CarolynBikesUSA

Hello Forum,

I've already posted this in the Touring Forums, but someone suggested I ask around here... does anybody have any route suggestions for riding from the Boston area to Albany,NY? I'm doing a cross-country tour later this summer and would really like to start near Boston since I have a few (non-biking) friends in the area, but it doesn't really look like there are many bike routes in the rest of the state. I'm not opposed to riding on highways, as long as they aren't too perilous. Has anyone here ridden Boston to Albany before? What highways should I be sure to avoid? Your local knowledge is much appreciated!!!

~Carolyn~

berner

Carolyn, I do not think there is a good way to ride Mass. east/west. I've been looking for rides north of my home turf. My best guess is that the best or most pleasant routes will be through southern New Hampshire and Vermont. My suggestion would be to look at Rt. 119 in Mass. and within the I 495 circle (around Concord somewhere). This will take you to Brattleboro, Vermont. Check out N.H.maps here. https://www.nhoutdoors.com/bike_paths.htm You may also ask the Granite State Wheelmen https://www.granitestatewheelmen.org/

In Vermont, Rt.9 will get you across the state to Bennington where you are nearly to Albany

bktourer1

From Boston Charles River paths head to Waltham and connect to Rt 20 & 117 towards Worcester. In worcester climb on RT 9 West to Northampton and Pittsfield to Albany. Rt 20 too crowed and busy in most places for bikers but can be done. Rt 9 is a better route

ed

Jay H

Rt 9 through NoHo is kind of busy at rush hour but I think you'd be fine and once you get outside NoHo and Florence, it's a perfectly fine scenic ride. It will get busy once you hit Pittsfield but I can show you a way around the bad parts (where Rt 9 meets Rt 8 in Pittsfield/Allendale) and get you to Route 20 which goes uphill over the taconics into Canaan NY. Rt 20 you can take all the way west towards Troy and then find a good way to cross the hudson towards Albany.

So long as you stay off I-90, I think there are a lot of good east/west routes in MA.

If you can get a hold of some old Rubel bike Maps you can even plot your own course. Unfortunately, they are no more but I have the western MA Rubels and it's a great resource..

Take a look at Google around Pittsfield MA, and see where Rt 9 goes into downtown pittsfield, and let me know when you're ready and I'll tell you a good local way around it. I bike tour myself so sometimes I know that information overload is something overwhelming and route finding long distance, you certainly have a lot of info to digest...


Jay

bktourer1

How about getting on the bike trail I NoHo and take that thtough Look Park to get onto 9 again?
That well get you through all the traffic. If you take this route , it will mean passing the bike shops in town and great places to eat. Check out Gleason if you need any additional camping gear.
If you come into Springfield I can get you to NoHo on RT 5 & a rail Trail.

I have the Central / Easterm MA Rubels map I could send you.
Here is another thought, take the commuter train to Worcester (OFF PEAK ONLY during the week, anytime Sat & Sunday) and ride from Worcester

bmike

there are 2 randonneuring groups in MA, Boston and Westfield.

https://nerandonneurs.org/

https://newhorizonsbikes.com/articles...-2012-pg67.htm

lots of scenic routes on quiet(er) roads all over the state.

the NERds used to have a 400k that went out to deefield / conway area and back.
and westfield has a few rides that stretch into NY and CT.

might want to check in there for ideas or look up their routes / cues.

Leebo

Adventure cycling has lots of maps.

Jay H

ACA's route from the Boston area goes through northern CT to Dutchess County, to around Rhinebeck before turning south to cross the hudson in Poughkeepsie. You could use that and then head north towards Albany.... But it would be longer than heading more or less directly west from Boston.

Jay

GeezerPete

This will get you from Boston to the NY line. This is the route for this year's Berkshire to Boston bike tour. It's rather hilly out west but it takes some very scenic and bike friendly roads.

https://www.berkshirestoboston.com/The_Route.html

Jay H

haha,yeah, if you start at the NY/MA border in Hancock, MA you first start off with a very long downhill til the center of Pittsfield.

However, going west, it's not that bad of a climb, despite what the elevation profile suggests and it's not that busy traffic wise and there is a good shoulder for the part that is one lane and parts where there is a climbing lane, there typically isn't that bad traffic wise that cars can use the left lane.

I've ridden up that hill before in a road bike with a triple but never got out of the middle ring so if you're touring, it would be a long slog but doable with good gearing.. Then you'll be rewarded with a screaming descent into New Lenanon, NY. In fact, NY is at a lower elevation than pittsfield so it's easier going towards Albany than it would be to ride from Albany towards Boston.

You can follow Rt 20 all the way across Columbia county too as it is relatively traffic free. You'll hit another long uphill section around Nassau but should be easier than the Taconics you rode over...

Looking at that route too, that looks doable as to avoid downtown Pittsfield, although I would do something different where Rt 8 meets rt 9 which is a major busy busy busy intersection. I'd make the left turn rather than go south to Merrill Road and go through the Allendale Shopping Center (where Tractor Supply Co is) and then make a left onto Rt 8.. I can see why they would not have an organized ride do this but if you're by yourself, you can do this for sure. Or you can do the route too, just take the lane and be careful if at rush hour.


Jay