In the August edition of the Adirondack Gearzette, a monthly newsletter presented by BikeADK. Doug Haney of Bike Adirondacks offered a detailed recap of this year’s Weekender at Paul Smith’s College, a preview of a new singletrack network in Elizabethtown, and teased a few biking events slated for the fall season.

Great Camp Sagamore Experience set for Aug. 21-24, September 18-21:

If you loved the Weekender, or feel like you would have, the August 21-24(road), and September 18-21 (gravel) Great Camp Sagamore Experience may be just the ticket you need. This all-inclusive Sunday-Wednesday event features two days of road cycling and you get to live like a Vanderbilt.

A trio of bikers. Photo courtesy of Bike Adirondacks.

Remaining 2022 Event Dates
August 21-24: Road
September 18-21: Gravel

Mileage: 20-25 miles per ride day

This multi-day experience in stunning Raquette Lake blends road or gravel cycling with a modern mini-vacation that provides you with a true connection to the landscape and history of this special place. Each morning will feature professionally guided bicycle rides on nearby low traffic roads (or no traffic in the case of the gravel events) showcasing incredible Adirondack scenery and gentle rolling terrain. Afternoons are all about camp exploration and relaxation. Think canoeing on pristine Sagamore Lake, hiking the rich pine forest, rolling a frame or two at the historic open-air bowling alley or simply lounging lakeside in an Adirondack chair with a good book.

Learn more and register here. 

On Deck: Pat Stratton Ride, August 27:

The August classic is up next on Saturday, August 27. Now in it’s 22nd year, the Saranac Lake Kiwanis Club’s Pat Stratton Ride raises tons of money for local youth programs ($11,000 just last year) and features a finish line BBQ complete with fresh baked pies. Register here.

Kids at a previous Pat Stratton Ride. Photo courtesy of Bike Adirondacks.

Named after local plumber and cycling enthusiast, the Pat Stratton Ride is a road cycling tour featuring some of the most stunning scenery and terrain in the northern Adirondacks. It’s also known for the world famous fresh baked pies available to all at the finish line BBQ hosted at Saranac Lake’s village owned ski area, Mt. Pisgah.

But here’s what it’s really about. The kids. Your registration supports a wide variety of youth programs, including an annual bicycle rodeo, free helmet distribution and fitting, school back-pack program, support for foster children, summer camp scholarships, and much more.

The 2021 event raised $11,000 for area youth programs, a $2,000 increase from 2020.

New BETA Trails in Elizabethtown:

The Barkeater Trails Alliance has done it again with another network of fun mountain-bike trails, this time in Elizabethtown. The new trails, totaling about 3 miles, are located across Route 9N from the Blueberry Hill bike trails, and it’s easy to ride between the networks. Read more about the new BETA Trails in this Guest Blog by Phil Brown.

A map of the new Cobble Hill trails in Elizabethtown. Bike Adirondacks website photo.

Take Advantage of Upcoming Fall Rides

Registration is filling up fast for the September 24 Handlebarley gravel tour and the October 8 Bike the Barns farm-by-bike experience. Both will sell out. Handlebarley, for example, as of August 4, only 14 spots were left.

The Handlebarley is a fall gravel tour hosted at Paradox Brewery on Saturday, September 24:

This mixed surface ride has it all, the best of which is that 95% of the route is on rural southern Adirondack backroads. You’ll experience everything from smooth rolling paved terrain to gravel roads that see more horse than vehicle traffic.

In addition to the original 42-mile route, we’ve added a new 20-mile out-and-back route to Elk Lake Lodge. Or you can combine the two for one damn good (and big) day.

Just take the road names as evidence – Ensign Pond, Old Furnace, Breed (and Sand) Hill, Corduroy and Johnson Pond. Along which, you’ll see plenty of water, but also historic farms, 1800’s stacked stone walls and the remnants of old mills as you hopscotch from paved country farm roads to gravel roads that weave through sweet smelling cedar groves.

Check out this blog post from the inaugural event in 2021. The 2022 event will feature two ride distances. The original 40 and a longer, more challenging option. More about the Handlebarley here.

Bike Adirondacks website photo.

Bike the Barns is a 25-30 mile ride set for Saturday, October 8:

After a two-year break, Bike the Barns returns on Saturday, October 8 with a casual tour of the stunning Champlain Valley agricultural landscape. Hosted at The Hub on the Hill, this 25-30 mile ride includes tours of Reber Rock, Juniper Hill and Echo Farms and culminates with a finish line celebration complete with local foods, craft beverages from Ausable Brewing, and live music by the Insolent Willies.

And best of all, your registration supports Adirondack North Country Association’s important work to bolster local food systems in order to drive economic growth, reduce food insecurity and contribute to positive community and health outcomes. More about Bike the Barns here.

To keep tabs on BikeADK updates including upcoming events, visit https://www.bikeadirondacks.com/

Photo at top: These 2021 Great Camp Sagamore Experience guests decided to give the 2022 Weekender at Paul Smith’s College a try. Clearly, the RV option suited them (and their doggo) well. Photo by Dave Kraus. Photo courtesy of BikeADK.