Sunday South Shore Shorter Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end in Weymouth, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes, mtn bikes and fat bikes

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, July 23

• Distance: 17 mi

• 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 and mixed terrain on the South Shore. Ride along the water and see some cool neighborhoods, too.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll likely stick together. For this ride, it’ll be steady, not fast. If you would like to ride faster, that’s fine! Just mention this in your RSVP. You are likely to have good company at your pace, you’ll be welcome to ride ahead of the “led” group so long as you properly communicate with the ride Super Domestique.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a steady endurance pace. The Super Domestique is likely to be riding a fat bike and be tired from a long ride the day before. If you can maintain a 15mph average pace on the road (on a road bike) for 2+ hours, you have the fitness you need for this ride. This ride’s pace will be much less than 15mph (probably more like 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The route is 17 miles long.

Ride time expected is ~2.5 hours with about 2 hours and 20 minutes of actual riding.

Parking

Weymouth, MA. We share the details with all who RSVP.

Route

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

Route Notes

Total distance: 17 miles (we may add a mile or two to have an extra water view)

Total elevation gain: 1,000 ft

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. This is a lot dirt and some rougher trails in spots so be prepared for this. It is a really neat route. 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 Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 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

• 35mm 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.

• 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.

Sunday South Shore Shorter Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end in Weymouth, MA

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes, mtn bikes and fat bikes

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, July 16

• Distance: 18 mi

• 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 and mixed terrain on the South Shore. Ride along the water and see some cool neighborhoods, too.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll likely stick together. For this ride, it’ll be steady, not fast. If you would like to ride faster, that’s fine! Just mention this in your RSVP. You are likely to have good company at your pace.

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 15mph 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 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The route is 18 miles long.

Ride time expected is ~2.5 hours.

Parking

Weymouth, MA. We share the details with all who RSVP.

Route

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

Route Notes

Total distance: 17 miles (we may add a mile or two to have an extra water view)

Total elevation gain: 1,000 ft

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. This is a lot dirt and some rougher trails in spots so be prepared for this. It is a really neat route. 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 Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 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

• 35mm 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.

• 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.

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

• Date & Time: 8am, Saturday, July 15

• 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 terrain, everything is rideable, but it’s no issue to walk anything you’re unable to ride.

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 15mph 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 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 7:55am. 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

Exact spot to park: 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 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!

We will have Crud Cloths for everyone who wants one, these feel especially good on a very hot day. One free per NEER member. Want more or not a member? Please bring $10 and you’ll receive 3 Crud Cloths.

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 Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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 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

• 35mm 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.

• 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.

Adventure Road Ride - 93 Miles

• Location: Start and end in Concord Center, MA

• Ride Type:  Road ride, mostly pavement, appropriate for road bikes there will be some dirt roads appropriate for road tires

• Date & Time:  Saturday, July 1 at 7am

• Distance:  93 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 long road ride with some fun adventure built in! The ride starts in Concord Center at a public parking lot.

We then wind our way to Hollis, NH.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading one group to depart which will be rolling at a ~15-16 mph endurance pace with spirited fun on the hills.

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

Would you like to ride at a pace below 15-16mph average? Let us know! We ALWAYS have riders asking for a more mellow pace and we depend on you to speak up to say what you want to do AND then we expect that when you say you’ll come out to ride, you will come out. This is how we get a pace group together that is to your liking and you’ll meet others who want exactly what you do out of the ride!

Distance

93 miles

Parking

Concord Center, Keyes Lot:

58 Main Street
Concord, MA
01742

Route

The route will be emailed by 7pm the evening before the ride to all participants.

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

Allow a very minimum of 7 hours moving + at least an hour of stopped time, likely it’ll add up to more than this

Route Notes

We’re taking nice paved and some dirt roads. This is appropriate for road bikes preferably with 28mm tires but 25mm will be fine, take it easy when the road turns to dirt!

This route has not been vetted this year. If a road is closed or requires a work around, be prepared to to figure it out. It’s an adventure!

After the Ride

There is a lot of food and drink in Concord Center if you want to hang out after the ride.

Last-Minute Information

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

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.

Live Free and Ride Gravel Saturday

Details

• Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads

• Time & Date: Saturday, June 24 - 7am-9am Rollout**

• **If weather is an issue for Saturday, June 24, we’ll look at requiring a 7am start or running a ride elsewhere at lower elevation nearer to the Boston, MA area (Sunday is looking worse than Saturday) - a GO/NO GO decision will be emailed to all who register by 12pm Friday before the ride.

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

• Distance: 65 miles / 105 km

• Price: Free

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

What you get

• Gorgeous, well-planned route with others out there on it at the same time: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• The route has not been vetted this year. It worked last time we hosted a ride here 2 years ago, but things can change. Bring your spirit of adventure!

• Co-adventurers, you’re not out there alone. If you’re a slower rider, we suggest selecting an early rollout time so riders are behind you for most/all of the day.

Start Location

• Starting Point: New Boston, NH

Route Information

Here is some general information about the route:

• Distance: 65 miles

• We will share the route and ride details no later than 7pm Friday, June 23 to all who RSVP before then who are NEER members, since that is a requirement for this ride.

