RIDE SCHEDULE
FOR
October & November 2003

Please note: HELMETS are now MANDATORY for all rides!

TERRAIN F = Flat with a few easy grades
R = Rolling hills with enough flat places to provide relief
H = Hilly, steep grades with some relief
S = Steep, for strong riders
 
PACE L = Leisurely with plenty of rest stops. Riding speed 10 to 12 mph
M = Moderate with occasional rest stops. Riding speed 12 to 16 mph
B = Brisk with fewer rest stops. Riding speed greater than 16 mph
 
Please note: If there is a question of bad weather, call the ride coordinator whose number is listed with the ride description [only the printed copies of the ride schedule contain phone numbers - web ed]. If you get no answer, (s)he is at the designated meeting area!!!
Helmets are REQUIRED for all FHF rides. Bring drinking water, a spare inner tube that fits your bike & snack food. Prospective club members are welcome on FHF rides.

OCT. 4 & 5 (Sat & Sun) - MOUNTAIN BIKE CAMPING TRIP UP To Molly Stark State Park in Wilmington VT. This will be a Bike camping trip that involves riding a fully loaded Mountain Bike 36 miles from Greenfield MA. on a dirt road along the Green River to Molly Stark State Park in Wilmington VT. -elevation gain = 2860 feet. MOUNTAIN BIKE REQUIRED FOR MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT. We'll ride UP to the Campground, pitch camp, eat dinner out, and go food shopping with empty panniers. Other possible activities include an ascent of Mt. Olga on foot, so bring off-bike footwear. We'll DEPART from the Greenfield Community College Parking lot at 10:00 AM on Saturday. Call coordinators ASAP with car's make, model, color & license plate #. GCC requires that we register every car parking for the weekend. The college lot is patrolled and registered cars are checked by Campus Police. NO registration info - car will be towed.
COORDINATORS: Sally Peters & Bob Kowaleski

OCT. 6 (Sun) SHOW & GO ROAD RIDE: Meet at 10:00 AM at the Mill River Recreation Area off Rt. 63 in North Amherst (on right ¼ mile north of the church at the lights). Route and distance will be decided upon by those present.

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 MOUNTAIN BIKING SEASON IS HERE!. We'll offer organized mountain bike rides for the fall schedule because we have lots of interest and willing coordinators. The terrain covered will be single track, jeep roads, and some off-dirt (read pavement). We will make every effort to avoid muddy areas/trails that are easily eroded. Always bring plenty of water & food (we won't be near stores); wear layers of clothing suitable for the weather. Pack a wind shirt and tube, pump and patch kit. If rain is falling or even threatening we'll probably cancel to avoid riding on muddy trails. Call the listed coordinators with any questions.

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OCT. 11 (Sat) - Mountain Biking on the Holyoke Range. Meet at the Notch Visitors Center at 9:00 AM for a 3 hour ride on trails that will vary from logging roads to single track.
COORDINATOR: Walter Chudzik

OCT. 12 (Sun) - HOLIDAY WEEKEND SHOW & GO ROAD RIDE Meet at 10:00 AM at the Mill River Recreation Area off Rt. 63 in North Amherst (on right ¼ mile north of the church at the lights). Route and distance will be decided upon by those present.

Want to continue road riding?? Bootleg a road ride and call other road riders!

OCT. 19 (Sun)- KNIGHTVILLE DAM TO CHESTERFIELD GORGE MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE; 16 miles. We'll ride an out-and-back route along the Westfield river from Huntington to the Chesterfield Gorge. Meet at 11:00 AM on the dirt road along the river. (Kimball Hill Rd. E.) After passing intersection of Rt. 112 and Rt. 66, drive north about 1.2 miles and look for Blind Right Turn. Drive about 1.4 miles or until you see other cyclists. Bring lunch and water and $1.00 to visit the Chesterfield Gorge State Park.
COORDINATORS: Charlie & Eileen Meyers

