Some hints
 
equipment roads bicycle paths maps

1. Check list  (fits a small saddle bag, notwithstanding the helmet, the bottle and the bike...)

        1. A bicycle, preferrably of the touring variety for longer rides
        2. Saddle bag or pannier
        3. A bottle filled with pure water (this is best for cleaning injuries)
        4. A spare tube and a pump
        5. Basic tools to tighten screws, adjust seat and replace flat tyre
        6. A small towel where I put my tools
        7. A red helmet
        8. Cycling gloves
        9. A map of the tour (available on this very site)
        10. An ID card (passport if you cross the border), most important if you are Iraki or Libyan
        11. Some money or an ATM card
        12. suntan lotion
        13. and some other things (see picture below)
        14. In the cold: neoprene shoe covers, headband or hood, warm gloves (cycling gloves are expensive and too tight to be of any use below freezing point)
        15. If you own a smartphone, even without 3G access, download the maps of the relevant tours, cities, etc. An other smart move: download state or province maps from an app such as Here, available for Iphone or Android. This allows, through GPS positioning and off-line, to know your exact location. This is especially useful when the name of the road is not posted, a situation that occurs frequently in upstate New York, and elsewhere as well.
I do not carry food with me. I prefer to stop and buy it from local general stores, where sandwiches made to order (of  the "deli" sort) are frequently available.
 
 

 

2. Roads.

From bad to worse in Québec, from good to less good in Vermont, from good to excellent  (with extra wide shoulders) in the Empire State. In Québec, one should avoid numbered roads, unless otherwise specified. In Vermont, there is no strict rule: roads 15, 100, 104, 105, 36 are best avoided, althoug 105 is ridable north of Jay Peak. In the State of New York, almost all roads are paved. Your best bets are the country roads, in contrast with the state roads. Whenever you encounter a dirt road, be adventurous! Fear no dog, ride it!

3. About bike paths.

Bike paths are not always your best bet. For instance the Saint Albans - Richford recreation trail, whose pavement is too soft for my taste, criss-crosses dangerous Route 105. Why not consider alternatives provided by the local road network?

4. Maps

North American cartography is a continental shame! Nothing comes close to yearly updated Michelin maps. For Vermont, I trust the official state map, which is free but does not show the smaller roads. The "DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer" shows level curves and looks great but (i) is not frequently updated (ii) bears no indication about road pavement (iii) is filled with road names that do not match those I read on signs. A much better choice is the reliable  "Vermont Road Atlas & Guide" from Northern Cartographic, despite two drawbacks: no overlap between its small pages, and the absence of pavement indications. It extends some 10 kilometers North of the Border, which is useful to visitors from Québec. For the Emprie State, DeLorme is outdated (road numbers do not match) and of little use.