Trail Mix 100 Middle Massachusetts 2021 Edition
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads
Time & Date: Sunday, September 19
Starting Point: Red Apple Farm - Phillipston, MA
Distance: 100km or 100 miles - your choice
Pricing:
100 Mile - starts at $85 - Register Here
100 KM - starts at $65 - Register Here
Trail Mix 100 Middle Massachusetts 2021 Edition
Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of central Massachusetts! There are TWO distance options for you for this ride! Choose a 100-km route or 100-mile route to ride.
This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride starts at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA - so most people will need to drive to the start.
This is a group or solo ride, depending on how you want to ride it. You may get a group of your friends together, you may request to ride with others who are likely of your similar cycling pace and experience, or you’re welcome to ride it alone, though you’re hardly alone when there are so many people on the same route.
Ride with New People Option
Ride with people of your riding speed, but you don’t have to know anyone prior to the ride! This is an option for you if you’d like to ride with a group, but don’t have friends riding or simply want to meet new people who are of a similar strength.
We offered this option for the first time at the Rhode Island Trail Mix ride and it allowed many similar riders to find each other. Since it worked so well the last few times, we’re offering it again. Quite a few people selected to opt into a new group.
We’re riding on roads with very light traffic in an area you’re unlikely to be very familiar with. It’s wonderful riding, properly scenic, and probably not what you’d consider doing completely alone. This a way to ride in a new area that is fairly remote knowing there are other cyclists on the same route.
There is little to no cell coverage on many parts of the routes.
We are staffing a mid-ride food stop and serving a substantial meal post-ride. Enjoy a great ride, eat well throughout, and drink delicious, and famous, Ride Studio Iced Mochas!
We’re offering three fully-supported locations on the ride: one at the start, one mid-ride full of your favorite packaged bike foods, gummies, maple syrup packets, etc. and Iced Mochas, and a filling meal after the ride.
Note that 100 mile riders will see the mid-ride food stop twice during the ride. 100 km riders see the same mid-ride food stop once.
We accommodate all diets so just let us know what you require when you register and we’ll have something appropriate for you at both the mid-ride stop and end-of-ride meal.
In the past, we’ve brought huge salads, vegan chicken salad, bean salad, and more for vegans and gluten-free people. We do care that you get to eat as well as everyone that does not have a restricted diet post-ride.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, every single word.
Details
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, some mix of surfaces, but almost entirely rideable with little/no technical skill.
Time & Date: Sunday, September 19, 2021
Rollout times will be assigned between 7:00am and 9:30am
Longer riders are sent off first, shorter-distance riders are sent off a little later but still early
Starting Point: Red Apple Farm - Phillipston, MA
Distance: 100 mile or 100 km - you choose & all riders start with the same ~30 miles so if you want to switch from the 100 mile route to 100 km route, that is fine AS LONG AS YOU TELL A STAFF MEMBER!
What you get
A gorgeous, well-planned route: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.
Staffed starting location with water, portable toilets, friendly staff
Staffed food stop with water, bike food, special extra tasty food, famous Ride Studio Iced Mochas
Route Support - mechanic on route
Peace of Mind knowing there are other riders on the same route
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride of delicious, hearty food
Price
100 Mile Route
$85 if you’re registered by September 12, 11:59 pm
$105 if you register after September 12
Registration closes at 11:59pm on Friday, September 17
NO day-of registrations
100 Kilometer Route
$65 if you’re registered by September 12, 11:59 pm
$95 if you register after September 12
Registration closes at 11:59pm on Friday, September 17
NO day-of registrations
Refund Policy
The earlier you register, the more generous our refund policy. Logistics for the ride are not trivial and changes/cancellations cost us valuable time. We also greatly appreciate everyone who registers early!
If you register > 9 days in advance of the ride, and cancel more than 2 days before the ride starts, you’ll get credit for all but $20 applied to a future ride that we host.
If you register > 5 days in advance of the ride, and cancel more than 2 days before the ride starts, you’ll get credit for all but $30 applied to a future ride we host.
All other cancellations > 2 days in advance of the ride: You’ll get a $20 credit toward one of our future events that we host.
Cancellations within 2 days of the ride cannot be refunded or credited since food is already purchased and we’ve made financial commitments with the expectations that you’ll be joining us.
BikeReg.com offers cancellation insurance which we recommend purchasing.
If you need any alterations to your registration of any sort, please email us as early as possible: trailmix@rideheadquarters.com
Start Location
Phillipston, Massachusetts. Exact details and location information are emailed to registered riders by 12pm the day before the ride.
Estimated drive times:
About 60-80 minutes from most parts of the greater Boston area
Route Information
This is a new route! Like all of our previous routes, it’s adventure-filled, but also very appropriate for gravel bikes. You’ll ride plenty of dirt roads, trails, and what’s pavement will be on the quiet roads.
Expect elevation in the 75 ft. per mile range.
Pace Options - It’s a Ride for Most Everyone to Enjoy!
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace when you ride a 30-mile all-paved ride. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this route, we’re just interested in knowing approximately where each person will be after starting out.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 10mph - 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this on the day of the ride, that is alright. We are staffing the food stop assuming a 10 mph minimum pace.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. Do not plan on having cell service since there are quite a few portions of the ride with weak to no service.
COVID Protocol:
We ask that all riders adhere to state guidelines (in this case it’s MA and NH) where it comes to mask wearing and proper social distancing. We will include these in the email we send to all participants just prior to the ride since guidance is continually changing. Basically, masks are not mandatory since we’re outside the whole time.
Please simply be respectful of others since everyone has a different level of nervousness where it comes to COVID worry.
If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well. This applies for all aspects of cycling and general behavior.
Additional Guidelines and Rules:
If you’re not signed up to ride with someone(s), you may not ride with that person(s) during the ride. If you want to find new people to ride with, please register in that category.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when it’s appropriate to mask up. As stated, a mask is unlikely to be necessary, but bring one in case you need to enter a business that requires it or are in another situation where it’s good to have.
We’ll be giving everyone specific starting times, please adhere to these. This allows for proper ride organization and smooth coordination at the start, mid-ride, and at the post-ride meal. We spend a lot of time figuring out starting positions to allow for the best flow of the day.
We’ll provide you with a very tasty, hearty meal to eat afterward. Bring a lawn chair, this will make the after-ride socialization much more relaxing and fun.
There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.
We will not shuttle riders anywhere, it’s your responsibility to have a plan in case your bike or legs stop working.
We’ll send a very detailed email by 12pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Everything necessary for common mechanicals. Items include:
2 x tubes
Hand pump
Co2 cartridges & Co2 inflator
Tire levers
Boot/dollar bill if your tire gets ripped
Patch kit
1 pair of quick links compatible for your chain
Chain pliers
Chain breaker
Multi-tool (if your chain breaker is on your multi-tool, even better)
If your bike uses a replaceable derailleur hanger, be sure to have an extra that is compatible with your bike
Rain jacket - this works well for chilly descents too
2 x 26 oz water bottles
Food/nutrition in case you need a zap of energy before the food stop
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day. Even though we’re no longer needing to officially social distance, it’s really nice to be prepared to take care of yourself or a riding friend if the situation arises.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this Ride
35mm-40mm tires are best suited for the ride. Err on the side of bigger, especially if you’re newer to gravel riding. Feel free to use bigger tires. Your gravel bike is the most appropriate bike for the ride. Mountain bikes and flat-bar bikes are welcome. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger. We welcome mountain bikes, fat bikes, and any bike that you feel comfortable completing the distance on in the time frame allotted for the ride.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. If you’ll be riding with others and it’ll be wet, please be nice to your co-riders and use full-coverage fenders.
