Back in 1897, a decade before he became “fastest man on earth,” Glenn Curtiss could be found speeding around the small town of Hammondsport on his bicycle. Part of the local cycling team known as The Hammondsport Boys, Glenn was the fastest cyclist in town and he loved to race competitively with his racing buddy “Tank” Waters and others.

If you’ve never head of Curtiss, don’t feel badly. Many of the most important contributions to our lives were made by people whose names we’ll probably never learn. People like Glenn Curtiss who drew aeronauts, balloonists, and inventors such as Alexander Graham Bell to the small town of Hammondsport in the early 1900s making it the “Cradle of Aviation.”

Like the Wright Brothers, Curtiss started with a love for bicycles. First, he raced them. Then he opened his own bike shop on Hammondsport’s Village Square. Unlike the Wrights, however, who focused on bicycle manufacturing to support their early aviation endeavors, Curtiss revved up the horsepower on his bikes.

In 1907, he strapped one of his early engines onto a bike which he rode on a beach in Florida at 136.4 miles per hour becoming the “fastest man on earth.” His ability to make powerful engines drew the interest of aviation enthusiasts, innovators, and adventurers including Bell with whom he created the Aerial Experiment Association.

Whether you come to Steuben to race or simply to ride and take in all the natural beauty, you’ll want to spend some time in the small town of Hammondsport (voted “Coolest Small Town in America” and home to world-class wineries, award-winning breweries, and stunning Keuka Lake, the most unusual of all the Finger Lakes) and at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum which showcases a wide range of vintage bikes from Penny Farthings to early motorized bicycles, as well as several iconic transportation innovations that Curtiss had a hand in creating as a motorcycle and aviation pioneer.

Keuka Lake offers the perfect cocktail for fantastic cycling: endless miles of low-traffic dirt roads, vistas of the lake and its rolling vineyards, award-winning wines and local craft beer, and a rich history of cycling enthusiasm.

The Keuka Lake Gravel Classic was born from the Ramble around Prattsburgh race which began in 2008. Evolving into the Keuka Lake Gravel Classic under the leadership of Steuben Brewing, the event offers a competitive 50-mile, 5,000 feet route for racers and a non-competitive 25-mile ride (both of which offer exciting climbs and descents) for anyone interested in taking in the breathtaking scenery.

After the event, riders and their entourages celebrate with great food, live music, excellent craft beer, prizes, and fun for the whole family at award-winning Steuben Brewing Company.

Check it out below.

The Hills on Fire Enduro XC, which takes place each August, offers easy access for spectators and a challenging 7.5 miles mountain bike course through a hilltop forest about 500 feet above the valley below with a good mix of single and double tracks and featuring several timed segments. Another August favorite, the Tour de Keuka, is a charity bike ride around Keuka Lake offering panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside.

Gravel cyclists looking for less of a race and more of an enjoyable exploration enjoy the Catherine Valley Trail, a nearly 12-mile gravel track that runs from Watkins Glen, at the southern end of Seneca Lake to tiny Pine Glen. Speaking of off-road adventures, if you’re seeking scenic rides away from the roads, head for one of the very first “rail trails,” in the country—the Keuka Outlet Trail. At seven miles long, this multiple-use trail is open to the public year-round, is well maintained and generally considered an easy, enjoyable route.

Many of the towns have small parks have bike paths, like Kanakadea Park in Hornell, while a number of small state forest lands scattered throughout Steuben County also have designated cycling paths, like Greenwood State Forest ad Birdseye Hollow which has hiking trails, but also multi-use trails that can be used for a mountain bike excursion in a tranquil setting.

One scenic byway routes in western Steuben connects two State Parks and takes you through part of the Finger Lakes Rustic and Wild footprint which has a number of highlights including the majestic waterfalls at Stony Brook State Park, as well as excellent culinary experiences at Savor Vineyards, Railhead Brewing, and Cider Creek Hard Cider.

Check out Finger Lakes Rustic & Wild