SPYDERQUEST
Guided Rides
Please show up 30 minutes prior to listed departure time with a full tank and an empty bladder. Rides leave at the listed time.
Going Nowhere Fast – Experienced Riders
Ride Captain: Ed Liona
Adventure Awaits.
As the title states, this is a fast paced ride with no set destination.
We start the ride by heading out to eat breakfast, but in keeping true to the title, where we eat is undetermined. Once our bellies are sufficiently fueled – we ride, no set destination, no set duration, just an uncharted riding adventure that embraces your inner wanderer.
This ride is for experienced riders only, it is not a slow leisurely ride, please do not register for this ride unless you are comfortable riding and keeping up with a faster paced group.
Gas stops and stops as needed.
Round Trip – Undetermined but average is 200 miles.
Total Time – Undetermined
10 bikes maximum.
Bennington Battle Monument & Covered Bridge Loop
Ride Captain: Rick Alexander
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
*This will be a briskly paced ride.
It would be best for experienced riders who like a faster pace and feel comfortable keeping the
group condensed so there are no gaps left between you and the rider ahead of you.
If not willing or able to keep pace with the group without leaving gaps, please consider
registering for a more leisurely ride.
This will be a spirited ride that will take us into beautiful Vermont to the Bennington Battle Monument & several different covered bridges.
There is nothing that brings more nostalgic ambiance than the charm of a covered bridge. On this ride we will be viewing approximately 4 different covered bridges (time dependent). Upon reaching the covered bridges we will have a short time to enjoy their beauty and craftsmanship before scooting off to the next.
After we have had our fill of the historic beauty of the covered bridges, we will head to the Bennington Battle Monument in Old Bennington Vermont.
The Bennington Battle Monument is a Vermont owned State Historic Site, the Monument is 306 feet 4 and 1/2 inches tall. The cornerstone was laid in 1887 and the Monument was completed and dedicated in 1891. It is constructed from blue grey magnesium limestone. The Monument was built to commemorate the Battle of Bennington, which took place on August 16, 1777. What an opportune Monument this is for a ride destination seeing as the victory that took place here is what led up to the Battle of Saratoga, the homebase for SpyderQuest.
After departing the Bennington Battle Monument we will head to get lunch at The Last Chair Bar & Grill where they have a variety of mouth watering items on the menu to choose from including tender-aged steaks, delicious pastas, unique pizzas or huge burgers. This will be a self paid, order from the menu, meal. If you have a bit of that nostalgic feeling left over from the covered bridges and can call on your inner child/teen, check out the extensive arcade that this restaurant boasts while waiting for your food.
After finishing our meal we will scoot back to the Gideon Putnam where the ride will conclude.
*There will be no planned gas stops on this ride (planned route is aprox 170 miles) this is
especially important for Rykers or others with a smaller fuel capacity to take note of.
170 Miles Round Trip
4 hrs Total Ride Time
2 hrs (aprox) Total Seat Time
1 Hr to First Bathroom Stop
Historic Schoharie Crossing & Yankee Hill Lock #28
Ride Captain: Ray Sanders
We will be riding to the Schoharie Crossing Historic Site Visitors Center/Museum where you will be able to meander through the exhibits to learn the history of the Erie Canal. While there, you can also take a short stroll to see the remnants of the fort, the original 1820’s “Clinton’s Ditch” canal and the remnants of the masterfully constructed Schoharie Aqueduct that was built between 1839 and 1841.
From there we will take a short 3 mile ride to see the disused Yankee Hill Lock #28 where you can use foot bridges to cross over the retired double, side by side, locks and see the former Putman Lock Grocery building. All with the beautiful Mohawk River as the backdrop.
We will not be stopping for lunch as we should be back in time for a late lunch. Feel free to bring snacks, there are picnic tables to sit at our second stop.
https://parks.ny.gov/visit/historic-sites/schoharie-crossing-state-historic-site
One way – 37 miles/Round trip – 74 miles
Total time – 3.5 hours
Total seat time – 2 hours
45 mins at the Visitors center/museum
30 mins at Yankee Hill Lock 28
Speculator
Ride Captain: Bob Raymond
If you are looking to see the true beauty of the Adirondacks look no further.
