May 2010 Cherry Blossom Bike Trip in April. On the trail headed to Mount Vernon. We had an especially good trip even though we missed the blossoms. The weather was spectacular every day with constant sun and temperatures in the 60-70 range. Besides our usual ride into the district, we included a Ranger-led historic bike tour (new last trip). While it was admittedly short on miles, it was chock full of interesting historical information. Several riders opted to pedal to the National Zoo. Everyone seemed to enjoy our first ever evening ride around the district to see the monument lit against the dark spring sky.
MAY RIDES Tuesday Manchester, CT** May 4, 11, 18, 25 (RC,TR,FL/RL CUE 12-22) Rides of 15, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32 mile Connecticut, East of River, CT. Prompt 6p.m. start. Meet at Jo-Ann s Fabrics: I-84 Exit 62, left at end of ramp, then left at 3rd light, shopping center on right Jo Ann s Fabric L Wayne Tursi (860-282-9271 Before 9p.m), bicycling@ct-amc.org L Ray Taksar (860-247-0191 Before 9p.m.) L David Waldburger (860-712-6747 Before 9PM) L Rick Merritt (860-644-4467 Before 9PM), bicycling@ct-amc.org L Judy Borrmann (860-463-9513 Before 9PM) L Bob Dickinson (860-644-1986 Before 9PM) ** Tuesday rides will be from beginning of April until the end of August. Thursday Stony Creek, Branford, CT** May 6, 13, 20, 27 Stony Creek Pizza Run, Connecticut, West of River, CT. (SO, Fl/Rl, RG/CUE 10-12mph) Meet at 6:00pm, Stony Creek (Branford) Market on Thimble Island Road. Ride about 15 miles on some nice roads along the shoreline. We'll travel at a moderate pace and not leave anyone behind. Starting on Memorial Day, we'll have pizza afterward at Stony Creek Market overlooking the harbor (BYOB). I-95 Exit 56. Take Leetes Island Road south towards Stony Creek. At the intersection of Route 146, go straight onto Thimble Island Road. Stony Creek Market is on the left at the head of the harbor. Rain cancels. L Mike Cohen (203 208-0943 before 9:00pm, mrc06405@gmail.com) ** Thursday rides will be from beginning of May until the end of August. Thursday Essex CT** May 6, 13, 20, 27 (RC,FL/RL,RG, 13-17mph) Start at 6:00pm sharp from Route 9, exit 3 CPL in Essex for this show and go ride (no cue sheet; stick with L). We'll ride the scenic back roads of Essex, Deep River, Chester, Westbrook and Old Saybrook. Start with 15 miles and increase mileage as days lengthen and our stamina increases. Routes at L's discretion. Rain cancels. L Finlay Ferguson (860-767-8547 Before 9:00pm, finlayferguon@msn.com), L Beverly Medlin (860-304-1749 Before 9:00pm, kayaker767@snet.net), L Mark Henebry (860-767-7851 Before 9:00pm, mhenebry@sbcglobal.net) ** Thursday rides will be from beginning of May until the end of August Sun., May. 2. Durham Loop - Durham, Connecticut, West of River, CT. (RC, RL/HL, 12-14mph, Cue) 28.5 miles. Meet for a 10:30am start at the Coginchaug Regional High School parking lot in Durham. This ride travels over primarily back roads on mostly rolling terrain (with a few hilly sections) through Durham, Middletown and Middlefield, and features visits to Wadsworth State Park and a lunch stop at Lyman Orchards farm store. L Jannine Farrell (Jlfarrell59@sbcglobal.net), L David Estabrook (Destabr7@yahoo.com Sun., May. 2. Marian's East Windsor to Somers Ride, Connecticut, East of River, CT. (SO, Cue, FL/RL, 14-16mph) 32.8miles. 10:00a.m. start. Revised starting location. This is a pleasant ride over rolling terrain (with a couple modest hills) through sections of East Windsor, Ellington, Somers and Enfield. Much of the ride is through open spaces devoted to dairy and small farms; very pretty scenery. Meet at East Windsor High School, Route 5 and Tromley Road in East Windsor. Take I-91, Exit 44 onto Route 5S, and follow for 1.1 miles. Turn right at the traffic light into East Windsor High School parking area. L Wayne Tursi (860-282-9271 Before 9:00p.m., wtursisr@yahoo.com)
