4th Hoosic River Ride Moves North to Bennington
Organizers for the 4th Hoosic River Ride, an annual cycling event that benefits the not for profit Hoosic River Watershed Association, announced today that this year’s participants will discover new roads in the Hoosic’s watershed due to a move in venue. The ride will be held Saturday, August 23, rain or shine,at Bennington College in North Bennington, VT. To date, the ride has raised over $15,000 through participant and sponsorship contributions in support of HooRWA’s programs in education, research and advocacy.
For the last three years the ride has been based at Mt. Greylock Regional H.S. in Williamstown, MA, but organizer Lisa Carey-Moore explains the move to Bennington was necessary to keep the ride interesting for returning participants. “It was always our intent to move the ride around the watershed, as much as logistics allow, in order to show riders new reaches of the Hoosic and new areas to visit.” The three route distances are 13, 33 and 70 miles respectively, and all feature covered bridges, panoramic views and shorter sections of dirt roads. The regions back roads are a big draw, explains Carey-Moore, and a novelty to those traveling to the event from more urban, stop and go environments.
Feedback has been positive for previous rides. Jamey Rawstron of Attleboro, MA, rode the course for the first time in 2007 and sent the following email in response to a post ride survey: “Everyone was very positive and helpful at each aid station, the route was well marked and lived up to reports that it would be
a beautiful course. In many ways, it was like rolling back the hands of time--quiet country roads that seemed engineered just for cycling…”
Each route will have aid stations to provide sustenance to riders, and all riders are treated to a post-ride picnic at Bennington College presented by watershed eateries and volunteers.
Registration and additional details are available at hoorwa.org. Fees start at $30 for the short route, and $40 for the longer two, but will increase by $10 after August 1. The first 120 participants will receive a water bottle and eco-friendly shopping bag. Participants who are interested in raising $250 for HooRWA will qualify to receive a commemorative jersey. For information, contact Lisa Carey-Moore at 413-458-2241. Registration is available at www.hoorwa.org , at active.com or bikereg.com, or at local outdoor shops. Volunteers are also needed, so those willing to help the day before or the day of the event should
give Carey-Moore a call.
