Introducing the Bike to Brew: A Choose Your Own Adventure Ride from NYC
Recent gravel adventures have reminded us just how much we have missed getting outside of the concrete jungle that is NYC, swapping our usual training routes for greener pastures north of the city. Westchester County has always been one of our favorite destinations for these adventures.
Our friends at Athletic Brewing and ACME Katonah also just happen to be located in this region. Which got us thinking…. why not put together an unsupported and unsanctioned ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ ride that features some of our favorite roads and some of our favorite people?
And so we introduce: Bike to Brew 2021, coming to NYC/Westchester/CT on June 27th.
Bike To Brew: A Choose Your Own Adventure Ride
The What: we are inviting area cyclists to partake in an informal adventure ride in/around Westchester and Southern Connecticut. What do we mean by choose your own adventure? Well there is a finish point at Athletic Brewing in Stratford, CT. And there is a point of interest (and possible start point?) at ACME Katonah. But where you start, and how you get from point to point, is entirely up to you… though read on for some possibilities.
The When: Bike to Brew is scheduled for June 27th, with riders aiming to arrive at Athletic Brewing between noon and 4pm (the taproom closes at 5pm).
The Where: this is mostly up to you! With one possible start location, or maybe a rest stop, and one designated finish line….
ACME Bicycle Katonah
A potential rest stop, Or maybe a start point, you choose
ACME Bicycles has been a longstanding TBD partner, specializing in fitting, maintenance and repair, and high end bicycles. Their roots are in Brooklyn but they recently opened a beautiful new shop in Katonah that will serve as a ‘point of interest’ during Bike to Brew. Start your ride here, or stop in along your route for coffee or a bottle refill. TBD racer and ACME Bicycles co-owner Colin Tanner will be at ACME along with the rest of his team so definitely say hello!
Athletic Brewing Taproom
The Finish
Athletic Brewing is another longstanding TBD partner and an up and coming non-alcoholic beer brewer with some truly delicious beverages on offer. Their taproom will serve as the Bike to Brew finish line, where we’ll gather post ride for some cold drinks and perhaps a replay of the day’s Tour de France stage.
Athletic is offering a beer and a burger to anyone who shows up to Bike to Brew on two wheels! There will also be music, benches outside, and the taproom open for additional beverages. There will also be a food truck on site.
Bike To Brew: Some Route Possibilities
This ride is unsupported, unsanctioned, and extremely informal. So the route you choose is entirely up to you based on where, and how long you want to ride before gathering at Athletic Brewing. But we do have two possible routes that may be worthy of consideration…
The Long Route
NYC > OCA > ACME Katonah > Athletic
This one is for those ready for a long day in the saddle, and a particularly big adventure. Starting in New York City, take the OCA North before looping around to ACME Katonah for a pit stop. From there the route traverses some of our favorite roads in Westchester before making it’s way to Athletic Brewing.
Ride Stats: 138.7 kilometers with +1,143 meters of climbing
The Less Long Route
ACME Katonah > Athletic
For a more moderate sized adventure, this route starts at ACME Katonah, before following the second half of the long route Northeast toward Athletic brewing. The roads are beautiful, including some of our favorite dirt roads in Westchester.
Ride Stats: 75.4 kilometers with +666 meters of climbing
Have another route in mind? Perfect! Choose whatever route fits the adventure that you’re looking for, whether its 10 miles or 100 miles. For our part, after drinks at Athletic Brewing, we’ll head back into NYC via Metro North.
A New York City based cyclist and sometimes photographer. Part adventure rider, part crit racer, and fully obsessed with an English bulldog named Winifred.
Instagram: @photorhetoric
E-mail: matthew@tobedetermined.cc
