The intoxicating aroma of cinnamon, sugar and cider fills the air as you roll down a quiet country road. You can smell the cider mill before you even see it and it smells like autumn. It’s that time of year again when cyclists from all over the area brave the tough climbs that lead them to the fresh and delicious donuts at the Hacklebarney Cider Mill. The cider mill itself is picturesque, with apple trees, a farm house, corn fields, a barn, and a friendly donut fed dog and cat waiting to greet you. The donuts are fresh and crispy on the outside, but soft and doughy on the inside and almost seem to melt in your mouth. In addition to donuts they have delicious pies, cookies, cider dogs and other mouthwatering treats.
These trips to the cider mill signal different things for different riders. For some it simply marks the changing of seasons and the start of fall, for others, the end of their road racing season and for some others, the start of their cyclocross season. For me, the first inklings of plans for a ride to the cider mill signals the start of the season of base miles and fun endurance riding. I have been taking these trips by bike to the cider mill for years now, sometimes with small groups, sometimes with larger ones, sometimes all women, but it’s always a fun and friendly journey. All roads that lead to the cider mill do require a large hill climb or two, but the bitterness and pain of the climb seems somehow lessened when you know that there is a sweet reward awaiting you at the top.
You could always just hop in your car and drive out to get your fresh delicious cider donuts, but they always seem to taste much better when you have earned them by braving a tough climb or two to get there.
Cider Mill Rides Over the Years 🙂
The year my hand was broken and I couldn’t actually ride there 🙁
