Rob Vandermark 10/16/26 Rob Vandermark 10/16/26

Remember November Bikepacking Adventure

Location: Acton, MA, Camping in Littleton, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday November 14 & 15
Distance: ~70 miles
Price: $70 with discounted pricing for all NEER members (become a member to have access to this and all of our bikepacking trips + much more!)

Location: Starts in Acton, MA, Camping is in Littleton, MA
Transportion: Take the train from Boston or drive, parking is free all weekend, see details below
Route & distance: Bikepacking, mixed terrain appropriate for gravel bikes with 40mm tires, bigger are totally fine! Quite a lot of dirt under your tires - Expect ~40ish miles Saturday, ~25ish miles Sunday
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday November 14-15
Price: $70, all NEER members receive a discount code commensurate with their membership level
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!) The bikepacking option is likely to fill up. No charge for those who come for the day of riding.
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description: Remember November is a great ride and it’s combined with bikepacking so it’s a full, wonderful overnight experience! Get out to bikepack before the winter sets in, this is important since winter is the best time to plan and prepare for the coming spring. It’s also incredibly fulfilling cycling and time with other like-minded cyclists. Time at camp together can’t be beat!

This is a 100% new route that we just developed! We’ve never run this route before and it’s in an area where other rides/events aren’t common so it’s very likely to be almost all new terrain to you, even if you live near this area.

This is a great way to test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends. Get into bikepacking before the autumn turns to winter!

This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone but we do have the basics for fire starting and boiling water which you’re welcome to use. We bring other nice things for you such as hot chocolate (the healthy and yet still tasty kind), tasty, fresh third-wave coffee beans and coffee grinder, filters.
We’re buying 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! You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip.
There are cabins at camp if you want to sleep inside and/or have someone meet you at camp. Please get in touch if you want to stay in a cabin or have family/friends meet you at camp!

Photo from a warm bikepacking trip fire and post-ride feasting/post-ride food coma Saturday night.

When:

14 & 15 November 2026. Saturday and Sunday.

Where we start & Where we Camp:

The ride start is at the Acton MBTA station where overnight parking is allowed. Take the train to the start!

Parking is no charge on weekends and overnight in this lot.

10am Saturday - Grand Depart - Full group rollout from the parking lot

9am or earlier Sunday - Depart from Camp for the second leg of the journey - you’re welcome to start your ride early if you need to get back earlier!

Train Information -

Take the Fitchburg Line that starts at North Station in Boston to Acton. Here is a good one for Saturday, will get you to the parking lot by 8:34am! Sunday a return train is at 2pm, but it’s a shorter route Sunday so riding home may be the best choice.

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.

Registration:

For the bikepacking trip, please Register at the NEER store!

Questions?Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do this Ride?

Any fit and competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate. There are no time cut offs, you’re welcome to take your time. As much as possible, we want people to ride together. However, when everyone has a loaded bike, people tend to get spread out on the route. Come prepared to ride alone and if it turns out that you get to ride with people, great! 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:

Bikepacking 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, November 12: You’ll understand where you’re headed, have the routes in hand, know where to be when, 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. There’s no need to ride with anyone specifically.

Slower Riders

If you’re concerned about your riding speed or experience, please email us: connect@newengland. 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, but email us to get in sync with paces and comfort level.

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 and it’s a .

Display your location

We will have ALL riders display their location on the route via Life360 (not necessary to pay for an account for this), it helps us know where everyone is throughout the day for the safety and convenience this offers. This will take a little more battery life from your cell phone, so a backup battery is essential.

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp. That person should register like a rider, we’ll pass you a registration discount code for them when they register, the person does not need to be a NEER member, and mention in registration that they won’t be riding. This is a good way to get your camp stuff to camp without being a bikepacker.

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.

Requirements

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.
Nice to have: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There IS electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
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. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll 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 and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more. We don’t want anyone bonking out there!

