Microadventure Bikepacking
Location: Boston → Hingham, MA → Wompatuck
Ride Type: Bikepacking
Date & Time: Friday 7pm - Saturday, October 9-10
Distance: ~40 miles total
Price: $45 - for NEER Cat 4 members
This information has just been updated Oct 7 at 12pm with updated starting locations this offers riders an awesome microadventure experience and opportunity for it to be multimodal too!
Location: Start location options - ride from home or park in one of these locations then ride to camp! Watertown, MA → Boston, MA → Hingham, MA riding to camp at Wompatuck, Hingham, MA
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, quite a lot of dirt under your tires appropriate for gravel bikes or bigger
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Friday night & Saturday morning October 9-10, 2026
Distance: ~12 miles Friday evening, ~25-30 miles Saturday
Price: $45 per person (for Cat. 4 members, less for Cat 3, 2 & 1 members)
Must be a NEER member to participate (this keeps the price down for everyone since we don’t have to buy extra insurance; become a member!)
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.
Description
This microadventure is the BEST way to test your gear, get in a fun evening at camp, practice making a fire. The route is appropriate for gravel bikes so riders who come on their 40mm tires or bigger will be fine (we are not taking people to the mountain bike trails contained in Wompatuck, it’s big enough and has terrain appropriate for 40mm tires. Some riders will come with gravel bikes, others with hardtail mountain bikes, some with fat bikes!
We updated the starting location so riders can start at one of a few locations (overnight parking available) and ride ~12 miles to camp from the group starting location of Hingham, MA at a public parking lot there. See details further down on this page for options to get to Hingham!
This is a new experience for all! It’s a fun, easy way to bikepack and shake out your setup with a great group of people and it doesn’t take over your whole weekend, either.
Test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends. Get into bikepacking before the warm season is over!
Enjoy ~12 miles riding Friday evening to get to camp (all in the dark) starting from Hingham, ~25-30 miles of mixed terrain riding Saturday morning
This is not a catered trip, but we do supply the following:
Fire starting tools and kindling, bundles of wood, pot for boiling water which you’re welcome to use for this purpose.
Hot chocolate mix for everyone, unground, fresh quality, tasty coffee beans & hand grinders + filters for everyone, herbal tea, marshmallows too!
We’re providing all of the firewood and keeping the fire warm while we’re enjoying time at camp together.
We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers.
Self-sufficiency is important in bikepacking and anytime you’re riding your bike. We will help anyone who has a mechanical to get moving again!
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip.
Photo from a warm bikepacking trip fire and post-ride feasting/post-ride food coma.
When:
9 & 10 October 2026. Friday night, 7pm rollout, Saturday morning 9am departure from camp to enjoy a ~25-30 mile mixed terrain ride!
Where we start & Where we Camp - Options!
Starting location options allow you to most easily access the “Grand Depart” which is at the Hingham Park and Ride. Here are the locations and schedule, exact addresses and directions to each of these spots will be shared with all who register for this ride:
Option 1 - Seven Cycles - Watertown, MA - 4pm meet up, 4:30pm - Start riding to Boston - led by Patria. Destination: Rowes Warf, Boston
Ferry departs Rowes Warf at 6:00pm to Hingham. Ferry brings riders to Hingham meeting spot at 6:30pm.
Parking at Seven Cycles overnight: free. Ferry: $9.50 each direction. Ticket easily purchased on the “mTicket” app or at
Option 2 - Ride from your home to Rowes Warf in Boston - Meet up with riders at the 6:00pm ferry.
Option 3 - Drive to Hingham, MA, Hewitts Cove. Park in overnight lot. This parking lot is where the “Grand Depart” is for all riders.
Cost of parking in Hingham appears to be ~$2/night over the weekend.* This information is gathered from the internet.
Why
Organized bikepacking trips are hard to find and it’s nice to have the opportunity to test your equipment, figure out how to pack your bike, etc. Every bikepacking trip brings out every level of bikepacker and there’s a tremendous knowledge sharing and good conversation about adventuring that happens on these trips.
