Cuomo Announces 17th Annual "Cycling the Erie Canal" Bike Tour

 

Tour Begins in Buffalo on July 12

Governor Cuomo today announced the seventeenth annual "Cycling the Erie Canal" bike tour, where more than 600 cyclists have already registered for the 400-mile bicycling tour from Buffalo to Albany. This year, the event kicks off on Sunday, July 12 and concludes Sunday, July 19.
 
“The Erie Canal is truly an engineering marvel and along it are some of the most scenic examples of natural beauty in the entire state,” Governor Cuomo said. “I welcome the cyclists who are coming from far and wide to participate in this world-renown tour and encourage them to enjoy all that New York has to offer.”
 
The eight-day recreational bicycling tour will help highlight the beauty, history, culture and recreational appeal of the Canal system and the Canalway Trail, popular tourism destinations in New York State. This year’s tour has attracted more than 600 cyclists from 36 states, as well as international participants from as far away as Australia.
 
Roughly two-thirds of the 400-mile bicycle tour takes place on the completed portion of the Canalway Trail. When complete, the New York State Canalway Trail will span more than 500 miles and connect numerous cities, towns and villages along the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego and Champlain Canals, making it one of the longest multi-use recreational trails in the country.
 
Participants will have the opportunity to partake in guided tours of the Canal, historic sites, museums, and attractions such as the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, the Montezuma National Wildlife refuge in Seneca Falls, Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, and the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse.
 
Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “The New York State Canal Corporation is pleased to sponsor Cycling the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal is a beautiful and historical treasure not only to New York, but the entire country, as demonstrated by more than 600 participants from 36 states. Strong support from Governor Cuomo and Parks & Trails NY has been a key element in the success of Cycling the Erie and I thank them for their continued backing of this annual event.”
 
Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, said, “We are proud to partner with Governor Cuomo and the New York State Canal Corporation in promoting the Erie Canal and Canalway Trail. The Cycle the Erie Canal tour provides an opportunity for every age and cycling ability from around the country and the world to enjoy the best of New York State. Summer in New York State isn’t summer without a bike tour along the Erie Canal.”
 
Participants arrive in Buffalo on Saturday, July 11, to register and participate in optional bike rides and an opening reception. The complete schedule for the 2015 Cycle the Erie Canal tour is as follows (Arrival/departure times are approximate and are subject to change without notice):


Sunday, July 12 – Buffalo to Medina

5:30-7:30 a.m	Breakfast at Nichols School, Buffalo
6:30-7:30 a.m.	Registration at Nichols School
7:45 a.m.	Brief kick-off ceremony
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:30 a.m.– 12:00 noon	Morning rest stop at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst (formerly Amherst Erie Canal Museum)
9:00 a.m. on	Free admission to Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport – cyclists pay half price ($3) for multi-media presentation
10:00 a.m. on	Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride – Special rate with CTEC wristband
11:00a.m. and 12:30p.m.	Lockport boat tours
12 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon – 5:00p.m.	Afternoon rest stop at Middleport Municipal Park
1:00–6:00 p.m.	Swimming in pool at Clifford H. Wise Middle School, Medina
5:00–7:00 p.m.	Dinner at Clifford H. Wise Middle School, Medina
7:00–8:00 p.m.	Talk on canal history by Tom Grasso, President, New York State Canal Society – Middle School auditorium
7:00–9:00 p.m.	Music at campsite – Pocket Change

Overnight: Clifford H. Wise Middle School, 1016 Gwinn St., Medina

Monday, July 13 – Medina to Fairport

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast at Clifford H. Wise Middle School
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon	Morning rest stop, Holley Canal Park
11:00 a.m. on	Escorted bike rides to High Falls in downtown Rochester
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon – 5:00p.m.	Afternoon rest stop, Rochester – Genesee Valley Park – Genesee Valley Waterway Center – swimming (show wristbands), canoes and kayaks available
2:00–9:00 p.m.	Shuttle service to Village of Fairport
5:00–7:00 p.m.	Dinner at Martha Brown Middle School, Fairport
6:15–7:15 p.m.	Speaker Mark DeCracker, Trail of Hope – auditorium
7:15–8:15 p.m.	Local history speaker – auditorium
7:00–8:30 p.m.	Music in campsite – Fred Vine