• The route has not been vetted this year so there’s a chance a road is closed or a trail is closed or conditions have changed since we vetted it. This route is not that likely to present big navigation challenges given its location and the roads/trails we’re taking.

Ride With Your Friends, Ride With a Group We Put Together, Ride Solo

Get your friends together to ride! It’s way more fun riding with a friend group than alone. It’s also safer.

PLEASE let us know when you RSVP that you want to ride with your friend group so we can get you rolling before everyone else.

If you want to ride solo, please plan to start earlier in the morning so that riders will be behind you for most/all of the day. It’s safer this way. Please tell us this in your RSVP.

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.

---

• There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.

• Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.

• 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 a very detailed email by 7pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

Waiver

If you’re a member of NEER, you’ve signed the waiver. If you think you haven’t signed it, please do it now: 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).

After the Ride

• Bring a picnic in a cooler in your car and camp chairs. We’re parking at a school near the center of New Boston. It’s not particularly beautiful, but it’s still a nice place to hang out.

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!

Sunday Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Start and end at Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA

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

• Date & Time: 10am, Sunday, June 11

• Distance:  25 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 takes cyclists to many back roads, plenty of dirt paths and single-track (not too technical) trails for a total of 25 miles.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with ~40mm tires is suited for the terrain.

Pace

We’ll split people into 2 groups based on bikes and speeds that are likely to result.

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 15mph 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 8mph).

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Please be ready to ride at 9:55am. We’ll start the safety talk at 10am and then roll out.

The ride is 25 miles in length.

Allow 3-4ish hours for the ride.

Parking

Across the street from Revolution Hall. DO NOT park in the Revolution Hall parking lot.

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

Exact spot to park: https://goo.gl/maps/DXJyjgRdjp6BCqcA8

Route

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

Route Notes

A mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. There may be a few boardwalks, they are of average width, nothing overly difficult. There is no pressure to ride anything you would prefer to walk.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy a drink or food at Revolution Hall is invited to hang out and enjoy social time together! The ride leader will stick around for awhile post-ride.

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 Ride Headquarters at connect@rideheadquarters.com.

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

Ride Headquarters 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 mostly gravel bikes, some mountain bikes, and possibly fat bikes at this ride.

• 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.

Wednesday Early Morning Mixed Terrain Training Ride

• Location: Start and end in Waltham, MA at the Mighty Squirrel Parking Lot

• Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Training Ride

• Date & Time:  Wednesdays in June, 2023

• Distance:  13-16 miles. The ride is always done before 9am

• 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 with the ride over to Prospect Hill via mixed terrain trails, then we do hill intervals at the same time with everyone going the pace that makes sense to each person. There is no need to participate in the intervals to the top of Prospect if your body doesn’t want to do it.

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 it’s just an up/down on the same road on Prospect Hill.

There are a total of 4 intervals on offer for the first Wednesday in June. It’s always fine to sit one out or ride slowly if one wants 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/hr, they should be done such that it’s possible to complete the full workout. Steady results in better results than max. It’s also far more pleasant to execute steady intervals rather than max.

Distance

The ride is ~13-15 miles in length.

Parking

Mighty Squirrel Parking Lot

411 Waverley Oaks Road , Waltham, MA, United States, Massachusetts

Route

Please load BOTH of these routes into your GPS computer:

6 To Prospect: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43189908

6 From Prospect: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43189955

Estimated Ride Time

Plan to be back before 9am, we’ll learn exact timing after the first “official” running of this ride.

Route Notes

Be prepared for rocks/roots and single track riding over to Prospect Hill. Dab a foot or walk what you need to. If you aren’t comfortable with riding rocks/roots on your gravel bike, this isn’t the best first ride to come out on to learn it.

After the Ride

Everyone needs to get to work or start their day. Ride Headquarters shows up to this with the big, red van. HQ will stick around with anyone who would like to discuss bikes or any bike shop business. Please tell Ride HQ to expect you post-ride if you want to discuss new bikes so we can bring demo bikes with us and have the time set aside for you!

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 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

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

• Gravel, mtn or fat bike with 40mm tires or wider are the most common on this ride.

• Clip-in pedals: This is an important element of bike control.

• Front and rear lights that will last the duration of the ride when it’s dark (if it’s dark) 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.

Gravel Rhodes Island Ride

Details

• Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads

• Time & Date: Saturday, June 3 - 8am - 9am Rollout time options

  * Starting Point: Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, CT

  * Distance: 65 miles / 105 km

  * Price: Free

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

What you get

• Gorgeous, well-planned route with others out there on it at the same time: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• The route has not been vetted this year. It worked last summer, but things can change. Bring your spirit of adventure!

• Co-adventurers, you’re not out there alone. If you’re a slower rider, we suggest selecting an early rollout time so riders are behind you for most/all of the day.

Start Location

• Starting Point: Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, CT

Route Information

Here is some general information about the route:

• Distance: 65 miles

• Miles of dirt:  ~40% of the miles are on dirt roads. 

