Finger Lakes Cycling Club

May 28-31, 2010 — arrive Friday evening, return Monday afternoon.

The first FLCC biking trip of the year will be to Keene Valley, a village nestled just to the east of the High Peaks of the Adirondacks. Our lodgings will be divided beween two establishments within a few houses of each other –

• The Rooster Comb Inn — holds about 10 people in several rooms with one double bed each plus a room with four single beds. They also have a nearby house with private rooms.
• Keene Valley Hostel — holds 11 people if we fill all 9 single beds and the double bed that are all in one open dorm. They also have some supplementary room in their main house.

Both of these places have full kitchens, so we’ll probably do a common dinner or two in one of them. Other amenities include a massage therapist available in the Rooster Comb, the world-famous Noon Mark Diner virtually across the street, free wi-fi, –  just ask; they probably have it.

The location gives us access to a gorgeous variety of bicycling routes; and, if we need to cope with rainy weather, the selection of hiking trails is world-class — it’s the Adirondacks! If all else fails, you can go to Lake Placid, only a few miles up hill, for shopping; a drive up Whiteface Mountain for the views; or a raft ride down the Ausable Chasm.

For bicycling, it’s best if you’re willing to do some climbing. For example, with 1,500 feet of climbing you can get on the road that circles Hurricane Mountain above Keene and gives you many glimpses of Marcy and other high peaks. From Keene Valley, it’s only a 16-mile ride but very rewarding.

A longer ride could go north along the Ausable River valley, then turn westerly and loop back into Lake Placid. The valley is a very beautiful ride tending downward with the river; the turn toward Placid begins a long, mostly gentle climb following the west branch of the Ausable River up stream. In Lake Placid there are endless opportunities to eat, shop, drink, and dissipate. I favor a brew pub that also has good food. Afterward, the return ride goes down about 1,200 feet to Keene, a wild ride of 6 or so miles.

I’ve mapped out several other rides. They aren’t necessarily the best rides and certainly not the only rides. If you have anything in mind, let’s talk it over; there will be several people along who know something about what the region has to offer. For my preliminary suggestions, see http://ridewithgps.com/users/2751/routes