Cape Trail Mix Ride: Fun Options for Gravel Bikes and Fat Bikes

• Location: Start and end near Eastham, MA on the Cape

• Ride Type:  Fat and Gravel adventure event ride!

• Date & Time: Saturday, October 21, 2023 (new date!)

• Distance: 50km, 100km and 100 mile options for gravel/mtn bikes

• Distance: 50km-100km for fat bikes

• Do not need NEER membership to register, however, NEER members get a good discount

• Price for non-NEER members:  $50 before October 16, $65 between Oct 16 and Oct 19.

• Price for NEER Members: Category 4 members: $25, Category 3 members: $10, Category 2 and 1 members: No Charge.

• Registration deadline: Thursday, October 19 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

This very special ride takes cyclists to many interesting trails, dirt roads, and a little pavement on the Cape. Fat bikes go to some sandier places and a few beautiful beaches. This is a sandy place meaning the trails dry very quickly if they get wet and there is sandiness on the trails in general. The chances we would need to cancel this ride due to the weather is very small. We expect to ride rain or shine and will only cancel if the weather appears dangerous to riders or trails.

If you’re a bikepacker and want to test your gear, strap it to your bike and come along! If you just want to enjoy a lovely autumn day on the bike without hoards of people on the Cape, this ride is for you, too.

Keep reading, there’s a campsite near the start of the ride if you want to bikepack out to the ride or drive from somewhere that’s further away.

100 Mile Fat Bike Option offered on Saturday, October 14 for NEER members

If you are a fat bike rider interested in a 100-mile fat bike ride option, we have this running separately the day before on Saturday. Details are on the Ride Page for that ride.

What You Get

• Ride a beautiful place not all that far from civilization nor too far from where you started. It’s off-season on the Cape but before everything closes for the winter - a perfect time to be there!

• A well-vetted route that takes you to places you’d never know to ride otherwise.

• An opportunity to ride your gravel or fat bike with plenty of dirt, cool trails and beautiful beaches.

• The chance to share the day with your friend group, ride with a group of people we match up based on expected pace, or ride solo without feeling alone.

• A simple, hearty warm meal and treats at the end of the ride to finish feeling satisfied from riding and not being hungry!

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish.

Get your Friends Together to Ride Together!

We’re offering a separate rollout time for all friend groups so you can start together and stay together. Get your friends together and when you register, tell us their names. Your start time will not be more than 30 minutes different from the start time for the category you register for unless you request a different time.

If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, we will get riders of similar paces to ride together or you’re welcome to ride solo. We prefer to start solo riders nice and early so you’re seeing others throughout the day and not the last rider out there.

Start Time Requests if different from the category start time

We’re happy to accommodate anyone’s start time requests unless it looks like it’ll get you back too late so please tell us your requests in your registration information. If you’re riding with a friend group and you request a specific time, we’ll assume everyone in your group is on board with this request.

Pace

If you choose to ride with a group of friends you or someone puts together, ride the pace your group prefers! We offer a start time for your group so that you can start separately and stay together.

If you’re riding solo, you’re welcome to ride the pace you want as long as you have time to complete the route before we stop serving food. If you’re wondering about your pace and timing, email us.

If you select to ride with a group of people we assemble, then you’ve told us your pace and hopefully those who we match you with are around the same pace. There’s always a risk of the group being a little faster or slower than how you want to ride so come with the route loaded and be prepared. Our rides typically attract people in this category who want to ride with others so will alter their pace to appease others in the group so as to have a group experience.

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Start times that you see when you register are all approximate. We will roll out groups of friends, groups we assemble, and solo riders separately. You'll get an email with exact rollout times 7pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

Everyone will receive an email by Thursday evening at 7pm that includes all of the details of the ride, the routes for all distances, and roll-out times. Your roll-out time will be within 30 minutes of the time you’ve registered for and it’ll probably be a bit closer than that.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 6pm, that’s when the sun sets. We don’t want anyone out riding after dark.

