I looked back in our records and noticed that we haven't had a TCSC bike ride at Onondaga Lake Park (OLP) since 2020! It's time to do my favorite destination bike ride with its gorgeous lake view from different vantage points, stately trees and a marina. I, Jill Darling, am hosting our OLP bike ride.
We'll meet in the parking lot of Griffin Visitor Center at 1:30 pm and start the ride 15-20 minutes later. The center has spacious restrooms for changing clothes afterward and a fountain to fill water bottles.
Photo credit: Tim Hanna
The ride is an easy, flat ride on smooth pavement and is only 16.2 miles roundtrip, unless you want to go longer around Long Branch Park and the Good Dog Park area, which is an extra 3.75 miles, making it 20-miles. Hard core riders are welcome to go for the gusto and leave the recreational, hop-off-for-a-photo riders in the dust. You can go as long or as short as you want. No pressure to perform--it's your ride. Some people have ridden four times a week over the summer and some have hardly ridden. We're here to go at our own paces and enjoy the day. Check out the trail around the lake on the Onondaga Lake Park downloadable map.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, weather appropriate clothing, first aid supplies for yourself and your bike. We'll stop at St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater for a restroom break and snack break. Once the bike ride is over, you're on your own. However, you may not want to miss the Oktoberfest after party at Binghamton German Club (BGC), 218 Loughlin Rd, Binghamton. Oktoberfest is on September 16, from 2pm to 8pm.
Binghamton German Club is a 1-hour and 20-minute drive from Onondaga Lake Park. Oktoberfest is an outdoor event, sitting around picnic tables im Wäld--in the woods.
Enjoy assorted German wursts, plus vegan options, side dishes and desserts, varieties of beer, wine and soft drinks (cash bar), accompanied by German oom-pah music. You may wear casual clothes or traditional Bavarian dress with Lederhosen or Dirndls. You can also compete in the Bier Stein hoisting contest. Will TCSC have any competitors? Let's find out! TCSC bicyclists will be there around 5:30 pm to whenever. See you there! Prost!
TCSCers who aren't on the bike ride are welcome to meet us at Binghamton German Club for Oktoberfest when we arrive there around 5:30 pm. Ja voll! It's party time!
After party at Heid's on a previous OLP bike ride.
For more information about the bike ride, email Jill Darling or text 607-239-1029. For more information about Oktoberfest, email our resident German, Karl Krause, or text him at 607-237-8042. Admission for German Club Members is $5, non members, $8. Food and drinks are extra.
