Social Distance Metric Century
Ride Type: All paved roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Monday, May 25, 2020. Ride start times are staggered between 7:30-9:30 AM. You’ll choose a preferred time upon registration.
Starting Point: Ride Headquarters, Sherborn, MA
Distance: Metric Century 100km or 63 miles.
Price: $25 - Register Here
Instagram Photo Credit: @dogthegreat
This is a non-group organized ride. While you won’t be riding with a group, there will be other people on the route, and there will be a sweep to put your mind at ease about a mechanical issue. There will be ample opportunity to spend time and see people but outside and from a distance.
We’re riding on paved roads starting at Ride Headquarters and offering a fully-supported food stop near Ride Studio Cafe then returning to Ride Headquarters. The food stop will have individually packaged ride food (bars and gels) and Ride Studio Cafe Mini Mochas!
It’s wonderful riding especially knowing there are other cyclists on the same route who can help and offer support, even if only verbally and from a distance. It’s a way to maintain some normalcy, get some fresh air, maintain your physical and mental health, and drink a delicious mini mocha!
We respect anyone who believes everyone should stay inside his/her house during this time without going outside or beyond one’s front yard. However, for many of us, being unable to see the sun or get out of the house, a less healthy reality results for us and for those with whom we interface.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, every single word. If this ride goes well, this will be the first of others.
Details
Ride Type: All paved roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Monday, May 25, 2020. Ride start times are staggered between 7:30-9:30 AM. You’ll choose a preferred time upon registration.
Starting Point: Ride Headquarters, Sherborn, MA
Distance: Metric Century 100km = ~63 miles
Price: $25 - Register Here
This page includes all the information you need to stay healthy and safe on this ride while maintaining proper social distance and not offering any perception to anyone that this is a group of any sort. Your safety and public health is our number one concern, and can’t be overemphasized.
Social Distance Rules
Keep your distance, at least 6’ or much more, from those you do not live with. If you’re riding with a spouse, partner, roommate, or any other person that you currently live with, you’re welcome to ride near each other as you would if you were riding together anywhere else in the world. If you are not, keep at least a car length between you and anyone else, on and off the bike. Absolutely no drafting.
No sharing or touching anything that is not yours before, during, or after the ride. This includes the rest stop. We’ll control the water and handing out bike food.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when you’re within sight of others on or off the bike.
We’ll be giving everyone slightly different parking locations as well as starting times, please adhere to these. The safety of everyone depends on it.
Pack a lunch to eat afterward, use a cooler to keep things cool. Don’t pack anything perishable. No sharing of food or beverages. Pack a lawn chair, you may wish to tailgate after you’re done riding. It is easy to maintain a lot of distance outside sitting next to your car while speaking with someone over 6 feet away.
There is no ride leader, you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
We’ll send a very detailed email a day before the ride with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Start Location
Ride Headquarters
11 South Main Street
Sherborn MA 01770
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
63 Mile Route
All Paved Roads.
About 43 feet of climbing per mile. A total of 2,700 feet of ascent.
1 food stop, water, mini mochas from Ride Studio Cafe, skratch, and bike food will be available but dispersed by us for everyone’s safety.
Pace Options and Addressing Safety
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace when you ride alone for a 20-mile paved ride in the Boston area. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this exact route, but we do think you know how fast you ride if you go out alone for a usual 2-2.5 hour bike ride in this area.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 12mph - 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this the day of the ride, that is alright, we just ask you to ride within yourself. We are staffing food stop assuming a 12 mph minimum pace.
We are using your “average” ride pace info to determine your start time, purposely separating people who would gravitate to each other during normal circumstances.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. As we have been instructed by health professionals, now is not the time to ride too hard since this compromises your immune system. Keep your heart rate in your “aerobic” zone and you’ll benefit tremendously from the ride. After this whole situation is over, we can all resume harder efforts.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. We will want to know if there is anyone with whom you live who you will want to ride with when you register.
If we see any two people within 6’ of each other and neither party has listed the other person(s) as a member of the same household, we will ask you to leave the ride immediately and not participate in anything else we offer. We are EXTREMELY serious that social distancing is exceptionally important and ask you to not attend this ride if you don’t take it seriously.
Being Social Without Being Too Close
Use #mochametric to capture your memories from the ride and share your images and experiences with the other riders.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Check out the contents of our bug-out bag
All the clothing you typically use for 40-70 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions.
Headlight and taillight with batteries in good condition. Use these to be even more visible during daytime riding.
Helmet
Neck gator/mask
sunscreen
Protective glasses
Towel to dry off after the ride.
A change of clothes for after the ride - it’s not fun to drive home in sweaty, wet, clothes.