Parking

There is a large parking lot that allows for all-day parking at no charge where we’ll be starting and ending. Long routes will visit the lot during the day so there’s an opportunity to go to your car/grab stuff, etc.

Route & Route Notes

The routes will be emailed to all who register no later than 7pm Thursday evening prior to the weekend of the ride.

A general note about the routes: you’re never going all that far from where you park so cutting the course is not an overly challenging thing to do if necessary to get back early for whatever reason.

This is a sandy area. Both gravel and mountain bikes are welcome for the gravel-version of the ride. Gravel cyclists not familiar with sand will have the opportunity to get familiar with it! 40mm or larger tires are recommended.

For the fat bike routes: fat bikes are required with a minimum of 3.8” tires in order to properly enjoy the beaches included.

Terrain Description

The routes may evolve prior to it being finalized. Weather may change the route at the last moment, too. Last minute road work also sometimes requires re-routing. The point is, these percentages are estimates and may change.

Percentages are by shown by distance, not time.

• Percentages are very similar regardless of route distance. The fat bike class is the exception; see those differences below.

• Total climbing: 4,300 ft.

Cars/No Cars	Terrain	Percentage	Ideal Bike
Cars Likely	Pavement, roads	20%	Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires
Cars Allowed	Dirt roads	5%	Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires
No Cars	Pavement that's car-free, abandoned roads, closed roads, and bike paths	10%	Gravel bike
No Cars	Fire roads and access roads	20%	Gravel bike w/40mm tires
No Cars	Smooth Singletrack	15%	Gravel bike w/40mm knobby tires
No Cars	Rough, abandoned, washed out, and class 4 roads	10%	Hardtail Mountain Bike
No Cars	Singlegrack, tight, rocky, or overgrown	15%	Hardtail Mountain Bike
No Cars	Trail Sand	5%	Gravel 40mm knobby or wider, depends on how rainy it is just prior to the ride
No Cars	Beach Sand	0.3%	Fat tires 4" or wider, Probably not rideable on a mountain bike tire. Definitely not rideable on a gravel bike tire.
For the Fat Bike Routes:
No Cars	Beach & Sand	20%	Fat tires 4" or wider
		This % replaces some of the above terrain

Food & Water During the Ride

We’ll be hosting a mid-ride food stop for the 100-mile riders with basic calories. There will be ample water for bottle refills. This is the same location where you’ve parked, so if you want to resupply with your favorite food, you will have the chance to grab whatever you want.

There are quality food stops on the route with stores that are open at this time of year that provide free water and tasty food if you’d like to get extra things to eat while you’re riding.

Our pre-ride email will include information on places to stop to refuel during the ride.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes and a lawn chair so you can enjoy a bunch of social time post-ride!

We’ll provide a hot, tasty after-ride meal for all riders. We’ll be serving food until the sun sets and hanging out until everyone is done enjoying themselves. Be sure you have completed your ride prior to sunset which is 6pm.

What happens if it Rains?

We moved this ride from the original date to this day in order to avoid the rain. Crossing fingers! We also changed the name of the ride since it doesn’t have to be brutal…we’re aiming for beautiful and pleasant riding for you!

If it looks rainy/cold for Saturday, October 21, we will see if moving the ride to Sunday, October 22 offers a more pleasant day and is feasible for both us and for 3/4 of the riders. If not, we'll run the ride on October 21. We'll communicate with all registered riders in case we need to move the date or change ride details. If you can't make it on the day we end up being able to run the ride IF we change the date on you due to weather, we need you to email us no later than 2 days prior to the ride so we can issue you a full refund. We won't offer refunds after the night before the ride runs. If you don't want to ride due to the weather (if we haven't moved the date from the date you registered for) and email us 2 days or more ahead of time, we'll issue you a 50% refund.

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news via BikeReg.com so make sure you get communications from BikeReg!

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.

Camping Option

We recommend staying at the Atlantic Oaks Campground if you’d like to camp nearby the start. We’ll be hanging out there Saturday evening. Select a red “A” site if you’d like to be near to us and other Brutiful riders.

