FAQs

All riders need to arrive at Wagner College on Saturday, July 22. There are two main ways to get to the ESR start line.

1. Take the ESR charter bus ($150) from Buffalo to Wagner College on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
2. Travel to major airports, train and bus stations, and drive or get dropped off at Wagner College, Staten Island.

Long- term parking is available at no cost at both Wagner College, Staten Island, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo.

• Travel direct from Niagara Falls, New York.
• Join friends and family at Niagara Falls.
• Book a hotel and take the charter bus back to Wagner College on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
• Take the ESR charter bus ($150) from Niagara Falls to Wagner College on July 30, 2023.

Getting your bike to and from ESR is each rider’s responsibility. Here is what we recommend:

• Rack it on your car or a friend or family member’s car.
• Ship it using BikeFlights
• Utilize our bike shuttle truck from Roswell Park prior to the event, or back to Wagner College if taking our charter bus on July 30, 2023.

Think of Empire State Ride as three 30-mile rides each day, with rest stops to keep you going. If you head out from camp by 8 a.m., at an average pace of 14-15 miles per hour and add in rest stop time, you can expect to arrive at the next camp around 3 p.m. each day, with time to spare.

A shuttle will be provided to and from the designated hotels for those not camping. Riders claim their luggage at camp and bring it with them on the hotel shuttle. Luggage truck picks up hotel luggage at the hotel every morning. If you choose not to go to the hotel before dinner, please communicate to a staff member so we can make accommodations for your bags. Your bike will need to stay in camp. Please bring a lock for it.

ESR riders may bring two pieces of luggage and a sleeping bag. Luggage is shuttled from camp to camp and to the hotels each day. See above for those staying in a hotel. See the recommended packing information on the website for more details.

ESR will schedule shuttles to assist riders who need a boost. Shuttles can advance riders to the next rest stop or to the lunch stop to start the day with a boost and finish at camp. Shuttles are scheduled for riders staying in hotels. In case of an emergency, ESR will pick you up. In non-emergency situations, riders who are eager to get to the hotel or other destination outside the shuttle schedule should use Uber or Lyft.

The ESR medical team is on hand to evaluate common athletic training and physical therapy issues, and to screen for basic medical treatments and for conditions that might require a telemedicine or in-person visit to urgent care or the emergency room.

ESR will have a team of traveling and local licensed massage therapists for optional appointments at the rider’s expense.

If you have an emergency or see an emergency, call 911 first, and then call the ESR rider help line. ESR has a traveling medical team to help with daily wellness checks, athletic training and physical therapy issues, as well as telemedicine connections to UBMD Emergency Physicians for video exams. ESR will coordinate with riders who need to go to the emergency room or an urgent care center.

The ride happens rain or shine. Please pack with varying weather conditions in mind. In the event of extreme weather, the ESR staff will recommend the best course of action. Extreme heat, high winds and lightning are examples of extreme weather that could be encountered during the week.

A simple answer is to train so that you can ride 30 miles outdoors at a brisk pace without stopping. Ride your bicycle outdoors as much as you can prior to ESR. Get plenty of “seat time” to help your body adjust to the feel of long-distance cycling, including cycling clothing, padded riding shorts, clip on shoes or lightweight flat soled cycling shoes. Learn about personal care products such as Chamois Butter, Desitin and other remedies for chaffing and body endurance issues. Ride with others to get accustomed to group riding, communication, traffic and road hazards. Work with your local fitness center to build strength and endurance. Get your bike tuned and serviced at your local bike shop and get their advice on fitting your bike to you and your dimensions. Join ESR riders and alumni who organize local group rides in your area. Check out the ESR training program on our website.

• A road bike designed for long distances works better than a mountain or hybrid bike.
• CPSC helmet (required). Helmets degrade over three to four years, so replacing an older helmet is a good investment. Helmets with MIPS technology are best.
• Cycling shorts with padding, jersey or sweat wicking shirt and gloves.
• Cycling shoes and pedals OR general comfortable shoes for platform pedals
• Bike lights — A flashing bike light significantly increases your visibility on the road. White lights in front and red lights in the back.
• Saddle bag with spare tubes/patch kit and CO2 inflators or mini pump.
• Though routes are labeled with signs and arrows, we recommend using a bike computer or GPS to stay on track each day.

Due to the repetitive nature of cycling, a slight misalignment can create inefficiency, pain or numbness. A bike fitting can help correct technique, improve biomechanics and prevent injuries. Most bike shops offer bike fitting services where they will set you up on a stationary trainer and perform measurements, as well as analyze your pedaling and body motion.