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this ride:
Road conditions the day of the ride will dictate. 25c-32c slick tires likely appropriate.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. With no drafting, the requirements about fenders are a bit more relaxed now!
Weather: We will make last-minute route changes based on weather as necessary. All attendees will receive updates via email. We are playing it safe and erring on the side of caution.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
Adventure 500 Rides Series 2020
- Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA and Ride Headquarters -- depending on the start date. See details.
- Ride Type: Road Ride Adventures, 100 miles and further
- Date & Time: 5 Dates, one each month starting in May!
- Distance: 100-120 miles -- each route in the series is different. Details below.
- Price: Free, RSVP required
2020 Adventure 500 Ride Series
Table of Contents -- Quick Links
Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA and Ride Headquarters -- depending on the start date. See details below.
Ride Type: Road Ride Adventures, 100 miles and further
Date & Time: 5 Dates spanning the spring, summer, and fall
Distance: 100-120 miles -- each route in the series is different. Details below.
Price: Free, RSVP required
Five long road rides. 500+ miles. Some dirt. All adventure.
Description: The Adventure 500 Series is comprised of one century-plus ride each month beginning in May. The average pace is 16 mph for one group, and about 17-18 mph for a second group. If we have more participation, we'll break up into more groups with about 10 people per group.
Calendar for the Adventure 500 Series
May 2: Saturday, 8:00 am departure from Ride Headquarters. About 110 miles.
June 13: Saturday, 8:00 am departure. About 110 miles. Start Location: Ride Studio Cafe
July 25: Saturday, 6:30 am departure. About 110 miles. Start Location: Ride Headquarters
August 29: Saturday, 6:30 am departure. About 115 miles. Start Location: Ride Studio Cafe
Date TBD, watch for an October Saturday date!
Series Details
Proper Bike for this ride: 25-30mm road slick tires, clipless pedals, drop handlebars; no aero bars.
Routes: Usually 100-120 miles total. Destination: We send route information and specifics to people who RSVP the evening before the ride. We don’t communicate more than this unless something is unusual or a big change has to be made. Some of the fun of an adventure ride is the mystery of the destination.
Ride Notes: There are plenty of stops planned for each route. There will be some dirt on every ride of the series -- somewhere between 10 and 30% dirt. There are some rough sections of road and there is a possibility of a small amount of dirt road/construction work.
Estimated time: About 8 to 12 hours depending on the time of year, the weather, and pace of the group.
Last Minute Information: We email everyone who has RSVP’d with last minute information and updates.
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone for Ride HQ - 508-975-4678
Phone for Ride Studio Cafe - (339) 970-0187
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules.
Waiver: The hosting bike shop requires a signed waiver before your first ride. If the ride you’re doing leaves from Ride Studio Cafe, fill this out online prior to your first ride.
If the ride you’re doing leaves from Ride Headquarters, fill this out online prior to your first ride.
Sponsor
Honey Bikes is sponsoring the Adventure 500 series!
If you RSVP for the Adventure 500 Series: You will receive a voucher from Honey Bikes for an unlimited color upgrade if you choose to get a set of Industry Nine wheels on your bike. This is a $265 value! Your Honey Bike needs to be ordered before the departure of the second Adventure 500 ride, so you can be using it on at least three rides. Please email us at connect@rideheadquarters.com to request the voucher (this is the way to receive the promo and special pricing) and schedule time to discuss the bikes and options.
Two bikes Honey offers that are particularly appropriate for the Adventure 500 series are:
The Honey MidDurance titanium bike. This is a rim-brake bike with clearance for 33mm tires, and fender/rack mounts. This is a performance, endurance bike.
The Honey Allroads titanium bike also is very much into road riding and mixed terrain trail riding. It is outfitted with disc brakes, rack/fender mounts, and is built for all-weather, all-year riding. It fits 43mm tires in frame and fork on 700c wheels, along with 50mm tires on 650B wheels.
RSVP so We Know to Expect You!
Note: RSVPs are required at least 24 hours prior to the start of the ride(s) to allow us to organize the rides most effectively. This also allows you to be eligible for the offers tied to this series, as well.
BiFrost Remote-Start Ride DETAILS
Location: Remote Start
Ride Type: Mountain and Fat Bike Ride
Time/Date: Departs various times & locations
Price: Free
BiFrost Remote-Start Ride Details: Date TBD
Location for Next Departure: TBD
Previous Departures:
West Hill Dam, Uxbridge MA
Russell Mill, Chelmsford MA
Ride Type: Mountain and Fat Bikes, Studded Tires required, no tires skinnier than 2”
Time & Date: Departs at 9:00am
Distance: 9-13 miles, equating to approximately 2.5 hours of riding time
RSVPs are REQUIRED - see very bottom of this page where you can RSVP
Sponsored by Honey Bikes! Demo a mountain, plus, or fat bike on this ride!
