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RESCHEDULED: Sugar House Scramble - Sunday April 2
--Since the weather doesn't want to cooperate I'm going to try and sneak this ride in on what looks like the best weekend day next weekend (granted, we are still a week away so I'm sure the forecast will change!)--
One of the first signs of Spring for me is going to the sugar house for pancakes and fresh maple syrup. For some time now I've wanted to do a gravel ride that combines my love for syrup with the enjoyment of riding on our local dirt roads so I came up with this ride that will do the trick!
The plan is to leave Berg Field (East Hartland) at 9am and ride to Maple Corner Farm where we will stop and have a pancake or any of their other delicious goodies. From there we will take a pretty direct route back to the starting point, all fueled up on maple-y goodness!
The route can be found here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19422532
This route contains ~13.5 miles of dirt roads in five sections over the 27.9 miles total. Expect riding times to be between 2 and 2.5 hours as the pace should be "early season". This is a no-drop ride. (I figured I'd mention that even though the stopping for pancakes part might have made it obvious!)
Bikes with 32c or greater tires will be best suited for the terrain as some of the roads are fairly rough from the winter "maintenance". There is one long stretch of pavement, ~6 miles, that might make a MTB work harder, but I wouldn't be afraid to bring the big bike if that is all you have available. I've ridden this route with 30c slicks and on my full suspension MTB so it is totally passable with just about any equipment.
Any cancellations will be posted here as far ahead of time as possible.
If you are planning to attend the ride please either let me know here or via email (snoskier16@gmail.com) so that I can let Maple Corner Farm about how many of us to expect.
Questions; you know what to do!
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but the forecast for this weekend is improving so right now it looks like it should be a nice, probably moist, ride!
Is there still any snow on the off-road sections - Pell, Hartland Hollow, Hurricane Brook?
As of today my yard has some bare spots where grass can be seen. It has been foggy all day so that should be helping to eat up the snow.
My hope is that the warm temperatures and rain this week melt the majority of what is out there.
If snow is still present the route may be altered accordingly.
Too bad the weather is not co operating. The idea of this ride is big, hats off to Johnathan for his efforts... We should not get discouraged with the weather. We are so fortunate to live in New England, and have such a great local opportunity knocking next door. Lets do a road ride Sunday to Maple Corner, because of potential snow in the woods, and Then do the Official "Gravel Ride" next weekend or The last day for pancakes, Saturday the 15 of April. Two rides could include more riders who might like to experience this. For me, this includes a great opportunity to stop at a great location, & enjoy Homemade pancakes with real maple syrup. I think this could become a very memorable annual event if we can just get the weather to co operate. I really think after a road or gravel ride, everyone Will have very strong interest in doing it again. I strongly encourage all to experience. Can't say enough about this, other than thanks to Snoskier for his efforts so far...
Just my thoughts, ---Randy---
Thanks for your kind words, Randy! I'm open to doing as many rides for pancakes as there is interest in!
I spoke with Ron this afternoon and based on the weather observed by my wife today up in Hartland, we are going to give the ride a shot this Sunday! We haven't seen the transition to snow that they were calling for so let's hope that things turn more liquid-y as the weather rolls on.
That being said, Pell Rd. (checked last night) is snow covered with the exception of two tire tracks so unless the group feels like riding a 3-mile long "skinny", we'll tweak the route to avoid the un-maintained (read: plowed) roads. Phelon and Beech Hill both have houses on them so they should be clear, though Wildcat is somewhat of a wild card. Fatter tires on a normal road bike should manage the maintained dirt roads (~4 miles I'd estimate). I might try to drive out that way tomorrow to confirm, but where is the surprise in that? 
Long story short, I'll be at Berg Field at 9am on Sunday morning with my gravel bike and some cash ready to pedal my way to the pancakes!
-Jonathan 
Did a road ride on Wednesday and rode past the bottom of Wildcat, where it intersects with Old Westfield Road. It looked like it was plowed, but how far up, I don't know.
Last month before this last snow fall, Wildcat Rd. appeared plowed to Cobble Mt Res. and all the way to Beach Rd. The road traveling south from Rt 57 to Rt 20 maybe a little tricky, but the good news is that it is all down hill. The shaded areas of Hurricane Brook Rd. maybe the most snow covered since its on the north side in the shade, and may become difficult to climb, but Rt 20 will make it an easy bail out, if needed.
All this rain should change the snow into being very granular and soft, making it slightly challenging but easier to ride.
Can't wait, Who's in ?
On my way out to do errands today I noticed that the parking lot at Berg Field hasn't been plowed and there is a decent sized snow mound at the entrance. If you are driving up the hill and don't want to park there in the snow feel free to park at my house. We have plenty of room in the driveway and on the street where nobody should get stuck!
54 Walnut Hill Rd. East Hartland
Weather update: it has snowed on and off all morning but it didn't seem to amount to much. Yesterday left us with a couple of inches of sleet, but the road crews did a great job and the roads are just wet!
Thank you to everyone that came out to the ride this morning! The detour definitely added a different "flair" to the ride and the pancakes were top notch!
I went back to pickup my discarded fender and Wildcat was completely clear! Amazing what a couple of hours will do!
Let's hope that our next gravel ride has less snow and mud!
Hey Jonathan. Sorry I had to bail, but it worked out well. Arrived home just in time to throw some clothes on and head to Bradley to p[ick up my wife.
How was the road you guys took on the way back to East Hartland?
Ron
Hartland Hollow Rd. was indeed snow-covered. In spots up at the beginning of the road it was 6+" deep so the riding was difficult and we walked for a bit. Once the road turned downhill we had gravity on our side and it was a fun slippy-sliding ride down to the pavement!
Here's to hoping that this is the last weekend of having to deal with snow-covered roads!
What a great ride! I'm thinking Id like to do this again but ride the "original" route. Now that the weather is warming, the roads should become more "passable" & this winter lets hope at this time, should not return. If We can get a decent weekend day with forecasted weather either next weekend or the Saturday the 15th of april.
Kind of funny this ride has been planned for well over a month, We made a good attempt to do it, but due to a lingering winter, the ride was modified. Im still interested in a group ride as originally planned. Would there be any interest?
Lets call this Gravel Ride #2, and for all those interested lets keep adding to the adventures on gravel, thru out this season. Any Thoughts. ---Randy---