Mystic Cycle Centre Presents:

Halloween Ride Night

Saturday Oct 29th

7:00 PM at Bluff Point

State Park

                                               

 

     for more info call 860-572-7433      

First Saturday Bike Ride

Saturday November 5th 10:00 AM

Guilford Harbor to Stony Creek, 18 scenic miles on road

Organized by The Shoreline Greenway Trail

Helmets required

For more details click here 

 

Tour of Old Lyme

Last Friday when I registered for the Tom Danielson ride I got a quick look at the route cue sheet . Because its a local event for me I am familiar with most of the roads. I decided to take a ride through part of the route in preparation for the ride.

The TD ride will stop at Ashlawn Farm which is in Lyme on Bill Hill Rd. I usually get there via Rte 156 but today I took Sill Lane and Saunders Hollow Rd which end on Rte 156 just a short bit away from Bill Hill Rd. The TD ride will split at this Ashlawn Farm and those that are riding the 25 mile route will take Town Woods Rd. to the Post Rd. I pedaled a short bit beyond the farm to Blood Street which is my usual route from Ashlawn back to Old Lyme.  Blood Street is almost all down hill when traveling south. You can check out the rest of the ride on the link to  Map My Ride below.

Niantic Center, Flanders 4 Corners

Today's ride starts and ends at St Anns church on Rte 156 in Old Lyme. Shortly after leaving Old Lyme you begin a steepish hill which ends next to the back entrance of Rocky Neck State Park's hiking trails. You can let your bike fly down the 1/4 mile decent but be aware there is a traffic light at the bottom of the hill. The next hill begins shortly after passing the prison and ends at the junction of Rte 156 and Roxbury Rd, after that point you can easily pedal or coast into Niantic Center.

The first big hill leading into Niantic is the back side of this 9% decent.

Niantic center is a quaint little area with restaurants, shops, a movie theater, children's museum, and a boardwalk along the bay. While I was in Niantic I stopped at Niantic Bay Bicycles on Methodist St. From there I traveled on Rte 161 to Flanders Four Corners. Rte 161/Flanders Road travels through a commercial district becoming 4 lanes with lots of traffic during business hours, it can be difficult to get across. I find it easiest to ride into the left turn lane at the junction of 161 and Boston Post Road and turn with the light.

Niantic Bay Bicycles on Methodist St in Niantic center

From the four corners the Post Road gradually climbs 150 ft with the longest hill ending at the junction of Bride Brook and Boston Post Road. Scott's Yankee Farmer which sells fruits, vegetables, and flowers is located on the left.

Scott's fruit and vegetable stand

If you feel like stretching your legs stop by to pick your own apples or find your way through the corn maze. After passing Scott's the road descends to Old Lyme. There is one final hill that begins at the junction of Four Mile River Road.

Last Hill

Once you get up the hill its easy pedaling through Old Lyme back to St Ann's church.

Old Lyme, Lyme, East Lyme and back

This ride starts at the Old Lyme shopping center parking lot and follows Rte 156 into Lyme. When ever you travel north from the shoreline the climb begins. At about 1.25 miles a gradual incline starts and continues until you reach the junction of 156 and Bill Hill Rd.

A look back at the first climb from the junction of Bill Hill and 156

As you can see from the picture above once you leave the Old Lyme shopping center and travel North on Rte 156 the landscape becomes very rural and wooded. Shortly after passing the entrance to Nehantic Forest you will see Tiffany Farm on the right. Nehantic Forest has a pristine pond which is an excellent place for a dip but you have to travel fairly far into the forest on rough park roads.

Tiffany Farms

The road descends past the farm into Hamburg cove.

After passing Tiffany Farm there is a steep descent. In Hamburg cove there is a very old convenience store where you can grab a drink or snack.

Ye Old Shed

Beaver Brook Rd starts with a short steep climb then levels off for a little bit before climbing to a max of about 244 ft. Basically Beaver Brook goes up and down all the way. The cue sheet provided by Map My Ride has a tendency to provide too much infornation. Once you turn onto Beaver Brook Rd stay straight it changes names ultimately becominng Upper Pattagansett road, the cue sheet could make you over think this, just follow the road.

There are quite a few old cemeteries along the way, as well as barns in various conditions.

Once you travel into East Lyme the road surface on Beaver Brook or Upper Pattagnsett improves and the scenery becomes less rural. At the end of Upper Pattagansett take a right onto Rte 1 (Boston Post Rd). Route 1 travels all the way back to Halls Rd. If you would like to increase the mileage of this ride you could take a left onto Four Mile River Rd. just a little before mile 19. Following Four Mile River Rd. to Rte 156 back to Old Lyme shopping center on Halls Rd. will add about 9.5 miles. Alternatively one could stay on the Boston Post Rd. all the way through Old Lyme to Halls Rd but stay straight onto Lyme St. traveling through the historic district or perhaps grabbing an ice cream at the Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe. If you follow Lyme St past the Congregational church past the country club you will reach Rte 156. Turn right and follow 156 back to Halls Rd. The second route alternative will add approximately 3.5 miles.

Congregational Church

Old Saybrook, Essex, Westbrook, Ride

Wednesdays ride began in Old Lyme traveled west to the bridge over the Connecticut River to Old Saybrook and traveled west on 154 to Essex. At the junction of 154 & 153 I turned left onto 153. I followed 153 to the junction of 153 & 166 (Spencer Plain Rd) which took me back to Old Saybrook. On Rte 1 (Boston Post Rd) I headed to Saybrook Point.


I meandored through the beach roads and the various roads that run through Fenwick Golf Course which offers beautiful views of the water, the lighthouses and the stately homes. On Fenwick Ave there is a water fountain in front of the tennis courts providing a good place to fill up the water bottles on a hot day.

Many of the trees near the water are either bare or sporting brown leaves from the salty winds of Hurricane Irene.

Todays Ride

I traveled over the bridge

And under the bridge

The Baldwin Bridge connects Old Lyme to Old Saybrook and vice versa. Today was the first time I've been out for a longer ride since Irene paid CT a visit. The Connecticut River is a bit brown, I presume from all the debris that's been churned up from Vermont and on down the river. 

The view from Saybrook Pt. looking across the mouth of the CT river to Old Lyme. 

Whenever I ride to Old Saybrook I always like to include a visit to Saybrook Point and Fenwick. Its a fairly flat ride, the largest hill is riding up to and over the bridge. I logged this route on mapmyride.com. If you aren't familiar with this website you can find rides and log your own rides. If you would like to find my routes you'll have to sign up for a free membership then search friends, "ground hog". I've tagged this route Saybrook pt scenic loop.  I will be adding more of my favorite rides so you will be able to view them if you like.

One of the views just before riding over the cause-way to Fenwick

Fenwick to the left, Long Island Sound to the right.

Washed up debris from Irene

More evidence of Irene's visit in the background

I spotted an Osprey along the way

 And this cruiser parked on Main St.

It was a beautiful day for a ride. I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy.