Location: Start and end in Baldwinville, MA
Ride Type: Adventure Gravel Ride for gravel bikes or hard tail mountain bikes who can do the distance
Date & Time: 7am, Saturday, July 5
Distance: 75 miles
Price: Free, but we’re requiring NEER membership if this is your second ride with us.
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
This scenic gravel ride takes cyclists on a beautiful journey from Baldwinville, MA into NH and around Modnadnock for lots of views of this mountain all day long! There will be dirt roads and a little Class 4 roads to keep it interesting!
Special thanks to Kenny C for putting this route and all of the details together!!!
Pace
We have one Super Domestique on the ride who will be riding a steady endurance pace for the distance (would translate to a ~14-15mph pace if we were on paved roads so the pace will be less than this but with that kind of effort) and one person who knows the route and the area who will be riding single speed at a steady pace.
You are welcome to ride faster than the led group(s) if you wish. You are also welcome to ride slower, but we advise bringing a friend if you’ll be behind the group for safety since we’ll be in an area with spotty cell coverage.
Please mention your pace in your RSVP if you think you’ll be faster/slower than the Super Domestique and be aware that there’s a chance you will be riding solo if you want to be faster/slower.
Parking location, Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time
Please be ready to ride at 6:55am. We’ll start the safety talk/route talk at 7am and then roll out.
We’ll meet up in Monument Square in Baldwinville, MA center.
Pin for where riders should meet & parking is on-street on roads bordering the square: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JBCTKy56L3ZdvzPs7
Route is 75 miles long, we expect to be out there until ~3pm, you’ll be done sooner if you ride faster and keep food stops reasonable.
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
Route Notes
Elevation gain is ~4,900 ft. according to RideWithGPS.
Expect some paved roads, around 60% dirt roads, some rougher dirt, a couple Class 4 roads, possibly a couple of places where you’ll want to walk your bike for a short span.
Food & Water During the Ride
There are 3 general stores along the route and a natural water spring. These are marked on the route.
Mi 30.7 - Dublin General Store
Mi 34.8-35.8-ish - Might be a Natural Spring (water!) - there was in the past, keep your eyes open!
Mi 36.5 - Harrisville General Store
Mi 51.3 - Deli / Convenience Store
After the Ride
Bring a change of clothes so you can enjoy your drive home!
Bring something to eat, too. There are a number of local establishments in the center of town where riders may decide to grab food post-ride!
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride up until 10pm the night before the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
NEER requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
38mm knobby tires or wider are recommended. Wider tires are always nice! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. Skinnier tires are strongly discouraged since your chances of flatting go up.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mixed terrain ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes or if you haven’t come prepared. There might not be much cell reception on this route so it could be a long walk.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, 2 x extra tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.