Sunday Mixed Terrain Ride - 2 Distance Options

• Location: Start and end in Waltham near the Mighty Squirrel

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

• Date & Time:  Sunday, April 21 at 9:30am

• Distance:  16 miles & 26 mile options

• 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 interesting trails with roads connecting them.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any bike with 40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. We’ll split people into groups based on bikes and speeds that are likely to result.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last longer distance group to depart which will be rolling at an endurance (not slow, but steady) pace.

Distance

16 and 25 mile options with the first ~8 miles being the same for both routes

Parking

We email everyone by 7pm the evening before the ride with logistics, details of parking, and the route. The lot is near (but not next to) the Mighty Squirrel in Waltham, off of Trapelo Rd.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP.

Estimated Ride Time

~2-3.5 hours depending on the route you choose, the bike you ride and your pace.

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a “mixed terrain” ride is rougher, twistier, and slower than a “gravel” ride.

After the Ride

Since we’re parking next to the Mighty Squirrel, there’s usually a food truck outside and tasty beer inside for post-ride calorie replenishment! Riders will return at various times and before the Super Domestique.

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

• 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and fat bikes at this ride, the majority of bikes will likely be gravel bikes.

• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. If you are an experienced cyclist who has used platform pedals and sticky shoes extensively, this is acceptable. Note that mountain-style pedals/cleats are significantly better than road-style. We strongly discourage road pedals/cleats on a mixed terrain ride. You can possibly get away with road pedals/cleats on a gravel (dirt road) ride, but not a mixed terrain ride.

• A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.

• High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.  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.

Trail Mix Gravel Ride Middle Massachusetts - 32 mi, 100km & 150 miles

• Location: Start and end at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA

• Ride Type:  Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 35mm or wider tires)

• Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 2025

• Distance: 32 miles, 100 km, or 150 miles

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered. Your pace is your choice on the 100km route. 10mph average is minimum for the 150 miles (so you’re in before dark).

• Theme: Enjoy a great day of gravel riding for the 100km riders. The 150-mile ride is set for the perfect time for riders to be 100% prepared for Unbound and other similar gravel races for those who have big gravel goals for this season!

• Price:  100km: $65 if registered before May 1, $85 after this. 150 mile: $95 before May 1, $105 after May 1

• Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 7 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in the middle of Massachusetts, out of the really nice Red Apple Farm. Red Apple has opened their arms to our rides since the start of the pandemic and they bend over backwards to help us all be comfortable while on their property. Their food is tasty and there’s a big selection of food and drinks including wood fired pizza and tasty brews; their animals are friendly and welcoming too!

This is a great opportunity to get your riding friends together, spend the day on a dirt adventure, enjoy each other’s company, and simply enjoy a nice day out on the bike in an area you probably don’t ride much/at all!

There are options for riders so you get what you want and have a really fun, full day on and off the bike! Here are the basics:

• Start with tasty coffee we’ve brewed for you at the start.

• Parking is free and ample at the farm. There is water and bathrooms at the start as well. Riders have the farm to ourselves first thing in the morning at Red Apple.

• Ride a well-vetted gravel route with your friends, a group of people who have similar speed aspirations for the day as you or ride solo.

• Ride in an area without much traffic and where you're probably not riding otherwise.

• Finish the ride with tasty, wholesome freshly made warm food, friends, and quality relaxation time. Food and drink are on your own at the end of the ride at Red Apple. This allows you to get what you want and if you would like to bring your own food, that’s fine. This keeps the price of the ride down, you get to eat and drink what you want, and still get a great social atmosphere post-ride. All good things!

• Red Apple will be open until 9pm so all riders will be in well before the farm and food closes. Assuming it’s a nice day out, there are picnic tables outside, also plenty of tables inside.

• There is no on-bike mechanical support. We're starting riders off with gaps so that slower riders will be passed by faster riders at some point and will allow more overlap which offers visibility for riders throughout the ride. Riders are expected to bring all tools necessary for mechanical situations. Keep reading for recommendations of what to bring with you.

• This ride runs rain or shine.

• If dangerous weather or forces out of our control cancel the event, we will give you a credit of some portion of your registration toward a future event that we run.

• This is a low-budget yet very nicely put together event. We want to offer you a great day on the bike, high quality calories, and it’s a really fun way to start the gravel season. 

• Refunds: if you tell us 5 or more days in advance that you can’t make it, we’ll give you a credit of 50% of your registration toward one of our future events. Otherwise, you’re welcome to transfer your registration to another rider prior to when registration closes for no additional charge via BikeReg’s rider transfer functionality.

• Connect with your gravel riding friends! Make new friends for the season!!

Want to ride with your Friend Group or Ride Solo? Options abound!

Get your friends together and you get your own departure time. You’ll tell us when you register when you want to depart and who you want to ride with. You and your friends can stick together and enjoy this as a group. Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too.

Otherwise, we’re assembling groups to ride together based on the pace you sign up for.

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm Thursday, May 9, 2024 (two nights before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• Good communication and group organization, a way to ride in a neat area with others without being alone, having a quality social aspect to riding before and after the ride, know you’re supporting a sweet local farm that offers a comfortable experience!

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your bike on dirt roads, trails, and random back paved and broken roads.

• Any bike that meets minimum tire size requirements (and is safe/tuned up!) is welcome at this ride.

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

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, getting back to gravel and mixed terrain after a long winter. Take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish on the 100km route. Yes, this is a perk of the day. FUN is the idea. There are plenty of great events that have a clock happening this year. This isn’t one of them. We do expect the 150-mile riders to average a bare minimum of 10mph (including stops) only because we want you to get in before sunset!

Post-ride, a happy participant chats with Mary McConneloug on right, 2-time Olympian, who was serving chili at the end of the Brutiful Cape Ride. You never know who you’ll find out at our rides either riding or working!

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 early or too late (meaning you’d miss food or a welcoming committee) 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 the EARLIEST time requested.

