I'll take you on some of my favorite rides and you take me on some of yours. Right now my condition is poor but I'm working on it. Just starting riding again. I'm up for a 20 miler at a slow pace right now.

I'm blessed with some great rides in and around my general area and I'd like others to experience the quiet roads of Northwest CT.

Sort of like a training partner but with the added bonus of discovering new rides.

A small group of people would work too. My email is rfiore06@intergate.com if you think this is a good idea.

If your into loaded touring I my give that a try this year (weekend trips only) so I'd like to hear from you folks as well. Thanks Rick.

How far east do you usually ride? I'm in the Hartford area.

PCM

I live about 45 mins from Hartford, I'm in Harwinton to be exact. I ride mostly in Litchfield County which is next to and directly West of Hartford County. As you know the Hartford area is not the best area for riding so I avoid it.The areas I ride have a low traffic volume and it only gets lower the deeper into the backroads you go. I avoid traffic as best as I can.

The towns I primarily ride in are Harwinton, Plymouth, Thomaston, Litchfield, Goshen, Winchester, Norfolk, Colebrook, New Hartford, Barkhamsted, Torrington, Salisbury, Cornwall etc.

I live in West Hartford so I know what you mean about traffic. Most of my rides head north and west from there into Bloomfield, Simsbury, Granby, North Granby, Granville Mass, and occasionally the Hartlands around the reservoir. I did a ride starting from Granby center last fall and headed north to Granville and then west along 57. Probably my most challenging ride (in terms of hills) in the 2ish years of road riding.

I'll be out of commission for most of the rest of the month for various reasons but after that, I'm fairly free although I'd have to check with the cruise director... er wife. :p

Yah, I've been into MA a bit too but again west of where you've been. Where did you take 57? I've been up to Becket, Sandisfield, Otis and New Marlboro. Very nice riding up there too.

The chip seal around Barkhamsted Res ruins that area for me. I hate that stuff. I hope the town/state does'nt plan on using that stuff much.

Cool, give me a shout when you want to get out. Your not to far from some nice riding.
Drop me an email and I'll give you my number so you can call instead of reling on my email that I don't check all to often. Peace.

I did 57 from 189 in Granville to Rt 8 in New Boston and then south from there. Some of the biggest climbs I've every made. Not too long but very steep. What made it most fun was the last mile on 57 down to 8 where there is a runaway truck ramp because of the grade. I think it's 10-13% for about 3/4 of a mile. Haven't tried riding up that one yet. Ended up doing about a 50 mile ride that day with about 5000 of climbing.

Will get back in touch after the 4th via email.

PCM

Yep, Thats a mean hill. It took the life of a cyclist years ago when his brakes failed. I've gone west on 57 into Sandisfield but never east up that hill. What kind of shape are you in now? I'm still putting on a base and did 20 miles of the Farmington Rail Trail this mourning. By July I should be ready for a 30 miler or so. I'm looking forward to riding with ya and I'm sure your ready to get out of that area too. Happy trails, Rick.

Yeah, I was very cautious coming down that hill. Being the first time I'd ever ridden it, I don't think I ever got above 20 or 25 and I was feathering the brakes so I didn't overheat a rim.

I have about 850 miles on the bike so far this year. All of that was in training for the Greater CT MS Bike Tour which was last Sunday. I had planned on doing the century ride but unfortunately I couldn't take the heat and was only able to ride about 85 miles of the route. I'm ready for those 60 degree days we were having about 3 weeks ago.

Email you later in the month.

Pete