All of the NH Beaches & More!
Date & Time: Saturday, December 20, 9am
Location: Start and end in Salisbury, MA
Ride Type: Fat bikes on beaches, trails
Distance: 50 miles
Start location: Salisbury, MA
Ride Type: Fat bike ride
Date & Time: 9am Saturday, December 20
Distance: 50 miles total
Price: Free*
* You are welcome to ride once as a non-NEER member, after this membership is required to attend
RSVPs: Required, form is at the bottom
Details
This ride departs at 9am. We’re riding together as a group, but on the beach, everyone can ride at his/her own pace; no one will get dropped, we re-group periodically. There are some roads connecting beaches and trails. The ride up starts with beaches, then shoots over to a nice off-road trail that’s mostly dirt (could be ice on this), the ride back after lunch is down the coast on lots of beaches and roads connecting the beaches. The ride runs this direction due to low tide, riders get more beach this way!
Studded tires are required. The trail section from Portsmouth back to the start may have snow and ice on it. We want to play it safe. Besides, everyone should already be running your studded tires so don’t want anyone feeling out of place.
Schedule
We’ll be at the parking lot by 8:45am. Please be ready to roll by 8:55am.
Parking
There is free all day parking in a large parking lot right across from the first beach. All RSVPs receive the route and exact parking directions.
Route
The route will be shared via email with all who RSVP.
Estimated time
It will be ~6 hours rolling time, add 2+ hours for stopped time. BRING LIGHTS, good chance it’s dusk or dark by the time the ride is done.
Lunch Stop
Lunch is in Portsmouth. Bring food or money to eat here. It’s a big day, food will taste good at this point!
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
We require a signed waiver before your first ride with NEER. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
The proper bike & equipment for this ride includes the following:
Bike with 3.5” minimum width tires, studded tires are required.
Bring front and rear lights, there is a very good chance we’ll finish up after dark.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. You’ll need to find a ride back to the lot if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Always bring a spare tube, air, tools for taking your wheels off your bike, a derailleur hanger and ALL of the tools you’d need to fix common mechanical situations.
Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need & storage area to take layers off/carry them!
Horizon Chasers Road Ride - 100 km Hilly and Fun
Location: Start Concord, MA Center, 9am
Date & Time: Sunday, December 21
Distance: 64 miles
Location: Start and end in Concord Center, MA
Ride Type: Road ride, all pavement, hilly
Date & Time: Sunday, December 21, 9am start
Distance: 64 miles
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
Let’s celebrate the holidays and a mild day on our road bikes! Please be ready to ride by 8:55am. We’re not riding trails due to rain on Friday that may make the trails rut-able all weekend. Let’s enjoy some pavement time and we’re starting away from the city/as much traffic as possible to be on quieter roads and non-frantic drivers as much as possible!
We will have a safety talk then split people by pace endurance - 16mph average and moderate plus 17-18mph average and then roll out!
We have a designated Super Domestique leading the endurance group. This route is hillier than usual so the pace will be dialed back for the last group to roll out appropriately. If you have questions about the pace, please email us in advance.
We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.
Distance
The ride is 64 miles in length. The ride starts in Concord, heads to Harvard, then takes in some lovely roads around Fruitlands and Harvard before heading back to Concord.
Parking
Address for your GPS to get to the parking lot:
Public Lot off of Keyes Rd., Concord Center, MA
Link to the lot: https://goo.gl/maps/cAnMuUCquXLTVbzSA
Route
The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42236314/
All riders should load the ride on a GPS computer so everyone knows where we’re going and it makes splitting into groups easier.
Estimated Ride Time
~4-5 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food/bathroom stops.
Route Notes
There is one general area to stop for food on the route: Hudson, MA. There are a lot of nice places for food here.
This route has a lot of nice roads on it, but be head’s up in case there is ice on the road or other unforseeables in the pavement.
After the Ride
Anyone who wants to enjoy food/drink/social time in Concord Center is encouraged to do so! It’s the holidays, some people probably have to leave quickly, others will enjoy hanging out together. There are many local businesses to visit.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news if there is any.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
We require a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
Bring your road bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group. A gravel bike is acceptable.