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 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 people will alter their pace a little to appease others in the group so as to have a pleasant group experience.

Speed Definitions, for those opting in to a group we assemble for this ride

Your pace will be well below these on a longer gravel/mixed terrain ride, but use this as a gauge as to who you are likely to enjoy riding with!

Fun: You usually average ~13-14mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fun Plus : You usually average 15-16mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate: You usually average 17mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate-Fast: You usually average 18-19mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fast: You usually average 20+mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Start 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 before 5pm Thursday prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding before sunset. People should arrive well before this time.

Distances - 32 miles, 100km & 150 miles

With the spring being so rainy, people have asked for a shorter distance option. We’ve just added a 32-mile route option. These riders will be given ride food at the start of the ride since they won’t see the the supported food stop along the route.

It is possible to cut the 150-mile route short if one gets out there and realizes it’s just too much to take on. We’ll explain this (and it’ll be somewhat obvious) in the pre-ride instructions.

Parking

Parking is in a large dirt lot that is free of charge. It’s a very short ride or ~2 minute walk to the bathrooms/starting area/Brew Barn from where you’ll park.

Toilets

Indoor bathrooms are open for all riders. We’ll be set up near these so it’s easy to access them and the person who is organizing the starting groups for roll-out.

Your pre-ride instructions will include specifics as to exactly where to find the toilets and the start location.

Route & Route Notes

The route and detailed instructions will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

Route notes and special things to watch for or to expect are included in the email to riders. We never have you do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!

We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in central Massachusetts, there will be plenty of climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad!

Elevation: It’s approximately 6,200 ft of elevation gained over the 100km route and about 11,000 ft for the 150 mile route.

Food & Water During the Ride

We’ll tell you all about this prior to the ride. We have a support person working a food stop mid-ride for all distances of riders. We provide a variety of tasty food at this location as well as water to refill your bottles. The 100km riders will see the support person once mid-ride. The 150-mile riders will see this person twice. There is at least one business/place to find multiple businesses on the route so the long riders will have ample opportunities to refill and refuel as well. We’ll tell you exactly where on the route everyone will find either us or a food stop.

Drop Bag Service for 150-Mile Riders

150-mile riders have the option of providing us a drop bag that we will transport to the mid-ride stop. This way, you’ll have access to extra calories or supplies you’ve packed for yourself. Bring extra anything and have this space if you’d want to leave anything with us mid-ride as well. We’ll bring your bag back to the farm once the last rider has been fed later in the day.

After the Ride

Enjoy food at the farm, ice cream, drinks on tap, and more. Red Apple has plenty of tables for hanging out together and the farm animals are right there, too. It’s a wonderful atmosphere for spending good time together!

Red Apple has been wonderful to work with throughout the years and they’re really welcoming. We charge less for this ride so that you can purchase what you want from them. They also have a farm store we suggest you check out while you’re there. We want to support their business as much as we can by way of this ride!

FOOD & Drinks Post-Ride

Check out the Red Apple Menu. There is also brick-oven wood-fired PIZZA! (These are two separate businesses at the farm, you can order from your ride and food will be ready for you when you arrive!)

What happens if it’s rainy?

This ride will happen rain or shine. This is a training ride, thus it’s important to know how to stay comfortable when it’s wet. Yes, it’s possible to have a great day out there regardless of rain.

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain except for possibly adding more puddles for riders to avoid. We aren’t riding sensitive trails or areas where it would be irresponsible for bikes to go when it’s wet.

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!

Everyone will receive complete ride details before 5pm Thursday evening prior to the ride to their email. If you do not receive an email by 5pm Thursday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please do not email prior to 5pm Thursday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

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. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!

Riding Rules

All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.

Waiver

The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign electronically. Please sign this electronically so we don’t have to fuss with it prior to the ride.

Day-of Registrations and Last-Minute Favors

We would have to charge a lot more for this ride if we needed to pay more people to staff this ride. Therefore, check-in has to be manageable for a single person who is sleep-deprived from getting everything together the day before to make this ride happen. Please do not email a few hours before the ride asking for special favors or show up at the ride expecting to ride. It’s not fair to everyone else who registered ahead of time and have followed the rules. If you have a special circumstance, email at least 48 hours before the ride and we’ll work with you.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to ride slower in spots. Ride what you’re comfortable with. You know your skill level and what you’re capable of. Either flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.

• 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. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride.

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

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

• Very nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers

• Nice to have: Change of socks if it’s a rainy/wet day

• 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)

• Extra battery and cords so you can plug in your GPS computer and cell phone to charge them. This is not a short day!

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

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless.

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

• Change of clothes to wear after the ride so you’re comfy!

Full Moon Mixed Terrain Night Rides

• Location: Various starting locations throughout New England

• Ride Type: Mixed Terrain

• Time & Date: Departs Every Full Moon (or shifted by a day or two), varying start times

• Distance: ~15 miles, approximately 90-120 minutes of riding

• Price: Free, note NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us

Description: The Full Moon ride takes cyclists all over the trails and back roads of the town where we start.

These rides all have a certain peace and joviality associated with them. There’s no “fast” when night riding; this is the time to really enjoy the ride in a special way with others who come out for these rides.

The Full Moon Ride should NOT be your first Mixed Terrain Ride.

Mixed Terrain is rougher and more technical than gravel bike riding and involves navigating around and over some smaller rocks and roots, sometimes dismounting to clear a downed tree.

Most Full Moon rides are appropriate terrain for gravel bikes of 35mm tires or wider and hard-tail mountain bikes with at least this minimum tire size. Sometimes we’ll do a special edition due to the trail conditions that will necessitate a different tire size so always be sure to check back for each ride to get the details of the best bike for the terrain.

If you are uncertain of your skill level, please email us or attend a daylight mixed terrain ride to get comfortable on your bike on Mixed Terrain.

