Thanksgiving Day Morning Mixed Terrain Ride 2018

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride

• Date & Time: Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018 at 8:30am

• Distance: ~14 miles

• Pace: Moderate, we'll stay warm at this pace without working too hard

• RSC Cafe Open Hours on Thanksgiving: 7:30am - 9:00am

• Price: Free

Details:  The Thanksgiving morning mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists all over Lexington and beyond. We can almost guarantee you’ll be introduced to a few trails you haven’t ridden.  The ride takes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path. 

The ride departs at 8:30 am and returns no later than 11am; we ride based on time rather than distance. We have a designated RSC 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.

Route:  The route is available to attendees on the morning of the ride. The weather and trail conditions dictate the route. We do not ride on soft trails ever; we have rain trail-friendly routes prepared. 

Estimated time: ~2.5 hours

Ride Notes:  STUDDED TIRES ARE REQUIRED. The pace is a moderate 7-9mph on the trails, ~16mph on the back roads. We slow down for icy spots. Another way to say this is that it is difficult to hold a conversation. We ride together.  

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

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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

How do we decide if we’re having this mixed-terrain ride on Thanksgiving?

• Thunder storms:  If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm 30 minutes before the ride start, 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 30 minutes before the start of the ride, we'll cancel the ride. If it’s only threatening to rain, we ride.

  • If it’s misting or drizzling 30 minutes before 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 on Thanksgiving morning, 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; 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. The coldest ride started at 5 degrees. It was a blast!

• Ride leader: A RSC Super Domestique will be leading this ride.

The proper bike for this ride includes the following:

• 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 50% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.

Come by at least 15-minutes early so you can make any last minute bike adjustments or fuel up on something in the Cafe.  Ride Studio Cafe is open from 7:30am - 9:00am on Thanksgiving, November 22, 2018.

 

Thanksgiving Day Morning Road Rides 2018 - Canceled

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Road Ride

• Date & Time: Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 22, 2018 - NOW CANCELED - Frigid temps and ice on the roads is canceling this ride.

• Distances: 36-mile option & 48-mile option

• RSC Cafe Hours on Thanksgiving: 7:30am - 9:00am

• Price: Free

Mixed Terrain Option: If you have a gravel, cx, mountain, or fat bike, join us for the Mixed Terrain ride option instead! STUDDED TIRES ARE REQUIRED. This ride departs at 8:30am. See complete details.

Description: These are 100% paved rides, there are a few distance and speed options from which to choose! 

This is a great opportunity to have some fun on the road, meet other road riders, and burn the calories from the feast before the feast! 

We host safe, organized group rides. The advertised pace of the ride is what you can expect to average on the ride.

Ride Notes: We have Ride Studio Employees leading the ride and pointing out turns. They'll make sure the pace of the ride stays consistent, they manage the group, and offer safe, efficient riding techniques.

Speed and distance options:

• 16mph average, 36 miles total - Route

• 17-18mph average, 36 miles total - Route

• 17-18 mph average, 48 miles total - Route

Estimated time: Approximately 2.5 hours. The Studio will be unlocked for riders upon your return to RSC. 

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

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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:  RSC requires a signed waiver before your first ride. 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.

Come by at least 15-minutes early so you can make any last minute bike adjustments or fuel up on something in the Cafe.  Ride Studio Cafe is open from 7:30am - 9:00am on Thanksgiving, November 22, 2018.

RSC First Snow Ride

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride / Roads and snow-covered trails

• Date & Time: When the first snow hits!

• Distance: ~15 miles, condition-dependent

• Price: Free

• #rscfirstsnow

Last year, we had over 40 people come out for the first snow ride! This will be the fourth year we’ve hosted this winter kick-off super ride! Get ready now and stay tuned so you’re sure to make it to this ride and all that follow it!

Details: 

Route:  The route is available to attendees 15-minutes prior to roll-out.

