Northampton Century

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Tolland County, CT, US

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Eran Peterson

Scenic rides in central Connecticut

158 km

1 120 m

Incredibly flat century ride to Northampton, MA and back.

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Making use of over 30 miles of paved bike trails and a convenient stopover in Northampton for lunch, this rolling century makes excellent use of the flat topography of the Connecticut River Valley.

As you leave Windemere School you'll have to climb a gradual hill towards the golf course. Coasting down into tobacco country, you'll wind in and out of open fields and shaded roads. Cars will be infrequent as your journey heads due North. Keep your camera handy for some @point[stunning vistas.](d,11587.8)

Getting to Massachussets happens quickly. If you need a quck break and want a bite to eat, stop at @point[The Village Store and Café](d,30620.31) at mile 19. This will be your last good opportunity to get water for a little while.

When you first lay eyes on the Connecticut River, you are only about 5 miles from the paved trail that will lead you into the heart of Northampton. The @point[entrance to the trail](d,66993.69) can be a little tricky to find but just look for a giant barn looking thing with a parking lot in front of it. The trail is right before that.

The paved trail is excellent for riding, but be careful- on a nice day you will run into pockets of pedestrians who may or may not be heeding to the dashed lines. There are a few road crossings to contend with, but most are very quiet and the cars tend to be respectful of cyclists and walkers.

The trail will end (briefly) in a residential area and downtown Northampton is right around the corner. There are tons of little restaurants and a few places with outside seating if you need to rest your legs for bit before crushing it all the way home. A GPS will prove invaluable to pick up the trail again, this time it's hidden in a tiny @point[parking lot](d,73312.42). From here, the pedestrian traffic will thin out and there will be long straightaways where you can confidently open it up.

The paved bike route in the Northamton area has a number of water fountains to top off your bidons. Including this one at @point[about 50 miles. ](d,80632.04)

Eventually, you'll have to leave this trail system behind, but don't fret- there's another nice section of paved paths before this ride comes to an end. In the meantime you'll need to follow some nice quiet roads. Before you find your trail system, this scary @point[little bridge](d,103743.76) must be crossed. It's short, I promise but you need to get over to the left hand turning lane in a hurry. After this 2 minute adrenaline rush, you are back to bumping along on country roads without a care in the world.

The entrance to the trail is found after you have nagivated through a giant housing development and it is at the apex of a @point[cul de sac.](d,107065.62) The pavement on this one is pristine and it will take you right back into Connecticut. Jump off at Phelps Road and make your way back towards the Connecticut River. As a special treat, you will pick up yet another paved trail that follows the river and used to be the @point[train bed](d,135240.34) when Windsor Locks had its locks. It's a tad bumpy but the scenery more than makes up for the quality of pavement.

It's just a short hop but you'll cross the river at Route 140 and immediately continue to follow the river south on the opposite side. With tired legs, you can summit a steep but short climb under the highway overpass, cross over Route 5 and head straight back to Windemere School via tobacco farms and open fields.

Northampton Century

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