JUNE 18 (Sun) - Berkshires by the Book; F-R/L-M/30 or 50 miles. Ride up Canaan Valley enjoying Mill River, Sheffield, Egremont, and Canaan, with several old country stores along the route. Meet at 9:30 AM at the Stop & Shop parking lot in Canaan, CT on Rt. 44 just east of the intersection with Rt 7.
COORDINATOR: Susan Wallen

JUNE 25 (Sun) - Patty's Ice Cream Ride; R/M/30-35 miles. Ride in Southampton, Westhampton, and Northampton. Tandem friendly. We might add another 25 - 30 miles at the end of the first ride. Meet at Conant Park parking lot off RT10 in the Center of Southampton at 9:00 AM.
COORDINATORS Pat & Joe Pitchko at Soho bike @ 413-527-9784.

JULY 2 (Sun) - SHOW & GO ROAD RIDE - No family gathering or other commitment this holiday weekend? Meet at 10:00 AM at the Mill River Recreation Area off Rt. 63 in North Amherst (on right ¼ mile north of the church at the lights). Ride to Moore's Corner, Tail Gate Picnic or further. Those present will decide upon route and distance.

JULY 9 (Sun) - POTLUCK PICNIC, AND RIDE EXTRAVAGANZA! The headquarters will be the Mill River Recreation area off Rt. 63 in North Amherst (on right ¼ mile north of the church at the lights). The FHF will provide Beverages, Ice and Utensils; Please bring a POTLUCK DISH in your own cooler. The coolers will be placed on tables at the recreation area or left in cars until all riders are back.
POTLUCK COORDINATOR: Sally Peters

The Ride: AROUND POCUMTUCK; 40 miles, L-M, Mostly flat but this ride can't avoid 1/2 mile of dirt, 2 brief climbs and 1 very gradual climb that rewards one with a great downhill! The ride begins along one side of the Connecticut River and crosses over to visit Old Deerfield then proceeds thru the Pocumtuck (Sugarloaf) Gap to return to the other side of the river. The ride will leave PROMPTLY at 11:00 AM from the Mill River Recreation Area Parking Lot.
Mostly cloudy, 80°. The ride claimed its first casualty early. Just after leaving the parking lot, Mort Pearson noticed his rear tire was low. He came back to the car hoping to do a quick "pump and go", but the tube was leaking and needed to be replaced. He didn't head out until 11:45, never catching up with the group.
Most of the riders made it back to parking lot around 2:30, well before it starting raining (at around 3). Then there was Mort, who got stuck in a downpour while riding through Deerfield on his way back.

The Potluck: Food will be served at 3:30 PM or when the riders return. (Whichever occurs first.) If the weather is foul, we'll take shelter under the Pavilion and start the proceedings at 11:00 AM for a LUNCH Potluck. If we can't ride, we can always EAT!
COORDINATORS: Bob Kowaleski and Sally Peters
The riders, having returned early (before 3:30), arrived hungry and wasted little time getting to the food. This year's potluck consisted of pasta salads and desserts with a few more desserts and pasta salads thrown in for good measure.

JULY 16 (Sun) - Back Roads to Quabbin Summit; F-R/L-M /52 mi. We will ride mostly back roads to the Quabbin via S. Hadley, Granby, Belchertown etc. with a stop at a Subway in Bondsville for those that want to pick up a lunch to be eaten at the Summit. Meet at the old Big Y shopping center Rt 33 Chicopee, (across from Jiffy Lube). Ride leaves at 10:00 AM SHARP
COORDINATOR: Ken Paquette

JULY 16 (Sun) - Joe's Hilly Ride; H-S/M-B/60-70 miles. Ride through Southampton, Montgomery, Huntington, Chester, Middlefield. ride up Skyline trail. Meet at Conant Park parking lot off Rt.10 in the Center of Southampton at 9 AM.
COORDINATOR: Joe Pitchko at Soho bike @ 413-527-9784

JULY 23 (Sun) - CONWAY CONNECTION; R/L-M/29± miles. The route goes past Chapel Falls where cyclists can take a waterfall ride/swim or just cool their feet. Lunch will be at the Conway General Store where they have a tempting variety of goodies for hungry riders. Meet at 10:00 AM. in the parking lot of the Anne T. Dunphy School (off Rt. 9 in Williamsburg behind the Williamsburg Historical Center & Grange).
COORDINATORS: David and Marthe Young

July 29 (Sat) - Mt. Ascutney State Park Bike Climb This will be a fun and challenging event for all bikers as well as an excellent warm up for cyclists gearing up for the Mt. Washington Hill Climb. The entry fee will be $20. for early registration and $30. the day of the race. The race will be limited to 200 riders For more information, event registration, or a camping reservation, please call 802-674-2060.

