S76
Well-known member
What a great day! Rode with an old friend "vmaxed" and met two new. "Curious in CT" and "jmarran." I was hoping it would warm up enough to be comfortable without heated gear. Well it did! 86 degrees a some points. The first really warm day we had so far this year. Excellent.
It all started out here where I met "vmaxed" and "Curious" to kick things off at 07:00.
"vmaxed" with his standard. Blue berry pancakes, short stack.
"Curious in CT"
From there a beautiful ride through the woods and up the CT valley where farm land and old colonial homes abound. Soon we were into MA where we met up with "jmarran" (on the left) in Deerfield. We all arived within 2 minutes of each other.
We're off!
Rt 116 West never disapoints with twists and curves that are pure pleasure. I am amazed at how my bike is handling. Between the group buy suspension, the Dunlop tires and the tappered steering bearings this thing is on rails! I so wish I was a better rider to take better advantage of it's potential. Off of 116 I chose Rt 8A north because I remember riding this road once and it was full of fun sweepers. As we turn onto Rt 8A though something is not looking right. At first we stop and look because we can't tell if it is a paved road or not. Obviously, someone is not remembering right. It turns out to be a small, very twisty, bumpy road covered with winter sand. Oh well, it is what it is, but keeping your tires in one of the three car tire tracks now becomes critical. Yes, there were three car tire tracks with most of the sand worn away because the road was so narrow they shared the center strip. We got through it at a pretty good clip though and everyone was a tad better rider by the end.
We ended up on the Mohawk trail, Rt 2, Nice!
Curves, elevation changes, and look-outs..................
Yours truly
Mt Greylock in the left distance, we would have riden to the top but the road is still snowed in.
The highlight of the Mohawk Trail, the infamous "Hairpin Turn"
We stop for lunch in only the classiest places
"vmaxed" making the obligatory phone call home to see how the wife is doing with the yard work and to offer his encouragement. What a guy!
"jmarran" stands in disbelief.
The second half of the ride was good exept for a little boo boo on my part as I routed us down a dirt road for 5 miles through a state forest. That brand new shinny 08 wasn't as good looking after that. And ,yes, black does show the dirt quickly. I blame MapSource. That line was black like the others. If the road is dirt the line should be brown or something.
All in all a super day. Put on about 275/300 miles. Absolutely looking forward to riding with these guys again.
It all started out here where I met "vmaxed" and "Curious" to kick things off at 07:00.
"vmaxed" with his standard. Blue berry pancakes, short stack.
"Curious in CT"
From there a beautiful ride through the woods and up the CT valley where farm land and old colonial homes abound. Soon we were into MA where we met up with "jmarran" (on the left) in Deerfield. We all arived within 2 minutes of each other.
We're off!
Rt 116 West never disapoints with twists and curves that are pure pleasure. I am amazed at how my bike is handling. Between the group buy suspension, the Dunlop tires and the tappered steering bearings this thing is on rails! I so wish I was a better rider to take better advantage of it's potential. Off of 116 I chose Rt 8A north because I remember riding this road once and it was full of fun sweepers. As we turn onto Rt 8A though something is not looking right. At first we stop and look because we can't tell if it is a paved road or not. Obviously, someone is not remembering right. It turns out to be a small, very twisty, bumpy road covered with winter sand. Oh well, it is what it is, but keeping your tires in one of the three car tire tracks now becomes critical. Yes, there were three car tire tracks with most of the sand worn away because the road was so narrow they shared the center strip. We got through it at a pretty good clip though and everyone was a tad better rider by the end.
We ended up on the Mohawk trail, Rt 2, Nice!
Curves, elevation changes, and look-outs..................
Yours truly
Mt Greylock in the left distance, we would have riden to the top but the road is still snowed in.
The highlight of the Mohawk Trail, the infamous "Hairpin Turn"
We stop for lunch in only the classiest places
"vmaxed" making the obligatory phone call home to see how the wife is doing with the yard work and to offer his encouragement. What a guy!
"jmarran" stands in disbelief.
The second half of the ride was good exept for a little boo boo on my part as I routed us down a dirt road for 5 miles through a state forest. That brand new shinny 08 wasn't as good looking after that. And ,yes, black does show the dirt quickly. I blame MapSource. That line was black like the others. If the road is dirt the line should be brown or something.
All in all a super day. Put on about 275/300 miles. Absolutely looking forward to riding with these guys again.