Weather: We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc. by 12pm the day before the ride.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
RHQ - Saturday Morning Mixed Terrain
Location: Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride
Date & Time: Some Saturdays 9am
Distance: ~25 miles typically
Price: Free
Location: Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA (right off the Minuteman bike path)
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride
Date & Time: Saturday, September 4, 2021, rolling at 9:00 am
Distance: 25 miles
Price: Free
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details: The Saturday morning mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists all over Bedford, Concord, and beyond. The ride takes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path.
The ride departs at 9:00 am with various speed groups; we ride based on time rather than distance. We have a designated RSC Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a moderate pace. If you have ridden mixed terrain before and can average 16mph on a paved road ride, you should be fine with the pace of this ride. We typically have at least two groups - one spicier and peppier ahead of the Super Domestique led group.
We don’t have a sweep rider for this ride so only participate if you’re confident in your skill level and fitness.
Parking: Please park across the street from Revolution Hall. Use this address for GPS navigation to the ride start and for the parking lot:
10 Maguire Rd, Lexington, MA 02421
Route: The route is emailed to all by 8pm the evening before the ride. The weather and trail conditions dictate the route. We do not ride on soft trails ever; we have rain trail-friendly routes prepared.
Estimated time: ~3.5 hours
Ride Notes: We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a mixed terrain ride is a little rougher than a “gravel” ride. You’ll be riding over some roots and rocks, though nothing in this ride can be considered technical in nature.
Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Headquarters’ Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. We email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquaters.com, Phone which reaches the ride leader before and during the ride: 413-461-7433
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
How do we decide if we’re having the mixed-terrain ride?
Thunder storms: If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm at 9:30 am, we don’t ride. It is not safe to get caught out in a thunder storm.
Rain or sleet: There are a few variants of this. We don’t ride sensitive trails when they’re wet; this can cause damage that’s not repairable. Fortunately, we have some rain friendly routes that don’t damage sensitive trails.
If it’s raining at the ride start time we cancel the ride. If it’s only threatening to rain, we ride.
If it’s misting or drizzling, with less than 50% chance of rain in the coming hour, we ride.
If it’s been raining a lot for a couple days, but not raining in the morning, we ride. Our rain friendly routes avoid sensitive trails. Of course, every few years there’s such a bad storm that we won’t ride; we take the force majeure very seriously.
Snowing: We ride; it is so much fun to ride during a snow storm.
Snow on the ground: We ride. It doesn’t matter if there’s 1 inch or four feet, we ride. We recommend studded tires or fat bikes for these kinds of conditions. The only exclusion to snow riding is when there is a state of emergency and we’ve been asked to stay off the road.
Icy conditions: We ride. For this you have to have studded tires in order to ride with us.
Cold: It doesn’t matter what the temperature is, we ride. The coldest Sunday ride started at 5 degrees. It was a blast!
The proper bike for this ride includes the following:
32c knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nice, too. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you ride with platform pedals you’re likely to be over your head in some of the more technical parts of the ride. 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.
Higher tire pressure than you’d ride on a cyclocross ride. We recommend about 80% to 90% of maximum rated tire pressure, for two reasons:
First, we want to minimize flats on the ride; waiting for someone to change flats is not why we ride. We typically see zero flats on our ride. One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.
Second, on average, about 50% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.
Trail Mix 100 Northern Reaches Edition
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads
Time & Date: Sunday, August 1 (note: the ride had been scheduled for July 18, but dangerous weather was predicted, so we moved the date and have re-opened registration!)
Starting Point: Winchedon, MA
Distance: 100km or 100 miles - your choice
Price: $85 - Register Here
Trail Mix 100 Northen Reaches Edition
Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of the north-central part of Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire! There are TWO distance options for you for this ride! Choose a 100-km route or 100-mile route to ride.
This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride starts near Winchendon, MA - so most people will need to drive to the start.
This is a group or solo ride, depending on how you want to ride it. You may get a group of your friends together, you may request to ride with others who are likely of your similar cycling pace and experience, or you’re welcome to ride it alone, though you’re hardly alone when there are so many people on the same route.
Ride with New People Option
Ride with people of your riding speed, but you don’t have to know anyone prior to the ride! This is an option for you if you’d like to ride with a group, but don’t have friends riding or simply want to meet new people who are of a similar strength.
We offered this option for the first time at the Rhode Island Trail Mix ride and it allowed many similar riders to find each other. Since it worked so well, we’re offering it again. Quite a few people selected to opt into a new group.
We’re riding on roads with very light traffic in an area you’re unlikely to be very familiar with. It’s wonderful riding, properly scenic, and probably not what you’d consider doing completely alone. This a way to ride in a new area that is fairly remote knowing there are other cyclists on the same route.
There is little to no cell coverage on many parts of the routes.
We are staffing a mid-ride food stop and serving a substantial meal post-ride. Enjoy a great ride, eat well throughout, and drink delicious, and famous, Ride Studio Iced Mochas!
We’re offering three fully-supported locations on the ride: one at the start, one mid-ride full of your favorite packaged bike foods, gummies, maple syrup packets, etc. and Iced Mochas, and a filling meal after the ride.
Note that 100 mile riders will see the mid-ride food stop twice during the ride. 100 km riders see the same mid-ride food stop once.
We accommodate all diets so just let us know what you require when you register and we’ll have something appropriate for you at both the mid-ride stop and end-of-ride meal.
In the past, we’ve brought huge salads, vegan chicken salad, bean salad, and more for vegans and gluten-free people. We do care that you get to eat as well as everyone that does not have a restricted diet post-ride.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, every single word.
Details
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, some mix of surfaces, but almost entirely rideable with little/no technical skill.
Time & Date: Sunday, August 1, 2021 - we moved this ride’s date from July 18 due to terrible weather on the original date. So registration is re-open and we’re running this August 1 now!
Rollout times will be assigned between 7:00am and 9:30am
Longer riders are sent off first, shorter-distance riders are sent off a little later but still early
Starting Point: Winchendon, MA
Distance: 100 mile or 100 km - you choose & all riders start with the same ~30 miles so if you want to change your mind mid-ride, that is fine AS LONG AS YOU TELL A STAFF MEMBER!
What you get
A gorgeous, well-planned route: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.
Staffed starting location with water, portable toilets, friendly staff
Staffed food stop with water, bike food, special extra tasty food, famous Ride Studio Iced Mochas
Route Support via a driving mechanic
Peace of Mind knowing there are other riders on the same route
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride of delicious, hearty food
Price
$85 if you’re registered by July 29, 11:59 pm
$100 if you register July 30 or 31
NO day-of registrations
Refund Policy
The earlier you register, the more generous our refund policy. Logistics for the ride are not trivial and changes/cancellations cost us valuable time. We also greatly appreciate everyone who registers early!
