top of hills and after major road crossings.
– If there are big speed differences within a group, the group will subdivide at the first catch-up stop. This way everybody will have somebody to ride with.

About GrNY & How to Join

GrNY is an informal club for gravel riding in the New York metro area. Rides involve dirt and paved surfaces, since it is difficult to string together continuous unpaved routes in our area. The goal is to get away from cars and seek gravel where we can find it.

Join us for rides that emphasize:

  • Fun exploration
  • Non-competitive atmosphere
  • No dress code (whether lycra, MTB baggies, or flannel)
  • Pacelining is discouraged on gravel roads.
  • Some members enjoy challenging rides, but the goal is the experience, not speed/stats.

Disclaimer: GrNY rides are completely informal. You ride at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. You are expected to be self-sufficient. We cannot guarantee the condition or safety of roads and trails. Nor can we control the behavior of other riders. Our rides are not supported events. We expect everyone to be an experienced cyclist who can repair a flat, carry appropriate food and hydration, and navigate independently if they lose the group. We do not offer training or bicycle education.

How to get started with GrNY

You are welcome to join us for your first ride as a guest! Please carefully read and fill out the digital waiver form here. If you do not fill out the waiver, you cannot ride with us. If you join us for a second ride, you will automatically become a GrNY member – see our Guidelines page for details and suggested contribution information. All riders should RSVP for rides on the Strava group. See details below.

Where to find info about upcoming rides

  • All rides are posted to the GrNY Strava group. Please RSVP to rides using Strava. A free Strava account is all you need to RSVP.
  • You can also join the GrNY email list to get notified about some (but not all) rides.

If you’d like to join the Strava group, where you can receive ride invitations and RSVP for rides…

First click “join group” on Strava. We want to include people who might actually join rides. That’s why we will check that you:

1) live in the broader NYC Metro area (e.g. NY, NJ, CT), and

2) are capable of riding the distance of our shortest rides (35+ miles of hilly terrain).

If your Strava profile says you live far away – you won’t be approved for the Strava group. And we also won’t approve you if, when look at the stats on your profile, we see that all the rides you’ve logged to Strava are short rides. Almost all GrNY rides are more than 35 miles and typically on hilly terrain, so you should be used to regularly riding at similar distances and elevation gradients. That said, we understand privacy is important and some people have their profiles locked down. Others have never used Strava before. That’s okay.

If your Strava profile doesn’t reflect your location or riding ability, click “join group” on Strava then send an email to info@grny.org with a link to your Strava profile or your profile name. If you don’t hear back from that address, you are welcome to email Steve at track.smart@gmail.com. He can also approve your acceptance to the Strava group.

Once you’re part of the Strava group, communication via Strava is sometimes an problem. To get around that problem we’ve created an email mailing list. To get on the mailing list visit https://grny.org/email-list/ and follow the instructions on the page. We try to keep emails to a minimum. Please realize you have to confirm your email address to be fully signed up. Check your spam folder if you don’t see the confirmation email within a few minutes.

Finally, if you want to get a sense for the rides we do, we’ve put “ride reports” on our website for many of our past rides.