Friends,

Looks like my wife and I will be relocating to the Amherst area for my new job within a month or so, and I'm hoping to be able to bike through the rest of the season as soon as I get there. So, it would help to have some good routes in advance. Currently, we are looking for apartments in Belchertown, but no guarantees -- you know how rentals are.

I could use routes anywhere from 10 to 65 miles, and any distance in-between. Thanks very much in advance -- I look forward to living in the very fine Valley!

For the hilliest ride you could ever imagine, ride north on 202 out of Belchertown, along the west side of the Quabbin. Take the left turn that brings you up a killer hill into the center of Shutesbury. What makes it all worth it is following the road on the west side of the town, as it snakes it's way back down towards the U-Mass campus. Pick up Pelham road back to Rt. 202 and back home again! Close to 40 miles...here's one option!

https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2094330

You can piece together some sweet rides in this area and going North to South or riding the Norwottuck bike path will keep you on relatively level rides. But when you start to go east to west or too far north you'll hit some mighty fine hills.

I'm a little further west than there right now but I go through this area on my rides on the way out here.

Rubel's Central Massachusetts Bike Map will give you some good routes to start with and you can piece together rides all over the place.

Have you checked veloroutes.org, check locale search and type in Amherst, MA. I see at least 5 or 6 routes out of the 10 listed that might serve you well and give you some idea of the kinds of rides in the area people are doing. There are a lot of good shops and riders in the area and they'll be sure to help you if you run into them on a ride or visit a shop.

Good luck and have fun!

Local club cuesheets: www.freewheelers.org/cues.htm

A century ride in early September: www.amherstrotaryclub.org/covac/

I did the COVAC (Connecticut Valley Century) last year, and it was a very pleasant, well organized and supported event. Evidently there are plenty of cyclists in the area and no shortage of good places to ride, whether you like flat rides (the valley) or hills (everywhere else.)

Thanks, you guys -- good tips, and I really appreciate it. I'll check out each of those ideas.

If anyone else has sweet routes, be glad to hear of them. I'm surprised so few from the area itself have replied -- I've been told there's a great cycling community there!

Get the rubels bike maps for Mass.

ED

lots of great routes in the valley. you'll like living/riding there.

here are some from mapmyride.

I grew up in Amherst, there are many nice routes as stated. One of my favorites was to take 116 south from the center down past Atkin's Farms and up over "The Notch". Follow down into South Hadley past Mt. Holyoke College. From there you can turn around and ride back or blast west out through Hadley and back into Amherst (I forget the roads for that route).

Best of luck with the new job.

yes, go over the notch and keep going till you get to south hadley center. right onto rte 47, which winds its way toward Hadley. take a right at Bay road toward atkins. at atkins corner, go left to get back to amherst.

comme ca! -- https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...erst/990760468

Sweet -- thanks, locals! I will try those rides!