Connecticut

[ctdave]

Hi everyone, Does anyone go out for after work rides in the Litchfield County area? Maybe a hundred or so miles after 3pm?

Let me know

[Sport-Touring]

[Asphalt Pilot]

I wish I got out of work that early!

A lot of people ride in Litchfield County, but you'll probably have better luck organizing a weekend thing.

[scott-sts]

Oh yeah!  Been to Litchfield several times.
I'm sure we'll be doing another Litchfield Hills ride soon.

[STalker]

I head up that way after work once in a while but only if I can get out before 2:00, traffic sucks after about 2:30 where I live.
 It's usually a spur of the moment thing for me. I have a screwy job, I never know when I'll get out early.

[Motocentaur]

Most of my riding these days is confined to Windham County, but I get out there on occasion. My work is sort of "seasonal", and I have a lot of free time in the summers.

[skip]

Most of my riding these days is confined to Windham County, but I get out there on occasion. My work is sort of "seasonal", and I have a lot of free time in the summers.

I have days off during the week and every other weekend I have fri sat and sun off. Give me a holler sometime and we can hook up.

[Oilhed]

I usually do 10a-3p rides midweek starting in the Walerbury/Wolcott area.  Love Barkhamstead Res.

[STI-51]

Hello to all the CT folks.  I'm looking for some sport-touring buddies to do some ridin' together.  I'm up for just about anything, preferably longer rides outside of CT.  I've had about all I can take with the CT congestion.  Did a short, 200 mile trip today mainly around the eastern portion of the state.  The traffic was unbearable, I got about 2 satisfying turns in tops! 

Litchfield Hills is the only area I can really tolerate here anymore but it gets monotonous doing it all the time. 

Anyway, let me know who's interested in meeting up sometime

Alex

[Motocentaur]

I live over in the Quiet Corner, and I find the traffic situation here to be generally tolerable. I rode out to the Litchfield area today, and the traffic there was even better.

I did get stranded in Norwich today though with a totally dead battery. I had to hoof it about a mile to Walmart, which luckily had a compatible one, lug it back and install it in the parking lot of a burger joint. Other than that, it was a a good ride!

[KevinC]

I get a lot of rides in around Litchfield County (In laws live up there), but usually it's at the last minute or I'm going to meet my wife & kids.

When I have more time (like tomorrow) I'll head through Litchfield to Dutchess County, the Catskills, or Western Mass & VT.

[Oilhed]

Did Wolcott, Canton, New Hartford Thursday.  Not much traffic.

Tried Weston, Georgetown, Ridgefield Friday.  Too much traffic but did find a nice road or two.  Even saw a couple others.  Stopped at Branchville and took a Guzzi for a test ride.

[TuffguyF4i]

Are there any good roads in this state? I've only found a very few!!!!  Whats the deal?

[knobby]

I live in Central CT. Litchfield area is nice. I'm home by 3:00pm every day, and my be up for a ride sometime during the week. Busy at home for a few more weeks, but after that. Was out that way last w/e. As one said....a w/e would be easier to organize a ride....

[Motocentaur]

Are there any good roads in this state? I've only found a very few!!!!  Whats the deal?

Look to the northwest and northeast corners. Stay away from the shore.

[STI-51]

Look to the northwest and northeast corners. Stay away from the shore.

Agreed, those are really the only 2 sections of the state that are worthwhile.  Of the 2, I feel that the NW portion offers more technically challenging roads and are more fun for me.  There's a short strip of road on RT 4 (travelling in the westbound direction) just before it merges with RT 7 that I love.  It's almost like a small section of racetrack when clear.  There are several other such areas around but that one stands out for me b/c I always have to pass through it to get to the heart of the Hills.

[Oilhed]

Are there any good roads in this state? I've only found a very few!!!!  Whats the deal?

There are quite a few.  It's just when the UPS or Oil delivery gets in front of you that sucks!  Try RT 148 from Durham to Chester some day.

I think it's RT 72 from Bristol to RT 4 that's short but fun.