This is a Chill Club Special Ride! You get invited to the Chill Club email distro when you attend this ride. Use #chillclubhq on any photos or social media you post!
Description: We’re meeting up at West Hill Dam Uxbridge, MA for this ride. If the ride is canceled or changed in any way, we will email everyone who has RSVP’d for the ride no later than 7am the morning of the ride. We will only cancel if weather changes very dramatically from what has been predicted making the trails unrideable.
Ride Waiver
If you haven’t filled out a waiver for Ride Headquarters before, be certain to fill it out online before Sunday’s ride. We won’t be bringing paper copies of the waiver. Note the Ride Studio waiver doesn’t cover Ride Headquarters’ rides. If in doubt, please fill it out again!
Ride Rules
Be sure to read These Rules too, so we’re all on the same page. This makes riding a lot more fun and safe is fun!
Ideal Bikes for this Ride
The perfect bikes for this ride are:
Learn why these bikes are perfect for all seasons and make this your best winter of riding! |
|---|
Route: We have at least two people leading and sweeping this ride so you don’t need the route. We’ll email a proposed route Saturday evening to all who RSVP by 7pm the night before. We might change the route on the fly so as to keep the ride to 2.5 hours in length or accommodate for riding conditions.
Parking: TBD
Meet-up and Start Time: We’re meeting up bewteen 8:30am and 8:45am. The ride will start promptly at 9:00am. PLEASE come ~15-minutes early and try to be as ready as possible when you arrive. We don’t want to stand around waiting for anyone because it will be cold.
Pace & Skill Level: This is a fun ride for capable cyclists. We are out to enjoy the trails and get a solid ride in, so we aren’t slow, but this is not a fast ride or one that is hard to keep up with if you have some trail riding experience. You don’t need to have any particularly great technical riding ability. For reference: If you can maintain a solid 14mph road pace riding by yourself for two hours on paved roads, you have the fitness necessary to enjoy this ride. Having the appropriate equipment is paramount and will help you stay with the group. You should have some experience riding trails before joining this ride.
Last Minute Information: We will email all who RSVP with any last-minute information.
Estimated time: ~2.5 hours
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, we’ll get any emails sent here up until ride time. If you need to talk to us near-ish to ride time, call 505-672-8742. This number should not be used at other times. Ride Headquarters’ store number is: 413-461-7433. We get voicemails and txts sent to this number fairly quickly unless we’re in the middle of a ride.
Proper Bike and Equipment for this ride - Read All of This!
A mountain bike or fat bike. We’ll be on not-too-technical mountain bike trails. Please don’t bring a gravel bike to this ride.
Tires: Should be at least 2” wide and studded for your safety and those you’re riding near since we’ll be riding on snow, and possibly frozen sleet.
Please be sure your bike is in safe working order with a properly lubed chain.
Please be sure your tires are properly inflated. Ask us if you have questions about proper inflation. We will bring a floor pump to the parking lot. We want to minimize flats on the ride; waiting for someone to change flats is not why we ride. We typically see zero flats on our rides. One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.
We do not recommend fenders since sticks and twigs can get caught in them.
Please bring ample water and food for the ride. We won’t have extra with us.
Make sure to bring all of the cold-weather you might need. Never a bad idea to have extra chemical hand/toe warmers just in case.
We can bring things for you if you need it! Here’s how:
If you need us to bring anything to you for the ride, please call us 8am-5pm Saturday at Ride Headquarters (413-461-7433). We can put a care package together for you, charge you over the phone, and bring whatever it is you need to the ride start ~8:30am.
RSVP HERE - Required
Thank you for your RSVP! Watch for an email Saturday evening before the ride date with a ride route and any last-minute info. If you don’t receive it by 7pm, please email us at connect@ridestudiocafe.com.
Defrost Ride
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Road
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM
Distance: 39 miles
Price: Free
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Road - paved
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM
Distance: 39 miles
Price: Free
Description: We’ve got a great road ride on tap for what is expected to be a 60-degree day in January!
Estimated Ride Time
39-mile ride - 2 hours at 16-17mph average
The Route
39 Miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15631800
Refreshments
Hot coffee and hot chocolate along with cold soda is available in-store before or after the ride.
Participate in social media to connect with people and help motivate others to join in! #chillclubhq
Membership to the Chill Club! This club has a lot of benefits, with the biggest one being connection and access to other cold-weather riders. There is no cost to join, but you need to prove your interest by attending a qualifying ride. This Resolution Ride is a qualifying ride. Click on the logo to learn more.