Full Moon Ride Calendar

A few of the Full Moon rides are shifted from the exact date of the full moon, typically to avoid weekends or days people are unlikely to be able to ride.

Full Moon Calendar: 2024

Date	Day	Moon Name	Departure Time	Location
26 March	Tuesday	Worm Moon	7:00 PM	Rain cancelled
23 April	Tuesday	Pink Moon	7:00PM	Lexington (Revolution Hall)
23 May	Thursday	Flower Moon	7:00 PM	Newton Center
20 June	Thursday	Strawberry Moon	7:00pm	Summer break
21 July	Sunday	Buck Moon	Daytime ride	Summer break
20 August	Tuesday	Sturgeon Moon	7:00 PM	Lexington (Clark Middle School)
17 September	Tuesday	Corn Moon	7:00 PM	Lexington (Revolution Hall)
17 October	Thursday	Hunter Moon	7:00 PM	Lexington (Revolution Hall)
14 November	Thursday	Beaver Moon	7:00 PM	Waltham, MA
15 December	Sunday	Normal Moon - Daytime ride	9:00 AM	Sudbury, MA

Route

We will email the route to everyone who RSVPs by 7pm the evening before the ride. You’ll get the route emailed to you if you register by 4pm the day of the ride but please try not to wait too long to send in your RSVP since we work day jobs and may not have time to send you the route before the ride.

Please load the route in advance, it’s helpful for riders to know when turns are coming, they are numerous.

Pace and Skills Needed

Riders who can average 15mph on a 2+ hour road ride will have the fitness to allow them to enjoy this ride. The average pace of a mixed terrain night ride is usually 6-8mph depending on conditions and terrain. We err on the side of caution and regroup periodically.

As stated above, the Full Moon ride should not be your first mixed terrain ride.

Ride Notes

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the ride and pointing out turns. We don’t have a sweep rider for this ride so only participate if you’re confident in your skill level and fitness – or know your way back. When we have a larger group, we will split into two or more groups. Riders are exceptionally nice on this ride and make sure to not lose their co-riders.

This ride has a kindness vibe to it.

Last Minute Information

We send emails to those who have RSVP’d with anything critical that isn’t communicated on this page that is known to us before the ride start.

Estimated time

Typically 90 minutes to 2 hours. We make winter and snow rides shorter in distance (but not time) since they’re slower.

After the Ride

When we start at a local establishment, anyone who wants to hang out and enjoy food or drinks together are welcome to do that! Sometimes we prepare food/drink for riders post-ride, but we let you know when this is happening.

Contact Information

Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com, Phone - 413-461-7433

Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: 

All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.

Waiver: A signed waiver is required prior to your first ride with NEER.

If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.

Proper Bike & Requirements for this ride:

• Bright front light - At least 500 lumens that will last for 2.5 hours.

• Rear light - A steady (not flashing) rear light that will last at least 2.5 hours. This light needs to NOT be BLINDING to other cyclists. Please stare into your rear light, if it hurts your eyes, it will be painful for the rider behind you.

• 35mm knobby tires minimum for most rides. Wider tires are nicer. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. In the winter, we will require studded tires when we expect to see ice. Road bikes with 32mm tires or bigger all the way up to fat bikes are all invited and will have fun.

• Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you ride with platform pedals you’re likely to be over your head in some of the more technical parts of the ride. If you ride platform pedals and feel you have complete control of your bike because you have many hours of use with them, then they are acceptable.

• A bike that’s in safe working order and is free of creaking and squeaking. PLEASE LUBE YOUR CHAIN before the ride.

• Higher tire pressure: We recommend starting with higher tire pressure and be ready to let some out if your tires are inflated too much.

• First, 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 rides.  One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.

• We do not recommend fenders since sticks and twigs can get caught in them.

• When do we host the Full Moon ride? When it is:

  • Snowing: We ride; it is so much fun to ride during a snow storm.

  • Snow on the ground: We ride. It doesn’t matter if there’s 1 inch or four feet, we ride. We recommend (and may require) studded tires and/or fat bikes for these kinds of conditions. The only exclusion to snow riding is when there is a state of emergency and we’ve been asked to stay off the road.

  • Icy conditions: We ride. For this you have to have studded tires in order to ride with us.

  • Cold: It doesn’t matter what the temperature is, we ride. We’ve held the Full Moon ride at very, very below zero temps in the past and we still get a great turnout!

  • We DO NOT RIDE if the trails are wet and could possibly be damaged by riding, or we change the route/plan to be on beaches or on fire roads that are not sensitive trails if it’s easy to change the plan last-minute.

RSVPs are required so we know who is coming, RSVP here now!

Brutiful Dover Dirt Gravel Ride

• Location: Start and end in the sweet town of Dover, NH

• Ride Type:  Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 35mm or wider tires)

• Date & Time: Saturday, April 13, 2024

• Distance: 100km with a shorter option of ~35-45mi

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered.

• Theme: Have fun riding gravel and enjoy riding in a new area on a new route

• Price:  $45 if registered before April 7, $55 after this.

• Registration deadline: Wednesday, April 10 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in New Hampshire, out of the neat town of Dover, NH. This is a great opportunity to get your riding friends together, spend the day on a dirt adventure, enjoy each other’s company, and simply enjoy a nice day out on the bike in an area you probably don’t ride much/at all! This is a new route, you haven’t ridden it before.

There are options for riders so you get what you want and have a really fun day on the bike! Here are the basics:

• Start with a drink or food at a local cafe to start the day. We're making things convenient to support local businesses in town, offering you a nice experience, and for those who want to keep the expense of the day down, you can bring your own food.

• Ride a well-vetted gravel route with your friends, a group of people who have similar speed aspirations for the day as you or ride solo (100km is the hallmark route, but we’re offering a shorter ~40-mile distance for those who would like this length…it’s still very early season!)