Rob Vandermark 10/5/26 Rob Vandermark 10/5/26

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

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!

Rob Vandermark 9/7/26 Rob Vandermark 9/7/26

Bear Necessities Bikepacking

Location: Epping, NH with camping at Bear Brook State Park
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday September 19 & 20
Distance: 70 Miles
Price: $75 - for NEER members only

Location: Starts in Epping, NH
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, quite a lot of dirt under your tires
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday September 19-20, 2026
Distance: 70 miles total over 2 days
Price: $75 per person for bikepacking. $25 for the day gravel ride (no bikepacking included).
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!) The bikepacking option is likely to fill up. No charge for those who come for the day of riding.
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description: Bear Necessities is a great day ride and it’s combined with bikepacking for those who want to camp, test their gear, enjoy spending time with other cyclists of similar interests at camp.

Enjoy ~32 miles of mixed terrain riding on Saturday, ~38 miles Sunday
This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone but we do have the basics for fire starting and boiling water which you’re welcome to use.
We’re buying 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! You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip.

Route Information

Distance: 70 miles total over two days for bikepackers, 70 miles in one day for the day-gravel riders.
Territory: Southern NH - Epping, NH start/end
Gear Packing Options: You must bring your stuff on your bike BUT there is parking at the campground if you want someone to drive and bring your camp gear to you.

When:

19 & 20 September 2026. Saturday and Sunday.

Where we start & Where we Camp:

The ride start is in Epping, NH. There’s a commuter parking lot for your car to stay overnight. The parking lot is free and overnight parking is fine.

9am Saturday - Grand Depart - Full group rollout from the parking lot

9am Sunday - Depart from Camp for the second leg of the journey

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.

Registration:

For the bikepacking trip, please Register at the NEER store!

Questions?Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do the Bear Necessities Ride?

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, September 17: You’ll understand where you’re headed, where to be when, where camping is happening, and 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. There’s no need to ride with anyone specifically.

Slower Riders

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 and it’s a .

Display your location

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp. That person should register like a rider, but mention in registration that they won’t be riding. This is the (only) way to get your camp stuff to camp without being a bikepacker.

Spacers are not unlimited, thus we have to charge a non-riding significant other the same as a bikepacker.

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

Required: 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.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: 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.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: 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.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!

Rob Vandermark 8/27/26 Rob Vandermark 8/27/26

Bear Brook Bikepacking

Location: Epping, NH
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 19 & 20 September 2026
Distance: ~30-40 miles each day

Riders enjoy time sitting around a fire after a day of great riding!

Location: Starts in [_______]- route is a loop
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires, some paved roads as well
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 27-28 September 2025, 9:30am & earlier rollouts Saturday. Back to the lot by 6:30pm Sunday.
Distance: ~50 miles each day
Price: $30 per person. 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!) The cost covers your spot in a campground that offers showers, water, electricity, campfire (NEER buys the wood for a group campfire)
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description: The Autumn Overnight bikepacking weekend is a two-day and one-night event that covers almost ~100 miles of diverse terrain in New England. This ride is intended to be fun, give you a chance to enjoy bikepacking with others who love to bikepack, give you a nice way to do it for the first time if you haven’t done it before with a not-too-hard and not-too-climby route at a perfect time of year. The event is part bikepacking and part adventure ride.

This is a great way to have a full weekend of riding, test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends and family as well.

Enjoy fun mixed-terrain riding over two days
This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone.
We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers.
Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’ll teach campfire starting at camp and keep the fire going to stay warm at night and in the morning before rolling out Sunday morning
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip. We’ll email this to all who register!

Photo from a warm 2017 bikepacking trip called Maneha. The fire was hot and post-ride feasting/post-ride food coma Saturday night was memorable.

Maneha is the ride that started it all. We first scouted Maneha in 2010. It has evolved over the years and has brought a terrific bikepacking experience to riders of all backgrounds and experience levels together and to cool places. This ride is a close relative of Maneha, the difference being that this ride isn’t catered and Maneha was.

