Eastern Bloc Cycling Club
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Great Granville Gravel Grindering Gran Fondon't - Sunday May 17th
Ride Description: Mostly dirt ride beginning at Berg Field in East Hartland, CT and heading north beyond Blandford, MA and returning via Otis Reservoir, Tolland State Forest, and Granville State Forest. Ride is for cyclocross bikes, but also doable on a mountain bike if you're really sick (just don't wear baggy shorts and say things like "Gnarly!" and "Dude, my fork is so dialed!").
Distance/pace: Roughly 50 miles with over 4,000 ft of climbing. Let's call it Club Pace - but with the dirt roads and climbing, figure about 12 mph average or about 4 hours of actual riding time.
Terrain: 60% maintained dirt roads/40% paved roads (but keep in mind that dirt roads in Western MA are smoother than paved roads there).
Where: Departs from Berg Field in East Hartland, CT
Time: Sunday, May 17th at 8:30 am
Ride Leader: John Lockwood
Support: Yeah, right. Bring your own drinks and nutrition, but there is a gas station/convenience store in East Otis (mile 26) where you can reload. You can even play keno there!
Looks good John....looking forward to it.
> Looks good John....looking forward to it.
Okay, we've added a beer stop at mile 36.
Sounds gnarly ... Dude Might have to get s palm pilot and calendar going
Did a backwards recon ride of part of the route....Schoolhouse Rd has a lot of loose stone on it...unfortunately Tolland uses baseball diameter stone on the wet spots. Was a bit gnarly with 700x35 tires...wish I had worn baggy shorts to help conceal the results of my terror trying to peddle through several sections. Gibbs Rd/Lincoln Rd was much better...lots of stone in spots, but more reasonable size. Blair Rd was really in good shape except for a bit of washboard at the north end that might be a bit gnarly coming down the hill to N Blandford Rd. Did not do Phelon Rd as a bunch of pickups headed down it as I rode by leaving a cloud of hanging dust, but it looked pretty smooth at the top where it joins North Lane. I would suggest that you change your route to avoid Hartland Rd going south from Schoolhouse Rd. The second house down from Rt 57 has two snarly dogs that are pretty nasty and chase bikes....and bite. I have talked to the people who live there and they are oblivious. Called animal control officer half a dozen times...did not seem to help much. So I've given up riding past there...if those two came barrellassing into the road into a group of cyclists, I don't think it would work out well. Better to head down Colebrook River Rd , take a left on Rivers Rd and enjoy rolling hills on dirt and join south end of Hartland Rd and then to Jeff Miller Rd.
> I would suggest that you change your route to avoid Hartland Rd going south from Schoolhouse Rd. The second house down from Rt 57 has two snarly dogs that are pretty nasty and chase bikes....and bite. I have talked to the people who live there and they are oblivious. Called animal control officer half a dozen times...did not seem to help much. So I've given up riding past there...if those two came barrellassing into the road into a group of cyclists, I don't think it would work out well.
Slow guy brings dog biscuits?
I'm in.
WHAT?!? 8:30 AM???????
I'd love to do this ride...roads from the old days when Teddy lived in Granville. (Except we did the rides on road bikes. In the snow. With one tire flat.) But there's no way I'll be able to make it that early. I do promise to organize a dirt road ride or two out in my area this summer,
Sounds like a great ride. I'm hoping it rains and is delayed by a week and a half hour.
> WHAT?!? 8:30 AM??????? > > I'd love to do this ride...roads from the old days when Teddy lived in Granville. (Except we did the rides on road bikes. In the snow. With one tire flat.) But there's no way I'll be able to make it that early. I do promise to organize a dirt road ride or two out in my area this summer,
This from the guy who was always wanting to start his summer rides at 7:00 AM!!!
> Went to Benidorm yesterday and got a brand new toy. I'm all in.
I need to negotiate a commission arrangement with them for cross bike and light system referrals.
Sorry John , I should get the commission on the bike ! Way to go Walt !!! Glad it worked out.
I'm planning to join you fine cyclists on Sunday. It will be an adventure to be sure!
Can I request people try to wear their new EBCC kits if you have one. It would be a good day to get some new photos for the web site.
Brent