CT riders?

[Bigballsofpaint]

Just wondering how many of us there are. This year i plan on going out every sunday i have free and driving the nice routes of the state. May or may not be on my ninjette, but this is the forum i frequent the most. Im also going to americade and laconia, and taking a trip to the dragon in August.

[nycsteve]

I've seen some of your posts on the 2013 East Coast Rally thread. Maybe we can meetup somewhere to take the trip down? Also, my brother lives in CT and I go there a few times a year, so it would be nice to have someone show me some routes while I'm over. I also ride with a group that heads up there a few times a year.

If you ever decide to ride through bear mountain/finger lakes, let me know.

[Bigballsofpaint]

Ive heard about the bear mountain runs, so i may try to get over there this summer. Im still learning some of the CT routes myself, but being up in the northwest corner its not too hard to find good roads.

Ill definitely post when we decide when were doing the dragon trip. Im thinking about doing the moto marathon in NY in september as well.

[adouglas]

I'm in. I live in Trumbull, just north of Bridgeport.

The NW corner is my normal stomping grounds when I want to go ride for fun.

A favorite ride for me is to head up CT58 past the reservoirs to Bethel for a Dagwood burger at the Sycamore Drive-In or some wings at TK's in Danbury, then up the roads along the NY border (37/39), connecting with Rt. 7 south of Kent. A stop at Bull's bridge to check out the falls, then up 7 all the way to Falls village or beyond.

Another good destination ride, albeit not as scenic, is to head over to Abbott's in Noank for a hot lobster roll (expensive but well worth it).

Yet another great one for a long day is to head up to Vermont and back.

CT is blessed with some fantastic roads and scenery. I do not envy those in the midwest, where it's nothing but straight and flat.

[Bigballsofpaint]

A couple weekends ago i went across 4 to the covered bridge on 7, then went up 7 and hit 44 east to get home, was a nice ride, although im sure summer will be much nicer. Sadly i havent explored nearly as much as i would like, im not one to usually just go off by myself for a ride. Im in torrington, so trumbull isnt all that far. I end up in milford once a month usually since thats where my g/fs family is

[nycsteve]

I say post up a potential ride and let @eddiekay know. He rides for days at time it seems. I'm up for the ride as long as it doesn't interfere with my schedule.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by adouglas

I'm in. I live in Trumbull, just north of Bridgeport.

Weird! Google maps gives me completely different information for "Level 5, detention block AA23".

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Alex

Weird! Google maps gives me completely different information for "Level 5, detention block AA23".

Yeah, well, the address is hard to find and the doorman's a real b*stard but I've got a nice roommate.

[CC Cowboy]

You guys ever ride up to Marcus Dairy in Danbury?

I heard it closed down recently. It used to be a great motorcycle hang out years ago.

[Bigballsofpaint]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

You guys ever ride up to Marcus Dairy in Danbury?

I heard it closed down recently. It used to be a great motorcycle hang out years ago.

A guy i work with said he use to go down a few times a year on sunday and there was always a huge bike crowd. It did close a few years ago though.

[Bigballsofpaint]

I think tomorrow ill be taking a decent ride since i got the 1000 back together. Need to make sure everythings working good ( i took it out for a quick 10 min ride with no issues). The plan is to go from torrington across 4 to the covered bridge. South on 7 and hit 37 down to danbury, maybe stop and each somewhere, then up 202 back to torrington. Just in case anyones around. Ill leave around 1 to catch as much nice weather as i can.

[adouglas]

Sounds like fun. I might join you. I ride the 37/7 route all the time, only going the other way.

I'm in Trumbull, over on the other side of the state. I could blast up 8 to Torrington to meet you, or ride your route in reverse until we run into one another then turn around. I'm easy to spot.

I also know two really great places to eat in the Danbury/Bethel area, both noted earlier in the thread.

There's also a guy who joined last season near me, but who I've never met. I'll ping him and see if he's interested as well.

Look for a PM with details.

[offrdjeep87]

Originally Posted by adouglas

There's also a guy who joined last season near me, but who I've never met. I'll ping him and see if he's interested as well.

Thanks again for inviting me. I would definitely be interested in joining some some of you guys this summer for a ride. I'm looking forward to exploring some new routes. Like I said though I'm in school until mid May

[dougherty]

I'm always up for a group ride. Live in Norwich. Throw me on the list if you are putting one together.

[Bigballsofpaint]

I PMed adouglas back, norwich is far but your more than welcome to tag along. Ive never met up with anyone on rides yet on this site, im more going just to make sure the bike is running good but im always looking to meet more people who ride in the state. He is going to come up either to torrington or cornwall and we will meet up and ride down 7, 37 to danbury where we will break off. I will prob grab a bite to eat down there and then head up 202 home. So it would prob be easiest for you to either meet up in torrington, or ride over to trumbull and meet him for the ride up, i dont know whats faster or which way you prefer.

[adouglas]

I'll be leaving Trumbull between 11:30 and 12 and heading up Rt. 8 to Torrington. Shooting for arrival by 1 pm.

[Bigballsofpaint]

Sorry for the late start Andrew, it was a good ride though. Had a lot of fun, 202 was a lot less twisty than expected but still a nice ride home. Well have to meet up and do it again, have fun on the 750 now that your passed the break in stage!

[pmason718]

Guys wsup I just moved to Ct, I think I know or have ridden with NYC steve before but I'm looking to connect with a few more people

[Bigballsofpaint]

may is pretty hectic and the start is june is americade/laconia, so i wont be able to really do any weekend riding until after that. But once all thats done im out most weekends.

[adouglas]

Where in CT are you?

I'm in Trumbull, just north of Bridgeport. Bigballsofpaint is up in Torrington.

I'm taking a few vacation days and will probably go riding tomorrow if you're interested. Going to be a nice day…..

[adouglas]

On Sunday May 5 there will be a large ride to benefit the Newtown families and related charities, from Shelton up to Newtown and down to Trumbull. I'm considering it.

This is an escorted ride so will probably be very slow and very Harley-heavy.

However, it's for a very good cause and is a small way to pay tribute.

Info here:

http://greenribbonride.com

[Panda]

Do you ever make it out west to Bear Mtn @adouglas?

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Panda

Do you ever make it out west to Bear Mtn @adouglas?

Only done the BM thing once. Will no doubt do it again at some point, but the roads in CT are so nice there's really no need to travel almost two hours one way just to get some good riding in. Plus, it's crowded on weekends. I suppose if I get bored with my local surroundings I'll put up with the motorcycle zoo at BM more often.

Now that I'm on a Gixxer things might be a bit different, too... I'm an older guy and tend to dislike the over-aggressive squidly types who often ride bikes like mine.

Thing is, I don't mind riding alone. You're always able to go your own pace and never have to worry about dropping people or getting dropped. You get to go where you like, when you like and change your mind along the way if it suits you.

[Panda]

You know of any good routes closer to NY that see in CT? I've been looking to add some new routes.

[adouglas]

From NYC: Up the Hutch/684/84 to Danbury. Then CT 39/37 and up US 7. The whole of US 7 all the way to Mass is beautiful (e.g. "Scenic Road next 17 miles."). Covered bridges, lakes, rivers.... The farther north you get, the nicer it is.

Or head up the Taconic or Rt 22 and cut over. Pretty much the whole countryside along the NY/CT border north of 84 and over to CT route 8 is really nice and not choked with motorcycle traffic.

There are lakes with beautiful shoreline drives that are a pleasure to ride around at 20 mph. Gorgeous.

A rather lame scenic ride map is at http://www.ride4ever.org. Connecticut used to publish a fantastic paper motorcycle map with scenic routes but stopped doing it.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Lots of good roads in eastern CT. 49, 138, 214, 201, 169. Towns like Stonington, Voluntown, Putnam, Pomfret, Woodstock. A great place to meet up with other riders and see lots of bikes is the Vanilla Bean. Sweet Evelinas is good breakfast stop with lots of riders as well. Nice country roads, good curves.

[Panda]

Cool, thanks guys. I think I am going to head into CT this weekend to see what I can see.

[adouglas]

Hey, Panda...

I mapped out a really nice 90-mile loop in western CT, running up the NY border. Starts/ends in Danbury, at a Mobil station off Exit 5 of I-84.

This road has it all... twisties, rivers, gorges, lakes, covered bridges, bucolic farm vistas....

This is pretty much the route that bigballs of paint, his SO and friends rode with me a couple of weeks ago.

http://goo.gl/maps/MHzsu

Great eats in Danbury at TK's American Cafe (famous for wings) and the Sycamore Drive-In in Bethel.

[Panda]

Awesome...thanks @adouglas.

If anyone is interested in going I'm planning on being KSU at 10:15AM tomorrow morning in Astoria.

1.5 hours up to Danbury
2-3 hours along the route adouglas mapped out
1.5 hours back to New York

Should be about a 240-250 mile day.

[nycsteve]

Nice plan! Enjoy, I'll hopefully be at tomorrow's ride to the light house on that big ass group ride. Finally got the bike running again, it's been 3 weeks We need to ride again soon!

[Panda]

Nice man, glad you got it together. Have fun on tomorrow's ride. I was thinking about going but wanted to hit up some twisties.

[nycsteve]

I hear you on that one. I just feel more comfortable riding with a bunch of folks (especially some of the very experienced) to make sure my bike makes it ok lmao. That and I didn't get to make it all the way to the last one. Once the testing is done, I'll be able/more comfortable riding the twisties again. We can probably ride next weekend or a few weeks from now. My schedule is very busy at the moment, and getting more hectic as the summer draws.

[BFisher244]

One more in CT

[nycsteve]

BTW, my brother lives up in CT and just got a bike for free from a friend. It's an oldie, forgot the make/model, but he's excited to ride it. Needs some fixing up, although he said it currently starts and runs a bit, but he should be riding sometime mid summer I think.

I visit him a few times a year, especially in the summer, and so I will definitely post up here when I'll be going. If anything, he can tag along in his 3000gt (vr4 ) and record/play around with us on the go pro!

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Panda

Awesome...thanks @adouglas.

If anyone is interested in going I'm planning on being KSU at 10:15AM tomorrow morning in Astoria.

1.5 hours up to Danbury
2-3 hours along the route adouglas mapped out
1.5 hours back to New York

Should be about a 240-250 mile day.

No promises (lots going on this weekend), but if I can make it I'll meet you at the Mobil station in Danbury. If I'm not there by noon don't wait for me.

I've got a new blue/white GSXR, neon yellow helmet and black/red leathers.

[nycsteve]

Originally Posted by adouglas

I've got a new blue/white GSXR, neon yellow helmet and black/red leathers.

[Panda]

Sounds good. I have a black cbr, neon yellow helmet, and black jacket with neon yellow accents.

[eddiekay]

panda....I'm going up early. If you're coming up taconic from astoria @ 10:15 wanna meet at Bryant Pond rd ? ( 2 or 3 exits south of 84 leads to danbury. I'll be messin around near 301/84 so will be in area and can meet @ 301 or 84....lime kiln road east bound on 84 ? I leave before 9 to beat traffic.

[Panda]

@eddiekay - That sounds good. Or do you want meet at 301 and Taconic and then take 301 over to Danbury?

EDIT: actually that doesn't make sense. We can meet wherever and then head to Danbury. It looks like there are some nice roads between taconic and Danbury.

[eddiekay]

OK....tell me what time and I'll take us up to 84 via backroads off 301 (lime Kiln....milller hill....good stuff)
301 and taconic........oooorrrr..... coffee at Bryant Pond RD exit....up to you