Looking for members who enjoy travel, like meeting new people and have strong organization skills.

PFW is looking for club members interested in running PFW trips. You can choose from favored destinations or choose a new one. The trip committee is available for guidance to assist you along the way. Previous PFW trips provided many fun times and lifelong friends. Lead the way. For more information contact Harry Koenig 609-409-2871 or Hkopcf@comcast.net or Michael Heffler 609-799-1873 mheffler@cisco.com

Check the Scrapbook for Pictures & information about past trips.

VERMONT Bicycle Trip!

4 day MEMORIAL DAY weekend 2011:

Start/End Dates: May 27^th - May 30^th (Friday to Monday home)

Location: In & Around Bennington, Vt just 4½ hours from Princeton, NJ.

Cost etc:  $120 per person, two per room (single in own room $218), $240 per couple. Checks: Made out to PRINCETON FREE WHEELERS, attach name(s), address, telephone & e-mail. If you want one bed for couple, specify as such (otherwise room will be two separate beds). Please include likely time of arrival on 27^th. Limited number of rooms, mail your check soon.

Included: Sleep 3 nights/3 days of cycling, FREE: light Breakfast; refrigerator, microwave & pool! & more! Welcoming party, refreshments provided, feel free to bring your own as well.  Sign Up By: First Come First Served subject to motel space.  Refund Policy: TBD by motel management.

Accommodations: A much improved motel this year, has a panoramic view of Glastonbury Peak just outside of Bennington, two to a room in separate beds or specify for single queen bed. First come first served. Also some rooms are available with kitchenette at add’l cost. Single persons looking for roommate just ask for same, otherwise will have to pay for own room.

Terrain: Moderate flat to moderate hilly but all efforts will be made to minimize steep up hills. C to B rides are anticipated, depending on the group & volunteer C leader; B leader is included.  Strong B riders will have a stupendous opportunity to do the 10 mi, 3,000 ft ascent of Mt. Greylock in nearby Mass. Larry [& anyone else not wishing to cycle it] will be driving up. If you enjoy mountain biking, the motel reports two great trails nearby.

Additional activities: A welcoming party provided in the evening, an optional small extra cost MANSION TOUR is planned for one of two extraordinary Mansions! Lots of shopping in country stores & nearby towns & eats. Everyone should try Blue Benn Diner once in their lives (if you can fit inside)!

Bike Rentals: BYO but may be arranged yourself from two local bike shops.

Transportation: responsibility of attendees, organizer facilitates carpooling.

Contact: Larry Goldsmith lgoldsmith2000@yahoo.com and use “PFW TRIP” in subject line.

Return of Bennington VERMONT Bicycle Trip Report  

May 28^th - May 31^st 2010 

By Larry Goldsmith, PFW Ride Leader

This year the club has had more cycling trips then ever before. This past Memorial Day weekend, 15 Princeton Free Wheelers drove 4 hours up Route 287 to beautiful Bennington Vermont to enjoy the outstanding vistas of southern Vermont.

Known as the Green Mountain state and for maple syrup, Vermont has lots of great roads for cycling. We enjoyed riding together next to many small farms with their black and white cows. Naturally, the cows were acclimated to the hills and after the first day we began to accept and enjoy them as well.

Four PFW members needed a challenge and I was able to supply them with the route up the tallest mountain in nearby Massachusetts, Mount Greylock! I personally climbed Mount Greylock years ago and can assure you first it is 7+ miles ALL UP with steeply banked curves, it is usually 5 to 15 degrees colder at the top and finally the view from 3491 feet at the monument (at top) is like looking down from an airplane! I know they enjoyed it as they were all very happy at the end of the day when everyone joined up for wine and cheese.

We also took a big step back in time when we toured the Park-McCullough Mansion in North Bennington Vt., a mansion built from gold rush money and impressive enough for a Presidential visit. We then cycled together on relatively flat & quite picturesque Manchester Vt.

Many photos were taken & I look forward to seeing them appear here.

Most importantly all had a good time, made new acquaintances and even a few new friends. The club has had two other trips this year - I suggest you consider doing one in the future as well, just one more of the benefits of your PFW membership.  I really enjoyed being able to organize this one and enjoy the company the others provided.  You will too!

Lake Luzerne III

Dates:  Sunday, June 19 through Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Location:  Lake Luzerne Motel, 296 Lake Avenue, Rt 9N, Lake Luzerne, NY.

Cost:  The house accommodates six people at $1200, two per room, @ $450 for the week for each of the two large bedrooms.  $300 for the small bedroom.  If a single person occupies a bedroom it is still the same price for the week.  First come first served for the house.  Motel rooms, which accommodate two per room, are $70 per night.  There is a 7% State tax and a 4% bed tax for the motel rooms.