If the roads wet/messy, please mount a rear full-coverage fender. If you don’t have one, expect to ride at the back!
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Sunday, Dec. 14 Blue Hills Mountain Bike Ride + NEMBA Toy Drive
Location: Milton, MA
Start: 9am, 21 miles
Ride Type: Mountain & fat bike
Price: Free
A NEER group went out on a scouting ride at Blue Hills last fall (don’t dress like this for a mountain bike ride in August)!
Location: Start and end at Houghton Pond in the Blue Hills, Milton, MA
Ride Type: Ride appropriate for hardtail mountain bikes, fat bikes, dual suspension are fine if that’s what you have
Date & Time: Sunday, December 14, 9am start
Distance option: ~21 miles, 3-4 hours of good riding
Price: Free - we’re leading this ride as a group, part of the NEMBA Toy Drive ride
RSVPs: See bottom of page for RSVP form - otherwise, we might leave without you! AND it’s important to register with NEMBA so they know to expect you!
Email: connect@rideheadquarters.com
Details
We’re leading this ride as part of the NEMBA Toys for Tots ride. Please bring an unwrapped, new toy for a child to drop off at the start of the ride!
We’re riding the paths and trails at the Blue Hills for a total of 20 miles. This is a great route for all mountain and fat bikes, it’s not particularly technical, there’s a fair amount of climbing.
Pace: endurance zone 2-3 for most cyclists - if you can average 15/16mph on a road bike on a paved road for 2+ hours, you’ll be fit enough for this ride. The pace on a mountain bike ride is much slower than a road ride so expect the ride to take ~3-4 hours to complete.
OTHER RIDE OPTIONS
Other group rides are being offered by NEMBA folks and there are self-guided routes as well. You’re welcome to join in any group ride you please, but if you’d like to ride with NEER and this 21 mile ride option, then please be sure to RSVP below at our RSVP form.
Regardless of the option you choose, BE SURE to RSVP with NEMBA since they’re providing hot drinks and need to know who all is coming out!
Distance
The ride is ~21 miles long.
Parking
Houghton’s Pond Parking Area
Blue Hills, Milton, MA
Link to the parking lot & where to park: PIN
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
Estimated Ride Time
~3-4 hours
Route Notes
These trails are not particularly technical, there is some climbing, they’re a lot of fun to ride. There is no pressure ever to ride anything you prefer to walk.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
New England Expedition Riders requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Technically this ride is a NEMBA ride so we’d fall under NEMBA insurance.
Proper bike & Equipment
2” knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nicer! We expect to see hardtail mountain bikes, dual suspension, and fat bikes on this ride. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mountain bike ride. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not on a mixed terrain or mountain bike 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.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Wednesday Evening Trail Snow Ride
Location: Start and end in Waltham
Ride Type: Snow Ride for 3”-5” tires
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21 at 7:00pm
Distance: 10-13 miles
Location: Start and end in Waltham
Ride Type: Snow ride for fat and mountain bikes with studded tires
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm
Distance: ~10-13 miles, 2 hours total
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
We have snow and the right temps for the best conditions out there! Let’s ride when the opportunity presents itself!
We have a designated Super Domestique leading the group. We’ll ride fast enough to stay warm but not fast since it’s snowy and icy. If you have fitness such that you’re capable of riding a steady 14mph on a road ride for 2 hours, you’ll have the fitness necessary to join in on this ride. No one will be dropped as long as you’ve met the minimum requirements set forth on this page.
Distance
The ride is ~10-13 miles in length, 2 hours total.
Parking
Elsie Turner Park
421 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
Parking is free and ample and usually available during snow emergencies here.
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 5pm the day of the ride.
Estimated Ride Time
As close to 2 hours as we can get.
Route Notes
We discuss these with you prior to rollout. This route was developed for snow riding.
After the Ride
We will serve hot cocoa at the end to whoever is sticking around to enjoy it! We’ll have hot water, too, so if you prefer to bring a tea bag or other drink that you can heat up with hot water, feel free to bring it.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news. Very, very last-minute news is found on our Twitter feed (shown on the home page of this website in case you don’t have a Twitter account).