Estimated time: ~2 hours

Ride Notes:  The pace is based on conditions. We don't ride too slowly because we'd get cold, we don't ride too fast because that wouldn't be safe with the snow. We will ride together or split into two groups with a leader for each group. No one gets dropped. Be sure to come prepared with the right bike & tires, and proper attire for the conditions and temperature. Read on below, there is a lot to this ride and how it works. Be sure to understand it to be able to participate in it! KEEP READING - lots more information is further down this page.

Last Minute Information: Watch Ride Studio Cafe's Twitter feed for last-minute updates, especially considering this is a last-minute ride. The only way to find out when this ride is happening is to watch our Twitter & Instagram feeds!

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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

----------------------------------

RSC First Snow Nitty Gritty Details

One of our favorite pastimes is riding in snowfall.  You can hear the snow crunching under your tires.  It’s such a quiet time; all sound is suppressed by the snowfall.  No one is out on the roads and trails.  The world feels primitive.

The moment of the first snowfall is THE time to ride. We are leading a ride when this first snow hits!

WATCH TWITTER to see the latest and get ready now so you can join in!!!

Riding in the snow is peaceful and primitive…just as this photo suggests.

We are ready.  Are you?

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more

Ride Synopsis

• We are leading a ride that begins here 60 minutes after the first snow of the season begins.

• We won’t be riding if the snow isn’t going to last for the duration of our ride. Keep reading to understand how you’ll know when the ride is a GO.

• The ride will be 90 minutes to 2 hours in length total. No more. The distance of the route will take into account how hard the snow is falling & how fast the ride will be.

• The route is mixed terrain. Expect to be on- and off-road, on trails and through woods.

• The pace of the ride will be high enough to keep everyone working hard. This way, everyone stays warm. This doesn’t mean we’ll be moving fast considering studded tires and winter setups aren’t exactly fast. The level of intensity will equate to how you’d feel if it were a nice day and you were riding 17-18mph on the road.

Here’s How We Plan for the First Snow

• Be flexible. We have no idea when it’s going to snow. It’s most common for snowfall to occur during the afternoon but it could be 2am or any other time. A mindset focused on the ride, rather than when the ride will occur, is helpful.

• Be ready. Have a Snow Essentials Duffel packed and with you at all times – we provide some content hints below. Have your bike ready to go.

• The Right Tires: Having studded tires is by far the best choice for the first snow. Since we’re very likely to have a few days’ notice prior to the snow, you can time your tire install fairly accurately. Once the first snow falls you may want to be riding studs for the rest of the winter anyway. If you need tires, give the Studio a heads up. We have a variety in stock and can special order anything you might want. We’re also happy to do the install for you.

• Headlight & Taillight: Whether we’re riding at 2pm or 2am, you have to have at least one headlight to join us. Snowfall makes it really difficult for drivers to see cyclists. A headlight and taillight will save you. Make sure you charge those lights a few days in advance. If you’re looking to upgrade your light system, check in with the Studio; we have the best winter light systems available.

Last year we were out riding at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon with 40+ riders. The year before that was an 8am Monday morning ride. The previous year, we were out riding at 3am. People came as far and wide as Jamaica Plain to join in the festivities!

Knowing When the Snowfall Ride Moment Arrives

We’re using Twitter and Instagram to keep people informed of when the ride moment is happening.  We’ll “Twinstagram” intermittently as the weather changes.  We’ll do our best to inform riders as the moment gets nearer.  The final Twinstagram will be 60-minutes before the ride begins.  That’s your klaxon to get your butt and bike over to the Studio for a very memorable ride.

If you don’t use either Instagram or Twitter, you’re going to have a challenging time joining us.  We will be posting some information on Facebook but we’re not using it as the go time alert. Watch the hashtag:

#rscfirstsnow

Tricks for Riding in the Snow

• Traction: Snow riding is all about traction. Four ways of maximizing traction are:

• Apply steady horsepower to the pedals.  This is a lot more difficult than it appears.  If you’re riding at 70 hp on a snowy trail, a change of 10%, or 7 hp, is a lot – and can be the different between maintaining your line and losing traction entirely.  Practice steady horsepower output.