• We are supporting a mid-ride fuel stop that has water and food with all diets accommodated

• Ride in an area without much traffic and where you're probably not riding otherwise

• This is one of the least climby NH rides you’ll find! Elevation gain is approximately 50 feet per mile average, though most of the climbing happens in one specific portion of the route - it starts off without much climbing for the first many miles so it eases in.

• Dirt-to-pavement: it’s at least 60% dirt - we’ll try to add it all up & provide more specifics (RideWithGPS.com doesn’t show it all correctly), but you’ll see plenty of dirt throughout the day.

• Finish the ride with tasty, wholesome freshly made warm food, friends, and quality relaxation time. Like the pre-ride food/drink, we are directing everyone to local establishments to get food, then come hang out and spend quality time with your co-riders enjoying after ride socialization. This keeps the price of the ride down, you get to eat and drink what you want, and still get a great social atmosphere post-ride. All good things!

• There is no on-bike mechanical support. We're starting riders off with gaps so that slower riders will be passed by faster riders at some point and will allow more overlap which offers visibility for riders throughout the ride. Riders are expected to bring all tools necessary for mechanical situations. Keep reading for recommendations of what to bring with you.

• This is an area that may have wet ground if there are recent rains, but we won't be doing damage since sensitive trails are not on the route. The ride is unlikely to be rescheduled due to rain.

• If dangerous weather or forces out of our control cancel the event, we will refund 50% of your registration dollars to you and give you a credit of 50% to participate in a future event.

• This is a low-budget yet very nicely put together event. We want to offer you a great day on the bike, high quality calories, and it’s a really fun way to start the gravel season. 

• Refunds: if you tell us 3 or more days in advance that you can’t make it, we’ll give you 50% of your registration toward one of our future events. Otherwise, you’re welcome to transfer your registration to another rider prior to when registration closes.

• Connect with your gravel riding friends! Make new friends for the season!!

Want to ride with your Friend Group or Ride Solo? Options abound!

Get your friends together and you get your own departure time. You’ll tell us when you register when you want to depart and who you want to ride with. You and your friends can stick together and enjoy this as a group. Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too.

Otherwise, we’re assembling groups to ride together based on the pace you sign up for.

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm Friday, April 12, 2023 (the night before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more. We’ll do our best to get this email to you before this time.

What You Get

• Good communication and group organization, a way to ride in a new area with others without being alone, having a quality social aspect to riding before and after the ride, know you’re supporting a sweet local community and you get to enjoy it as well!

• Ride a new route never ridden before in an unpopulated area

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your bike on dirt roads, trails, and random back paved and broken roads.

• Any bike that meets minimum tire size requirements (and is safe/tuned up!) is welcome at this ride.

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

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, getting back to gravel and mixed terrain after a long winter. Take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish. Yes, this is a perk of the day. FUN is the idea. There are plenty of great events that have a clock happening this year. This isn’t one of them.

Post-ride, a happy participant chats with Mary McConneloug on right, 2-time Olympian, who was serving chili at the end of the Brutiful Cape Ride. You never know who you’ll find out at our rides either riding or working!

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 early or too late (meaning you’d miss food or a welcoming committee) 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 the EARLIEST time requested.

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 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 people will alter their pace a little to appease others in the group so as to have a pleasant group experience.

Speed Definitions, for those opting in to a group we assemble for this ride

Your pace will be well below these on a longer gravel/mixed terrain ride, but use this as a gauge as to who you are likely to enjoy riding with!

Fun: You usually average ~13-14mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fun Plus : You usually average 15-16mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate: You usually average 17mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate-Fast: You usually average 18-19mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fast: You usually average 20+mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

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 before 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 5pm. People should arrive well before this time. We’ll pack up and leave at 6pm unless people are either all done before then or having too much fun, in which case we’ll stay for the party!

Parking

Parking is in a large public lot that costs $3 for the whole day.

Toilets

Local businesses are close by (we’ll tell you exactly where to find them) and they have facilities.

Route & Route Notes

The route will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

Route notes and special things to watch for or to expect are included in the email to riders. We never have you do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!

We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in NH, there will be climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad!

Food & Water During the Ride

We’ll tell you all about this prior to the ride. There will be at least one stop for food to refill on the route for the 100km distance.

After the Ride

We’ll tell you where to go to get tasty after-ride calories if you’d like these (or bring your own). We’ll have an after-ride hang-out spot set up where we suggest you bring your camp chairs to be able to hang out comfortably for as long as you want to hang out post-ride!

We’ll add more details here about the specifics in the coming days, well before the ride happens.

What happens if it’s rainy?

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain except for possibly adding more puddles for riders to avoid. We aren’t riding sensitive trails or areas where it would be irresponsible for bikes to go when it’s wet.

We will host the ride if rain is predicted. Dangerous weather cancels the ride or postpones the start.

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!

Everyone will receive complete ride details before 5pm Friday evening to their email, the day before the ride. If you have NOT received an email by 5pm Friday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please don’t email prior to 5pm Friday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

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. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!

Riding Rules

All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.

Waiver

The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign electronically. Please sign this electronically so we don’t have to fuss with it prior to the ride.

Day-of Registrations and Last-Minute Favors

We would have to charge a lot more for this ride if we were paying people to staff this ride. Therefore, check-in has to be manageable for a single person who is sleep-deprived from getting everything together the day before to make this ride happen. Please do not email a few hours before the ride asking for special favors or show up at the ride expecting to ride. It’s not fair to everyone else who registered ahead of time and have followed the rules. If you have a special circumstance, email at least 48 hours before the ride and we’ll work with you.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to walk a few more spots (around rocks, roots). Either flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.

• 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. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride.

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

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

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

• Nice to have: Change of socks, waterproof socks (in case your feet slip into a puddle)

• 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

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions. Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless.

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

• VERY NICE TO HAVE: Lawn chair/camp chair for post-ride hanging out and eating food in relaxed manner.