If you register > 15 days in advance of the ride, and cancel more than 2 days before the ride starts, you’ll get credit for all but $20 applied to a future ride that we host.
If you register > 10 days in advance of the ride, and cancel more than 2 days before the ride starts, you’ll get credit for all but $30 applied to a future ride we host.
All other cancellations > 2 days in advance of the ride: You’ll get a $20 credit toward one of our future events that we host.
Cancellations within 2 days of the ride cannot be refunded or credited since food is already purchased and we’ve made financial commitments with the expectations that you’ll be joining us.
BikeReg.com offers cancellation insurance which we recommend purchasing.
If you need any alterations to your registration of any sort, please email us as early as possible: trailmix@rideheadquarters.com
Start Location
Winchendon, Massachusetts. Exact details and location information are emailed to registered riders by 12pm the day before the ride.
Estimated drive times:
About 60-80 minutes from most parts of the greater Boston area
About 70-80 minutes from Ride Headquarters in Sherborn
Route Information
This is a 100% all-new route! Like all of our previous routes, it’s adventure-filled, but also very appropriate for gravel bikes. You’ll ride plenty of dirt roads, trails, and what’s pavement will be on the quiet roads.
The elevation is approximately 75 ft. per mile.
100 km ~4,600 ft. of climbing
100 mile ~7,500 ft. of climbing
Scroll to the very bottom of this page to see the routes & how much is pavement versus dirt!
Pace Options - It’s a Ride for Most Everyone to Enjoy!
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace when you ride a 30-mile all-paved ride. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this route, we’re just interested in knowing approximately where each person will be after starting out.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 10mph - 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this on the day of the ride, that is alright. We are staffing the food stop assuming a 10 mph minimum pace.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. Do not plan on having cell service since there are quite a few portions of the ride with weak to no service.
COVID Protocol:
We ask that all riders adhere to state guidelines (in this case it’s MA and NH) where it comes to mask wearing and proper social distancing. We will include these in the email we send to all participants just prior to the ride since guidance is continually changing. Basically, masks are not mandatory since we’re outside the whole time.
Please simply be respectful of others since everyone has a different level of nervousness where it comes to COVID worry.
If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well. This applies for all aspects of cycling and general behavior.
Additional Guidelines and Rules:
If you’re not signed up to ride with someone(s), you may not ride with that person(s) during the ride. If you want to find new people to ride with, please register in that category.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when it’s appropriate to mask up. As stated, a mask is unlikely to be necessary, but bring one in case you need to enter a business that requires it or are in another situation where it’s good to have.
We’ll be giving everyone specific starting times, please adhere to these. This allows for proper ride organization and smooth coordination at the start, mid-ride, and at the post-ride meal. We spend a lot of time figuring out starting positions to allow for the best flow of the day.
We’ll provide you with a very tasty, hearty meal to eat afterward. Bring a lawn chair, this will make the after-ride socialization much more relaxing and fun.
There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.
We will not shuttle riders anywhere, it’s your responsibility to have a plan in case your bike or legs stop working.
We’ll send a very detailed email by 12pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Everything necessary for common mechanicals. Items include:
2 x tubes
Hand pump
Co2 cartridges & Co2 inflator
Tire levers
Boot/dollar bill if your tire gets ripped
Patch kit
1 pair of quick links compatible for your chain
Chain pliers
Chain breaker
Multi-tool (if your chain breaker is on your multi-tool, even better)
If your bike uses a replaceable derailleur hanger, be sure to have an extra that is compatible with your bike
Rain jacket - this works well for chilly descents too
2 x 26 oz water bottles
Food/nutrition in case you need a zap of energy before the food stop
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day. Even though we’re no longer needing to officially social distance, it’s really nice to be prepared to take care of yourself or a riding friend if the situation arises.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this Ride
35mm-40mm tires are best suited for the ride. Err on the side of bigger, especially if you’re newer to gravel riding. Feel free to use bigger tires. Your gravel bike is the most appropriate bike for the ride. Mountain bikes and flat-bar bikes are welcome. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger. We welcome mountain bikes, fat bikes, and any bike that you feel comfortable completing the distance on in the time frame allotted for the ride.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. If you’ll be riding with others and it’ll be wet, please be nice to your co-riders and use full-coverage fenders.
Weather: We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc. by 12pm the day before the ride.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
Where to Stay
First, thank you to those of you who are coming from a distance to join us for Trail Mix!
There is a lovely, large campground that’s located just down the street from the start/end of the ride. We’ve spent quite a few nights here while scouting the route!
100km route - Red is pavement, blue is dirt! All riders will be on these roads/trails during the ride.
100 mile route extension - Red is pavement, blue is dirt! This is the additional loop for all 100 mile riders, approximately 35miles in length.
Saturday Horizon Chasers 2021
Location: Various, near Lexington, mA
Ride Type: Road Ride
Date & Time: Select Saturdays spring through fall
Distance: usually 50-60 miles, sometimes more
Price: Free
Description: The Horizon Chasers is a longer road ride. The average pace is 17.5 mph depending on the time of year and the weather. The ride has multiple groups that will vary in pace higher and lower than the base average, depending on who is showing up and numbers of riders. We're riding for endurance, not speed. We ride steady.
We have an official leader generally found in the last group to go out. If you choose too fast of a group to start, just stay on the route and the group(s) who have left after you will pick you up.
Photo by Marty M.
Ride Type: Road Ride
Location: Various starting locations, usually near to Lincoln, MA
Starting location for Saturday, September 11 is Twisted Tree Cafe in Lincoln, MA
Dates:
Saturday, September 11, 9am rollout
Will be adding more throughout the fall
Distance: 50-60 Miles; varies with the season and weather, routes vary
Price: Free
RSVP: Required, see below simple form
Proper Bike for this ride: 23-28c road slick tires, clipless pedals, drop handlebars; no aero bars.
Route: The route varies for this ride to take people to various cool places! Some of the road surfaces are badly broken, pay attention. There is a ~1 mile dirt road included. It’s doable on 25mm tires, you just have to ride a little slower through this section.
Route - We will email all who RSVP with a new route. The mid-ride stop is at Tangerini’s for refilling water and if you need calories, they have those too! Bring cash if you’d want to buy anything.
Riders are expected to have the route loaded on a GPS device.
Starting Location: If you’re wondering how to ride to the start when the route begins at Twisted Tree, here’s a route suggestion from Alewife station to Twisted Tree in Lincoln. There are many other ways to access Lincoln as well.
Estimated time: About 3-4 hours depending on the time or year and the weather.
Last Minute Information: We will email those who RSVP letting you know anything important.
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 413-461-7433
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride of each year.
RSVP Now Here
RSVPs are required to attend each Horizon Chaser ride.
Trail Mix Gravel Rhode Island Edition
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads
Time & Date: Saturday, June 26, 2021.
Starting Point: Voluntown, Connecticut
Distance: 65 miles.
Price: $65 - Register Here
Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of Rhode Island! This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride requires starting near Voluntown, Connecticut - so most people will need to drive to the start.
