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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. For the first time, Peekskill served as the host and starting point for the Westchester Cycle Club's annual Biketober Fest.
The event is a multilevel ride event. Over the years, the cycle club's annual fall ride and party have been held at various locations around Westchester County. Peekskill was chosen as the starting/ending destination to allow the group of 100 riders to take advantage of the Hudson Hop and Harvest celebration on Water Street this past weekend as their after party.
All of the rides started at Riverfront Green and headed for destinations such as Bear Mountain, Croton Dam and Teatown. The Westchester Cycling Club includes ability levels rated from A to D.
The levels are assigned based on distance, terrain and average speed. The most advanced riders in the A and B+ levels can average speeds of more than 17 mph. The middle C and C+ range from 11 to 15 mph and the D rides average from 9 to 11 mph. Each ride is assigned a leader and/or co-leaders and members sign up for the ride that best suits their cycling skill and level.
These multilevel clubs rides and after parties attract cyclists from all over Westchester County, Putnam County and New York City. Peekskill resident and club member, Marina Ciotti, along with co-leader Patricia Viger from Irvington, led the C- group of 18 riders on a 30-mile trek to the Croton Dam and Teatown before heading back to Peekskill.
"It was a beautiful fall day and everyone had a wonderful time," Ciotti said after the event. "This area is pretty hilly but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits you just gear down and keep pedaling and the hills are left behind."
For more information on the Westchester Cycle Club, visit its website.
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