• Change of clothes to wear after the ride so you’re comfy!

Brutiful Gravel Rhodes Island Ride

• Location: Start and end in Coventry, Rhode Island

• Ride Type:  Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 35mm or wider tires)

• Date & Time: Saturday, March 16, 2024

• Distance: 100km with a shorter version of ~40mi

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered.

• Theme: Have fun riding gravel and get ready for the season ahead!

• Price:  $40

• Registration deadline: Thursday, March 14 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in Rhode Island (route will touch Connecticut some as well). This is a great opportunity to get your riding friends together, get your gravel bike out, remember how much fun it is to ride dirt, back roads, and simply enjoy a nice day out on the bike in an area you probably don’t ride much/at all! This is a new route, you haven’t ridden it before.

There are options for riders so you get what you want and have a really fun day on the bike! Here are the basics:

• Start with a freshly brewed cup of tasty coffee (we have very high standards for coffee) or tea

• Ride a well-vetted 100km gravel ride with your friends, a group of people who have similar speed aspirations for the day as you or ride solo

• Ride in an area without much traffic and where you're probably not riding otherwise

• Finish the ride with tasty, wholesome freshly made warm food, friends, and quality relaxation time.

• There is no on-bike mechanical support. We're starting riders off with gaps so that slower riders will be passed by faster riders at some point and will allow more overlap which offers visibility for riders throughout the ride. Riders are expected to bring all tools necessary for mechanical situations. Keep reading for recommendations of what to bring with you.

• This is an area that may have wet ground due to the recent rains, but we won't be doing damage since sensitive trails are not on the route. The ride is unlikely to be rescheduled due to rain. If a lot of rain is predicted for Saturday, we'll move the date to Sunday, March 17. We will run the ride if it's sprinkling at the start and predicted to stop early in the day.

• There are no refunds, this is a low-budget yet very nicely put together event. We want to offer you a great day on the bike and a really fun way to start the gravel season. 

• Reconnect with your gravel riding friends too! Make new friends for the season!!

Want to ride with your Friend Group or Ride Solo? Options abound!

Get your friends together and you get your own departure time. You’ll tell us when you register when you want to depart and who you want to ride with. You and your friends can stick together and enjoy this as a group. Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too.

Otherwise, we’re assembling groups to ride together based on the pace you sign up for.

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm Friday, March 15, 2023 (the night before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• Good tasting coffee and tea at the start.

• Ride a new route never ridden before in an unpopulated area/

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your bike on dirt roads, trails, and random back paved and broken roads.

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

• A warm, hearty meal and treats at the end of the ride!

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, getting back to gravel and mixed terrain after a long winter. Take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish. Yes, this is a perk of the day. FUN is the idea. There are plenty of great events that have a clock happening this year. This isn’t one of them.

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 early or 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 the EARLIEST time requested.

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 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 people will alter their pace a little to appease others in the group so as to have a pleasant 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 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 5pm. People should arrive well before this time. We’ll pack up and leave at 6pm unless people are either all done before then or having too much fun, in which case we’ll stay for the party!

Parking

There is a large parking lot that allows for all-day parking at no charge where we’ll be starting and ending. We’ll share exact directions with you to this lot.

We’ll suggest a place to find a toilet enroute to the lot since there is not a toilet on-site.

Route & Route Notes

The route will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

The route is about as gentle in terms of elevation gain as you’ll find a gravel ride within a 90-minute drive of the Boston area! We’ll tell you lots more in the pre-ride communication.

Food & Water During the Ride

There is one stop mid-ride for the 100km route to refill water and buy calories. It’s not fancy (think nice, clean gas station), there’s almost no where in this area to refill.

After the Ride

We’re providing quality fancier than usual grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, a wholesome protein and veggie side salad, and something sweet post-ride. We buy organic as much as we can and use healthy oils such as avocado oil. All diets are accommodated at the after-ride meal. Vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan diets will be accommodated assuming we have riders who request these diets in the registration (it’s usual to have these requests).

What happens if it’s rainy? The weather looks like it’ll be nice…

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain except for possibly adding more puddles for riders to avoid. We aren’t riding sensitive trails or areas where it would be irresponsible for bikes to go when it’s wet.

We will host the ride if rain is predicted but expected to stop during the day. Should it look like a wash-out, we’ll move the ride to Sunday, but we’ll only do this if it’s absolutely necessary.

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!

Everyone will receive complete ride details by 5pm Friday evening to their email, the day before the ride. If you have NOT received an email by 5pm Friday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please don’t email prior to 5pm Friday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

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.

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 electronically.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to walk a few more spots (around rocks, roots). Either flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.

• 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. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride.

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

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

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

• Nice to have: Change of socks, waterproof socks (in case your feet slip into a puddle)

• 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

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions. Visibility is always a good thing for safety.

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

• VERY NICE TO HAVE: Lawn chair/camp chair for post-ride hanging out and eating food in relaxed manner.

• Change of clothes to wear after the ride so you’re comfy!

Burning Snowflake GRAVEL Event Ride

Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of central Massachusetts!

The distance offered will be determined after we scout the condition of the dirt roads in central Massachusetts.

Imagine you a little more bundled than this but with this similar kind of smile on your face!

This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride starts about a 1 hour drive west from Boston so most people will need to drive to the start.

This is a group or solo ride, depending on how you want to ride it. You may get a group of your friends together, you may request to ride with others who are likely of your similar cycling pace and experience, or you’re welcome to ride it alone, though you’re hardly alone when there are so many people on the same route.

There is little to no cell coverage on many parts of the routes.

Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety and visit the links, so you know exactly what’s what.

Due to insurance requirements, this ride is only open to NEER members. You may become a NEER member, so it’s not too late.

There is NO fee to join in this ride, rather it’s an opportunity for you to become a NEER member or renew your membership for a full year of adventures on your bikes! This is the first of many gravel rides and events we’re hosting this year.