This is a group or solo organized ride. You may ride with your friends, as long as you register saying you’ll be riding together.
New Option! Ride with New People!
We’ve just added a new category: ride with people of your riding speed, but you don’t have to know anyone prior to the ride! This is an option for you if you’d like to ride with a group, but don’t have friends riding or simply want to meet new people who are of a similar strength.
We’re riding on roads with very light traffic in an area you’re unlikely to be very familiar with. It’s wonderful riding, but probably not what you’d consider doing completely alone. This a way to ride in a new area that is fairly remote knowing there are other cyclists on the same route.
We are staffing a mid-ride food stop and serving a substantial meal post-ride. Enjoy a great ride, , and drink delicious, and famous, Ride Studio Cafe Iced Mochas!
We’re offering three fully-supported locations on the ride: one at the start, one mid-ride full of your favorite packaged bike foods, gummies, maple syrup packets, etc. and Iced Mochas, and a filling meal after the ride. We accommodate all diets so just let us know what you require when you register and we’ll have something appropriate for you at both the mid-ride stop and end-of-ride meal.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, every single word.
Details
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads
Time & Date: Saturday, June 26, 2021
Rollout times will be assigned from 7:30am-9:00am
Starting Point: West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Distance: 65 miles.
Price: $65 - Register Here
What you get
Gorgeous, well-planned route: Route file for your Garmin, parking directions/instructions.
Staffed starting location with water, portable toilets, friendly staff
Staffed food stop with water, bike food, Ride Studio Iced Mochas
Route Support via a cyclist riding sweep who is capable of helping for most mechanicals
Peace of Mind knowing there are other riders on the same route
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride of delicious, hearty food - BBQ for all dietary needs!!!
Start Location
Updated location: Greenwich, RI. This is near Voluntown, CT which you may have heard us mention in relation to this ride in previous communications. Parking details will be shared individually with each registrant before the ride.
Estimated drive times:
About 90 minutes from Lexington
About 85 minutes from Ride Headquarters in Sherborn
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
~65 Mile Route
Miles of dirt: ~40% of the miles are on dirt roads.
About 50 feet of climbing per mile. Approximately 3,500 feet of total ascent.
1 staffed food stop approximately mid-ride
Pace Options - It’s a Ride for Most Everyone to Enjoy!
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace when you ride alone for a 20-mile all-paved ride in the Boston area. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this route, we’re just interested in knowing approximately where each person will be after starting out.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 10mph - 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this on the day of the ride, that is alright. We are staffing the food stop assuming a 10 mph minimum pace. This is a good “first” gravel ride or if you’re not feeling like you’re in great shape, this is an easier route than many.
We are using your “average” ride pace info to determine your start time, purposely separating people who would gravitate to each other during normal circumstances. We are also starting faster riders after the less fast riders so people finish around the same time.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. Do not plan on having cell service since there are quite a few portions of the ride with weak to no service.
COVID Protocol:
We ask that all riders adhere to state guidelines (in this case it’s CT and RI) where it comes to mask wearing and proper social distancing. We will include these in the email we send to all participants just prior to the ride since guidance is continually changing. Basically, masks are not mandatory since we’re outside the whole time.
Please simply be respectful of others since everyone has a different level of nervousness where it comes to COVID worry.
If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well. This applies for all aspects of cycling and general behavior.
Additional Guidelines and Rules:
If you’re not signed up to ride with someone(s), you may not ride with that person(s) during the ride. If you want to find new people to ride with, please register in that category.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when it’s appropriate to mask up. As stated, a mask is unlikely to be necessary, but bring one in case you need to enter a business that requires it or are in another situation where it’s good to have.
We’ll be giving everyone specific starting times, please adhere to these. This allows for proper ride organization and smooth coordination at the start, mid-ride, and at the post-ride meal. We spend a lot of time figuring out starting positions to allow for the best flow of the day.
We’ll provide you with a meal to eat afterward. Pack a lawn chair, this will make the after-ride socialization much more relaxing and fun.
There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.
We will not shuttle riders anywhere, it’s your responsibility to have a plan in case your bike or legs stop working.
We’ll send a very detailed email by 12pm Friday, the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Everything necessary for common mechanicals. Items include:
2 x tubes
Hand pump
Co2 cartridges & Co2 inflator
Tire levers
Boot/dollar bill if your tire gets ripped
Patch kit
1 pair of quick links compatible for your chain
Chain pliers
Chain breaker
Multi-tool (if your chain breaker is on your multi-tool, even better)
If your bike uses a replaceable derailleur hanger, be sure to have an extra that is compatible with your bike
Rain jacket - this works well for chilly descents too
2 x 26 oz water bottles
Food/nutrition in case you need a zap of energy before the food stop
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day. Even though we’re no longer needing to officially social distance, it’s really nice to be prepared to take care of yourself or a riding friend if the situation arises.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this Ride
28mm-40mm tires are appropriate. Feel free to use bigger tires. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. With no drafting, the requirements about fenders are a bit more relaxed now!
Weather: We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc. by 12pm the day before the ride.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
Trail Mix Gravel Live Free Edition
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021. Ride start times are detailed via email to registrants. The first rider rolls out at 7:30 am
Starting Point: New Boston, New Hampshire
Distance: 65 miles / ~100km.
Price: $65 if registered before May 17
Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of New Hampshire! This ride is full of dirt roads, with scenic paved roads as well - away from traffic and people.
Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride requires starting in New Boston, New Hampshire - so most people will need to drive to the start. It is a 60-minute drive from Lexington, MA, a 70-minute drive from Boston, MA.
This is a scenic, enjoyable, fun gravel ride. You may organize a group of your friends to ride together, ride with one other friend, or ride alone like everyone did last year during the height of the pandemic.
There will be a sweep rider or car on the route to put your mind at ease about a mechanical issue. If you’re riding alone, you won’t feel alone since many other cyclists will be on the same route.
We’re riding on roads with very light traffic in an area you’re unlikely to be familiar with. It’s wonderful riding, but probably not what you’d consider doing completely alone. This a way to ride in a new area that is fairly remote knowing there are other cyclists on the same route. There will also be a staffed food stop on the ride and a substantial meal post-ride.
This is a great way to see others, get back to riding longer miles, and be in a place you otherwise probably wouldn’t think to ride!
COVID Protocol:
We ask that all riders adhere to state guidelines where it comes to mask wearing and proper social distancing. We will include these in the email we send to all participants just prior to the ride since guidance is continually changing.
Please err on the side of caution, have your mask ready to wear when in proximity of others, and simply be respectful of others since everyone has a different level of nervousness where it comes to COVID worry.
If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well.
We’re offering three fully-supported locations on the ride: one at the start, one mid-ride full of your favorite packaged bike foods, gummies, maple syrup packets, etc. and Iced Mochas, and a filling meal after the ride.
The post-ride meal will be a substantial meal of real food.
You can also look forward to a cool Crud Cloth to clean off with post-ride!
Details
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021. Ride start times are detailed via email to registrants. The first rider rolls out at 7:30 am, last rider out departs at 8:30am. (We just updated these times.)