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
New England Expedition Riders (NEER) requires a signed waiver before your first ride. This was implemented in December of 2022 (VERY RECENTLY). Please fill it out prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
3” studded tires or bigger. Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. You’re welcome to try your narrower studded mountain and gravel studded tires out on this ride. However, if you can’t keep up with the group, you’ll be on your own. It’s hard to know the perfect tire size until we’re out there riding.
There is ice out there so studded tires are required. No studs, no ride, no exceptions.
Mountain bike clipless pedals and shoes or platform pedals with appropriate shoes.
Proper Apparel: Appropriate hat, gloves, jacket(s), tights/pants, and boots for the weather. It’s always a good idea to have a pack of chemical hand warmers in case your hands get cold, since this helps heat them quickly.
Front and rear lights that will last at least 2 hours and WILL NOT blind your riding friends. Eye-piercing rear lights (look into it, does it hurt your eyes?) should be pointed downward or replaced with non-eye-piercing bright lights. All rear lights should be set on steady, not blinking.
A Tuned Bike: 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.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires. If you’re running tubeless, be sure you have enough sealant and your sealant isn’t more than 6 months old!
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
New Hampshire! Thursday, January 8 - Fat Bike Night Ride
Location: Near Bedford, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel, mountain & fat bikes
Distance: ~15 miles
Location/start time: Newfields, NH, 6:00pm
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for fat bikes
Distance: ~16 miles, 90mins-2 hours of riding (will cut shorter if time will go over)
Price: Free and membership is not required if this is your first NEER ride; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details & Pace
This is an ideal route for the expected conditions. If the snow is soft, this route will be rideable still and it’s easy to cut it short if time goes long. There is dirt trail under most of the snow and ice. Be sure to ride studded fat tires (3.8” tires or bigger) as the conditions are appropriate for this amount of float over the snow.
Everyone will ride together at a good pace to stay warm, but we will not be riding fast, just moderate to stay warm and keep things safe.
Distance
16 miles
Parking
Address for your GPS:
85 Old Rte 108, Newfields, NH 03856
Pin of the exact spot to park in the large parking lot:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5FpYRvYUeDu4hvfN9
Route
We will email all who RSVP no later than 3pm the day of the ride with the route. If there are any modifications to the plan, we’ll email all who RSVP with information so be sure to check your email the day of the ride!
Start time, Estimated Ride Time
Start: 6pm, be ready to roll by 5:55pm
Ride time: 1.5-2 hours depending on trail conditions
Route Notes
There are no bathrooms or services at the start or along the route.
We discuss these with you prior to rollout.
After the Ride
We will have hot chocolates for all who attend at the end of the ride so plan to hang out in the parking lot after the ride (bring an extra hat and gloves) to be comfortable. This is a great time to hang out and talk about winter riding and meet others who live in this general area in NH who are winter cyclists!!
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.
RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
NEER requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
3.8” knobby, studded tires minimum. Wider tires are nicer!
Lights, front and rear. Bring both front and rear lights with battery power to stay lit for a 2.5 hour ride. Correct, the ride is 1.5-2 hours, but if there’s a mechanical or if you accidentally set it too bright, then you want to still have enough light for the duration of the ride.
Concerning Rear Lights: A super bright and/or flashing rear light will blind the person riding behind you and it actually hurts that person’s eyes and can make it hard for that person to see. Please look into your rear light. If it burns your eyes, get a “group ride friendly” light that is not so bright and has a steady mode (non-blinking).
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mixed terrain ride. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not a mixed terrain ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, a tube, a hand pump, things to fix tubeless flats if you run tubeless, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Fat Bike Weekend Getaway in Bethlehem, NH
Location: Bethlehem, NH
Ride Type: Fat bike snow rides, 1-3 days
Date & Time: Friday, Feb. 13-Sunday, Feb. 15
Distance: Various distances appropriate for conditions with lunch stops and breaks included
Enjoy this Winter Wonderland!
Imagine this whole area under a beautiful blanket of snow! This is the house you will be staying in Bethlehem this year.
