Welcome to Albany, the Crossroads of the Empire State Trail!

  • Bike riders with lights in front of the Downtube Bicycle Works storefront

Albany - located at the heart of the Empire State Trail, where the Erie Canalway Trail links to the Hudson Valley Greenway Trail and the Champlain Valley Trail, and one of America’s oldest cities. Whether you’re at the end of your your journey, at the beginning, or just rolling through town, we hope you have an awesome Albany experience!

We’re the Downtube Bicycle Works, an independent bicycle shop and NYS Historic Business located just 1.5mi off the Empire State Trail, offering friendly service, quick repairs, and our curated selection of bicycles, apparel and accessories to local bicycle riders and touring cyclists from across the world.

Let us be your guide!

Read on for how to ship your bike to or from our shop and our most helpful maps, links and tips.

Packing, shipping, and assembly services

Packing

We pack bikes securely in reusable cardboard boxes and packing material, or we can pack a bike into a case if you wish. We sell new bike cases or you can provide one yourself, please call ahead to inquire about case availability. Our boxing service costs $105. We can often fit a few accessories into the box with the bike (helmets, bags, etc), but it depends on the size of bike.

Please call ahead to set an appointment if you need the bike to be packed by a specific date. If you are not shipping the bike directly from the store, we will notify you when the boxed bike is ready for pickup.

Shipping

We offer shipping though BikeFlights, which is sent via UPS and is picked up here at the shop. We can create the shipping label for you at their standard rates, or you can arrange your own shipping label and pickup from our store if you prefer. Please do not create a shipping label until we give you the dimensions and weight of your boxed bike to prevent additional charges. Please email your shipping label to downtubecycleworks@gmail.com.

If you need your bike to arrive by or ship on a particular date, please call ahead to set up an appointment.

Assembly

We can get your bike ready to ride! Drop off your boxed bike anytime, or ship it directly to us, and we’ll build it to the highest standards. Assembly of most geared bikes is $105 and assembly of single-speed bikes is $65.

Please let us know ahead of time if you are shipping a bike to us so we are expecting it. We also recommend calling ahead to set up an appointment if you need your bike ready by a particular date.

Further Information and Links

Is the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail part of the Empire State Trail?

Yes, the paved sections of the Empire State Trail in the Capital Region are known as the Mohawk Hudson Bike Hike Trail! You can find detailed local maps of the trail to print here: https://www.cdtcmpo.org/mhbkmap.htm

There is a local group of volunteers called Friends of the MHBHT that keep our trails clean! They also have put together a great FAQ and list of trail access points here: https://www.mhbht.org/newsletters Learn more about this organization and trail updates at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheMohawkHudsonBikeHikeTrail/

How do I take my bike on Amtrak?

IWe recommend the following guide: https://canalwaytrailtimes.org/2023/02/23/bikes-on-board-a-guide-to-using-amtrak-to-ride-the-erie-canalway-trail/

Do you have bike boxes and packing material available?

Yes we do! Our reusable cardboard bike boxes are free but in limited supply - please call us to reserve a bike box for you, as we may not have one available for you otherwise.

Do you rent bikes?

At the present time we do not rent bikes. We recommend using the CDPHP Cycle! Bikeshare program to rent bikes for local transportation. The closest shop to Albany that currently does rentals is Overlook Bicycles in Shokan, NY, about an hour’s drive from Albany.

What other links might be useful to me as I plan my trip?

Albany-Hudson Electric Trail Interactive Map and information: https://www.ptny.org/newsandmedia/e-news-1/2021/05/trailsblog-albany-hudson-electric-trail

The official New York State Empire State Trail Map: https://empiretrail.ny.gov/map

Parks and Trails NY Empire State Trail Resource Guide: https://www.ptny.org/explore/empire-state-trail

For more tips and camaraderie, check out the Cycling the Erie Canal facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/406113270106948

Additional trails to explore around Albany NY: https://www.downtubebicycleworks.com/blog/where-to-ride-mostly-pavement-edition