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

The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign.

Proper bike & Equipment

For the Gravel Routes: A gravel bike or mountain bike with 38mm tires or wider.

For the Fat Routes: A bike with tires 3.8” or wider is required due to the beaches these routes include.

For ALL Riders:

• 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.

• Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:

• Flat fix tools and at least one spare tube (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 or hand pump, multi-tool

• Nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers

• 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)

• Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride

• Required: Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in rain or before the sunrise/after the sun sets

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

Saturday Longer Morning Mixed Terrain Ride East Bound!

• Location: Start and end near Bedford, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes or hardtail mountain bikes

• Date & Time:  Sunday, September 10, 9am start

• Distance:  48 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 leads cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and trails for a total of 48 miles. The route heads east and takes in a lot of excellent mixed terrain along the way in addition to fun connecting roads.

The route is mixed terrain so any gravel bike with 40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. Bigger tires and bikes are fine as long as you feel comfortable keeping up with the group.

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 for 4+ hours, you’ll be fit enough for this ride. The pace on a mixed terrain ride is much slower than a road ride so expect the ride to take ~5 hours to complete, possibly more.

Distance

The ride is 48 miles in length.

Parking

In the large parking lot for offices just across from Revolution Hall:

3 Maguire Rd, Lexington, MA 02421

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before this ride.

Estimated Ride Time

~5+ hours

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout.

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.

Proper bike & Equipment

• 32mm knobby tires BARE minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Ideal: 40mm or wider. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. Gravel bikes are best suited for most of the terrain. Do NOT ride road tires since you’ll be flatting out there.

• 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.

Saturday Earlier & Longer Morning Mixed Terrain Ride East Bound!

• Location: Start and end near Bedford, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes or hardtail mountain bikes

• Date & Time:  Saturday, August 26 8am start

• Distance:  48 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 leads cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and trails for a total of 48 miles. The route heads east and takes in a lot of excellent mixed terrain along the way in addition to fun connecting roads.

The route is mixed terrain so any gravel bike with 40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. Bigger tires and bikes are fine as long as you feel comfortable keeping up with the group.

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 for 4+ hours, you’ll be fit enough for this ride. The pace on a mixed terrain ride is much slower than a road ride so expect the ride to take ~5 hours to complete, possibly more.

Distance

The ride is 48 miles in length.

Parking

In the large parking lot for offices just across from Revolution Hall:

3 Maguire Rd, Lexington, MA 02421

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before this ride.

Estimated Ride Time

~5+ hours

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout.

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.

Proper bike & Equipment

• 32mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. Gravel bikes are best suited for most of the terrain. Do NOT ride road tires since you’ll be flatting out there.

• 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.

Saturday Rhode Island Adventure Ride

• Location: Start and end in Chepachet, Rhode Island

• Ride Type:  Social Adventure Ride with special food stop! Gravel Ride for gravel bikes or road bikes with plump tires

• Date & Time: 9am, Saturday, July 22

• Distance: 78 miles

• Price:  Free, but we’re requiring NEER membership if this is your second ride with us. We’re providing food so a $15 donation toward food and expenses from non-members is suggested. Note the mid-ride food stop we’re providing!

• RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form

Details

This scenic road and gravel ride takes cyclists on a beautiful journey in Rhode Island. We’re taking advantage of a route put together by Rhode Island cyclist Paul Davis, made famous in this GCN video with Jeremy Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiTc6KHckFk

We have not vetted this route, but we assume that Jeremy and GCN wouldn’t publish a bad route! The store they highlight in the video mid-ride is no longer in business, thus we’ve updated the route to get riders to a nice mid-ride hydration & food stop that WE ARE STOCKING at a campground.