Location: Bethlehem, NH & surrounding nearby towns - an easy 2.5 hour drive north of Boston
Dates: Friday, Feb 13-Sunday, Feb 15
Not required to stay in the NEER house, feel free to come up for 1, 2 or 3 days
Price to ride with NEER: Free if it’s your first ride with us. The price to stay in the shared home and NEER membership requirements are discussed below.
Details
This area is picturesque and offers some of the most fun fat bike riding we’ve found, quite accessible from the Boston area!
Bike the North Country, a non-profit organization in Bethlehem, Littleton, and Franconia, is the sponsor of a Fat Bike Poker Run event over this weekend and we overlay enjoying their event with riding together, staying in a shared rental house, having a great time with camp fires, making food together, and sharing in the joy that snow and fat bike brings everyone. The reality is that we’re typically riding mid-day Sunday when the poker game is happening so riders are likely to miss it, but not really feel like they’re missing it since the riding is so good!
The benefit to us in riding here at the same time as the Poker Run is that these trail systems are really nicely groomed for this event, so it’s the way to find the best conditions of the trails. Besides, it’s fun to find poker chips out on the trails! We ask that you either participate in the Poker Run registration or make a donation to the grooming efforts in this area.
NEER is leading rides Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday at groomed PRKR, Bethlehem, and Franconia trails so everyone has others to ride with and there is a good ride plan to execute together.
Detailed Information and Ride Schedule
We will email all who express interest in the rides with further information so you know how everything will be organized.
NEER has organized groups for the past two years and each year has been exceptionally great. Thus, we received MANY requests to offer this again.
Reserve Your Spot in the NEER House
Reserve your spot in the NEER house right away! Every spot was reserved within a couple of days of us offering this option last year and we ended up with a terrific group of people sharing food, conversations about adventures, campfires, and so much fun riding too!
Sauna for everyone to enjoy in the snowy landscape.
Kitchen in the house where conversations of adventures will be had!
View from the NEER House.
What you get with your NEER house spot:
Healthy snacks and tasty roasted apples ala mode Friday and Saturday evenings
Hearty, healthy, tasty breakfasts Saturday and Sunday morning - prepared for you by NEER! Includes real maple syrup, wholesome tasty pancakes (think whole grains, nuts and berries baked in!) and eggs + fresh fruit + coffee made with quality freshly ground beans
Dinner Saturday evening, healthy and tasty!
Campfires! We bring the wood, you enjoy the heat and the beautiful surroundings with friends old and new
This house includes a sauna. Enjoy to your heart’s content!
Reserve your spot with one of the options below! The sooner you reserve, the better. Some of the quantities of these will change depending on who registers for what since there’s a house max of 13.
The details of each registratation type are explained once clicking “Purchase” so you can see more of each of these before making your selection.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the weekend at 413-461-7433.
Don’t send a txt msg 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.
RSVP for the Rides
RSVP for the ride(s) you want to do over the weekend if you won’t be staying in the house, so we know when to expect you and you’ll get all of the riding information!
Sun., Jan 11 - Plymouth, MA Fat Adventure Ride with Waffles!
Location: Plymouth, MA
Ride Type: Fat Bike Ride
Date & Time: Sunday, January 11, 9am
Distance: 4-6 hours riding
Location: Plymouth, MA
Ride Type: Beaches, trails, connecting roads all for fat bikes & a chance to shake down your winter fat bike with stuff on it setup!
Date & Time: Sunday, January 11
Distance: ~4-6 hours
Special details: We’re starting at the 3 Waves B&B and all get healthy/tasty waffles with real maple syrup & local, fresh coffee before the ride!
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
Special for this ride: we’re starting at the 3 Waves B&B and all get healthy/tasty waffles with real maple syrup & local, fresh coffee before the ride! Feel free to RSVP for the breakfast-only portion if you’re not a fat bike rider or up for this length of ride.
About the ride: This is a fat bike wonder ride on different terrain! Plymouth beaches and trails are a blast to ride! The route will include both for a varied experience. There will be some roads connecting the beaches and trails. We’re making the route an expected 4-6 hr ride time length. If you have time constraints, please let us know. Will try to include a short route version in case it goes long and you need to get back earlier.
With the recent weather, we have to assume there is ice on the trails so please bring your studded-tire fat bike.
