[MissTwisties]

Starting an updated thread. Please keep this one on topic.

Saturday June 25th, ride the Berkshires all day then BBQ party at our place. Pace will be moderate.

After the ride, everyone is welcome to come over for a BBQ, beer (or soda..lol), just chill out and have fun with the gang. Music, oil lamps will be light up and warming up by the fire. Pool should be all set. Please if you intend to drink, think about staying over and bring a tent, the backyard is roomy. We also have a few sleeping bags and cushions.

Would like a head count for this, to plan for the BBQ. Any help with food will be appreciated (salads, soda, beer, etc.) and we have a fridge that will be available if you want to drop off beer/food the night before, just let me know. I hope this gets a good turn out, email me with any questions littlebusybee@hotmail.com

P.S. If it rains only a little bit, the ride will still be on, but if it pours, it will be cancelled. This ride is also posted on a few other websites.

Directions: 660 Liberty Street, Springfield MA 01103

McDonalds off exit 3 on 291. If you're coming either way from 91 North or South, or from the Masspike, take the exit for route 291 Springfield (exit no. 8 from 91, not sure which exit from Masspike tho), then take exit no. 3 for Armory Street. If you come from the east, right at the end of the ramp you'll have to go automatically to your right, keep going straight about 100 feet and you will see the McDonalds it is right there on your left side.

If you come from the west on 291, you still take exit no. 3 for Armory Street, at the end of the ramp there is a light, you'll have to stick to your left entering the rotary, and it will bring you automatically to cross the overpass going over 291. Then keep going straight ahead and about 100 feet away you'll see McDonalds on your left side.

10:00a.m. Call cell phone if you're having problems 413-244-0155.

If you are bringing something and need to drop it at our place before the ride, please email me and I will give you directions to our house. Littlebusybee@hotmail.com

[MissTwisties]

The backyard is ready for the party...got myself equiped with a nice firepit, and a beautiful water fountain with lights, some oil torches, and now I'm getting ready to fill up the fridge...lol

So far who's coming: (from NESR, SRNE and CycleForums)
myself and Man God
oreogaborio

MissTwisties & Man God
ZX-12R
eugene_e
darkchylde51
knobby & wife
ratzlaff
tim&Hillary
Bob
Scott w/ the wifey
Luis & Mia
Sean & Iwonna

Some maybes:
beet
Ed
honclfibr
bigred875
pappy
kham
86vfr750er
HBerry
Chris_Sedition

[HBerry]

Originally posted by MissTwisties
The backyard is ready for the party...got myself equiped with a nice firepit, and a beautiful water fountain with lights, some oil torches, and now I'm getting ready to fill up the fridge...lol

So far who's coming: (from NESR, SRNE and CycleForums)
myself and Man God
oreogaborio
kham
ZX-12R
eugene_e
darkchylde51
knobby
ratzlaff
tim&Hillary
Bob
Scott w/ the wifey

Some maybes:
beet
Ed
honclfibr
bigred875
pappy
86vfr750er

Count me in for a maybe!

[MissTwisties]

Per request, the address for McDonalds is 660 Liberty Street, Springfield MA 01103....departure is 10:00a.m. PM me if you'd rather meet earlier at our house for the address.

Updated list:

myself and Man God
oreogaborio
ZX-12R
eugene_e
darkchylde51
knobby & wife
ratzlaff
Tim & Hillary
Bob
Scott & wife
ensoll
02rc51 & wife
Nazo
86vfr750er
Luis & Mia
Sean & Iwonna

Some that maybe will come:
honclfibr
bigred875
pappy
Beet
Ed
HBerry
Kham
Chris_Sedition

[Kham]

ah.. could you put me in the "maybe" section? i forgot about my commitment on Saturday. if i can get out of it then i'll go check you out.

[Nazo]

Count me in.
Sounds like a good time!

[MissTwisties]

If you're coming from Boston area or else, this ride is posted on www.sportriders.com www.cycleforums.com (in the sportbikes section, then New England section), and www.nestreetriders.com Post up in the ride thread if you want to hook up with someone else to ride up here.

Also, is there any of you that are usng a chatterbox?

[MissTwisties]

bump

[JeffL]

Are not-as-of-yet (dreamers) welcome? I with any luck should be picking up a bike by the first of July, but I wouldnt be opposed to coming by and meeting some people and maybe oogling over bikes, if no one is opposed.

If so, count me, I'll likely come by with my SO.

[MissTwisties]

Of course you are invited. Why in hell does some people PM me to know if they are invited, or if this is only for a "close knit" group? LOL I'm no part of any closed gang, I posted this publicly, so you bet your butt that you are welcome!

PM me for the address and directions mmmkay? You will not be the only one showing up only for the party, some others cannot make it for the ride, but will come for the night. One guy and his wife might even stay and camp for the night.