There’s a tremendous amount of knowledge sharing, and the people who come out on these trips are especially enjoyable to hang out with on bike and around the fire. Everyone has something to share and it’s an inclusive, non-judgemental environment.
Registration:
For the bikepacking trip, please Register at the NEER store!
Questions? Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com
Who can do this Ride?
Any average, competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate and will have fun on this trip. There are no time cut offs, you’re welcome to take your time. It’s not necessary to ride with others. Most, but not all, people come on these trips to share in the joy of riding together. When everyone has a loaded bike, people tend to get spread out on the route. Come prepared to ride with others. If you prefer to ride alone, no one will take it personally.
All who register to participate in this ride will receive the following pre-ride:
Equipment Checklist: This is a comprehensive list of what NEER recommends for participants to have on bike and body. It also includes a list of items we find useful on self-supported multi-day rides for your knowledge and you’re welcome to add whatever you wish for this ride.
Logistics, Route & Route Notes by 7pm Thursday, October 8: You’ll understand where you’re headed, where to be when, where to park, where camping is happening, and much more.
Waiver: This ride is being insured by NEER’s insurance. Your NEER waiver covers your participation on this ride.
All details subject to change, all who register will receive every communication by email.
Ride with Your Friend Group or with the NEER Super Domestique
We’re happy if you and your friends want to ride together. Mention if you’re riding with a friend group when you register so we’re aware of this. There’s no need to ride with anyone specifically.
Slower Riders
NEER has a Super Domestique who will ride with anyone who wants a more mellow pace as the Super Domestique is loading a fat bike with fat tires on it. This means that if you’re a less fast rider, someone will very likely be behind you sweeping the route and you are unlikely to be the last rider. This said, if you’re concerned about your pace or if you’re a new rider, please email us so we can discuss pacing and how the ride will work.
Solo Riders
Solo riders must have their own GPS navigation device with backup battery to charge the unit if necessary.
Ride as fast or slow as you wish, it’s a little nicer if you’re a solo rider to head out earlier before everyone else so that you see others during the day.
Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family
Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp (email us) and we’ll work out the logistics and a fair price with you. Your person(s) are welcome to take your stuff to camp in a vehicle, we just need to be aware if anyone is parking at the campsite.
Contact Information - Call 413-461-7433 if it’s urgent
Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
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. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Proper Bike & Equipment
There are quite a few bikes and setups that work great for bikepacking and gravel riding on terrain you’ll find on this ride. Your choices will potentially impact your speed relative to others. We don’t care how fast/slow you ride, this is up to you, as long as you are on a safe bike with minimum basics and arrive before sunset on both Saturday and Sunday.
Required Equipment:
A bike with 40mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.
Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time if you’re riding solo. If you’re riding with a friend group, the group must have 2 GPS computers among members.
Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride. Squeaky chains and noisy bikes are unacceptable because it means there is something wrong with your bike and more might be wrong.
All of the tools for typical mechanicals and anything specific to your bike. These are on the Gear Checklist you receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
Cell phone and a plan to get back to your car in case your bike or body stops working - we cannot offer rides to anyone (per insurance requirements) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Front light to see with for the riding Friday night and a rear light that WILL NOT BLIND a rider behind you, reflector on ankle or pedals. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights to see at camp are useful too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more, all of the stuff on the Bikepacking Checklist!
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!
Sunday Ashland Mixed Terrain Ride
Date & Time: Sunday, October 11
Location: Start and end in Ashland, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride
Distance: 32 miles
Location: Start and end in Ashland, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel, mountain & fat bikes
Date & Time: Sunday, October 11, 10:00am start
Distance: 32 miles
Pace: Moderate with possible group splits for a faster-moderate and moderate with sweep rider
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 mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and trails. It’s a fun route!
The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with 40mm tires or bigger are suited for the terrain. Riders who aren’t familiar with mixed terrain shouldn’t make this your first mixed terrain ride - gravel is much smoother than mixed terrain.
We have a designated Super Domestique leading one of the slower moderate groups, likely to be keeping a rather chill pace.
