Messages

1

International / Re: Amsterdam

« on: March 14, 2023, 06:17:26 am »

Hi,
not sure how acute your question still is:
It's been while since I was at Schiphol-Airport (and never by bike). There are several hotels in the vicinity and, as far as I remember, most of them have a shuttle-buses - similar to the larger airports in the US.
The Netherlands are the most bike-friendly country in Europe and the train starts directly from the airport - so you might want to consider going a bit further away from the airport, although with a boxed bike this might not be convenient.
Storing the bike-box at one of the larger hotels is probably not a problem - usually they have storage rooms, but they will probably not guarantee that the box is still there when you return.
I found this on the web https://www.fietsersbond.nl/english-info/
you might want to ask there, (some sort of dutch cycling association), maybe they can give you a hint.
Have fun !

2

Urban Cycling / Re: Cycling Route JFK - Manhatten ?

« on: March 13, 2023, 02:56:51 am »

By the way: Looking at the crossing 133rd Ave / Van Wyk Expy on google streetview, this seems to be an unpassable building site (pictures apparently dating from October 2022) - does anyone know whether this is still the case ?

3

Urban Cycling / Re: Cycling Route JFK - Manhatten ?

« on: March 13, 2023, 02:02:23 am »

Thank you a lot for the replies and the clarification.

Maybe I was not completely clear myself:
My intention is to stay the night after my arrival in a Hotel near JFK (and go there by shuttle bus), use the early-morning-jet-lag-hours to assemble my bicycle and start from there.

After Avrin's post I was looking at the metro-possibility - considering the distance to the next metro-stations I might as well cycle into Brooklyn. I was also looking at the possibility with Howard Beach station, but that would mean going back into the airport (with an unboxed, assembled and packed bicycle -not sure if the Hotel shuttle bus will take me...).

According to the NYC bicycle map https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-bike-map-2022.pdf, there should be at least some bike-lanes in Brooklyn (?).

I will let you know about my solution if I survive Queen's traffic  .

Thanks a lot for your concerns !

4

Urban Cycling / Re: Cycling Route JFK - Manhatten ?

« on: March 07, 2023, 12:33:07 am »

Thanks Avrin, though not really the answer I was hoping for. Are your concerns more related to traffic or more to general safety/security ?

5

Urban Cycling / Cycling Route JFK - Manhatten ?

« on: March 04, 2023, 02:27:47 am »

Dear All,

the first section of my bicycle adventure will be the ride from JFK Airport via Brooklyn Bridge to Manhatten. So I started looking on google maps and openstreetmap on possible (direct) routes and for streets which apparently have bicycle lanes. Does anyone have suggestions/advice on which streets to avoid at all costs ? Is it adviseable to take detours ? Always considering that I am an absolute New-York City newbie 

Thanks a lot in advance !

6

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / Re: which GPS map for US ?

« on: March 04, 2023, 02:16:46 am »

So the latest reply from Garmin was: The Cycle maps are (surprise !) for cyclists, topoactive is for hiking - additional trails on the topoactive are apparently not suited for bicycles. So I decided to start with the cycle map and compared the details shown with the details and resolution of the topoactive for Europe. At least for details shown and resultion-wise, there seem to be only minor differences.

7

Connecting ACA Routes / Re: East Coast Greenway as alternative to ACA NYC-Chicago ?

« on: March 04, 2023, 02:07:37 am »

Thanks a lot for all the hints ! I was still wondering about taking the ECG, but this looks like it would not be a good idea.

8

GPS & Digital Data Discussion / which GPS map for US ?

« on: January 15, 2023, 03:52:07 am »

Dear All,

for my plans for a bicycle tour through the US this year, I am currently wondering which map I should use for my Garmin GPSMAP device.
Garmin offers the US Cycle Map as well as the TopoActive North America - both based on openstreetmap data, similar price and apparently same coverage.
I tried to call Garmin, but the only person I could reach did not know either of the maps...

Does anyone know what the differences are (if there are any at all) ?

Thanks a lot !

