I might be moving to the Syracuse area and I am curious if anyone knows anything about the triathlon scene in the area…any comments or advice would be welcome. Where are the nice places to live for young (early 30s), active type of people? I don’t have kids and I’d like easy access to good riding and running spots. Can anyone recommend a good gym with a pool?
Thanks!
I’m 80 miles down the road in the Rochester area, so I can’t answer your specific questions. There is some gorgeous cycling in the region. If you use the contact page at http://www.cnytriathlon.org/ you can probably get some good answers to your questions.
Dan
I am a road racer in the area between Rochester and Syracuse. There is going to be a tri in Geneva this year, you should contact the Geneva Bicycle Center, they are in charge of the bike leg. I know of a few people who do tris in the area but I don’t know how big it is vs. what you are used to.
Bob
Syracuse is ideally located for a number of Tri’s, from a couple of local sprints, 1 hours drive from Olympic distance at Canandaigua, 3 hour drive to Tupper Lake Tinman 1/2 Ironman and of course 3 1/2 hour drive to Lake Placid. Not to mention Buffalo, Rochester and the previously mentioned Geneva Musselman coming up in July. We are catered for by the CNY Triathlon group, located in Syracuse (check CNYTRIATHLON.ORG)who put on an excellent sprint distance in August and the Rochester Area Triathletes club. The local topography provides for some beautiful and challenging rides and runs, with numerous state parks (a local 56 miler is featured in “The 50 best rides in the country” - I forget the author now). If IMLP is in your future, the ride from Skaneateles to Cazenovia on the Rt20 is said to be a good indicator of one’s readiness. There are the usual chain gyms (Bally’s, Gold’s) with decent pools and some high schools with long course pools, masters at the YMCA too. Plenty of opportunities for outdoor lake swimming too, although at the current rate, they’ll still be covered in ice 'til July!!!
All in all a wonderful place to be for tri, with one caveat; The winter can be long and brutal if you don’t enjoy some snowsport cross training.
I would contact Jeff Henderson (he contributes to this site). He is from the area and is organizing one of the races in Geneva this summer. His latest articles have been about his organizing the race so I am sure he has a good idea about the local scene.
Also, try to contact Glenn Swann of Swan Cycles. swancycles@aol.com He is about 40 miles south near Ithica/Cornell, but well worth the drive for info and equipment. He has been the national masters TT champion in the past and probably one of the best TTers in upstate NY. He could get you set up with the local people as far as TTs and some tris.
Hi Harkin. I grew up just outside of Syracuse but lived in San Francisco for a while, so I am feeling things on right now myself. While growing up, I was a competitive swimmer and trained with the Syracuse Chargers, who were coached by Lou Walker (also the head swim coach at Syracuse University). His wife, Ellie, now runs the Master’s Program out of Sibley Pool in the city and she does a great job - very dedicated to the team, good workouts, and technique work as well.
I’ve cycled a fair bit around the area and there can be some fantastic spots. Now that I live in Geneva (an hour from Syracuse), I have the Finger Lakes to explore. Organizing the Musselman Triathlon in July has allowed me to meet a lot of triathletes in the area, and a world I never knew existed while growing up as a swimmer is appearing before my eyes.
Best of luck in your new home.
kind regards,
Jeff Henderson
How could you forget the Baldwinsville Sharks?
What’s the assessment on the Mussleman bike course. I grew up in Ithaca and considering a return to the homeland to visit family and do the race. If Geneva is anything like Ithaca you could kill us on the bike.
What’s the assessment on the Mussleman bike course. I grew up in Ithaca and considering a return to the homeland to visit family and do the race. If Geneva is anything like Ithaca you could kill us on the bike.
Though we are only 45 minutes from Ithaca, the terrain 'round here bears little resemblance to that of our brothers south. The land between northern Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, where the Musselman bike course travels, is dome-shaped. Thus, you’ll be on flats for the first 15 or so miles, then you’ll start gaining elevation as you head east before you lost it again on the descent to Cayuga Lake. Riding northbound alongside Cayuga Lake is, similarly, flat to rolling.
I’ve put an elevation profile on the Musselman website (www.musselmantri.com), so you can see the reality of it all - this is not a killer bike course. There aren’t even any killer grades. There are some shallow hills, but a quick pop out of the saddle and you’ll be over them.
In 1999 I passed through Ithaca while heading from Boston to Seattle by bike. It’s brutal down there - darn near killed me. The Musselman is a world apart, only 30 miles north.
kind regards,
Jeff