Distance
The ride is 32 miles in length.
Parking
Ashland Center, use this address for your GPS: 41 Front St, Ashland, MA 01721
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the evening before the ride.
Estimated Ride Time
~3-4 hours (likely closer to 4 hours)
Route Notes
We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news. Very, very last-minute news is found on our Twitter feed (shown on the home page of this website in case you don’t have a Twitter account).
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
Ride Headquarters 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
40mm knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and fat bikes at this ride, the majority of bikes will likely be gravel bikes.
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. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not 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 or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, 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.
Brutiful Cape 2026: An off-season vacation paradise with super fun Gravel and Fat Riding
Location: Eastham, MA on the Cape
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes & Fat Bike ride for Fat Bikes
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24 & Sunday, October 25
Distance: various!
Camping options exist to stay Friday night and Saturday night
Price: $65-115; Early Bird Pricing Offered Now!
Register at BikeReg.com
Location: Start and end in Eastham, MA on the Cape
Ride Type: Gravel and fat bike adventure event ride! Mtbs have great fun on the gravel routes as well! (Routes are different for the gravel/mtbs and fat bikes.)
Date & Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026 - Gravel options + shorter fat option, Sunday, October 25, 2026 - 100 mile fat ride
Distance: 50km, 100km, 100mi options for gravel/mtn bikes AND
50km option for fat bikes on Saturday; 100 mi on Sunday for fat bikes only.
A 100 Mile VERY SPECIAL Fat Ride is happening on Sunday, October 25! 5th Annual running of this ride!
Price: $65, prices go up October 12
Registration deadline: Thursday, October 22 at 11:59pm. No registration will be allowed after this time for any reason.
Camping option offered upon checkout (at BikeReg) - stay right where the ride starts & ends! It’s a great area that we have on one full side of the campground so it’s fairly private.
Register at BikeReg.com
Details
This very special ride takes cyclists to many interesting trails, dirt roads, and pavement that connects the dirt sections on the Cape. Fat bikes go to some sandier places and a few beautiful beaches for extra fun. This is a sandy place meaning the trails dry very quickly if they get wet and there is sandiness on the trails in general. The chances we would need to cancel this ride due to the weather are very small. We expect to ride rain or shine and will only cancel if the weather appears dangerous to riders or trails.
If you’re a bikepacker and want to test your gear, strap it to your bike and come along! If you just want to enjoy a lovely autumn day on the bike without hoards of people on the Cape, this ride is for you, too.
Keep reading, there’s a campsite near the start of the ride if you want to bikepack out to the ride or drive from somewhere that’s further away.
100 Mile Fat Bike Option offered for Sunday, October 25
If you are a fat bike rider interested in a 100-mile fat bike ride option, we have this very special option running separately on Sunday, October 25. Every year, this ride is incredible and people who thought there is no way they can ride 100 miles on their fat bikes do it and LOVE it!!
100 mile Fat Bike riders experience the very best of fat riding on glorious stretches of beach, sandy trails, back roads, and just have a full day of joy on their bikes!
What You Get
Ride a beautiful place not all that far from civilization nor too far from where you started. It’s off-season on the Cape but before everything closes for the winter - a perfect time to be there!
A well-vetted route that takes you to places you’d never know to ride otherwise.
An opportunity to ride your gravel or fat bike with plenty of dirt, cool trails and beautiful beaches.
The chance to share the day with your friend group, ride with a group of people we match up based on expected pace, or ride solo without feeling alone.
A hearty, warm meal at the end of the ride to finish feeling satisfied from riding and not being hungry!
No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish.
Get your friends together to do the ride and enjoy camping together right at where the ride starts and ends, it’s a mini-vacation for everyone!
Get your Friends Together to Ride Together!
We’re offering a separate rollout time for all friend groups so you can start together and stay together. Get your friends together and when you register, tell us their names. Your start time will not be more than 30 minutes different from the start time for the category you register for unless you request a different time for your friend-group rollout. We’ll accommodate as much as possible, just ask!