Starting Point: New Boston, New Hampshire
Distance: A little over 100km, 64ish miles
Price: $65 - Register Here
What you get
A gorgeous, well-planned route: You’ll receive a well-vetted route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.
Staffed starting location with water, light food, clean toilets. Your pre-ride email will offer details of the locations of everything.
Staffed food stop with water, bike food, Ride Studio Iced Mochas
Route Support via a cyclist riding or driving sweep who is capable of helping for most mechanicals
Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride of delicious, hearty food
Start Location
New Hampshire. Parking details will be shared individually with each registrant before the ride.
Estimated drive times:
60 minutes from Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington
70 minutes from Sherborn & most of Boston
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
100 km Route
Miles of dirt: Many. We’ll update this once we finalize the route.
About 80 feet of climbing per mile.
1 staffed food stop approximately mid-ride
Pace Options - It’s a Ride for Most Everyone to Enjoy!
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this route, we’re just interested in knowing approximately where each person will be after starting out in order to properly stagger everyone and keep track of each person’s whereabouts.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 12mph to 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this on the day of the ride, that is alright. We are staffing the food stop assuming a 12 mph minimum pace.
We are using your “average” ride pace info to determine your start time, purposely separating predetermined groups who can and want to ride together without unknown riders grouping up. We are also starting faster riders after the less fast riders so people finish around the same time.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. Do not plan on having cell service since there are quite a few portions of the ride with weak to no service.
We will want to know if there is anyone with whom you live who you will want to ride with when you register.
Social Distance Rules
Keep your distance while at the start, rest stop and finish. Keep at least 10 feet between you and others when eating since you can’t wear a mask while eating and drinking. If you’re riding with a person that you’re currently social distancing with or a pre-arranged group, you’re welcome to ride near each other as you would if you were riding together anywhere else in the world. If you are not, keep at least two cars length between you and anyone else when riding.
No sharing or touching anything that is not yours before, during, or after the ride. This includes the rest stop.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when they’re at the start/end and at rest stops.
We’ll be giving everyone specific starting times, please adhere to these. The organization of the ride depends on it.
We’ll provide you with a lunch to eat afterward. No sharing of food or beverages. Pack a lawn chair, you may wish to tailgate after you’re done riding.
There is no ride leader, you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Not crashing your bike or your body makes for a more fun day on the bike!
We’ll send a very detailed email a day before the ride with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Check out the contents of our bug-out bag
All the clothing you typically use for the weather we expect to feel on May 22.
Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions.
Headlight and taillight with batteries in good condition. Use these to be even more visible during daytime riding.
Helmet
Neck gator/mask
Sunscreen
Protective glasses
Towel to dry off after the ride.
A change of clothes for after the ride - it’s not fun to drive home in sweaty, wet, clothes.
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this Ride
28mm-35mm tires are appropriate. Feel free to use bigger tires. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads as they’ve been fixed up not too long ago. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. With no drafting, the requirements about fenders are a bit more relaxed now!
Weather: We will make last-minute route changes based on weather as necessary. All attendees will receive updates via email. We are playing it safe and erring on the side of caution.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
Full Moon Over Sherborn 2021
- Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
- Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
- Time & Date: Departs each Full Moon all year
- Distance: ~15 miles
- Price: Free
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Time & Date: Departs Every Full Moon, varying start times
Distance: ~15 miles, approximately 90 minutes of riding
Price: Free
Description: The Full Moon ride takes cyclists all over the trails of Sherborn and beyond. The route includes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path.
Even though COVID is quickly becoming a thing of the past, we still have a few protocols in place for safety.
RSVPs are required, fill out the RSVP form below the calendar!
We are not requiring masks in store or outside for vaccinated people. We are trusting you at your word as to whether or not you’re vaccinated. Please give masked people their space so all feel comfortable.
Here are the next few Full Moon rides we’re looking forward to hosting:
| Date | Day | Moon Name | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 June | Thursday | Strawberry Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 22 July | Thursday | Almost Full Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 24 August | Tuesday | Not a full moon, but a great night ride! | 7:30 PM |
RSVPs are required so we know who is coming, RSVP here now!
Get on our Night Riding Email List!
| Do you love night rides, specifically? We have an email list and if you're on it, you'll receive invites to all of our night rides and events when they come on our calendar. Sign up to be on this list! |
Route: The route is available to attendees the evening of the ride at Ride Headquarters.
We will email the route to everyone who RSVPs by around 5pm the day of the ride so that we don’t need to touch GPS computers to load them in the store.
The route is not necessary, we all ride together, no one gets dropped.
We change the route to meet the weather requirements so that the ride isn’t longer than 90 minutes.
Ride Notes: We have a designated Ride Headquarters Super Domestique leading the ride and pointing out turns. We don’t have a sweep rider for this ride so only participate if you’re confident in your skill level and fitness – or know your way back.
Last Minute Information: Watch our Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes.
Estimated time: ~1.5-2 hours and 13-15 miles total. Distance varies based on conditions.
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 413-461-7433
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Proper Bike for this ride:
32c knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nice, too. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. In the winter, we will require studded tires when we expect to see ice.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you ride with platform pedals you’re likely to be over your head in some of the more technical parts of the ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order. We don’t stop for preventable mechanical issues.
Higher tire pressure than you’d ride on a cyclocross ride. We recommend about 80% to 90% of maximum rated tire pressure, for two reasons:
First, we want to minimize flats on the ride; waiting for someone to change flats is not why we ride. We typically see zero flats on our ride. One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.
Second, on average, about 30% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.
We do not recommend fenders since sticks and twigs can get caught in them.
How do we decide if we’re having the Full Moon ride?
Thunderstorms: If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunderstorm at the ride start time, we don’t ride. It is not safe to get caught out in a thunderstorm.
Rain or sleet: There are a few variants of this. We don’t ride sensitive trails when they’re wet; this can cause damage that’s not repairable. Fortunately, we have some rain-friendly routes that don’t damage sensitive trails.
If it’s raining at the start of the ride we probably cancel the ride. If it’s only threatening rain, we ride.
If it’s misting or drizzling at the start of the ride, with less than 50% chance of rain in the coming hour, we ride.
If it’s been raining a lot for a couple days, but not raining the night before, we ride. Our rain-friendly routes avoid sensitive trails. Of course, every few years there’s such a bad storm that we won’t ride; we take the force majeure very seriously.
Snowing: We ride; it is so much fun to ride during a snow storm.
Snow on the ground: We ride. It doesn’t matter if there’s 1 inch or four feet, we ride. We recommend studded tires or fat bikes for these kinds of conditions. The only exclusion to snow riding is when there is a state of emergency and we’ve been asked to stay off the road.
Icy conditions: We ride. For this you have to have studded tires in order to ride with us.
Cold: It doesn’t matter what the temperature is, we ride.
If you'd like us to do any work on your bike prior to the ride, please email us the day before so we're ready to do the work as soon as you come in; we want you to be ready to roll before the ride starts.
RSC First Snow Ride at Ride Headquarters - 2020
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA for more appropriate Social Distancing
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride / Roads and snow-covered trails
Date & Time: When the first snow hits! (It hasn’t arrived yet, despite a couple of false alarms already!)
