Thursday Evening Fat Snow Ride

• Location: Start and end in Waltham

• Ride Type:  Snow ride for fat bikes with studded tires

• Date & Time:  Thursday, February 5 at 7pm

• Distance:  ~10 miles

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

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

Details

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the group. We’ll ride fast enough to stay warm but not fast since it’s snowy. If you have fitness such that you’re capable of riding a steady 14mph on a road ride for 2 hours, you’ll have the fitness necessary to join in on this ride. No one will be dropped as long as you’ve met the minimum requirements set forth on this page. Average pace will likely be in the 3-4 mph area.

Distance

The ride is ~10 miles in length or 2 hours, whichever is shorter, depends on conditions.

Parking

Elsie Turner Park

421 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452

Parking is free and ample and usually available during snow emergencies here.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 5pm the day of the ride.

Estimated Ride Time

No more than 2 hours, aiming for total time out of 2 hours.

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. This route was developed for snow riding.

After the Ride

We will serve hot cocoa at the end to whoever is sticking around to enjoy it! We’ll have hot water, too, so if you prefer to bring a tea bag or other drink that you can heat up with hot water, feel free to bring it.

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 each calendar year. Please fill it out now.

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• 3.8” studded tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. You’re welcome to try your narrower studded mountain and gravel studded tires out on this ride. However, if you can’t keep up with the group, you’ll be on your own. Fat bikes are likely the best suited for these conditions, but it’s hard to know for sure until we’re out there riding.

• There is ice out there so studded tires are required. No studs, no ride.

• Mountain bike clipless pedals and shoes or platform pedals with appropriate shoes.

• Proper Apparel: Appropriate hat, gloves, jacket(s), tights/pants, and boots for the weather. It’s always a good idea to have a pack of chemical hand warmers in case your hands get cold, since this helps heat them quickly.

• Front and rear lights that will last at least 2 hours in the COLD (this means more battery is necessary than usual) 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.

Before-the-Storm Snow Ride

• Date & Time:  Sunday, Jan 24, 8am start

• Location: Wompatuck, MA

• Ride Type: Snowy trails

• Distance:  3-4 hours

• 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 fat bike fun ride on great trails in Wompatuck! This is a super fun, easy-ish place to ride when there is snow on the trails; it makes the ride less technical than what riders find there in the summer and it’s just great fun to be out there!

Pace

This ride is suitable for people with good fitness to push your fat tires! The group will ride fast enough to stay warm but it won’t be fast considering the conditions (snow on trails)! It’ll be good fun. It will be cold to start.

Start Time

7:55am - Be ready to ride!

8:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Wompatuck is a great place with lots of ways back to the cars early. We’ll have various route options prepared so that riding ~3-4 hours is an option but if people want to end early or if the snow storm is earlier than expected, the ride can be cut shorter.

Parking

Parking is free and ample at the Wompatuck parking lot. Details will be shared with all who RSVP no later than 7pm the evening before the ride.

Route

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

Route Notes

Dress appropriately for the weather since it will be very cold out. It will be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating leads to freezing). Wear layers so that it’s possible to start warm and then take some off as the ride start moving. Bring chemical hand & foot warmers if your gloves/boots are thin.

With this cold, bringing extra of everything is smart. Goggles and hand warmers are really good to have no matter what.

Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider will need to walk back to the car and the group will need to proceed or else everyone could be at risk with the cold. Please understand that the group will need to continue moving and be ready for any issues with all of the right tools/tube.

After the Ride

With the snow storm coming, it is likely smart to get on the road once the ride is over so it’ll be a quick goodbye. If there is time and interest, we’ll bring a camp stove and boil water for hot chocolates. Practicing boiling water in the winter is important since it’s how to stay safe in winter expeditions!

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

• 3.8” knobby tires OR BIGGER.  Wider tires are nicer! It’s possible that narrower tires are okay, but it’s hard to tell.

• 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.

• 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 Evening Trail Snow Ride

• Location: Start and end in Waltham

• Ride Type:  Snow ride for fat and mountain bikes with studded tires

• Date & Time:  Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm

• Distance:  ~10-13 miles, 2 hours total

• 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 snow and the right temps for the best conditions out there! Let’s ride when the opportunity presents itself!

