Good rides for four of differing levels in Northampton area
08-19-11, 07:55 AM
#1
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Good rides for four of differing levels in Northampton area
Heading down to the Northampton area (staying in Hadley) this weekend through Monday for a quickie vacation meetup with another couple. Bringing the tandem plus two, or three or four if I can think of a reason, single bikes -- our friends, who live in a small apartment in NYC, don't currently own bikes. All four of us are decently athletic, but I'm the only one who will regularly bike 50+ miles in a day.
Planning to do the Manhan and Norwattuck rail trails and enjoy the new connecting bridge. Other ideas? I've stayed for a couple weeks at a time in the past, and commuted a lot from South Hadley to Northampton -- but some of those hills are probably too hard for my companions.
Any dirty-but-easy trails? In addition to the tandem, which I'm not comfy taking on anything rougher than flat dirt roads, two of the single bikes I bring will likely be my and my wife's (brand new-to-her surprise) hardtail mountain bikes, and if I bring the other two single bikes, they'd be our rigid cross bikes which I can stick 42mm knobbies on.
Planning to do the Manhan and Norwattuck rail trails and enjoy the new connecting bridge. Other ideas? I've stayed for a couple weeks at a time in the past, and commuted a lot from South Hadley to Northampton -- but some of those hills are probably too hard for my companions.
Any dirty-but-easy trails? In addition to the tandem, which I'm not comfy taking on anything rougher than flat dirt roads, two of the single bikes I bring will likely be my and my wife's (brand new-to-her surprise) hardtail mountain bikes, and if I bring the other two single bikes, they'd be our rigid cross bikes which I can stick 42mm knobbies on.
Last edited by pocky; 08-19-11 at 08:03 AM.
08-19-11, 04:43 PM
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if you feel like travelling to Chesire, MA in the Berkshires:
https://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/asrt.htm
it's in nicer shape than the Norwottuck, but not as long if you include the NoHo bike trail with the Norwottuck...
And if you feel like it, some could even ride up greylock for a greater challenge.
Jay
https://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/asrt.htm
it's in nicer shape than the Norwottuck, but not as long if you include the NoHo bike trail with the Norwottuck...
And if you feel like it, some could even ride up greylock for a greater challenge.
Jay
08-19-11, 08:11 PM
#3
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why don't you ride from S. Hadley to Amherst, to NoHo? You could even follow the five college bus route to give you a super bailout option. The ride is pretty nice.
08-19-11, 09:54 PM
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And if you feel like it, some could even ride up greylock for a greater challenge.
How about Skinner State Park / Holyoke Range? I've hiked here before, but I hadn't realized it's supposed to be some of the best XC riding in New England: https://www.crankfire.com/bike/trail/..._holyoke_range
There seems to be a great trail map at https://www.hampshire.edu/cms_html/Holyoke_Range.htm -- any tips on what routes to hit for the "easy stuff"?