• Approximately 4,300 feet of total ascent.

• We will share the route and ride details no later than 7pm Friday, June 2 to all who RSVP before then who are NEER members, since that is a requirement for this ride.

• The route has not been vetted this year so there’s a chance a road is closed or a trail is closed or conditions have changed since we vetted it last summer. This route is not that likely to present big navigation challenges given its location and the roads/trails we’re taking.

Ride With Your Friends, Ride With a Group We Put Together, Ride Solo

Get your friends together to ride! It’s way more fun riding with a friend group than alone. It’s also safer.

PLEASE let us know when you RSVP that you want to ride with your friends so we can get you rolling before everyone else.

If you want to ride solo, please plan to start earlier in the morning so that riders will be behind you for most/all of the day. It’s safer this way. Please tell us this in your RSVP.

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 everyone is riding a bigger-tire bike.

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

---

• There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.

• Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.

• 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 a very detailed email by 7pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

Waiver

If you’re a member of NEER, you’ve signed the waiver. If you think you haven’t signed it, please do it now: 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).

After the Ride

• Bring a picnic in a cooler in your car and camp chairs. We park in a beautiful lot where eating a picnic is quite enjoyable.

• There is an ice cream place enroute home for those who are heading back to the Boston area if you’re wanting something before heading too far home.

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.

• 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!

Trail Mix Barre Bonus Edition

Details

• Ride a challenging, gorgeous route presenting remote paved, broken, and dirt roads for your cycling delight and fulfillment.

• Time & Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023 - Gather by 8am, Rolling out just after this

• Starting Point: Barre, Massachusetts

• Distance Options:

  • ~107 miles - this includes a cut back to Barre center, complete details about mid-ride fueling options will be included in the pre-ride email

  • ~77 miles (taking an easy way to cut back)

  • 48 miles (taking easy way to cut back)

• Elevation gain:

  • 100 mile route - 6,200 ft

• Dirt vs pavement: Approx 70% dirt and broken roads/trails, the rest is paved

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

What you get

• Gorgeous, well-planned route with others out there on it at the same time: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• The route has not been vetted this year. It worked last year around this time, but things change. Bring your spirit of adventure!

• The opportunity to pop into Barre center during the ride so as to use your car as a place with extra calories or water. Barre center has plenty of businesses including a gas station and ice cream place.

Start Location

Middle of Massachusetts. Barre center, MA.

Estimated drive times:

• A 70-minute drive from Lexington or Sherborn

• An 80-minute drive from Boston

Route Information

• Miles of dirt:  Many. Lots of chunky trails too. Plenty of smoother sections as well.

• We will share with you exactly how to cut the route short if you’re not interested in the full 107 miles.

• Everyone is on the same route until the short cut-backs so if you want a shorter ride, you’re not riding for more than 3 miles solo since the cut-back points are close to Barre center.

Pacing for this distance

It is important that you feel confident you can average at least 10mph over the course of the day for the 107 mile route. If you are falling off the minimal pace, we want you to take an alternate route back to cut the route short.

Aside from meeting the minimum speed requirement, you’re welcome to ride at your own pace, as you feel comfortable safely ticking down the miles.

Ride With Your Friends, Ride With a Group We Put Together, Ride Solo

Get your friends together to ride! It’s way more fun riding with a friend group than alone. It’s also safer.

PLEASE let us know when you RSVP that you want to ride with your friends so we can get you rolling before everyone else.

If you want to ride solo, please plan to start earlier in the morning so that riders will be behind you for most/all of the day. It’s safer this way. Please tell us this in your RSVP.

There will be one group riding the 107 mile distance, averaging a solid “moderate” pace. This is not necessarily a sweep group. Everyone up for a solid moderate pace is welcome to join in this group.

A 100 mile gravel ride will take you hours longer than a 100 mile road ride. Your pace will be at least 20-30% slower than your road riding pace.

---

• There is no ride leader, even if you ride with a group; you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.

• Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Drink plenty of water considering how hot it may be! This is common sense for any ride, especially smart when you’re riding further away from people who can give you a ride home.

• 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 a very detailed email by 7pm the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

• All of our Riding Rules apply in addition to the social distance protocols. Read and digest them before the ride. All riders are expected to abide by these throughout the ride. All rules stated here on this page or in our social distance protocol override any conflicting rules stated in our ride rule page.

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. Don’t take this lightly - you will likely need a CamelBak with water to get through this ride.

• Waiver: If you’re a member of NEER, you’ve signed the waiver. If you think you haven’t signed it, please do it now: https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-waiver

After the Ride

• Enjoy a tasty meal at Stone Cow if you have the time and interest in joining us there! It’s a fun place to be. Bring $ for food and/or drinks if you would like to eat post-ride.

Proper Bike for this Ride

• A road or gravel bike that has 35mm tires or wider. 32mm tires will work for riders who are experienced with chunky terrain, but we don’t recommend this size especially if you’re less experienced with gravel. 40mm should be ideal. Mountain bikes will be happy out there, just a smidge slower on the road sections. 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.

• 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!