Pace

This is a social adventure ride. Here’s how this works: everyone rides together for the first 36 miles. If you’re super fast, take it easy, enjoy some social time with people! We all roll together to the food/water stop. Enjoy some time at the campground, eat, drink, be merry. After the stop, fast people: go fast! Drop the group, have the fun you’ve been dreaming about. If you’re not up for a solid endurance pace (16-17mph avg is what the group would average if people were on road bikes on pavement, so that level of effort), you’re welcome to drop off the back of the group and ride your own pace continuing along the route.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading one group which will be rolling at a steady endurance gravel pace. If you can maintain a 15-16mph average pace on the road (on a road bike with drafting others employed) for 3+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride to roll with the group for the first 36 miles at least. This ride’s pace will be much less than 16mph (probably more like 12-14mph considering the dirt, and bigger tires of gravel bikes).

Please mention your pace in your RSVP if you think you’ll be faster/slower than the Super Domestique and be aware that there’s a chance you will be riding solo. We prefer if slower riders want to ride solo, you let us know and choose an earlier start time so that we can see you out on the road, it makes it safer to have some overlap out there.

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 8:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 9am and then roll out.

Parking

There is plenty of parking in town on the weekends as there are lots of places closed. We’re told the Town Hall parking lot is available and free all day on the weekends:

Town Hall - 1145 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814

Please plan to meet up here for the ride start.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

Elevation gain is ~3,600 ft.

We are expecting a lot of pavement and the dirt sections are unlikely to be overly technical given the route was ridden with road bikes and road tires for the GCN video. Since we’ve not done this ride before and it is an adventure, it seems safest to go with bigger tires. We suggest coming out with your gravel bike and 35-40mm tires regardless just because it’s nice when everyone is more or less on similar equipment. If you’re comfortable on dirt on your road bike, it’s totally fine to ride your road bike.

Food & Water During the Ride - Special Food Stop

We’re riding in an unpopulated part of the state. Therefore, food and water is very hard to come by. There will be ONE (extra fun) food & water stop on the route at a campsite, at mile 36. We are supplying fun food, bike foods, drink mixes, and the campground has water.

Please bring a minimum of 3 water bottles or 2.5L of water in a hydration pack.

Also, please bring all of the calories you would like to eat during the whole day. Yes, it’s a lot. Yes, bring a lot.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes so you can enjoy your drive home!

Want to demo ride a bike? Talk about sweet new bikes? Ride Headquarters comes out to these rides with demo bikes for those who are interested in demo riding and discussing awesome, super fun new bikes. Contact Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 up until 10pm the night before 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

• 35mm knobby tires are recommended, but skinnier are okay if you have experience riding dirt with skinnier.  Wider tires are always nice! 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 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 or if you haven’t come prepared.

• 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.

Sunday South Shore Shorter Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end in Weymouth, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes, mtn bikes and fat bikes

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, July 23

• Distance: 17 mi

• 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 on a wide variety of dirt trails and mixed terrain on the South Shore. Ride along the water and see some cool neighborhoods, too.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll likely stick together. For this ride, it’ll be steady, not fast. If you would like to ride faster, that’s fine! Just mention this in your RSVP. You are likely to have good company at your pace, you’ll be welcome to ride ahead of the “led” group so long as you properly communicate with the ride Super Domestique.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. The Super Domestique is likely to be riding a fat bike and be tired from a long ride the day before. If you can maintain a 15mph 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 less than 15mph (probably more like 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The route is 17 miles long.

Ride time expected is ~2.5 hours with about 2 hours and 20 minutes of actual riding.

Parking

Weymouth, MA. We share the details with all who RSVP.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

Total distance: 17 miles (we may add a mile or two to have an extra water view)

Total elevation gain: 1,000 ft

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. This is a lot dirt and some rougher trails in spots so be prepared for this. It is a really neat route. There is no pressure to ride anything you would prefer to walk.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes so you can enjoy your drive home!

Want to demo ride a bike? Talk about sweet new bikes? Ride Headquarters comes out to these rides with demo bikes for those who are interested in demo riding and discussing awesome, super fun new bikes. Contact Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 up until 10pm the night before 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

• 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride.

• 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.