If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, we are grouping riders of similar paces to ride together or you’re welcome to ride solo. We prefer to start solo riders nice and early so you’re seeing others throughout the day and not be the last rider out there.
Start Time Requests if different from the category start time
We’re happy to accommodate anyone’s start time requests unless it looks like it’ll get you back too late so please tell us your requests in your registration information. If you’re riding with a friend group and you request a specific time, we’ll assume everyone in your group is on board with this request.
Pace
If you choose to ride with a group of friends you or one of your friends puts together, ride the pace your group prefers! We offer a start time for your group so that you can start separately and stay together.
If you’re riding solo, you’re welcome to ride the pace you want as long as you have time to complete the route before we stop serving food. If you’re wondering about your pace and timing, email us.
If you select to ride with a group of people we assemble, then you’ve told us your pace and hopefully those who we match you with are around the same pace. There’s always a risk of the group being a little faster or slower than how you want to ride so come with the route loaded and be prepared. Our rides typically attract people in this category who want to ride with others so will alter their pace to appease others in the group so as to have a group experience.
Start Times
Start times that you see when you register are all approximate. We will roll out groups of friends, groups we assemble, and solo riders separately. You'll get an email with exact rollout times by 7pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.
Your roll-out time will be within 30 minutes of the time you’ve registered for and it’ll probably be a bit closer than that.
We expect all riders to be done riding by 6pm, that’s when the sun sets. We don’t want anyone out riding after dark.
Distance Options
Distances offered for gravel & mountain bikes are 50km, 100km & 100 miles.
A 50km fat bike option is offered on Saturday.
A very special 100 mile fat bike option is offered on Sunday. We offer this separately in order to give adventure fat bike riders a special day of riding and it’s a way for adventure fat bike riders to find each other prior to the winter since there will be many other adventure fat rides happening that this ride is great prep for!
Parking
The ride starts and ends at a lovely campground on the Cape where we’re serving coffee, a light breakfast, and after-ride warm, hearty meal. There will be plenty of chairs, places to sit and enjoy time together.
We’re offering a camping option at the campground (more details are further down this page) so you can park and start/end right there & be near us too (if you want!) We highly recommend you and your friends camp together the night before and night of the ride; we’ve had lots of people do this in previous years and have enjoyed a mini-vacation together doing this.
If you’re driving to the ride the day of the event, there will be ample and free parking offsite. It is close to the start. Those staying at the campground can park their vehicles at the campground.
Bathrooms, water at the start & end
With the start at the campground, bathrooms and clean water are abundant. You’re welcome to all of the services a comfortable campground offers.
Route & Route Notes
The routes will be emailed to all who register no later than 7pm Thursday evening prior to the weekend of the ride.
This is a sandy area. Both gravel and mountain bikes are welcome for the gravel-version of the ride. Gravel cyclists not familiar with sand will have the opportunity to get familiar with it! 40mm or larger tires are recommended. The terrain is special and really fun to ride.
For the fat bike routes: fat bikes are required with a minimum of 3.8” tires in order to properly enjoy the beaches included.
Terrain Description & Which bike to ride?
The routes may evolve prior to them being finalized. Weather may change the route at the last moment, too. Last minute road work also sometimes requires re-routing. The point is, these percentages are estimates and may change.
Percentages are by shown by distance, not time.
Percentages are very similar regardless of route distance. The fat bike class is the exception; see those differences below.
Total climbing: 4,300 ft.
| Cars/No Cars | Terrain | Percentage | Ideal Bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars Likely | Pavement, roads | 20% | Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires |
| Cars Allowed | Dirt roads | 5% | Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires |
| No Cars | Pavement that's car-free, abandoned roads, closed roads, and bike paths | 10% | Gravel bike |
| No Cars | Fire roads and access roads | 20% | Gravel bike w/40mm tires |
| No Cars | Smooth Singletrack | 15% | Gravel bike w/40mm knobby tires |
| No Cars | Rough, abandoned, washed out, and class 4 roads | 10% | Hardtail Mountain Bike |
| No Cars | Singlegrack, tight, rocky, or overgrown | 15% | Hardtail Mountain Bike |
| No Cars | Trail Sand | 5% | Gravel 40mm knobby or wider, depends on how rainy it is just prior to the ride |
| No Cars | Beach Sand | 0.3% | Fat tires 4" or wider, Probably not rideable on a mountain bike tire. Definitely not rideable on a gravel bike tire. |
| For the Fat Bike Routes: | No Cars | Beach & Sand | 20% | Fat tires 4" or wider | This % replaces some of the above terrain |
Plant life on the Cape & Tall Socks
Cape plants are tougher than usual mainland plants, so they can be scratchier to your skin. We recommend wearing tall socks to protect skin from these plants and any insects, etc as well. There are some places where you’ll be riding through trails with plants that are overgrown into the trail.
Food & Water During the Ride
There are quality food stops on the route with stores that are open at this time of year that provide water and tasty food if you’d like to get extra things to eat while you’re riding. Free water is available at a number of stores so it doesn’t need to be purchased.
We charge less for this ride so that you have $ to buy food at local establishments. The routes we provide and pre-ride notes discuss nice places to stop for food and the route directs you through the front door of these places so you can’t miss them.
Our pre-ride email will include information on places to stop to refuel during the ride.
Support on the Route
There are no support vehicles on the route, be prepared to deal with the usual mechanicals by bringing tools and supplies. Have a plan if your body or bike won’t allow you to finish the ride. The Cape is quiet this time of year, but it’s not shut down, either. Cell reception is generally decent in places where we’re riding, though it can’t always be depended on.
After the Rides
Bring a change of clothes and a lawn chair so you can enjoy a bunch of social time post-ride! We bring chairs, there are tents to block the sun and any precipitation, we keep a fire going in the mid afternoon through evening Friday and Saturday.
We’ll provide a hot, tasty after-ride meal for all riders. We’ll be serving food until the sun sets and hang out until everyone is done enjoying themselves. Be sure you have completed your ride prior to sunset which is 6pm.
The end of the ride is at a campground so enjoy the atmosphere, campfire, food together, and if you bring a bag with a change of clothes for the end of the ride, you can change and stay awhile!
For Fat Bike Riders on the Sunday 100 mile route:
This ride starts early in the morning - 4am-6am (faster riders can start later if desired). However, we want everyone to arrive back before the sun goes down if possible. It’s safest to plan to take a nap or stay over on the Cape Sunday night after such a big ride. Don’t schedule any Monday morning meetings at work!
What happens if it rains?
This runs rain or shine. Dangerous weather cancels and we’ll offer a partial credit for a future ride based on expenses already incurred by the time we need to make the decision.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news via BikeReg.com so make sure you get communications from BikeReg!
Contact Information
Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
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.
Camping Option
We recommend staying at the Atlantic Oaks Campground if you’d like to camp at the start. We’ll be hanging out there Friday and Saturday evening.
We offer camping options in your registration if you want to stay next to us, right where the ride will start/end. This is the easiest way to camp since the sites are reserved and we can always reserve more; it helps us to show the campground how many sites we are reserving and using (helps us get invited back for future years).
Otherwise, you will want to make your reservation with this campground via calling them. Their phone number is (508) 255-1437.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign via an email from BikeReg.com.
Proper bike & Equipment
For the Gravel Routes: A gravel bike or mountain bike with 38mm tires which are minimum. Riders are typically happier with 45-50mm gravel tires or mtb tires on hardtail mountain bikes. It all depends on how technical of a rider you are as to which bike you’ll have the most fun on. The terrain is varied and really fun! If you don’t like riding on sandy trails, bring a bike with bigger tires. We don’t put gravel routes on beaches, but sometimes the trails are sandy. Amount of rain leading into the ride impacts the firmness of the trails and roads as well.
For the Fat Routes: A bike with tires 3.8” or wider is required due to the beaches these routes include.
