Greetings All,
I am headed up to Saranac Lake (just west of Lake Placid) for a few days. Was hoping to ride the IMLP bike course but I see now it’s basically all highway.
Would anyone mind sharomg a decent 50ish mile route near saranac lake?
Thanks!
EVERYTHING in the area is ‘highway’. There just are not many roads up there. I lived in Saranac Lake for 4 years, and there is a nice clockwise loop that goes out toward Tupper, makes a right turn on rt 30, goes to Paul Smiths (longer) or Lake clear (shorter), and returns via rt 86. Just keep you heads up for wildlife and the occasional car. Have fun!
Stephen J
Not sure what you mean by “all highway”. It’s a beautiful course.
That said, from Saranac Lake, avoid 86 going in to Placid. It’s busy.
My suggestion is to ride west towards Paul Smiths, Bloomingdale, etc.
I did this ride a few weeks ago: https://www.strava.com/activities/5575723304
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Hi,
It appears that the course is mostly a 2 lane major road, right? I’m not keen on riding on a major highway.
Thanks,
J
Hi,
It appears that the course is mostly a 2 lane major road, right? I’m not keen on riding on a major highway.
Thanks,
J
It’s not a highway. It’s a “major road” for the area, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s highway. If you have never been to the area, then it’s hard to explain. It’s a fairly rural/mountainous area. The course loop is well worth riding.
Hi,
It appears that the course is mostly a 2 lane major road, right? I’m not keen on riding on a major highway.
Thanks,
J
It’s not a highway. It’s a “major road” for the area, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s highway. If you have never been to the area, then it’s hard to explain. It’s a fairly rural/mountainous area. The course loop is well worth riding.
Agree, just rode the course loop this morning and it is in very good shape. Hardly any traffic to deal with and there is enough of a shoulder in some spots to have plenty of room.
The section of 9N from Keene to Upper Jay is freshly paved, so you can get some good speed going through there.
Hi Misha -
I have a house in SL and ride the roads out here all the time. Yes, I do end up spending most of my time on the state highways in the area and some do have 50-55mph speed limits. BUT, the shoulders are generally very wide and road conditions are very good. Avoid Rt86 btwn SL and LP and Rt3 btwn SL and Bloomingdale. They are the busier roads in the area. The traffic is generally light on other roads. My favorites are the roads in and around the Rt3 and Rt 30 corridor between SL, Paul Smiths and Tupper Lake. I would also add a thumbs up for the IMLP course. Aside from the Rt73 section down to Keene it’s very quiet and an iconic ride. Enjoy.
If you have cross or mtn bike, it would be worth the drive over to Whiteface to do the wilmington-whiteface 100k course. The first sections of paved and dirt roads and can be done on a cross bike - you likely need a mtb to get over Jay mountain into E town.
Nice quiet roads.
You might also do the whiteface hill climb. If you go later in the afternoon they will let you through the gate without charging. 8 miles 8% grade.
Slick
Nice! I think I’m going to do the one loop of IMLP course one day and maybe the whiteface climb another.
Nice! I think I’m going to do the one loop of IMLP course one day and maybe the whiteface climb another.
I HIGHLY recommend the Whiteface Toll Road climb. 3500ft gained in 8 miles of consistent unrelenting grade. Very enjoyable if you are the kind of cyclist who likes to suffer a big for a climb. The descent is amazing but make sure you have good brakes (no full carbon wheels if you use rim brakes!)
Hey. I would love to do that climb but all I own are carbon rim brake. Thoughts?
Hey. I would love to do that climb but all I own are carbon rim brake. Thoughts?
How much do you trust your brakes and their ability to get you to a stop quickly at 50mph? Do you trust them to descend 3500ft and get you to a stop at the bottom? Or if you encounter a car going slower than you? (yes this will happen) If you are good with this, go for it. I wouldn’t be comfortable personally
Personally, I stick to my road bike with disc brakes when I climb this.
Maybe I’ll have my wife meet me at the top and ride during daytime hours.