Food, Fun, Foliage and Fitness: A Weekend Cycling Getaway

Get on your bike and enjoy the changing leaves and the crisp Autumn air, riding some of Saratoga’s most scenic routes at the most beautiful time of the year with Bikeatoga’s fourth annual foliage ride. Ride one day or two on October 10 and 11 with 30, 50, and 75 mile routes available. 

For cyclists, there’s no better time to enjoy everything Saratoga Springs has to offer than early October when the leaves are changing, the shops and restaurants are a little less crowded.

“We have hundreds of miles of scenic, low-traffic, country roads surrounding the city,” said Ed Lindner, ride director for the Foliage Ride, “and early October when Autumn colors are at their best is a wonderful time to ride. You can ride along the Hudson River, past horse farms, dairy farms and harvested cornfields, and travel the grounds where American patriots won the Battle of Saratoga.”

This year, the Foliage Ride is a “Victory at Saratoga Siege Weekend” event, honoring our nation’s 250th anniversary and Saratoga’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. Revolutionary War reenactors and history interpreters will gather at Fort Hardy Park – a rest stop on the Foliage Ride – for military encampments, musket and artillery demonstrations and 18th century music. 

“Cycling the ground where Saratoga’s Revolutionary legacy turned the tide to America’s independence is a great way to take in its impact,” said Bill Teator, Executive Director of the Campaign for Saratoga 250. 

After the ride, cyclists come together for a catered lunch with live music at the Saratoga Regional YMCA pavilion. There’s time to enjoy a sauna or take a swim using the free YMCA day pass. And then it’s off to downtown. 

The Foliage Ride “Downtown Happy Hour” is a popular promotion. Riders showing a Foliage Ride wristband can get food and drink specials at a variety of local favorites, including craft beers at Whitman Brewing and the Henry Street Taproom, wine by the glass at Kindred and bubbly at the Bocage Champagne Bar. 

In 2025 the Saratoga Foliage Ride drew cyclists from 13 states and two Canadian provinces. Lindner thinks the combination of scenic country roads and bustling downtown is the reason. “Tripadvisor says Saratoga Springs is ‘pretty close to perfect’ and we couldn’t agree more,” Lindner said, “Saratoga Springs is a really special cycling destination.” 

For more information visit www.SaratogaFoliageRide.com. Register at https://www.bikereg.com/73201.