Sunday South Shore Shorter Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end in Weymouth, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes, mtn bikes and fat bikes

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, July 16

• Distance: 18 mi

• 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 on a wide variety of dirt trails and mixed terrain on the South Shore. Ride along the water and see some cool neighborhoods, too.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll likely stick together. For this ride, it’ll be steady, not fast. If you would like to ride faster, that’s fine! Just mention this in your RSVP. You are likely to have good company at your pace.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. If you can maintain a 15mph 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 less than 15mph (probably more like 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The route is 18 miles long.

Ride time expected is ~2.5 hours.

Parking

Weymouth, MA. We share the details with all who RSVP.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

Total distance: 17 miles (we may add a mile or two to have an extra water view)

Total elevation gain: 1,000 ft

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. This is a lot dirt and some rougher trails in spots so be prepared for this. It is a really neat route. There is no pressure to ride anything you would prefer to walk.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes so you can enjoy your drive home!

Want to demo ride a bike? Talk about sweet new bikes? Ride Headquarters comes out to these rides with demo bikes for those who are interested in demo riding and discussing awesome, super fun new bikes. Contact Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 up until 10pm the night before 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

• 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride.

• 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.

Saturday North Shore Mixed Terrain Adventure Ride

• Location: Start and end at Gordon College on the North Shore (just north of Pride’s Crossing)

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes, mtn bikes okay if you can do the distance

• Date & Time: 8am, Saturday, July 15

• Distance:  55 mi, 62 mi (100k), 80 mi options on offer

• 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 on a wide variety of dirt trails on the North Shore including Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Essex, and Hamilton.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. There will be a few areas of rougher terrain, everything is rideable, but it’s no issue to walk anything you’re unable to ride.

Pace

We’ll likely split people into 2 groups based on riding speeds. Be prepared to keep moving at a steady pace, and when we stop for water/food, we’ll allow everyone to refill and use the facilities, but then keep moving.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. If you can maintain a 15mph 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 less than 15mph (probably more like 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 7:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 8am and then roll out.

All three distances of ride offered: 55 miles, 62 miles and 80 miles run together until the end of your route so everyone rides together until someone(s) wants to split off and return to Gordon College.

We expect most people to end up doing the 55 mi or 62 mi versions, but if you want a big day, the 80 miler is for you and you might have company for it!!

Parking

Gordon College

Exact spot to park: 255 Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MA 01984

This is next to Emery Hall on Princemere Dr. at the very start of the route, there is a lot of parking on both sides of the road and a parking lot right there too.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

Elevation gain for the 62-mile version is 3,000 ft.

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. This is a lot dirt so be prepared for a challenging, but fun, day in the saddle. There is no pressure to ride anything you would prefer to walk.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes so you can enjoy your drive home!

We will have Crud Cloths for everyone who wants one, these feel especially good on a very hot day. One free per NEER member. Want more or not a member? Please bring $10 and you’ll receive 3 Crud Cloths.

Want to demo ride a bike? Talk about sweet new bikes? Ride Headquarters comes out to these rides with demo bikes for those who are interested in demo riding and discussing awesome, super fun new bikes. Contact Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 up until 10pm the night before 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

• 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride.

• 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.

Live Free and Ride Gravel Saturday

Details

• Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads

• Time & Date: Saturday, June 24 - 7am-9am Rollout**

• **If weather is an issue for Saturday, June 24, we’ll look at requiring a 7am start or running a ride elsewhere at lower elevation nearer to the Boston, MA area (Sunday is looking worse than Saturday) - a GO/NO GO decision will be emailed to all who register by 12pm Friday before the ride.

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

• Distance: 65 miles / 105 km

• Price: Free

• Price: $0, but you MUST be a NEER member to participate
  

What you get

• Gorgeous, well-planned route with others out there on it at the same time: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• The route has not been vetted this year. It worked last time we hosted a ride here 2 years ago, but things can change. Bring your spirit of adventure!

