New York · United States
Cycling in Cambridge
Best season: April-October
Cambridge is the home of the Tour of the Battenkill, long billed as America’s answer to the European spring classics and the largest sanctioned Pro/Am road race in US history during its 2005-2017 run. After a hiatus, original founder Dieter Drake of Anthem Sports revived it, and the renewed race (now branded simply ‘Battenkill’) returns for 2026 on Saturday, May 9. What makes it famous is the dirt: courses thread roughly a dozen unpaved sections totaling about 18 miles of hard-packed ‘dirt roads’ with steep, punchy climbs pitching up toward 18 percent, all through the covered-bridge farm country of southern Washington County. Everything starts and finishes in the Village of Cambridge near the historic Cambridge Train Depot and the former Cambridge Hotel. Beyond race weekend, the Battenkill and Hudson Valley back roads offer classic rolling gravel-and-tarmac riding within striking distance of Saratoga Springs and Manchester, Vermont.
Lodging here is genuinely rural and thin, but a couple of options suit cyclists. The Battenkill Glamping Resort, an 82-acre riverfront property on Route 313 just outside the village, keeps complimentary bicycles for guests to use around the grounds and nearby roads. In the village itself, the historic Rice Mansion Inn is a bed-and-breakfast within a short ride of the start/finish, and past guests report cyclist-minded touches from the innkeepers; there is no formal on-site rental program, so treat it as a comfortable race-week base rather than a bike hotel.
For rentals, options are limited and worth a call ahead. Battenkill Valley Outdoors, on Route 313 in Cambridge, is primarily a river outfitter (canoe/kayak/tube trips and shuttles) but is listed by regional tourism as also offering bicycle rentals, including tandems and child trailers. About 20 minutes west in Fort Edward, Evergreen Bicycle Works is a full-service shop inside the historic D&H rail station on the Empire State Trail and offers daily bike rentals. Spring through fall is the window, with the race in early-to-mid May and quiet country riding into the fall foliage.
Cambridge’s headline weekend is the Cambridge Valley Balloon Festival in early June, with morning and evening hot-air balloon launches, an evening “moon glow,” a craft fair, and fireworks on the Cambridge Central School grounds.
Weather in Cambridge
Live · NWSLoading current conditions…
Typical by month
avg high/low · 1991–2020 normals · BUSKIRK- Jan 33° 11° 2.7"
- Feb 36° 12° 2.4"
- Mar 44° 20° 3.2"
- Apr 59° 33° 3.4"
- May 70° 44° 3.6"
- Jun 78° 53° 4.5"
- Jul 82° 58° 4.6"
- Aug 81° 56° 4.2"
- Sep 74° 48° 3.9"
- Oct 62° 38° 3.9"
- Nov 49° 28° 3.3"
- Dec 38° 19° 3.7"
Bike-friendly hotels
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Battenkill Glamping Resort (The Preserve at Battenkill)
An 82-acre riverfront glamping resort on Route 313 just outside Cambridge, with furnished tent cabins, domes, and on-site dining. Bicycles are available for guests to ride around the property and nearby roads (the resort's own site tells guests to 'take a bicycle for a spin').
From $$-$$$/night
Before you book: The resort's own site confirms guest bicycles as an amenity; the 'complimentary/free' wording comes from booking aggregators (Expedia, Booking, Saratoga.com). Confirm that bike use is included at no charge and check fleet/sizes directly.
Bike program verified via source (2026-07-18)
Rice Mansion Inn
Historic Victorian bed-and-breakfast in the Village of Cambridge, a short ride from the Tour of the Battenkill start/finish. A comfortable race-week base with easy access to the Battenkill Valley's byways and covered bridges; no on-site rental program, though guest reviews note the innkeepers accommodate cyclists.
Before you book: The inn's own website mentions Battenkill Valley cycling generally but does not advertise a bike program or secure bike storage; cyclist-friendliness is from guest reviews. Confirm bike storage and race-weekend availability directly.
Bike program reported via source (2026-07-18)
Where to stay in Cambridge
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Where to rent or borrow a bike
Battenkill Valley Outdoors
Rates by phone · waiver required
River outfitter and retail shop at 1414 Route 313 in Cambridge, offering canoe/kayak/tube trips and shuttles. Regional tourism listings (I LOVE NY, Washington County) also list bicycle rentals, including solo bikes, tandems, and covered child trailers.
Call ahead: The shop's own website currently emphasizes river activities and does not list bike rentals; the bicycle-rental detail is from tourism listings. Call (518) 677-3311 to confirm bikes are still available, types, and rates before relying on it.
Reported via source (2026-07-18)
Evergreen Bicycle Works
Rates by phone
Full-service, family-owned bike shop inside the historic D&H rail station at 71 East Street, Fort Edward (about 20 minutes west of Cambridge), directly on the Empire State Trail. Offers sales, repair, and daily bicycle rentals. Typically open Friday-Sunday; call ahead off-season.
Call ahead: Daily rentals are confirmed via Lake George / Bike Empire State tourism listings; the shop's own site would not load for direct verification at research time. Confirm current rental fleet, rates, and hours by phone (518-223-9921).
Reported via source (2026-07-18)
Guided bike tours
Battenkill Valley Outdoors Shuttle Service
Battenkill Valley Outdoors · 2h
Cambridge-based outfitter offering drop-off/pick-up shuttle service on the Battenkill (primarily for river trips). Useful for logistics in an area with limited outfitters; confirm whether bike/point-to-point shuttles can be arranged.
Where these are on the map Cambridge
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