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Erie canal trip

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Old 06-28-18, 07:26 AM
  #1  
irwin7638
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Erie canal trip

I rode the Erie Canal for a few days and thought it was the best, most trouble free tour I've ever taken. I met a lot of other Ahhh, mature (that's the word) riders along the way.
Here's a link to my blogpost: Simply Cycle: A glorious week on the Erie Canal Trail

Marc
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Old 06-29-18, 04:21 AM
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My wife is from Rochester. Never ridden on the canal, but have seen plenty of activity along it in the Pittsford area. The canal actually went through downtown Rochester, but was re-routed to the south. The original route became a street car/subway route and later a freeway.

scott s.
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Old 06-29-18, 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by irwin7638
I rode the Erie Canal for a few days and thought it was the best, most trouble free tour I've ever taken. I met a lot of other Ahhh, mature (that's the word) riders along the way.
Here's a link to my blogpost: Simply Cycle: A glorious week on the Erie Canal Trail

Marc
Very nice! I've still got the map, this ride is very much on my to do list.

Originally Posted by scott967
My wife is from Rochester. Never ridden on the canal, but have seen plenty of activity along it in the Pittsford area. The canal actually went through downtown Rochester, but was re-routed to the south. The original route became a street car/subway route and later a freeway.

scott s.
.
Spent Junior High School and High School years there. Lots of miles on the local (high speed) roads, either solo or with my best friend. Bike lanes? What are those? Canal? A couple of boats a day, but otherwise virtually unused.

A couple of years ago I got to do a short ride along the canal path. Pics (and brief "story") can be found in "Metro Boston: Good ride today?", because I now live in Metro Boston.

Originally Posted by mr_bill
Two score years ago I rode around these parts outside of Rochester NY.

Here, the highways are fast (55 mph national speed limit back then) but the shoulders are very wide. But there was either just me, or just me and my friend bold enough to ride bicycles on these roads around here. Now the Erie Canal is a transportation resource again - but the vehicles are bicycles. LOTS of people on bicycles.
-mr. bill
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Old 06-29-18, 10:06 AM
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Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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Old 06-29-18, 11:59 AM
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I sure wish there was something like that nearby me. What a great trip. Thanks for sharing the details.
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Old 06-29-18, 07:18 PM
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I'd love to ride the whole thing, sometime. I like going up and riding from Dewitt to Rome and back. It's about 70 miles round trip. It's a nice ride.
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Old 06-29-18, 07:43 PM
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Erie Canal ride

Hello, all
I also rode the Erie Canal Trail this year (late May / early June), and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with a couple of minor exceptions. I rode from Albany to Buffalo over six days, with one hotel stay in Syracuse. The trail surface is mostly fine (I rode a Trek 520 with 700c x 37 tires) and the road riding featured wide shoulders on almost every mile.
One thing I noticed is that everyone I met was very friendly and helpful and motorists consistently gave me plenty of room as they passed me on the road. Camping at the locks works well, and there are several private campgrounds along the way that are inexpensive.
My only real complaint is that portions of the trail are not well marked, and I wound up lost or at dead ends several times. However, each time this happened I was able to get assistance from the friendly folks in upstate New York. I highly recommend this route as long as you have access to good maps of the portions that traverse the larger cities such as Rochester and Buffalo.
Transitguy
Coon Rapids, MN
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Old 07-02-18, 08:19 PM
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Super. I’ll put that on my list for my gravel bike.

i rode right through the middle of Albany on my cross country ride. Busy as heck!

Upstate New York was very scenic, one of my favorites.

Would it be possible to stay in motels in lieu of camping?
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Old 07-09-18, 04:30 AM
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Originally Posted by jppe
Super. I’ll put that on my list for my gravel bike.

i rode right through the middle of Albany on my cross country ride. Busy as heck!

Upstate New York was very scenic, one of my favorites.

Would it be possible to stay in motels in lieu of camping?
I didn't see the need for motels but most of the people I met were staying indoors somewhere.

Marc
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Old 07-09-18, 08:39 AM
  #10  
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If you are looking for some side trips in the Albany/Schenectady area go to Altamont. There is a hill climb that will take you to Thatchers Park with some beautiful scenic views.
Lived there for 65 years with hopes of reding it but health issues sidlined me. Now that I am retired and in better shape I would try it but I now live in NC.
The Erie canal is a great area and western NY is beautiful. I miss NY a lot.
Be safe, Frank
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Old 07-09-18, 07:02 PM
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The Thatcher Park ride out of Guilderland was really good. Used to do it when I was a teenager. Biggest problem from what I can remember was getting stuck behind cars on the way back down.
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