• Co-adventurers, you’re not out there alone. If you’re a slower rider, we suggest selecting an early rollout time so riders are behind you for most/all of the day.

Start Location

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

Route Information

Here is some general information about the route:

• Distance: 65 miles

• We will share the route and ride details no later than 7pm Friday, June 23 to all who RSVP before then who are NEER members, since that is a requirement for this ride.

• The route has not been vetted this year so there’s a chance a road is closed or a trail is closed or conditions have changed since we vetted it. This route is not that likely to present big navigation challenges given its location and the roads/trails we’re taking.

Ride With Your Friends, Ride With a Group We Put Together, Ride Solo

Get your friends together to ride! It’s way more fun riding with a friend group than alone. It’s also safer.

PLEASE let us know when you RSVP that you want to ride with your friend group so we can get you rolling before everyone else.

If you want to ride solo, please plan to start earlier in the morning so that riders will be behind you for most/all of the day. It’s safer this way. Please tell us this in your RSVP.

There will be one group averaging a solid “moderate” pace to depart last at 9am. This is not necessarily a sweep group. Everyone up for a solid moderate pace is welcome to join in this group. These are riders who are usually comfortable with a 16-17mph pace on a 4+ hour road ride for comparison purposes. The pace will be less since the terrain is mixed with plenty of dirt and elevation and everyone is riding a bigger-tire bike.

Your pace will be ~20-30% slower than your road riding pace.

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• There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.

• Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.

• We will not shuttle riders anywhere, it’s your responsibility to have a plan in case your bike or legs stop working.

• There is little cell coverage in this area, so be aware of that.

• We’ll send a very detailed email by 7pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

Waiver

If you’re a member of NEER, you’ve signed the waiver. If you think you haven’t signed it, please do it now: https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-waiver

Riding Rules

• Be sure you’re up for the general riding rules: https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-rules

Preparation

• Bring everything you need for mechanicals that pop up on gravel/mixed terrain rides. All the things you need for a flat, tubeless puncture, EXTRA TUBE even if you run tubeless, air, levers, chain breaker, chain pliers, multi tool, spare derailleur hanger if your bike uses these.

• 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. The route file will show where food/water stops are located. These aren’t fancy (think: Dunkin Doughnuts).

After the Ride

• Bring a picnic in a cooler in your car and camp chairs. We’re parking at a school near the center of New Boston. It’s not particularly beautiful, but it’s still a nice place to hang out.

Proper Bike for this Ride

• A road or gravel bike that has 32mm tires or wider. 32mm tires will work for riders on this route based on what we saw of the roads last year. 40mm should be ideal. Mountain bikes will be a little overkill on much of the route. Narrower than 32mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads, and some sandy spots. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable. If you’re not sure of your gravel riding ability, this isn’t the best first ride to take on.

• 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.

Contact Information and How to Get Your Questions Answered

Email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.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.

RSVP NOW!

Sunday Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end at Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel, mountain & fat bikes

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, June 11

• Distance:  25 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 single-track (not too technical) trails for a total of 25 miles.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll split people into 2 groups based on bikes and speeds that are likely to result.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. If you can maintain a 15mph 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 less than 15mph (probably more like 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The ride is 25 miles in length.

Allow 3-4ish hours for the ride.

Parking

Across the street from Revolution Hall. DO NOT park in the Revolution Hall parking lot.

Address for your GPS: 10 Maguire Rd., Lexington, MA

Exact spot to park: https://goo.gl/maps/DXJyjgRdjp6BCqcA8

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. There may be a few boardwalks, they are of average width, nothing overly difficult. There is no pressure to ride anything you would prefer to walk.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy a drink or food at Revolution Hall is invited to hang out and enjoy social time together! The ride leader will stick around for awhile post-ride.

Want to demo ride a bike? Talk about sweet new bikes? Ride Headquarters comes out to these rides with demo bikes for those who are interested in demo riding and discussing awesome, super fun new bikes. Contact Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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

Ride Headquarters 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

• 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride.

• 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.