The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Cooperstown 2018

October 5th to October 12th

Ride Director: Ida Nystrom
Ride Co-Director: Elizabeth Nystrom
Report by: Christopher Marsh

This was a fixed-based trip centered at the historic Cooper Inn in Cooperstown located at the south end of Lake Otsego.  Everyone on the ride received a copy of the book “Cranks from Cooperstown”,, that contained detailed maps and cue sheets for 50 rides in the area. There were suggested rides every day, but you could do any kind of ride you liked.  Most of the rides going north/south were rolling hills while the east/west rides were very hilly.

The fall scenery was great with the trees turning color in the hills around lake Otsego.  Some of the things to see on the area rides were the historic Hyde Hall mansion at Glimmerglass State Park, the Ommegang Brewery, Fly Creek Cider Mill, and the Holly Trinity Russian Orthodox Monastery where we had a private tour.

Overall the roads were very good with low traffic or a paved shoulder.  The drivers were very courteous and gave us plenty of room.  It was a pleasure to ride in the area.

There was also a lot to see after the rides in Cooperstown.  In addition to the famous Baseball Hall of Fame, there is the Fenimore Art Museum, the Farmers’ Museum, Doubleday Field and a lot of great small shops and restaurants.  The streets of Cooperstown are lined with beautiful Victorian mansions and well kept gardens.

The accommodations were great.  While the Cooper Inn was built in 1813, it has all the latest technology including large flat screen TVs and wi-fi in every room.  Included with the rooms were a deluxe continental breakfast every morning.  The inn is operated by the grand Otesaga Hotel on the lake just a couple of blocks away and guests staying at the inn have access to all the hotel facilities, including a heated swimming pool, restaurants, golf course and boat and canoe rental.  Our two group dinners were at the Otesaga Hotel.

Ida Nystrom (with help from her husband Jim and daughter Liz) did a great job organizing the tour and going over the next day’s rides every evening at the social hour.  Plans are to do it again for a fifth time in 2020.  Be sure to sign up early.