By fall, most cyclists have reached top form for the year, just in time for autumn foliage. For some riders, a challenging old favorite flips their switches; for others, it’s a new route through previously unexplored territory. To learn about some of the best AMC has to offer, Sam Nejame reached out to bicycle trip leaders from four AMC chapters. This is what they had to say about their favorite rides.

Peterborough, N.H.
Recommended by: Mike Barry, Boston Chapter
Distance: 50 miles
Information: AMC's chapter trip listings
Mike Barry, a stalwart of the Boston Bicycle Committee, didn’t have to think very hard about his favorite fall ride. For years he’s led a day trip on roads around Peterborough, N.H., not far from the Massachusetts border. The 50-mile loop boasts 4,500 feet of climbing, a panoply of backcountry roads, and some screaming descents. One of the great things about riding with Barry (as I’ve been fortunate to do a number of times) is that he is a bit of a historian and usually has something interesting to say about the places he rides through. Beyond the foliage and the crisp air, it’s the unspoiled town centers amidst a stunning mountain backdrop that make this ride stand out. Built on hilltops back in colonial days for protection against attack, these impeccable but often forgotten town centers hark back to a simpler time. Barry notes that with the industrial revolution, commerce moved to the rivers and the mills, which sprouted on their banks and created new, busier town centers. Although the Peterborough ride comes with nearly a mile of elevation gain, Barry recommends taking your time to enjoy the village greens. When on the loop, he keeps a moderate pace and believes in frequent breaks so riders can relax, catch their breath, and take in some of New England’s best hilltop towns. The ride starts by skirting the side of Pack Monadnock Mountain and comes with a few short stretches of hard-packed dirt road. Barry talks with equal relish about finishing a tall day in the saddle with food and libation at Harlow’s, a pub in Peterborough, where riders can watch football or stroll by the town’s galleries and performance center.

Mountain Biking, Upton State Forest
Recommended by: Matt Selby, Worcester Chapter
Distance: Varied
Information: Map of Upton State Forest; AMC's chapter trip listings
AMC Worcester Chapter trip leader Matt Selby, who started an AMC mountain biking series this year, says there is great riding in Upton State Forest. Knowledgeable about stewardship and wetlands concerns, Selby likes the forest’s 2,500 acres of red pine, white pine, and birch. Although there are technical obstacles for those who want them, the Forest is best known for its fast tight single track. Selby’s favorite paths include Old Hopkinton Spring Trail, Rabbit Run, and Old Mammoth Trail. As for points of interest, he notes that Upton State Forest was  heavily logged at the beginning of the 20th century and later replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and that a number of historic buildings remain. Rides start from the main gate off of Westboro Road.

Westerly, R.I., to Watch Hill Ride
Recommended by: Marcie Madsen, Narragansett Chapter
Distance: 22 miles (or 35 if the group wants to add an inland leg)
Information: AMC's chapter trip listings
Marcie Madsen, current chair of the Narragansett Chapter Bicycle Committee, says one of her favorite rides runs from Westerly to Watch Hill. She adds with a laugh, “People who think Rhode Island is flat haven’t biked it.” Still, in a state where the highest point above sea level is 812 feet, everything is relative. The ride begins inauspiciously at the Westerly Wal-Mart. It crosses Route 1 and then passes through beautiful manicured neighborhoods and working farms, which Madsen says fill the breeze with “eau de cow.” When asked about points of interest, she talks about the huge old homes and state beaches, yachts to gawk at, and The Flying Horse Carousel at Watch Hill (considered the oldest operating in the U.S.). And she adds, “There’s a secret dirt path to the Coast Guard lighthouse where we eat lunch.” Asked for a cue sheet like those many cycling groups hand out to make sure participants don’t get lost, she quips, “We don’t bother with them. That’s the great thing about the AMC, we pretty much stay together. It’s social.” For people just starting out or getting back into cycling, Madsen recommends the Narragansett Chapter’s “Easy Rider” rides, which are more mellow. “We get people to fall back in love with cycling.”

Columbia Rail Trail
Recommended by: Bill Steinmetz, Delaware Valley Chapter
Distance: 12 miles (one way)
Information: Columbia Rail Trail; AMC's chapter trip listings
For easy enjoyment of fall foliage, Bill Steinmetz recommends the Columbia Rail Trail. The linear path starts in High Bridge, N.J., is generally flat, and for much of the way hugs the South Branch of the Raritan River. Shared by hikers and equestrians, and offering a soundtrack of rushing water, the unpaved Columbia should be ridden on a hybrid or mountain bike. Best views are at a long trestle bridge in the Ken Lockwood Gorge Fish & Wildlife Management Area. In addition to excellent leaf viewing, there are opportunities for bird watching and fly-fishing along the way. History buffs will also enjoy the restored railroad station and museum at Califon. Toward the terminus at Bartley, the path becomes less developed. Throughout, it offers great family riding.

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