[STI-51]

By the way, the CT DOT has a great map that highlights (in green) some of the best motorcycle routes in CT.  In addition, there are brief narratives (#s 1-13 to the right) describing each route.  I've tried all of them and they are great.  Here is the link to the online map, which also has an option to have a free paper map sent to you:

http://ride4ever.org/maps/bigMap.php

The site has some other cool features and rider stories as well.

I've been trying to find similar maps for the surrounding states.  I'll post a link if I find anything good.

Alex

[STI-51]

This site has some pretty good recommended rides for all states:

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/index.html

[TuffguyF4i]

Look to the northwest and northeast corners. Stay away from the shore.

Thats exactly what i have been doing.  

I found a couple of good turn on rt8, but i think thats even in MA, not CT.

I have pretty high standards of what a good road is.  I learned to ride in the smokey mtns, and on the blue ridge parkway.

Any other rt recommendations would be good.  

[Hulked Up]

You guys are so close, just go to Dutchess County, NY and get your mind blown.  

[STI-51]

You guys are so close, just go to Dutchess County, NY and get your mind blown.  

Agreed, I've recently been experimenting with this area and love it.  It's quite a maze of roads that maps out like a choose your own adventure book!

[Pete ST]

  Both good roads, but in the summer make sure you stick to the speed limit past Cedar lake an rt 148. A hot spot for Radar traps.
 There was also a radar trap on Rt 72 the last time i was on it - near Rt4 but that's the first time i've seen it there.

There are quite a few.  It's just when the UPS or Oil delivery gets in front of you that sucks!  Try RT 148 from Durham to Chester some day.

I think it's RT 72 from Bristol to RT 4 that's short but fun.

[Oilhed]

I'm going to go east today.  From the CT river to RT 11.  Any of the roads on this map are fun.  And there is a good Hot Dog place on RT 66 at RT 151.  Maybe I'll takes some pics, too.  Sorry, no pics but it was fun!

[notarex]

RT 8 from winsted up into mass. is a blast!

[Oilhed]

RT 8 from winsted up into mass. is a blast!

I did that on my second day off but didn't post any details because most of the ride was RT 23 and RT 57 in Mass.  That was fun!

[knobby]

I'm going to go east today.  From the CT river to RT 11.  Any of the roads on this map are fun.  And there is a good Hot Dog place on RT 66 at RT 151.  Maybe I'll takes some pics, too.  Sorry, no pics but it was fun!

That would be Happy Days Drive-In in Cobalt. Good place for a food stop. Been there several.....not to far from home for me...

[GerryPetrecca]

And don't forget the great donut shop just a little bit farther up the road (past cobalt)....

Gerry

[Oilhed]

That would be Happy Days Drive-In in Cobalt. Good place for a food stop. Been there several.....not to far from home for me...

They do a Wed nite bike nite, too.   Not sure how many S-T bikes you will see there.

[knobby]

And don't forget the great donut shop just a little bit farther up the road (past cobalt)....

Gerry

Gerry....what donut shop you talkin about?

[GerryPetrecca]

Gerry....what donut shop you talkin about?

Knobby,

If you're heading east on 66 it's past Cobalt but before Marlboro.  Should be on your left.  At least it was there last year (summer)...NOT A crap Dunkin but an Indi(pendent).

Gerry

[knobby]

Knobby,

If you're heading east on 66 it's past Cobalt but before Marlboro.  Should be on your left.  At least it was there last year (summer)...NOT A crap Dunkin but an Indi(pendent).

Gerry

Ahhh...I'll have to check it out one of these days. Haven't been riding very much. Doin' lots around the house/yard lately.   You been riding regularly...?  
-joe

[GerryPetrecca]

Ahhh...I'll have to check it out one of these days. Haven't been riding very much. Doin' lots around the house/yard lately.   You been riding regularly...?  
-joe

Been commuting to work on bike, did the Libbys ride on Sunday (5/20) to Litchfield and back. 'bout it.  Spent first two weeks of may in England visiting friends.  Feeling the need for a good donut/Lobster bisque ride...you up fior one... anyone else??

Gerry