Originally Posted by danmc

Last year I rode the Erie Canal path from Rochester to Medina and back, which is about 38 miles each way. The trail west of Rochester is crushed gravel and you can probably ride on it ok with thin tires but I did the ride on my hybrid. The trail remains crushed gravel until you hit the city of Rochester on Long Pond Road which is then pavement all the way thru Pittsford, about 15 miles or so, give or take. Then it becomes crushed gravel again. I ride the trail a lot, but only go on my road bike on the paved portions and will ride my hybrid on the crushed gravel portions. West of Rochester there are long patches where there is absolutely nothing around but open fields, so make sure you have plenty of water! The path is very, very flat and boring, but maybe a safer and quicker alternative than the road.