Snowfire Fest 2027
Location: Gorham, NH
Event Type: Fat bike snow rides, clinics, winter camping, more!
Date & Time: Friday, January 15-Monday, January 18
Four days of fat cycling, winter camping, lodge life, fireside meals, clinics, and community in the White Mountains in Gorham, NH
Location: Gorham, NH & surrounding nearby towns - an easy 2.5-3 hour drive north of Boston
Dates: Friday, January 15 - Monday, January 18
Where: Hub North, sleep indoors in the cabin-like house, in the yurt, or outside in the snow!
Every day of this weekend we offer fat bike rides and a number of clinics to help you get “up” the curve of winter fat bike riding. The kitchen is full of food for everyone for the weekend, everyone pitches in to bring meals together, NEER provides plenty of food for all (all diets are accommodated)
Details
Gorham, NH is picturesque and offers some of the most fun fat bike riding we’ve found. This is base camp for an incredible four days of a convergence of winter cycling fanatics and people who want to become hardcore winter cyclists. There is nothing like winter adventures on fat bikes and this weekend offers the knowledge and community to be a launching pad for your whole winter of adventures and the most incredibly fulfilling cycling.
NEER is leading rides Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday morning. At least one of the rides will require a little drive to get to the start. We’re offering clinics for those who want to learn a lot about winter camping and getting you and your bike ready for any winter adventure. There’s also freedom to do what you want while having a really comfortable home base at our host venue, Hub North in Gorham.
We have a very experienced winter specialist, Pat Ferland, who also happens to be an avid bikepacker coming to teach a clinic 4pm-8pm Saturday on winter camping and survival skills.
Our own Patria Vandermark has experience winter ultra fat bike racing and camping and will be offering a clinic on staying warm in winter and packing your fat bike for overnight adventures. She has been taught by Jay Petervary via the Fat Pursuit Camp and other winter expedition specialists, bringing much of this knowledge to the weekend.
Base camp for the weekend is Hub North, a glamping spot in Gorham, NH. It’s owned by cyclists and outdoors people, it’s the perfect venue for this gathering!
You are welcome to stay in the Hub North lodge (there are 4 bedrooms that accommodate as many as 10 people), there is a heated yurt called Phoebe, and there is unlimited sleeping in the snow anywhere on the Hub North property. Choose what you wish to enjoy! Outdoor sleeping in the snow may sound crazy, but this is the best environment to try winter camping. If things don’t go well, you can move inside and sleep in the lodge’s living room. No harm, no foul. Easy learning that wouldn’t happen otherwise.
Get to know other winter cyclists, and enjoy the knowledge sharing that happens in such an environment.
If you’d like to come for the clinic and enjoy the dinner that is included as part of the clinic, you’re not obligated to stay over or sign up for the full weekend. This is open to anyone! We offer a clinic-only option at the bottom of this page. Space is limited and we want everyone to be able to attend who would like to attend.
NEER is providing plenty of food for everyone for the weekend, this is included in the price of registration. All food is healthy (we never buy junk food, no hydrogenated anything, and try to keep selections to the most wholesome or organic as possible. We serve you food we want to eat ourselves!)
Food we’re providing: all you can drink good coffee, snacks for the weekend, snacks and treats for the fire Friday evening, dinner Saturday, breakfast Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, lunches Saturday and Sunday. We provide all of the ingredients, everyone chips in to make it into a meal!
We’ll be keeping campfires hot both in outside fire ring and in the semi-outdoor pavilion, depending on where people are hanging out and what the activity(ies) are at any given moment.
Event Schedule
We will email all who register with further information so you know how everything will be organized by January 1, 2027.
Here is a rough idea of what’s happening when:
Friday
Arrival at Hub North!
Afternoon clinic: packing your fat bike for winter bikepacking, staying warm and comfortable in any temperatures, how to dress, lots of opportunity for Q&A - hosted by Patria
5pm-7pm: Night ride!
Saturday
7am: Breakfast
9am-10am: Fat bike ride Coos Trails
4pm-8pm: Winter Camping and survival clinic with Pat Ferland - dinner served during the clinic, 1 hr Q&A included
9pm: Practice winter camping for those who are sleeping outside, guidance offered for those who are doing it for the first time!