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the group. We’ll ride fast enough to stay warm but not fast since it’s snowy and icy. If you have fitness such that you’re capable of riding a steady 14mph on a road ride for 2 hours, you’ll have the fitness necessary to join in on this ride. No one will be dropped as long as you’ve met the minimum requirements set forth on this page.

Distance

The ride is ~10-13 miles in length, 2 hours total.

Parking

Elsie Turner Park

421 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452

Parking is free and ample and usually available during snow emergencies here.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 5pm the day of the ride.

Estimated Ride Time

As close to 2 hours as we can get.

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. This route was developed for snow riding.

After the Ride

We will serve hot cocoa at the end to whoever is sticking around to enjoy it! We’ll have hot water, too, so if you prefer to bring a tea bag or other drink that you can heat up with hot water, feel free to bring it.

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 (NEER) requires a signed waiver before your first ride. This was implemented in December of 2022 (VERY RECENTLY). 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

• 3” studded tires or bigger.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. You’re welcome to try your narrower studded mountain and gravel studded tires out on this ride. However, if you can’t keep up with the group, you’ll be on your own. It’s hard to know the perfect tire size until we’re out there riding.

• There is ice out there so studded tires are required. No studs, no ride, no exceptions.

• Mountain bike clipless pedals and shoes or platform pedals with appropriate shoes.

• Proper Apparel: Appropriate hat, gloves, jacket(s), tights/pants, and boots for the weather. It’s always a good idea to have a pack of chemical hand warmers in case your hands get cold, since this helps heat them quickly.

• Front and rear lights that will last at least 2 hours 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.

• High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires. If you’re running tubeless, be sure you have enough sealant and your sealant isn’t more than 6 months old!

• 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.

Sun., Jan 11 - Plymouth, MA Fat Adventure Ride with Waffles!

• Location: Plymouth, MA

• Ride Type:  Beaches, trails, connecting roads all for fat bikes & a chance to shake down your winter fat bike with stuff on it setup!

• Date & Time:  Sunday, January 11

• Distance:  ~4-6 hours

• Special details: We’re starting at the 3 Waves B&B and all get healthy/tasty waffles with real maple syrup & local, fresh coffee before the ride!

• 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

Special for this ride: we’re starting at the 3 Waves B&B and all get healthy/tasty waffles with real maple syrup & local, fresh coffee before the ride! Feel free to RSVP for the breakfast-only portion if you’re not a fat bike rider or up for this length of ride.

About the ride: This is a fat bike wonder ride on different terrain! Plymouth beaches and trails are a blast to ride! The route will include both for a varied experience. There will be some roads connecting the beaches and trails. We’re making the route an expected 4-6 hr ride time length. If you have time constraints, please let us know. Will try to include a short route version in case it goes long and you need to get back earlier.

With the recent weather, we have to assume there is ice on the trails so please bring your studded-tire fat bike.

Pace

Moderate endurance, some riders will have loaded fat bikes so they’ll be moving more slowly. If you’re a faster rider, you’re welcome to ride ahead or circle back. Beaches are always fun for all, go at your own pace!

Start Time

If you want breakfast pre-ride, that starts at 8am. We’ll plan on starting the ride between 9 and 9:30am (if food runs a little long, we won’t be militant about a prompt rollout at 9am).

Be ready to roll at 9am (and be flexible if rollout is a little after 9).

Just an FYI: Low tide is at 11:15am.

Parking

Will start at the 3 Waves B&B. All who RSVP will be given specific parking directions, will park at the B&B, there is space for all.

Route

We’ll share the route with all who RSVP via email 7pm the night before the ride.

Route Notes

Expect sand, sandy trails, could be prickly plants next to the trails (wear pants/long socks), it’s a long ride so bring lots of hydration and food. Refuel stops will be mentioned in the pre-ride email.

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

• 3.8” knobby, studded tires OR BIGGER.  Wider tires are nicer! We’ll be on beaches so mountain bikes don’t have wide enough tires for these sections.

• 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.  8psi is usually max for fat tires, you’ll probably be happier somewhere around 6psi depending on the width of your tires and your weight.

• 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 & RSVP if you want to just come for waffles & coffee!

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.

