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The 4th Annual
Deerfield Dirt Road Randonée (D2R2)
will be held on August 23, 2008
in conjunction with the
Deerfield Farm Festival
and Meadow Run Road Race. New Location 1 mile south of
Historic Old Deerfield.
Your entry includes:
A FREE pint of Berkshire Brewing Beer
Post-Ride BBQ meal
Farm Festival Admission
Checkpoint refreshments/snacks
Live Entertainment
Hot Showers
Morning of the ride Continental
Breakfast
Satisfaction that you have contributed to the preservation of
Open Space and Farmland in Franklin and Hampshire Counties
Founded in 1987, the
Franklin Land Trust is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization
devoted to the preservation of the farm and forest land, and the
rural character, of western Massachusetts. The Land Trust helps
farmers and other landowners protect their land from unwanted
development. To date, the Franklin Land Trust has helped to
preserve almost 15,000 acres of open space, about 23 square miles.
The hills and valleys of the region – with their farms, sugarbush,
rambling old New England roads, and small towns steeped in history –
are a unique and precious resource which “D2R2” riders will
experience at every turn in the road. Contributions to the Franklin
Land Trust allow us to continue our efforts to protect this
invaluable resource and are tax deductible. Since 1982
New
Horizons Sports has been serving Pioneer
Valley cyclists with quality bicycles, accessories, and service. All our
bikes feature our
Custom Fit Body Scanning and
Client Care Service Package
at no additional charge. We are the source for Western massachusetts
cycling information and the sponsor of the D2R2,
Berkshire Brevet Series,
and the
Great River Ride.
This
RUSA
populaire is breathtaking in both senses of the word: 109 miles, 70% on
dirtroads, with 11,300 feet of climbing. A more-moderate 100K ride will
leave at 9:00 AM, while a gentle 35-mile Tour of the Green River leaves
at 11:00 AM. All rides start and finish 1 mile south of Historic Old
Deerfield Village. Everything
about this ride is extraordinary; over 12 years of planning by
Randonneur Saunders Whittlesey went into this event. Riders will enjoy
a fabulous network of secret backroads and horse-cart lanes through some
of the most scenic and historic areas of western Massachusetts and
southern Vermont. The constantly twisting route is often only one lane
wide. Rest stops with refreshments will be staffed by area volunteers.
Stone walls line the roads far more than
double-yellow lines. There are dozens of maple-tree 'allees,' over
20 miles of rushing streams, four covered bridges, and countless
farms, fields, and forests. Riders may expect hours of cycling
without a single car passing.
The lunch-break checkpoint is a little
park with a National-Historic covered bridge, timber-crib dam, and
swim hole.
Bicycles should be equipped
with triple gearing and slightly wider tires (i.e.
25c-32c). Road conditions range from smooth clay to stony
washout and puddles. Seven key climbs reach 1400-2000'
elevation, and 16 smaller pitches exceed 13% gradient, including
a 25% wall. At mile 90, riders will tackle the hidden back side
of the lovely Patten Hill District: starting at 20% grade, the
road narrows to a bumpy 8' lane and ascends 960 feet vertical in
1.5 miles to a grand overlook toward Vermont.
Early Entry Fee Through May 31: $50.00
June 1 through
August 15: $60.00
August 16 to August 23: $75.00
Day of Ride: $80.00
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