F2G2: Fall Foliage Gravel Grinder

This a repost from my official write up of the event on my Cycling Blog, Cyclesnack.com, because I made a big push over the weekend to lay down more dirt tracks on the Gravle Guide and I think I found all the good dirt west of Becket, MA.  One of things that I discovered doing is that if a picture is online it can be imbedded into the route descriptions, hence the reason for this post.

Getting ready

My Randommuter:  Surly Cross Check

Plenty of Gravle

 Can't ride without a Cue Sheet because a GPS is not always reliable

More Gravle

 And more Gravle

Fancy Bikes, too

Lots of rest stops on the Gravle

And other stops, too!

Cronk!

What a view

We are in Bavaria

It does go through!

Coming down George Cannon is a lot more fun

I see Schemmerhorn Hill!

Anderson Vista

Widow White's Peak was off in the distant

Mount Greylock off to the right

Mount Greylock

October Mountain Reservoir

The Old Put Randonnee

While I was working on the Tri-State Gravle Guide, and adding dirt roads for Westchester County focusing on the Dirty Martha route, I came across the Old Croton Aqueduct State Park, which is a 23 mile Greenway, would dovetail nicely with a part of the South County Rail Trail that I have yet to ride.  This route starts in Yorktown Heights and goes down to Yorktown via the Aqueduct Trail to Van Cortland Park where you would turn around and pick up the Old Put/South County Trail Way on the return leg.  60 miles is a good trip.  Start in Brewester and make it an American Century!

The Gravle Guide: Western Connecticut

The Gravle Guide is a Google Maps Engine project to classify all the dirt roads, rail trails, and other rideable trails for people who like dirty cycling.  I have most of Western Connecticut identified.  I think I missing some roads in the Litchfield area and I have yet to start adding rail trails.  If you see something I have missed, please contact me Le Gravle Ranonneurs with the name of the road, a cross street, and the condition of the road and I will be sure to add it.  

Color coding:  

• Brown - obvious.  
• Red -  the road is unconfirmed.  
• Orange - goes through but it more or a right of way (ROW) and not an actively traveled thoroughfare.  
• Yellow means caution and that the road is seasonally maintained.

This map is not intended for navigation, just for planning.  Please use responsibility.

TBGG: Tri-Bury Gravel Grinder

The Tri-Bury Gravel Grinder is not the most challenging route around but it is a good distance to work on your speed and cadence because it's so flat.  The route uses three Rail Trails: Larkin Bridle Trail, Middlebury Greenway, and the Woodbury Trolley Path.

The map above shows the intended route (in blue) and what was last ridden by the Le Gravle Randonneurs (in red). For more details on the actual route, please click the Read More link below for important notes and a view of it from Ride With GPS.  Please use at your own risk!

Parking:  You can park either at the Exit 14 or Exit 15 commuter lots.  If you want a 30 mile ride and a nice dirt road at then end, ride this route from Exit 14.  You can also park at Meadowview Park in Middlebury and ride the entire route from either direction.  There is also a parking lot on Route 63 in Naugatuck by the terminus of the Larkin Bridle Trail.

Hidden Valley Gravle

My first Gravle ride on the Fredmobile was in May 2013 and my goal this year was to ride as much Gravle in preparation for D2R2.  While I have ridden Steep Rock quite a few times I had never ridden the Hidden Valley Section.  Of course my fascination with this area and the train line that ran through keeps drawing me back again and again and it was because of this I learned that there was a branch line created that went to New Preston and the shores of Lake Waramug.

 My ride started out from Roxbury Market and it was lightly raining, and of course I forgot to bring a fender.  I headed up Walker Brook Road and eventually over to Route 202.  Heading down Rt 47 was when I figured out that this had to be the original roadbed for the New Preston Branch line.  It's not marked on any maps available on line but judging from the road grade and some interesting abutments near the intersection with Route 202, this had to be the route that the New Preston Branch line took!

Gravle Bike #2: 1999 Cannondale XS 800

During the winter of 2013 I purchased my first cross bike, an old school, 1999 Cannondale XS 800 and this bike would propel me into the mainstream of riding the gravle.  This bike was nicknamed for me by the original owner:  The Fredmobile!

Will's First Taste of Gravle

I introduced my brother-in-law from New York City to the Gravle of Roxbury and Washington, CT back in 2012.  He and his family were up visiting and we had done some riding before when I suggested that he bring his bike, an old Specialized Stump Jumper, and we go ride some dirt roads.