Overnight: Martha Brown Middle School, 665 Ayrault Rd, Fairport

Tuesday, July 14–Fairport to Seneca Falls

6:00–8:00a.m.	Breakfast at Jefferson Road Elementary School
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon	Morning Rest Stop – Palmyra Canal Park – hosted by the Palmyra Kiwanis Club
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.	Afternoon rest stop at Clyde Village Park. Town of Galan Historic Society and historic churches open
2:30–9:30 p.m.	Shuttle bus to Seneca Falls museums and dinner in Seneca Falls (2:00-9:00p.m.) and Vince's Park for swimming at pool (2:00-8:00p.m.)
4:30–6:30 p.m.	Wine & cheese reception at Peoples Park, Seneca Falls
6:00-6:30 p.m.	Whale Story at Peoples Park
4:30-7:30 p.m.	Ice cream social at Peoples Park (fee)
7:00-8:00 p.m.	Community Band Concert – People’s Park, Seneca Falls

Overnight: Mynderse Academy, 105 Troy St, Seneca Falls

Wednesday, July 15 – Seneca Falls to Syracuse

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast at Mynderse Academy
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon	Morning rest stop, Port Byron Middle School
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.	Afternoon rest stop, Camillus Sims Erie Canal Store/Museum. 45-minute canal boat rides over restored aqueduct at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. (fee), Rosamond Gifford Zoo open until 4:30p.m. – free to riders
2:00–9:00 p.m.	Shuttle service to Erie Canal Museum (until 8:00 p.m.) and Armory Square
5:00–7:00 p.m.	Dinner at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
7:00–8:00 p.m.	Sam Clemence – Engineering the Erie Canal Rosamond Gifford Zoo
6:00 –8:30 p.m.	Music by Chris Farrar – Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Overnight: Burnet Park, Syracuse

Thursday, July 16 – Syracuse to Rome

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast at Rosamond Gifford Zoo
7:00 a.m.	Syracuse Erie Canal Museum open (on route)
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon	Morning rest stop, Chittenango, Chittenango Landing Boat Museum
Throughout the day	Canastota – free admission to the Canal Town Museum
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon-5:00 p.m.	Afternoon rest stop, Lock 21
Throughout the afternoon	YMCA available for swimming (see local brochure for schedule and other services available), Fort Stanwix tours until 8:00p.m.
4:00–9:00 p.m.	Dinner shuttle to area restaurants

Overnight: Fort Stanwix National Monument, James St., Rome

Friday, July 17 – Rome to Canajoharie
 

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast at Rome YMCA
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon	Morning rest stop, Town of Schuyler Town Hall
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.	Afternoon rest stop, Little Falls Canal Park
4:00–6:00 p.m.	Swimming at the Canajoharie Middle School
3:00–9:00 p.m.	Shuttle bus to downtown Canajoharie and swimming
5:00–7:30 p.m.	Dinner downtown Canajoharie. Arkel Museum open until 7:30p.m. at a reduced fee of $5.
7:00–9:00 p.m.	Music Downtown – Harold Ford – a tribute to Johnny Cash
Overnight: Canajoharie High School, 136 Scholastic Way, Canajoharie

Saturday, July 18 – Canajoharie to Niskayuna

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast, Canajoharie High School
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon	Morning rest stop, Fultonville, Town of Glen offices
12:00 noon	Start of afternoon ride
12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.	Afternoon rest stop, Mabee Farm, Rotterdam Junction
4:00–5:00 p.m.	Reception at the Jewish Community Center (JCC)
5:00 –7:00 p.m.	Dinner at the JCC
6:45- 7:30 p.m.	Announcements, end-of-ride program & celebration

Overnight: Jewish Community Center, 2565 Balltown Rd, Niskayuna

Sunday, July 19 – Schenectady to Albany

6:00–8:00 a.m.	Breakfast at the JCC
8:00 a.m.	Start of morning ride
8:00–11:00a.m.	Morning rest stop – Peebles Island State Park
10:30a.m. – 3:00p.m.	Riders finish at Albany Visitors Center, 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany
10:30a.m. - 2:30p.m.	Showers available at YMCA (approx. 1.5 miles from Visitors Center)
2:00 p.m.	Finish line closes
2:30 p.m.	Shuttle for Buffalo departs

Some Cycling the Erie Canal events are open to the public. For more information on Cycle the Erie Canal, contact Parks & Trails New York at 518-434-1583 or visit www.ptny.org.