This ride will take us past several local lakes and rivers and have us winding through the southern section of the Adirondack Mountains. We will enjoy some of the best sights that there are to offer in this area, and there are many. The Southern Adirondacks and Speculator are a haven that many people escape to all seasons of the year, and for good reason. There is so much to do and the beauty of the area is unmatched. Your head will be on a swivel, not knowing which way to look on this ride as we travel through areas that are truly stunning.
We will be stopping at the historic Inn at Speculator for lunch. The quaint family-run country inn sits just off the shore overlooking the beautiful Lake Pleasant, near the center of the Village of Speculator. The Inn offers a variety of options including steaks, seafood and pub fare.
After lunch we, as a group, will decide which route we will take to head back to The Gideon Putnam.
Whether you’ve never been to the Adirondacks and want to go, or you have been more times than you can count, they never disappoint, and neither will this ride.
https://www.thespeculatorinn.com
Round Trip – Aprox. 4 hrs
150 miles
Saratoga Winery
Ride Captain: Bob Gilbert
$26 Per Person (price includes lunch, non-alcoholic drink, taxes and tip)
There are 15.8 million Veterans in the US, more than 1.4 million Veterans living in New York State, and more than 225,000 of those residing in the Albany/Saratoga area. Although specifically created with Veterans and First Responders, all are welcome.
Although specifically created with Veterans and First Responders, all are welcome. The route to our first destination will take us on quaint back roads where we will cross the Saratoga County Veterans Memorial Bridge, which boasts a spectacular view of Saratoga Lake on one side and Fish Creek on the other. After crossing the bridge, we will briefly follow the shore line of Saratoga Lake before cutting off for our first destination, which will be a tour of the immaculately kept grounds of the Gerald Solomon National Cemetery. At full capacity, it will provide burial space for 175,500 veterans and eligible dependents. The grounds hold the ship’s bell from the USS Saratoga CV-3, a granite memorial to honor the veterans of Saratoga County, a pyramidal black-mist granite memorial for Congressman Gerald B.H. Solomon, who was instrumental in the national cemetery’s establishment, a granite and bronze memorial to honor the U.S. Submariner Veterans as well as other memorials in honor of events and fallen comrades.
We will then enjoy a short trek on more scenic back roads passing locks 5, 6 & 7 on the Champlain Canal and crossing the Northumberland Bridge before arriving on Rogers Island where we will do a quick drive through. Named after Robert Rogers who forever changed military tactics when he wrote his “Ranging Rules” while encamped on the island. As a result Rogers Island is considered to be the “Spiritual Birthplace” of the U.S. Army Rangers.
We are then destined for Vested Veterans Grill where we will enjoy a delicious lunch while also helping to support those who stood in the shadows to protect our freedom. Vested Veterans is a restaurant owned and operated by veterans whose mission is “to give back to those who have bravely served our country”. Vested Veterans has been prestigiously featured on News 10 ABC, CBS 6 Albany, and ABR (America’s Best Restaurants) Roadshow. Great food supporting an honorable cause, it’s an establishment that leaves your belly and heart satisfied and full.
Lunch is a set menu of 16 choices including some vegetarian options and includes a drink, tip and taxes for $26.
($26.00 per person)
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/GeraldBHSolomonSaratoga.asp
https://rogersisland.org/
https://vvgrill.com
77 miles round trip
Total Ride Time – 4 hours
Total Seat Time – 2½ hours
1½ hours at Restaurant
20 Min Gas/Stretch Break
Saratoga Homestead-Farmers Daughter ice cream run
Ride Captain: Gary Stephens
You scream, I scream, We all scream for Ice Cream (and haunted properties)!
This ride begins by enjoying having our knees in the breeze traveling west towards Rock City Falls and Galway, North toward Greenfield and then East towards Spier Falls.