[ZX-12R]

I don't know MissTwisties, but I'm going anyway! All I know is she has a 250, husband has a 1000, lives in the springfield area but frequently rides in my old stomping ground, and likes strawberry twizzlers and coffee crisps!

[MissTwisties]

bwhahahahha!!! You are a sweet heart....

[MissTwisties]

Some guys on Cycleforums.com from Waltham/Providence area are gonna be hooking up to ride down here. They are looking for a good back road that will take them near Springfield, instead of riding the pike. Any suggestions?

[OreoGitorio]

rte 2, all the way out i guess Starts as a slab, but the closer you get to springfield, the better it gets.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
rte 2, all the way out i guess Starts as a slab, but the closer you get to springfield, the better it gets.

how long to slab? ...maybe back roads to the good part of 2?

[ZX-12R]

Rt. 2 is in Northern MA. They are coming from South of MA and the final destination is Springfield which is Southern MA. On top of that, the good portion of Rt. 2 is Northwest of Springfield and it is part of the ride on Saturday.

I'm not very familiar with the roads in Southern MA and Northern CT. All I might be able to suggest is taking Rt. 131 to Rt. 20 in MA. 20 runs parallel to the pike but it is quite slab like in many parts.

I know CT has a number of great East/West roads that might work. I just don't know what they are!

[MissTwisties]

Anyhow, they are suppose to leave around 7:30-8am, so if you guys think you might be late a little, call my cell 413-244-0155 to let me know, I'm sure nobody will mind to wait for you guys.

I'd say route 2 would be nice, but I've never done the eastern part of it (towards Boston), just the part going from Greenfield to Williamstown...

[OreoGitorio]

ah yes... after lookin at a map... fuck that idea.

anyone know how rte 20 is? you can take 146 from Woonsocket up to 20. 20 starts out north of the pike & crosses to the south of it around Worcester (where you pick it up from 146), then stays to the south of the pike all the way out to springfield

or... you can pick up 7 from Providence area, take that up to 16, to 12, to 197 to 131 to 169 to 131 to 20

the eastern 1/2 of rte 2 is a slab... don't bother.

[ZX-12R]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
or... you can pick up 7 from Providence area, take that up to 16, to 12, to 197 to 131 to 169 to 131 to 20

That is certainly more fun then 146 to 20.

[MissTwisties]

You guys better haul it fast on the backroads and do obnoxious passing if you want to make it on time...LOL

Kidding apart...be safe.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by ZX-12R
That is certainly more fun then 146 to 20.

done deal... I elect oreo tp map it out...and GO!!!!!!

[OreoGitorio]

that's a route from Providence RI area... I'm comin from Boston

[MissTwisties]

Man God said you guys should take route 20 all the way to Springfield. One thing I don't understand tho is you seem to say that it takes 2 hours on the masspike to get to Springfield...I've been to Boston quiet a few times, driving at an average of 75 miles an hour, it take us about 1:15 to 1:30 minutes to get there...you guys riding at higher speeds I'm sure shouldn't take you 2 hours. But if you are gonna take the backroads, it is gonna take you much longer than riding the masspike, going thru the villages/cities. Route 20 at least is pretty much forward, and some parts of it are really nice, I ride it once in a while and it's a nice road?

[MissTwisties]

I went today for a drive with my kids. I did the EXACT route I traced for the ride on Saturday, and let me tell you, it was jaw dropping. I went all the way up on Mount Greylock at the summit, oh WOW....I did it a few years back with the girls ride, but it was rainy and very foggy, so we only saw clouds at our level...nothing else. Today was gorgeous, and the view was BREATH TAKING. And scarry at the summit...it was freaking high, looking down and seeing all the farm lands and the houses were small as ants. The roads are BEAUTIFUL, and many stretchs are VERY twistied, even in the car it was fun to drive. I can't wait to do it again on the bike! We saw many lakes, rivers, and small creeks, some mini waterfalls. We even drank water coming out of Mount Greylock from a natural water source on the border of the road. AWSOME. There was little to no cars on most of the country roads, a few stretchs with brand new pavement. It allowed me to make sure the directions on paper will be accurate, as I wrote down every road number, and every turn (left/right)

It is gonna be a kick ass ride, don't miss it!!!

[R7]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio


or... you can pick up 7 from Providence area, take that up to 16, to 12, to 197 to 131 to 169 to 131 to 20

the eastern 1/2 of rte 2 is a slab... don't bother.

When i head west from the Providence area i take 6 west, 101 west, 94 north, 44 west, 171 west (zig zags out of the way a bit but a real fun road), 190 west, 83 north. It takes me 1hour 45 minutes driving and about an hour and a half on the bike