July 30 (Sun) - Meet at the old Caldor's parking lot in Northampton at 9:30 AM for a 30-mile ride being put together by Bob & Sally.
Cloudy, 71°, dry start, light rain started only a few miles from the finish.

JULY 30 (Sun) - ROLLER-COASTER HILL CLIMB; H/M/42 miles. Meet at 10:00 AM in the Mt. Sugarloaf parking lot in South Deerfield off Rt. 116 just across the Connecticut River from Sunderland center. The ride (literally) will be up & down & up & down & up & down the valley. The HILLS include Mt. Skinner, Pearl St., the Notch, and Mt. Sugarloaf for a total overall climb of over 2500 feet. Bring food to eat atop Skinner or WAIT to buy something at Atkins later in the ride. Also bring low gears, oxygen and an anti-gravity device.
COORDINATORS: Jack & Suzanne Fitz-Gibbon

AUGUST 6 (Sun) - AROUND QUABBIN; R-H/M/60 miles. We will ride clockwise around the Quabbin Reservoir on Routes 202, 122, 32A, 9 and some back roads, touring the towns of Pelham, New Salem, Hardwick, Petersham, Gilbertville, Ware & Belchertown. Bring water & snacks, but there will be potential food stops in Hardwick, Petersham and/or Gilbertville. Meet at the CVS parking lot in Belchertown at the intersection of Rt. 9 & Rt. 202 at 10:00 AM.
COORDINATORS: Joyce and Fred Morris
Day started nice and sunny, 80's, becoming cloudy around noon. Eventually began to rain after the ride finished.

AUGUST 13 (Sun) - DON MAYNARD REVISITED;R/L-M/45 miles. Check last month's schedule for details. Everything's the same except the start time. Meet at GCC parking lot at 8:00 AM
Cloudy, 73°. Six riders, no tandems. Some FHFers on the last Thursday night ride decided that a 105-mile ride was a bit much. Elaine suggested doing this one. The six of us had a great time (just ask Elaine, Karen or me about the bagel incident). With the early start, we were back at GCC by 12:30. No rain, hope the other ride faired as well.

AUGUST 13 (Sun) - VERMONT DE-LIGHTS; H-S/M-B/105 miles. We will ride up to Mt Snow from Greenfield and will be rewarded with a 16 mile down hill. Meet at 8:00 AM the Cinema Parking lot off RT2 at the Greenfield shopping center (West of Rotary going towards Mohawk trail.)
COORDINATOR: Joe Pitchko at Soho bike @ 413-527-9784

AUGUST 20 (Sun) - McCUSKER'S LAST STAND; R/L-M/50 miles. Meet at 10:00 AM in the Mt. Sugarloaf parking lot in South Deerfield off Rt. 116 just across the Connecticut River from Sunderland center. We'll bike UP Rt. 116 to Ashfield, DOWN to Buckland/Shelburne Falls where we'll eat lunch at McCusker's market & Deli. We can also tour the Glacial Potholes and the Bridge of Flowers. Afterward we'll ride UP along back roads to Conway & Whately and back DOWN to Mt. Sugarloaf. Bring plenty of water; you can buy delicious deli/bakery stuff at McCusker's.
COORDINATORS: Eileen & Charlie Meyers
Mostly sunny, 72°, beautiful day. 28 riders (including 2 tandems). A couple of mishaps to note. Elaine drove down from Erving, pulled into the parking lot and discovered she had forgotten to put her bike in the car! Whoops! Amazingly, she arrived early enough that she was able to drive back, get her bike and return by 10:15 before we left. Secondly, it seems that Julie was stopped coming through Sunderland (in her car) and issued a speeding ticket :-(

AUGUST 26 (Sat) - Century Ride for all the FHF volunteers who won't be able to ride the official century Sept. 17. Meet at 7:00 AM at the Hadley Village Barn Shops.
15 riders, including 1 tandem. It was 60° and foggy at 7:00 AM. By 9:00, the fog had burned off yielding a beautiful, sunny day.

