Best. Weekender. Ever.

Now in it's fourth year, the Weekender at Paul Smith's College hit its stride in 2024 with an incredible three-day program featuring fabulous routes, fun off-bike adventures and unique cultural experiences. Guess what's in store for next year?

When you combine incredible road cycling, the greatest route support team in the business (Roadies Rule), canoeing, hiking, live theater and conservation education and a great camp tour - all in three days without rain - it's hard to go wrong.

There's a story to be written here, but we'd rather tease you with photos, cliff notes about this year and a few bread crumbs about next year to convince you to mark August 1-3, 2025 on your calendar. Let's get into it.

A family of riders smiles while experiencing the joy of Norman Ridge on the 2024 Weekender at Paul Smith's College

Friday Arrival Day

Perhaps the coolest thing about the Weekender is the a la carte style of the event. After signing up, riders can choose to stay on campus in standard dorms (exactly what you picture) or upgraded dorm suites that include a kitchen and air conditioning. Camping, or parking your camper/RV or van is also an option. As is staying in nearby accommodations, like with our partner the Saranac Waterfront Lodge. Guests can also choose to add a meal plan making dining simple, easy and tasty in the campus cafeteria.

After check-in, we headed out for a ride that featured rest stops at the famed Donnelly's Ice Cream and a visit to the Lake Clear Fish Hatchery before returning to campus for dinner on the Student Center deck followed by a live performance of Pendragon Theatre's Guys & Does. Yep, live theater during a bike tour. Riders said:

"I would consider myself a theater buff and have never in my life laughed as hard as I did during that show. It was that good."

Weekender guest pose for a photo at Donnelly's Ice Cream.

There's nothing like tasting a two-tone cone from Donnelly's pulled from the original 1920's machine.

Saturday

Saturday's routes are the best of the weekend with two distances, both of which took riders to the Saranac Lake Farmer's Market complete with live music and more delicious things to eat than you possibly could take in. The long route added the bonus of Norman Ridge (featured in the cover image of this blog) and the incredibly fun to ride, River Road.

Post ride and lunch, it was time to either go for a guided paddle on Lower St. Regis Lake or a hike at the Paul Smith's College VIC, followed by a swim at the campus beach and another fine dinner. And yes, the cafeteria has ice cream. Every day.

Our evening program featured a campfire, free craft beer from our friends at Paradox Brewery and s'mores. The highlight, however, was an engaging conservation chat by Olivia Dwyer of the Adirondack Land Trust, who has preserved 1,000's of acres in the Adirondack Park including the iconic view of the High Peaks from Rte 73 in Lake Placid and a stunning view of Whiteface Mountain from Harrietstown Hill near Donnelly's Ice Cream.

Weekender guests enjoy a guided paddle on Lower St. Regis Lake.

Sunday

How often can you say that your bike ride included a guided tour of a historic Adirondack Great Camp, let alone one that was used as the summer White House by the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. Well, if you participated in the Weekender, you can. Complete with a visit to the tea house and White Pine Camp's unique bowling alley.

Tour guide, Ed Neuberger, led the way with stories, anecdotes, architectural history and incredible insight into the family that built White Pine Camp.

Weekender riders experience the tea house at White Pine Camp.

What's Next

Those interested in joining the Weekender August 1-3, 2025 can expect more of the fabulous highlights mentioned above, plus a BIG addition with the opening of Phase 2 of the Adirondack Rail Trail extending from nearby Lake Clear all the way to the Village of Saranac Lake and beyond to Lake Placid.

We're not going to get ahead of ourselves by announcing 2025 routes just yet, but rest assured they will utilize the incredible vehicle free corridor that is the Adirondack Rail Trail. Stay tuned for details. Registration won't open until mid January 2025, but until then, enjoy the photo gallery below.

Special thanks to our Weekender partners, Paul Smith's College, Explore Adirondack Frontier, Pendragon Theatre, Adirondack Land Trust, Dak Bar, LMNT Hydration, High Peaks Cyclery, Saranac Lake Youth Center, CycleSafe, River Stone Wellness, Norman Ridge Farmstead, Donnelly's Ice Cream and High Peaks Farmer's Markets.