There is a $100 deposit required to reserve any room.  Final payment is due by May 31.  Deposits and final payments this year should go directly to Gwen or Steve at the Lake Luzerne Motel 518-696-3012

Included:  Lodging, private beach, swimming pool, with small refrigerator, cable TV, and daily maid service in each motel room.  Use of canoes, paddle boat, row boat, and charcoal and gas grills.

Full refund, if requested by June 1.

Accommodations:  Motel rooms have two double beds.  House has three bedrooms, full kitchen and living room, washer and dryer (for house residents only).

Terrain, etc:  Moderately hilly to moderately flat.  Beautiful rides along lakes, rivers and streams.  C to B rides are anticipated, depending on the composition of the group and volunteer ride leaders.  Several attendees from last year's trip (who are now familiar with the area) will be returning this year and we will have a number of capable ride leaders.

Additional activities:  Hiking, fishing, rafting, horseback riding, tennis, golf, kayaking, and a host of recreational activities are available in the area.  Many good, moderately priced restaurants.

Bike rentals:  BYOB      Transportation:  I will try to facilitate car pooling.

Contact:  Bob Smith woodwin1@optonline.net

Return Of Lake Luzerne       

Lake Luzerne:  A cycling adventure for the ages

By Howie Luxenberg

Sixteen of us car-pooled for a week of cycling at Lake Luzerne, a tiny village near Lake George, nestled between some of the greenest mountains and glistening streams in the Adirondacks.  

We climbed hills. We climbed mountains that never seemed to end.  For me, it was like a grueling crawl to the peaks of Mount Everest without the benefit of a Sherpa.  Larry Chestnut, our resident cheer leader and no stranger to the mountains, kept repeating:  "Shift into your lowest gear and just grind it out."   Easy for him to say, as he looked over his shoulder and slowly led the way forward.

Al Lowich, a man of few words, unless it relates to politics, chugged along at a pace that defied logic.  Most electrifying of all were Don Sprague and his wife, Judy, who rode to the top on a 50-pound tandem without the benefit of low gearing.  Don has long been an expert rider and ride leader, but Judy is a virtual novice and their twin performance made us stare in wonderment.

Bob Smith, the trip's organizer, charted the routes and kept us guessing about the next destination on our journey to the heavens.  Of course, he and his wife, Meg, made it all worthwhile with a sumptuous dinner of various pastas, sauces and fabulous desserts of freshly picked strawberries, blueberries, ice cream and a variety of other goodies.

There was no shortage of wonderful eateries and shops that we visited as we weaved through the trails.  For instance, Al astonished many of us, as well as the owner of a particular breakfast establishment, by simply devouring the biggest vat of oatmeal known to mankind on two separate mornings.  Those witnessing the occasion were left aghast. In the evening, whether you chose prime ribs, steaks, pork chops or Italian cuisine, you were never disappointed in the quality or quantity at very reasonable prices.      

Marilyn Saywell and Metta Cahill climbed the peaks and looked spectacular doing it. 

Bill Cooper and Bob Parsons patrolled as unofficial traffic cops during many of our treks, helping keep us safe and on a proper heading.

Harry and Terrie Koenig were among the more deliberate, but no less determined, hill climbers, but I'm certain they captured more breath-taking views of the landscape than some of the more aggressive riders.

Dennis Whitney and yours truly had the distinction of being sole members of the group to take to the road each day without interruption.  As expected, Mr. Lowich was the mileage leader.

Most importantly, there were no mishaps, spills or even flat tires.  The weather cooperated and it was truly an outstanding week.

Happy Trails to You

A 2011 Bicycling Vacation      

Dates: Tues 7/5 - Sat. 7/9

Take a trip in NY and NE on various rail trails. This trip will consist almost entirely or entirely of trails. Lodging will be in motels. So there will be reliance on the car, assuming gas is not $5 a gallon.  This trip will use flexibility in choosing the trails but here are choices:

Tues:  Orange Heritage Trail 11.5 mi.  Asphalt & crushed stone, meet in Monroe NY that morning.

Wed & Thurs:  Cooperstown & Bloomsville - Stay overnight Tues & Wed in Oneonta.  One day we’ll go to Cooperstown, pedal around the lake, see one of the museums.  Other day we’ll go to Bloomsville & the Catskill Scenic Trail - 26 mi cinder dirt crushed stone.

Fri: Mohawk-Hudson Bike Hike Trail 39 mi asphalt. Stay overnight Thurs near Rotterdam. 

Sat: Stay overnight Fri. in either Kingston or Poughkeepsie.  Choose Harlem Valley Rail Trail, Millerton 10 mi, asphalt or D & H Canal Heritage Corridor 10.4 mi asphalt & dirt crushed stone.

All distances are one way. You can turn around whenever there is no train coming in the opposite direction.

Some other activities may include the Walkway over the Hudson, FDR estate, Rhinebeck, attending a Binghampton Mets game. So, as the conductor says: ALL ABOARD!

Contact: Dan Rappoport 924 9417 or 609 933 6258 if interested.