Berkshires sufferfest to kick off the summer season?

[Robd2]

Thinking about pulling together a longer ride out in the Berkshires to kick off the summer season. Something in the 75-100mile range with 7500-10k+ feet of climbing. Maybe Greylock North Side, East Hawley Rd., East Hoosac St., Kingsley Hill (steepest half mile in the country). Not sure if you've ridden these but that Kingsley Hill is a real treat.

Not a hammerfest but a group of strong riders rolling along. Ideally I’d like to keep everyone together but minimize the waiting. Not to scare anybody but these are some big climbs with fast descents so understand what you are getting yourself into…..

This is still in the pre-planning phase but wanted to start circulating the idea. A real treat for us hard working souls would be to do this midweek rather than on the weekend. 5/21 seems to be jumping out at me.

Let me know if you’re interested.

[pace21]

And we promise not to leave Jeremy for dead....

I like the idea, we were actually kicking around some similar ideas at blue hills, basically a team ride in a not-too-distant-but-still-gotta-drive-there locale. Berkshires, 6gaps (or LAMB ride), or the White Mtns "4NAAP" kancamangus route all qualify. The whites is the only loop I know but if you know the berkshires, great!

I say go for it! Barring a scheduling disaster, count me in. I kinda like the idea of a midweek ride -- a worthwhile use of a vacation day if you ask me. Bonus if the kids are still in school. The 21st would work for me but I'm open to others. A rain date might be a good idea too....

[JeremyC]

I'd like to do it but I'll be in Cali on the 21st. Don't reschedule on my part, but if that date doesn't work I'm probably in. And yes I'd actually like to finish the ride without melting expensive carbon wheels and then sitting at a motorcycle diner wearing spandex for 5 hours....

[PJ McQuade]

I'm totally down - great idea. I have a day or two off from work to kill before July. 5/21 works for me.

[jraguin]

I would be in for it as well. 21st currently can work but I am open to others.

[swawersik]

I can't do 5/21. I've got to collect a bunch of mouse kidneys, then give a talk.

I figured nobody else would have that conflict.

[Robd2]

then sitting at a motorcycle diner wearing spandex for 5 hours....

Classic : ) This cracks me up every time I read it.

Ok let’s put 5/21 down as the date. 9AM rollout from Charlemont MA. Rain date and route details to follow.

I’m going to take this off the forum as I have some others interested that aren’t MRC. I’ll build an email list of those interested to go forward. If you’re interested and haven’t responded yet PM or email me at robert.dibattista at gmail.com.

For those of you on the COD list, this plan may look very familiar to their upcoming Berkshires Boondoggle. I’m borrowing a lot of their details.

[JeremyC]

Actually that's exactly what I'll be doing in Cali. Small world...

[JerryD]

Haha, you guys are funny. Just to set the record straight regarding Jeremy's Berkshire boondoggle blowout last year. He melted his wheels on the huge downhill on Rt.2 coming into N.Adams. Yours truly realized Jeremy wasn't coming and rode a 2 mile steady climb back to where he was at, gave him the keys to our vehicle, parked 10(?) miles away, on Rt. 2, next to the Deerfield River and which contained a cooler full of cold beers and food. THEN Jeremy sat at the motorcyle bar in spandex for 5hrs instead of hitching a ride back to the cold beer-laden vehicle. I continued on with the ride, figured I wouldn't see the group again, now at least 20-30min ahead, but at least summit Greylock before coming back. Turned out, I caught the group at the top of Greylock and we finished the ride a few hours later only to come to the sad conclusion Jeremy had never made it back to the car and he had the keys!! Mike Harris was kind enough to give me and then us a ride to pick up Jeremy and return to our vehicle whereupon we drank all the beer. Sure, sucked for Jeremy but I think I played that pretty fair.

I'd love to atone for my sins on another boondoggle ride with you guys but Tuesdays don't work for me, neither does June 1 and I'd need a much tighter time frame than what my buddy Tom Keane is proposing for his ride. All for now, see you guys on the road. -Jerry

[carlshimer]

Jerry -

so basically you expected Jeremy to ride bitch on a Harley from the biker bar to the parking lot with his full spandex kit? That would have been a sight. This story just gets better.

Jeremy, I'm sure the Amazonian USA cycling moto ref would be happy to give you a ride tomorrow.

[JerryD]

Nope but since I went to school in N.Adams I know that there was no shortage of pickup trucks heading back over the Mohawk trail who would have just loved to give Jeremy in his spandex and his new-fangled, broked, bi-cycle a lift, don't mind the shotguns on the back rack. I ever tell you guys about the time I hitched a ride 8miles in a pick up truck to the finish line after I flatted at Tour of the Hilltowns; guy driving was absolutely steamed at "all the damn bicyclists!" on the road.

[Robd2]

I ever tell you guys about the time I hitched a ride 8miles in a pick up truck to the finish line after I flatted at Tour of the Hilltowns; guy driving was absolutely steamed at "all the damn bicyclists!" on the road.

LOL Another great one!

[cbusick]

Rob,
Add me to the list please.

-Chris

[Smudger]

Can't commit to the date yet but love the idea. Keep me on the dist

[Mkidd3]

Can't commit to the date either but love the idea. If there is a 6Gaps ride in the works please count me in. That's on my bucket list! Don't 3 of the 6 but not the full 6.

[onegeardoug]

Sounds like a lot of fun. I get 5 sick days per year, and I rarely use even one...so I'm feeling like I'm going to have the sniffles next Tuesday.... 97% in.

[sonomarco]

Is this on for tomorrow or will there be an alternate date?
Thanks

[PJ McQuade]

Yes, it is on. Rob sent emails out last week to those who expressed interest. You may want to contact him.

[ahamilton]

So how was the ride? We had perfect 60-70 degree sunny weather for the TMR on the FMR loop. Hope you guys got the same treatment.

[Robd2]

So how was the ride? We had perfect 60-70 degree sunny weather for the TMR on the FMR loop. Hope you guys got the same treatment.

Thanks for asking, it was a good one, pretty hot out there actually. We also missed all the rain. I forgot how much “fun” those longer climbs are in the heat. Excited to give Hilltowns another go this year.

[rusto]

Forgot you guys were doing that on Tuesday, but must have subconsciously known as I put in a solo 80 miler to Wawa on a whim the same day.