Overview

The Autumn Overnight is a bikepacking ride on a mixed-terrain route. We're riding everything from primitive 'goat trails' to good paved roads. There are lots of nice, smooth dirt paths and roads too. Everyone goes the pace that works for each person, some people will be riding loaded fat bikes at the rear and others will have 40mm tires and have a lighter bike setup.

Route Information

Distance: About 50 miles each day. We’ll tell you the specifics of the route as we get closer to ride time. Be sure you have the fitness and ability to ride an unloaded gravel bike on mixed terrain/gravel 100km without excessive fatigue or body issues. This ensures you’ll have the baseline fitness and readiness for this trip.
Territory: Central MA, there’s not a lot in the areas where we’re riding either day.
Riding Options: Two day, Saturday only, Sunday only - if you have a non-riding friend or loved one coming up to meet you, you’re welcome to ride one day up and get a ride home. We are not transporting anyone to the start or from the campsite back to the starting lot. The price stays the same regardless. Just let us know your plans so we’re aware, that’s all you need to do.
Gear Packing Options: There are no options: if you want it to eat, to sleep on, to wear, you’re carrying it with you! You are expected to have everything you need for a long-day ride on you where it comes to fixing mechanicals. This said, there is a nice place farm with food, drinks, woodfired pizza about a mile from the campground so you could cheat and grab dinner there. But be sure to bring it back to the campfire to enjoy the group dynamic with everyone!

When:

27 & 28 September 2025. Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s Grand Depart happens at 9:30am. Riders are encouraged to arrive at the start (a parking lot at a train station) no later than 7:15 so there’s time to deal with all of the stuff on the bike prior to 8am. Starting on time is important!

Sunday’s ride back begins when riders want to get moving, this will probably be around 9am though this will be discussed around the campfire prior to everyone heading off to slumber land.

Where we Start:

Wachusett Train Station. There is overnight parking offered here.

Train Schedule:

The outbound train from Boston leaves North Station at 7:45am and picks up riders all the way west, arriving at the Wachusett lot at 9:21am Saturday.

The inbound train to Boston from Wachusett picks up at 6:25pm, arriving back to North Station at 8:01pm. The last train Sunday is at 8:55pm though we expect all riders will have ample time to get to the 6:25pm train. The next earliest train is at 4:25pm for faster riders.

Where we Camp:

We have campsites reserved together for riders in the Lamb City campground in Philipston, MA. NEER buys wood for a fire/fires everyone can enjoy.

There are showers, picnic tables, electricity to recharge your electronics, campfire rings, a campground (small) store if you forgot something.

Why:

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, and isn’t it fun to get two big days on the bike with nice people also out for the same? It’s important to do it while it’s still possible with the weather and campfires sure feel amazing at this time of year!

How:

Questions? Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do the Autumn Overnight ride?

Any fit and competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate. Riding 50+ miles of mixed-terrain feels about three times that amount of road riding. If your bike is loaded, it feels even further. There are no time cut offs, you’re welcome to take your time. We do want you to be in to the campsite before dark.

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 September 25: You’ll understand how the ride is being run, where you’re headed, where to be when.
This information will help you prepare your bike, mind, and spirit for the adventure ahead. It includes recommended food and rest stops along the route. The information also includes tips on how to navigate difficult trails.
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.

"The staff did a remarkable job on a complex event. I can't wait until next year!" - C.B.

Ride with Your Friend Group

You can ride this ride as a solo rider or with a team/self-organized friend group (AKA team) ahead of the NEER-led group. All of these ways of participating are fantastic and your choice. Solo riders and slower groups will be encouraged to start earlier than 9am so there’s some cross-over during the day. It’s early and understandable if people don’t want to start earlier than this!