MAY RIDES Mon., May. 3. Mystic/Stonington/North Stonington Ride (Backwards), Connecticut, East of River, CT. (So, FL/RL, Cue, RG, 10-13mph) 31.1miles. 10:00a.m. start. Ride over mostly flat-torolling terrain with views of Long Island Sound. Lovely ride along Mystic River before returning to starting point. Meet at the Olde Mystik Village parking lot near the red caboose, adjacent to Mystic Aquarium. I-95, Exit 90; follow signs to Mystic Aquarium and Olde Mystik Village. Rain or wet roads cancels. L Jo Ann Hewett (860-267-4129 Before 9:00p.m., joannbiker@comcast.net), L George Burger Mon., May. 10. Clyde's Connecticut River Tour, Deep River, Connecticut, West of River, CT. ( So, RG, FL/RL, Cue, 10-13mph) 31.4 miles. 10:00a.m. start. Meet at the Deep River Library parking lot on Village Street, Deep River. Take Route 9, Exit 5 to the bottom of the ramp and turn towards Deep River on Route 80 (Elm Street). Follow 0.7 miles into the center of Deep River and turn left at the traffic light onto Route 154 (Main Street). Travel 200 yards and turn left onto Village Street. Deep River Library and parking lot will be on the right. Mostly flat ride, starting in Deep River and meandering down to Saybrook Point (a possible lunch or snack stop) by way of Essex and Old Saybrook. Excellent views of Connecticut River and Long Island Sound at various points along the route. Rain/wet roads cancels. L Jo Ann Hewett (860-267-4129 Before 9:00p.m., joannbiker@comcast.net), L George Burger Sun., May. 16. Three Town Ride, Westbrook, Connecticut, West of River, CT. (SO, FL/RL, Cue, Map, 10-12 mph) 28 miles. Meet at 10:00am, Westbrook I-95 Exit 64 CPL. Explore Westbrook, Clinton and Deep River. Route covers rolling countryside and shoreline. We'll break for lunch in Ivoryton. Bring lunch. Forecast of bad weather cancels. L Gabor Stein (203 488-4968 before 9:00pm), L Judy Zanotta (203 315-8275 before 9:00pm) Sun., May. 16. Riverfront Parks of Hartford and East Hartford, Connecticut, East of River, CT. (SO, FL, 11-13mph, NO-CUE) 25 miles. 10:00am start. Meet in East Hartford, East River Drive (in the parking lot in front of Three Rivers Magnet School). Ride to all Riverfront parks, tour all trails and parks on both sides of the Connecticut River with a little downtown. 1-91N Exit 29, over Charter Oak Bridge. Follow signs to East River Drive to the end. Turn left at the light. The lot is on the left after the overpass. L Rick Merritt (860-644-4467 before 9:00pm), L Terri Pappagallo (860-635-1474 before 9:00pm) Mon., May. 17. Tour of Suffield, Connecticut, East of River, CT. (So, RG, FL/RL, Cue, 10-13mph) 30.5 miles. 10:00a.m. start. Meet at the Suffield Village parking lot on Bridge Street, near the intersection of Routes 75 and 168 in Suffield. This mellow ride meanders around much of Suffield and briefly cuts into Southwick, MA, featuring a great (suggested) lunch/snack stop at Sunrise Park. After the park, you'll see more of Suffield's countryside, also getting some interesting views of the Connecticut River. Rain/wet roads cancels. L Jo Ann Hewett (860-267-4129 Before 9:00p.m., joannbiker@comcast.net), L George Burger Mon., May. 24. Howard and Ruth's Stony Creek/ Guilford Ride, Connecticut, West of River, CT. (SO, FL/RL, 10-12mph, CUE) 27.3 miles. Meet at I-95, exit 56 CPL (Leete's Island Road) in Branford for prompt 10:00am start. Mostly flat ride (with a bit of rolling terrain) through portions of Branford and Guilford with nice views and visit to Stony Creek for lunch which may be brought or purchased. Rain cancels. L Judy Kunkel (860-536-3724 Before 9:30pm)
Appalachian Mountain Club Connecticut Chapter 32 Highland Ave. Redding, CT 06896 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID CROMWELL, CT PERMIT NO. 20 Abbreviation Legend CPL Commuter Parking Lot CUE Cue Sheet Provided FL Flat Terrain HI/HL Hilly Terrain L/CL Leader/Co-Leader MB/MTN Mountain Bike RC Recreational ride RG Regroup during ride RL/RO Rolling terrain SASE Self-Addressed Stamp Envelope SO Social Ride SW Sweep stays with slower riders TR Training Bicycle Committee 2010 Rick Merritt, Committee Co-Chair Jo Ann Hewett, Ride Coordinator Terri Pappagallo, Newsletter Editor Wayne Tursi, Committee Co-Chair Web Site For post-publication updates, check the Bicycling calendar on-line at: www.ct-amc.org, click on the Bicycling button. Short Notice Rides To subscribe to ct-amc.bicycling, the notification of upcoming rides that don t make the deadlines for AMC Outdoors and AMC Cyclist, go to the website, type your e-mail address in the box of upcoming rides by e-mail and click on join now. You will receive a confirmation message from Yahoo. Follow the instructions in the message to confirm that you want to join the list.
