Upstate NY to CT

[hhmmm]

Hi all, I'm hoping to do my first bike tour this summer. I want to bike from Ithaca, NY to Stamford, CT but I'm not really sure where to start in terms of finding a route. If anyone has ideas about resources, has done a route in this area before, or even has suggestions about good places to stop along the way, that would be great. any advice would be appreciated! I'm hoping to complete the trip in 4-5 days. Thanks!

[JimF]

Have you tried Google Maps directions with the bicycle icon? I took a quick shot and it generated a 274-mile route using US 6 plus. You could then contact the NY DOT (and CT) bicycle coordinator to ask their opinions. Good riding.

[bktourer1]

Try the site Traillink.com (Rails to Trails) for assist and google maps.  Conn DOT has a map ( may be out of print, put you can get the map online) for free.

Any way you can use the Erie Canal route to Rt 9 south to the bridge over the Hudson into ct

[hhmmm]

Thanks for the help! I couldn't find any relevant trails on traillink, so I guess google maps is my best bet. I'm just a little hesitant to put in biking on google maps and trust that everything it gives me is good for bikers. I guess i'll have to go through and look at satellite images of the whole route more closely...

Also, does anyone have experience with the New York State Bike Routes (mainly 17)? Do you think its worth going out of my way to take one of those, or should I just make my own route using google maps?

[JHamelman]

You should also check with each state's Bicycle and Pedestrian program. They often have maps on their site or at least someone to contact and ask for advice.

http://www.walkinginfo.org/assistance/contacts.cfm

.Jennifer.

[bktourer1]

Check out PTNY.ORG and their Trail finder Link

[rootchopper]

Google New York State Bike Routes.  You may be able to follow NYS Bike Route 17 from south Ithaca down to the NYC area. It's a start anyway. 

[bktourer1]

You could head towards Bear Mountain and take RT9A down and cross over the George Washington Bridge (tappan zee is a no no) and downteh Hudson River greenway to into Manhattan.

Cross over theHudson on the new bridge, head towards Rt 22 to follow intothe Bronx, or
check out the Westchester county sites for the Puntnam, North/South Trails into the Bronx.
  If you take rt 22, you could hook into the Bronx River paths into Yonkers and take the Subway into the city.

If you plan on coming eastward towards Brewster, write off list and send me a note off list so I can send you some maps/cues

ED

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

You don't give your timeframe, of if you plan to camp, hit motels or what, but having grown up in Ithaca and spending most of the first 33 years of life in that area, (before I became a cyclist as an adult) I would strongly suggest avoiding Hwy. 20. The hills east of Cazenovia would challenge even the most ardent hill-climber. (of course the descents would be another matter!  )
Google Maps will show you a bike route that keeps you out of NYC  and crosses the Hudson on the Bear Mountain Bridge, goes through Yorktown/Mt. Kisco, and into Stamford from the north. To my way of thinking, that would be  a lot better than crossing the GW, going through Manhattan and Da Bronx, particularly on your first tour. (Although I admit to a certain amount of intrigue about riding across the GWB. I've only ever driven or ridden a bus that way before.) You will also find more camping opportunities on the Google Maps route, since it takes you through/past a number of state parks and forests, and the Pocono Mtns. in PA. Tweek it to the north a bit, (you can click and drag the suggested route) and it can take you through the Catskills. Sounds like a great, scenic ride either way.
Also...start off with some shorter trips to get ready. There are a number of NYS Parks within 50 miles or so of Ithaca (Not counting, of course, the ones that surround Ithaca.) such as Watkins Glen, Fillmore Glen, Green Lakes, Cayuga Lake (near Seneca Falls; an excellent ride because you can ride up one side of the lake and down the other.) and the Finger Lakes National Forest near Hector. They make great destinations, and you can stay the night, then ride back, and they are not too far from base if you have to bail.
Good luck, have a great ride. Wish I was 33 again...I'd do at least the part to the Poconos/Catskills!

Ride safe,
Hans

[bktourer1]

Don't forget to look into Warmshowers for places to stay.  You also might get a good route via hosts

[JayH]

If you make your way towards New Paltz, the Atlantic Coastal route goes into CT, though it sticks to the northern part of CT and not towards Stanford..

I would think so long as you stay off of I-95 and parts of rt 7 or 8, you'd be OK..

jay

[rvklassen]

Were it I, I'd start by heading north-ish out of Cayuga Heights and pay close attention to the presence/absence of hills riding up towards Auburn.  There are some rather large valleys you can avoid if you choose your routing carefully.  The highways have fairly heavy traffic, and farm stands.  The side roads much lighter traffic, and no farm stands.  This is early, so you might want to forego the farm stands. 

From Auburn head generally toward Baldwinsville, again looking at google maps terrain view.  The roads in that area are somewhat variable in quality, but not wildly, in my experience.   From there on, I'd follow some combination of the Erie Canal towpath, where it is paved, or stone dust if you are OK with that, and the nearest road to it.  This takes you through a relative abundance of small towns with services, while also avoiding crossing the worst of the hills in the steepest direction.

Not sure how best to get through Syracuse, as I've only been in that part by car.  The canal gets you as far as Albany, but you should be able to follow the Hudson for awhile and then cross it as described above.

[bktourer1]

I rode the Bon Ton Roulet last year vis the Auburn YMCA & mabye they have some left over cue sheets that can help you along.  Hope you have gearing for 6% hills.  I have some of the sheets I can send if it would help