Pace
Moderate endurance, some riders will have loaded fat bikes so they’ll be moving more slowly. If you’re a faster rider, you’re welcome to ride ahead or circle back. Beaches are always fun for all, go at your own pace!
Start Time
If you want breakfast pre-ride, that starts at 8am. We’ll plan on starting the ride between 9 and 9:30am (if food runs a little long, we won’t be militant about a prompt rollout at 9am).
Be ready to roll at 9am (and be flexible if rollout is a little after 9).
Just an FYI: Low tide is at 11:15am.
Parking
Will start at the 3 Waves B&B. All who RSVP will be given specific parking directions, will park at the B&B, there is space for all.
Route
We’ll share the route with all who RSVP via email 7pm the night before the ride.
Route Notes
Expect sand, sandy trails, could be prickly plants next to the trails (wear pants/long socks), it’s a long ride so bring lots of hydration and food. Refuel stops will be mentioned in the pre-ride email.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
NEER requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
3.8” knobby, studded tires OR BIGGER. Wider tires are nicer! We’ll be on beaches so mountain bikes don’t have wide enough tires for these sections.
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.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires. 8psi is usually max for fat tires, you’ll probably be happier somewhere around 6psi depending on the width of your tires and your weight.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now & RSVP if you want to just come for waffles & coffee!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Before-the-Storm Snow Ride
Date & Time: Sunday, January 25 at 8am
Location: Start and end at Wompatuck
Ride Type: Fat and Mountain Bike Ride
Distance: 3-4 hours
Date & Time: Sunday, Jan 24, 8am start
Location: Wompatuck, MA
Ride Type: Snowy trails
Distance: 3-4 hours
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
This is a fat bike fun ride on great trails in Wompatuck! This is a super fun, easy-ish place to ride when there is snow on the trails; it makes the ride less technical than what riders find there in the summer and it’s just great fun to be out there!
Pace
This ride is suitable for people with good fitness to push your fat tires! The group will ride fast enough to stay warm but it won’t be fast considering the conditions (snow on trails)! It’ll be good fun. It will be cold to start.
Start Time
7:55am - Be ready to ride!
8:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out
Distance & Estimated Ride Time
Wompatuck is a great place with lots of ways back to the cars early. We’ll have various route options prepared so that riding ~3-4 hours is an option but if people want to end early or if the snow storm is earlier than expected, the ride can be cut shorter.
Parking
Parking is free and ample at the Wompatuck parking lot. Details will be shared with all who RSVP no later than 7pm the evening before the ride.
Route
The route(s) will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
Route Notes
Dress appropriately for the weather since it will be very cold out. It will be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating leads to freezing). Wear layers so that it’s possible to start warm and then take some off as the ride start moving. Bring chemical hand & foot warmers if your gloves/boots are thin.
With this cold, bringing extra of everything is smart. Goggles and hand warmers are really good to have no matter what.
Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider will need to walk back to the car and the group will need to proceed or else everyone could be at risk with the cold. Please understand that the group will need to continue moving and be ready for any issues with all of the right tools/tube.
After the Ride
With the snow storm coming, it is likely smart to get on the road once the ride is over so it’ll be a quick goodbye. If there is time and interest, we’ll bring a camp stove and boil water for hot chocolates. Practicing boiling water in the winter is important since it’s how to stay safe in winter expeditions!
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
NEER requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
3.8” knobby tires OR BIGGER. Wider tires are nicer! It’s possible that narrower tires are okay, but it’s hard to tell.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mixed terrain ride. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not a mixed terrain ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Extra Salty Trail Mix - 150 miles
Location: Phillipston, MA
Ride Type: Gravel/Mixed Terrain Event Ride
Date & Time: Saturday, May 9
Distance: 150 miles
This is a challenging day on the bike and it’s set up with the intention of offering riders proper training for big gravel events such as Unbound, Michigan Coast-to-Coast and other big rides/races early in the season.
If you’re looking for a more fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding, we’re hosting a 100km and 50km Trail Mix ride on Saturday, May 16. You can find information about this ride on its Ride Page.
Location: Start and end at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA
Ride Type: Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 35mm or wider tires)
Date & Time: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Distance: 150 miles
Speed requirements: All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on bike and gear requirements covered AND you are confident in being able to complete the ride with a 10mph average minimum (not trivial for this kind of route).
