Cheating

There is a 35-mile trail that runs follows the course of the Delaware and Raritan Canal between New Brunswick and Trenton, New Jersey. The historic canal linked the coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania with the New York City markets, a position that kept it in business long after the railroads claimed the business of many other canals.

I have wanted to ride this trail for a while, but with at least 30 miles between me and the Trenton end of the canal, the total distance round trip (150+ miles) was just too great to attempt in a day so I swallowed my pride, woke up early and rode the commuter rail to New Brunswick end of the canal where I started the ride. Technically, this trip was my second one-way ride, New York in 2008 being the first.


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I rode around New Brunswick, home to Rutgers University for about half-an-hour before connecting with the start of the D&R trail, a leg that began ominously as I slipped while walking a cross a rough spillway and soaked my left foot. Once on the trail surface, the going was very easy along the packed cinder surface.

I made good time to Trenton, but misjudged the distance, which put me off my planned schedule. But, I still had plenty of time left in the day so I headed north along the Feeder Canal as far as Lambertville, NJ where I crossed the Delaware River back in the Pennsylvania at New Hope. After devouring two slices of Pizza, I began the final third of the ride which contained the only hills of the ride. I arrived back at my apartment just after sunset having put 101 more miles on my bike. A respectable accomplishment even if I didn't start and end in the same place.

Statistics
Length: 100.8 miles
Ride Time: 9 hours 25 minutes
Total Time: 11 hours 20 minutes
Avg. Speed: 10.7 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 51 RPM

New Brunswick Terminus - Delaware & Raritan Canal

Rutgers

Spillway on Delaware & Raritan Canal

Kingston Mill

Delaware & Raritan Feeder Canal