Get a Group of Friends Together to Ride!

Ride with your friends at whatever pace you and your friends like to ride. Let us know you’d like to do this when you register, we ask who is riding with who. ALSO if you’d like a different start time, let us know and it’s highly likely it’ll work out very well for all of us.

Ride with New-to-You People Option

Ride with people of your riding speed, but you don’t have to know anyone prior to the ride! This is an option for you if you’d like to ride with a group, but don’t have friends riding or simply want to meet new people who are of a similar strength. We do our best to group you together.

Ride Solo

You’re also welcome to ride solo. We prefer if you are a solo rider that you choose an earlier start time so that there are riders behind you, for the purposes of safety and everyone seeing people out there on the route.

We are glad to start you off earlier than the advertised starting times so that you’ll see others all day long, yet still get to ride solo.

Food & Drinks

We will ensure we are finishing at a place that offers food and drinks so you can refuel and enjoy some after-ride socialization before making the trip home.

Photo courtesy of Red Apple Farm. Sunset at the farm.

Details

What you get

• A gorgeous, well-planned route: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• Staffed starting & finishing location with water, toilets, friendly people and sweet farm animals

• Staffed food stop with water, your drop bag if you’re doing the 150 mile, and a few additional calories for you to enjoy

• Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route.

• Option to purchase breakfast, lunch or dinner and beer or non-alcoholic drinks at the end of the ride at the farm, nice place to hang out with each other and spend the afternoon. Invite your non-riding loved ones and friends to come join you for the after-ride picnic at Red Apple!

Price

• Free

• You MUST be a NEER member (a Cat 4 NEER membership is $50 for a full year of hosted rides of all varieties, and there are lots of additional benefits to being a member) - details on joining are here). This is a requirement of insurance, otherwise, we would be unable to host this or any bike ride.

  • No day-of registrations

Start Location

We will update you on the specifics. It’ll be a ~1 hr drive from Boston.

Route Information

Like all of our routes, it’s adventure-filled, but also very appropriate for gravel bikes. You’ll ride plenty of dirt roads, trails, and what’s pavement will be on the quiet roads.

Expect elevation in the 75 ft. per mile range.

Safety & Dealing with Mechanicals

Every rider is expected to follow the rules of the road at all times. This means obeying stop signs and staying to the right-hand portion of the road.

If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well. This applies for all aspects of cycling and general behavior.

We are NOT providing a roving mechanic. That means you should bring all of the tools and supplies necessary for possible mechanical situations. There are other riders out on the route and we hope people will assist each other in case of a problem.

Come out with a freshly tuned up bike, fresh sealant in your fresh tires, have electronic bikes charged fully, shifter lever batteries checked for freshness, lube those chains! Check your spare tubes to be sure they will hold air. If you’re in doubt about this, take new tubes. It’s not worth getting stuck out there.

Most mechanicals are easily avoidable by taking proper care of your equipment in advance of the ride.

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.

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

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

Since many details are up in the air, many more details will be shared with all on this page by Monday, February 5.

Preparation

What to bring, we recommend:

Everything necessary for common mechanicals. Items include:

• 2 x tubes

• Hand pump

• Co2 cartridges & Co2 inflator

• Tire levers

• Boot/dollar bill if your tire gets ripped

• Patch kit

• 1 pair of quick links compatible for your chain

• Chain pliers

• Chain breaker

• Multi-tool (if your chain breaker is on your multi-tool, even better)

• If your bike uses a replaceable derailleur hanger, be sure to have an extra that is compatible with your bike

• Rain jacket and warm gloves, chemical hand/foot warmers, neck warmers, etc in case the temps change on you

• 2 x 26 oz water bottles minimum.

• Food/nutrition in case you need a zap of energy before the food stop

Proper Bike for this Ride

• 40mm tires are best suited for the ride. Err on the side of bigger, especially if you’re newer to gravel riding. Feel free to use bigger tires. Your gravel bike is the most appropriate bike for the ride. Mountain bikes and flat-bar bikes are welcome. Narrower than 28mm tires are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger. We welcome mountain bikes, fat bikes, and any bike that you feel comfortable completing the distance on in the time frame allotted for the ride.

• We will let you know if studded tires are recommended or required.

• Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.

• 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. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. If you’ll be riding with others and it’ll be wet, please be nice to your co-riders and use full-coverage fenders.

Weather

We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.

Last Minute Information

We will email everyone who registers with the latest information if last minute details change.

Unregistered riders, riders who are not members of NEER, or riders who haven’t signed the liability waiver may not participate.

If you have financial reasons to be unable to pay, please email us so we can accommodate you. We want everyone to ride who wants to ride.

Waiver

New England Expedition Riders requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.

Contact Information

Email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.

Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different

All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.

Saturday, Feb 3, 2024 Fat Bike Ride

• Location: Start and end in Leominster, MA

• Ride Type:  SNOW Mixed Terrain Ride for fat bikes with studded tires

• Date & Time:  Saturday, February 3, 2023, 9:00am start

• Distance:  2-2.5 hours total (it’s twisty so probably not more than ~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

This trail snow ride takes cyclists on the trails of Leominster State Forest. The plan to go to Leominster is tentative until we know that the trails have been groomed considering the amount of snow that will fall on Saturday.

There is 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 this (probably more like 4 mph) with the winter clothes, big boots, new snow conditions, twisty trails, etc. We’ll regroup periodically.

Start Time

8:55am - 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.

9:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out

If the roads aren’t safe to drive, we encourage you to not be on the road.

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

The ride is probably ~10 miles in length.

Allow 2-2.5 hours for the ride.

Parking

Parking is free and ample at the Leominster trail head, 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.

Route Notes

The most important aspect of this ride is to dress appropriately for the weather since it will not be that cold out, so it’s going to be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating leads to freezing). Wear enough layers so that it’s possible to start warm and then not overheat. Bring chemical hand & foot warmers if your gloves/boots are thin.

Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider needs to walk out 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.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy a hot cocoa or talk about bikes after the ride is welcome to do so. We’ll make hot chocolates for anyone who wants one at the big, red van.

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

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. If you registered to be a NEER member November or December of 2022, it’s time to renew your membership!

Proper bike & Equipment

• STUDDED 3.5” 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.

RIDER INFORMATION - Fire Frost First Ride! January 1, 2024

• Location: Start and end in Randolph, MA, next to the Blue Hills

• Ride Type:  Two options! Choose from one of the following:

  • Adventure Mixed Terrain ride of 25 or 40 miles (two distance options) for those who want a cool urban adventure on your gravel bike or any bike with 38mm+ tires OR

  • Ride the fun trails of the Blue Hills on your fat or mountain bike. Either way, you’ll get a route, people to ride with, a hot meal, hot drinks, a camp fire and warm cabin to hang out in after you’re done riding!

• Date & Time: Monday, January 1, 2024

• Distance: The Mixed Terrain Adventure ride is 25 and 40 miles in length, the mountain/fat Blue Hills only route offers 2-3 hours of fun riding for those who choose this option.

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered. We have a non-riding/road rider option too!

• Price:  $45 before December 28, $55 after that.

• $10 of your registration is a donation that goes to NEMBA for their trail work and advocacy efforts!

• Registration deadline: Friday, December 29 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

How better to start 2024 than with a really fun bike ride with fun people?! 

We have two options for riders so you get what you want: 

Option 1: Mixed Terrain Adventure Ride

• A mixed terrain Adventure Ride that starts next to the Blue Hills and takes riders through areas you're unlikely to have ever ridden through. This is an ALL NEW route, one no one has enjoyed before! It's an urban adventure with interesting dirt paths and back roads galore. Your GRAVEL bike is ideal for this route. Ride any bike you wish that has ~38mm tires or wider as long as you and your bike are ready for a 25 mile or 40 mile adventure. There are two distance options so pick what you wish to ride.

Option 2: Ride trails within the Blue Hills on your Mtn or Fat Bike

• Have fun on your mtb/fat bike on the fun trails of the Blue Hills! The route we have together for you keeping you within the Blue Hills is appropriate for riders with mtb/fat bikes and not too technical or crazy climbing (as can be avoided). It's a fun way to ride your bike without going too far from the heat of the fire or cabin.

Want to ride with your Friend Group?

When you register, tell us who you want to ride with if you’d like to have a separate departure/start time for you and your friends. This is fine! Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too. Otherwise, we’ll assemble groups to ride together based on the pace and bike type you sign up for.

Regardless of the option you choose:

After you ride, enjoy a campfire, hot food and hot drinks at a large cabin in the Blue Hills after your ride is over!

The fire and cabin will be hot and a hearty, tasty stew (along with hot drinks and biscuits) will still be served from 12:30pm on. All dietary requirements will be accommodated, please tell us in your registration what you can't/don't want to eat. 

What if you're a road rider or a non-riding partner/friend/etc? You can register too! Ride your bike on the road, then come join in the festivities at  the cabin. The idea is starting the New Year right, getting people together around a fire and getting to do the thing you enjoy doing too!!

The actual start time for each group will be determined after we see how many people are registered for each category. We can't have too many people at the cabin/fire at once, so we we'll stagger people and groups appropriately. Everyone will begin somewhere after 10am and before 11:15am.

$10 of each registration goes to NEMBA to help them do the great work they do all year! We're really fortunate to have trails created and maintained by NEMBA (if you're not yet a NEMBA member, we recommend becoming one)!

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm December 31, 2023 (the night before the ride) with route information and start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• On the Adventure Ride: Ride a new route never ridden before in an urban setting but with lots of neat dirt trails, back roads, and new areas to discover.

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your gravel, mtn or fat bike with plenty of dirt, cool trails on the first day of the year knowing there’s a warm cabin, hot fire, tasty food, hot drinks and friendly people all awaiting you at the end!

• 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 hot, hearty warm meal and treats at the end of the ride! Enjoy a warm cabin inside, enjoy a hot campfire outside! All diets are accommodated with the food offerings. Whatever you wish, enjoy the time together on your bike then enjoy the post ride togetherness and refuel with tasty, hot food and hot drinks!

• 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 early or 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 pleasant 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 5pm Sunday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding before the sun sets. We expect to be at the cabin with the fires going until 6pm.

Parking

There is a large parking lot that allows for all-day parking at no charge where we’ll be starting and ending at the Donovan school in Randolph. We’ll share exact directions with you to this lot. Should the lot fill up, there is free, all-day on-street parking in the neighborhood next to the lot.

Route & Route Notes

The routes will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Sunday evening prior to the ride.

Food & Water During the Ride

Our pre-ride email will include information on places to stop to refuel during the ride for those who chose the Mixed Terrain Adventure option if necessary. Bring enough food/water to get through the ride without needing to resupply.

After the Ride

We’re providing a hot, tasty stew, hot drinks and treats for after the ride at a cabin within the Blue Hills. The cabin is accessible via dirt road and easy-to-ride paths which will be detailed on your ride route.

From 12:30pm-6pm, the cabin will be warm with wood-buring stove, a campfire will be going outside, and you’re welcome to drop in if you need to warm up while out riding. There is a maximum number of riders we’re allowed to have outside the cabin at once, so we’ll stagger start times to keep everyone from showing up at the cabin at once.

What happens if the weather is terrible? The weather looks like it’ll be nice so this is probably uncessary to even think about!

There’s almost no stopping the cabin food, fires and community from happening! We’ll make a logical decision and email all who have registered if the weather presents a danger to participants to drive/ride to the cabin.

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.

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 electronically.

Proper bike & Equipment

For the Adventure Mixed Terrain Route: A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike or fat bike with 38mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike.

