Tandem Ride and Social

• Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Event Type:  Road Tandem Ride & Social Gathering
• Date & Time:  Saturday, May 6, rollout at 9:15am 
• Reason for Gathering:  Ride your tandem bike with other tandem bike riders. Enjoy time together on the bike and off!
• Price:  Free for the ride + $40 per person for social afterward - RSVP (below) is required

Details: We are offering a Tandem ride of 40 miles. After returning from the ride, enjoy social time together over brunch with your tandeming friends! There is a lot of room for parking, bike parking, and mingling here. The social gathering/brunch will be hosted at a local establishment near Ride HQ.

Routes:  Ride Headquarters and Ride Studio Cafe are collaborating on this event. The route will be shared with all who register prior to May 6. 

Estimated Time: Arrive as early as you like on Saturday, May 6.  We open at 8am. Riders will rollout at 9:15am. Once riders return, feel free to get changed here, then convene at brunch around 1pm for relaxation, food, and lots of social time. 

Ride Notes:  All of the details of the rides will be shared with those who register. 

Last Minute Information:  Ride Headquarters will email all registered attendees with any last-minute information. 

Contact Information:  Email connect@rideheadquarters.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:  RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.

Proper Bike for This Ride:  Tandem road bike. This is a ride for tandems only. 

Tell us of your interest in participating in the Massachusetts Tandem Rally at Ride Headquarters!

We will email all who RSVP here with full details of the day's logistics, details of food, and payment information for the social component of the day. Please be sure to RSVP by Thursday, May 4. 

Digression Ride 2017

• Location:  Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride
• Date & Time:  Saturday, 29 April 2017.  First groups roll out around 8:30 am
• Distance:  23 miles and 45 miles
• Price:  $25.  100% of entry fee goes to cycling conservation groups

This is an Overland Base Camp event.  Ride Headquarters is the host.  

Visit the Overland Base Camp Digression Ride page for complete details.

Description:  Overland Base Camp's most primordial ride -- because of the hidden paths, abandoned routes, and primitive trails.

Routes:  Two Options

1. About 23 miles of pavement, gravel, dirt, and rocks.  About half of the ride is unpaved.  Some singletrack, too.  We expect the ride to take between 2.5 to 4 hours.  See the "Pacing Description" table on the OBC site for details.
2. About 45 miles of the same terrain as the longer ride.  We expect this ride to take between 3.5 to 6 hours.  See the "Pacing Description" table on the OBC for details.

Ride Notes: We have a designated Ride Headquarters 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.

Estimated time:  See route details above.

Last Minute Information:  Watch Overland Base Camp's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. 

Overland Base Camp Contact Information:  Email OBC or call:  (617) 991-0640.

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:  RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.

Proper Bike for This Ride:  

• 32c knobby tires, minimum size.  If you don’t have 32c or wider, you’ll be riding alone after you get a flat.
• Clipless pedals:  This ride isn't for everyone; we ride at a fair pace and aren't stopping a lot.
• Spare tube or two – with all the tools required to fix a flat – or two.
• Basic tool kit:  Self sufficiency is the phrase of the day.  The group will wait for you if you have a mechanical – in fact we’ll even help – but you don’t want people waiting trail-side too long on a chilly morning.
• We do not recommend fenders since sticks and twigs can get caught in them.

Fix-a-Flat Clinic

• Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA

• Event Type: Clinic

• Date & Time: Thursday, 27 April 2017, 7:00-8:00pm

• Reason for Clinic: Learn to fix a flat tire.

• Price: $15/MassBike Members, $20/Non-Members

Fixing a flat on a group ride. Photo by Ted M.

Description: We are collaborating with MassBike to bring you a series of training sessions and clinics. In this clinic, learn to fix a flat. This is a hand's-on session so you'll leave being proficient at not just fixing a flat on your bike, but knowing the tricks to helping with other flats you might encounter in your riding. Bring a wheel from one of your bikes so as to have practice on your equipment.  

Registration in advance is required to attend. Find out complete information on the Registration Page. 

MassBike members get a discount - sign up to be a MassBike member NOW! 

Last Minute Information: We will email all who have enrolled with any last-minute changes. 

Questions?  Email connect@rideheadquarters.com. 

Thursday Evening Nitro Road Ride - Moderate pace

• Location:  Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Road Ride, Fast
• Date & Time:  6:30pm Thursdays Weekly running through August 17, 2017
• Distance:  27 Miles
• Price:  Free

Details:  This is a moderately-paced, evening ride starting at Ride Headquarters in Sherborn. Be confident of your riding ability when joining this ride. This is a no-drop ride as long as you're up for the advertised pace. The group waits on flats/mechanicals.

Route:  The route is on RideWithGPS.com: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20102371

Estimated time: ~1.5 hours

Ride Notes:  The pace of the ride is 17-18mph.  Front and rear lights are required. 

Note: the pace of this ride has been reduced since its inception. 

Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Headquarters' Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations, or other changes. 

Contact Information:  Email connect@rideheadquarters.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:  RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.

Proper Bike for this ride:  

• 23-28c road slick tires
• Bike must be equipped with a white front and red non-blinking/non-blinding rear light.
• Clipless pedals & shoes
• Drop handlebars; no aero bars
• Tool kit and a proper spare tube or two
• A bike that’s in safe working order

Formidable Ride - Pave & Terra

• Location: Lexington & Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Dirt roads, pavement, and mixed terrain
• Date & Time:  Saturday 14 October 2017
• Distance:  ~160 miles road, ~100 miles road, ~120 miles dirt options 
• Price:  $100 before August 31. $145 from September 1 - October 13.

Description:  The Formidable is the toughest road ride in Massachusetts. 

Route:  The routes will be provided by OBC just before the ride to registered riders.

Ride Notes:  We'll update this when the ride date draws nearer.

Estimated time:  Allow the full day for this great ride. 

Last Minute Information:  Watch Overland Base Camp's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. 

Overland Base Camp Contact Information:  Email OBC or call:  (617) 991-0640.

Proper Bike for This Ride:  

• If you're doing the Formidable Terra: A bike with knobby tires 32c or wider. 40c is ideal.
• If you're doing the Formidable Pave: A bike with 23c-28c slick tires. 

For either ride option: 

• Clipless pedals:  This ride isn't for everyone; we ride at a fair pace and aren't stopping a lot.
• Spare tube or two – with all the tools required to fix a flat – or two.
• Basic tool kit:  Self-sufficiency is the phrase of the day. 
• Fenders may be appropriate, depending on the weather.

Full Moon Over Sherborn 2017

• Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain
• Time & Date: Departs Every Full Moon, varying start times
• Distance: ~15 miles  
• Price:  Free

Description: The Full Moon ride takes cyclists all over the trails of Sherborn and beyond. The route includes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path.

The calendar of Full Moon rides and start times is: 

**IMPORTANT** November 4 Note: Prior to the Full Moon ride is a Winter Riding Clinic. Come early to participate in the clinic, join in the raffle (over $1,000 worth of winter goodies), then we're rolling out at 6:45!

Route:  The route is available to attendees the evening of the ride at Ride Headquarters.

Ride Notes: We have a designated Ride Headquarters 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. 

Last Minute Information: Watch our Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. 

Estimated time: ~1.5 hours

Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 508-975-4678

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: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride. 

Proper Bike for this ride:  

• 32c knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nice, too. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set.
• 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.
• A bike that’s in safe working order.  We don’t stop for preventable mechanical issues.
• Higher tire pressure than you’d ride on a cyclocross ride.  We recommend about 80% to 90% of maximum rated tire pressure, for two reasons:

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

• Second, on average, about 30% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.

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

•  How do we decide if we’re having the Full Moon ride?
• Thunder storms:  If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm at the ride start time, we don’t ride.  It is not safe to get caught out in a thunder storm.
• Rain or sleet:  There are a few variants of this.  We don’t ride sensitive trails when they’re wet; this can cause damage that’s not repairable.  Fortunately, we have some rain-friendly routes that don’t damage sensitive trails.
  • If it’s raining at the start of the ride we probably cancel the ride.  If it’s only threatening rain, we ride.
  • If it’s misting or drizzling at the start of the ride, with less than 50% chance of rain in the coming hour, we ride.
  • If it’s been raining a lot for a couple days, but not raining the night before, we ride.  Our rain-friendly routes avoid sensitive trails.  Of course, every few years there’s such a bad storm that we won’t ride on a Saturday; we take the force majeure very seriously.
• 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 studded tires 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.
• Ride leader:  A couple times a year we might not have a designated ride leader.  It’s not fair for us to send you out without someone to help guide.  Of course, if you want to ride without a ride leader, you are more than welcome to!

If you'd like us to do any work on your bike prior to the ride, please email us the day before so we're ready to do the work as soon as you come in; we want you to be ready to roll before 9am.

The NoFlake Ride - April 15

NoFlake Ride - April 15

• Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Road Ride
• Time & Date: Saturday, 15 April 2017. Rolling out at 9:00am. Breakfast begins at 8:00am and ends at 8:45am. Food is also served upon your return. 
• Distance: ~62 miles - paved road
• Price:  Free

RSVP Now!

Description: This is a 100% paved ride.

Note: we'd mentioned that we would offer a mixed-terrain option if the trails were dry enough, and some trails are a bit too soft still to ride, so we aren't taking chances.

It's spring and this is a great opportunity to get back on the road, meet other road riders, and enjoy good time in the saddle! 

Route:  The route is available to attendees via .tcx and .gpx files the morning of the ride at Ride Headquarters; we'll help load your Garmin. All RSVPers will receive the route via email Friday evening before the ride. 

Ride Notes: We have Ride Headquarters Super Domestiques leading the ride and pointing out turns. There will be two speed groups: 15-16mph average and 17-18mph average.  

