Maine Mountain Bike & Gravel Weekend Getaway - August 8 & 9
Location: Start and end each ride near Freeport, Maine (20 mins from Portland)
Ride Type: Saturday: Mountain bike, Sunday: Gravel ride
Date & Time: Saturday, August 8 & Sunday, August 9
Camping option: Backyard of hosting NEER member & other campgrounds & inns are nearby for those staying the weekend
Also enjoy a BBQ Saturday evening at home of hosting NEER member! All contribute $ toward the food and festivities.
Distance: Saturday: 3-4 hours mtb, Sunday: 3-4 hours gravel (champagne gravel)
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
This is a hosted weekend of enjoying the great trails and roads in the Freeport, Maine area! NEER member Matt M lives here, knows the trails and roads and is treating NEERs to a great weekend of riding!
Saturday will be a great mountain bike ride with options for smoother, flowier trails and more “New England” classic trails. 3-4 hours in duration. It’ll be easy for riders to be on the trails of their liking. There are two ride leaders showing the way.
After the ride Saturday, all who want to join in for food and drinks at local breweries in Freeport are welcome to hang out.
Saturday evening, Matt is hosting a BBQ at his house, all will contribute via a fun group shopping trip for food and it’ll be a great night of BBQ, campfire, and all who want to stay over in tents in Matt’s backyard are welcome. Everyone who RSVPs will be offered additional information and options where it comes to staying over if desired.
Come for one or both days - not necessary to be there for both days, your schedule dictates what you come for! It’s all great, it’ll be a weekend of people coming/going and connecting!
Saturday is the Mainely organized gravel ride for anyone who wishes to participate in this.
Sunday: Matt has a prepared a champagne gravel route that’s a fun option for a group ride, starting near Freeport. This is more champagne gravel in nature, approximately 3 hours ride time.
RSVP for one or many aspects of the weekend; everyone will receive details for all of it an you can fit what you want into the weekend!
Parking / Starting locations
Details will be shared with all who RSVP.
Routes
Routes will be shared with all who RSVP for one or both days. Expect these by 7pm Thursday night prior to the weekend.
Start Time & Estimated Ride Time
Saturday morning: 10am start
Sunday morning: 9am start
Route Notes & Food/Water Stops
All will be shared with RSVPers. This is an area not too far away from food/water so it’s not necessary to go too loaded, though 2 or 3 bottles of water and extra calories is always a good idea.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news if there is any.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of 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
We require 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
For the mountain bike ride: hardtail or dual suspension bikes are all fine. The mountain bike ride is cross country in nature meaning it’s not overly technical. 2.25” tires or bigger are adequate.
For the gravel bike ride: watch for details. Typically, we ride 40mm tires or bigger on gravel, but the route may be smooth enough gravel for 35mm or bigger to be adequate. We’ll let you know what to expect!
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding. Platform are fine for mtb riding if you’re used to using these.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. Ubers are unlikely out here, be sure to come very well prepared so any mechanical can be fixed on the route. Bring all of the usual gravel-ride supplies, extra tubes, air, tools, spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs one (these are specific to your model bike, no one will have an extra for you).
Our Super Domestique rides with a Garmin InReach so that the world can be contacted in case of being away from cell service.
You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please mention in your RSVP if you’re thinking about camping and/or participating in the group BBQ so we have numbers and a general idea of how many to expect.
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.
