Montague Bookmill Ride (64 & 45 miles)

CRW Rides are open to members and guests. Guests may attend two rides annually before being required to join the club. Please click the Register button to the left to join the ride. Helmets are required on all CRW rides. Riders are expected to adhere to CRW Code of Conduct, and to be familiar with CRW’s Rider Guidelines, Group Riding Guidelines, and Pedestrian Awareness Guidelines. (20250430)

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Ride Description:

Let's do a destination ride! Franklin County has some of the best biking in the state, and a straight shot out Route 2.

A beautiful, hilly 64-miler starting and ending at the Montague Bookmill, 440 Greenfield Road, Montague, MA (“Books you don’t need in a place you can’t find”). Plan on an all-day adventure. Option for a shorter 45 miles skips the Shelburne Falls loop.

Lunch in Shelburne Falls (long ride). Visit the Bridge of Flowers and the Pot Holes. NOTE: Food is very limited on the 45 mile ride until about 7 miles from the end.

This is a joint ride with Seven Hills Wheelmen who developed this great route with Lynne Tolman leading. Leaders expect to average 12-14 mph. Faster riders welcome to go off the front.

There are two short stretches (1 mile or less) of hard-packed dirt. At mile 55, optional climb up Mount Sugarloaf, with sweeping views across the Connecticut River. If you skip Mount Sugarloaf, you shave about 3 miles.

There's also an option for a 45-mile version that skips Shelburne Falls. Just skip the hairpin right turn at mile 18.2 and continue straight/left, thereby eliminating the out-and-back loop that goes to Shelburne Falls and back. The optional climb up Mount Sugarloaf is at mile 36.

Back at the Bookmill, the Lady Killigrew Cafe is open until 9 pm.

Photos from our joint club Bookmill (courtesy of Seven Hills Wheelmen) ride last year: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1104446791849530&type=3

And in 2024: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.842029984757880&type=3

Ride Start Location:

Montague Bookmill; 440 Greenfield Road, Montague, MA

Parking at the Bookmill is limited. There is a parking across the street from the Bookmill with more space where we will meet. To navigate here, use 584 Turners Falls Road.

Ride Leader(s):

Ellen Gugel emgugel@verizon.net

Link to RwGPS Route

• 64-mile route (the 45-miler turns left at mile 18.2 and continues the same route)