For the Mtn/Fat Blue Hills Route: 2.1” tires or wider.

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

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions (so these are not required for this ride but it’s still always nice to have at least a rear blinky for safety/being visible)

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

Fire Frost First Ride! January 1, 2024

• Location: Start and end in Randolph, MA, next to the Blue Hills

• Ride Type:  Two options! Choose from one of the following:

  • Adventure Mixed Terrain ride of 25 or 40 miles (two distance options) for those who want a cool urban adventure on your gravel bike or any bike with 38mm+ tires OR

  • Ride the fun trails of the Blue Hills on your fat or mountain bike. Either way, you’ll get a route, people to ride with, a hot meal, hot drinks, a camp fire and warm cabin to hang out in after you’re done riding!

• Date & Time: Monday, January 1, 2024

• Distance: The Mixed Terrain Adventure ride is 25 and 40 miles in length, the mountain/fat Blue Hills only route offers 2-3 hours of fun riding for those who choose this option.

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered. We have a non-riding/road rider option too!

• Price:  $45 before December 28, $55 after that.

• $10 of your registration is a donation that goes to NEMBA for their trail work and advocacy efforts!

• Registration deadline: Friday, December 29 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

How better to start 2024 than with a really fun bike ride with fun people?! 

We have two options for riders so you get what you want: 

Option 1: Mixed Terrain Adventure Ride

• A mixed terrain Adventure Ride that starts next to the Blue Hills and takes riders through areas you're unlikely to have ever ridden through. This is an ALL NEW route, one no one has enjoyed before! It's an urban adventure with interesting dirt paths and back roads galore. Your GRAVEL bike is ideal for this route. Ride any bike you wish that has ~38mm tires or wider as long as you and your bike are ready for a 25 mile or 40 mile adventure. There are two distance options so pick what you wish to ride.

Option 2: Ride trails within the Blue Hills on your Mtn or Fat Bike

• Have fun on your mtb/fat bike on the fun trails of the Blue Hills! The route we have together for you keeping you within the Blue Hills is appropriate for riders with mtb/fat bikes and not too technical or crazy climbing (as can be avoided). It's a fun way to ride your bike without going too far from the heat of the fire or cabin.

Want to ride with your Friend Group?

When you register, tell us who you want to ride with if you’d like to have a separate departure/start time for you and your friends. This is fine! Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too. Otherwise, we’ll assemble groups to ride together based on the pace and bike type you sign up for.

Regardless of the option you choose:

After you ride, enjoy a campfire, hot food and hot drinks at a large cabin in the Blue Hills after your ride is over!

The fire and cabin will be hot and a hearty, tasty stew (along with hot drinks and biscuits) will still be served from 12:30pm on. All dietary requirements will be accommodated, please tell us in your registration what you can't/don't want to eat. 

What if you're a road rider or a non-riding partner/friend/etc? You can register too! Ride your bike on the road, then come join in the festivities at  the cabin. The idea is starting the New Year right, getting people together around a fire and getting to do the thing you enjoy doing too!!

The actual start time for each group will be determined after we see how many people are registered for each category. We can't have too many people at the cabin/fire at once, so we we'll stagger people and groups appropriately. Everyone will begin somewhere after 10am and before 11:15am.

$10 of each registration goes to NEMBA to help them do the great work they do all year! We're really fortunate to have trails created and maintained by NEMBA (if you're not yet a NEMBA member, we recommend becoming one)!

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm December 31, 2023 (the night before the ride) with route information and start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• On the Adventure Ride: Ride a new route never ridden before in an urban setting but with lots of neat dirt trails, back roads, and new areas to discover.

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your gravel, mtn or fat bike with plenty of dirt, cool trails on the first day of the year knowing there’s a warm cabin, hot fire, tasty food, hot drinks and friendly people all awaiting you at the end!

• 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 hot, hearty warm meal and treats at the end of the ride! Enjoy a warm cabin inside, enjoy a hot campfire outside! All diets are accommodated with the food offerings. Whatever you wish, enjoy the time together on your bike then enjoy the post ride togetherness and refuel with tasty, hot food and hot drinks!

• 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 early or 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 pleasant 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 5pm Sunday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding before the sun sets. We expect to be at the cabin with the fires going until 6pm.

Parking

There is a large parking lot that allows for all-day parking at no charge where we’ll be starting and ending at the Donovan school in Randolph. We’ll share exact directions with you to this lot. Should the lot fill up, there is free, all-day on-street parking in the neighborhood next to the lot.

Route & Route Notes

The routes will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Sunday evening prior to the ride.

Food & Water During the Ride

Our pre-ride email will include information on places to stop to refuel during the ride for those who chose the Mixed Terrain Adventure option if necessary. Bring enough food/water to get through the ride without needing to resupply.

After the Ride

We’re providing a hot, tasty stew, hot drinks and treats for after the ride at a cabin within the Blue Hills. The cabin is accessible via dirt road and easy-to-ride paths which will be detailed on your ride route.

From 12:30pm-6pm, the cabin will be warm with wood-buring stove, a campfire will be going outside, and you’re welcome to drop in if you need to warm up while out riding. There is a maximum number of riders we’re allowed to have outside the cabin at once, so we’ll stagger start times to keep everyone from showing up at the cabin at once.

What happens if the weather is terrible? The weather looks like it’ll be nice so this is probably uncessary to even think about!

There’s almost no stopping the cabin food, fires and community from happening! We’ll make a logical decision and email all who have registered if the weather presents a danger to participants to drive/ride to the cabin.

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.

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 electronically.

Proper bike & Equipment

For the Adventure Mixed Terrain Route: A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike or fat bike with 38mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike.

For the Mtn/Fat Blue Hills Route: 2.1” tires or wider.

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

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions (so these are not required for this ride but it’s still always nice to have at least a rear blinky for safety/being visible)

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets