Western Mass. group ride May 19th

[Firefly]

After corresponding with Stromette (see thread below) on her schedule for her Mass. trip, Saturday May 19th looks like a doable date for a ride. So I'm planning on leading a group ride around western Mass/possibly pieces of NY & VT. It'll give her a chance to ride some of our terrific roads and will be a chance for some of the locals to meet and kick tires.
The plan is to meet in Easthampton, Ma at the McDonald's right on Route 10. It's about 3/4 miles north of the rotary on the east side of Rt. 10. Meet at 8:30 am and leave by 9am.

I don't have the complete route set yet but I'm sure you will all enjoy it. I have to be back in Westfield by 6pm so we'll be back to Easthampton by 5:30 or so.
Hope you can join us.

Later...Bill H.

[dmf109]

I'm in! Be cool to ride with a celebrity (Stromette):p

If we can incorporate that twisty section of Rt 2, it'd be great.

[Firefly]

I'm in! Be cool to ride with a celebrity (Stromette):p

If we can incorporate that twisty section of Rt 2, it'd be great.
Great! By the way, if you plan on attending this ride please let me know so I can get a head count.
Rt 2 is on my "probably hit" list.

Later...Bill H.

[Fladrif]

Is this a Strom only ride?

[RedAnt]

Is this a Strom only ride?

I hope not because I believe Stromette will be on an FJR!

[psycho]

Sounds like a plan. Count me in

Psycho

[Firefly]

Sounds like a plan. Count me in

Psycho
Cool!! We get to meet the famous Psycho too! <G>

Bill H.

[Fladrif]

Count me in, may be solo or with a couple friends... They won't be on Stroms so feel free to make them ride at the back of the pack :D

[Firefly]

Count me in, may be solo or with a couple friends... They won't be on Stroms so feel free to make them ride at the back of the pack :D
Great! Please let me know if/when you can how many bikes/people it will be so I can change the route or stops if needed.

Bill H.

[JohnS.]

Can't make this one, though I'd love to see the final route you guys take so I can plagarize it some weekend.

JohnS.

[VtSTROM-K5]

I won't be going either....I have a prior commitment:(

[joyous7]

Hi there,

I am new to this group.....but, I would like to join in.

Joyous

[Firefly]

Hi there,

I am new to this group.....but, I would like to join in.

Joyous
Cool!! The where and when are at the begining of this thread. See ya the 19th.

Bill H.

[Firefly]

I ran the whole route today and it looks good. About half a dozen spots with sand to watch for and a pothole here and there but otherwise not bad. Most roads have been newly paved in the last few years.
It's about 200 miles so fill up before we leave and you should be fine for the day. See you all in a week or so.

Later...Bill H.

[J. Clarke]

Is the ride still on if it rains? Forgive me if that's a dumb question but I've never participated in a group ride before.

[Firefly]

Is the ride still on if it rains? Forgive me if that's a dumb question but I've never participated in a group ride before.
Yup, I still plan on leading ... don't know if there will be anybody following though. The forecast isn't too promising but it will be better the direction we're headed (northwest). I'll work on shortening the route today and looking at alternative roads.
No group riding experience, hmmm, do you have much wet weather riding experience????

CYA tomorrow ... Bill H.

[dmf109]

Well, I'm going to sit this one out. (Actually, I double booked myself by accident :oops:). My rain gear currently isn't up to snuff. Hope you guys have a great time!

[J. Clarke]

I've ridden through a couple of CT winters, rain doesn't bother me all that much, but didn't want to get up early and ride up and be the only one there.

[Fladrif]

Hey guys I'm not going to be able to make it tomorrow. My wet weather riding experience is very limited... I've only been caught in the rain once for about 5 miles, so traveling to Western MA from Worcester might be a little much...

Have a great time and I hope tomorrow is one of the days the weather man is wrong.

[Firefly]

Sorry that some of you had to bail. I'd rather ride on dry pavement myself especially on some of the twisty roads I plan on using.
The latest weather at 4:30pm Friday says that the storm is tracking further East than expected and we may now only have scattered showers. Cool!!
We'll still be there if you change your mind in the morning.

CYA ...Bill H.

[psycho]

Bill,
I will be at Macdonalds in the A.M. I just got back from South Carolina on the Victory. I need to get some seat time on the Wee Strom!!

Psycho

[STROMETTE]

The plan is to meet in Easthampton, Ma at the McDonald's right on Route 10. It's about 3/4 miles north of the rotary on the east side of Rt. 10. Meet at 8:30 am and leave by 9am.

I'll be there rain or shine tomorrow!!

Stromette (on the FJR! :p)
BTW, my in progress East Coast 2007 journey: HERE (http://www.seizethejourney.com/ec2007/default.asp))

[STROMETTE]

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u14/WIFT/1-S-decal.jpg

J.Clarke, Psycho, & Firefly..... THANK YOU for a GREAT DAY!! http://www.seizethejourney.com/images/smilies/thumbup.gif

Pics are posted: HERE (http://www.seizethejourney.com/ec2007/051907.asp)

http://www.seizethejourney.com/images/smilies/em2300.gifI have to say that in all my miles & times meeting people who have coordinated rides that Firefly was an EXCEPTIONAL ride captain w/his planning, communication, routing, etc. Oh, and for those who bailed out due to weather.... I hope to be back in the area in Sept so that should give you plenty of time to get your rain gear together!! Then you too can get a decal saying you rode with the New England Stromtroopers! :p

Stromette (on the FJR)

[Firefly]

Thanks to the few that braved the wet and joined me on the ride Saturday. At least we now know what parts of our rain/heated gear needs replacing or adjustment. Stromette seemed to be the only one that was 100% good to go, course she's had plenty of practice <G>.
Other than the rain, fog and cold, it worked out well. (thanks for the vote of confidence as road captain). The traffic was very light and we had virtually the road to ourselves which I really enjoyed as I could set the speed I wanted or as the conditions allowed. On some of those roads it's a long, long time before you can get a group or bikes around some slow vehicle. It made my job a lot easier knowing that I had experienced, safe riders following and I could concentrate on the road ahead instead of constantly checking behind and worrying about them.

I may try to plan a group ride about once a month if there's interest. I'll definitely have something planned for the end of Sept. when Stromette comes back.

Later...Bill H. aka Firefly
P.S. only Stromette got that sticker , ours says
"I rode with Stromette May 2007"