Sunday
10am: Fat bike ride
7pm: Dinner
Monday
7am: Breakfast
9am: Fat bike ride
Afternoon - depart (exact time tbd that we need to be out of Hub North)
Pat Ferland - Instructor: Winter Camping and Survival for winter fat bike adventuring
Pat’s resume is impressive. Pat is Redline Guiding’s most experienced team member with nearly two decades of professional guiding under his belt. Pat has guided over 92 successful winter Mount Washington summits out of 140 attempts (and counting), along with multiple five-night mountaineering courses and three-day winter Presidential range traverses.
Certifications: SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR), plus CPR/AED, AIARE Avalanche Level 2 (Avy 2), Leave No Trace (LNT) Master Trainer, PCGI Lead Rock Guide and Rescue Course Completed (Taking Exam Fall 2020), AMGA Alpine Level 1 Completed, AASI Level 1 Snowboard Instructor, Registered Maine Guide (as of 10/2023), Eagle Scout, BSA Youth Protection Trained (YPT).
Pat is an active search and rescue volunteer in the White Mountains as well, part of the Androscoggin Valley Search And Rescue (AVSAR) – “Winter Above Treeline Team.”
We’re pleased to have Pat join us at 4pm Saturday for a comprehensive 4-hour clinic where he’ll teach attendees to all about winter camping and survival skills. Areas included will be:
Stories from search and rescue that teach lessons applicable to winter fat bike riding
Where to set up camp
How to build a camp
Leave no trace camping
Using your camp stove
Servicing your camp stove
Melting snow for water
Starting a fire in the snowy wilderness (how to select wood and get a fire built)
Weather resources
Useful knots
What to do when things go wrong
He’ll spend an hour answering your questions as well.
Reserve Your Spot in the NEER House, in the Yurt or outside on the Hub North Grounds!
Reserve your spot right away! Every time we plan a group trip to a shared house, it sells out and we get a really terrific group of people sharing food, conversations about adventures, campfires, and so much fun riding too!
Please note that everyone is entitled to use any of the common spaces in the lodge including the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and showers. Those selecting outdoor sleeping need to bring adequate sleeping gear to comfortably sleep outside. Not sure what gear you need? Get in touch with us so you’re ready by the time this trip happens!
Staying in the Hub North beds is open to NEER members (due to such few beds, we expect to fill them quickly), outdoor sleeping and attending the clinic is open to everyone. NEER membership is required to join in on the fat bike rides.
If you’re already registered to stay at Hub North for the Snowfire Fest weekend, you don’t need to register separately for this clinic. Join winter climbing and backpacking guide and volunteer search & rescuer Pat Ferland for a comprehensive 4-hour clinic covering winter camping topics such as making camp in the snow, where to camp, using and servicing your winter stove, selecting firewood and building a campfire on the snow, useful knots and how to tie them, utlizing weather resources to make good decisions, and much more. This clinic is 3 hours plus a fourth for Q&A which all will enjoy during dinner. Dinner is included in the price of registration.
This is a full weekend of all great things associated with winter! Come up Friday evening and stay until Monday. Enjoy celebrating winter together with others who love winter and savor fat bike riding during the day (feel free to choose your own adventure during the day), sleep in a nice lodge with big kitchen, living room, and is on a beautiful property with outdoor campfire rings, fireplace, games, and much more. Included in the price for the weekend are clinics with experts on winter riding and winter camping, three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and many snacks!
This is a full weekend of all great things associated with winter! Come up Friday evening and stay until Monday. This is a special option: try your hand at sleeping in the snow on the Hub North grounds! If things go badly outside, you can relocate to the warm living room inside the lodge. This is a no-risk way to try winter camping! Still enjoy all of the amenities of the house such as bathrooms, showers, full kitchen, living room hanging out.
Enjoy celebrating winter together with others who love winter and savor fat bike riding during the day (feel free to choose your own adventure during the day), sleep in a nice lodge with big kitchen, living room, and is on a beautiful property with outdoor campfire rings, fireplace, games, and much more. Included in this price for the weekend are clinics with experts on winter riding and winter camping, three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and many snacks for each person!
This is a full weekend of all great things associated with winter! Come up Friday evening and stay until Monday. Enjoy celebrating winter together with others who love winter and savor fat bike riding during the day (feel free to choose your own adventure during the day), sleep in a nice lodge with big kitchen, living room, and is on a beautiful property with outdoor campfire rings, fireplace, games, and much more. Included in this price for the weekend are clinics with experts on winter riding and winter camping, three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and many snacks for each person!
