I have to spend Saturday night in Albany, near the airport. Can anybody recommend a bike route for a sunday morning ride. 30 to 50 miles. Where do i go, what do i avoid?
I’m not exactly from there, but you may have to drive some to get out of town, or maybe go north west some to get away from traffic. Route 7 west would be okay if you drive out of town some…
You are not in the best spot near the airport to avoid traffic but if you get out early Sunday morning you should be ok as traffic is usually light in the am. From the airport if you get on Route 7 heading towards Schenectady you want to pick up the bike trail which goes along the Mohawk River and should provide you with a scenic ride and an out and back that will give you the mileage you are seeking. Proceed on Route 7 to Rosendale Road and take a right onto Rosendale and that will get you on the bike path. If you go left onto the bike path, with the river on your right you will be heading towards Schenectady and will have traffic free ride for a few miles. If you head right on the path you will be on and off the path but still on the bike route till you get to Fonda Road which connects to Route 9. That section of Route 9 has wide shoulders (8 feet) and you can bike all the way to Saratoga Springs and get a cup of coffee at the Uncommon Grounds. That is my regular route when I am doing long rides of 100+ in preparation for IMLP. From where you are it would be about 30 miles there and 30 miles back. Good luck and ride safe.
My recommendation, as a former Colonie resident (my mom still lives there), is to take New Karner Road/Route 155, cross Central Ave.
Right onto Old State Road (follow for a few miles, go through the traffic light).
Left onto Fuller Station Road, follow for about half a mile till end.
Right onto Western Avenue/Route 20 - Follow Route 20 for as long as you want. There is some traffic, and it is not very scenic in some spots, but you hit some decent hills if you stay on it and there is a good shoulder for much of it.
I have ridden this route many times.
Shoot ChrisG a PM.