First century done... now I want more! CT coast to MA state line and back

[fprintf]

I did my first century this past weekend from Cheshire, CT to Old Saybrook, CT and back. Ride details at http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=339794 for those interested.

Anyway, I may be nuts for this long distance cycling stuff. I felt so good that I am planning a ride from New Haven on the CT coast to the MA state line and back again. 117 miles is the typical distance for this route, at least according to one source http://www.ultracycling.com/records/connecticut.html

Has anyone tried this before? I wouldn't try for a record, but this distance seems doable with a bit of training, maybe not this year for me, but maybe next year after some base miles. I have a few riding partners that have said they might be up for doing it... though starting from Cheshire and riding down to New Haven, back up to Cheshire (stop for food/water etc.) then up to the MA border and back to Cheshire.

[cdale56]

Congrats on the century, here's to many more. I was doing a ride Saturday in same area, started in Saybrook and went up and down the river to the ferry in Rocky Hill.

I never thought about a Massachusetts to coast ride in Connecticut, a few years ago, my wife dropped me off in a place called Wallum Lake (near the CT/RI/MA tristate marker) and I rode to the ocean on back roads along the western RI border, I do believe that was around 70+ miles? But a rather circuitous course.

What interests me is a ride across Connecticut, from the RI to NY border, I almost did it one Easter: from here along the coast to New Haven, up Rte 34 to Sandy Hook, with some intentions of getting to the NY line but my ride back was in Sandy Hook and I was kind of tired and out of time.

[fprintf]

There are standard starting and stopping points for a cross-state route, though I suppose you can choose anywhere you like if not going for any kind of record. I have some friends who did a West -- East route from NY to Rhode Island and they loved it. Lots of hills in NW and NE CT to contend with. I'd suppose except for the traffic congestion that further south it'd be a bit easier. But no matter what, when traversing all the N/S valleys there are going to be hills!

That is why I was doing a North - South route, it avoids the problem of crossing some of the valleys. It'd be pretty flat most of the way as long as you choose to ride up the CT river valley.

[cdale56]

That sounds really good. As far as a cross state ride goes, this route has interested me:

http://www.wcsu.edu/bike100/Bike100Booklet.PDF

I missed it that year because I wasn't prepared for it then but have it on my list of rides to do.


My latest riding idea is to ride the Connecticut River Valley, last weekend I went from Saybrook up to the Rocky Hill ferry and the next leg will be from that ferry to the border, though I might count the 2005 Vernon to Vernon to skip most of it. There are a lot of climbs, but I guess you can avoid them by knowing what roads to avoid.