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September 2006
Bicycling & more in Central Massachusetts &
beyond |
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ACTIVITIES
As always, call the leader if the weather conditions are
questionable, or if you have other questions. Ride Categories explanation.NEXT
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
Sunday, September 3, is the deadline for the October
newsletter. It's a week early because of vacations.If you
can lead a bike ride, hike, or other activity in October,
submit the details by midnight September 3 to Lynne
Tolman, LTolman@LTolman.org
, 508-831-0301.
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MOUNTAIN BIKERS, BEWARE
Autumn means hunting season, and the presence of hunters in the
woods means hikers and mountain bikers need to use extra caution.
Most hunting seasons in Massachusetts run between mid-October and
mid-December. While hunting accidents are rare (statistics show
that hunting is safer than many sports, including cycling),
cyclists can enhance their safety by wearing, a hunter's orange
vest. These are available in the sporting goods departments of
most department stores. Avoid white or brown clothing (you don't
want to look like a deer). Hunting is not allowed on Sundays in
Massachusetts.
Recurring Rides
Easy Monday Evening Rides,
Tuesday Mornings, Wednesday Outdoor Workouts,
Friday Morning Rides, Easy C rides.
Friday, September 8
Activity: Open Shop & Club Social
Location: Barney's Bicycle, 165 Chandler St., Worcester
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Leader: Peter Howard, 508-799-BIKE, barneysbicycle@rcn.com
Bring your bike for free service and/or maintenance lessons
and/or use of the work area and tools at Seven Hills Wheelmen
president Pete Howard's bike store. Work space is limited to six
bikes, but there's no limit on the number of people (Seven Hills
Wheelmen MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS). Club members who know a thing
or two about using a wrench are welcome to help teach as well.
The usual Seven Hills member discount of 10 percent will be
increased to 20 percent for over-the-counter parts on this night
only. No refreshments this time.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Activity: Road ride, C, 38 or 51 miles
Time: 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and/or 9:30 a.m. to ride
Location: Vanilla Bean Cafe, Routes 44, 169 and 97, Pomfret, Conn.
Leader: Marty Twigg, 508-829-9893, martinht1@juno.com
Connecticut's "Quiet Corner" is one of the prettiest
places to ride, and Pomfret is only about 35 minutes by car from
Worcester. The main bike ride is 38 miles, and there is an option
to do a separate 13-mile loop afterward that starts and ends at
Vanilla Bean. Bring lunch/beer money if you want to hang out at
the Vanilla Bean for post-ride refreshments. See www.vanillabeancafe.com
for directions, menu, etc. -- breakfast is a little pricey, but
the omelets and pancakes are yummy.Note: Please don't park in the
Vanilla Bean parking lot, so that other customers can come and go
while we're out biking. Use the dirt parking area diagonally
across the street from the cafe's driveway.
Sunday, September 17
Activity: Road ride, 36 miles, B/C
Location: Burgess Elementary School, 45 Burgess Road, Sturbridge
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Dave Aho, 508-347-2080, ddnutzy@yahoo.com
We'll ride through Sturbridge, the Brookfields and some of
Warren. The terrain is kind of hilly, mostly back roads, with a
rest stop around mile 20. Directions to the start: From Mass.
Pike, take Route 20 west to the third set of lights. Go right up
Cedar Street about half a mile to Burgess Road on the right. The
start is in the parking lot on top of the hill on the right.
Sunday, September 24
MAJOR TAYLOR CENTURY
Bicycle 25, 62 or 100 miles on the scenic roads of south-central
Massachusetts during Blackstone Valley Heritage Homecoming
Weekend with the Seven Hills Wheelmen and 10th Gear Christian
Youth Cycling.
All rides leave from the Whitin Community Center, 60 Main St.,
Whitinsville, Mass. Directions are below.
CENTURY (100 miles) -- check-in 7:15-8 a.m., depart 8 a.m.
METRIC CENTURY (62 miles) -- check in 8:30-9 a.m., depart 9 a.m.
QUARTER CENTURY (25 miles) -- check-in 9:30-10 a.m., depart 10 a.m.
RAIN OR SHINE
Preregistration (before Sept. 17):
Seven Hills Wheelmen & 10th Gear members $12; nonmembers $15
Day of event: Seven Hills Wheelmen & 10th Gear members $15;
nonmembers $20
Preregister online at http://www.10thGear.com/mtreg.htm
Or make checks payable to 10thGear and mail to:
10thGear/MTC, c/o Village Congregational Church, P.O. Box 217,
Whitinsville, MA 01588
Entry fee covers continental breakfast, cue sheet, arrowed
route and snacks. Helmets are required.
Directions:
Whitinsville is part of the town of Northbridge.
-- FROM THE NORTH: Take I-290 west and connect to Route 146 south
in the center of Worcester at Brosnihan Square. Follow Route 146
south to the Purgatory Road exit. Turn left at the end of the
ramp. Follow this road about 3 miles into the center of
Whitinsville. The Whitin Community Center will be on your left.
Turn left at the next traffic light on Hill Street. The entrance
is 100 feet ahead on the left.
-- FROM THE EAST OR WEST: Take Mass. Turnpike (I-90) to Exit 10A
(Worcester/Route 146). Follow Route 146 south 8 miles to the
Purgatory Road exit. Turn left at the end of the ramp. Follow
this road about 3 miles into the center of Whitinsville. The
Whitin Community Center will be on your left. Turn left at the
next traffic light on Hill Street. The entrance is 100 feet ahead
on the left.
-- FROM RHODE ISLAND: Follow Route 146 north to the Lackey Dam
Road exit in Mass. Turn right at the end of the ramp. Follow this
road 3 miles to the center of Whitinsville (traffic light). The
Whitin Community Center entrance is straight ahead 100 feet on
the left, on Hill Street.
WHO WAS MAJOR TAYLOR? Marshall W. "Major" Taylor (1878-1932),
who lived in Worcester, Mass., was world cycling champion in 1899
and American sprint champion in 1900. Known as "the
Worcester Whirlwind" and "the colored cyclone," he
was the second black world champion in any sport (the first was
bantamweight boxer George Dixon in 1891). More about Major Taylor
and the effort in Worcester to put up a Major Taylor statue: http://www.majortaylorassociation.org
Century information: Arlen & Rose Hall, (508) 234-9945, mtc@10thgear.com
Top of page
Saturday, September 30
Activity: Paul Anderson Hike, Mount Thumb, 5 miles
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Harris Center for Conservation Education, 83 King's
Highway,
Hancock, N.H., www.harriscenter.org
Leader: Mark Anderson, rnyszn@aol.com
Mark will lead this hike in memory of his father, Paul
Anderson of Hubbardston, a Seven Hills Wheelmen member who died
on Mount Thumb on April 7, 2001. The hike is about three hours
round trip, on moderate terrain with nice views.
Directions http://www.harriscenter.org/About/directions.htm
Map http://www.harriscenter.org/documents.HC_Map.pdf
This page created and maintained by .
©Copyright 2000 by Seven Hills Wheelmen, Worcester, MA.
Last Modified on: September 08, 2006