• Keep your bike upright, even while turning.  The more you lean into a corner, the less traction you have.  Most tires have less tread and fewer studs toward the sides of the tire.  Don’t lean your bike too much.  Riding upright keeps you upright.

• Tire pressure:  Lower tire pressure provides better traction.  Of course, you want to balance this with the possibility of getting a flat.  We find that riding on an inch of snow is deceptive, in that you feel like the trail is really smooth, when in reality, all the obstacles are still there – and just as sharp – you just can’t see them, so your chance of getting a flat probably increases slightly.

• Tires and treads:  Studs are best.  Wider is better than narrower.  Treads are better than slicks.

• Be careful. This may seem obvious but we see this as a fundamental issue each season in the first snow. Taking a tumble in the ice and snow can be problematic; these falls are fast, unexpected, and hard. Ride conservatively and don’t worry about winning.

• No fenders: Snow time may seem like a great time to have fenders, but it’s not. Not only are fenders dangerous on mixed terrain – due to sticks and debris on the trail, it’s also likely that your fenders will get packed with snow and make your ride a lot tougher.

• Batteries die. Batteries don’t like the cold so they power down a lot more quickly than on an autumn day. Three hours of battery life can become one hour – or worse – in the cold months. Keep your electronics warm – in your jacket or jersey, not in your saddle bag – until you need them. This includes your phone, backup battery, spare light, and your Garmin – if you’re not the ride navigator.

Likely Weather Conditions

It can’t snow if it’s too cold so it’s likely to be somewhere between 28 and 36 degrees.  Also, you’re likely to get a bit wet as the snow melts on you; gear that leans toward rain protection can be useful.

Always Be Prepared:  Snow Essentials Duffel
Have your Snow Essentials Duffel in your car – if that’s your mode of work transport – so you’re always ready to roll.  In that bag, we recommend:

• All the clothing you typically use for 30-40 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions. If you forget to put your bibs in your Snow Essentials Kit, we have no sympathy!

• Headlight 100% charged and ready for 2.5 hours of use. Ideally, two headlights – one on your bars and one on your helmet.

• Taillight batteries in good condition.

• Winter shoes or your autumn shoes with overshoes.

• Long thick wool socks

• Helmet – with light mount ready to go.

• Long finger gloves, possibly with liners.

• Three season cap that covers your ears. A brim will be appreciated – it can help keep the snow out of your eyes.

• Neck gator

• Protective glasses if that’s your kind of thing for riding in a snowstorm.

• High-vis vest if you like to be visible. If there’s ever a time to increase your visibility, it’s during a snowstorm; drivers have a really difficult time seeing cyclists through snowfall.

• Towel to dry off after the ride. The Studio has towels, too, but a big towel that travels with you can be nice!

For the Diehard Riders That Are 100% Committed

• Drop off your Snow Essentials Duffel and your winterized bike at the Studio within two days of the expected snow date. That will make it easier if you’re coming from work. Make sure you have some kind of obvious name tag on your bag and bike so we don’t recycle them by accident. We’re always tight for space at the Studio so only drop off your gear if you’re 100% certain you’ll be riding with us.

The Studio Is Here To Help

We have just about anything you could need for winter riding, including:

• Winter Bikes. There are considerations to be made where it comes to the bike you ride in the winter. We have bikes that are great all year, but are extra special for winter riding. Check out the Honey BiFrost bike: summer mountain bike, winter fat bike. Titanium is a perfect frame material for a bike that’s going to see the salt and harsh conditions of winter. A winterized bike is also important. For example, if snow is allowed into the brake housing, your brakes will likely freeze up. We can winterize your bike to keep your rolling.