Distance: ~15 miles, condition-dependent
Price: Free
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA (NOT Lexington!)
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride / Roads and snow-covered trails
Date & Time: When the first snow hits!
Distance: ~10 miles, approx 2 hrs, condition-dependent
Price: Free
Please RSVP via email to snow@rideheadquarters.com
Photo of RSC First Snow rollout that happened December 1, 2019.
The RSC First Snow 2020 happens at Ride Headquarters this year to help with proper Social Distancing.
In 2018, we had over 40 people come out for the first snow ride. The snow came fast, got deep quickly, and the moment the ride was over, it turned to rain then vanished. It was magical to be out in it. It happened at 9:30pm on a week night in mid-November. This will be the sixth year we’ve hosted this winter kick-off super ride! Get ready now and stay tuned so you’re sure to make it to this ride and all that follow it!
In 2017, we had a huge turnout for the first snow ride which hit early in the afternoon on a Saturday!
Details: When the first snow comes to eastern Massachusetts, we ride in it regardless of the time of day or day of the week. This is our 6th year hosting this memorable and much-too-fun ride. This year to help maintain appropriate social distancing, Ride Headquarters, our Sherborn location will be hosting the ride.
Route: The route is available to attendees 15-minutes prior to roll-out.
Estimated time: ~2 hours
Ride Notes: The pace is based on conditions. We don't ride too slowly because we'd get cold, we don't ride too fast because that wouldn't be safe with the snow. We will ride spaced out with a leader or two. No one gets dropped. Be sure to come prepared with the right bike & tires, and proper attire for the conditions and temperature. Read on below, there is a lot to this ride and how it works. Be sure to understand it to be able to participate in it! KEEP READING - lots more information is further down this page.
Keep reading for required equipment. Front and rear lights and studded tires are required since it’s icy. It’s usually not icy for the first snow ride, but this one is different!
Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Studio Cafe's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, especially considering this is a last-minute ride. The only way to find out when this ride is happening is to watch our Twitter & Instagram feeds!
RSC Twitter - RSC Instagram - RHQ Twitter - RHQ Instagram
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - (413)-461-7433 - we receive voicemails left at this phone number regardless of whether or not we’re at the shop.
RSVP: Please shoot us a note if you think you’ll be coming so we have an idea of how much hot cocoa, how many chairs, and how many s’mores to supply tonight! snow@rideheadquarters.com
Social Distance & Riding Rules
Everyone who chooses to participate in this ride must be comfortable with the protocols surrounding social distancing for the entire ride/event.
Everyone stays masked the whole time unless outside and more than 10 feet apart
Everyone rides with 6’ or more between (this shouldn’t be an issue)
Minimize touching surfaces and common items, use hand sanitizer and wash up in bathrooms as appropriate as frequently as you need
All of our Riding Rules apply. Read and digest them before the ride. All riders are expected to abide by these throughout the ride. All rules stated here on this page or in our social distance protocol override any conflicting rules stated in our ride rule page.
Waiver: RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
This is a Chill Club qualifying ride!
RSC First Snow Nitty Gritty Details
One of our favorite pastimes is riding in snowfall. You can hear the snow crunching under your tires. It’s such a quiet time; all sound is suppressed by the snowfall. No one is out on the roads and trails. The world feels primitive.
The moment of the first snowfall is THE time to ride. We are leading a ride when this first snow hits!
WATCH TWITTER to see the latest and get ready now so you can join in!!!
Riding in the snow is peaceful and primitive…just as this photo suggests.
We are ready. Are you?
Ride Synopsis
We are leading a ride that begins at Ride Headquarters 60 minutes after the first snow of the season begins. We define the first snow as having accumulation of approximately 1” of snow at “go” time, and the forecast must predict that it will snow for the duration of the ride.
We won’t be riding if the snow isn’t going to last for the duration of the ride.
Most important to note: GO time is decided with at least 1 hour of notice for you, more if possible. So be ready and keep checking our updates to know when it will hit.
The ride will be 90 minutes to 2 hours in length total. No more. The distance of the route will take into account how hard the snow is falling & how fast the ride will be.
The route is mixed terrain. Expect to be on- and off-road, on trails and through woods.
The pace of the ride will be high enough to keep everyone working hard. This way, everyone stays warm. This doesn’t mean we’ll be moving fast considering studded tires and winter setups aren’t exactly fast.
Here’s How We Plan for the First Snow
Be flexible. We have no idea when it’s going to snow. It’s most common for snowfall to occur during the afternoon but it could be 2am or any other time. A mindset focused on the ride, rather than when the ride will occur, is helpful.
Be ready. Have a Snow Essentials Duffel packed and with you at all times – we provide some content hints below. Have your bike ready to go.
The Right Tires: Having studded tires are REQUIRED for this ride because the icy cold temps will cause ice to form. Once the first snow falls you will very likely want to be riding studs for the rest of the winter.
Headlight & Taillight: Whether we’re riding at 2pm or 2am, you have to have at least one headlight to join us. Snowfall makes it really difficult for drivers to see cyclists. A headlight and taillight will save you. Make sure you charge those lights a few days in advance. If you’re looking to upgrade your light system, check-in with the Ride Headquarters; we have the best winter light systems available.
Last year we were out on December 1st in the early evening with 30+ people. In 2018, we were out from 9:30-11:30pm on a weeknight in mid-November with over 40 riders. In 2017, we were out riding at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon with over 40 riders. The year before that was an 8am Monday morning ride. The previous (and inaugural) year, we were out riding at 3am. People came as far and wide as Jamaica Plain to join in the festivities!
Knowing When the Snowfall Ride Moment Arrives
We’re using Twitter and Instagram to keep people informed of when the ride moment is happening. We’ll “Twinstagram” intermittently as the weather changes. We’ll do our best to inform riders as the moment gets nearer. The final Twinstagram will be 60-minutes before the ride begins. That’s your klaxon to get your butt and bike over to RIDE HEADQUARTERS for a very memorable ride.
If you don’t use either Instagram or Twitter, you’re going to have a challenging time joining us. We will be posting some information on Facebook but we’re not using it as the go time alert. Watch the hashtag:
#rscfirstsnow
Tricks for Riding in the Snow
Traction: Snow riding is all about traction. Four ways of maximizing traction are:
Apply steady horsepower to the pedals. This is a lot more difficult than it appears. If you’re riding at 70 hp on a snowy trail, a change of 10%, or 7 hp, is a lot – and can be the different between maintaining your line and losing traction entirely. Practice steady horsepower output.
Keep your bike upright, even while turning. The more you lean into a corner, the less traction you have. Most tires have less tread and fewer studs toward the sides of the tire. Don’t lean your bike too much. Riding upright keeps you upright.
Tire pressure: Lower tire pressure provides better traction. Of course, you want to balance this with the possibility of getting a flat. We find that riding on an inch of snow is deceptive, in that you feel like the trail is really smooth, when in reality, all the obstacles are still there – and just as sharp – you just can’t see them, so your chance of getting a flat probably increases slightly.
Tires and treads: Studs are best. Wider is better than narrower. Treads are better than slicks.