The last group to depart will be Super Domestique-led, and the Super Domestique will be riding a loaded fat bike so it won’t be fast, but steady.

A team consists of as many riders as you want to assemble to take this on together.
The team must have at least two people with GPS units for navigation along with backup batteries for the GPS units.
The team members commit to riding together and finishing together.

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, we just want you to be at camp no later than 8pm.
We prefer if you start earlier (we will be at the start very early so it’s possible to leave earlier and have a send-off committee). It’s nicer to be solo in a rider sandwich somewhere rather than off-the-back solo for safety and all of the positive psychological benefits as well! We usually have all paces show up to our rides so there’s a good chance your pace will be similar to that of others.

Display your location

We will have ALL riders display their location on the route via Life360 (not necessary to pay for an account for this), it helps us know where everyone is. This will take a little more battery life from your cell phone, so a backup battery is essential.

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Your non-riding spouse or significant other is welcome to join you for the weekend at the campsite at no additional cost as long as you’re sharing a tent. Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp.

If you’d like this to be a bigger family affair, we’ll ask you to make a reservation with the campground on your own and we’ll credit you for the campsite space you won’t be occupying. Email us separately if this applies to you and we’ll figure it out.

Sunday After the Ride back at the parking lot/train station

We’re expecting riders to arrive back at their cars/train at various times. Most people will be tired from the long weekend and just want to get home. There is no food there so bring some with you or have it in the car awaiting you for the few moments after you finish.

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

Required: A bike with 38mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: 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.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: 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.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!

Patria Vandermark 6/25/26 Patria Vandermark 6/25/26

NEER Bikepack to the Beach

Location: Arlington & Winchester → Salem, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 1 & 2 August
Distance: Various
Price: $85

Riders enjoy time sitting around a fire after a long day of great riding!

Location: Various start locations: Arlington, MA & Winchester, MA (we’ll time it so that riders can jump into the ride at a location convenient for them - come up from the city, take the train, ride from your home!)
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 1-2 August 2026
Distance: ~43 miles for those starting from Arlington, ~37 miles for those starting from Winchester
Price: $85 per person. 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!) The ride is likely to fill up. When there aren’t spots left at camp, we can’t accept further registrations.
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description: The NEER Bikepack to the Beach is a weekend two-day and one-night event that covers almost >70 miles of diverse terrain in New England. This ride is equal parts challenge and fun. The event is part bikepacking and part adventure ride.

The route takes fun, playful trails to Marblehead (ice cream and tasty food, anyone?), then riders head north to Winter Park Island, a special campground where riders will camp in a group cove (private from the rest of the campers), a short walk from the beach!

We’re offering two start locations: Arlington and Winchester with timing such that riders will ride from Arlington, then to Winchester, and then on to camp. With these start locations being convenient to Boston, it’s easy for those without cars to attend this ride.

Photo from the Winter Park camp website.

This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone. We’ve found it very effective for riders to take on their first bikepacking trip having to be self-sufficient. Since we’re near civilization, it’s not a problem if one forgets something or doesn’t pack ideally.
Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip. You receive this in your inbox not long after you register (assuming you haven’t already received it). We’re always adding and optimizing the list too!

Route Information

Distance: 37-45 miles on Saturday and a similar amount on Sunday to reutrn. It’s a loop, not the same out and back.
Territory: Ranges from deep woods to town centers.
Riding Options: We’ve reserved the group campsite area for the whole weekend Saturday through Monday morning. If you want to enjoy camp for longer on Sunday or stick around until Monday, you’re MORE than welcome to enjoy this special spot for all of that time!
The routes we share and timings we suggest are what the “group” will be doing. You are more than welcome to ride from your home to one of the two start locations (Arlington or Winchester) and add distance if you wish after arriving in Salem. The fee for this weekend is paying for your spot in camp and for the shared bikepacking experience.
You are more than welcome to get a lift home from the campground or have someone drop you off so that you can do a partial trip, there’s no shame in getting creative in making this work in your schedule and life!
Significant others/friends who are non-NEER are welcome to join at camp. There is space for cars for anyone who wants to drive, we just need to know if someone will be joining in rather than riding, it’s not a problem and we love it when non-riding family members can enjoy the shared camping as well.
We are not transporting anyone to the start or from the campsite back. There is no support vehicle.
Gear Packing Options: There are no options: if you want it to eat, to sleep on, to wear, you’re carrying it with you! You are expected to have everything you need for a long-day ride on you where it comes to fixing mechanicals. This said, there are stores on the route so one can buy food rather than bring it with. Your choice!