New Hampshire! Thursday, January 8 - Fat Bike Night Ride

• Location/start time: Newfields, NH, 6:00pm

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for fat bikes

• Distance:  ~16 miles, 90mins-2 hours of riding (will cut shorter if time will go over)

• Price:  Free and membership is not required if this is your first NEER ride; 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 is an ideal route for the expected conditions. If the snow is soft, this route will be rideable still and it’s easy to cut it short if time goes long. There is dirt trail under most of the snow and ice. Be sure to ride studded fat tires (3.8” tires or bigger) as the conditions are appropriate for this amount of float over the snow.

Everyone will ride together at a good pace to stay warm, but we will not be riding fast, just moderate to stay warm and keep things safe.

Distance

16 miles

Parking

Address for your GPS:

85 Old Rte 108, Newfields, NH 03856

Pin of the exact spot to park in the large parking lot:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5FpYRvYUeDu4hvfN9

Route

We will email all who RSVP no later than 3pm the day of the ride with the route. If there are any modifications to the plan, we’ll email all who RSVP with information so be sure to check your email the day of the ride!

Start time, Estimated Ride Time

Start: 6pm, be ready to roll by 5:55pm

Ride time: 1.5-2 hours depending on trail conditions

Route Notes

There are no bathrooms or services at the start or along the route.

We discuss these with you prior to rollout.

After the Ride

We will have hot chocolates for all who attend at the end of the ride so plan to hang out in the parking lot after the ride (bring an extra hat and gloves) to be comfortable. This is a great time to hang out and talk about winter riding and meet others who live in this general area in NH who are winter cyclists!!

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

• 3.8” knobby, studded tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer!

• Lights, front and rear. Bring both front and rear lights with battery power to stay lit for a 2.5 hour ride. Correct, the ride is 1.5-2 hours, but if there’s a mechanical or if you accidentally set it too bright, then you want to still have enough light for the duration of the ride.

• 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 that is not so bright and has a steady mode (non-blinking).

• 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.

• 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, a tube, a hand pump, things to fix tubeless flats if you run tubeless, 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.

Thursday, December 11 - Mixed Terrain Night Ride!

• Location: Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA

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

• Distance:  ~15 miles, just shy of 2 hours of riding

• 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 are some easy-to-ride boardwalks on the route, it’s pretty well ridden so not hard to navigate when the sun is gone.

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 but it’s not fast given the waning sunlight.

There are enough regroups to keep riders together and allow faster and not-as-fast riders to all ride a comfortable pace.

Distance

~15 miles

Parking

Address for your GPS: 10 Maguire Rd, Lexington, MA 02421

Pin of the exact spot to park in the lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ebJ1c1ufZA3bL4ZR7

Route

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

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40871313

Start time, Estimated Ride Time

Start: 7pm, be ready to roll by 6:55pm

Ride time: Just shy of 2 hours total

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.

This ride is a good “first” night ride for those who have mixed terrain riding experience but haven’t gone out at night before.

After the Ride

Some riders will enjoy post-ride food and drink at Revolution Hall if riders return before 9pm (food service stops at 9). Feel free to join in having food and hanging out afterwards if you’d like!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

• Lights, front and rear. Bring both front and rear lights with battery power to stay lit for a 2.5 hour ride. Correct, the ride is 1.5 hours, but if there’s a mechanical or if you accidentally set it too bright, then you want to still have enough light for the duration of the ride.

• 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.  

• 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.

New Year’s in Rutland

• Start location: Rutland, MA

• Ride Type:  Studded gravel, mtn & fat bike ride - a lot dirt

• Date & Time:  9am Thursday, January 1

• Distance:  60 miles total

• Price:  Free*

• * You are welcome to ride once as a non-NEER member, after this membership is required to attend

• RSVPs: Required, form is at the bottom

Details

This ride departs at 9am. The route runs all through Rutland with almost all of it on trails. There are lots of ways to cut it early if needed. BE SURE to bring lights. With the cold, expect ice. Bring plenty of water and food. There will be at least one refueling stop, but on New Year’s Day, it’s a good idea to assume small businesses will be closed. We’ll use cars as a refuel location if it’s not possible to find food in the world.

Schedule

We’ll be at the parking lot by 8:45am. Please be ready to roll by 8:55am.

Parking

There is free all day, all who RSVP will be sent directions to the lot.

Route

The route will be shared via email with all who RSVP.

Estimated time

It will be ~8 hours.

Lunch Stop

Will be communicated in the pre-ride email.

