Adirondack Sports August 2023

BICYCLING
◀ CROSS MOUNTAIN
CRUSHER IS A HEFTY
GRAVEL RIDE IN THE
CATSKILLS.
AUGUST 2023 19
▼ HANDLEBARLEY
GRAVEL TOUR WITH
BIKES AND BEER AT
PARADOX BREWERY.
DAVE KRAUS
Bike Upstate with
Fall Events
By Darryl Caron
Now in its third year, the Handlebarley
Gravel Tour is on Sunday, Sept. 17
in North Hudson. It’s a mixed surface ride
that has it all, the best of which is that 95%
of the route is on rural eastern Adirondack
backroads – and it starts and finishes at
Paradox Brewery. As an update, the full
weekend and Saturday only packages are
sold out, but slots are still available for the
main event on Sunday.
Sunday’s ride is the original
Handlebarley route featuring 42 miles
of some rolling paved and gravel terrain
showcasing historic farms, 1800s stacked
stone walls, remnants of old mills, and
sweet-smelling cedar groves. The highlight
of this route is a rest stop in Ironville
at the Penfield Homestead Museum (who
benefits from ride registrations), which
features artifacts from the Penfield family,
other historic homes, as well as exhibits
covering the local iron history, town history,
and involvement in the civil war. To
cap it off, riders will celebrate a fabulous
ride with a pizza feast, delicious craft beer,
and live music at the brewery. Register:
bikeadk.com.
The second annual Tour de Vine takes
place on Saturday, Oct. 7 in Cambridge.
It’s a casual, supported tour of the upper
Hudson and Battenkill valleys with tasting
stops at local wineries, cideries, distilleries
and breweries. There’s even concierge service
to transport wine and merchandise
purchases back to the finish!
The Anthem Sports Tours cycling event
is welcoming to all riders with fully-supported
aid stations, sag wagons, and moto
mechanical support. Anthem recently led
the popular Great North and Tour of the
Catskills bike tours. The distance is 30-40
miles. The ride field limit has been reached
(there may be a waitlist) but wine tastings
at each stop are still available. Register:
anthemsportstours.com.
Bike the Barns is scheduled for
Saturday, Oct. 7 at Ausable Brewing in
Keeseville. There’s only one way to experience
the rich agricultural story of the
Adirondacks and Champlain Valley and
that is farm-by-bike! The initial 150 slots
are sold out however a wait list has been
activated, but there’s good news – it is
anticipated that more slots will be opened.
The ride covers 23 miles with about
1,000 feet of elevation. You guessed it,
this fall bike tour features farm stops complete
with tours of each, but what makes
this event special is its ability to see, smell,
and absorb so much while experiencing
the landscape by bike. Following the ride,
participants will kick back with a fabulous
farm-to-table meal, delicious craft
beverages, and live music. Registration
supports Adirondack North Country
Associations important work to bolster
local food, community and health systems.
Visit: bikeadk.com.
Join us at the first annual Saratoga
Foliage Ride on Saturday-Sunday,
October 7-8, and it’s presented by the
Saratoga Regional YMCA and Bikeatoga.
Get on your bike and enjoy peak foliage,
riding some of Saratoga County’s most
scenic routes at the most beautiful time of
▶ BIKE THE BARNS IS
FARM-BY-BIKE IN THE
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY.
▲ TOUR DE VINE IN THE
UPPER HUDSON AND
BATTENKILL VALLEYS.
the year. Along the way you’ll see history
and horse farms, pumpkins, cider donuts
and more. The rides start and finish at
the Saratoga Regional YMCA in Saratoga
Springs, featuring two days of riding and
six routes!
Start your morning with their buffet
breakfast and head out to ride one of three
routes each day – 30, 50, and 75 miles –
with full SAG support. Saturday’s rides will
honor the 246th anniversary of the Battle
of Saratoga. You’ll ride the back roads
through the very fields where American
forces first defeated the British army – the
turning point of the American Revolution.
Sunday’s rides will follow beautiful routes
through fields, farmlands and gorgeous
fall foliage.
After the ride, relax, shop and dine in
downtown Saratoga Springs – without the
summer crowds. And all participants will
get a day pass to the Saratoga YMCA facility
so you can unwind with a swim, sauna,
HydroMassage (additional fee), or afternoon
yoga class after the ride! For details,
go to: srymca.org/saratoga-foliage-ride.
The fourth annual Cross Mountain
Crusher on Saturday, Oct. 14 is produced
by and starts/finishes at the Catskill
Recreation Center, and is held in cooperation
with Overlook Mountain Bikes and
the Catskill Brewery. It’s a 55-mile gravel
and road ride for the serious cyclist, which
is designed for those who wish to challenge
their physical abilities to the max,
while enjoying beautiful back country
roads in the Catskill Mountains.
See BICYCLING 21 ▶