Be careful. This may seem obvious but we see this as a fundamental issue each season in the first snow. Taking a tumble in the ice and snow can be problematic; these falls are fast, unexpected, and hard. Ride conservatively and don’t worry about winning.
No fenders: Snow time may seem like a great time to have fenders, but it’s not. Not only are fenders dangerous on mixed terrain – due to sticks and debris on the trail, it’s also likely that your fenders will get packed with snow and make your ride a lot tougher.
Batteries die. Batteries don’t like the cold so they power down a lot more quickly than on an autumn day. Three hours of battery life can become one hour – or worse – in the cold months. Keep your electronics warm – in your jacket or jersey, not in your saddle bag – until you need them. This includes your phone, backup battery, spare light, and your Garmin – if you’re not the ride navigator.
Likely Weather Conditions
It can’t snow if it’s too cold so it’s likely to be somewhere between 28 and 36 degrees. Also, you’re likely to get a bit wet as the snow melts on you; gear that leans toward rain protection can be useful.
Always Be Prepared: Snow Essentials Duffel
Have your Snow Essentials Duffel in your car – if that’s your mode of work transport – so you’re always ready to roll. In that bag, we recommend:
All the clothing you typically use for 30-40 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions. If you forget to put your bibs in your Snow Essentials Kit, we have no sympathy!
Headlight 100% charged and ready for 2.5 hours of use. Ideally, two headlights – one on your bars and one on your helmet.
Taillight batteries in good condition.
Winter shoes or your autumn shoes with overshoes.
Long thick wool socks
Helmet – with light mount ready to go.
Long finger gloves, possibly with liners.
Three season cap that covers your ears. A brim will be appreciated – it can help keep the snow out of your eyes.
Neck gator - doubles as a face covering, which you’ll also need when not riding.
Protective glasses if that’s your kind of thing for riding in a snowstorm.
High-vis vest if you like to be visible. If there’s ever a time to increase your visibility, it’s during a snowstorm; drivers have a really difficult time seeing cyclists through snowfall.
Towel to dry off after the ride. The Studio has towels, too, but a big towel that travels with you can be nice!
For the Diehard Riders That Are 100% Committed
Drop off your Snow Essentials Duffel and your winterized bike at the Ride Headquarters within two days of the expected snow date. That will make it easier if you’re coming from work. Make sure you have some kind of obvious name tag on your bag and bike so we don’t recycle them by accident. We’re always tight for space at the Studio so only drop off your gear if you’re 100% certain you’ll be riding with us. You must confirm an appointment in order to do this, Ride Headquarters is open by appointment only right now.
Ride Headquarters Is Here To Help
We have just about anything you could need for winter riding, including:
Winter Bikes. There are considerations to be made where it comes to the bike you ride in the winter. We have bikes that are great all year, but are extra special for winter riding. Check out the Honey BiFrost bike: summer mountain bike, winter fat bike. Titanium is a perfect frame material for a bike that’s going to see the salt and harsh conditions of winter. A winterized bike is also important. For example, if snow is allowed into the brake housing, your brakes will likely freeze up. We can winterize your bike to keep your rolling.
Lots of studded tire options. And the tubes needed for each tire size. We can help determine the ideal tire size for your bike and guarantee what will fit and what won’t. Not all studded tires are created equal. We can help determine the right price point for your riding needs.
Studded tire installation help. Studded tires are often the toughest type of tire to install because they’re thicker, stiffer, and sometimes are steel beaded. We’re happy to help.
Lights: We have the toughest winter lights available. We’ll help you determine optimal number of lumens for your needs. We’ll help you determine where the best mounting spot is on your bike or body. The best kind of taillight for visibility and longevity. So many options – all with different strengths and weaknesses.
Gloves: We have everything from lightweight full fingers to deep winter 45Nrth gloves and liners. We have an array of models and sizes to determine the ideal setup for your type of riding. We can help with determining which are best for wet weather, for glove liners, or for the coldest days. Lots of glove options for lots of kinds of riding.
Winter Shoes: We’ve got 45NRTH Wolvhammers in stock and if you’re a fat biker or just like to ride all winter on the coldest days, we’ll get you the Wolfgar boots. We’ll help you find the right size, and install cleats on your new boots, too.
All winter clothing, including deep winter tights and a range of jackets for all conditions.
We hope to see you in the first snow!
#rscfirstsnow
Come by at least 15-minutes early to Ride Headquarters so you can make any last minute bike adjustments. Doors will be open at the store at least 30 minutes prior to GO time.
Social Distance Trail Mix 200 Gravel Challenge
Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020. (Rain Date: October 25). Ride start times are detailed via email to registrants.
Starting Point: Red Apple Farm, Phillipston. This is within a 60-70 mile drive from the Boston area
Distance: 200 miles, 100 miles, 100 km options
Price: $145, $85, $65 respectively
The October Gravel Challenge is brought to you by the creators of Formidable Terra, the Maneha 250, Honey 100 and countless other very special innovative rides including our entire Social Distance Gravel Series.
Watch the full trailer! Here are a lot of scenes to look forwad to on the Trail Mix:
Distance options of 200 miles, 150 miles, 100 miles, and 100 kms are available for riders who are interested in a slightly less intense day!
October 14 Important Ride Updates:
We just added a 150 mile route option for the Trail Mix 200! You may upgrade to this option from the 100 mile if you’ve already registered.
Post-Ride Massages, Normatech Boots, Facial Stretch Therapy, and Consultation with a Physical Therapist, Chiropractor and More!!!
We are excited to announce that from 12:30-6:00pm, Wellness in Motion Boston - Concord (WIMB) is at Red Apple Farm at the end of the ride offering riders complementary blocks of time with your choice of: leg-soothing Normatech boots, massage therapists, a fascial stretch therapist, and consultation with Dr. Nick Weigel, a physical therapist, avid cyclist, and member of the Pedal Power Team.
WIMB is a multidisciplinary clinic with one focus: helping their patients return to the activities that help them live a full and healthy life. We are excited to have them at the end of the ride. Be sure that if you want treatment from them, to start your ride early enough to be done before they leave at 6pm.
BONUS for all 200 Mile Route riders who complete the 200 miles: Wellness in Motion is gifting you a free 30-minute massage at their clinic as a way to say “congratulations” and few 200 mile riders will be done before 6pm, so this assures you will get taken care of also!
Details of the Trail Mix Event:
Ride a challenging, gorgeous route presenting remote paved, broken, and dirt roads for your cycling delight and fulfillment.
This ride is part of the Challenge Ride Series.
Time & Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 25).
Ride start times are detailed via email to registrants. The first rider for the 200 mile ride rolls out at 12am, the first rider for the 150 mile rolls out at 4am, the first riders for the 100 mile and 100 km routes depart at 7am and the last riders out departs at 9am.
This is being run social-distance style. Keep reading for further details.
Starting Point: A 60-70 minute drive from Boston at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston
Distance options: 200 miles, 150 miles**, 100 miles, 100 km
Elevation gain for each route: approximately 75 feet per mile.
Dirt vs pavement: Expect plenty of each.
