Finger Lakes Wine Country Tour

[bluebug32]

The Finger Lakes are a strange cross between pancake flat and screaming hills. I never believed it until I did the http://www.highlandercycletour.com/

11,000 feet of climbing and 20+ percent grades.

[Crankin]

OK, I am home.
Our last day of riding was rain-free, and mostly rolling, no steep climbs. There were 2 hills I would consider climbs and since this was a 60 mile ride, I took it easy. The first stop was at 12 miles, where there was a tour of the Seward House, and I just got a snack and pressed on. And, it was a good thing. I had a flat after riding through gravel and DH had 2 flats, from the incredible amount of glass on the shoulder. The shoulders were wide, but on main roads for part of the time, so full of crap. I am not used to this. We ate lunch in Aurora, at a great place and called the leader and told him we were out of tubes and down to one CO2 cartridge. And people made fun of us for bringing all of these supplies! The van came by, gave us 2 tubes and we got more of our own cartridges out of our bag. After lunch we had the 1.5 mile climb and about 10 miles to King Ferry Winery. We did stop, did a tasting (I spit the wine right out) and bought a case, which the van came by and took for us. The leader said we were making good time, so we pressed on to Ithaca. Lots of downhill and through some beautiful areas of suburban homes. Then we had to ride over a brick road near Cornell, which was OK, but also down a very steep (20%) downhill right into the main part of the city... I was freaked out and wanted to walk, but DH started yelling at me to just go , use my brakes and remember my mtb skills! Yea, well there's no disc brakes on my road bike and the hill ended at a stoplight in traffic. But, I went, and riding in the city to the hotel was fine. We got cleaned up, and the leader drove the people with cars back to the original inn, where we had left them; about 20 minutes away. We went out to dinner at the Moosewood Cafe, a great experience! We sat with our friends and another couple who rode the tour on a tandem. He's a racer and super strong guy in his early 60s and she does not ride a single, at all. They were nice. As we saying goodbye to everyone (a lot of weirdness came out over the 5 days), the male half of one of the couples, who we had spent some time with, came up to me, took my hand, and told me he "had to to tell me that he loved my blue eyes," and that i was beautiful. Oy, I am getting hit on at a bike tour, with my DH right by my side . He had kind of done something a bit weird the day before, which I let roll by, but it was kind of strange... my friend (the male half) told me this guy also told him some inappropriate stuff while they were riding together.
All in all, this was not my favorite tour, but it's the first one where I did all of the miles. The rain did put a damper on doing some of the stops and there was not as much cultural stuff as on my last trip. But, it was fine. We drove home today, stopping in West Stockbridge, in the Berkshires for lunch, in a place I have only seen while on my bike! It's nice to have the weekend to recover.
ETA: total of 225.6 miles, with 11,000 feet of climbing in 4.5 days

[emily_in_nc]

Sounds wonderful, minus the rain, flats, and some of the hills! I'd be interested to hear what inns you stayed in since we've stayed in some of the same towns.

We did a 9-day self-supported tour in the Finger Lakes area in 2004 and also found it extremely challenging. We'd also been there a couple of years prior (sans bikes) winery hopping and staying in a few very nice inns. Loved Skaneateles as well -- such a charming town! I really fell in love with that part of the country. We also spent some time in Ithaca (not cycling, just walking around), and it is indeed KILLER hilly.

Thanks for posting and congratulations! It's definitely very challenging cycling. We trained LOTS in preparation for our tour there, and it was still difficult.

P.S. We were lucky -- not a single flat for either of us on our tour!

[bluebug32]

mmmm....Moosewood

[dinabean]

I was freaked out and wanted to walk, but DH started yelling at me to just go , use my brakes and remember my mtb skills! Yea, well there's no disc brakes on my road bike and the hill ended at a stoplight in traffic.

I went to Cornell and recognize the scary hill of which you speak. That is one scary hill! Glad you got through it all OK. Despite the weirdness.

[Crankin]

a few pics:

[Sky King]

In 1985 we took the train from Baltimore to Ithaca, rode a similar route for five days and it just didn't rain - it poured! We had planned to camp and only camped the first night. Thank heavens for all the little resort cabins, We would venture into the rain and then stop about 2 or 3, find a nice cabin and spend the afternoon drying out and having a beer. I loved the scenery, could have managed with a few less hills. Would enjoy going back but having a drier ride. Sounds like you had a great time despite the rain.