Saturday North Shore Mixed Terrain Adventure Ride

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

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

• Date & Time: 9am, Saturday, June 1

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

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

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

Details

This mixed-terrain ride takes cyclists on a wide variety of dirt trails on the North Shore including Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Essex, and Hamilton.

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

Pace

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

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. If you can maintain a 15-16mph average pace on the road (on a road bike) for 3+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride. This ride’s pace will be much less than 15mph (probably more like 8-9mph) since the dirt sections are not as fast.

The Super Domestique led group will go the full 80-mile distance. Riders who want to go shorter will be with the group for most of the day. This is a rain or shine ride as long as there is no perceived trail damage once we get out there, it is an area that drains really well. If trails could be damaged by tire tracks, then we’ll shift to the road or shorten the route as appropriate and logical.

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

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

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

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

Parking

Gordon College

Use this address: 255 Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MA 01984

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

Route

The route and more specific directions for parking will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

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

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

After the Ride

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

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

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.

Contact Information

Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride up until 10pm the night before the ride.

CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.

Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• 38mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride. Most people will be on 40mm tires or a little wider.

• 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.  

• 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.

Horizon Chasers, Rain Avoiders Road Ride

• Location: Start and end near Twisted Tree Cafe in Lincoln (parking & actual start in the Lincoln MBTA train parking lot)

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement except a 1 mile dirt road stretch which we can avoid if it’s wet

• Date & Time:  Saturday, May 31, 11am start

• Distance:  58 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 road ride takes riders through Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Medfield, Millis, Sherborn, Natick and back to Lincoln. Most of the roads are very low traffic and offer fun flow for road cycling.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~16-17 mph pace. It’s going to be peppy, it’s almost June! We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.

If you want to ride slower than the Super Domestique for the distance, please email us. We usually have people looking for paces under 16 mph, but we need to know who you are and what your pace is so as to find others to fill this group.

Parking

Lincoln MBTA lot: 160 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773

Look for the big, red van in this lot! The van will be there by 9:45am.

This is lot is around the corner from the Twisted Tree Cafe so feel free visit there before the ride starts for coffee or food! Please DO NOT park in front of Twisted Tree, this is for their customers who are coming/going throughout the day.

Distance

The ride is 59 miles in length.

Route

The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36915697

All riders should load the ride on a GPS computer so everyone knows where we’re going and it makes splitting into groups easier.

Start Time & Estimated Ride Time

The ride starts at 11:00am, just after we do a safety talk. Please be ready to ride at 10:55am and at the big, red van.

~3-4 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food stop. Since we’re starting later in the day, and we need to learn efficiency, expect this will be quicker than usual.

Route Notes

There is a 1-mile stretch of dirt road in Lincoln. It’s a lovely part of the route.

Food/water/bathrooms

This route incorporates a food/water stop at mile 30, Tangerini Farm where we expect to be able to refill and have a restroom of some sort (could be porta-john).

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy food/drink/social time at Twisted Tree is encouraged to do so!

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

Our insurance 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 ever, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.

Proper bike & Equipment

• Bring your road bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group. A gravel bike is acceptable.

• If the roads wet/messy, please mount a rear full-coverage fender. If you don’t have one, expect to ride at the back!

• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding.

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

• Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

Live Free and Ride Gravel Sunday, April 27

Details

• Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads

• Time & Date: Sunday, April 27 - 9am start time

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

• Distance: 65 miles / 105 km (it’s possible to cut the route short)

• Price: Free

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

Description

This is a gorgeous, well-planned gravel route. It’s got a bit of everything (though averages out at smoother), all appropriate for gravel bikes and tires. Some people are doing the ride as a training ride so they’ll be on loaded fat bikes.

You’re welcome to ride whatever bike you want as long as your bike meets the minimum tire size (details further below) and you have tools/tubes in case of a mechanical.

You’ll have co-adventurers, you’re not out there alone. Send an email if you’re unsure of your pace and who else is coming out.

Start Location & Time

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

• Rolling out just after the safety talk and splitting people into groups at 9am

Route Information

Here is some general information about the route:

• Distance: ~65 miles

• We will share the route and ride details no later than 5pm Saturday, the day before the ride, to all who RSVP before then. If you RSVP after this time, you’ll receive the route before 10pm the night before the ride.

