dates we will be riding
August 1-2
Saturday & Sunday
7am-2pm
August 8-9
Saturday & Sunday
7am-2pm
August 15-16
Saturday & Sunday
7am-2pm
ROUTE DETAILS
While we may not be able to experience the routes we know and love in the traditional way this year, we can still get out on our bikes and ride.
ride with us!
Our physically distant summer rides
Throughout the month of August, we will be hosting small weekend rides throughout Western New York for individuals and teams to enjoy.
Locations
We currently have two locations confirmed – Linde Tonawanda Campus and UB North Campus – and are working to add a few more! There will be 22 time slots (one every 20 minutes) per day per location with each time slot having up to 10 riders.
linde tonawanda campus
university at buffalo north campus
more to be announced!
Routes on these weekends will range from 3-20 miles so if you’re looking to challenge yourself with a longer ride, we recommend following the Ride Your Own Way option – more on that below!
Reservations for these time slots will begin June 27. There is still a lot being figured out, and we will release more information once it is finalized. But one thing that’s for sure – you must be registered for the Ride in order to gain access to a sign-up link for the physically distant summer rides!
Ride Your Own Way!
We’ll give you suggestions and resources, but how you ride is up to you!
So you’ve registered, you’ve fundraised, and now it’s time to ride. But you don’t want to come out to one of our physically distant rides. That’s fine. While you can ride wherever works for you, we’ve created seven downloadable routes that you can use as guidance to complete your ride on your own between August 1 – 21.
Our Downloadable Routes
All of our downloadable routes can be accessed on your phone with Ride with GPS. If you would like to print out a copy of the map and cue sheet, click on the “More” button and select “Print Map & Cue PDF.”
family route
- 4.3 miles
- Cheektowaga Lehigh Railroad Trail
Enjoy some easy family cycling along historic Lehigh Railroad. There’s a small lot at the entrance to bike path, which is about two miles out and back. It’s a nice, flat ride, plus you might see trains!
Buffalo Brews Route
- 10.7 miles
- Downtown Buffalo
This route takes you through city streets, including a jaunt along Erie Basin Marina. It will take you past eight different Buffalo breweries. If you decide to enjoy a beverage on your ride, please drink responsibly.
the ice cream route
- 11.6 miles
- Kenmore/Tonawanda
Ride along the river and on the Rails to Trails bike paths, as well as Tonawanda streets on this route. We’ve charted out five iconic ice cream shops that you will pass by where you can enjoy a sweet treat!
outer harbor route
- 13.6 miles
- Buffalo Outer Harbor
This route takes you on city streets and waterfront bike paths from Canalside to the Outer Harbor and back. Enjoy the lakeside while you log some miles!
grand island route
- 17.2 miles
- Grand Island Shores
This route has you start from Beaver Island State Park (fees may apply). Ride up and down the west shoreline of Grand Island on the West River Parkway. You’ll be near the water, plus you’ll get in nearly 20 miles!
River & Rails Route
- 18.3 miles
- Buffalo/Kenmore/Tonawanda
Ride the Rails to Trails bike path to the Empire State Trail on the old Erie Canal. You’ll then cycle along the Niagara River and back onto city streets with this route. You will finish your journey with a nice ride down Hertel Avenue.
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Route
- 30.5 miles
- Buffalo Olmsted Parks
Looking for a challenge and an adventure? This route provides ambitious city riding along Frederick Law Olmsted’s Buffalo Parkways, including South Park, Cazenovia Park, Martin Luther King Park, Delaware Park, Richardson Olmsted Campus, with slight detours to the Central Terminal and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. So many great sights to ride past!
Our How-To Guide
If you aren’t feeling any of our downloadable routes, check out this How-To Guide for designing your own route. You can even design a route that starts and ends in your driveway. Make sure you are registered and pick a mileage commitment of any length. Deciding how far you want to ride will be step one for planning your route.
Suggested Ways to Track your Mileage
There are a lot of great smart phone apps that you can use to track your mileage. Use your smart watch if you have one, or check out Map My Ride, Strava, Ride with GPS, Bicycle Ride Tracker, or similar tools. Just type in “track my ride” in your app store and many options will appear.
You could simply put your route into Google Maps to calculate your distance!
Suggested Places to Ride
There is no shortage of great places to ride. Riding at home is a great way to participate in the Summer of the Ride. If you are looking to get out of your neighborhood and go someplace new to ride, here are some bike paths and parks that are fun and scenic. Just remember to follow physical distancing protocols in public places, as well as proper bike etiquette. We have a ton of great safety tips and resources on our Safety Page
buffalo
- Olmsted Parkways
- Niagara Greenway Trails
- Outer Harbor – Ohio Street – Old First Ward – Canalside
- Botanical Gardens – South Park
City of Buffalo 25 Trails Guide
Bike There, Buffalo
Northtowns
- Ellicott Creek Park
- City of Tonawanda Young Street Hub
- North Tonawanda Gratwick Park
- Grand Island – West River Parkway – Beaver Island State Park
- Cheektowaga Lehigh Valley Rail Trail
- Rails To Trails from Buffalo’s LaSalle Station to Tonawanda’s Gateway Harbor
Lockport
Empire State Trail on the Erie Canal
southtowns
- Boston Hills
- Ellicottville
- East Aurora
- Orchard Park
Rochester
- Genesee Greenway Trail
- Genesee Riverway Trail
safety first!
However you chose to ride, make sure that you are being safe. Check out our safety page for bike safety resources and tips.
Thank you for your commitment to creating a world without cancer.
We appreciate everyone who is coming together to ride apart this summer. Together, we are making a difference!
