Adventure
14
May 12

Take a Bus from NYC to Mountain Bike in PA

I grew up in PA, and I’ve been mountain biking in Glen Park in Stroudsburg since 1993 or so. I lived in NYC for six years, but since August of 2010 I’ve been traveling the US by bus, bike, and train. Hopefully my local knowledge and mass-transit smarts help you escape NYC for mountain bike adventures in PA.

Get out the door early to catch an early morning Martz Bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal [Martz Bus Schedule from PABT] to Stroudsburg/ DWG, PA. You can be on the trails by 1pm. When you’re done riding, catch an evening bus [Martz Bus Schedule from Stroudsburg/ DWG PA] back to the city around 7 or 8pm. Click the links above for schedules.

You could also book a hotel for the night in downtown Stroudsburg, PA. Inject some dollars into the local economy, and more riding! Continue reading →

Adventure
13
May 12

Share Your Dreams with Dreamers

This little note found its way into my inbox, from a fellow traveler*.

I had these people I know say really harsh things, about how they’re at college trying to get a real job and real money and that I’m stupid for just wanting to travel.

One thing I’ve learned over the past year and 10 months is that you share your dreams with dreamers. Continue reading →

Bike Tips
08
May 12

Your Bike is Enough

Cannondale Bike in PA

It’s easy to link to a photo of some sexy piece of bike action and say, “WANT.” It requires very little ingenutiy or craft, other than simple lust.

What you have is enough. You’re reading this on a computer, in a room that is warm (or cool), with food in your stomach and running water. Continue reading →

Bicycles
06
May 12

I Ride My Moms Bike

I’ve been mountain biking in Glen Park in Stroudsburg, PA since the early 90s. Through those years I’ve ridden just two bikes; a Cannondale M400 and a Mongoose Rockadile. Today, I was riding a Cannondale C300. The C is for comfort.

Glen Park, Stroudsburg PA

The Bike Nerd is about discovering what works for you, as a biker, cyclist or whatever you want to call yourself. I remember ditching my single speed road bike and buying a multi-speed cyclocross bike because I had no constraints. I had a credit card with no balance, why not? Continue reading →

Bike Tips
29
Apr 12

Plan Your Bike Adventures

There are creeks, woods, parks, and mountains all around, and they’re a cheap way to spend the day. The above photo is the Broadhead Creek in Stroudsburg, PA.

Even if you’re not ready to start commuting back and fourth to work, you can try riding to the park and back. And if you’re not comfortable doing that just yet, try walking the route. Pay attention to intersections, and the volume of traffic. Get comfortable with the walk first, then bike it.

I biked for many years before I moved to NYC. Do you think I just rode to work one day? Heck no! I walked down 2nd Ave from 59th Street at least once before I rode to work on 33rd Street.

Walk before you run and plan before you ride!

Adventure
27
Apr 12

The Bike Nerd Resurrection

I watched ‘Alien Resurrection’ recently. Alas, it wasn’t a movie that rekindled my passion for biking.

It was a job interview.

I spoke with five people at a recent job interview. With each person I explained my travels as the Bike Nerd. Five times I spoke of riding across the state of New Jersey. Five times I spoke of my 14 cities in 12 days adventure with my Brompton. Five times I explained how I led bike tours in NYC.

In recent weeks I’ve been feeling lost. In two hours time I’ve found my way.

Bike Tips
19
Apr 12

Get Your Bike to NYC with a Bike Bag

If you’re traveling with a full sized bike on a bus, you’re most likely going to need a bike bag (Nashbar). I travelled with my bike from Youngstown, OH to Austin, TX using this bike bag above taking Greyhound and never had any problems.

You’ll need to know how to remove your front and rear wheel, loosen your stem to turn your bars, lower your seat, and remove your pedals (which makes for easier carrying). From there, use some bungee cords to wrap up your bike. This just makes it easier to carry in the bus station, and to get it loaded on and off the bus.

Be comfortable removing and installing your wheels, both front and rear, before you’re at Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC with your bike in pieces.

