pk
July 22nd, 2005, 08:56 AM
From Don Podolski, New Horizons Sports
I'm a Regional Brevet Administrator for Randonneurs USA <www.rusa.org> and have a ride that may be of interest to NEMBA members. RUSA events are open to all riders with no memberships required. Loosely translated a randonnee is a wandering or tour, a brevet is a ride of certified
distance and time, and a populaaire is a randonne of less than 200 KM.
On Saturday, August 27, 2005, the inaugural Deerfield
Dirt-Road Randonnee will start at 6 AM in Old
Deerfield, Massachusetts. This RUSA populaire is
breathtaking in both senses of the word: 107 miles,
70% on dirt roads, with 11,300 feet of climbing. A
more-moderate 100K ride will leave at 8 AM.
Interested riders should consult the websites:
www.newhorizonsbikes.com
www.deerfieldcycling.org (may not be active before
Aug 1)
Everything about this ride is extraordinary; it has
been in planning for 12 years. Riders will enjoy a
fabulous network of secret backroads and horse-cart
lanes through some of the most scenic and historic
areas of western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
The constantly twisting route is often only one lane
wide. Stone walls line the roads far more than
double-yellow lines. There are dozens of maple-tree
'allees,' over 20 miles of rushing streams, four
covered bridges, and countless farms, fields, and
forests. Riders may expect hours of cycling without a
single car passing. The lunch-break checkpoint is a
little park with a National-Register covered bridge,
timber-crib dam, and swim hole. The 3-mile finishing
loop features a narrow corn maze through land farmed
since the 1670's - one of the oldest roads in America
unchanged since its construction.
Bicycles should be equipped with triple gearing and
slightly wider tires (i.e. 28c-32c). Road conditions
range from smooth clay to stony washout and puddles.
Seven key climbs reach 1400-2000' elevation, and 16
smaller pitches exceed 13% gradient, including a 25%
wall. At mile 90, riders will tackle the hidden back
side of the lovely Patten Hill District: starting at
20% grade, the road narrows to a bumpy 8' lane and
ascends 960 feet vertical in 1.5 miles to a grand
overlook toward Vermont.
This event is a fundraiser for the Franklin Land
Trust, to preserve scenic lands encompassed by this
unforgettable route. Please come out and support this
first-time effort!
Don Podolski / Saunders Whittlesey
D2R2 Co-Directors
--
Don Podolski
New Horizons Sports
55 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Custom Fit
Specialist
Regional Brevet Administrator RUSA
YaYa Bike, Randonneurs USA, Bikes Belong, NBDA, NEMBA
www.NewHorizonsBikes.com
don@NewHorizonsBikes.com
413.562.5237
I'm a Regional Brevet Administrator for Randonneurs USA <www.rusa.org> and have a ride that may be of interest to NEMBA members. RUSA events are open to all riders with no memberships required. Loosely translated a randonnee is a wandering or tour, a brevet is a ride of certified
distance and time, and a populaaire is a randonne of less than 200 KM.
On Saturday, August 27, 2005, the inaugural Deerfield
Dirt-Road Randonnee will start at 6 AM in Old
Deerfield, Massachusetts. This RUSA populaire is
breathtaking in both senses of the word: 107 miles,
70% on dirt roads, with 11,300 feet of climbing. A
more-moderate 100K ride will leave at 8 AM.
Interested riders should consult the websites:
www.newhorizonsbikes.com
www.deerfieldcycling.org (may not be active before
Aug 1)
Everything about this ride is extraordinary; it has
been in planning for 12 years. Riders will enjoy a
fabulous network of secret backroads and horse-cart
lanes through some of the most scenic and historic
areas of western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
The constantly twisting route is often only one lane
wide. Stone walls line the roads far more than
double-yellow lines. There are dozens of maple-tree
'allees,' over 20 miles of rushing streams, four
covered bridges, and countless farms, fields, and
forests. Riders may expect hours of cycling without a
single car passing. The lunch-break checkpoint is a
little park with a National-Register covered bridge,
timber-crib dam, and swim hole. The 3-mile finishing
loop features a narrow corn maze through land farmed
since the 1670's - one of the oldest roads in America
unchanged since its construction.
Bicycles should be equipped with triple gearing and
slightly wider tires (i.e. 28c-32c). Road conditions
range from smooth clay to stony washout and puddles.
Seven key climbs reach 1400-2000' elevation, and 16
smaller pitches exceed 13% gradient, including a 25%
wall. At mile 90, riders will tackle the hidden back
side of the lovely Patten Hill District: starting at
20% grade, the road narrows to a bumpy 8' lane and
ascends 960 feet vertical in 1.5 miles to a grand
overlook toward Vermont.
This event is a fundraiser for the Franklin Land
Trust, to preserve scenic lands encompassed by this
unforgettable route. Please come out and support this
first-time effort!
Don Podolski / Saunders Whittlesey
D2R2 Co-Directors
--
Don Podolski
New Horizons Sports
55 Franklin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Custom Fit
Specialist
Regional Brevet Administrator RUSA
YaYa Bike, Randonneurs USA, Bikes Belong, NBDA, NEMBA
www.NewHorizonsBikes.com
don@NewHorizonsBikes.com
413.562.5237