Best Bike Rides New England, 4th (Best Bike Rides Series)
From a 15-minute jaunt to a New England century, Paul Thomas's 46 bicycle rides cover every kind of scenery, level of difficulty, and appeal. Take the Cape Ann Cruise, for example. Up in the northeast corner of Massachusetts near New Hampshire, the ride starts and ends in Manchester, is relatively flat with a few rolling hills thrown in for contrast, and loops along the historic North Shore. You can do the 22-mile route along Cape Ann's rocky coast, past summer estates and fishermen's cottages, working waterfronts and harbor towns. Or you can opt for the 36-mile loop, taking in Singing Beach and the Hammond Castle. There's a 28-mile Mystic Seaport Ramble in Connecticut, the Kennebec Crossing Challenge (55 miles of riverside hills) in Maine, and the 100-mile tour of rural Vermont, starting in Jamaica and traversing a number of challenging hills en route to the ride's end in Waitsfield. With historical notes on the regions and towns; basic summaries of ride length, terrain, traffic, and food options; a map of the routes; and a detailed set of directions and instructions, Thomas's compact guide to New England bike routes strikes the perfect balance of concise, clear, and practical information.--Stephanie Gold