• Lots of studded tire options. And the tubes needed for each tire size. We can help determine the ideal tire size for your bike and guarantee what will fit and what won’t. Not all studded tires are created equal. We can help determine the right price point for your riding needs.

• Studded tire installation help. Studded tires are often the toughest type of tire to install because they’re thicker, stiffer, and sometimes are steel beaded. We’re happy to help.

• Lights: We have the toughest winter lights available. We’ll help you determine optimal number of lumens for your needs. We’ll help you determine where the best mounting spot is on your bike or body. The best kind of taillight for visibility and longevity. So many options – all with different strengths and weaknesses.

• Gloves: We have everything from lightweight full fingers to deep winter 45Nrth gloves and liners. Come by and try the array or models and sizes to determine the ideal setup for your type of riding. We can help with determining which are best for wet weather, for glove liners, or for the coldest days. Lots of glove options for lots of kinds of riding.

• Winter Shoes: We’ve got 45NRTH Wolvhammers in stock and if you’re a fat biker or just like to ride all winter on the coldest days, we’ll get you the Wolfgar boots. We’ll help you find the right size, and install cleats on your new boots, too.

• All winter clothing, including deep winter tights and a range of jackets for all conditions.

We hope to see you in the first snow!

#rscfirstsnow

Come by at least 15-minutes early so you can make any last minute bike adjustments or fuel up on something in the Cafe. 

 

Mach One Ride

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Road Ride

• Updated Time: 8:55am Sunday Mornings Weekly, year round

• Distance: ~35 miles

• Price: Free

Description: This is our fastest ride. This is the same route as the Coffee Ride but at a much faster pace. Where the Coffee ride is a community ride, this is too fast to do much socializing while riding. If you'd like to get to know the RSC riding community, we recommend starting with our Coffee Ride, it is the best place to begin riding with us. If you want to ride faster than 19mph, please DO NOT join in on the Coffee ride, but do this ride instead.

We expect all riders to be very proficient road bike riders prior to joining in this ride. You must be capable of maintaining the pace without digging too deep as that leads to unsafe situations. We will allow no more than 10 people in each group. We split up into groups so there aren't too many people in each one. Your safety is our primary goal that guides how we break up groups and set ride expectations.

Route:  RideWithGPS

Mach One defining characteristics:

• Fast: RSC's fastest ride. Typically 22+ mph

• Steady pace – think "locomotive" rather than "jack rabbit."

• Drop – meaning if you can't keep up with the group or have a mechanical you'll have to find your way back to RSC alone. Note that groups of slower paces will be coming along behind this ride so if you stay on the route, you may join one of the next groups when they come by.

Ride Notes: When you arrive at the Studio (please arrive before 8:50am), you’ll have to fill out the Mach One signup form in order to ride. You also need to pick up a Blue Card to opt into this group. You’ll need to sign up each time you do this ride. By adding your name to the list you agree to ride safely and smartly, including:

• I will obey all traffic laws. Including full stops at stop signs, riding to the right of the road, and ensuring that we all follow the rules that good riders do.

• I will ride at a steady hard pace. This includes avoiding quick changes in speed including sprinting, riding erratically, jumping from the group, and cutting corners. We ride hard when it's easy and easy when it's hard.

• I will treat pedestrians and cars with respect.

• I will ride safely and with self awareness in this group.

Your email address will be used for communications about this ride only. We will not share your email with anyone.

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

Estimated time: 2-2.5 hours

Contact Information: Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - 339-970-0187

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: RSC 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, clipless pedals, drop handlebars, no aero bars.

Tour of Seven Cycles

• Location: Seven Cycles, 125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA

• Event Type: Tour

• Date & Time: Friday, August 17 at 11:30 am

• Reason for Tour: See how Seven Cycles builds great, custom bikes efficiently, yet perfectly, for each rider

• Price: Free

Description:  

Seven Cycles is located just down the street from us in Watertown. Seven is a company full of bike building professionals. This is the place where custom bikes come to life and many new innovations in bike building have been developed over the years.

