Riders enjoy time sitting around a fire after a long day of great riding!
Location: Starts in Athol, MA, Ride to and camp just north of Greenfield, MA, then return the next day
Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 9-10 August 2025
Distance: ~77 miles day 1, 79 miles day 2
Price: $65 per person. Must be a NEER member to participate (this keeps the price down for everyone since we don’t have to buy extra insurance). The ride is likely to fill up. If there aren’t spots left at camp, we can’t accept further registrations.
Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.
Description: The NEER Makes Fire bikepacking weekend is a two-day and one-night event that covers almost 150 miles of diverse terrain in New England. This ride is equal parts challenge and fun. The event is part bikepacking and part adventure ride.
This is a new route that will look familiar for the first 1/4 and last 1/4 to some people, otherwise, it’s new to you!
This is a great way to have a full weekend of riding, test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends and family as well.
Enjoy ~150 miles of mixed-terrain riding over two days
This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone. We’ve hosted a number of “101” bikepacking events in the past which are fun, but one way to step up your bikepacking readiness is to be thrown in the deep end!
We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers. We expect to have at least one in-person gathering to go through equipment, show how to carry gear, etc.
Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.
We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip. You receive this in your inbox as soon as you register!
Photo from a warm 2017 Maneha bikepacking trip fire and post-ride feasting/post-ride food coma Saturday night.
Maneha is the ride that started it all. We first scouted Maneha in 2010. It has evolved over the years and has brought a terrific bikepacking experience to riders of all backgrounds and experience levels together and to cool places. This ride is a close relative of Maneha, the difference being that this ride isn’t catered and Maneha was.
This ride is equal parts challenge and fun.
Warning
This is a serious ride. Sign up and participate only if you truly respect the challenge, your body, the landscape, and your equipment.
Overview
NEER Makes Fire is a bikepacking endurance ride on a mixed-terrain route. We're riding everything from primitive 'goat trails' to good paved roads.
Route Information
Distance: About 150 miles. 77 miles on Saturday and 79 miles on Sunday. We’ll tell you the specifics of the route as we get closer to ride time.
Territory: Ranges from deep woods to town centers.
Riding Options: Two day, Saturday only, Sunday only - if you have a non-riding friend or loved one coming up to meet you, you’re welcome to ride one day up and get a ride home. We are not transporting anyone to the start or from the campsite back to the starting lot. The price stays the same regardless. Just let us know your plans so we’re aware, that’s all you need to do.
Gear Packing Options: There are no options: if you want it to eat, to sleep on, to wear, you’re carrying it with you! You are expected to have everything you need for a long-day ride on you where it comes to fixing mechanicals. This said, there is a grocery store in Greenfield where it’s easy to buy dinner & breakfast food ~4 miles before getting to camp so that’s a good option for those wanting to eat better at camp.
When:
9 & 10 August 2025. Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s Grand Depart happens at 8am. Riders are encouraged to arrive at the start (a parking lot near area businesses) in Athol no later than 7:15 so there’s time to deal with all of the stuff on the bike prior to 8am. Starting on time is important!
Sunday’s ride back begins when riders want to get moving, no later than 8am.
Where we start & Where we Camp:
The Grand Depart is in Athol, MA. There’s a parking lot for your car to stay overnight near area businesses and empty store fronts so it’s fine to leave cars for two days. The parking lot is lit all night.
We’re camping in a nice campground, Barton’s Cove, in Gil, MA. The route is a loop, not an out-and-back so both days offer a variety of mixed terrain riding.
We have campsites reserved together for riders in this campground. NEER buys wood for a fire/fires everyone can enjoy.
The campground is minimal, it’s mostly only open to tent sites and those using the campground for boating during the day. There is NO electricity and NO potable water so we’ll buy water in Greenfiled to bring with us for cooking.
There are showers!
Why:
Bikepacking trips are hard to find and it’s nice to have the opportunity to test your equipment, figure out how to pack your bike, and isn’t it fun to get two big days on the bike with nice people also out for the same?