This is a full weekend of all great things associated with winter! Come up Friday evening and stay until Monday. Enjoy celebrating winter together with others who love winter and savor fat bike riding during the day (feel free to choose your own adventure during the day), sleep in a nice lodge with big kitchen, living room, and is on a beautiful property with outdoor campfire rings, fireplace, games, and much more. Included in this price for the weekend are clinics with experts on winter riding and winter camping, three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and many snacks for each person!
This is a full weekend of all great things associated with winter! Come up Friday evening and stay until Monday. Enjoy celebrating winter together with others who love winter and savor fat bike riding during the day (feel free to choose your own adventure during the day), sleep in a nice lodge with big kitchen, living room, and is on a beautiful property with outdoor campfire rings, fireplace, games, and much more. Included in this price for the weekend are clinics with experts on winter riding and winter camping, three breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, and many snacks for each person!
Thank you
This gathering has been inspired by Fat Pursuit and the Fat Pursuit Camp: the many incredible things it has taught, the amazing community it has built, and a whole other dimension of cycling it has revealed.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions.
FAQs
Q: I would like to van camp, is this an option?
A: Yes! There is plenty of parking at Hub North and they welcome van campers. Please register for the outdoor option and mention you’ll be sleeping in your van.
Q: I am not a NEER member, is it alright for me to register for the clinic and/or weekend?
A: Yes, absolutely fine! The more the merrier where it comes to getting people together in the snow and sharing the joy of campfires and knowledge of winter cycling together. We are reserving beds in the shared lodge for NEER members since we’re certain these will sell out. You’re welcome to stay on the premises in a tent or bivy or at an offsite location and spend the weekend with everyone. We do ask for you to join as a NEER member to share in the group rides due to insurance requirements. Besides, we hope this weekend will connect you with others and you’ll be doing a lot more with us for the coming year!
Sunday Endurance Mountain Bike Ride
Location: Start and end at Wompatuck
Ride Type: Mountain Bike Ride
Date & Time: Sunday, June 7 at 9am
Distance: 10-40 miles
Location: Start and end in Wompatuck, MA
Ride Type: Trails on Mountain Bikes or fat bikes
Date & Time: Sunday, June 7
Distance: As long as you want to ride! Options: 10-40 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 is the ride you need it to be for YOU. We’re starting the ride at 9am and riding, riding, riding at Wompatuck! We’re following the Landmine Classic route which stays in Wompatuck and this is a fairly technical, rough mountain bike ride. Ride until you don’t want to ride any longer, it’s not far or hard to get back to your car. Some people are training for endurance mountain bike events so will be interested in riding longer than others.
Pace
If you can maintain a 14mph average pace on the road (on a road bike) for 2+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride. This ride’s pace will be much much less than this since it’s a mountain bike ride. We’ll regroup periodically and not drop anyone.
Start Time
8:55am - Be ready to ride!
9:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out
Distance & Estimated Ride Time
The ride is as long as you want to go. 10 miles all the way to 40 miles!
Time: this is up to you. You stop riding when you want to stop riding. We’re out there for the day so start with us then end when it’s time for you to be done.
Parking
Parking is free and ample at the parking lot, we’ll share the exact location with all who RSVP by 7pm the night before the ride.
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
After the Ride
Anyone who wants to hang out and talk about bikes after the ride is welcome to do so. Since everyone is finishing at a different time, we suggest bringing food and drink to enjoy post-ride for when you finish.
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
2.25” knobby tires OR BIGGER. Wider tires are nicer! This is a rougher mountain bike area.
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.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires. We recommend about 80% of maximum rated tire pressure. Sometimes this is much too high, ask us if you’re not sure where to set your tire pressure. We like you to have more than enough air for these reasons:
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.
You can easily take it out, much harder to add it in.
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.
Sat. Feb 28: Snow Ride
Location: Harold Parker
Ride Type: Snow for fat bikes
Date & Time: Saturday, Feb 28, 7am Start
Distance: 3 hours of riding
Location: Start and end at Harold Parker
Ride Type: SNOW for fat bikes
Date & Time: Saturday, February 28, 7am start
Distance: 3ish hours of riding
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 SNOW ride appropriate for fat tires 3.8” or wider. We’re aiming for a 3-hour ride and will adjust the route appropriately on the fly if necessary.
This ride is early to be sure to be out there when it’s cold enough. It’s supposed to be quite warm mid-day Saturday.