Travel
18
Apr 12

Get Your Bike to NYC on a Bus

The best way to ride a bike in NYC is to ride your bike in NYC. Now, how do you get your bike into the big city? Unless you’ve got a folding bike, buy a bus ticket. Below is a list of bus lines from various points on the east coast.

Bus:
Greyhound: [Most US States and Canada > NYC]
Bikes are free, must be in a canvas bag. You can catch a Greyhound bus almost anywhere in the United States. I took a Greyhond bus from Louisville, KY to NYC with my bike. It took forever, but it’s tolerable.

Transbridge: [Lehigh Valley, PA > NYC]
Bikes are $7, must sign a waiver. [Details]

Bieber Tour Ways:  [Lehigh Valley, PA > NYC]
Bikes subject to $5 fee, front wheel removal.

Martz Trailways: [Northeast PA > NYC]
Bike are free, but must be in a canvas bag.

Peter Pan Bus: [CT, NH, DE, MA, MD, RI > NYC]
Bikes are free on a “space-available basis.” Must be packed in canvas bag. [Details]

Vamoose Bus: [MD, VA > NYC]
Bikes are free, but Vamoose not liable to damages. [Details]

DC to NY: [Wash. D.C. > NYC]
Bikes are free, but subject to available baggage space. [Details]

Adirondack Trailways, Pine Hill Trailways, and New York Trailways:  [Upstate NY and Canada > NYC]
Bikes must be bagged, $20 fee. [Details]

Tips for your bus ride to NYC with your bike

Pack water and some emergency food. Buses break down, and sometimes you can be standing on the side of the road for a few hours. You’ll want food and water for situations like that.

If riding on a China Town bus, bring a cable lock, and lock your bike to the bus frame in the baggage area.

Most buses have a bathroom. Use it. Just hold your breath, go in, don’t touch anything, and get out.

Be nice. Don’t listen to your music super loud. Don’t gab on your cell phone. Keep to yourself. You’ll only be on the bus or train for a few hours and then it’s time for bike adventures in NYC.

eBook
13
Apr 12

Get Your Bike to NYC Guide

Want to ride your bicycle in NYC but have no idea how to get your bike into the city? Well, I’m working on a little guide book for that. It’ll most likely be a one-page PDF file, but I’m looking into other formats as well.

This will be a simple guide answering the big question: how to get your bike into NYC. There will be no cool ride guides, or “top 10 places to visit” features. This is stripped down to the bare-bones: getting your bike to NYC.

Being as I’ve travelled with my bike from Brooklyn, NY to Oklahoma City, OK on Greyhound buses and Amtrak Trains (and ridden across NJ and most of PA), I know a bit about the subject.

And no – my “how to get your bike to NYC” guide will not cover airline travel because 1) I don’t like being searched and 2) I don’t like being charged tons of money just to transport my bicycle. Besides, traveling by bus or train is a much better way to see the United States. That, and you’ll save money on travel costs, so you’ll have more money to buy NYC pizza and bagels.

Shoot me an email if you’re interested: sethw@sethw.com

Adventure
17
Nov 11

No Bike, but New Adventures

I’ve sold my bike.

I’m no longer the bike nerd. I’m just me, Seth. I’ve biked in about 20 different states, and rode a lot of miles. I took a lot of trains, rode a lot of buses. It’s been great, but it’s time for something new.

There’s been too many cyclists killed in NYC lately for me to feel comfortable riding a bike here. There’s too many cyclists hit and killed by motorists all around the US. I like riding a bike, but from this point forward it looks like I’ll do my biking in the woods. Back to mountain biking for me.

I’m hitting the road again in January 2012. I’ll be hopping buses and trains and making my way to the west coast. If you’d like to follow my new adventures, please bookmark my new blog, sethwismyname.com.

Adventure
27
Oct 11

Who’s Setting Your Agenda?

People have offered me couches in Spain, France, Germany, Singapore. I’ve got places to stay up and down the east and west coast.

You know you can do the same thing, right? Continue reading →

Adventure
26
Oct 11

Take Some Chances, Make Some Memories

I remember having coffee with a buddy in Mobile, AL.
I remember watching BMX dudes do there thing in Austin, TX.
I remember watching an NBA game in OK with an old friend.

Continue reading →

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