• The route was last ridden in November so there’s a chance a road is closed or a trail is closed or conditions have changed since then. This route is not that likely to present big navigation challenges given its location and the roads/trails we’re taking.

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

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

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

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

• We’ll send an email by 5pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

Waiver

If you haven’t signed the waiver in 2025 yet, please do it now. If we find out you haven’t filled out a waiver at the start, it will not be possible to ride with the group.

https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-waiver

Riding Rules

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

Preparation

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

• Be sure to bring anything else you might need taking into account the weather, your personal circumstances, your health, etc. 

  • You will want to come prepared with extra food, water, and fitness for the distance. The route file will show where food/water stops are located. These aren’t fancy (think: Dunkin Doughnuts/gas station).

After the Ride

• Bring a change of clothes and food to enjoy for the drive home. There aren’t a lot of food/drink options in this area.

Proper Bike for this Ride

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

• Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. Mountain bike pedals/shoes are appropriate; road pedals/shoes should not be used.

• A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. A bike that makes any unusual noises - from a squeaky chain to any kind of other noise should not be ridden prior to being evaluated and fixed by a professional mechanic.

Contact Information and How to Get Your Questions Answered

Email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with any questions. Call 413-461-7433 the day of the ride to speak with the organizer on route. Please contact us via email prior to the day of the ride for all matters otherwise.

RSVP NOW!

Saturday Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end at Arlington Reservoir

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

• Date & Time:  Saturday, April 19, 9am start

• Distance:  42 miles

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

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

Details

This mixed-terrain ride leads cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and trails for a total of 42 miles. The route heads a little north touching the outskirts of Lexington (should not cross over the running race or any of the 250th celebration stuff), then heads east for lots of adventure!

The route is mixed terrain so any gravel bike with 38mm tires or bigger are suited for the terrain. Bigger tires and bikes are fine as long as you feel comfortable keeping up with the group.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart.

Pace: endurance zone 2-3 for most cyclists - if you can average 15/16mph on a road bike on a paved road for 4+ hours, you’ll be fit enough for this ride. The pace on a mixed terrain ride is much slower than a road ride so expect the ride to take ~5 hours to complete, possibly more.

We’re likely to have 2-3 paces of riders coming out so we’ll split into groups with the “endurance” group containing a Super Domestique and the other riders going ahead after these groups have been officially formed by the Super Domestique.

Distance

The ride is 42 miles in length.

Parking

Arlington Reservoir: 210 Lowell St, Arlington, MA 02474

Route

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

Estimated Ride Time

~5+ hours

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout.

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news.

Contact Information

Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.

CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.

Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• 38mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. Gravel bikes are best suited for most of the terrain. Do NOT ride road tires since you’ll be flatting out there.

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

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

• High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.  We recommend about 80% of maximum rated tire pressure. Sometimes this is much too high, ask us if you’re not sure where to set your tire pressure. We like you to have more than enough air for these reasons:

  • We want to minimize flats on the ride; waiting for someone to change flats is not why we ride.  We typically see zero flats on our ride.  One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.

  • You can easily take it out, much harder to add it in.

• Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

Friday Evening Mixed Terrain

• Location: Mighty Squirrel, Waltham, MA

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

• Date & Time:  Friday, March 28 4pm start time, done by 6pm

• Distance:  2 hours of riding, ~15 miles-ish

• 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 & Pace

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 38mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. Faster riders are always welcome to go ahead, we discuss how we manage this before the ride starts.

There will be rocks, roots, boardwalks, road crossings, and short sections of road to ride.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the main group. New-to-mixed terrain riders should try our weekend rides first prior to coming out to this ride.

It doesn’t mean much to talk about the average pace of a mixed terrain ride since it sounds a lot slower than it really is. We keep moving at an endurance pace.

Distance

~15 miles

Parking

Address for your GPS: 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452

Pin of the exact spot to park in the lot - it’s not next to the Mighty Squirrel since that’s for customers: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7EWmn2YTh66Nj2Xj6

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP.

Please download the route on your GPS device, it makes it easier for everyone to know which turn is coming next.

Start time, Estimated Ride Time

Start: 4pm, be ready to roll by 3:55pm

Ride time: Expect this to take a full 2 hours.

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. There are roots, a few boardwalks, etc to navigate. If you’re concerned about your ability to ride mixed terrain, do one of our weekend rides first.

