by Jonathan O’Keeffe » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:02 pm
Over a week late with the ride report (this is from Sat. 10/16), but better late than never…
We started with eight or so hardy souls on a chilly and very windy morning – Jonathan B, Paul, Kevin, Morgan, David L, Chris, Eddie, and I. We wanted to head northwest (into the wind), so we headed up the Thursday night route up Ashfield and Williamsburg roads, skipping Poland Road to continue north toward 116. Paul and Morgan led the way up this long climb.
Along the way we passed Don and Jeff heading the opposite direction after breakfasting on pancakes at Elmer’s in Ashfield. We took a left and climbed up Creamery Road, then descended through great foliage on Norton Hill Road into Ashfield. Don had circled back and was waiting for us there in front of Elmers (unknown whether or not he had a second order of pancakes).
With the wind now at our backs, we bombed down 116 all the way to S. Deerfield, and then had a nice flat, mostly wind-assisted run down River Road back to Northampton.
We finished up with about 46 miles @ 18.4 mph for the group portion, with 2,900′ of climbing. Paul and I turned back into the headwind to tack on a few extra miles in Hadley, and I finished the day with about 72 miles @ 17.6.
