Rensselaer County is a beautiful area, but it is definately rural. I've seen a club doing rides in that general area for several years now (Brunswick/poestenkill) but I have no idea who they are.
I'm super new to the biking scene, and didn't find any shops in the Renss. area yet. But she could try "The Downtube" or "Klarsfeld Cycles" both in Albany. The guys in the Downtube have been very patient with me whenever I go in with a ton of dumb questions.