Road Fan

I'm definitely interested. It's a 7+ hour drive through the USA, probably somewhat shorter through Canada via Detroit and Buffalo.

tsl

I'm not so sure about that any more with having to cross borders twice. It's been a couple of years since I've been through there myself. As I recall, an hour was about average. I've heard the backups at Niagara Falls and Buffalo can still be pretty mean. Of course, all you hear are the horror stories.

On the other hand, most of my crossings are at the 1,000 Islands. Holiday weekends excepted, that's improved tremendously in the past two years with all the new hires at DHS.

BikeWNC

I'll be on a cross country bike ride next June though the Finger Lakes sound nice.

wrk101

+1 Tagging along with an existing event is a great idea. Been doing that in the motorcycle world for many years.

The Highlander Tour is the toughest century in the East? I would have thought the "Assault on Mount Mitchell" here in NC is tougher. Either is way too tough for me for sure.

tsl

I haven't ridden either one, so I can't say from experience.

Assault looks like a nice flat course up until the end. And granted, the end is a whopper. Highlander is 18 major climbs of up to 23% grade. On the Highlander page is the following quote:
Dunno, it could all be hype.

The point is that just because it's not in the mountains doesn't mean there's no serious climbing here, for those who are interested in a climbfest. Grades may not be long and unrelenting, but they can be steep. I've ridden 18%, and I've looked down Bopple Hill (the 23% grade in Highlander) from the top and I wouldn't want to do that--in either direction. But just for added psyche, there's cemetery at the top of that climb, and during Highlander, a lone bagpiper plays.

At GFLBT, for those who aren't into climbfests, there are plenty of other roads. And then there's still the bike path rides.

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that 50+ is already the largest demographic at GFLBT--easily half the riders. And most riders are repeats. That shows there's something for almost everyone, from those looking to leave their lunch on a hillside, to those looking for a nice little bike ride in the country.

Myself, I like the challenge of the Friday night ride. It's nearly all climbing, then nearly all descent. Three years ago on that ride is when I learned the joys of each half. And it's before dinner, so you can really work up an appetite. (Did I mention how the catering service knows how to tie on the feedbag?)

I typically do the half-century or the metric on Saturday, returning to camp in mid-afternoon for a nice hot shower and a nap. The Saturday rides change a little every year. On last year's half I recorded 3,653 feet of climbing. Most of that was along rolling hills, but there were a couple of long grinders. Up between the lakes, though, it's nearly all flat, and that's where the shorter road rides and railtrail rides are.

And as I said before, the 45-mile Sunday ride around Keuka Lake is my favorite ride in all of Upstate. It's scenic, along good road, traffic is light and most of it is protected from the wind. It's also right along the shore so it's flat except for one long 5% grade, and one monster in an 11-mile optional section. (I recorded only 1,608 of climbing in 45 miles last year.) There are also plenty of places to stop along the way. It goes through three villages for food and bathroom breaks.

Louis

tsl,

Are showers and restrooms available for those of us who prefer camping?

tsl

Of course.

There are showerhouses in the two sections of camp, with additional restrooms in the dining hall. The showerhouse I typically use seems never to run out of hot water either--at least not that I've heard of. It's also fully wheelchair accessible.

The club rents the whole of the Hidden Valley Group Camp, part of, but separate from the rest of the park. I'm no judge of real estate so I'm likely well off the mark, but I'd say it's around ten acres. A little stream runs through and there's a swimming hole. There are two sections of bunkhouses totaling maybe two dozen, and two sections for camping--one in the center of things, and the other off and away. There are no camping "spots", so to speak. Just plop your tent wherever you please.

The dining hall sits in the center of the whole place and seats 250 or 260. They manage to serve everyone in about an hour--or about one rider every fifteen seconds. It's simply amazing. The only thing I don't care for are the acoustics in the dining hall. It's very "live" so I have trouble sometimes hearing my tablemates over the roaring echoes of 240 other voices in the room. I just smile and nod a lot. And that's the worst of the whole weekend, IME.

This will be the 30th anniversary of the ride, and over the decades the club has ironed-out all the wrinkles. There are certainly fancier events, but none run quite so smoothly.

kr32

tsl,
looks good and it is no big deal but it looks like you would have to join the club to ride in the event?
It looks to be a few bucks to join for the year.

BluesDawg

What is the weather like there in June? I would guess (hope) it is somewhat cooler than what we have here in Georgia at that time of year.