Pace
If you can maintain a 14mph average pace on the road (on a road bike) for 3+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride. This ride’s pace will be much much less than 14mph (probably more like 3-5 mph) with the winter clothes, big boots, snow conditions, fat tires, etc.
Start Time
6:55am - Be ready to ride!
7:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out
Estimated Ride Time
Allow ~3 hours for the ride.
Parking
Parking is free and ample. All who RSVP will receive information and we’ll update this info here if we know early enough in the week where the ride will be taking place.
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
Route Notes
Will add these if any, once we know where the ride will be taking place.
After the Ride
Everyone who comes out will be served hot chocolate if you want one!
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
STUDDED 33.8” knobby tires OR BIGGER. Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see fat bikes at this ride considering the snow conditions.
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!
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.
Join us for three days and two nights of a winter wonderland, great fat bike riding, and fun together time at the NEER house in Bethlehem, NH!
There are queen, full and twin-sized beds. Some are in shared rooms and others are private. There is a good chance you’ll be in a twin bed/bunk. Be flexible on your sleeping arrangements but let us know if you have specific needs/desires before registering if so. Preference of beds goes to NEER membership level, then to who signs up first for the house. Couples get priority for shared beds, but must register while the spots are still open! There is an item specifically for couples to register. This will go away when spots are sold. There is space in the house for people to bring their own air mattresses. That is a separate item offered. Total people will not exceed 13.
Join us for three days and two nights of a winter wonderland, great fat bike riding, and fun together time at the NEER house in Bethlehem, NH! This item is for two people who will share a queen-sized bed.
Join us for three days and two nights of a winter wonderland, great fat bike riding, and fun together time at the NEER house in Bethlehem, NH! This item is for people who want to bring their own air mattress and bedding (including blankets) for sleeping in a shared bedroom or living room. The first person to sign up for this option who mentions that you want to sleep on a couch (if this is preferable to you over sleeping on an air mattress) will get a non-pull-out couch. Please bring your bedding.
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!
Portland, Maine Fat Bike Snow Ride
Date & Time: Saturday, February 7 at 10am
Location: Groomed trail area local to Portland, Maine
Ride Type: Fat bike ride
Distance: ~4 hours of pedaling
Date & Time: Saturday, February 7, 10am start
Location: Bradbury Mountain, near Portland, Maine
Ride Type: Snowy groomed trails appropriate for fat bikes, unlikely to be around snowmachines
Distance: 10 miles then extra riding and some exploring for those who want to go longer, 3-4 hours of riding
Price: Free; please sign a waiver and RSVP so we know who all to expect!
Details
This is a fat bike fun ride on great groomed trails at Bradbury State Park, very close to Portland, Maine! Come out and enjoy this beautiful area, ride with other fat bike riders who are coming up from the Boston area and who live in the Portland, Maine area! All who RSVP will receive a route, though trail conditions when we’re there may dictate route updates during the ride.
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 properly cold.
Start Time
9:55am - Be ready to ride in the parking lot - find the big, red van! That’s where everyone will meet up.
10:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out
Distance & Estimated Ride Time
However far we can ride in 4 hours is approximately the distance.
Parking
Parking is $6 in the Bradbury State park lot for out-of-state license plates. Exact parking location will be emailed to all who RSVP. Bring cash for parking. Mainers pay less for parking.
Route
The route(s), starting location, and more information 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 cold out. It will be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating/sweating 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 a 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
We’ll bring a camp stove and boil water for hot chocolates together. Practicing boiling water in the winter is important since it’s how to stay safe in winter expeditions! It takes some time; if you want to bring your camp stove to practice, this is a great opportunity to learn in a supportive environment!
Optional - Sunday Ride Option & Saturday overnight camping
On Sunday, we’re headed north to York Hill Farm, another wonderful place to fat bike! If you’re interested in being kept in the loop for this ride, please email us connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com. It’s about an hour north of Bradbury.
Saturday night we’ll be finding a nice place to camp outside at a state park or public lands. If you’re interested in joining in on this aspect, email us! connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com
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 bare minimum OR BIGGER - 4.6” are ideal. Wider tires at lower pressures are nicer! Narrower tires won’t be welcome on groomed trails for the foreseeable future since they rut up the hard work groomers do.
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.
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 tell us you’d like to be on this ride!
Please RSVP with your interest in being on this ride. We’ll confirm the plan once the weather and trail conditions are known. If the weather is too cold for you and your gear, there is no pressure to attend. Do be sure to ask since we often have extra gear that we may be able to lend to you for the ride.