If you and your self-organized team or group would like to roll together, let us know and we'll give you a separate roll-out time. 

Estimated time: A little less than 2 hours for the 30-mile ride, 3 hours for the 45-mile ride. 

Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Headquarter's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. We will also email all who RSVP with last-minute details. 

Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 508-975-4678

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: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride. 

Proper Bike for this ride:  

• Road bike with 23-28c tires. Weather conditions will change the ideal bike type. 
• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. 
• A bike that’s in safe working order.  
• Fenders if it's wet on the road.
• No aerobars. 

If you'd like us to do any work on your bike prior to the ride, please email us the day before so we're ready to do the work as soon as you come in; we want you to be ready to roll before

Ride Incentives

Get your butt out and ride with us!  We’ll make it worth your time. 

o Special Offer:  Ride HQ special offer for participants of this ride only:  you'll receive a voucher at the ride that is appropriate for road riding at this time of year! 

o Burning Snowflake Credit Voucher:  You’ll get two credits for the Burning Snowflake Ride.  

o Food:  Full breakfast and lunch with hot foods and hot drinks - caffeinated and non.

o Learn and connect: New roads, and new riding friends:  We hope you’ll discover new roads on one of the routes we’re offering.  We promise you’ll meet unfamiliar riders, too.

o Get a jump on the season.  Be the envy of your cycling friends when you’ve already got some good miles in this early in the year!

SunFlake Ride - April 8

• Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
• Ride Type:  Road Ride
• Time & Date: Saturday, 8 April 2017. Rolling out at 9:30am. Breakfast begins at 8:15am and ends at 9:15am. Food is also served upon your return. 
• Distance: 30 miles & 45 miles paved roads
• Price:  Free

Description: This is a 100% paved ride. There are 30-mile and a 45-mile route options and various speeds. It's spring and this is a great opportunity to get back on the road, meet other road riders, and enjoy good time in the saddle! 

Route:  The routes are available to attendees via .tcx and .gpx files the morning of the ride at Ride Headquarters; we'll help load your Garmin. All RSVPers will receive the routes via email Friday before the ride. 

Ride Notes: We have Ride Headquarters Super Domestiques leading the ride and pointing out turns. There will be two speed groups: 15-16mph average and 17-18mph average. 

If you and your self-organized team or group would like to roll together, let us know and we'll give you a separate roll-out time. 

Estimated time: A little less than 2 hours for the 30-mile ride, 3 hours for the 45-mile ride. 

Please RSVP Now!

Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Headquarter's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes. We will also email all who RSVP with last-minute details. 

Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 508-975-4678

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: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride. 

Proper Bike for this ride:  

• Road bike with 23-28c tires. Weather conditions will change the ideal bike type. 
• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. 
• A bike that’s in safe working order.  
• Fenders if it's wet on the road.
• No aerobars. 

If you'd like us to do any work on your bike prior to the ride, please email us the day before so we're ready to do the work as soon as you come in; we want you to be ready to roll before

Ride Incentives

Get your butt out and ride with us!  We’ll make it worth your time. 

o Special Offer:  Ride HQ special offer for participants of this ride only:  you'll receive a voucher at the ride that is appropriate for road riding at this time of year! 

o Burning Snowflake Credit Voucher:  You’ll get one or two credits for the Burning Snowflake Ride – depending on which route you do.  You’ll get a lot more credits depending on the weather conditions.  See above for details about the value of credits and how to rack them up fast.

o Food:  Full breakfast and lunch with hot foods and hot drinks - caffeinated and non.

o Learn and connect: New roads, and new riding friends:  We hope you’ll discover new roads on one of the routes we’re offering.  We promise you’ll meet unfamiliar riders, too.

o Get a jump on the season.  Be the envy of your cycling friends when you’ve already got some good miles in this early in the year!

Spring Classics Series 2017

• Location: Each stage has various start locations
• Ride Type:  Road Ride Series
• Time & Date: Starts March 17, 2017 and runs for 6 weeks, ends with a series wrap-up party on April 28
• Distance: Various, depending upon the stage's requirements  
• Price:  Free

Description: Starting this March, Ride Headquarters is hosting the Spring Classics Series, an event designed to inspire and challenge. Prizes totaling over $7,000 in value will be given out to participants!

Route:  Each stage involves something different. The first, fifth, and sixth stages are routes of your choosing. We provide the route for the other stages. 

Ride Notes: This challenge is meant to be fun while testing yourself. Each stage has a time period during which it may be ridden. Riding with others is allowed and encouraged. Further ride rules are posted on the Spring Classics Ride Page.

Last Minute Information: We will email all registered participants any last-minute updates. 

Estimated time: Each stage is different, see the details of this series on the Spring Classics Page.

Contact Information: Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - 413-461-7433

Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride. 

Proper Bike for this series:  23-28c road slick tires, clipless pedals, drop handlebars, no aerobars.