Book Mill Ride
A hilly 65-miler starting and ending at the Montague Book Mill, 440 Greenfield Road, Montague, MA (“Books you don’t need in a place you can’t find”). Plan on an all-day adventure.
Park in the unpaved lot across from the Book Mill building. To reach the lot, navigate to 584 Turners Falls Road.
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56949660
At approximately mile 30, we’ll stop for lunch at McCusker’s Market in Buckland, just across the Deerfield river from Shelburne Falls, and take a stroll on the Bridge of Flowers. We also can bike across the river on Bridge Street and check out the glacial potholes at Salmon Falls.
This is a joint ride with Charles River Wheelers.
Leaders expect to average 11-14 mph. Faster riders are welcome to go off the front.
RSVP to LTolman@LTolman.org is required by 8 p.m. the night before the ride. Your email must include your mobile phone number and a name & phone number for your emergency contact.
At mile 55, there’s an optional steep climb up Mount Sugarloaf, with sweeping views across the Connecticut River. Skipping Mount Sugarloaf shaves about 3 miles from the total.
There are optional modifications, but you’d be on your own:
1) Skipping Baptist Corner doesn’t shave any miles but lowers the elevation gain.
2) A 45-mile option skips Shelburne Falls entirely; you definitely need to bring your own food for this option.
3) From Historic Deerfield, a shortcut on busy Route 5 eliminates the steep Eaglebrook School climb but also cuts out the fun, flat cruise along the Connecticut River to Sunderland and the fun, flat cruise up the other side of the river back to Montague.
4) Skipping Mount Sugarloaf near the end shaves about 3 miles from the total.
Back at the Book Mill, the Lady Killigrew Cafe is open until 9 p.m., we think.
Photos & video from past Book Mill rides
2006-2013: https://ltolman.org/BookMill2013/bookmill2013.html
2022: https://www.facebook.com/sevenhillswheelmen/posts/pfbid0vETZ62iUaEnxNcw67At3GaQKp1P7T36LcwU4zLxKLtT4tH3tPGTa6yyNpabXjmNwl
2024: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.842029984757880&type=3
2025: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1104446791849530&type=3