UPCOMING WEEKEND CYCLING TRIPS Mon., May. 31. PDF (Pretty Darn Flat) Ride, Simsbury, Connecticut, West of River, CT. (RC, FL/RL, CUE, RG, 10-12mph) 29.9 miles. A Ride for Pete Ratchford. We will repeat the last ride that Pete Ratchford rode with us in Connecticut and remember what a great friend and cyclist he was. This is a mostly mellow ride through Simsbury, Bloomfield, and Windsor with a really nice lunch stop at Bloomfield Reservoir #3. Meet at 10:00am, Weatogue CPL, Route 10 and 202 in Simsbury about 100 yards north of Route 185 intersection. We plan to gather after the ride for burgers/beer at Plan B Burger Bar (formerly One Way Fare) in Simsbury. Rain cancels. If weather is doubtful, email L by 7:30am on the morning of the ride. Please print cue sheet from the link listed below. L Joy Himmelfarb (860-658-0402 before 9:00pm, joyhimmelfarb@comcast.net) For cue sheet: ctbikeroutes.org August 26-29, 2010 Cape Cod Bike Trip, Massachusetts Cape Cod, MA Stay at a house on the beach with ocean views. Open to intermediate/advanced cyclists. We'll be biking on trails and roads with a possible long ride to Provincetown. Average 30-50 miles. Accommodations include bunk beds (some dorm-style, some accommodate 4-6 people). Cost is $110 and includes three breakfasts, two dinners, snacks, and social hour munchies. Limited to 30 participants maximum. No refunds unless Ls find a replacement. L Terry Bludeau (terrybb@msn.com), L Susan Wallen (swallenster@gmail.com), R Terry Bludeau (2 Hearthstone Dr, Simsbury, CT 06070) May 28-31, 2010 Memorial Day Biking Weekend to Hampton Beach, NH, New Hampshire Seacoast, NH Bike scenic coast of ME, NH, MA. Flat to rolling roads, 20-65 mile options. Stay in lovely three-bedroom fully-furnished beach cottages, 4-5 per cottage, heated pool; just bring towels. $175 includes three nights with breakfast, Friday happy hour, cook-out Saturday, pasta dinner Sunday night. To register, send email address, AMC ID# and check payable to Rick Merritt. No deposits before March 1st, please. L Heather Hutchens (347-731-5847 Before 9:00pm, hhitchens@nyc.rr.com), L Felix Cisneros, L Rick Merritt (860-644-4467 Before 9:00pm), R Rick Merritt (122 E. Center St., Manchester, CT 06040, 860-644-4467 Before 9:00pm) September 17-19, 2010 Road Bike Upper Connecticut River Valley Biking Fairlee, VT, Green Mountains, VT Sep. 17-19. Road Bike Upper Connecticut River Valley Biking -Fairlee, VT, Vermont, Green Mountains, VT. Ride options of 20-65 miles along quiet country roads. Stay at the Hulbert Outdoor Center in 3-4 bedroom cabins, with two per room. Optional Friday ride. Cost is $135 and includes two nights lodging, two full breakfasts, Saturday dinner, bed linens and towel. Send your name, mailing address, email and phone number to Registrar with full amount payable to Finlay Ferguson. Fee is nonrefundable unless Ls find a replacement. L Finlay Ferguson (860-767-8547 Before 9:00pm, finlayferguson@msn.com), L Mark Henebry (mhenebry@sbcglobal.net), R Finlay Ferguson (46 Mitchel Terrace, Ivoryton, CT