Contact Information

Email - connect@rideheadquaters.com, Phone which reaches the ride leader before and during the ride: 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

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

The proper bike & equipment for this ride includes the following:

• Bike with 38mm minimum width tires, studded tires are required.

• Bring front and rear lights, there is a very good chance we’ll finish up after dark. Ensure batteries are fresh and will last for a minimum of 3 hours on a warm day (batteries last less long in the cold).

• A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. You’ll need to find a ride back to the lot if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.

• Always bring a spare tube, air, tools for taking your wheels off your bike, a derailleur hanger and ALL of the tools you’d need to fix common mechanical situations.

• Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need & storage area to take layers off/carry them!

Horizon Chasers Road Ride - 100 km Hilly and Fun

• Location: Start and end in Concord Center, MA

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement, hilly

• Date & Time:  Sunday, December 21, 9am start

• Distance:  64 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

Let’s celebrate the holidays and a mild day on our road bikes! Please be ready to ride by 8:55am. We’re not riding trails due to rain on Friday that may make the trails rut-able all weekend. Let’s enjoy some pavement time and we’re starting away from the city/as much traffic as possible to be on quieter roads and non-frantic drivers as much as possible!

We will have a safety talk then split people by pace endurance - 16mph average and moderate plus 17-18mph average and then roll out!

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the endurance group. This route is hillier than usual so the pace will be dialed back for the last group to roll out appropriately. If you have questions about the pace, please email us in advance.

We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.

Distance

The ride is 64 miles in length. The ride starts in Concord, heads to Harvard, then takes in some lovely roads around Fruitlands and Harvard before heading back to Concord.

Parking

Address for your GPS to get to the parking lot:

Public Lot off of Keyes Rd., Concord Center, MA

Link to the lot: https://goo.gl/maps/cAnMuUCquXLTVbzSA

Route

The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42236314/

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

~4-5 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food/bathroom stops.

Route Notes

There is one general area to stop for food on the route: Hudson, MA. There are a lot of nice places for food here.

This route has a lot of nice roads on it, but be head’s up in case there is ice on the road or other unforseeables in the pavement.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy food/drink/social time in Concord Center is encouraged to do so! It’s the holidays, some people probably have to leave quickly, others will enjoy hanging out together. There are many local businesses to visit.

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 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.

Sunday, Dec. 14 Blue Hills Mountain Bike Ride + NEMBA Toy Drive

A NEER group went out on a scouting ride at Blue Hills last fall (don’t dress like this for a mountain bike ride in August)!

• Location: Start and end at Houghton Pond in the Blue Hills, Milton, MA

• Ride Type:  Ride appropriate for hardtail mountain bikes, fat bikes, dual suspension are fine if that’s what you have

• Date & Time:  Sunday, December 14, 9am start

• Distance option:  ~21 miles, 3-4 hours of good riding

• Price:  Free - we’re leading this ride as a group, part of the NEMBA Toy Drive ride

• RSVPs: See bottom of page for RSVP form - otherwise, we might leave without you! AND it’s important to register with NEMBA so they know to expect you!

• Email: connect@rideheadquarters.com

Details

We’re leading this ride as part of the NEMBA Toys for Tots ride. Please bring an unwrapped, new toy for a child to drop off at the start of the ride!

We’re riding the paths and trails at the Blue Hills for a total of 20 miles. This is a great route for all mountain and fat bikes, it’s not particularly technical, there’s a fair amount of climbing.

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

OTHER RIDE OPTIONS

Other group rides are being offered by NEMBA folks and there are self-guided routes as well. You’re welcome to join in any group ride you please, but if you’d like to ride with NEER and this 21 mile ride option, then please be sure to RSVP below at our RSVP form.

Regardless of the option you choose, BE SURE to RSVP with NEMBA since they’re providing hot drinks and need to know who all is coming out!

Distance

The ride is ~21 miles long.

Parking

Houghton’s Pond Parking Area

Blue Hills, Milton, MA

Link to the parking lot & where to park: PIN

Route

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

Estimated Ride Time

~3-4 hours

Route Notes

These trails are not particularly technical, there is some climbing, they’re a lot of fun to ride. There is no pressure ever to ride anything you prefer to walk.

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.

Technically this ride is a NEMBA ride so we’d fall under NEMBA insurance.

Proper bike & Equipment

• 2” knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! We expect to see hardtail mountain bikes, dual suspension, and fat bikes on this ride. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set.

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