Price: $65, $85, $115, and $145, respectively - Register on Bike Reg
** The 150 mile option was just added, so this is news!
Read what others think about our Social Distance Gravel ride series. We have had cyclists of all abilities, all ages, and all levels of gravel experience come out to these rides. The common denominator is that each person has been respectful of social distancing rules and each is out for a really fun day on the bike!
What you get
Satisfaction getting to ride a new route that is challenging, long, and you can ride as hard as you like.
You receive a well-vetted route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.
Staffed starting location with water, light food, clean portable toilets. Your pre-ride email will offer details of the locations of everything.
Staffed food stop(s) with water, bike food, Ride Studio Cafe iced drinks half-way through the ride
Support car with mechanic inside - since riders will be further out from the start and easy cut-backs aren’t as readily available.
Food/water stops - some we support, others you buy your own food, we’ll tell you more about each:
200 mile route = 3 stops
150 mile route = 2-3 stops
100 mile route = 2 stops
100 km route = 1 stop
Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route as you
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride.
Special for 200 Mile Route Finishers: You get a very special miniature hand-built statue just for you, to commemorate the day!
Start Location
Central Massachusetts. Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA. This is a great farm with many animals, a lot of space so easy to social distance, and an outdoor BBQ and brewery to enjoy post-ride.
Estimated drive times:
A 60-70-minute drive from Lexington or Sherborn
Route Information
200 Mile Route
Elevation gain: in excess of 16,000 ft
Miles of dirt: Many. We’ll update this once we finalize the route. The paved roads are lovely and there is very little traffic.
There may be a way to cut the route shorter, but don’t depend on this option.
Food and water stops provided during the day
150 Mile Route
Elevation gain: in excess of 12,000 ft
Miles of dirt: Many. We’ll update this once we finalize the route. The paved roads are lovely and there is very little traffic.
Food and water stops provided during the day
100 Mile Route
Elevation gain: approximately 7,500-8,500 ft
Miles of dirt: Many. We’ll update this once we finalize the route. The paved roads are lovely and there is very little traffic.
Food and water stops provided during the day
There may not be a way to cut this short, so be ready for the distance!
100 Kilometer Route
Elevation gain: approximately 4,500 ft
Miles of dirt: Many. We’ll update this once we finalize the route. The paved roads are lovely and there is very little traffic.
1 food/water stop is provided during the day
You have all day to do this ride. We DO NOT have a minimum required speed if you take on this option - the last rider needs to be in by 8pm. Take your time, enjoy the ride!
Pacing for the 200 mile ride
It is important that you feel confident you can average at least 10mph over the course of the day. We can only assure you that we can support via food/water stops and mechanic support if you keep this average, which includes time spent at rest stops.
Aside from meeting the minimum speed requirement, you’re welcome to ride at your own pace, as you feel comfortable safely ticking down the miles.
A 200 mile gravel ride will take you 20 hours with very quick rest stops and a 11 mph pace. Your pace will be at least 30% slower than your road riding pace.
We are staffing the food stop assuming a 10 mph minimum pace. BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU ARE UP FOR THE DISTANCE. If you can’t make it to the end, have a way of getting home via a friend or family member. We can’t drive anyone anywhere due to COVID concerns. Be aware that you might not be in cell phone range during significant portions of the ride. If you are out of cell range, try to send a txt, sometimes these get through when voice calls are not possible. Walk in the direction of the route until cell signal is stronger.
Pacing for the 150 mile ride
Maintaining a 10mph pace is difficult, and this is the pace we recommend you be up for if you take on this distance. There are various start time options, we recommend starting earlier than you think you need to start so you have the time you need during the day.
For perspective, we had a few exceptionally fast riders at the Trail Mix 100. The fastest rider rode a 14mph rolling average. After stops are averaged in, a 9-10 mph average is not trivial.
Plan your pace and day knowing you need to be done by 8pm.
Pacing for the 100 mile ride
If you haven’t ridden one of our gravel rides before, and are new to gravel cycling, we recommend starting with the 100km route. A 100 mile gravel ride is much longer and harder than a road century ride. Maintaining a 10mph pace is difficult, and this is the pace we recommend you be up for if you take on this distance.
For perspective, we had a few exceptionally fast riders at the Trail Mix 100. The fastest rider rode a 14mph rolling average. After stops are averaged in, a 9-10 mph average is not trivial.
Plan your pace and day knowing you need to be done by 8pm.
Pacing for the 100 kilometer ride
You have all day to complete the 100 kilometer ride if you want to take the day. Feel free to keep a relaxed pace and enjoy being out there. This is the right time to jump into the ride series if you’ve been concerned about your pace.
We suggest an earlier start time if you intend to have a more relaxed pace, just to come in around when others are, for the comfort this offers. No one will rush you; the last riders will be coming in at 8pm (for the 200-mile ride) so there’s really nothing to rush you back!
Social Distance & Riding Rules
Everyone who chooses to participate in this ride must be comfortable with the protocols surrounding social distancing for the entire day. These are described in detail here.
This is NOT a group ride. We ask that you ride with one or two other people with whom you social distance. If you have extenuating circumstances, please email us (connect@rideheadquarters.com).
All of our Riding Rules apply in addition to the social distance protocols. Read and digest them before the ride. All riders are expected to abide by these throughout the ride. All rules stated here on this page or in our social distance protocol override any conflicting rules stated in our ride rule page.
Preparation
Read and reference this page for our recommendations. Take this advice seriously, and start packing for the ride at least a week in advance so you have time to get anything you’re missing.
We will share the route with you 24 hours in advance of your ride start. Be sure to have this loaded on a GPS computer. A GPS computer/navigation device that you know how to use is required for a good day on the bike.
Be sure to bring anything else you might need taking into account the weather, your personal circumstances, your health, etc.
You will want to come prepared with extra food, water, and fitness for the distance. Don’t take this lightly. If you’re riding the 100 or 200-mile distances, you may need a CamelBak filled with water to get through this ride.
Lights with at least 8 hours of battery capacity are required for the 200-mile riders.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride of every calendar year. Please fill it out online now if you haven’t done it yet in 2020.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Proper Bike for this Ride
A road or gravel bike that has 32mm-50mm tires. The size tire you feel is most appropriate is directly related to the size tire you’re used to riding, your ability to choose the right line, and manage your weight on the bike as you ride through sandy and looser sections. Feel free to use bigger tires. Narrower than 32mm are discouraged as they are less stable and easier to flat than wider tires. There is some loose gravel on the roads, and some sandy spots, expect to see everything, but nothing that is very technical in nature. Walk anything you don’t feel comfortable riding, but there shouldn’t be much/anything that has to be walked.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. Mountain bike pedals/shoes are appropriate; road pedals/shoes should not be used.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. A bike that makes any unusual noises - from a squeaky chain to any kind of other noise should not be ridden prior to being evaluated and fixed by a professional mechanic.
Weather Considerations
We will make last-minute route changes based on weather as necessary. All attendees will receive updates via email. We are playing it safe and erring on the side of caution. This ride will run on October 24 and the rain date is October 25. Weather Protocol is described here.
Contact Information and How to Get Your Questions Answered
Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with any questions. Call 413-461-7433 the day of the ride to speak with the organizer on route. Please contact us via email prior to the day of the ride for all matters otherwise.