Recreational Rides

You are here:

| Login

VALLEY CYCLING RIDES:

WE WILL RIDE THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY 8:00 am start!!

MONDAY & WEDNESDAYS AT 6:00 PM

Regular rides at 8:00 am (most rides) from Dunkin Donuts in Granby - near Stop & Shop/car wash, Saturdays AND MOST SUNDAYS.

Please park in the Stop & Shop parking lot (out of the way) –

We will leave at 8:00 am so please plan on arriving a little before 8:00 –

Most Ride Routes - Holidays, etc. may be Different

Valley Cycling "A" #1

Click Here For Route Direction PDF

Valley Cycling "B" #1

Click Here For Route Direction PDF

Valley Cycling "A" #2

Click Here For Route Direction PDF

Valley Cycling "B" #2

Click Here For Route Direction PDF

"A" - Group average speed will be 18 MPH +. Rides early in the season will be 40 - 45 miles and will increase in length to about 60 miles mid season. This group is made up of very experienced cyclist that compete in club races and/or "Open" races competitively. Cyclist that can not ride at this pace, including hills, should not ride with this group. As with all of the rides there will be regrouping at various points, when possible, but very unlikely with this group of high level riders. We will try to set up the routes so riders that start with the "A" group and feel the pace is too fast should drop back and ride with the "B" group. It's your responsibility to determine if you are at this level of performance to ride with this group.

"B" - Group average speed will be 15 - 17 MPH. Rides early in the season will be 30 - 35 miles and wil increase in length to about 50 miles mid season. Experienced riders who are not comfortable at the speed of the "A" ride are encouraged to participate in ths ride. We need experienced riders in this group to help less experienced riders learn group riding techniques and skills such as pacing on long climbs. This group will have a few designated regrouping points during the ride. However you should know that if you chose to ride with this group and are very far behind from the regrouping points, the group will wait for approximately 10 minutes and then leave. It's your responsibility for determine if you are fit to ride at this level and/or will be behind more than minutes at the regrouping points. If you are more than 10 minutes behind on the regrouping points you should consider riding with the C group.

"C" - Group average speed will be 13 - 15 MPH. Rides will be between 20 and 30 miles. Routes will consist mainly of roads, but rail trail may also be used. Routes will not be posted and will be determined by the group prior to starting the ride. Regrouping points will be established as necessary during the ride by the leader and a sweaper. A Sweaper is a person who will ride in the back to make sure all riders stay with the group and/or don't get lost. The C rides will continue to get more aggressive as the season matures so that people who significantly improve can graduate into the B group.

"D" - Casual group meeting for ride on rail trail only. Generaly an out and back ride with distance agreed upon by the participants. If you start at the bike shop and take the rail trail north to the end and back, it will be 27 miles but all flat, not hills. Or depending on your fitness level you can turn around at any time to shorten the ride.

We don't have a women's ride "only", but if anyone is interested in starting one, contact Ron Paul or myself.

We do suggest at all times: Gloves, glasses and of course helmets – as well as a water bottle

Note: Valley Cycling is not a Club, we are just supporters of Family Wellness & Road Safety –

You are always responsible for yourself & you make all decisions including your safety & the safety of all others –

RIDES WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE AT 6:00 PM FROM GRANBY BIKE MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, DISTANCE is approximately 30 miles. Usually two groups form, averaging 18 mph and 15 mph.

Oh, of course you have to obey all traffic rules/laws – again, it is up to you.

We ride single file & call out obstacles to other riders = err on the safe side & do not take anything for granted – be careful & play it safe = do not follow others too close, and again follow all traffic laws - be courteous, etc.

Visit our Sponsors & be sure to thank them & mention Valley Cycling to them -

CARMEN COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOMES, MITCHELL AUTO GROUP, ATTY JOHN RITSON, GEORGE HALL FARM, RESIDENT INN MARRIOTT AVON, TCBY AVON, EDWARD JONES (MARTY MCMAHON), GREEN MACHINE, ROB MELANSON CONSTRUCTION, EAST COAST GREENWAY, MUSCULOSKETAL THERAPY & REHAB (JASON FRANKEL), SIMSBURY PSYCHOTHERAPY (SARAH GAMBLE), VERNON POOLMAN, GRANBY BICYCLE, ROSSI ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL SERVICES, ELLEN PALMER WELLNESS, SIMSBURY CHRIORACTIC & WELLNESS (CHERYL VINCENT), ARROW FENCE AND LPL FINANCIAL, JOAN VALENTI.

Again, we are promoting Family Fitness and Road Safety – we need your help.

We are promoting safety & cooperation with the Local Police Departments –

To have “more of a say”, we need numbers = people need to see our jerseys around area towns –

Another project is RT 10/202, the St of CT is doing a study to maybe widen it –

Well, we need bike lanes, bike signs, etc.

We need more Share The Road signs around the area –

So again, we need numbers, so people pay attention to us –

Be Safe -

Bart,

I apologize for the group email, but I wanted to forward the attached information to you and the whole group. A cycling event for a great cause.

On background, I have ridden in the Pan Mass Challenge the last three years, signed up for my 4^th in August. As you know, PMC is a 32-year old cycling event dedicated to the fight against cancer, totaling $336 million raised for Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund, $36 million last year alone.

Over 5,000 riders & 3,000 volunteers team up each August for one or two days rides, as short as 25 miles and as long as 192 miles. I am biased, but the event is the best thing going, representing all that is good about people, coming together, sacrificing and working for a common goal to benefit others.

The PMC has launched an extension of the August event called PMC Kids Rides (http://kids.pmc.org/suffield.aspx). Last year, over 30 kids rides were held in NE, raising over $900,000 for The Jimmy Fund. All of those rides were held in the Boston area, one has never been held in CT or Western Mass. We think it is a great time to start one. There are many PMC riders from this part of New England and I think we could put on a wonderful event.

It is a terrific day for kids and families and a chance to help a great cause. May 12^th, 10 AM at the McAlister School in Suffield. Young kids will ride a coned loop in the parking lot, nice and safe. Older kids would repeat a well-staffed road loop of 4-5 miles as many times as they can in one hour.

Kids age 3-15 are welcome and they can ride and raise as little or as much as they wish. The more riders the better. We will have a band, play scape, Shriners Clowns and face painters on site. Lunch will be provided and gift bags for all riders. The First National Bank of Suffield is on board as our title partner and others are stepping up in all sorts of ways.

We are getting the word out and have hit all local bike shops and as many cycling clubs as possible. The event flyer is attached, as well as an event fact sheet. The email below is a live link that can be forwarded to anyone that might be interested in riding (the priority), volunteering, sponsoring or donating.

I would appreciate any help in posting the flyers, forwarding the email, visiting our Facebook page (Suffield PMC Kids Ride) and sharing it.