Let’s Ride the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail!

Join Pride Pathfinders for a fun fall afternoon exploring the beautiful Farmington Canal Heritage Trail by bike!
We’ll meet in Simsbury, get everyone situated with their bikes, and then head out together for a scenic ride along one of Connecticut’s wonderful paved bike trails. Expect beautiful fall scenery, wooded stretches, some great views, plenty of fresh air, and good company!
📍 MEETING LOCATION
We will meet at:
The Bicycle Cellar
532 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT
Meet at 12:00 PM. Please look for the Pride Pathfinders group outside The Bicycle Cellar.
If you are renting a bike, please allow enough time to complete your rental and get fitted for your bike and helmet. Our goal is to have everyone ready to ride by approximately 12:15 PM.
If you’re bringing your own bike, meet us at The Bicycle Cellar so the entire group can start the ride together.
🚲 THE RIDE
We’re planning to ride up to 16-20 miles round trip at a comfortable, social pace. This is not a race! Our actual mileage will depend on our pace, the group, and the weather that day.
The trail is predominantly paved and relatively flat, making this a great recreational ride. We’ll stay together, take breaks, and have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.
You don’t need to be an experienced cyclist, but you should be comfortable riding a bike for a couple of hours and potentially riding up to 16-20 miles.
🚲 DON’T HAVE A BIKE? NEITHER DO I!
If you have your own bike — great! Bring it along.
If you don’t have a bike, no worries. I’ll be renting one too!
Bike rentals are available through The Bicycle Cellar in Simsbury, conveniently located along the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail.
🚲 Bike Rental: Approximately $35 for 4 hours, with a helmet included. E-bikes may also be available.

🔗 RESERVE YOUR RENTAL BIKE HERE:

👉 [BIKE RENTAL RESERVATION LINK — COMING SOON]
IMPORTANT: Each person who needs a rental is responsible for reserving and paying for their own bike directly with The Bicycle Cellar. RSVPing to this Meetup does NOT reserve a bike for you.
Because availability may be limited, please reserve your bike as soon as the reservation information is posted.
🥪 PACK A LUNCH & BRING SOME SNACKS!
Instead of heading to a restaurant, pack a lunch and bring some snacks with you. We’ll find a scenic spot along the way to stop, take a break, eat together, and enjoy being outdoors.
Please bring enough food and water to keep you fueled for an afternoon of riding. A small backpack is perfect for carrying your lunch and snacks.
♿ ACCESSIBILITY & KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Our route is primarily on a paved, relatively flat multi-use trail, but this is still an outdoor recreational activity of up to 20 miles.
Please consider whether the distance and duration are a good fit for you. We’ll ride at a social pace and take breaks, but participants should be able to independently and safely operate their bicycle for the duration of the ride.
E-bikes are welcome and may be a great option if you’d like some additional assistance over the distance.
If you have an accessibility question or want more information about the route before deciding whether this event is right for you, please reach out to me. I’m happy to share what I know so you can make the decision that works best for you.
⛑️ SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
Our goal is for everyone to have a fun and safe afternoon together.
Helmets are required for everyone participating in the ride.
Please make sure your bike is in safe working condition before we leave.
Ride at a pace that feels safe and comfortable for you.
Keep a safe distance between bikes and let others know before passing.
Follow posted trail signs and traffic rules at all road crossings.
Be mindful that this is a shared-use trail — we’ll be sharing it with walkers, runners, families, other cyclists, and possibly dogs.
Please bring plenty of water and let someone know if you need a break.
No one gets points for being the fastest! This is a social group ride, and we’ll regroup along the way.
🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Your bike and helmet OR your bike rental reservation
A packed lunch and snacks
Plenty of water
Comfortable clothes and layers appropriate for November weather
Gloves if it’s chilly
A small backpack to carry your things
Your adventurous spirit!
🌦️ WEATHER PLAN
November weather in Connecticut can be unpredictable, so please dress in layers and come prepared for cooler temperatures.
We’ll ride if it’s chilly, or cloudy, However, if the forecast calls for steady/heavy rain, thunderstorms, high winds, icy conditions, or other weather that would make biking unsafe or just plain miserable, we’ll postpone the ride.
I’ll monitor the forecast as we get closer and post an update on Meetup by Saturday evening if we need to make a change. Please check the Meetup page before heading out Sunday.
If you’re renting a bike, please also check The Bicycle Cellar’s cancellation/rescheduling policy when you make your reservation.
🌈 ABOUT PRIDE PATHFINDERS
Pride Pathfinders is about creating welcoming opportunities for LGBTQIA+ folks and friends to get outside, try something different, connect with one another, and have some fun along the way.
🌈 READY TO RIDE WITH US? RSVP!
Please RSVP “YES” only if you’re planning to join us. This helps me know who to expect and keeps us from heading out without you!
If you need to rent a bike, remember there are two separate steps:
1️⃣ RSVP YES to this Meetup.
2️⃣ Reserve your rental bike using the rental link above.
If your plans change after you RSVP, please update your RSVP so someone else has the opportunity to join us.
And remember — I don’t own a bike either and will be renting one myself, so you definitely won’t be the only one!
Questions? Reach out anytime!
Pack your lunch, grab your bike (or rent one!), and let’s spend a fall afternoon riding, connecting, and exploring together! 🚲🥪🍂🌈