Hi, I’m your happy ride leader for Saturday’s Fayetteville-Happy Valley ride, starting at 9 a.m. out of Wellwood School in Fayetteville. (Aug 23)

Technically, there are four distances: 22, 38, 49, and 63 (metric century), however some of us will be riding 29 miles. That route will start and finish like the 22-miler, but we’ll ride a bit further to the north on quiet country roads. Anyone is welcome to join this group as well. We won’t drop anyone, but if you think you might be slower than the main pack, I’d encourage you to ride the 22 mile route, and we’ll will probably pick you up riding back in.

‼️IMPORTANT DETOUR NOTE‼️The three longer routes are mapped to go across Tag Road on the way back. Tag Road is closed due to bridge work. You will need to continue down Gee to New Boston, turn right, turn right again (before the railroad tracks) to stay on New Boston. Turn right again at Lakeport and turn left onto Chestnut Ridge (just past the ebd of Tag), at which point you will be back on course. A screenshot the detour route is attached. The detour adds about two miles.

I don’t generally print out ride maps, but I will print a few for this ride because of the detour, for anyone not familiar with the area, since Ride With GPS won’t route you around it.

If you’re on the metric century and need to refill your water, there are convenience stores in Canastota at 18 mi and South Bay roundabout at 40 mi, and if desperation sets in later, you could try the ice cream stand or The Wild Animal Park on Lakeport at approximately 52 mi. I would refill in South Bay out of an abundance of caution, but if you sail on by in the zone, don’t panic.

Something yummy will await at the finish! Although if you go by the ice cream stand and it’s open, i encourage you to take a break and enjoy a cone! It’s yummy!

Hope to see you on Saturday!