The Ideal Bike
Since this is a pavement-only road ride, setup is straight-forward. Bring your road bike or mixed terrain bike with slick tires appropriate for road riding. If you want to ride a demo bike, email us so we can arrange your ride: connect@rideheadquarters.com.
Thoughts about riding your road bike at this time of year:
Roads could be wet, if you have fenders, put them on
The more rubber on the road, the better. If you’re running on 23mm tires, make a resolution to move to wider tires this year.
If your road bike has been on the trainer, you’ve been sweating onto it. Be aware of handlebar corrosion that could, literally, make your handlbars snap in two.
Lube your chain. Whether you’ve been riding inside or out, keep your chain lubed to maximize its life and minimize noise. You don’t want your fellow riders to be annoyed at your noisy bike.
Ride Rules
This is not a race; this is the first warmer weather ride of the year when you get to be outside with others and enjoy the time on your bike in the sun!
Follow the rules of the road.
If a rider asks for help, help.
You represent all cyclists so be on your best behavior.
Bring a repair kit that includes, at a minimum, everything for fixing a flat and a multitool that can help fix most mechanicals.
Bring a helmet, I.D., and clipless bike pedals and shoes.
Fill out the Ride Headquarters Ride Waiver online.
Last Minute Information: Check our Twitter feed or the Ride Headquarters homepage for updates
Ride Headquarters Contact Information: Email RHQ or call: 413-461-RIDE (413-461-7433).
Waiver: RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Email us if you have any questions.
Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for ongoing updates. #chillclubhq
The Honey Allroads - the Ideal Cold & Winter Bike
The Honey Allroads bike is the perfect bike for gravel and mixed terrain riding as well as cold and foul-weather riding. This bike is designed to ride on all road conditions – paved, broken, carriage trails, and single track. We call this the mixed-terrain adventure bike. Take it anywhere to do anything - all year long.
Why is the Honey Allroads an ideal bike for the cold, foul weather, and winter?
The Allroads bike fits 700c x 38mm studded tires comfortably. Studded tires are the secret to winter riding confidently and safely on roads and trails. Ride on ice with no issues with studded tires. If you order
The titanium frame doesn’t corrode or interact with the environment at all. It is completely unaffected by road salt and grime. Counter-intuitively, carbon bikes and aluminum bikes experience corrosion issues. Ask us why this is and we’ll explain how this happens and how this impacts the bike’s longevity.
The Honey Allroads uses a standard threaded bottom bracket. This means you don’t have to be paranoid about the bike getting dirty. Pressfit BBs are notorious for their creaking and issues, some of which may impact the bike’s life. Standard threaded bottom brackets are the easiest bottom brackets to deal with (because you probably won’t ever have to deal with it) and won’t cause you issues. They’re also non-proprietary, so if you need a new one, it’s easy to buy and have replaced.
When the surface you’re riding is wet or uncertain, the most important thing you need are tires to stick to the ground. This offers you confidence and safety. A titanium bike designed as Honey has designed their bikes keeps the tires on the ground in a way that a stiff bike can’t. You want drivetrain rigidity (Honey bikes have this), you don’t want a bike that is stiff in every direction for your comfort and for your stability in keeping your tires on the ground.
Membership to the Chill Club
Whether or not you think you need more motivation to ride this cold season, we are providing the ability to connect with others in the store and via a special email distro list, offering cold weather cycling advice, sending you special promos, and much more.
How do you join the Chill Club? Easy: ride with us in the cold and on this Resolution Ride! This is not a club for people who say things like: “Someday I’ll do it, next time, when the kids go to college, once I get fitter, once I get the right gear…” So many excuses, all of which are keeping you from discovering joy, fun, mental and physical health. Keep false barriers out of your way. Don’t have another winter of being blue or of being burned out from the trainer in the spring. This fall and winter, discover the incredible fun of these seasons on your bike. Use the Chill Club to keep your motivation up and outdoor cycling happening.
There is no requirement to participate in the email distro list if you are a member of the Chill Club. Do all that you want to do as a member, and nothing you don’t want to do. Be proud, though, of your membership and enjoy the many perks of being a Chill Club cyclist!
Finding the Best Road Bike for You
Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
Event Type: Seminar
Date & Time: February 26 at 7:00pm
Price: No charge
Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
Event Type: Seminar
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 26 at 7:00pm
Price: No charge
RSVP: Required for seating and food. RSVP early, this event will sell out
Finding the Best Road Bike for You
You’ve been riding your current bike for at least a few years. You’ve had “good enough” bikes all of your life. Now it’s time to get the bike you never want to replace.
There is a lot of new bike technology on the market, and too many decisions to make when looking for a bike. You’re looking around at various bike shops and searching online. You need to choose a shop to work with, choose the brand of bike, and from there you need to sort through what components you want, whether the bike will have rim or disc brakes, even what color.
