A “century” is, for cyclists, the ultimate challenge—a 100-mile day, the two-wheeled equivalent of running a marathon. And what better way to ride a century than around the Adirondack Park’s greatest lake?
My cycling partner Steve and I arrive at Lake George village at 7:30 a.m. on an early summer Saturday to find a nearly empty town. In about two hours it’ll be mobbed here, but by then we’ll be long gone. We recruit one of the lake’s early-morning visitors to shoot a “before” photo of us, facing east, to catch the sun. Then we click into our pedals and ride off.
We head up the west side first—Route 9N. The shoulder is not generous, so it’s good to get this stretch done early, before the traffic starts.
From Lake George to Ticonderoga is about 45 miles. The road is shady and cool now, and filled with interesting sights, from century-old mansions built by New York City tycoons to cheesy motels advertising “NO VACANCY.”
Cyclists who aren’t ready for this challenge will find out soon enough. At first Route 9N is what locals might call “Adirondack flat.” It’s got a lot of ups and downs, but no hills of any particular difficulty. Nevertheless, the grades are cumulative. If you’re tired after an hour, you might want to scale back your endeavor.
