Location: Start and end in Arlington (near but not at) the Arlington reservoir
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel, mountain & fat bikes
Date & Time: Saturday, July 12, 8am start
Distance: ~45 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
This mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and trails for a total of around 45 miles. This equates to 5ish hours of total time. Riders who want to ride for less will have no problem cutting the route short since it stays within a reasonable distance of the start.
The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with 35mm tires or larger should be suited for the terrain. We’ll split people into groups based on bikes and speeds that are likely to result.
We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart, if we split into groups.
Pace: endurance zone 2/3 for most cyclists - if you can average 15/16mph on a road bike on a paved road, you’re fit enough for this ride.
Distance
The ride is ~45 miles in length.
Parking
Free, all day parking at a parking lot near the Arlington Reservoir. All who RSVP will get exact parking directions.
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm Friday night, July 11. If you RSVP later than 7pm, that’s fine, the route will be in your inbox before the ride starts.
Estimated Ride Time
5-6ish hours
Route Notes
We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. There are a number of boardwalks. It should be dry on these so as long as you feel comfortable riding average width boardwalks, you’ll be fine. Trails are overgrown this time of year and there’s plenty of poison ivy out there. Be aware of what you’re brushing up against. Long socks and long-sleeve lightweight jerseys are nice for the sun and nature! Always do a tick check post-ride too.
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. DO NOT wait until the parking lot to sign the waiver, it’s nearly impossible to do it on the phone and it’s disruptive to a smooth roll out to need to do this prior to the ride. No waiver = no ride, no exceptions.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
35mm knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and fat bikes at this ride, the majority of bikes will likely be gravel bikes.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mixed terrain ride. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not a mixed terrain ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.