Hi {{contact.first_name}},
November is the last stretch of the riding season in the Southern Tier. The leaves are almost down, the mornings are cold, and the first snow showers are not far off. The clocks went back on Sunday, November 1, so it gets dark before most of us are done with work. But a dry, sunny afternoon this month can still be one of the best rides of the year. The roads are quiet, the river valleys are beautiful, and every good day feels like a bonus.
Ride of the Month: Route 17C to Owego
The Susquehanna on one side and a historic river town at the end
Head west out of Binghamton through Johnson City and Endicott and pick up Route 17C. Instead of racing along the highway, 17C follows the Susquehanna River at an easy pace, through small towns, farm fields and stretches where the water runs right beside the road. Keep going past Apalachin into Owego, a historic river town with a waterfront walk along the Susquehanna and plenty of places to stop for lunch.
It is about 25 miles each way, so it fits nicely into the warmest part of a November day. Ride it around midday, take a break in Owego to warm up, and plan to be home before the sun gets low and the temperature drops. Watch for wet leaves in the shaded corners and slow farm traffic on the two lane stretches.
Short on time? Take Route 369 north from Port Dickinson to Chenango Valley State Park for a quiet loop past the lakes and the last of the fall color. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, take a minute to thank the veterans you ride with. There are a lot of them in the Southern Tier riding community.
Late-Fall Safety: Southern Tier Edition
November riding here rewards riders who respect the season. A few things to watch for this month:
- Deer at dawn and dusk. Late fall is the peak season for deer crashes on New York roads, and dusk now lands right in the evening commute. On roads like Route 17, Route 26 and Route 79, scan the shoulders and tree lines, cover your brakes, and remember that one deer often means another is close behind.
- You are riding home in the dark. Since the clocks went back, most rides home happen after dark. Drivers are not looking for a single headlight at night. Run your lights, wear something bright, and give yourself extra room.
- Frost, wet leaves and the first ice. Cold mornings leave frost on bridges, overpasses and shaded curves, and wet leaves can be as slick as ice. Let the sun warm the road before you head out, give cold tires a few easy miles, and roll through leaf covered corners slowly.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, ride early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your New York Law
- No-fault does not cover you on a bike. New York is a no-fault state for cars and trucks, but motorcycle riders are left out of the no-fault system. There are no no-fault benefits for your own medical bills, so your health insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage and the claim against the at-fault driver matter even more.
- Helmet and eye protection, every ride. New York requires every rider and passenger to wear a DOT approved helmet, and riders also need eye protection, such as goggles or a face shield.
- Fault is shared, not all or nothing. New York uses pure comparative fault. If you are found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your share of the blame, but it is not wiped out.
- Deadlines are real. The general deadline to file an injury lawsuit in New York is three years. A claim against a city or town, such as a crash caused by a pothole, usually needs a written notice of claim within 90 days. Do not wait to get advice.
Ride Nation Binghamton
Ride Nation Binghamton is the local home for riders in Broome County and the Southern Tier. It is where riders share their weekend miles, call out frost, leaves and road work from Johnson City to Owego, and post the shots worth putting your helmet on for. Post your last rides of the season and tag us. It is your scene, run by riders who know these roads.
Final Weeks for the BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance to win a new motorcycle worth up to $20,000, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free for riders 18 and up, so let them know before it closes.
See the official rules
A driver who never saw your headlight in the early dark on Route 17. Wet leaves in a shaded corner. A deer that steps out at dusk. If you ever go down in New York, remember that no-fault does not cover you on a bike, so you want a lawyer who knows these roads and how insurers treat injured riders.