Price: $60
Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 6 at 11:59pm EST
Register on BikeReg.com.
Details
We are hosting this long, hard 150-mile gravel ride out of our favorite farm, Red Apple Farm.
This is not a catered ride; it’s done in the style of Unbound meaning you bring the provisions you want to see on the route; pack a duffel and we’ll transport it to a mid-ride stop location so you’ll have access to your stuff twice during the ride. There is a stop mid-ride in a town where food/water can be purchased.
We will provide all-you-can-drink water at the two mid-ride stop locations where you have access to your stuff.
Your registration covers staffing this mid-ride stop location all day and insurance.
The start time is very early in the morning (4 or 5am) and it’s a big day out there. We want everyone back to the farm before sunset.
Parking is free and ample at Red Apple Farm. There is unlimited water and bathrooms at the start as well. Riders have the farm to ourselves first thing in the morning at Red Apple.
Ride a well-vetted gravel route with your friends, a group of people who have similar speed aspirations for the day as you or ride solo.
Ride in an area without much traffic and where you're probably not riding otherwise.
Food and drink are on your own at the end of the ride at Red Apple. This allows you to get what you want and if you would like to bring your own food, that’s fine. This keeps the price of the ride down, you get to eat and drink what you want, and still get a great social atmosphere post-ride. All good things!
Red Apple will be open until 9pm so all riders will be in long before the farm and food closes.There are picnic tables outside, also plenty of tables inside.
There is no on-bike mechanical support. We're starting riders off with gaps so that slower riders will be passed by faster riders at some point and will allow more overlap which offers visibility for riders throughout the ride. Riders are expected to bring all tools necessary for mechanical situations. Keep reading for recommendations of what to bring with you.
This ride runs rain or shine.
This is a low-budget yet very nicely put together ride.
NEER members receive a discount to their registrations.
Refunds: no refunds are available for any reason, this is a low dollar event. Your dollars go toward organization of this ride and myriad other events we host; your dollars are well spent whether or not you are able to attend.
Want to ride with your Friend Group or Ride Solo? Options abound!
Get your friends together and you get your own departure time. You’ll tell us when you register when you want to depart and who you want to ride with. You and your friends can stick together and enjoy this ride as a group (but keep moving!) If you want to ride solo, that’s fine too.
Everyone who registers will receive an email by 9pm Thursday, May 7 (two nights before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.
What You Get
Good communication and organization, a way to ride in a cool area with others without being alone, having a quality social aspect to riding before and after the ride, know you’re supporting a sweet local farm that offers a comfortable experience!
A well-vetted route.
An opportunity to ride your bike on dirt roads, trails, and random back paved and broken roads.
A quality training ride that tunes you up for big event rides like Unbound! This 150-mile ride is properly hard and at the right time in your training schedule to allow you to feel confident. Unbounders have been using this ride as race training for years now. It works. We have many Unbound finishers point to this ride as being important in their training and prep.
No clock: this is not a race, but we do expect riders to average a bare minimum of 10mph (including stops) only because we need you to get in before sunset!
Get your Friends Together to Ride Together, Ride with a group we assemble, or ride solo!
If you want to do this with a friend group, please let us know that when you register. It’s good for us to know who is riding together for safety.
If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, you’re welcome to ride solo.
If you would like to ride with a group of people you don’t know who are likely going to ride at or near your pace, please register for that option and we’ll do our best to get you a group to ride with.
There will be at least one group that will be averaging just above 10mph for the duration of people who are open to riding with anyone who wishes to join in the fun!
We will want to start solo riders first before groups so you’re seeing others throughout the day as much as possible.
Start Time
4am for those expecting to average close to 10mph average, 5:30am for fast riders.
You'll get an email with exact rollout times by 9pm Thursday prior to the ride.
We expect all riders to be done riding before sunset. People should arrive well before this time.
Pace
We need everyone to be ready to ride a minimum of 10mph average for the ride. This is not trivial given the terrain and 11,000 ft of climbing. There are ways to cut the route and we’ll suggest timing and mileage where it is good to make sure you’re there by a certain time, otherwise, cutting the route is a good idea to get back before sunset.
