send me a pm if you have trouble finding a suitable bike, I live in the area. Campus Wheelworks has a bunch of the felt disc cyclocross bikes for demos they might rent out. I know some people who have done it alone or w/ groups of boy scouts, it's not overly rough. There is a lot of history along the way. You could start up in Lockport to get the full effect

You may be able to take Amtrak back if they have a baggage car, there is a station on exchange st and out in depew