OCT. 26 (Sun) - MT. BIKING IN ROBINSON STATE PARK - Meet at Robinson Park Elementary School on Begley Street in Agawam. (Call Jack or Suzanne for directions) at 10:00 AM for a ride in nearby Robinson State Park which borders the Westfield River. Bring snacks, lunch & water. We'll be riding the abundant single track trails in the park.
COORDINATORS: Jack & Suzanne Fitz-Gibbon

NOV. 2 (Sun) KNIGHTVILLE RESERVOIR Mountain Bike Ride - This ride covers terrain on the eastern side of the reservoir. There will be steep trails, rocky trails and steep, rocky trails. This ride will be enjoyed most by Intermediate to advanced riders. Park on Goss Hill Road in Huntington: From Gateway Regional School, follow Littleville Road to Goss Hill road on RIGHT. Follow Goss Hill about a mile to on-road parking on the LEFT. Meet at 9:00 AM. Call Walter if you plan to do this ride, he doesn't want to drive all the way to ride alone! Bring water, snacks & Lunch.
COORDINATOR: Walter Chudzik

NOV 9 (Sun) A MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVENTURE DAY IN HAWLEY AND SAVOY. Meet at 10:00 AM at the Ashfield town park on Rt. 116 about a quarter mile from Rt. 112. (The park overlooks Ashfield lake.) We'll drive to Hawley and then bike towards Savoy on mainly dirt roads with optional single track. Bring snacks, water, lunch, and more snacks.
COORDINATORS: Sally Peters & Bob Kowaleski

Read this - read this - read this - read this
NOV. 15 (SAT) ANNUAL MEETING AND POTLUCK with a MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE FIRST. The ride will be mostly on dirt roads with significant elevation gain, and some (optional) single track. Meet at Al & Marion's house at NOON for the ride. There will be a HIKING option on local trails for those who don't own Mountain bikes - Meet for hike at NOON also.
Otherwise:
      Happy Hour 5:00 PM or
when bikers & hikers return
      Dinner at 6:00 PM
      Meeting at 7:00 PM
Meeting agenda will include election of a new president and rides committee. Call Al or Marion and tell them what you are bringing to the potluck.
COORDINATORS: Al Shane & Marion Gorham

NOV. 16 (Sun) SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE - 16 to 18 miles. This ride will cover a variety of terrain (dirt road, double track, single track & off-dirt) and include a stop at a monk's cave. Meet in the parking lot at Wendell State Forest at 11:00 AM. Bring lunch and water. From the South take I91 to exit 24. Follow Rt. 116 to Rt 47 in Sunderland, turn Left and follow Rt. 47 to Rt. 63. Go 4.1 miles on Rt. 63 and turn Right onto Highland St. Take a Right at the T and go UP for 1.8 miles to Wendell State Forest .
COORDINATORS: Bob Kowaleski & Sally Peters
Partly sunny, no wind, temps in the low 40's. 12 riders altogether including a father and his 11-year-old son, Russell, who was riding a single speed BMX bike. Everyone had an excellent time. The only mishap was when Norm F., riding his cross-tire-equipped road bike, caught a stick in his rear derailler and broke off the set screw arm. Being a professional bike mechanic, he was able to make the bike rideable with a piece of string from his Camelback.

NOV. 29 (Saturday) ASHLEY RESERVOIR - Ride trails with lots of variety - some rocky bits. Meet at 10:00 AM off Rt. 202 just North of Homestead Rd. in Holyoke. From the North, take I91 south to Exit 16. Go Right at the end of the ramp, take first Left onto Homestead Rd. Follow it to Rt. 202, take a Right & park on Left about 0.2 miles from intersection.
From the South, take I91 north to Exit 15. Go Left onto Lower Westfield Rd. At 2nd light go Right onto Homestead Rd. Follow it to Rt. 202, take a Left & park on Left about 0.2 miles from intersection.
COORDINATOR: Walter Chudzik

DECEMBER AND JANUARY - The Mountain Biking continues. Join Walt & the other Die-Hard Mountain Bikers for rides on Sundays in December and either weekend day in January. Buy STUDDED TIRES if the going gets icy.