On Saturday, August 13th, our typical ride schedule is being modified.

My intent was to take the group on the Rattle Hill – Glendale Ridge route. As we rolled out, I loaded the route on my Garmin. I was not wearing my reading glasses, so I loaded the Hemingway Loop!
The intense heat of the last week finally gave us a tiny bit of relief – 85 degrees at the start – and it felt like jumping into a lake that, while not cool and refreshing, at least didn’t make you feel like you had just taken a hot shower on a hot summer day.
We had another hot and humid night on Monday, with nine riders joining Ari and I on our Easthampton loop.
The Northampton Cycling Club has put together a map of rest stops to assist you in trying new tarmac or nearby gravel routes.
Just as in the past 15 or 20 years (so easy to lose track!), the first Wednesday in August means that the weekly UMass – Renaissance Center cyclocross practice/training sessions have begun.
This week the weather was not much different than last, another hot and humid ride, but full beautiful scenery, a new (to me) difficult climb, and another unexpected “bridge out” crossing!
Rob and I had been discussing a gravel ride to North Quabbin for a few weeks. Rob posted it to the discussion board and to our surprise, 11 people joined us at Cushman Market for our 8:30 AM departure.