The 25th anniversary of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour, New York’s largest multi-day bike event, kicked off in Buffalo on July 9, with the endpoint set for Albany eight days later.
Organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), a statewide nonprofit, the event has drawn 750 cyclists from 40 U.S. states and Canada.
Participants cover between 40 and 60 miles each day, primarily along the now 85% off-road Erie Canalway Trail, which forms part of the 750-mile Empire State Trail.
The third day of the tour saw cyclists transition from the flatlands of Western New York to the northern Finger Lakes’ rolling hills.
Their journey passed through picturesque canal communities, including Macedon, Palmyra, Newark, Lyons, and Clyde, offering an opportunity to appreciate the region’s rich history. Newark, recognized by PTNY and the New York State Canal Corporation as an Empire State Trail Town for 2023, welcomed riders with special celebrations. Post-lunch, the riders continued south, spending the night in Seneca Falls, famous as the birthplace of the Women’s Rights Movement.
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