Adirondack Sports July 2023

JULY 2023 9
BICYCLING from page 7
on-course support, full course signage,
and police support at selected intersections.
It’s brought to you by Anthem Sports
Tours, who originally brought you Tour of
the Battenkill. After the ride, there’s an
after-party at The Last Chance Café. If
you’re doing the 75-mile course, you can
experience the infamous Devil’s Kitchen
climb that tops out at 22% – easy-peasy!
There’s also a ride-sharing feature if you
want to carpool to get to/from the event.
Register at: bikereg.com.
Cycle the St. Lawrence on Sunday,
August 27 – Presented by the Adirondack
Foothills Cycling Club and 1,000 islands
International Tourism Council, this
whole-day event offers three different
rides through those 1,000 islands with
all the trimmings. Routes of 35-, 62-, and
100-miles give you a chance to see all the
beauty the St. Lawrence Seaway has to
offer with views of storybook castles and
lighthouses from the river, plus vineyards
and Amish Farms on the shores of Black
Lake. Your day will end with an after-party
celebration at Bonnie Castle with music,
delicious food, and a breathtaking river-view
sunset. Get more details and register
at: bikereg.com.
Chrissy’s Ride on Sunday, August 13
– This year’s 20th anniversary ride, based
at The Hub Bike Shop & Café/Bar in Brant
Lake memorializes Christine Nicole Perry,
who was killed in an automobile collision
in 2003 at age 18. Ride proceeds support
Chrissy’s Fund, which has given over
$100,000 to individuals and organizations
throughout the North Warren community.
Three rides are on the menu this year at
15-, 25-, and 40-miles – along the Schroon
River and Loon-Friends-Brant lakes – at
this event with its informal, welcoming
vibe. A post-ride lunch is included, plus
giveaways and raffles. It’s a fun day for a
great cause. Preregistration is appreciated
at: bikereg.com.
Harry Elkes Ride on Saturday,
September 9 – Glens Falls native Harry
Elkes was a world-class bike racer for five
years before he was killed in a race in 1905.
Adirondack Cycling Advocates invites
you to ride with them at their 10th annual
event. Based out of The Hub in Brant Lake,
choose from the 15-mile Brant Lake family
ride, 32-, and 50-mile scenic lake road
rides, plus their 18-mile gravel ride. After
your ride, have lunch and drinks at The
Hub, while watching the fascinating presentation
on Harry Elkes’ life and times.
To register, go to: bikereg.com.
▲ STEM RANCH BARNS AND CEMETERY
ON BEAVER POND ROAD NEAR BRANT
LAKE DURING CHRISSY’S RIDE.
▲ WALT KLIMEK AND JOHN PETIET ON
A DIRT ROAD IN PITTSTOWN WHERE
THE GRAVEL PITT WILL BE HELD.
Gravel Pitt Gravel Bike Ride on
Sunday, September 10 – No, that’s not a
typo. The Gravel “Pitt” refers to the previously
well-kept secret; an extensive
network of gravel roads in the Pittstown
area, just northeast of Troy in northern
Rensselaer County. This inaugural event,
is based out of Otter Creek Farms, near the
Tomhannock Reservoir in Johnsonville.
Choose the ride fruit of your choice,
including the Cherry Pitt (29 miles), the
Plum Pitt (53 miles), and the formidable
Peach Pitt (75 miles) that only the hardiest
of gravel cyclists may be able to digest!
Overnight camping will be available at the
farm, and food and drinks are available for
post-ride celebrating. It promises to be
an epic day out on the bike on beautiful,
challenging roads that definitely require
a gravel, cyclocross, or mountain bike. It’s
presented by Capital Streets, dedicated to
making biking and active transportation
safer, more comfortable and accessible
in the Capital Region. To register, click on
over to: bikereg.com.
Catskill Mountain Cycling Challenge
on Sunday, September 17 – The cycling
challenge carries forth the long tradition
of recreational road cycling in the
Western Catskills. Your scenic pedal will
raise funds helping to keep the Catskill
Recreation Center open into the future.
You can do the 29-mile Pepacton Short,
the 50-mile Andes Loop, or the 100-mile
Century Challenge that offers a rich mix of
woodland, farm, hamlet, and valley scenery
with some moderate climbs. All the routes
include segments along the shore of scenic
Pepacton Reservoir, plus usage of the
center’s locker and shower facilities so you
can clean up before enjoying the included
lunch. To register, visit: bikereg.com.
Prospect Mountain Hill Climb on
Saturday, September 23 – It’s just one hill,
but that 5.67-mile uphill will challenge
even the most fit of cyclists – and all levels
of riders are welcome. The average gradient
is 5.3%, with a maximum grade over
13%, and there is a total elevation gain of
1,610 feet. It’s presented by Unify Cycling
in support of PTSD awareness and ending
veteran suicide with family and community.
You get a spectacular view at the
top, plus automatic entry into the Bike Up
a Mountain Point Series. To register, go to:
bikereg.com.
▲ STU SACKS LEADING SKIP HOLMES
ON ROUTE 9 BY LOON LAKE DURING
THE HARRY ELKES RIDE.
PHOTOS BY DAVE KRAUS
Dave Kraus (dbkgrafik@gmail.com) is
a longtime area cyclist, photographer,
writer, and cycling tour guide who is
looking forward to another great season
of getting dropped like an anchor by his
friends at many of these events. Visit his
website at www.KrausGrafik.com.