Gay Outdoors - Premier Gay and Gay Friendly Men's Outdoor Recreation Club in New England

Trip report

Tri-State Road Bike Ride

Road Cycling DATE: 06/16/2012 - 06/16/2012

Trip/Event Location: Brattleboro, VT
US

Trip Leader(s): Frogmeadow , Klondike

Max # People: 99

Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money

Difficulty Level: Moderate to Strenuous

Known by locals as the "Tri State Ride" because it goes through the states of Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, this ride is like riding through a real picture postcard. The ride is

...

Copy/Repost Hike

Driving directions to the location and spot to meet at:

We will meet in Brattleboro at the parking lot of the Grafton Village Cheese Store on the west side of Route 30 just north of the intersection of Cedar Street and Linden Street (Route 30) immed north of downtown Brattleboro. The cheese store has bathrooms and coffee.

From Interstate 91 (north or south), take Exit 2 and make a left turn on Western Ave (Route 9), proceed appx .3 mile to Cedar Street and make a left turn. Continue to 3rd stop sign which is Linden Street/Route 30. Make a left (north) on Route 30. Grafton Village Cheese is on the left.

Please plan to arrive by 11.30 so we can depart promptly at noon!

Trip Report/Photos

Posted by GO Member "travelwriter" AKA Ken

This was one of the most invigorating rides I’ve taken in a long while. Dave and Scott obviously took pleasure guiding our reel through their neck of New England woods. The vistas were lovely, the roads smooth with minor exception, and the terrain far easier than you’d expect among these green hills.

After a short jaunt through the village-atmosphere of Brattleboro, Vermont, we spun south along the Connecticut River on easy roads. Farmland dominated the landscape, with one farmhouse and barn in particular casting itself as “Typical Vermont” against a sprawling backdrop. Dave was good at steering clear of heavily trafficked roads whenever possible, though we knew they couldn’t always be avoided. That was fine with us, especially since one of those roads led to ice cream in Northfield, Massachusetts, the southernmost point and halfway point of our ride.

Then it was a brief cycle east and back north, this time into New Hampshire, where we passed the only drive-in theater that we know of that straddles a state line. Soon enough, we were heading north on the opposite side of the Connecticut River. In Hinsdale, we challenged ourselves with some explosive yet brief climbs and ‘brought it home’ along an easy rolling route through lovely woodland. All told, it was three hours of cycling happiness!

There are 2 photos in Album (Note: Move mouse pointer over larger pic and click on NEXT for better viewing)

What Members Are Saying About This Trip/Event

PS Following the ride, a few of us made our way back to Frog Meadow for a cool-down dip in the swimming pond, a soak in the wood-fired hot tub, and some snacks to round out the day. A good time was had by all! - Frogmeadow
This was one of the most invigorating rides I’ve taken. Lovely vistas, smooth roads, and easier terrain than you’d expect among these green hills. From Brattleboro, Vermont, we spun south along the Connecticut River on easy roads. Farms dominated the landscape, with one casting itself as “Typical Vermont.” After ice cream in Northfield, Massachusetts, we rode into New Hampshire on the opposite side of the Connecticut through lovely woodland. It was three hours of cycling happiness. - travelwriter