by Jonathan O’Keeffe » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:07 pm
Great SMR this morning, with a group of 15 or so rolling from the Academy at 10AM. The B and C groups rolled out together along the Thursday night route to Williamsburg, where Aaron and the C-riders split off to head up O’Neil Rd. The rest of us climbed Ashfield Road up to Ludwig Road, to the steep and scenic climb up West Road north of the DAR State Forest.
We climbed some buttery-smooth fresh pavement on Creamery Road on our way into Ashfield center, and then enjoyed a high-speed descent on Baptist Corner Road toward Shelburne Falls, where we paused briefly to refuel. Roberto had a plan for some new roads to check out off of Rt. 112, so we rolled along 112 for a few miles before turning right just at the bottom of the steep portion of 112, onto Apple Valley Road. This climb is long and steep in the lower portions, and then becomes ridiculously steep (and incredibly scenic) near the top.
From the top of Apple Valley Rd, we continued along Hawley Rd back to the 112/116 split in Ashfield. Most of the group turned right here to head back to Northampton via Rt 112 and Rt 9, while Andrew and I went straight on 116 to head back toward Amherst, battling a spirited headwind the whole way. I finished up with 73 miles @ 17.5 mph, 5,200′ of climbing.