We’re hosting this seminar to help you sort through the myriad decisions and know what questions to ask. We are giving you a 50-point checklist to help you compare brands and keep track of what you have learned about each bike you’re considering.
What do you want out of a road bike? What qualities are important to you? This presentation assumes your needs and desires are different from the person sitting next to you, and this will be equally useful to each of you.
This is your opportunity to become familiar with the terminology of current parts and allow you to ask the questions you’re otherwise too embarrassed to ask when shopping for a bike. You’ll be knowledgeable enough to feel good walking into any bike shop and asking good questions of the sales staff.
You will also know what questions to ask and to know what is important to you to get the information you need to make the best purchasing decision to buy your new bike!
Buying a bike should be fun, but it’s also easy to get overwhelmed. We distill all of the information into logical categories.
This seminar takes you through how to recognize what is important to you in your next bike. There are questions for you to ask yourself first, before starting your shopping. Then we discuss how you can make sure you get these qualities in your new bike, while not overlooking small things you might not think are important now, but may become important to you in the future.
Topics To Be Covered:
Questions to ask when looking at a new bike - you get a checklist to take home with you
Can your new road bike be used as a gravel bike? What are the trade-offs?
Which parts of the bike may be proprietary and how to get a “future-proof” bike
When the price of a bike isn’t really the final bike of the bike
What bike manufacturers don’t want you to know
What bike shops don’t want you to know
Shifting systems available
Comparison and explanation of electronic shifting systems, pros and cons
Disc brakes versus rim brakes and the benefits of each
Cable-actuated versus hydraulic brakes and the benefits of each
Gearing options - there are a lot more than you realize
Wheel options. Hand-built versus pre-built wheels.
Wheel and tire systems: one can’t be chosen without considering the other
The differences between a bike that comes in a box versus bikes that are built up from a frame from scratch
Why you don’t want to ride what the pro racers ride
How a “free” warranty replacement can cost you hundreds of dollars
What is included when you buy a bike. A bike purchase is much more than buying a bike.
Parts and frame compatibilities to be aware of
How your new bike can be used as a travel bike
If you are starting your bike shopping prior to this seminar, please get in touch with us by emailing bikes@ridestudiocafe.com. We don’t want you missing out on any information if your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend this seminar for whatever reason. We have information to send along and are glad to provide you materials which we’ll share with attendees in advance, as well.
RSVP Now to Save Your Seat
Last Minute Information: We will email all who have registered with any last-minute changes.
Questions? Email connect@ridestudiocafe.com.
Full Moon Over Sherborn 2020
- Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
- Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
- Time & Date: Departs each Full Moon all year
- Distance: ~15 miles
- Price: Free
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain
Time & Date: Departs Every Full Moon, varying start times
Distance: ~15 miles, approximately 90 minutes of riding
Price: Free
Description: The Full Moon ride takes cyclists all over the trails of Sherborn and beyond. The route includes paved roads to trails, dirt roads, grassy areas, and other places off the beaten path.
Why Night Ride? Here is the best description of why it’s awesome to get into night riding that we’ve found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAIxw0H-IZw
Take a look and get inspired to join us under the Full Moon!
1 September Update: This ride will be run Social Distance style. We will be very safe and run the ride respectfully. Here is the ride protocol:
RSVPs are required: email connect@rideheadquarters.com letting us know you’ll be coming.
Everyone is required to wear face masks for the duration of the ride for the safety and peace-of-mind for all.
Keep at least 6 feet of distance between people at all times. If we see anyone getting too close to anyone else, you will be asked to leave immediately. Please don’t put anyone in an awkward position - just keep space!
We will enjoy beverages post-ride outside. We will have a bathroom available for those who need it. Otherwise, we will be outside for the entire time.
No touching each other or things that aren’t yours. We have hand sanitizer readily available and soap in bathrooms. Please use these generously.
The calendar of all Full Moon rides and start times is:
| Date | Day | Moon Name | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 January | Friday | Wolf Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 9 February | Sunday | Snow Moon | 6:00 PM |
| 9 March | Monday | Worm Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 7 April | Tuesday | Pink Moon | 7:00 PM |
| 7 May | Thursday | Flower Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 5 June | Friday | Strawberry Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 5 July | Sunday | Buck Moon | 9:00 PM |
| 3 August | Monday | Sturgeon Moon | 8:30 PM |
| 2 September | Wednesday | Corn Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 1 October | Thursday | Harvest Moon | 7:00 PM |
| 31 October | Saturday | Blue Moon | 7:30 PM |
| 30 November | Monday | Beaver Moon | 7:00 PM |
| 29 December | Tuesday | Cold Moon | 7:00 PM |
Get on our Night Riding Email List!
| Do you love night rides, specifically? We have an email list and if you're on it, you'll receive invites to all of our night rides and events when they come on our calendar. Sign up to be on this list! |
Route: The route is available to attendees the evening of the ride at Ride Headquarters.