For ALL Riders:
Required: A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time
Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:
Flat fix tools and at least one spare tube (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 or hand pump, multi-tool
Nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers
Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare
Extra clothes and storage capacity so adding/taking off layers is easy
Required: Cell phone and a plan to get back to your car in case your bike or body stops working - we cannot offer rides to anyone (per insurance requirements)
Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride (there is running water at the start so you can fill up)
Required: Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in rain or before the sunrise/after the sun sets
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets
Martha’s Vineyard Off-Road Adventure Tour with Mike and Mary - Spring 2026
Location: Martha’s Vineyard
Ride Type: Adventure mixed terrain
Date & Time: Spring 2026
Price: $150
Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Adventure - ride trails, dirt roads, ancient paths, and back roads with the day catered by Mike and Mary with homemade, tasty food to delight hungry riders
Date & Time: Re-scheduled to Spring 2026 when it’s warm and Mike & Mary are back in town!
Distance: ~40 miles
Max attendance: Registration is capped at 35 riders
Price: $125. Register at BikeReg.com. Open to everyone! (NEER membership not required.)
If you’re interested in doing a private ride or tour of the Island with Mary at a separate time, please email Mary at:
marymcconneloug at fastmail.com (replace “at” with “@” when you email her!)
Details of this Special Adventure Tour with Mike & Mary
Come join mountain bike legends, Olympian Mary McConneloug and pro Michael Broderick, for a fun day of riding bikes on and off road on charming Martha’s Vineyard! They are taking riders on a mixed terrain tour showcasing some of their favorite quiet back routes over ancient trails and roads with an emphasis on cool trails that are hiding all over the island. Highlights include full immersion into the natural island beauty, cycling to remote areas, offering views from a favorite high point and a beach stop to take in the Atlantic Ocean. Riding will be fun at a moderate pace; all riders will enjoy a solid day on the bike at a moderate (not slow) pace. This should not be a rider’s first gravel or mixed terrain ride, participants should be experienced cyclists with experience riding on dirt and mixed terrain.
What You Get
An exciting full day adventure on bikes with Mike & Mary, professional cyclists who have a lifetime of adventures to share and who continue to live their dream racing all over the world.
A day to just ride and enjoy nature, experience the incredible mixed terrain riding on Martha’s Vineyard.
Nice welcome gathering with refreshments to start the day.
Hot, homemade meal served at the end of the ride.
All diets and preferences are accommodated.
Opportunity to enjoy ferry crossings of the Vineyard Sound which offer picturesque calm during the trip to/from the island. (Tickets for the ride aren’t included in event price.)
A morning greeter where you park in the morning prior to catching the ferry.
There are 3 ride guides and 2 professional mechanics on the ride so you’re well taken care of though we want you to come with tuned and ready bikes!
An intimate cycling experience with locals, a chance to meet some new friends and gain knowledge of special places to ride off-road on Martha’s Vineyard!
Food & Water During the Day
After arriving to Martha’s Vineyard on the ferry, Mike and Mary will greet riders and treat everyone to coffee and tea and some homemade wholesome treats to eat.
There will be food & water stops during the ride where riders may fill water bottles or purchase food if desired.
Riders will enjoy something to eat prepared by Mary prior to departing the ride/catching the ferry for those who are taking it back to the mainland.
All dietary preferences are accommodated, we ask for this information when you register.
Martha’s Vineyard riders having the time of their lives with Mike and Mary and crew!
Price
$125 for the experience, ride, and everything Mike & Mary are providing in terms of homemade food, hot drinks and baked goods at the start of the ride, hot tasty food at the end of the day and mid-ride food too.
Refund Policy
Cancellations up to 2 weeks in advance will be refunded 50%. If the ride can’t be run due to dangerous or miserable weather (forecast of light rain doesn’t cancel), a rain date will be announced and if participants can’t make the new date, a 50% refund & 50% credit will be issued.
Parking for People Coming from the Mainland & Ferry Details
For riders coming from off-island, there are a number of free parking lots a short bike ride away from the ferry. Everyone who registers will receive detailed information about where to park, where to meet up with each other and when to ride over to the ferry. A NEER Super Domestique will be at the lot to get everyone together for the ride to the ferry terminal.