Seven has been making the finest bikes for over 20 years and their experience shines as they work. It’s manufacturing at its best: handcrafted bikes are very carefully and perfectly built one at a time, yet the short lead times show efficiency, and a well-run business full of highly-skilled people who are passionate about what they do.

Feel free to arrive 10 to 20 minutes early to check out their showroom prior to the tour. Please register 24-hours in advance of the tour you'd like to join in on. Please wear close-toed shoes, this tour includes our machine shop and it's a safety requirement. An email will be sent to you with details and directions after you register. We hope you join us!

Last Minute Information: We will email all attendees with last-minute information if anything changes from what we have published here. Please be sure to RSVP below! 

Questions? Please include them in the RSVP form below or email connect@rideheadquarters.com and we'll get back to you. 

 

 

 

Please RSVP 24-hours in advance of the tour you'd like to attend

Sunday Paceline Ride

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
• Ride Type:  Road Ride
• Date & Time: Sundays, 8:45am, Weekly Spring and Summer
• Distance: 40-50 miles  
• Price:  Free

Description: The Sunday Paceline ride starts promptly at 8:45am. Come 15 to 20 minutes before departure time so you can make any last minute adjustments, grab fresh water, a Cafe drink, or use the facilities. This ride is for people who are comfortable and proficient riding properly equipped road bikes and who are interested in riding with a group, riding at a sustained 17-18mph pace, and riding in a paceline. If you are capable of this pace, but unsure of riding in a paceline, come out to learn how to ride in a paceline and hone this skill.  

Route is 42 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27624582

Ride Notes: We are capping the rider limit at 6 for the first few rides. If interest grows, we'll create more groups and expand the limit. The first 6 riders to arrive at RSC expressing interest in this ride may participate. Please jump into the Coffee ride at 9am if you come out for this and the ride is already full. 

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

Estimated time: Approximately 2.3 hours for a typical paceline ride. Possibly a bit more if the ride stops for instruction. 

Contact Information: Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - 339-970-0187

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: RSC 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, clipless pedals, drop handlebars,  no aero bars.

Thursday Mixed Terrain Night Ride

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride

• Date & Time: Weekly Thursday evenings 7:00pm departure

• Distance: ~15 miles typically for a 9pm return

• Price: Free

Details:  The Thursday evening mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists all over Lexington and beyond. The ride follows paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path. 

Watch the embedded YouTube video, below if you need any motivation to come out. It’s fun in a new way to ride at night!

The ride departs at 7:00pm and returns at 9:00pm; we ride based on time rather than distance. We have a designated RSC Super Domestique leading the ride and pointing out turns. We sometimes have a sweep rider for this ride and riders who fall off of the pace will need to be comfortable navigating back to the start. It's not fast, but it's also not a no-drop. The group will wait for mechanicals. 

You need to have had experience riding single track with somewhat technical features (roots, rocks and bridges and climbing) during the day before participating in this ride at night. We advise coming out to our Sunday morning 9:30am mixed terrain ride first, prior to attending this ride if you're new to mixed terrain or night riding.

Lights Required: You also must bring a front light of 500 lumens or more that will last 2 hours on one charge, a helmet light is advised though not required, and a rear light that can stay on steady without blinding riders behind you. More equipment requirements are listed further down on this page. 

Route:  The route is available to attendees the evening of the ride. The weather and trail conditions dictate the route. We do not ride on soft trails ever; we have rain trail-friendly routes prepared. 

Estimated time: 1 hour, 45 minutes-ish

Ride Notes:  The pace is a moderate 8-9mph on the trails, ~16mph on the back roads. Another way to say this is that it is difficult to hold a conversation, but is not fast. We ride together.  

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

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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

How do we decide if we’re having the mixed-terrain ride each week?

