I stepped up to lead another Northampton Cycling Club Saturday B ride this weekend. The usual leader is recovering from an injury and I was in town, so why not! A benefit of being a ride leader is choosing a course to fit your own wishes. I chose a route with less climbing and mileage than typical for SMR B’s- but one with plenty of short climbs and scenery. 

We were lucky enough to have another Saturday free from rain, and a break from the oppressive humidity. Ten riders met me as the usual spot in downtown Northampton under hazy skies due to new Canadian wildfires.

We rolled out eastbound on Main St and across the Coolidge Bridge, hanging a right on to Bay Rd. And it was all Bay Rd for quite some time. As many locals know, Bay Rd varies between flat, a punchy climb, and a section of horrible pavement to welcome you to Amherst. The group stayed mostly together. Some gaps on the small risers, but quick regroups.

I did a quick hydration check with everyone before the turn off Bay Rd- as the next stop would be at mile 38- quite a bit longer. All good, so we turned up Allen Rd- which is a sharp climb and really not pleasant! The road crosses Rte 9 and then Rte 202, at that point much quieter.

Now we enter the core = the best part of the ride!

I’ve ridden this route before, but most often the other way. I intentionally routed us “backwards” this time. It is so much fun to experience a route the other way around. I don’t get over to this part of Western Mass very often- being it “on the other side of the river”. These roads were quiet and stunningly beautiful. Farms, fields, epic views.

After a quick jaunt on Rte 9, past Windsor Dam of the Quabbin, we turned on to River Rd. Yet another beautiful country road.

I guess I enjoyed these roads so much, I keep saying how nice they are.

A bunch of turns eventually got us to the “main event”, which is the climb up Rockrimmon. I’ve ridden both sides of this. Today’s ascent (this side) is much easier (IMO!) than the other side. It is a gentler climb. But that did not mean I wasn’t getting dropped by the strong riders!

The reward for this fun (?) climb was the epic/fun/screaming descent back down. Clean pavement, clear sight lines, soft corners… perfect. It was enjoyed by all.

We stopped at Cumberland in Granby for fuel and hydration. It was nice to go in the Air Conditioning for a bit.

The way home was through the Mt. Holyoke College campus, South Hadley. My original route had us going down Pearl St (another great road!)- but, big thanks to Johnathan O’ giving me a heads up that the bridge is out on that road. I considered having us do a hike-a-bike across (I have a reputation for bridge out routes)- but given last week we had one- I decided to route us through South Hadley center and Rte 47 back home.

Rte 47 is not all downhill home. There is a climb up out of Bachelor Brook, and again at the town line. We had some breaks in the paceline, but it was pretty rapid once we got past the Skinner State Park entrance road. We did regroup and headed across Rte 9 and scattered our separate ways at the bike path.

For the route, I logged 52 miles, 16.7 MPH as I arrived in Northampton about 11:30.