After the Ride

Some riders will enjoy hanging out and enjoying food/drink at the Mighty Squirrel. It’s a Friday night so it’ll be hopping there. Invite your family to come join you post-ride!

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

• 38mm 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 be gravel bikes.

• Lights, front and rear. Bring both front and rear lights to be seen - this ride is early enough that lights shouldn’t be necessary, it’s always a nice idea to have them.

• Concerning Rear Lights: A super bright and/or flashing rear light will blind the person riding behind you and it actually hurts that person’s eyes and can make it hard for that person to see. Please look into your rear light. If it burns your eyes, get a “group ride friendly” light such as the Super Flash ($25) - it has a steady mode and isn’t too bright.

• 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.

• 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.

Horizon Chasers Road Ride

• Location: Start and end near Twisted Tree Cafe in Lincoln (parking & actual start in the Lincoln MBTA train parking lot)

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement except a 1 mile dirt road stretch which we can avoid if it’s wet

• Date & Time:  Saturday, March 29, 2025 / 9am start

• Distance:  58 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 road ride takes riders through Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Medfield, Millis, Sherborn, Natick and back to Lincoln. Most of the roads are very low traffic and offer fun flow for road cycling.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~15-16 mph endurance pace. We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.

Distance

The ride is 58 miles in length.

Parking

Lincoln MBTA lot: 160 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773

This is lot is around the corner from the Twisted Tree Cafe so feel free visit there before the ride starts for coffee or food! Please DO NOT park in front of Twisted Tree, this is for their customers who are coming/going throughout the day.

Time

Be ready to roll in the parking lot next to the big, red van at 8:55am.

At 9am, we do a safety talk, introduce everyone to everyone else (lots of new-to-us riders come out this time of year), we’ll talk about pacing and splitting into 2-3 groups depending on teh turnout and who wants to ride faster or more “endurancy.”

Route

The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41813738

All riders should load the ride on a GPS computer so everyone knows where we’re going and it makes splitting into groups easier.

Estimated Ride Time

~3-4 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the mile 20 food/bathroom stop.

Route Notes

There is a 1-mile stretch of dirt road in Lincoln. If it’s a mess, we can go around. We’ll make that determination on the spot during the ride. The workaround is obvious, it’s very close to the end of the ride.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy food/drink/social time at Twisted Tree is encouraged to do so!

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news. Very, very last-minute news is found on our Twitter feed (shown on the home page of this website in case you don’t have a Twitter account).

Contact Information

Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.

CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.

Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

New England Expedition Riders requires a signed waiver before your first ride of EACH CALENDAR YEAR. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride with us.

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• Bring your road bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group. A gravel bike is acceptable.

• If the roads wet/messy, please mount a rear full-coverage fender. If you don’t have one, just ride at the back!

• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding.

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

• Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

Wednesday Early Morning Training Ride 2025

• Location: Start and end at Cutler Park in Needham, MA

• Ride Type:  Road Training Ride

• Date & Time:  6am start, Wednesdays in April and May, 2025

• Distance:  ~20 miles. The ride is always done just before 8am

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

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

Details

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the group. The purpose of this ride is to get focused training in. The group warms up together, then everyone does hill intervals at the same time with everyone going the pace that makes sense to each person. The interval section is not that steep and not that intense geographically, so it’s a good place to put in an effort without going too hard. These kinds of efforts confer leg speed and greater overall fitness to riders without hitting oxygen debt or overload.

Each hill interval is ~6 minutes in length. Faster riders will be closer to 5 minutes, slower closer to 7 minutes. All speeds of riders are accommodated since there’s a regroup spot designated for everyone to recover, take a breath, before getting back on the bike and ramping up to the next interval.

NO ONE SHOULD FEEL BADLY AT THE PACE ONE DOES EACH INTERVAL. THIS IS A SUPPORTIVE RIDE AND GROUP. If you’re worried about your pace or situation, please email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com. Please don’t miss this ride out of fear of your pace or how you will fit in to the group, the point of this ride is getting ALL riders faster regardless of where you’re starting.

There are a total of 4 intervals on offer the first two weeks, then we increase this to 5. The first ride of each season, we do an exploratory lap so all riders see where to start the effort and where it finishes so everyone understands the assignment.

It’s always fine to sit out a lap or ride slowly if one wants to do fewer. Some people select a shorter portion of road to go harder for a shorter period of time. Entirely up to each person.

