On this perfect summer day, anyone with a bicyle will be itching to get out and go for a ride on our gorgeous country roads. Here are two bike rides you can join today – one for those who are looking for a leisurely ride and the other for those who enjoy competition:
The Litchfield Hills Triathlon (And Duathlon)
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The Litchfield Hills Triathlon is a bike ride Plus! This is how the ride is described on the Hartford Marathon Foundation’s website:
“The triathlon features a 1.5K swim in a crystal clear lake, stunning mountain vistas along the 40K bike course, and scenic, rural back roads during the 10K run. The Aqua/Bike event will run simultaneously with the triathlon on the same swim & bike course. The duathlon starts with a 5K run and then joins the triathlon’s bike course and 10K run. Celebratory food and drink top off race day…
Image: Hartford Marathon Foundation
The BIKE course is a beautiful loop course along back roads and wide shouldered main roads. The course has a screaming downhill at the start and a rather painful uphill at the end. In between, the course rolls without any major up or downhills. The course measures 24.8 miles.
Transition: right onto West Hill Rd 2 miles. Right onto Route 183 2.5miles. Right onto Route 44 10 miles. Right onto Route 179 – 300 yards. Right onto Route 202 four miles Right onto Carpenter Rd go 0.5 miles. Bear left onto Dings Rd 0.5 miles. Cross Route 219 and continue on Dings Rd 0.5 miles. Right onto Maple Hollow Rd 1 mile. Left on Bruning Rd two miles mostly uphill. Left onto West Hill Rd 0.8 miles. Right into Bike Finish and Transition at Brodie Park.”
This is a great event for those who love competition. For the rest of us, it’s a great time to cheer on these great athletes on their way!
For a copy of the course map around town and at Brodie Park, click the following link: Lithfield Triathlon Course Map, 2012 (18)
For complete information on the Triathlon visit the Hartford Foundation’s Litchfield Hills Triathlon & Duathlon section of the Foundation’s website.
Bikes & Beers At Cambridge House Brew Pub In Granby
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This morning we received an email from the CT Beer Trail with information about a bike ride in neighboring Granby that promises to be an easy bike ride for one and all. After the ride there will be food and entertainment at the Cambridge House Brew Pub. More the speed of a lot of Sunday riders…
Following is information about the ride:
“If you have a bicycle, join us for a relaxing ride along the shady tree lined rails to trails, a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have some fun. Riders of all skill levels are welcome, even families! Ride starts at 2PM.
We’ll start and finish at the Cambridge House Brew Pub in Granby.
Participants in a ride in Granby
The route has been pre-ridden (same as last year) and is perfect for all types of bicycles. The beer at the brewery has also been pre-ridden and was found to be extra tasty after riding this loop!
We’ll head north around Lake Congamond on roads then back down to Granby on The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. Only a few of the road stretches are moderately traveled on by autos and those have good shoulders.
Here is a link to the ride.
As with all of our rides HELMETS ARE REQUIRED!!! We do our best to run these rides in such a fashion that nobody gets left behind and lost. That being said, we will keep the pace on the slower side and try to keep the group together while we’re out there.
Looking to keep the pace closer to 10mph, but feel free to print a cue sheet using the link above if you want to hammer it out and get back to the beer faster.
Cambridge House Brew Pub has a decent sized lot and a potential for overflow parking across the street if we get in a jam. Try and carpool and take steps to make sure your bike is secured after the ride. Better safe than sorry!…
The good folks at the Cambridge House will offer us a post ride BBQ on the deck! (Special prices)
- $8.50 charcoal grilled 1/2 lb Brewmaster Burgers w/Brew Pub Fries
- $6 charcoal grilled 1/4 lb Hot Dogs w/Brew Pub Fries
- $6 Sunday Apps menu too!
They offer a great atmosphere for some post-ride fun! Tim Mayock & Joe Mandro will be playing acoustic music on the deck from 4pm to 6pm after the ride for everyone’s enjoyment!
Riders of all skill levels are welcome to join in on the fun. Who’s in?”
Bikes & Beers is a combined effort between the CT Beer Trail and Pedal Power, sponsored in part by New England Brewing Company.