AUGUST 27 (Sun) - ROWE ROUND-ABOUT (I've looked at Rowe from both sides now); R-H/M/38 miles, 2500 feet of climbing. This will be a very scenic ride on remote back roads. Be sure to bring munchies, lots of water AND a lunch. Meet at 10:00 AM at Shunpike Roadside Rest Area beside the Deerfield River on Rt. 2, one mile west of Charlemont. We'll bike UP Zoar Rd. to Rowe and on UP into Vermont, eat lunch at the Whitingham Common (No STORES), continue on to Readsboro, and back down into Mass. along the Deerfield River, past the RETIRED Yankee Rowe Atomic Power Plant in Rowe and the Hoosac Tunnel in Florida.
COORDINATORS: Al Shane & Marion Gorham
Mostly sunny, 80°. 19 riders, including 2 tandems.

SEPT. 3 (SUN) - LABOR DAY WEEK-END SHOW & GO. Meet at 10:00 AM at the Mill River Recreation Area off Rt. 63 in North Amherst (on right ¼ mile north of the church at the lights. Those present will decide upon route and distance.

SEPT. 10 (Sun) OPEN DATE - Show & Go ride from Mt. Sugarloaf. Meet at 10:00 AM in the Mt. Sugarloaf parking lot in South Deerfield off Rt. 116 just across the Connecticut River from Sunderland center. Those present will decide upon route and distance.
Sunny, 74°

SEPT. 17 (SUN) - COVAC (COnnecticut VAlley Century) - FHF is offering rides of 100, 75, 50, or 25 miles along the Connecticut river through Mass., Vermont, and New Hampshire over rolling terrain. Registration will cost $5.00 for FHF members and $10.00 for NON members. THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION and NO MASS START! The fee will cover water bottle, map, juice, muffins, fruit and sag stops. Registration will start at 7:00 AM and continue until 8:30 AM behind the Hadley Village Barn Shops, Rt. 9, Hadley MA. From the South, take I-91 N to Exit 19. Hadley Village Barn Shops parking lot is 1/2 mile East of the Connecticut River at the intersection of Rt. 9 and Bay Road. (Enter from Bay Road please!!!)
COORDINATORS: Sally Peters & Bob Kowaleski
Partly cloudy, 64-68°. About 160 riders. With a wind out of the south, the first 50 miles, heading north, were a delight.

SEPT. 23 OR 24 (SAT or SUN) GRANITE STATE WHEELMEN'S SEACOAST TRI-STATE CENTURY - an invitational 100, 75, 62, 50, or 25 mile ride along the Mass., NH., and Maine Coastlines on relatively flat terrain. Pre-register and pay only $15.00 and get a T-Shirt. Sign-in starts at 7:00 AM at Hampton Beach State Park, Rt. 1A, Hampton Beach, NH. The registration fee will cover parking at the State Park, route maps, sag wagon coverage, rest room facilities, & trip time log, and a $1.00 donation to the LAB's Bicycling for Bicyclists education fund. Total cost per person for one day or BOTH is $15.00, pre-paid, non-refundable. The event will be held rain or shine -- no rain dates! Confirmation of your pre-registration will be sent upon receipt of your completed form and payment.

09/24/00: Yes, I know, we didn't schedule a potluck/meeting to figure out the fall rides schedule. If you'rr interested in coordinating a ride, contact us now!! Otherwise, watch this space for the impending rides schedule.

SHOW & GO EVENING RIDES - Tuesday & Thursday evenings at 5:15 PM. Meet at Mill River Recreation Area in Amherst, MA. Pace is 14-16 mph. Distance is between 20 - 28 miles until daylight diminishes. Ride as a group - no stopping. Must be able to sustain the above pace or have good local knowledge of the area, as there are NO Cue sheets.

Maintenence classes at Southampton Bicycle Center (sohobike) Tuesday nights 7-8pm. We will cover repairing flats, pumping up tires, cleaning chains, quick adjustments, etc. 10% Freewheelers discount on accessories and parts. Call Joe at Sohobike. 413-527-9784 for schedule.

Wednesday night Road rides at Southampton Bicycle Center. Starting at 6pm. We usually cover 20-30miles at a fast - moderate pace (17-20mph). Hill Climbers training for MT Washington will like the training. Improve your hill climbing skills! Contact Joe @ sohobike 413-527-9784