Touring - Northern NY State from VT

Looking for routes through Northern NY State.

Will be travelling from SVT to Finger Lakes Region. Brattleboro to Canandaigua.

Have ADV Cycling Maps of the Northern Tier, wondering if anyone has done the NY State Bicycle Route 5. Northern Tier would take me way north of where I want to be. NY State Bicycle Route 5 seems to follow the NYS Thruway. Wonder if it is filled with traffic and noisey, and how (relatively) safe it is to cross through Albany and Schenectady on a loaded touring rig.

I've driven US Route 20 through NY from out near Cooperstown through WNY. Beautiful drive, not sure if I'd like climbing up and down all day.

Any reccomendations?

From Brattleboro are you coming through Bennington? If so NY Rt 7 west from Bennington is rideable it has fast traffic but a wide shoulder for about 2/3 of the 25 miles to Troy. Ride Rt 7 to rt 142(shown on map as Grange rd) which will take you to north Troy(Lansingburgh). Cross the bridge into Waterford then left at the first light to the erie canal visitors center, from there take the bridge over the canal to peebles island state park. Then east to Ontario st. On ontario st you would go west/north through the city of cohoes. after you go through the down town area you will go up a short steep hill that curves left and has a bowling alley on your right, at the next right turn onto High St, then an immediate right onto Garner St about .1 mile you will see a convience store on your left, the Bike path will be behind the store, Turn right/west/north on the bike path
http://image.maps.yahoo.com/mapimage?MAPData=e.wwBvhyzy08AZfCok89BRAKds.NkPu8bTdW736hO2JIA.68OZJAEByWaEWkxZvIHsn_fdWgdbCFhC251RM mmGFHesCwyu0wifOPfU2phmpO17k-waterford/cohoes map (http://image.maps.yahoo.com/mapimage?MAPData=e.wwBvhyzy08AZfCok89BRAKds.NkPu8bTdW736hO2JIA.68OZJAEByWaEWkxZvIHsn_fdWgdbCFhC251RM mmGFHesCwyu0wifOPfU2phmpO17k-)

Follow the Bike path signs for about 10 miles till you get to Schenectady/Union College. the trail will end on North Jay st in Schenectady you follow Jay till its intersection with Union , Right on Union ave go under the RR bridge and across Erie Blvd . You are now in the
"Stockade " section . continue on union st 3 blocks to N.Church st and turn left, go one block and turn right on State st. Follow State st west through the next light. the street will become 4 lanes (shown on map as Mohawk ave and route 5) . 200 yards to your right will be a short exit ramp, turn right. this will circle counter clock wise under the bridge and will bring you to a bike path on your right. Follow the bike path for exactly 6 miles till it intersects with Route 5s turn right on route 5s and continue west bound through Rotterdam junction.

West from Rotterdam Junction you have a choice of Bike Route 5 on road or the erie canal trailway. The bike trail is mostly stone dust but will easily accomadate a 700x28c tire if dry. West of Rome ,Bike route 5 sucks , it is on rt 365 which is a busy four lane with trucks you have a wide shoulder to ride but the Canal trail is a better but slower choice.



Map of schenectady (http://image.maps.yahoo.com/mapimage?MAPData=1MEnefhyzy3ZReuaDn_lYW2xcrwJnw5el1rbZkRlNKYF3_6piEgSkfJpeYNzEmArQ2HmmSN6OHWYK..LKCI gIknLZE86Y55dzEv9uRmZqSfPNhA-)

Thanks. Hadn't thought of the Canal Trail. I used to ride it when I lived in Rochester...

I'll probably cross from Brat to Bennington. Good climbing in there. Awaiting some info on changing the gearing on my 520 to better accomodate travelling loaded. It's rather high right out of the box. Works fine for weekends / commuting ... but that was before I moved to VT.

Awaiting some info on changing the gearing on my 520 to better accommodate traveling loaded. It's rather high right out of the box. Works fine for weekends / commuting ... but that was before I moved to VT.

Why not go with the XT MTB gearing?

With a 44-34-22 up front, and 11-13-15-17-20-23-26-30-34 in the rear, there isn't a New England climb I can't tackle while fully loaded. And I'm a 100kg behemoth.