-Greasebag 2011-
Straight from the Knucklebuster blog...
Final Countdown: Greasebag Run
Went out on the final pre-run of the Saturday ride. Roads look pretty
good for the most part, but the asphalt of the last leg of the ride is
still torn up, so some minor changes have been made to the route. A
slight change in the route fixes that pretty easy. It’s a solid ride if I
say so myself. Laid back and a lot of fun, mostly backroads, some
twisties and some two lane highways thrown in to open it up on and
relax. I’m guessing with pit stops it should take us between 4-5 hours.
It’s about 120 miles, we’ll stop around the 60 mile mark to refuel.
There are plenty of gas stations on the way, so if you’ve got a tiny
tank and need to pull off that won’t be a problem.
Check bottom of this post for the final itinerary for Saturday, as
well as some more pics of the scenery from the ride. I’ll have printed
maps and directions at the Dice party and the departure location on
Saturday.
What you need to knowI think most of you guys who are
making out on Saturday are veterans of these types of run, so you know
how it goes down. For those of you new to the whole thing, here’s a few
things to be aware of, but let me first preface it with this - we’re
only riding 120 miles, we’re only camping for 1 night - it’s not rocket
science:
1) Be self sufficient. We’re not traveling to Alaska, so don’t
go packing like we’ll be on the road for months, but bring what you
need to keep you and your bike on the road. We’ll have some basic tools
with us for road side repairs, but if the pack splits up, make sure
you’ve got what you need to get back on the road. We don’t have any
chase trucks or trailers, so if your bike blows up and is beyond a road
side fix, have someone you can call to come pick you up. We’ll do our
best to keep everyone on the road, but have a back up plan.
2) Ride your ride. It’s not a race. You’ve got nothing to
prove here. It’s not a overly technical ride, and the roads are smooth
for the most part, but some pot holes and rough patches are inevitable.
What I’m saying here is: don’t be an idiot. The last thing we want to be
doing is scraping someone off the side of the road. The ride is pretty
laid back, enjoy it but be aware of road craters and dips. Know your
skill level and the limits of your bike. Pay attention to the road and
the people around you, not getting your GoPro in the perfect position to
get a killer shot for your blog. Common sense is your friend. Riding in
a pack is usually slower than riding solo (unless you ride with Fritz),
so for the experienced riders who might not be able to deal with that,
feel free to bomb on ahead. If you’ve never ridden in a pack before,
this article on Chop Cult is mandatory reading:
How to ride in a pack.
Be respectful. This goes for the whole event, but especially
for the campground. Jay and his crew are great hosts and have welcomed
us with open arms. The camp has been in their family for generations.
Don’t be a douche - have fun, get you’re wild and crazy on, but don’t
disrespect the property.
What to bring. Whatever you need to get you through the night.
Tent, sleeping bag, blow up doll, mexican blanket, you’re favorite
teddy bear - whatever. It’s 1 night, we’re in the woods - it’s not
complicated. I highly recommend some bug spray. We’ll have beer and
food, if you want to bring a battery powered blender and put together
some mix drinks, that’s on you. Campground has bathrooms, but otherwise
is a pretty stripped down, back to basics deal. For the ride, bring the
tools you need to keep yourself on the road, and watch the weather to
see if you’re going to need rain gear. If you’ve got a gas tank that
only gets you 10 miles, you might want to think about something to hold
extra petrol, we’re not going to be stopping for gas that often. If you
forget anything, don’t sweat it - there are major chain retailers along
the way and not to far from camp, so you can pick up anything you need.
We’re going to NH, not the outback.
The final itinerary for Saturday.Saturday, July 30: Ride & Camp
Departure time: 11:30 am sharpJump-off point: Great Road Shopping Center on Rte 225 in Lexington, MA
Route Map:
Greasebag Run Directions
Campground: Laconia White Birch Campground, 148 Bean Hill Rd, Belmont, NH
Camping Cost: $15 per person, free food and drink while supplies last, no reservations require
Jump off point: The Great Road Shopping Center in Lexington,
MA. It’s on Route 225W, take exit 31B off 128. It’s on the left hand
side, there is a Friendly’s Ice Cream right before it. Look for the sign
above. Pull in and meet us in the back of the parking lot.
We’re leaving exactly at 11:30, so get here early, refuel, grab some grub and be ready to take off.
In case you missed it, here is a link to the final run route:
Greasebag Run Directions