Presents:
The 2004 Finger Lakes Tandem Tour (west)
Day 5 Thursday
Ride from Canandaigua to Over the Ridge to Hammondsport and Keuka Lake
38-44 miles moderate to hilly.
We turn south, to ride again through farm country to the southern tip of Keuka Lake and the village of Hammondsport. This is the cradle of wine country, with a local resident named William Bostwick planting the first grapevine in 1829. Settled by French winegrowers in the 1860's, Hammondsport was established in 1871.
This is the center of New York champagne industry. Dr. Frank Konstantine, Bully Hill, and Heron Hill wineries overlook Keuka Lake and make great wines.
The Greyton H. Taylor Wine Museum exhibits early phases of wine production, including barrel making and an early champagne corking process that required split second timing.
Glenn Curtiss, the pioneer aviator and inventor, was born in Hammondsport in 1878. He started in bicycles, established a motorcycle factory, and then conducted early experiments in flying --- with the help of Alexander Graham Bell and others. In fact, his exploits in speed with bicycles, motorcycles, and planes made him the model for the series of boys books known as 'The Advetures of Tom Swift'. He was the first aviator to ever receive his license! The Glenn Curtiss Museum is located just south of Hammondsport. Well worth visiting, as Hammondsport was a center of American aviation in the early decades of the 20th Century, attracting people from around the world to design, manufacture, and take part in flying instructions for 'flying machines, flying boats, and dirigibles.'
The glaciers created ~3 ridges between Canandaigua and Keuka Lake. We’ve plotted out 2 ride options to minimize the hills from these ridges, but this is still a hilly day. Both rides follow the same route for ~24 miles. Rest stops are few, so we would recommend stopping at the Hitching Post Restaurant in Potter Town.
The Hitching Post has great ice cream, sandwiches, and other food, and a rest room.
It is a fun country place, where the locals will be talking about those tandem bikes for ages after.
There is only 500 feet difference in climb between the long and short routes, but the longer route does have a 'wall'!. The longer route climbs up along the ridge that is the home to several wineries. You will have the opportunity to sample wines from Hunt Counttry, Dr. Frank, Heron Hill and Bully Hill Vineyards.
Both routes have Branchport as a rest stop at the northwest end of Keuka Lake.
Dinner is on your own. Restaurants and a pub overlook the Hammondsport Village Square.