Intervals should not be performed at max effort/heart rate, they should be done such that it’s possible to complete the full workout and get back to the Cutler Park parking lot. We discuss the exact duration of each interval as well as resting time in between out there so everyone knows what to do when.

Distance

The ride is ~20 miles in length, about 1 hour and 50 minutes total.

Parking

Cutler Park, Needham, MA

84 Kendrick St., Needham

Route

Here's the Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42427386

It's called "20 GIDSIB Training"

GIDSIB = Glad I Didn't Stay in Bed

Estimated Ride Time

No more than 2 hours. We’ll try to get everyone back slightly before 8am, but not too much before that!

Route Notes

None. We discuss where we’re going easy and where we’re regrouping at the ride.

After the Ride

Everyone needs to get to work or start their day. We’ll stick around with anyone who would like to discuss bikes or any bike shop business.

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news. Please txt 413-461-7433 with anything you need us to know about you the morning of the ride. If it’s too early, it won’t wake anyone up, so it’s okay to send a very early message.

Contact Information

Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.

CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.

Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• Road bike with road tires. 23mm-30mm will be most common on this ride.

• Clip-in pedals: This is an important element of bike control, especially given the speeds we’ll be riding and needing to climb hills as efficiently as possible.

• Front and rear lights that will last the duration of the ride and WILL NOT blind your riding friends. Eye-piercing rear lights (look into it, does it hurt your eyes?) should be pointed downward or replaced with non-eye-piercing bright lights. All rear lights should be set on steady, not blinking.

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

• Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

Secret South Shore - Plymouth Road Ride

• Location: Start and end in the South Shore, MA

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement, flat-ish

• Date & Time:  Sunday, March 23, 9am start

• Distance:  87 miles

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

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

Details

This is a beautiful day on the bike in some lovely areas starting in Plymouth, MA and takes riders south visiting towns of Carver, Rochester, Mattapoisett, Marion, Wareham throughout the day!

Special thanks to NEER member, Peter B, who has prepared this route!

We have a designated Super Domestique leading one group to depart which will be rolling at a ~15-16 mph average conversational, endurance pace. This route is flatter than usual so it is ideal for early season fitness building. If you have questions about the pace, please email us in advance.

We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together and not-so-fast can be together too. If you want to take it a little easier, that’s fine, come prepared with the route and the understanding that you might be riding solo. If you tell us you want to go less fast, we’re likely to find others who are interested in the same pace so you’ll be in a group!

Distance

The ride is 87 miles in length.

Parking

Address for your GPS to get to parking: 127 Camelot Drive, Plymouth, MA

Riders should park along the dirt road that circles behind the Indie Ferm parking lot.  See yellow line on the map.  Park on the section of yellow closest to Indie Firm.

Route

The route will be shared with all who RSVP.

All riders should load the ride on a GPS computer so everyone knows where we’re going and it makes splitting into groups easier.

Estimated Ride Time

~6-7 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food/bathroom stops.

Route Notes and Food Stops

These will be shared with all who RSVP, we’ll tell you where to expect food stops along the route.

After the Ride

Feel free to enjoy social time and drinks with us and other riders at Indie Ferm (where we are parking so it’s right there)!

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news if there is any.

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

We require 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

• Bring your road bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group. A gravel bike is acceptable if you can keep pace.

• If the roads wet/messy, please mount a rear full-coverage fender. If you don’t have one, expect to ride at the back!

• Clipless pedals and shoes.  These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding.

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

• Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

Brutiful Gravel Rhodes Island Ride

• Location: Start and end in 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 15, 2025

• 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:  $65

• Registration deadline: Thursday, March 12 at 5:00pm.

• Registration is closed. We’re emailing everyone who has registered complete details!

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!

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/melted snow, but we won't be doing damage since sensitive trails are not on the route. The ride is unlikely to be rescheduled due to weather. If a lot of rain is predicted for Saturday, we'll move the date to Sunday, March 16. 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 7pm Thursday, March 13, 2025 (two nights 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 cool route 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.

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.

Moderate: You usually average 16-17mph 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 by 7pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 5pm. People should arrive back to the parking lot 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 and ride schedule will be emailed to all who register no later than 7pm Thursday 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! It’s a little over 4,000 ft of climbing for the 100km route. 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 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 7pm Thursday evening to their email, two days before the ride. If you have NOT received an email by 7pm Thursday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please don’t email prior to 7pm 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.

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!