Kurt Erlenbach

I just might do this. I spent four of the best years of my life in Ithaca, and I would be great to get back there for some riding.

Road Fan

My experience with Detroit crossings is pretty good, maybe 15 min max. I don't have any experience with crossing at Buffalo.

tsl

Yes. Three dollars per household. $3 for a couple or family is peanuts. For us single people, man it's hard to justify.

That's what covers the club's liability insurance, BTW. You may recall this being an issue on last year's 50+ ride weekend.

FWIW, you can opt-out of the club directory and emailings.

tsl

Too bad it's the wrong time of year for sledding downhill on cafeteria trays.

Cone Wrench

Ssssh.....you had me at food.

I'm mulling it over. It looks like a very attractive ride. The drive should be just a bit longer than going to Toronto so it's within reason.

tsl

It can be all over the place.

From my BikeJournal ride log:

2009

• Friday: Sunny, 70s, light wind.
• Saturday: Clouding over, about 60 to the lower 70s, light winds. Near perfect, except for the light shower in the last five miles or so.
• Sunday: Perfect. Sunny, big puffy clouds, warming to the lower 70s, light breeze.

2008

• Friday: Didn't ride, left my shoes home and had to go get them.
• Saturday: Sunny, lower to mid 90s, winds favorable
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, mid-upper 80s, winds SW @ 15 (est), 15 minutes of rain on the southbound side.

2007

• Friday: Sunny, muggy, 90, headwinds out, still return.
• Saturday: Clear, sunny, a few puffy clouds, Cool to start warned to nice, room temperature, winds NW 10 (Headwind out, yea!)
• Sunday: Didn't ride because my ride to the ride hadn't told me his wife said he could stay only the two days.

EDIT:

Coverage in my blog is incomplete. But here's what I've written about my previous GFLBT weekends:

• 2007 Remember here that I'd never done any climbing before. And that I'd just quit smoking six months before. Another Edit: Oh, and I'd crashed hard the Monday before.
• 2008 Huh. No report.
• 2009 Part 1 Part 2 Part 2 has some words about the catering.

BluesDawg

What about the nighttime temperature? That is where I would expect the biggest difference from here.

tsl

It's above freezing, so no problem.

I can go only by my memory, which is unreliable at best. I seem to recall 50s and 60s.

BluesDawg

June camping in Georgia, the temps sometimes seem closer to boiling than to freezing.

Ken Brown

I crossed at Sarnia / Port Huron on the weekend and there was no line going into USA, perhaps 15 minutes returning into Canada.

PAlt

tsl- In the FWIW camp, I think the quote you referenced regarding the Assault on Mt. Mitchell may in fact be the brother of our own jppe! If that's true, John knows the climbs here in the Carolinas pretty well, so it suggests you have one tough ride there!

BlazingPedals

Heh heh! nice pic of Friday night's ride (2007.) That's me in the blue jersey sitting on the recumbent at the uphill end of the group, with Merckx-Duerks and the Mrs right behind me.

The route through Canada looks to be *much* shorter, so that even an hour at each border would leave a reasonable drive. I still wouldn't do it alone, but I might think about it if I can convince my riding buddy to double up. If not him, who knows - RoadFan only lives an hour from me...

TSL you missed Sunday's PERFECT ride that year. I put up some pics in my photobucket account, here:

https://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...s/RU07%20pics/

There are separate folders for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

bcoppola

Try it in the summer, especially on a weekend! We do it pretty regularly and it can get pretty snarled.

But back to the OP: tsl, keep us posted! The more I think about it the better it sounds. As long as the White Bike Cult doesn't show up.

And maybe the MI delegation can convoy and/or carpool.

billydonn

Mixing with an existing larger event just doesn't appeal to me that much, FWIW. Otherwise a visit to NY is not totally out of the question.

jppe

tsl-Conceptually I really like what you have offered. It provides a variety of routes that should meet a broad range of riding skills and interests. Plus the basis for the organization is already in place. I know the first of June next year will be pretty busy for me so right now I'm not sure I could join you. The drive doesn't bother me.......I just got back from driving in downtown NYC. I certainly don't want to do that again!

And yes-I've known the fella you quoted comparing the Highlander and Assault rides for 45 years. What he didn't say was he got lost the day he did the Highlander and did a lot more miles than the route was scheduled to do-plus I think he said the chips one the chip and seal roads were very bountiful!!

Jean Beetham Smith 

Definately interested, I would need to check the dates at work, and with DH. He would probably come as well.