When:

1 & 2 August 2026. Saturday and Sunday. Riders choosing to meet up in Arlington should be ready to roll by 7:55am. Everyone will ride to Winchester Center where there’s overnight parking (details will be shared with all who register).

Grand Depart is in Winchester at 9am.

Sunday’s ride back begins when riders want to get moving. A Super Domestique will accompany those who want to do a group ride rolling at 9am. If riders want to add mileage or get an earlier start, that’s fine. Riders are often up very early at camp and want to get moving.

Where we start & Where we Camp:

Arlington: near the Arlington Reservoir, we’ll share exact meet-up details with all who register.

Winchester: We’ll share details of overnight parking with all who register; there are lots in Winchester that allow this.

We’re camping in a nice campground, Winter Island Park in Salem, MA.

We have campsites reserved together for riders in this campground. NEER buys wood for a fire/fires everyone can enjoy.

There is electricity (not at the campsites, but there are plugs, you won’t want to plug in your phone and walk away). There is potable water, restrooms, and showers for everyone’s use.

Why:

How:

Questions?Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do this ride?

Any fit and competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate. The terrain is “playful” meaning you’ll ride paved roads, dirt paths, single track trails, some more technical terrain that any gravel bike can handle, but is beyond what we’d call “gravel.”

"The staff did a remarkable job on a complex event. I can't wait until next year!" - C.B.

Display your location

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Your non-riding spouse or significant other is welcome to join you and all for the weekend at the campsite. That person should register (or you can register for both of you) and mention who is not riding. If someone is joining for the day and not staying overnight, it’s not necessary to pay anything (since they aren’t taking space at the campsite), just send an email instead.

Contact Information - You’ll receive a cell number in email

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

Required: 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.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: 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.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: 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.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!

Rob Vandermark 5/22/26 Rob Vandermark 5/22/26

NEER Gravel & Gear: Day Ride & Bikepacking Options!

Location: Sturbridge, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Friday evening & Saturday June 19 & 20
Distance: various options
Price: $40 & $0 for just the ride - for NEER members only

Location: Starts in Sturbridge, MA - Friday night for bikepackers and Saturday ride for those who want to come for the ride
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Friday night & Saturday, 19-20 June 2026
Distance: ~5 miles Friday evening to get to camp, long and short route options for Saturday (the long route can be cut shorter for the short ride option)
Price: $40 per person for bikepacking. 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!) The bikepacking option is likely to fill up. No charge for those who come for the day of riding.
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description: The NEER Gravel and Gear is a great day ride and it’s combined with bikepacking for those who want to camp, test their gear, enjoy spending a nice Friday evening with other nice cyclists at camp prior to getting up the next day and having a full day on the bike. The pressure is not on Friday since getting to the campground is relaxed and very few miles from where everyone parks. If someone wants to camp but isn’t “there” yet with bikepacking gear, there is room at the campground for a couple of cars though we want to encourage everyone to load your bikes and jump in head-first on the bikepacking front!

This is a new route, we’ve never run this route before and it’s in an area where there’s not a lot of riding so you’ll see new places.

This is a great way to test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends.

Enjoy ~50-100km of gravel riding on Saturday
This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone but we do have the basics for fire starting and boiling water which you’re welcome to use.
We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers.
Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip.