Be sure to email us if you can’t attend after RSVP’ing: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.
Thursday Evening Fat Snow Ride
Location: Start and end in Waltham
Ride Type: Snow Ride for fat bikes
Date & Time: Thursday, February 5 at 7:00pm
Distance: 10 miles
Location: Start and end in Waltham
Ride Type: Snow ride for fat bikes with studded tires
Date & Time: Thursday, February 5 at 7pm
Distance: ~10 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
We have a designated Super Domestique leading the group. We’ll ride fast enough to stay warm but not fast since it’s snowy. 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. Average pace will likely be in the 3-4 mph area.
Distance
The ride is ~10 miles in length or 2 hours, whichever is shorter, depends on conditions.
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
No more than 2 hours, aiming for total time out of 2 hours.
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.
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 each calendar year. Please fill it out now.
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” studded tires minimum. 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. Fat bikes are likely the best suited for these conditions, but it’s hard to know for sure until we’re out there riding.
There is ice out there so studded tires are required. No studs, no ride.
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 in the COLD (this means more battery is necessary than usual) 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.
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.
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.
Sat. Jan. 24: Heat of the Day Snow Ride
Location: Weston, MA
Ride Type: Snow on trails mostly
Date & Time: Saturday, Jan 24, 12pm Start (LATE START)
Distance: 15 miles
Location: Start and end in Weston, MA
Ride Type: SNOW Mixed Terrain Ride for bikes with 3” studded tires or bigger
Date & Time: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 12:00pm start
Distance: 15 miles, ~3ish 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 mixed-terrain SNOW ride takes cyclists to mostly trails and a few back roads for a total of ~15 miles. We’re aiming for a 3-hour ride and will adjust the route appropriately on the fly if necessary.
There is plenty of snow and ice on the ground, thus studded tires are required.
Pace
If you can maintain a 14mph average pace on the road (on a road bike) for 3+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride. This ride’s pace will be much much less than 14mph (probably more like 3-5 mph) with the winter clothes, big boots, snow conditions, etc. Considering the cold temps that are predicted, please don’t come out if this is your first snow ride ever or if your equipment hasn’t been tested yet for the season. A mechanical is very challenging in this cold and some people will have a hard time dealing with standing around in the cold to fix something. Opt in only if you and your gear are ready for the conditions.
If you’re not sure if you’re ready for this ride, just email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com and we’ll discuss. We’re encouraging but will not offer stupid advice.
Start Time
11:55am - Be ready to ride! Stay in your car if you’re ready early if it’s cold enough to freeze you before the ride starts.
12:00pm - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out
Distance & Estimated Ride Time
The ride is 15 miles in length. The route is a figure 8 so if you want a shorter ride, it’s possible to cut it short. The decision point will be at mile 5.5, and if you cut the route, you’ll end up with a total of 8.1 milesso there will be time to decide and you don’t have to figure it out too early in the ride.
Allow ~3 hours for the ride.
Parking
Parking is free and ample:
Burchard Park, Weston, MA
Address for your GPS to get to the parking lot, this is a public park:
269 Concord Rd, Weston, MA 02493
Route
The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.
Route Notes
The route starts by going uphill so this helps riders warm up quickly early in the ride. Most of the route is off-road. We put this route together for a snow ride last year that we couldn’t run (there was too much snow that day!) so there’s a chance something doesn’t work; we’ll figure out a re-route as appropriate. This is an area with a lot of trails and many options.
The most important aspect of this ride is to 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.
Lights are also a good thing to have. Did you know that a light gives off heat? Yes, yes it does. Not a bad way to warm up if you have nothing else. Also good to have with the sun low in the sky!
Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider needs to call for a ride (Uber/Lyft/friend) or 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 and phone to call for a ride if necessary.
After the Ride
It will be later in the day and everyone will be cold so we’ll say a quick good bye and get moving toward home!
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
STUDDED 3” knobby tires OR BIGGER. Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see fat bikes at this ride considering the snow conditions. It is possible a mountain bike with studded tires will be okay out there too, hard to know until we’re rolling!
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.
High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires. We recommend about 80% of maximum rated tire pressure. Sometimes this is much too high, ask us if you’re not sure where to set your tire pressure. We like you to have more than enough air for these reasons:
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.
You can easily take it out, much harder to add it in.
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.