In our travels we will be riding by the Saratoga Homestead. The Homestead is listed as one of the top ten haunted places in New York State. Although the property is privately owned so we will not be able to stop, you will get a good view of it as we mosey by. Keep your eyes peeled, you never know if you will become one of the many that can say they’ve seen something strangely mysterious on the property.
From there we will make a brief stop in Gansevoort and then continue on to The Farmer’s Daughter in Saratoga Springs. The Farmer’s Daughter Drive-in is a landmark that was built in 1964 and is essentially the same structure aside from repairs and a few upgrades. You will be eating at a piece of 20th Century Roadside Architectural history, complete with whimsical wall murals, cow statues and a cow bench! While The Farmer’s Daughter is known for their delicious homemade ice cream and other sweet treats, if you want something more to put in your belly before the yummy goodness of their homemade ice cream, don’t fret, they have a full grill menu as well.
https://www.farmersdaughtersdrivein.com
86 Miles Round Trip
3½ Hrs Total Ride Time
2 Hrs 15 Mins Total Seat Time
44 Miles / 68 Mins to Gas Stop
Can-Am Windsisters (Ladies only Ride W/Lunch)
Ride Captain: VJ Ellis
This ride is proudly sponsored by Can-Am, and to keep your engines running, lunch is included at the Vested Veteran restaurant in Hudson Falls NY.
In a mainly male dominated recreation, let’s unite, represent and ride for the women.
This is a leisurely back road ride passing through several small towns including parts of Saratoga Springs, Wilton, Fort Edward and Hudson Falls where we will be stopping at Vested Veterans Grill for a great meal and grand conversation. Vested Veterans is a restaurant owned and operated by veterans whose mission is “to give back to those who have bravely served our country”. Vested Veterans has been prestigiously featured on News 10 ABC, CBS 6 Albany, and ABR (America’s Best Restaurants) Roadshow.
After what we are sure will be a spirited lunch with amazing ladies that may now be your new riding buddies, it’s time to get your hair blowing in the wind again as we ride and bond as windsisters. We will be making our way past the West Mountain Ski Center, through the village of Corinth and passing the mighty Hudson River before we arrive back at The Gideon Putnam.
Once back at The Gideon Putnam take a moment to stop into the Can-An area and thank them for sponsoring such an amazing ride!
We are women, hear us rev!
https://can-am.brp.com/on-road/us/en/discover-can-am/women-of-on-road.html
72 Miles Round Trip
Total Ride Time – 3½ – 4 hours
Total Seat Time – 2 Hours
There are no highway miles on this ride.
Covered Bridge / Martha’s Ice Cream
Ride Captain: Jim Schmiedel
What’s better than the nostalgia of covered bridges and good ice cream? Not much, unless you add straying some beautiful back roads to get there to the mix.
After enjoying the road less traveled our first brief stops will be to view the history, beauty and clever construction of 2 covered bridges. The bridges are a short 6 mile ride in between the first and second.
After departing the second covered bridge keep your eyes peeled for the now closed Great Meadows Prison which we will be riding past. The prison opened in 1911 and closed its doors in 2024.
Then it’s on to get some famous Martha’s ice cream, where a large cone is truly a sight to see! Martha’s Dandee Cream has been a landmark for over 78 years and is the site of a former chicken farm. The giant chicken on their sign out front pays homage to one specific chicken, named Charlie, that enjoyed strutting around for the patrons. If that doesn’t make Martha’s interesting enough, it was even featured on a segment of the Today Show listing The Best Ice Cream Shops in America! While it’s undeniable that they have some delicious, one of a kind ice cream flavors there, they also have a full grill menu if you need a little something before you fill up on ice cream.
There will be one gas stop on the way.
Round trip – 120 miles
Total Time – 4 hours
Total Seat Time – 3 hours
15 mins at 1st covered bridge
15 mins at 2nd covered bridge
Gas stop
30 mins at Martha’s
