Anonymous on 6/19/2020 11:50:11 AM:
I am a HUGE planner. My husband and I plan on riding the entire trail next year, and we have never been on any portion of the trail. I'd love any tips about riding the trail, as well as feedback on our itinerary below.
We are very fit. We don't stop to explore towns on our ride; we just like to bike through as fast as we can. We don't plan on stopping for lunch during our rides, but we hope to enjoy good burger/bbq/pizza for dinner each night. We biked The GAP and C&O in 4 days last year. We routinely bike 100+ gravel miles on a Saturday, and we consider a "short ride" to be 50 or 60 gravel miles.
We do not like AirBNBs or independent bed and breakfasts, so we will be sleeping in chain hotels every night on our trip (we prefer Hampton Inn). Therefore, our daily mileage is dictated mostly by where chain hotels are located. During our trip, I want to ride no more than about 85 miles each day.
Day 1. Travel and Prep Day
Drive from home to Buffalo, pick up rental car, spend the night in Buffalo
Day 2. Albany to Schenectady (30 miles)
Drive 4 hours to Albany, drop off rental car. Bike 30 miles to Schenectady
Day 3. Schenectady to Utica (81 miles)
Day 4. Utica to Weesport (85 miles)
Day 5. Weesport to Rochester (71 miles)
Day 6. Rochester to Lockport (61 miles)
Day 7. Lockport to Buffalo, then to Niagara on the Lake to Niagara Falls (80 miles)
Bike 31 miles to Buffalo, then 35 paved miles to Fort George, Niagara on the Lake. Turn around and bike 14 paved miles back down to Niagara falls.
Day 8 Bike and Travel Day (22 miles)
Bike back to Buffalo. Drive home.
Thank you!