We will email the route to everyone who RSVPs by 5pm so that we don’t need to touch GPS computers to load them in the store.
We change the route to meet the weather requirements so that the ride isn’t longer than 90 minutes.
Ride Notes: We have a designated Ride Headquarters Super Domestique leading the ride and pointing out turns. We don’t have a sweep rider for this ride so only participate if you’re confident in your skill level and fitness – or know your way back.
Last Minute Information: Watch our Twitter feed for last-minute updates, weather cancellations or other changes.
Estimated time: ~1.5 hours
Contact Information: Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - 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: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Proper Bike for this ride:
32c knobby tires minimum. Wider tires are nice, too. Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. In the winter, we will require studded tires when we expect to see ice.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. If you ride with platform pedals you’re likely to be over your head in some of the more technical parts of the ride.
A bike that’s in safe working order. We don’t stop for preventable mechanical issues.
Higher tire pressure than you’d ride on a cyclocross ride. We recommend about 80% to 90% of maximum rated tire pressure, for two reasons:
First, we want to minimize flats on the ride; waiting for someone to change flats is not why we ride. We typically see zero flats on our ride. One of the primary reasons for this is due to higher than average tire pressure.
Second, on average, about 30% of the ride is on pavement; having slightly higher pressure makes the road sections go by faster.
We do not recommend fenders since sticks and twigs can get caught in them.
How do we decide if we’re having the Full Moon ride?
Thunder storms: If there’s a 33% or greater chance of a thunder storm at the ride start time, we don’t ride. It is not safe to get caught out in a thunder storm.
Rain or sleet: There are a few variants of this. We don’t ride sensitive trails when they’re wet; this can cause damage that’s not repairable. Fortunately, we have some rain-friendly routes that don’t damage sensitive trails.
If it’s raining at the start of the ride we probably cancel the ride. If it’s only threatening rain, we ride.
If it’s misting or drizzling at the start of the ride, with less than 50% chance of rain in the coming hour, we ride.
If it’s been raining a lot for a couple days, but not raining the night before, we ride. Our rain-friendly routes avoid sensitive trails. Of course, every few years there’s such a bad storm that we won’t ride; we take the force majeure very seriously.
Snowing: We ride; it is so much fun to ride during a snow storm.
Snow on the ground: We ride. It doesn’t matter if there’s 1 inch or four feet, we ride. We recommend studded tires or fat bikes for these kinds of conditions. The only exclusion to snow riding is when there is a state of emergency and we’ve been asked to stay off the road.
Icy conditions: We ride. For this you have to have studded tires in order to ride with us.
Cold: It doesn’t matter what the temperature is, we ride.
If you'd like us to do any work on your bike prior to the ride, please email us the day before so we're ready to do the work as soon as you come in; we want you to be ready to roll before the ride starts.
Tour of Seven Cycles - January 20, 2020
Location: Seven Cycles, 125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA
Event Type: Tour
Date & Time: Monday, January 20 at 11:00 am
Reason for Tour: See how Seven Cycle designs and builds great, custom bikes efficiently, yet perfectly, for each rider
Price: Free, RSVP Required
Location: Seven Cycles, 125 Walnut Street, Watertown, MA
Event Type: Tour
Date & Time: Monday, January 20 at 11:00 am
Reason for Tour: See how Seven Cycles builds great, custom bikes efficiently, yet perfectly, for each rider
Price: Free, RSVP Required
Description:
Seven Cycles is located very near here in Watertown. Seven Cycles is a company full of bike building professionals. This is the place where custom bikes come to life and many new innovations in bike building have been developed over the years.
Seven has been making the finest bikes for over 22 years and their experience shines as they work. Many Seven Cycles designers, machinists, and welders have been in the bike building world for over 30 years.
Seven’s factory is manufacturing at its best: handcrafted bikes are very carefully and perfectly built one at a time. The short lead times show efficiency, and a well-run business full of highly-skilled people who are passionate about what they do.
Please register no later than 24-hours in advance of the tour. An email will be sent to you with details and directions the day prior to the tour.
Children are welcome to join if they are able to wear safety glasses for the duration.
Everyone will need to wear safety glasses and be wearing close-toed shoes.
We hope you join us!
Last Minute Information: We will email all attendees with last-minute information if anything changes from what we have published here. Please be sure to RSVP below!
Questions? Please include them in the RSVP form below or email connect@rideheadquarters.com and we'll get back to you.
Please RSVP Now to attend this very interesting and in-depth tour of Seven Cycles!
