| Country | USA, New York |
| Time of Year | July |
| Tour Group | FANY |
| Miles per Day | 54-90 |
| Road Conditions | Paved |
| Terrain | Variable |
| Weather | Hot and Dry |
| Riding Days | 7 |
| Total Miles | 500 |
This year's route traveled from flat western New York, to rolling hills in the Finger Lakes to quite hilly terrain west of Syracuse, up into the Adirondacks and back down to Albany. Last year from Syracuse, the route took riders through challenging hills in the rural Leatherstocking region through Cooperstown to Cobleskill and across the Hudson to end at Millerton, NY on the Connecticut border.
If you're poor, cheap or simply rock on good value, take this tour. The cost is a mere $200 and includes full sag support and overnight camping-oh yeah, and free beer and soda most nights. You get to control the cost and choice of food, but know this: you will eat well and cheap in the tiny rural towns of upstate New York, so budgeting for food might be less than you think. Most nights a community group (PTA, Rotary, etc.) set up and prepared a meal (pasta dinner, BBQ, etc. with drinks and dessert) for ~$6 to $8 or donation only in most of the locations the tour spent the night.
If you want to ride with real cyclists, not a bunch of duffers weaving around the road who need the tour mommy to change a flat or try to hop in the sag wagon at any chance, take the FANY tour.
Highlights of the trip include Niagara Falls, the shore of Ontario Lake, the Finger Lakes traveling through Canandaigua, Geneva, Seneca Falls, Auburn and Skaneateles, with plenty of swimming opportunities. Day three features a loop in the Finger Lakes between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes with wineries, museums, lake views and a wildlife refuge. The route through farm country outside Syracuse, while hilly, rewards riders with spectacular views of Oneida Lake and the foothills of the Adirondacks. The route up to Speculator, New York in the Adirondacks passes reservoirs and offers mountain views and a remote wilderness feel.
The web site is at www.fanyride.com.
One of the participants (2001 and 2002) has set up an extensive photo gallery at http://physics.princeton.edu/~groth/random_pics/bikerides/fany_jul2002/fany_jul2002.htmlx. He also has photos from last year on his site too.
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