Sport-Touring.Net - Northeast Meet & Greet, 4/26/08, Great Barrington, Mass.

It's that time of year again to see if we can organize another Meet & Greet for riders in Southern New England. We did it for the first time in 2005 and had about 50 riders. We repeated in 2006 but the rain kept the numbers low. Last year the temperature was down in the 30's and 40's, but we still had a lot of people show up. Let's keep it going this year. It's a great way to re-connect with your friends, meet new ones and show off your new rides/farkles.

The ride is organized in two parts. In the morning people meet up in their respective regions and ride to Great Barrington for lunch. After lunch we go to a meet spot in town. We all socialize for awhile and then form groups to ride home.

Last year we had two morning meeting spots that worked well. The southern people met in Windsor, Conn. at Mototown USA. The northern people met with Leebo (the co-organizer) in Rindge, NH. We're inclined to do the same thing this year.

This ride is more for socializing and is not going to be a balls-to-the-wall sportbike ride. People are more or less on their own to decide their pace, how they get to Great Barrington and where they want to eat.

Here are the details (subject to change):

Date: Saturday, April 26 (this is the weekend after the Meet & Eat)

Start Location(s) in Connecticut:

1) Mototown USA, 1001 Dayhill Road, Windsor, CT 06095 (860-688-5110) (Interstate 91, north of Hartford, exit 38, right off ramp, take your first left onto Dayhill Rd [after passing under 91] and 2.5 miles down Dayhill Road. See the Mototown USA Website for additional details on this facility.

Time: arrive at 9am, Rider's Meeting about 10, leave about 10:30am.

2) The V-Strommers are meeting in Granby, CT at the intersection of 20/202/189; there's a Starbucks right there on 189.

Time:Leave promptly at 9AM.

Start Locations in New Hampshire: 3a) Meet at the Citco station at the junction of rt 202 and 119 in Rindge NH, Leave Time: 8:30AM
3b) Rindge group then proceeding to where Rte. 202 splits off of Rte. 2 at the Shell gas station/Dunkin Donuts/Honey Farms (This is in Orange, Mass., exit 16 off Rte. 2)
Leave Time: 9:30 am sharp.

Destination: Great Barrington, Mass. for lunch. There is no set restaurant, everyone is on their own for lunch. If you just cruise Route 7 in Great Barrington you will find no shortage of places to eat. In the past, favorites have been Four Brothers Pizza and Friendly's. There is also a McDonald's in the Price Chopper Plaza and a grill/pub just north of the parking lot (same side of road).

After lunch, both the CT & NH groups will meet at the Price Chopper parking lot, 300 Stockbridge St., Great Barrington, starting at about 1pm. From there we'll split into small groups and ride back home around 2pm or so. Great Barrington has easy access to Interstate 90 and eastern NY.

Here's last year's check-in thread for information and pictures on the 2007 ride.

Feel free to ask questions, organize groups, express interest and talk over potential routes.

Topic: Northeast Meet & Greet, 4/26/08, Great Barrington, Mass. (Read 7806 times)