9

General Discussion / Re: Grizzlies in Yellowstone and Glacier

« on: December 31, 2022, 11:02:50 am »

Hi Jamawani,

thanks a lot for all the good suggestions and advice. Based upon that I will probably invest in a new pair of panniers, as I used mine also heavily for grocery shopping.
I was thinking of something like the box in the picture - should still be portable on a bike and apparently you do not have to hang it. My plan involves part of Idaho and then Oregon, but I have no plans to travel into the outback.

Have a nice 2023 !

10

General Discussion / Re: Grizzlies in Yellowstone and Glacier

« on: December 30, 2022, 01:20:12 pm »

Thank you for the prompt answer ! 

11

General Discussion / Re: Grizzlies in Yellowstone and Glacier

« on: December 30, 2022, 10:07:43 am »

On the bike, our front panniers contain our food, cooking stuff, and toiletries.

Ok, this thread is already slightly older and the last post 6 months ago. But still thank you for all the wonderful advice and suggestions which I will heed in another six months.

I am just wondering KF8MO: So you place your front panniers a couple of 100 ft from your tent - so if a bear smells it, it will take away the front panniers ? Or do you always have the possibility to hang them ?
I am considering obtaining a bearvault for the food during my tour, but the cooking stuff (plates, cup) probably do not fit in there - but I would not want to sacrifice some of my panniers (although having the choice between the panniers and myself, it seems rather obvious which one to take).

Thanks a lot for all the advice and suggestions, they are really helpful for someone from a bear-free country  !

12

Connecting ACA Routes / East Coast Greenway as alternative to ACA NYC-Chicago ?

« on: December 26, 2022, 03:28:44 am »

Dear All,

I am a german cyclist and I plan to start a slightly longer tour in New York City beginning of May. My original plan was to take the Philadelphia alternate of the ACA NYC-Chicago route and start a detour in York to Washington D.C.. Now I am wondering whether it might be a good idea instead to follow the east coast greenway from New York to Washington. Are there any recommendations ? Should I better stick to the ACA route via New Jersey ? Thanks a lot for any thoughts or comments !

13

Urban Cycling / Re: cyclist friendly hotel near JFK ?

« on: June 06, 2022, 12:30:12 pm »

Thanks a lot for the advice !

NY is just another big city....

This is just the reason why I do not want to cycle directly into Manhatten after arriving ... 

My plan was to follow the ACA route to Chicago via the (southern) Philadelphia alternative - maybe putting in a few extra days and including Washington DC. So, a lot of thanks for the travel-advice, but I suppose I will take the ferry to Highlands. Or would your route suggestion also be valid for the Philadelphia alternative ?

I will certainly look into the REI in Manhatten (I know it is dangerous, but I think I will be able to control it ...  ) - I had thought of the one on Long Island in the vicinity of the Jamaica station.

Karsten

14

Urban Cycling / Re: cyclist friendly hotel near JFK ?

« on: June 03, 2022, 11:42:39 am »

Thanks a lot for the hints !

I was thinking of a box, and my original idea was assembly at the airport and then taking the airport-train. Meanwhile I read that keeping it boxed might simplify taking it into the hotel.

As I will still have to take care about some equipment after arrival (most of all fuel for the stove), I thought of staying 1 or 2 days. Also I am not sure whether it would be a good idea (in the mentioned condition) to ride directly into New York - although when I do it finally, I will take the Brooklyn Bridge for sure, after all that is one of the reasons to start in New York !

15

Urban Cycling / cyclist friendly hotel near JFK ?

« on: June 02, 2022, 01:41:11 pm »

Dear All, I am new to this forum, so I hope I will "behave" in the right manner:
I am planning a longer cycling tour through the US next year which I want to start in New York. Would anyone here be aware of a bicycle/cyclist friendly hotel near JFK airport for the first 1 or 2 nights in the US ?
After an 8-hour flight from Europe combined with a 6-hour jetlag, I suppose I will want to get directly to a hotel close by the airport.
So would anyone by chance know of a friendly hotel where I could accommodate also safely a bicycle (does not have to be in the hotel-room - if it is allowed in the lobby I am fine ). Thanks a lot for any recommendations !

Actually I would have a similar question about Chicago  - only there it is without jetlag and without 8hour-flight. If I ever make it to Chicago.