Resolution Ride
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Road
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Distance: 39 miles road, 61 miles road
Pricing: $10
Location: Ride Headquarters in Sherborn, MA
Ride Type: Road - paved
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Distance Options: 39 miles and 61 miles
Price: $10
Post-ride food is included
Register Now - RSVPs Required!
Description: We’ve got two great road rides on tap for you to start 2020 off right! The routes offer two options: 61 miles and 39 miles.
We’re charging $10 per person. Pay online now or in cash for speed in processing in store. Pay online when you register to save the trouble when you’re trying to get out on the ride.
After the ride, we’re serving simple, but tasty, warm chili with toppings (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free). Hot coffee and hot chocolate along with cold soda is also available in store.
Participate in social media to connect with people and help motivate others to join in! #chillclubhq
Membership to the Chill Club! This club has a lot of benefits, with the biggest one being connection and access to other cold-weather riders. There is no cost to join, but you need to prove your interest by attending a qualifying ride. This Resolution Ride is a qualifying ride. Click on the logo to learn more.
Estimated Ride Time
61 mile ride - 3.5 hours at 17mph average
39 mile ride - 2.6 hours at 15mph average
Riding Pace Categories
We’re offering the following for sure:
61-mile route at 17mph average
39-mile route at a 14-15mph average
39-mile route at a 17mph average
Considering the turnout last year and the mild day predicted for this year, we expect an 18+mph group likely for the 61-mile route. If you want this pace, please be sure to load the route on your GPS computer and you’re likely to have good company and a great ride!
If you want to be pushing the pace, or you're the type to get frustrated if the pace is slower or faster than ideal, we suggest putting together a team of 3-8 with friends that you know ride at your pace.
The Routes
61 Miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20271686
39 Miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15631800
The Ideal Bike
Since this is a pavement-only road ride, setup is straight-forward. Bring your road bike or mixed terrain bike with slick tires appropriate for road riding. If you want to ride a demo bike, email us so we can arrange your ride: connect@rideheadquarters.com.
Thoughts about riding your road bike at this time of year:
Roads could be wet, if you have fenders, put them on
It might be chilly. Pogies help keep your hands warm on the road on chilly and very cold days! Cycling boots such as the 45NRTH Ragnaroks keep your feet warm.
The more rubber on the road, the better. If you’re running on 23mm tires, make a resolution to move to wider tires this year.
If your road bike has been on the trainer, you’ve been sweating onto it. Be aware of handlebar corrosion that could, literally, make your handlbars snap in two.
Lube your chain. Whether you’ve been riding inside or out, keep your chain lubed to maximize its life and minimize noise. You don’t want your fellow riders to be annoyed at your noisy bike.
Ride Rules
This is not a race; this is the first ride of the year when you get to be outside with others and enjoy the time on your bike in the sun!
Follow the rules of the road.
If a rider asks for help, help.
You represent all cyclists so be on your best behavior.
Bring a repair kit that includes, at a minimum, everything for fixing a flat and a multitool that can help fix most mechanicals.
Bring a helmet, I.D., and clipless bike pedals and shoes.
Fill out the Ride Headquarters Ride Waiver online.
Last Minute Information: We have everyone’s email addresses who register for this ride so we’ll send out an email for anything that is important for riders to know.
Ride Headquarters Contact Information: Email RHQ or call: 413-461-RIDE (413-461-7433).
Waiver: RHQ requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Email us if you have any questions.
Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for ongoing updates. #chillclubhq
The Honey Allroads - the Ideal Cold & Winter Bike
The Honey Allroads bike is the perfect bike for gravel and mixed terrain riding as well as cold and foul-weather riding. This bike is designed to ride on all road conditions – paved, broken, carriage trails, and single track. We call this the mixed-terrain adventure bike. Take it anywhere to do anything - all year long.
Why is the Honey Allroads an ideal bike for the cold, foul weather, and winter?
The Allroads bike fits 700c x 38mm studded tires comfortably. Studded tires are the secret to winter riding confidently and safely on roads and trails. Ride on ice with no issues with studded tires. If you order
The titanium frame doesn’t corrode or interact with the environment at all. It is completely unaffected by road salt and grime. Counter-intuitively, carbon bikes and aluminum bikes experience corrosion issues. Ask us why this is and we’ll explain how this happens and how this impacts the bike’s longevity.
The Honey Allroads uses a standard threaded bottom bracket. This means you don’t have to be paranoid about the bike getting dirty. Pressfit BBs are notorious for their creaking and issues, some of which may impact the bike’s life. Standard threaded bottom brackets are the easiest bottom brackets to deal with (because you probably won’t ever have to deal with it) and won’t cause you issues. They’re also non-proprietary, so if you need a new one, it’s easy to buy and have replaced.
