Bike Route from Cambridge MA to Cold Spring Harbor NY?

[Triskeliongirl]

Does anyone know a good bike route originating either in Cambridge MA or Wellesley MA to Cold Spring Harbor NY? My DH needs to go to a meeting at the Cold Spring Harbor Labs, and we were wondering if he flew into Boston and visited with our kids first, could he get their by bicycle safely?

[indigoiis]

I can help you with any Western RI Eastern CT bits... I also recommend he take the ferry from New London to Long Island - much nicer than riding through Southern CT and metro NYC (though, folks from those areas might know better than I...)

[indigoiis]

These guys went across the US... the first leg is Amherst, MA to NYC - very west of Cambridge but you could use part of their route, perhaps.

http://www.rideforclimate.com/usa/blog/?cat=5

[ccnyc]

Try the New York Cycle Club ride library. It's full of cue sheets for rides in NY/NJ/CT/LI/Westchester.
http://www.nycc.org/rl_db/home.aspx

This one goes to/through Cold Spring Harbor:
http://www.nycc.org/rl_db/ride.aspx?id=3

[DebW]

Adventure Cycling has an Atlantic Coast route that may help with a portion of the trip. Personally, I'd take Rt. 16 west from Wellesley. I rode it once to the RI border.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I am jealeous, I wish it was my trip...........

[Crankin]

I would second the vote for taking the ferry. I have friends who did a bike tour this way, spending most of their time on LI.

[Triskeliongirl]

I can help you with any Western RI Eastern CT bits... I also recommend he take the ferry from New London to Long Island - much nicer than riding through Southern CT and metro NYC (though, folks from those areas might know better than I...)

Great, thanks! So lets say he follows Deb's suggestion and takes Rt 16 from Wellesley all the way to RI. Then what? He does like the idea of the Ferry, so we just need to get him from the border of RI to New London. Any specific suggestions?

[Triskeliongirl]

I google mapped Wellesley MA to New London CT, and selected avoid highways. It gave me this. What do you think?

Rt. 16 to Rt. 122 to RI-102 to US6 to CT-664 to CT-12 to CT-32 (I left out the small turns, etc.).

[indigoiis]

Don't take 6. It's a death trap.

I would take 44 west and go down 169 from Putnam - very pretty NW corner CT. Get across the river prior to Gales Ferry and travel along the river down to CT college. Then it's really a choice through town in New London to get down to the pier - not the prettiest area but head for the seagulls.

Here's a mapped version of this: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...ille/146227320

It's hilly out NW corner of CT but there's plenty of little towns and greens and delis and convenience stores.

If you stay in RI, I suggest 102 South down Rt. 3 all the way to Westerly. It's smooth, has some villages and towns along the way, and a good shoulder. Not as scenic as some of the NW CT roads but a straight shot. The only problem is in Stonington you are on the wrong side of the river - there might be a shuttle that goes over or a local bridge but I've never gone anything but 95 over the river.