• Thunder storms:  If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm at the rollout 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 1 hour prior to the ride we cancel the ride. If it’s only threatening to rain, we ride.

  • If it’s misting or drizzling 1 hour prior to the ride and 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 on Thursday evening, 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 Thursday; 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. The coldest ride started at 5 degrees. It was a blast!

• Ride leader: A couple times a year we don’t 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!

The proper bike for this ride includes the following:

• 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 50% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.

Come by at least 15-minutes early so you can make any last minute bike adjustments. We will have the Studio open 15 minutes before and sometimes after the ride. 

RSC - Saturday Morning Mixed Terrain 2018

• Location:  Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride
• Date & Time:  Saturdays at 9:30am
• Distance:  ~15-18 miles typically
• Price:  Free

Details:  The Saturday morning mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists all over Lexington and beyond. The ride takes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path.

The route for this ride is different from our regular Sunday morning Mixed Terrain rides.

The ride departs at 9:30 am and returns no later than 12:00 noon; we ride based on time rather than distance. We have a designated RSC 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.

Route:  The route is available to attendees on the morning of the ride. The weather and trail conditions dictate the route. We do not ride on soft trails ever; we have rain trail-friendly routes prepared. 

Estimated time: ~2 hours

Ride Notes:  The pace is a moderate 8-9mph on the trails, ~16mph on the back roads. Another way to say this is that it is difficult to hold a conversation. We ride together.  

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

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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

How do we decide if we’re having the mixed-terrain ride each week?

• Thunder storms:  If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm at 9:30 am, 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 9:30 we cancel the ride.  If it’s only threatening to rain, we ride.
  • If it’s misting or drizzling at 9:30, 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 in the morning, 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 Sunday; 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.  The coldest Sunday ride started at 5 degrees.  It was a blast!
• Ride leader:  A couple times a year we don’t 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 at 9:30 without a ride leader, you are more than welcome to!

The proper bike for this ride includes the following:

• 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 50% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.

Come by at least 15-minutes early so you can make any last minute bike adjustments or fuel up on something in the Cafe.  Ride Studio Cafe opens at 8am on Sundays.

 

Saturday Horizon Chasers 2018

• Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

• Ride Type: Road Ride

• Date & Time: Every Saturday at 8:45 am. Ridden from April 14 through the end of October (possibly later) 2018.

• Distance: 61 Miles; varies with the season and weather

• Price: Free

May 10 Update: Note the NEW route for this ride. We head down to Needham and Volante Farms, then west to Sherborn. Want to meet us at Volante Farms? Get there by 9:50am and you'll get to do the ride! We'll see you near the ice cream outside window - the group will roll up between 9:55 and 10:05am. DO NOT park your car at Volante, please. 

Description:  The Horizon Chasers is the Studio's longest weekly ride.  The average pace is 16-17 mph depending on the time of year and the weather.  We're riding for endurance, not speed.  It's a steady pace with a food stop about midway on the ride. If enough people show, we can split into two groups with a faster (17-18mph) pace for the first group. 

Proper Bike for this ride:  23-28c road slick tires, clipless pedals, drop handlebars; no aero bars. 

Route: The route takes riders to Ride Headquarters to enjoy hot coffee, fresh water, cold drinks in the fridge, ice cream in the freezer, a few moments of rest before returning to Ride Studio. RideWithGPS link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27470897

There is an ADDITIONAL ride option for all interested: each Saturday, Ride Headquarters is hosting a 36-mile ride starting at 11am. The way timing works out, if you want to ride down with Ride Studio, then join on the Ride Headquarters ride, then return at the end of this ride, you are welcome to do this. That's one great way to get a really long ride in one day and have it all include nice people on fun group rides! 

Ride Notes:  All paved. Food stop is at mile 32, Ride Headquarters. 

Estimated time:  About 3-5 hours depending on the time or year and the weather.

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

Contact Information:  Email - connect@ridestudiocafe.com, Phone - (339) 970-0187

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