Riders will be taking the 9:30am ferry which arrives Vineyard Haven at 10:15am.
At the end of the day, riders will be back at Vineyard Haven around 3pm making the 3:45pm ferry the earliest ferry ride possible to return on. Be prepared to take the next ferry in case it’s not possible to get back in time for the 3:45pm departure or if you’re having such a nice time you want to stick around a little longer.
Ferries run nearly every hour until the last ferry which is ~9:30pm.
Route, Distance, Pace
This is a guided experience so no one needs to have the route, but a route file will be provided and a shorter option will be provided as well via GPS file. No one is getting dropped or lost. The route will be appropriately adjusted if the weather or time requires. The route length is 40 miles.
The pace will be moderate throughout the day, it’s important to keep riding to stay warm. The ride assumes riders have the ability to ride 15-17 mph on a road bike (this is not a road ride, it’s just a way to state speed/fitness levels), and the ride assumes riders have experience riding mixed terrain (mixed terrain is a little more twisty, turny and sandy than gravel), but this is not an overly technical route. As long as riders have experience riding some dirt on a gravel or mountain bike and fitness for a 15-17mph road pace, this ride is within the scope of riders’ abiities.
Terrain Details
Mostly off road paths, trails, dirt roads, and some pavement, very light traffic. Most trails are not overly technical, but there will be more emphasis on super fun trails this year than in previous editions of this adventure ride. There is a fair amount of sand on the roads and trails. You’ll see some secret spots very few people have visited!
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Proper bike & Equipment
Required: A bike with tires 38mm wide or bigger. The bigger, the better!
Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:
Flat fix tools and at least one spare tube (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 or hand pump, multi-tool
Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers
Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare
Extra clothes and storage capacity so adding/taking off layers is easy
Required: Cell phone
Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride
Required if coming from off-island: Front and rear lights that have at least 1.5 hours of run time.
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets
About Mary McConneloug!
Mary is a 2 x Olympian (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), 4 x US National MTB Champion and also the 2017 Masters Enduro MTB World Champion. She loves to get creative in the kitchen, fueling their days with good healthy foods. Mary loves the outdoors, riding in new places where the car cannot go. She manages many of the fine details necessary to run their professional race team.
Mary loves to cook, garden and is learning to surf. She is an advocate for healthy active lifestyles, and sharing that with others! She has coached herself from the beginning and has her own coaching and mentoring business. She holds a nutrition based philosophy combining lifestyle balance and periodization training techniques to reach fitness goals.
About Mike Broderick!
In Mike’s 30+ years of competitive bike racing, he has ranked among the top of his field in Cross Country, Cyclocross, mixed team stage racing (with Mary) and most recently in the Masters Enduro World Series. Legendary for his technical handling skills and fitness, Mike has raced on the US National Team for over 10 years alongside Mary. He earned the Masters Enduro MTB World Champion Title in 2016. His mechanic skills have stood by him as he continues to tune and refine both his and Mary’s race machines. He earned his University degree with a Bachelor in English and minor in Art from Springfield University, MA (1995). Mike was born and raised in Chilmark, MA and has always enjoyed riding in the woods, shredding dirt and surfing waves since he was a kid.
More about Mike and Mary, The A-Team!
Mike was born on Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Mary was born in Fairfax, CA. They met at a MTB race in Northern California during the Spring of 1999. Their first date, a 70-mile road ride out to Point Reyes National Seashore set the back drop for a life time of adventures on the bikes - which they continue to enjoy today. Their second date was a week long road trip to race at the NORBA National XC in Big Bear, CA…. They were smitten from the start, by each other and the challenge of racing, riding bikes and pushing their limits to improve. They have supported each other, creating their own 2 person team, alongside a handful of great companies (which includes Seven Cycles), pursuing many disciplines of off road cycling - mainly XCO, cyclocross, stage race and Enduro. For the past 26 years Mike and Mary have built their life around sustaining a career in racing bikes and continue to be involved at domestic and international events and sharing the ride.
Still going strong, both Mike and Mary were the 2024 USAC Masters 50+ Enduro National Champions in their respective fields!