How:
Register at the NEER store!
Questions? Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com
Who can do the NEER Makes Fire ride?
Any fit and competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate. This is a difficult ride. Riding 75-80 miles of mixed-terrain feels about three times that amount of road riding. If your bike is loaded, it feels even further. There are no time cut offs, you’re welcome to take your time. We do want you to be in to the campsite before dark.
All who register to participate in this ride will receive the following pre-ride:
Equipment Checklist: This is a comprehensive list of what NEER recommends for participants to have on bike and body. It also includes a list of items we find useful on self-supported multi-day rides for your knowledge and you’re welcome to add whatever you wish for this ride.
Logistics, Route & Route Notes by 7pm August 4: You’ll understand how the ride is being run, where you’re headed, where to be when.
This information will help you prepare your bike, mind, and spirit for the adventure ahead. It includes recommended food and rest stops along the route. The information also includes tips on how to navigate difficult trails.
Waiver: This ride is being insured by NEER’s insurance. Your NEER waiver covers your participation on this ride.
All details subject to change, all who register will receive every communication by email.
"The staff did a remarkable job on a complex event. I can't wait until next year!" - C.B.
Ride with Your Friend Group
You can ride this ride as a solo rider or with a team/self-organized friend group (AKA team) ahead of the NEER-led group. All of these ways of participating are fantastic and your choice. Solo riders and slower groups will be encouraged to start earlier than 8am so there’s some cross-over during the day. It’s early and understandable if people don’t want to start earlier than this!
The last group to depart will be Super Domestique-led, and the Super Domestique will be riding a loaded hardtail mountain bike so it won’t be fast, but steady.
A team consists of as many riders as you want to assemble to take this on together.
The team must have at least two people with GPS units for navigation along with backup batteries for the GPS units.
The team members commit to riding together and finishing together.
Solo Riders
Solo riders must have their own GPS navigation device with backup battery to charge the unit if necessary.
Ride as fast or slow as you wish, we just want you to be at camp no later than 8pm.
Display your location
We will have ALL riders display their location on the route via Life360 (not necessary to pay for an account for this), it helps us know where everyone is. This will take a little more battery life from your cell phone, so a backup battery is essential. AND there is no electricity at camp so you’ll need electricity to last you 2 days!
Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family
Your non-riding spouse or significant other is welcome to join you for the weekend at the campsite at no additional cost as long as you’re sharing a tent. Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp.
If you’d like this to be a bigger family affair, we’ll ask you to make a reservation with the campground on your own and we’ll credit you for the campsite space you won’t be occupying. Email us separately if this applies to you and we’ll figure it out.
Sunday After the Ride back in Athol, MA
We’re expecting riders to arrive back at their cars at various times. Most people will be tired from the long weekend and just want to get home. There is a nearby Market Basket, Red Apple Farm is right down the street (drinks, ice cream, woodfired pizza), and a few restaurants are close to where parking is located.
Contact Information - Call 413-461-7433 if it’s urgent
Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Proper Bike & Equipment
There are quite a few bikes and setups that work great for bikepacking and gravel riding on terrain you’ll find on this ride. Your choices will potentially impact your speed relative to others. We don’t care how fast/slow you ride, this is up to you, as long as you are on a safe bike with minimum basics and arrive before sunset on both Saturday and Sunday.
Required: A bike with 38mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.
Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.
Required: A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time if you’re riding solo. If you’re riding with a friend group, the group must have 2 GPS computers among members.
Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)
Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.
Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride. Squeaky chains and noisy bikes are unacceptable because it means there is something wrong with your bike and more might be wrong.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:
Flat fix tools and at least TWO spare tubes (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via hand pump, multi-tool
Very nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers, Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare
Extra clothes for riding and for camp along with storage capacity on your body/bike 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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.
Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride
Required: Front and rear lights, reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Expect that there could be night riding because who knows? Lights are important at camp too!
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.
Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!