Recommendations for Ride Leaders:
Post the ride - provide meeting time and place, leader contact, speed/skill level, route and duration, cancellation, & description details
Make weather calls
Carry a cell phone
Show up before the start time
Introduce yourself as the leader of the ride
Welcome new folks and make them feel comfortable
Go over route
Go over speed, pace expectations
Go over rules of the ride and the road
Keep the group together - be on the look out for stragglers and technical issues but not be responsible for fixing flats etc as riders should be self sufficient
Write a ride report (or ask someone else to)
Post a ride report
Recommendation for Participants:
Have your bicycle in good repair and tires in good condition
Carry the necessities to repair a flat tire
Remember to bring enough liquids and carbs
Choose rides at your speed/skill level
Wear sunscreen if needed
2008 Time Trial (TT) and Hill Climb (HC) Series
Many thanks to David Goodwin
Description of TT (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784883)
This is an individual time trial down River Road in Whately and Hatfield.
Riders will be responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a
cycle computer or watch. This is a flat 9.2 mile route that begins at the
intersection of Sugarloaf Street Extension and River Road just across the
Deerfield line in Whately and ends on Elm Street in Hatfield at the green
I-91 sign on the overpass. There is no drafting and riders will leave in 30
second intervals, starting generally from slow to fast.
Description of Shutesbury Hillclimb (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784917)
This is a mass start hillclimb up Shutesbury Road. Riders will be
responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a cycle computer
or watch. This is a 4.3 mile, moderate hillclimb starting in Leverett at
the intersection of Cushman Road and Still Corner Road and ends in the
center of Shutesbury at the crosswalk in front of the town hall. Drafting
is allowed.
Description of Pelham Hillclimb (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784907)
This is a mass start hillclimb up Buffum and West Pelham Roads. Riders will
be responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a cycle
computer or watch. This is a 5.6 mile, moderate hillclimb starting in
Pelham at the intersection of Amherst (Pelham) Road and North Valley Road
(where the Pelham Safety Complex is) and ends in Shutesbury on West Pelham
Road at the School Ahead sign. Drafting is allowed.
Description of Chesterfield Hillclimb (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784901)
This is a mass start hillclimb up Route 143 into Chesterfield. Riders will
be responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a cycle
computer or watch. This is a 6.0 mile, moderate hillclimb starting in
Williamsburg at the intersection of Routes 9 and 143 and ends in the center
of Chesterfield at the intersection of North and South Streets. Drafting is
allowed.
Description of Westhampton Hillclimb (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784928)
This is a mass start hillclimb up Route 66 to Huntington. Riders will be
responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a cycle computer
or watch. This is a 5.9 mile, steep hillclimb starting in Northampton at
the intersection of Route 66 and West Farms Rd/Glendale Rd and ends at the
Huntington town line. Drafting is allowed.
Description of Northampton Hillclimb (Map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=784897)
This is a mass start hillclimb up Chesterfield Road. Riders will be
responsible for their own timing so make sure that you have a cycle computer
or watch. This is a 6.7 mile, steep hillclimb starting in Northampton at
the intersection of Chesterfield Road and Spring Street and ends in
Chesterfield at the intersection of Chesterfield Road (called East Street in
Chesterfield) and Bofat Hall Road. Drafting is allowed.
