va2nh

I'm currently planning my first bike tour- which will consist of me riding to the college I go to in late August (University of New Hampshire).

I'm currently working on Long Island, and the plan is for me to ride to Orient Point, NY and take the ferry to New London, CT (depending on the route I take, that can be either 20 or 60 miles). From New London, the route is up in the air. I'll probably start the tour on Friday, Aug. 21, and I'll need to be in Durham, NH (near Portsmouth, or Exeter for you Atlantic Coast folks) around the 26th or 27th.

I'm interested in 50-100 mile days, more toward the longer end of that. If I went direct, I don't think it won't take the entire time, so I'm interested in meandering. I've printed out a bike map of CT, and there should be one of RI in the mail (I don't know if I'll go through RI). I already have maps of NH, but haven't been able to find one online for MA, which is slowing the planning process.

Any suggestions?

bktourer1

Get the Rubels bike maps for MA. They cover the entire state when they have them in stock. If you plan on heading North to the Springfield MA area, let me know, I can get you on roads to NH. You camping or motels?

the_doctor

It can be somewhat tricky. I would not worry about the Rubel map. It is almost the catch-all phrase in MASS. You can bypass a lot of Boston Metro traffic and problem areas.

You have some backup potential since you can take the train from Durham area( not too far) to Boston and hop over to South Station in order to take the amtrak to the south.

I don't think that you have much choice in going something like Route 169 north through CT.

There are lots of rolling hills on this route. You are going to get the whole way.

You would aim for Worcester, which would be tricky. After Worcester, then you would head for Ayer and Nashua behind it.

You should be able to cobble up some sort of route from Nashua to Durham. Durham is actually a ways up there.

bktourer1

Keep in mind you cant get a bike on most amtrak trains ( the Downeaster goes to Portland and you need reservations) and the MBTA commuter trains you can get on only off peak and the weekends. The NY MTA trains require a pass you have to buy before you get started

va2nh

Plan on camping pretty much the entire way (established or stealth), with a night at motel if needed. I like the idea of having the train or something as a backup plan but it hugs the coast (which I won't), and as mentioned is hard to get a bike on sometimes. That said, I've ridden it quite a bit so I'm aware its there.

Like the advice to aim for Worcester, than Nashua, etc. Found a crazyguyonabike journal (https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=35833&v=2o) in which the guys did Boston to NY but went via New London. Looks like I could try to follow their route through CT from New London up to Webster. They'd don't have their actual route posted, but they do have one they adapted. Here's what would be relevant for me:

Rte. 12 through Webster then Rte. 197 across the CT border. 197 to 169 to 171 to 198 and follow 198 to Chaplin. Then Tower Hill Road to Mt. Hope Road, to Gurleyville Rd. and into Storrs. (This part is very steeply uphill.) Hunting Lodge and Birch out of Storrs down to Rte. 32. Right on 275 into Coventry

From there they headed to Lebanon, CT and then it was another 35-40 into New London. Sounds like it was hilly, but not super concerned about that.

Then I'd just have to concentrate on getting from there to Nashua. Not having a good map of MA is hurting my planning. Anyone familiar with that area? I don't think I'll have trouble finding a route through NH.

Couldn't find anything about Rubels maps on google...maybe I'm missing something.

7speed

https://www.bikemaps.com/regmaps.htm

va2nh

Thanks. Unforunately, the Central MA bike map seems to be unavailable. Back to square one.

the_doctor

I should have stated that you can go MBTA to Providence. You would have to take a bus and catch the commuter service to New London. I forgot that there is no more baggage on NEC.

late

Ride up Vermont.

You can hit some of the towns if you like, Middlebury, Burlington.

Then jump on the Kancamangus. Spend the night in Conway,then 153 to 125

va2nh

Vermont intrigues me. I don't know if I'd make it all the way up to Middlebury or Burlington, but I might try and wander around the south a bit.

Leebo

Mass bike may be of help. Tried google bikes? AAA? The nashua river rail trail runs from Ayer Ma to Nashua, rode some of it last week, very flat and mostly shaded. Maybe Delorme maps or try Adventure Cycling for resources

bktourer1

RT 5 North HILLY. campgrounds in brattleboro & ascutney (1 motel off rt 5, food nearby motel)