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The Ride, in Review: Our Mid-Century Modern Tour of New Canaan

Fifteen riders with their bikes on the steps of a modern house

Twenty-six modern houses, 17 miles and one bright November morning. On Tuesday, November 10, fifteen riders joined ride leader Bill Adamsen for the club’s first Mid-Century Modern tour of New Canaan, including a full inside tour of a house by Landis Gores, one of the Harvard Five. (That’s the group up top, on the steps of one of the houses on the route.)

From the ride leader

Tuesday brought fair weather and fifteen cyclists together to experience the RBC Mid-Century Modern cycling tour of New Canaan. We visited 26 houses in 17 miles with a full inside tour of one of the most important houses designed by Harvard Five architect Landis Gores. The tour was enhanced by the attendance of local architect and cyclist Peter Cole, with his expertise on Mid-Century Modern architecture. Cyclist Jon Swallen had grown up in one of the featured homes and added color both about what it was like to build and live in one of the homes, and about the lifestyle of the times. It was well received, and we hope this ride becomes a regular feature!

Bill Adamsen, ride leader

The verdict: ten thumbs up, none down

In the club’s post-ride survey, every rider who answered gave it a 👍: 10 thumbs up, 0 neutral, 0 thumbs down.

Bill, thank you for this fascinating tour of New Canaan architecture. I have always heard about the many mid-century houses, but I admit to only having visited the Glass House. Seeing it all from the bike was just perfect! You usually have to travel to Europe for tours like these! I loved the flip book too. Thank you!!

Kristen

Heard on the road

What riders said

“Phenomenal tour! Thank you Bill. So much fun, and I am sure a lot of work for you that was much appreciated 👏”

— Monika, Mid-Century Modern tour

“Thanks for putting together this wonderful mid century architecture tour. Such a great fun experience.”

— Joan, Mid-Century Modern tour

“Thanks for the booklet and tour of all these houses I ride past”

— Keith, Mid-Century Modern tour

“Great, very well researched.”

— A rider, Mid-Century Modern tour

A glass-walled living room looking out to the trees
Inside a Landis Gores design, during the ride’s full inside tour.

Ride it again?

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Relive the route

Every house is still in the flip book, and the whole tour, with the best stories and the route map, is in Modern New Canaan, by Bike.

Open the flip book · Read the house stories · Route on Ride with GPS

Thank you, Bill

For the research, the route and the morning. And thank you to everyone who rode. Ride photos by riders on the day. All of these are private homes, enjoyed from the road.