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.