Bike staycations

If you have an afternoon
For a beachy leg-stretcher, pedal south on Brooklyn’s Bedford Avenue till you reach Emmons Avenue. Take a left, stopping into ’70s-esque Roll-N-Roaster (2901 Emmons Ave at 29th St, 718-769-6000) for fresh-squeezed lemonade ($2.50), before following Emmons to the Shore Parkway Greenway. Gallop past the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy’s horses and Canarsie Piers’ fishermen. The path ends at 84th Street; swing right on 157th Avenue, then take a right on Cross Bay Boulevard, where steamed crabs (six for $20) await at Howard Beach’s open-air Captain Luna’s Marina (158-35 Cross Bay Blvd between 158th and 159th Aves, 718-659-0935). After cracking claws, cross the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge, cruise through the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and grab a brew at Broad Channel’s memorabilia-packed Grassy Point Bar and Grill (18-02 Cross Bay Blvd at 153rd Ave, 718-474-1688). After traversing the Cross Bay Bridge, reward yourself with fish tacos ($3) at tiny Rockaway Taco (95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd at Cross Bay Pkwy, 347-213-7466), or continue west down Rockaway Beach Boulevard, popping into Fort Tilden to overlook the Atlantic atop Battery Harris, a structure that once housed WWII guns. Continue the military exploration by crossing the Marine Parkway Bridge and perusing ancient airplanes, like the submarine-fighting Neptune and the amphibious Grumman Goose, at Floyd Bennett Field’s Hangar B (nps.gov/gate), before joining the Shore Parkway and returning home for a well-earned nap.

If you have a day
Awake early and ride north on the Hudson River Greenway, detouring for spicy eggs and tortillas ($5) at La Rosita (526 W 47th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves, 212-397-1137). Sated, bomb it to the George Washington Bridge, which you’ll cross before steering north on the foliage-shaded Route 9W. Too hot? When you reach Tallman Mountain State Park (nysparks.state.ny.us), cool off in the pool. Resume riding north toward Sparkill, New York, where you’ll angle northwest on Route 340. Take this till Route 303, which you’ll travel north on briefly until getting to West Orangeburg Road. Head west, as this becomes Gilbert Avenue, whereupon you’ll bend right on Middletown Road until you turn left on East Washington Avenue. Congratulations: You’ve reached the Pearl River hamlet, home to one of New York’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades. Your reward is a belly-busting burger or roasted chicken ($10 apiece at lunch, including soup and coffee) at stately Quinta Steakhouse (24 E Central Ave at Williams St; 845-735-5565, quintasteakhouse.com), or Italian heroes like a meatball Parmesan ($7.95) at Joe & Joe Restaurant (65 E Central Ave between N John and Williams Sts; 845-620-1800, joeandjoerestaurant.com). Follow food with fantastic suds at microbrewery Defiant Brewing Company (6 Dexter Plaza at Washington Ave, 845-920-8602)—we love the crisp Muddy Creek Lager (about $3.25) and the aromatic Belgian Tripel ($9 per 750ml bottle). If you sample two mugs too many, don’t risk a BWI (biking while intoxicated): The New Jersey Transit station borders Defiant, and a one-way ticket back is $8.50.

If you have a weekend
Pack your bags and prepare for a doozy of a ride: You’re biking 100 miles to Greenport, at Long Island’s eastern end. (If you really go for it, you can do it in a day; for a lower-impact adventure, catch the LIRR; off-peak $16.75, plus $5 for bicycle permit, which you get by filling out a short form at Grand Central.) Your arrival will also be your departure, as you’ll catch a ten-minute ferry ($3, northferry.com) to secluded Shelter Island. Check into the peaceful, turn-of-the-20th-century House on Chase Creek (3 Locust Ave at Meadow Pl; 631-749-4379, chasecreek.com) or the historic 1872 Chequit Inn (23 Grand Ave between Bluff and Chase Aves; 631-749-0018, shelterislandinns.com/chequit), where a cottage room costs less than $125 a night. Once settled, nab a map and, in lieu of a set ride, leisurely explore the bike-friendly, mostly flat 8,000-acre expanse. Pedal past Shelter Island Heights’ Victorian homes, the marshy Mashomack Preserve (lock up before entering and hiking the bird sanctuary) and Crescent Beach, where you’ll sip chilled local wine ($8–$14 a glass) at André Balazs’s Sunset Beach hotel (35 Shore Rd near Locust Point Rd; 631-749-2001, sunsetbeachli.com). As for grub, try the ocean-fresh lobster roll (market price, around $21) and hand-rolled pizza ($6) at Reddings Market (184 N Ferry Rd; 631-749-0003, www.reddingsmarket.com), or savor crispy duck confit and briny oysters at charming bistro Vine Street Café (41 S Ferry Rd; 631-749-3210, vinestreetcafe.com). Treat yourself to the spot’s daily dessert: You’ll bike off the calories tomorrow.

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You need a summer break but don't have the days off? Save time by staying home!