Kevan
06-09-2004, 08:38 AM
This weekend there will be 80 or so of us riding up from NY, starting just north of Westchester county, on up into Vermont. It seems weather.com has agreed to give us partly sunny skies, with highs in the mid-70’s. It don’t get better than this!
Called the Tour de Wagner, this ride was established some 15 years ago and supports the Special Olympics program in this area. Thursday night we’ll start with a kick-off dinner at this gorgeous home turned restaurant. Jerseys and swag will be given out and old friendships reconfirmed. We all return home and try to sleep with the anticipation of a Christmas morning. Friday morning we’ll be up early driving to our starting point in Paterson. At 9am we’ll be off and going winding out way through the northwest corner of CT, going past towns like Kent and Sharon. By the end of Friday’s ride we’ll have done some 85 miles and pulled into an inn at Lenox Mass. Bikes will be parked, legs and backs will be rubbed and the bar will be opened.
Saturday the riders staying at different inns throughout the town will congregate at the principal location for breakfast and a early morning rollout. I’m guessing arm warmers will be popular. We’ll grind our way up through Pittsfield and take route 7 up into Vermont. We only get into that state by 10-15 miles but I have to say the turn-off of route 7 puts us on one of the sweetest roller coaster rides back into Mass. Lunch will be held in Williamstown (Williams College fame), then we’re off south heading back to Lenox and climbing up over the back side of Brody (skiing) mountain. The ride total falls just short of 100 so some of us go ride into Lenox proper to get the extra 5 miles. There’s more bike parking, leg and back rubbing and bar leaning before dinner is serviced. That night a full banquet is had with all stops pulled. People speak, brag, accuse, and laugh all evening.
Sunday is a bit more relaxed with people opting for either no ride, short ride, or around the block ride. The short ride involves bloody marys and the Red Lion inn in Stockbridge. The round the block involves a 40 mile loop that brings us back to the inn just in time for the lunchtime cookout. Everyone is still having fun, but the air of conclusion is moving in. A bus arrives eventually and drags us back to reality in the afternoon and so concludes the ride.
I can’t wait for the fun to start! :D
Called the Tour de Wagner, this ride was established some 15 years ago and supports the Special Olympics program in this area. Thursday night we’ll start with a kick-off dinner at this gorgeous home turned restaurant. Jerseys and swag will be given out and old friendships reconfirmed. We all return home and try to sleep with the anticipation of a Christmas morning. Friday morning we’ll be up early driving to our starting point in Paterson. At 9am we’ll be off and going winding out way through the northwest corner of CT, going past towns like Kent and Sharon. By the end of Friday’s ride we’ll have done some 85 miles and pulled into an inn at Lenox Mass. Bikes will be parked, legs and backs will be rubbed and the bar will be opened.
Saturday the riders staying at different inns throughout the town will congregate at the principal location for breakfast and a early morning rollout. I’m guessing arm warmers will be popular. We’ll grind our way up through Pittsfield and take route 7 up into Vermont. We only get into that state by 10-15 miles but I have to say the turn-off of route 7 puts us on one of the sweetest roller coaster rides back into Mass. Lunch will be held in Williamstown (Williams College fame), then we’re off south heading back to Lenox and climbing up over the back side of Brody (skiing) mountain. The ride total falls just short of 100 so some of us go ride into Lenox proper to get the extra 5 miles. There’s more bike parking, leg and back rubbing and bar leaning before dinner is serviced. That night a full banquet is had with all stops pulled. People speak, brag, accuse, and laugh all evening.
Sunday is a bit more relaxed with people opting for either no ride, short ride, or around the block ride. The short ride involves bloody marys and the Red Lion inn in Stockbridge. The round the block involves a 40 mile loop that brings us back to the inn just in time for the lunchtime cookout. Everyone is still having fun, but the air of conclusion is moving in. A bus arrives eventually and drags us back to reality in the afternoon and so concludes the ride.
I can’t wait for the fun to start! :D