Route Information

Distance: Friday: short ride from your car/commuter lot to campground, Saturday: 100km route & shorter option available
Territory: Sturbridge, MA start/end
Gear Packing Options: You must bring your stuff on your bike BUT there is parking at the campground if you want to drive and bring your camp gear.

When:

19 & 20 June 2026. Friday evening and Saturday. You’ll be home Saturday evening. Note Juneteenth is June 19 and Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 21.

Friday night riders meet up at the parking lot (details will be shared with all who RSVP)

Where we start & Where we Camp:

The ride start is in Sturbridge, MA. There’s a commuter parking lot for your car to stay overnight. The parking lot is lit all night.

Riders who would like to come for the ride on Saturday will get specific directions as to where to park and where to ride so as to meet up at the start. You’ll get a start time so as to meet up with the bike packers before 9am.

Bikepackers will ride with their bikes loaded with their stuff on Saturday so as to test out their loading and setups, etc.

9am - Full group rollout from the campground for both the bikepackers and the day riders

Why:

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. And everyone wants to have a fun day on the bike on a nice Friday afternoon - Saturday in June!

Registration:

For the bikepacking trip, please Register at the NEER store!

For the Saturday gravel-ride option only (no camping or bikepacking component), please RSVP on our usual RSVP Page.

Questions?Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do the NEER Gravel and Gear Ride?

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, June 18: You’ll understand how the ride is being run, where you’re headed, where to be when. We’ll email everyone a week ahead with more details so no one will be in the dark the week of the ride.
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. There’s no need to ride with anyone specifically. NEER has a Super Domestique who will ride with a group who is riding at a moderate pace which translates from 16mph road riding to loaded bike meaning the average for this group will likely be 12ish mph.

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 and it’s a .

Display your location

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp. We have very limited space for bikepackers so while we love to extend this option on our bikepacking trips usually, it might not be possible for this one.

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

Required: A bike with 38mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: 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.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: 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.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!

Patria Vandermark 2/3/26 Patria Vandermark 2/3/26

Michigan Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder

NEER Travels for Gravel!!
June 27, 2026
100-mile & 210-mile route options
Takes place across beautiful Michigan!

NEER is traveling to Michigan this summer to participate (race?) in the Michigan Coast to Coast Gravel Grinder! There are 100-mile and 200-mile options available. The 200 miler crosses from the west coast of Michigan to the east coast offering a variety of terrain and lots of views of beautiful Michigan!

This is a great opportunity to ride your gravel bike somewhere totally new, take on a proper challenge on your gravel bike, and have a great group from Massachusetts to meet up with either for the trip out or once you’re out there (most will drive, some will fly).

Details about this Gravel Grinder are on their website: https://micoasttocoast.com/

Let us know you’re “in” for it so we keep you in the loop on travel arrangements and plans once we’re all out there! (You MUST register on their website to be entered into their event).

Tell us you'll be there & want to be included in trip emails!

Patria Vandermark 12/1/25 Patria Vandermark 12/1/25

Swamp Donkey Dash

Ultra endurance mtb & gravel race
July 11, 2026
TBD distances and options offered
Starts at Cannon Mountain, White Mtns NH

July 11, 2026 - Mid-Summer Ultra Endurance MTB & Gravel options in the White Mountains!

NEER is participating in this single-track heavy, self supported ultra adventure ride, in the western white mountains of NH.

There is also a 300-mile gravel route option! Sign up for the waiting list, there’s a good chance of getting in still.

We have members taking on every distance and category so you’re not alone AND we’re getting together for dinner the night before in the area (Bethlehem or Littleton) to be social and hang out! Email us if you’ll be there so we know who to communicate with concerning pre-ride plans! connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Visit swampdonkeydash for registration/wait list info! And see more info on Facebook here!