Feel free to ride as fast as you want, within the constraints of safe riding on open roads, of course. This is NOT a race, do not ride it like it’s a race.
Parking
Parking is in a large dirt lot that is free of charge. It’s a very short ride or ~4-minute walk to the bathrooms/starting area/Brew Barn from where you’ll park. It is very important not to park where Red Apple day visitors park. We send detailed instructions to get into the proper parking lot.
Toilets
Indoor bathrooms are open for all riders at the start/end. We’ll be set up near these so it’s easy to access them and the person who is organizing the starting groups for roll-out.
Your pre-ride instructions will include specifics as to exactly where to find the toilets and the start location.
Route & Route Notes
The route and detailed instructions will be emailed to all who register no later than 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.
Route notes and special things to watch for or to expect are included in the email to riders. We never have you do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!
We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in central Massachusetts, there will be plenty of climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad!
Elevation: It’s approximately 11,000 ft of elevation gained over the 150 mile route.
Food & Water During the Ride
We’ll provide riders with water and a van stocked with mechanic tools and your duffel bag with your food and supplies in it. This is exactly how Unbound is run, so you get access to your preferred calories and gear. You will see this support vehicle twice during the day, also similar to Unbound. Someone will be at the van with stuff all day until the last rider has come through as long as the rider maintains a 10mph average. After this point, all riders’ bags are transported back to the farm for retrieval upon the completion of your ride. We include details of how these logistics work in the pre-ride email.
After the Ride, Food & Drinks Post-Ride
Enjoy food at the farm, ice cream, drinks on tap, and more. Red Apple has plenty of tables for hanging out together and the farm animals are right there, too. It’s a wonderful atmosphere for spending good time together!
Check out the Red Apple Menu. There is also brick-oven wood-fired PIZZA! (These are two separate businesses at the farm, you can order from your ride and food will be ready for you when you arrive!)
Red Apple has opened their arms to our rides since the start of the pandemic and they bend over backwards to help us all be comfortable while on their property. Their food is tasty and there’s a big selection of food and drinks including wood fired pizza and tasty brews; their animals are friendly and welcoming too! We want to support their business as much as we can by way of this ride! A lot of the food we provide to you mid-ride is purchased from Red Apple.
What happens if it’s rainy?
This ride will happen rain or shine. Yes, it’s possible to have a great day out there regardless of rain.
The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain or tires rolling through on them except for possibly adding more puddles for riders to avoid. We aren’t riding sensitive trails or areas where it would be irresponsible for bikes to go when it’s wet.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news via email.
Everyone will receive complete ride details before 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride to their email. If you do not receive an email by 9pm Thursday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please do not email prior to 9pm Thursday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.
Contact Information
Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes. 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.
Waiver
This is covered by USA Cycling insurance, you’ll fill out the waiver online when you register or it’ll be emailed to you prior to the event to complete in advance of this ride.
Day-of Registrations and Last-Minute Favors
We would have to charge a lot more for this ride if we needed to pay more people to staff this ride. Therefore, check-in has to be manageable for a single person. Please do not email a few hours before the ride asking for special favors or show up at the ride expecting to ride. If you have a special circumstance, email at least 48 hours before the ride and we’ll work with you.
Proper bike & Equipment
A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike or road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to ride slower in spots. Ride what you’re comfortable with. You know your skill level and what you’re capable of. Either flat pedals or mountain-style clipless pedals (like Shimano SPD, for instance) should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time
Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:
Flat fix tools and at least TWO spare tubes (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 canisters or hand pump, multi-tool
Very nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers
Nice to have: Change of socks if it’s a rainy/wet day
Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare
Extra clothes and storage capacity so adding/taking off layers is easy
Required: Cell phone and a plan to get back to your car in case your bike or body stops working - we cannot offer rides to anyone (per insurance requirements)
Extra battery and cords so you can plug in your GPS computer and cell phone to charge them in case they need more juice.
Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride
Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless.
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets
Change of clothes to wear after the ride so you’re comfy!
A duffel to drop off with the support person in the wee hours of the morning, just before starting your ride.