When the surface you’re riding is wet or uncertain, the most important thing you need are tires to stick to the ground. This offers you confidence and safety. A titanium bike designed as Honey has designed their bikes keeps the tires on the ground in a way that a stiff bike can’t. You want drivetrain rigidity (Honey bikes have this), you don’t want a bike that is stiff in every direction for your comfort and for your stability in keeping your tires on the ground.
Membership to the Chill Club
Whether or not you think you need more motivation to ride this cold season, we are providing the ability to connect with others in the store and via a special email distro list, offering cold weather cycling advice, sending you special promos, and much more.
How do you join the Chill Club? Easy: ride with us in the cold and on this Resolution Ride! This is not a club for people who say things like: “Someday I’ll do it, next time, when the kids go to college, once I get fitter, once I get the right gear…” So many excuses, all of which are keeping you from discovering joy, fun, mental and physical health. Keep false barriers out of your way. Don’t have another winter of being blue or of being burned out from the trainer in the spring. This fall and winter, discover the incredible fun of these seasons on your bike. Use the Chill Club to keep your motivation up and outdoor cycling happening.
There is no requirement to participate in the email distro list if you are a member of the Chill Club. Do all that you want to do as a member, and nothing you don’t want to do. Be proud, though, of your membership and enjoy the many perks of being a Chill Club cyclist!
Festive 500 - 2019
Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
Ride Type: Road Rides
Date & Time: December 24 through December 31
Distance: Over 500km
Price: Free
Location: Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA
Ride Type: Road Rides with some dirt roads
Date & Time: December 24 through December 31 (schedule below)
Distance: Over 500km across 5 different rides
Price: Free
It’s time to get Festive and ride on roads together during time many people have off. We’re offering rides to help you meet the Festive 500 goal of riding at least 500km at the end of the year!
If you are looking to end the year with great rides and good company, join us out on the road during the week of December 24 through the end of the year. We are riding some of our favorite routes with great food stops along the way. We are even bringing back the traditional Snowflake Century – a one hundred-mile ride in the shape of a snowflake!
If you complete the whole series you will be rewarded with a grand total of well over 500km in an eight day span – an awesome way to finish your season. All rides will start and end at the Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA. See below for mileage and GPS routes. These will be posted by the end of the day, December 22.
The average pace of each ride is 16-17mph. We will break up into more pace groups with larger participation. This is the time of year to log base miles and ride long miles.
Henry vdb riding on the road during a day of festive riding!
Tuesday, 12/24 at 9:00am Rollout: 44 Miles to Stow - Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17551275
Monday 12/25: Christmas Day. No official ride.
Thursday, 12/26 at 10:00am: 62 Miles to Lost Lake - Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31631663
Friday, 12/27 at 10:00am: 64 Miles to Blue Moon Bagels in Medfield - Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31631676
Saturday, 12/28: Snowflake Century! Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31651747 See notes below about this special ride and route to understand how it’s working.
Sunday, 12/29 at 9:00am: 52 Miles to Harvard - Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31631681
Monday, 12/30: No official ride, RSC is closed.
Tuesday, 12/31 at 10:00am: 77 Miles to Upton - Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13556402
Snowflake Century Details - December 28, 2019
This ride is in the shape of a snowflake. This allows you to ride as long or short as you wish, in approximately 20-mile increments as the center of the snowflake is Ride Studio Cafe.
The official “led” version of this ride leaves at 8:15am. You may show up later and jump in or go with friends for the portion you want to ride.
The route is all paved, but not a typical Ride Studio road ride. It has to do what it does in order to come back to Ride Studio frequently and make a good snowflake on your GPS computer. Be prepared for many turns and an interesting, festive ride!
A few things to remember:
If you haven’t filled out our Ride Waiver, you must do it online here prior to attending the first ride.
Please carefully read and be ready to ride by our Riding Rules.
The Cafe will be open for food and drinks at the start of the rides. However, our bike shop employees will not necessarily be available. If you need something before the ride, please email us a day in advance.
These are drop rides. The average pace of the rides is 16-17mph. If you cannot maintain the pace of the group you will need to find your way home. It is fine if you would like to see if you can hang with the group, just communicate with your ride leader if you need to drop off of the ride at any point.
Please consider the weather when choosing your tires. We recommend fenders for wet conditions.
All the rides’ routes and distances are subject to change depending on weather and road conditions. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Make sure you are well-equipped for the cold and wintry conditions. At Ride Studio we have a great selection of new winter apparel from our friends at Rapha and 45NRTH, that is sure to keep you warm and comfortable out on the road. We have great options for studded tires, a must-have for riding on icy roads.
We look forward to finishing 2019 with you in style! Have fun and ride safe.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Ride Studio Cafe!