Conference noted::bicycle

    I believe that I wrote a note on cycling the Cabot Trail , Cape Breton
    Island, Nova Scotia.  It is beutiful rolling country with some very
    challenging hills.  A must!!  PEI is also very beautiful and realtively
    flat.  It so small that you can cover the whole island in a day (if you
    don't want to do any visiting) or a few days to see Charlottetown,
    Cavendish Beach and the house of Anne of Green Gables, etc.  The St.
    John River valley is also nice (New Brunswick) starting (or ending) at
    the Bay of Fundy.
    
    Eric

    We've been  working  our  way  through "Short Bicycle Rides in and
    Around  Boston"  or  some  similar  title  by  Howard  Stone,  and
    published  by  Pequod press. We've been quite pleased with most of
    his  routes.  Note  that other books of similar titles about other
    areas  are  by  different authors and often aren't as good. Howard
    Stone   chooses   good  routes,  and  his  descriptions  are  very
    informative.

    For riding  in the Boston area, I prefer to stay west of rte. 128.
    There  are  lots  of  nice  areas  around Stow, Acton, Berlin, and
    thereabouts (including Maynard, of course.) When I go much east of
    those towns, there's more traffic than I like.

    Martha's Vineyard  and Nantucket are beautiful, and not too hilly.
    Nantucket  isn't  big  enough for long rides, but wandering around
    the town is great fun.

--David

Hi Larry,  long time, no see.

The most awesome New Hampshire ride I've ever done is the 4 Notches and a Pass 
Century out of Lincoln, NH.  Highly recommended, if you're up to a mountainous 
95.5 miles.

Kevin

    Thanks for the replies so far, but we're really looking for some
    flatter rides.  I'm from the flatlands of Illinois, and don't get a lot
    of mountain training... also, we'll have the SO's teenage daughter
    along and would rather not listen to her bellyache the whole time! :^)
    	Eric, in a previous note you mentioned you had advice about cycling
    Canada... Any specific recommendations on Montreal, Quebec (city), or
    Ottawa areas?
    	Also, any experience camping/riding around Acadia National Park?
    
    tnx,
    larry

>    Also, any experience camping/riding around Acadia National Park?

    Acadia is very nice for biking, especially the paths
    that were built by the Rockefellers.

    Make sure that you go up Cadilac mountain.  It's 1500 ft but the
    road up is relatively gentle, and the view is spectacular.

    -Jeff Bell

    Last year I made my first trip to PEI in 13 years.  As a kid we went
    every year.
    
    Last year I brought my bike and did some riding on Rt 19 which is on
    the south shore.  My folks have a place in Canoe Cove and the riding
    along the south shore is just enchanting.  Farms, rolling hills (not
    hard at all), parks along the way with facilities and picnic areas,
    strawberry fields, and lots of good views.  
    
    'Course, the north shore is equally as nice although it can be more
    touristy.  The east is as enchanting as the south and the western shore
    is dotted with parks and picnic areas also that just beg to be
    explored.
    
    There is a visitor's guide you'll get when you go over on the ferry and
    it will have maps and the like.  There are many bed and breakfast's on
    the way - they are called "Tourist Homes" up there which made me
    chuckle.
    
    Have a ball!
    
    JC

    Larry,
    
    I'm from Ottawa so I can certainly help you on that one.  Ottawa is
    certainly geared for cycling both in the city and the outside.  The
    city has many bicycle trails especially along the canal and rivers. 
    Motorists are concious of the many cyclists so they are careful (even
    when opening their doors).  You can ride the Gatineau Park (huge
    national park) on paved bike trails, mtn bike trails or along the
    promenades.  Every year there is a "Festival de la Bicyclette" in Hull
    (accross the river from Ottawa) that lasts about 1 week.  This festival
    is held in early August.
    
    Montreal and Quebec City are nice to see on a bike but beware of the
    driving in Montreal.  Quebec City is better to see on foot (old city). 
    There are many rural roads between Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City
    that would allow you to ride from 1 to the other (125 miles,
    Ottawa-Montreal; ~200 miles Montreal-Quebec).  
    
    A problem that you may encounter when travelling between these cities
    is language (except around Ottawa).  When stopping in small towns
    between Montreal and Quebec, you may have to attempt some french.
    
    Eric_going_to_Ottawa_for_Memorial_Day_weekend