Rob Vandermark 9/17/25 Rob Vandermark 9/17/25

Autumn Overnight Bikepacking Weekend

Location: Fitchburg, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Bike Packing
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 27 & 28 Sept 2025
Distance: ~50 miles each day

Location: Starts in Fitchburg, MA, Ride to and camp to a campground in Philipston, MA then have a great ride back to your vehicle or the train back home in Fitchburg - route is a loop
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires, some paved roads as well
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 27-28 September 2025, 9:30am & earlier rollouts Saturday. Back to the lot by 6:30pm Sunday.
Distance: ~50 miles each day
Price: $30 per person. 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!) The cost covers your spot in a campground that offers showers, water, electricity, campfire (NEER buys the wood for a group campfire)
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Enjoy fun mixed-terrain riding over two days
This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone.
We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers.
Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’ll teach campfire starting at camp and keep the fire going to stay warm at night and in the morning before rolling out Sunday morning
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip. We’ll email this to all who register!

Overview

Route Information

Distance: About 50 miles each day. We’ll tell you the specifics of the route as we get closer to ride time. Be sure you have the fitness and ability to ride an unloaded gravel bike on mixed terrain/gravel 100km without excessive fatigue or body issues. This ensures you’ll have the baseline fitness and readiness for this trip.
Territory: Central MA, there’s not a lot in the areas where we’re riding either day.
Riding Options: Two day, Saturday only, Sunday only - if you have a non-riding friend or loved one coming up to meet you, you’re welcome to ride one day up and get a ride home. We are not transporting anyone to the start or from the campsite back to the starting lot. The price stays the same regardless. Just let us know your plans so we’re aware, that’s all you need to do.
Gear Packing Options: There are no options: if you want it to eat, to sleep on, to wear, you’re carrying it with you! You are expected to have everything you need for a long-day ride on you where it comes to fixing mechanicals. This said, there is a nice place farm with food, drinks, woodfired pizza about a mile from the campground so you could cheat and grab dinner there. But be sure to bring it back to the campfire to enjoy the group dynamic with everyone!

When:

Sunday’s ride back begins when riders want to get moving, this will probably be around 9am though this will be discussed around the campfire prior to everyone heading off to slumber land.

Where we Start:

Wachusett Train Station. There is overnight parking offered here.

Train Schedule:

The outbound train from Boston leaves North Station at 7:45am and picks up riders all the way west, arriving at the Wachusett lot at 9:21am Saturday.

Where we Camp:

We have campsites reserved together for riders in the Lamb City campground in Philipston, MA. NEER buys wood for a fire/fires everyone can enjoy.

There are showers, picnic tables, electricity to recharge your electronics, campfire rings, a campground (small) store if you forgot something.

Why:

How:

Questions? Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Who can do the Autumn Overnight ride?

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 September 25: You’ll understand how the ride is being run, where you’re headed, where to be when.
This information will help you prepare your bike, mind, and spirit for the adventure ahead. It includes recommended food and rest stops along the route. The information also includes tips on how to navigate difficult trails.
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.

"The staff did a remarkable job on a complex event. I can't wait until next year!" - C.B.

Ride with Your Friend Group

The last group to depart will be Super Domestique-led, and the Super Domestique will be riding a loaded fat bike so it won’t be fast, but steady.

A team consists of as many riders as you want to assemble to take this on together.
The team must have at least two people with GPS units for navigation along with backup batteries for the GPS units.
The team members commit to riding together and finishing together.

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, we just want you to be at camp no later than 8pm.
We prefer if you start earlier (we will be at the start very early so it’s possible to leave earlier and have a send-off committee). It’s nicer to be solo in a rider sandwich somewhere rather than off-the-back solo for safety and all of the positive psychological benefits as well! We usually have all paces show up to our rides so there’s a good chance your pace will be similar to that of others.

Display your location

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Sunday After the Ride back at the parking lot/train station

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.

Riding Rules

Proper Bike & Equipment

Required: A bike with 38mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: 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.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: 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.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!
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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!