i'm older. The idea of biking all day then crawling into a tent on hard ground without showering has no appeal to me. I would never do this ride if that were the only option. I can endure aerobic exercise for hours on end. But at the end of a long day I need a hot shower at a decent motel. And then, as a sort of reparation, I crave a cold, on-tap beer at a brew pub. To me, that is a rewarding ride.That is why I wrote this book. Biking the Erie Canal is easy if you are fit. The route is flat and there is usually a tailwind to push you eastward. If you can bike 40-60 miles a day at a leisurely pace you can complete this ride - and enjoy it. It is the logistics that are tough. Designing a trip that offers a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and a cold beer at the end of the day is the difficult part. Work in how to get to the start (train with a bike or a car that needs parking) and the task quickly becomes untenable. This book offers 5 self-guided itineraries with doable daily mileage and decent lodging. It also rates each section of the trail.
