Meteor Shower Ride
****DONATIONS OPTIONAL, HELMETS REQUIRED!****
This ride is completely FREE!!! Any donations you choose to make will go to supporting All Bodies on Bikes, and our mission to create and foster a size inclusive bike community.
THE BIG IDEA:
We will meet at Sheldon Field at 9:00 PM. We'll ride a total of 5.3 miles, both paved and dirt. The dirt segments are along the Hadley dike, and make up about 2 miles total. At the halfway point of our ride, we'll stop and lay/sit in the grass, looking up at the stars for a long time. We may (hopefully) see some shooting stars and make sweet wishes and then those sweet wishes may (hopefully) come true!
Please bring water, a blanket (or chair), and your keenest eyes!
MEET UP LOCATION:
Sheldon Field, Northampton MA - free parking in a small lot, near the rail trail. No risk of getting towed until after midnight.
SCHEDULE:
Pre-ride talk starts at 9:00 PM (please be there and ready to roll by 9:00 PM!)
Ride out at 9:15 PM
End back at Sheldon Field at 11:00 PM (this is an estimated time, this will depend largely on how long we want to sit and watch the sky!)
ROUTE:
The ride is 5.3 miles with 121 feet of climbing (mostly flat!). We will ride on the rail trail, across the beautiful bridge over the Connecticut River, and then along the Hadley dike to our stargazing spot with a view of the river. The riding along the dike is a dirt path.
We will ride at an average pace of 5-7 mph, and won't leave anyone behind.
This is an out-and-back ride that ends where we started.
COMING FROM EASTHAMPTON?
Join the official unofficial ride over on gravel roads through the meadows - full route here. Ride back to Easthampton is ON YOUR OWN - rail trail takes you right there though!
We will meet at 7:45 PM at Millside Park (by the Easthampton Mill 180 Building). WE'LL START RIDING AT 8 PM SHARP! This route features gravel roads and one short steep climb. We will ride at an 8-10 mph pace to make it to Sheldon Field on time!
ACCESSIBILITY:
There is a gate leading into the dike which will limit the accessibility to trikes. We will stop at the halfway point of the route. This event will be fully outside. There is a bathroom about a mile into the ride, at the start of the bridge. Other than that, there is no bathroom access, besides the woods. If you have any specific questions or accessibility needs, please reach out!
WHICH WHEELS TO BRING?
This route features both paved and unpaved roads. We recommend a bike with at least 35mm tires. Bigger tires will be more stable and comfortable, smaller will require more advanced bike handling skills! Your bike also needs to be in good condition and ready to ride.
HELMETS ARE REQUIRED!