Brutiful Gravel Rhodes Island Ride

• Location: Start and end in Coventry, Rhode Island

• Ride Type:  Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 35mm or wider tires)

• Date & Time: Saturday, March 16, 2024

• Distance: 100km with a shorter version of ~40mi

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on gear covered.

• Theme: Have fun riding gravel and get ready for the season ahead!

• Price:  $40

• Registration deadline: Thursday, March 14 at 11:59pm.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in Rhode Island (route will touch Connecticut some as well). This is a great opportunity to get your riding friends together, get your gravel bike out, remember how much fun it is to ride dirt, back roads, and simply enjoy a nice day out on the bike in an area you probably don’t ride much/at all! This is a new route, you haven’t ridden it before.

There are options for riders so you get what you want and have a really fun day on the bike! Here are the basics:

• Start with a freshly brewed cup of tasty coffee (we have very high standards for coffee) or tea

• Ride a well-vetted 100km gravel ride with your friends, a group of people who have similar speed aspirations for the day as you or ride solo

• Ride in an area without much traffic and where you're probably not riding otherwise

• Finish the ride with tasty, wholesome freshly made warm food, friends, and quality relaxation time.

• There is no on-bike mechanical support. We're starting riders off with gaps so that slower riders will be passed by faster riders at some point and will allow more overlap which offers visibility for riders throughout the ride. Riders are expected to bring all tools necessary for mechanical situations. Keep reading for recommendations of what to bring with you.

• This is an area that may have wet ground due to the recent rains, but we won't be doing damage since sensitive trails are not on the route. The ride is unlikely to be rescheduled due to rain. If a lot of rain is predicted for Saturday, we'll move the date to Sunday, March 17. We will run the ride if it's sprinkling at the start and predicted to stop early in the day.

• There are no refunds, this is a low-budget yet very nicely put together event. We want to offer you a great day on the bike and a really fun way to start the gravel season. 

• Reconnect with your gravel riding friends too! Make new friends for the season!!

Want to ride with your Friend Group or Ride Solo? Options abound!

Get your friends together and you get your own departure time. You’ll tell us when you register when you want to depart and who you want to ride with. You and your friends can stick together and enjoy this as a group. Or if you want to ride solo, that’s fine too.

Otherwise, we’re assembling groups to ride together based on the pace you sign up for.

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm Friday, March 15, 2023 (the night before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• Good tasting coffee and tea at the start.

• Ride a new route never ridden before in an unpopulated area/

• A well-vetted route.

• An opportunity to ride your bike on dirt roads, trails, and random back paved and broken roads.

• The chance to share the day with your friend group, or ride with a group of people we match up based on expected pace, or ride solo without feeling alone.

• A warm, hearty meal and treats at the end of the ride!

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, getting back to gravel and mixed terrain after a long winter. Take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish. Yes, this is a perk of the day. FUN is the idea. There are plenty of great events that have a clock happening this year. This isn’t one of them.

Get your Friends Together to Ride Together!

We’re offering a separate rollout time for all friend groups so you can start together and stay together. Get your friends together and when you register, tell us their names. Your start time will not be more than 30 minutes different from the start time for the category you register for unless you request a different time.

If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, we will get riders of similar paces to ride together or you’re welcome to ride solo. We prefer to start solo riders nice and early so you’re seeing others throughout the day and not the last rider out there.

Start Time Requests if different from the category start time

We’re happy to accommodate anyone’s start time requests unless it looks like it’ll get you back too early or too late so please tell us your requests in your registration information. If you’re riding with a friend group and you request a specific time, we’ll assume everyone in your group is on board with the EARLIEST time requested.

Pace

If you choose to ride with a group of friends you or someone puts together, ride the pace your group prefers! We offer a start time for your group so that you can start separately and stay together.

If you’re riding solo, you’re welcome to ride the pace you want as long as you have time to complete the route before we stop serving food. If you’re wondering about your pace and timing, email us.

If you select to ride with a group of people we assemble, then hopefully those who we match you with are around the same pace. There’s always a risk of the group being a little faster or slower than how you want to ride so come with the route loaded and be prepared. Our rides typically attract people in this category who want to ride with others so people will alter their pace a little to appease others in the group so as to have a pleasant group experience.

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Start times that you see when you register are all approximate. We will roll out groups of friends, groups we assemble, and solo riders separately. You'll get an email with exact rollout times 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 5pm. People should arrive well before this time. We’ll pack up and leave at 6pm unless people are either all done before then or having too much fun, in which case we’ll stay for the party!

Parking

There is a large parking lot that allows for all-day parking at no charge where we’ll be starting and ending. We’ll share exact directions with you to this lot.

We’ll suggest a place to find a toilet enroute to the lot since there is not a toilet on-site.

Route & Route Notes

The route will be emailed to all who register no later than 5pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

The route is about as gentle in terms of elevation gain as you’ll find a gravel ride within a 90-minute drive of the Boston area! We’ll tell you lots more in the pre-ride communication.

Food & Water During the Ride

There is one stop mid-ride for the 100km route to refill water and buy calories. It’s not fancy (think nice, clean gas station), there’s almost no where in this area to refill.

After the Ride

We’re providing quality fancier than usual grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, a wholesome protein and veggie side salad, and something sweet post-ride. We buy organic as much as we can and use healthy oils such as avocado oil. All diets are accommodated at the after-ride meal. Vegetarian, gluten free, and vegan diets will be accommodated assuming we have riders who request these diets in the registration (it’s usual to have these requests).

What happens if it’s rainy? The weather looks like it’ll be nice…

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain except for possibly adding more puddles for riders to avoid. We aren’t riding sensitive trails or areas where it would be irresponsible for bikes to go when it’s wet.

We will host the ride if rain is predicted but expected to stop during the day. Should it look like a wash-out, we’ll move the ride to Sunday, but we’ll only do this if it’s absolutely necessary.

Last-Minute Information

We will email all participants with any critical late-breaking news via BikeReg.com so make sure you get communications from BikeReg!

Everyone will receive complete ride details by 5pm Friday evening to their email, the day before the ride. If you have NOT received an email by 5pm Friday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please don’t email prior to 5pm Friday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

Contact Information

Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign electronically.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to walk a few more spots (around rocks, roots). Either flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.

• Required: A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time

• Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking. The chain should be lubed just prior to the ride.

• Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:

• Flat fix tools and at least TWO spare tubes (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 or hand pump, multi-tool

• Nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers

• Nice to have: Change of socks, waterproof socks (in case your feet slip into a puddle)

• Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare

• Extra clothes and storage capacity so adding/taking off layers is easy

• Required: Cell phone and a plan to get back to your car in case your bike or body stops working - we cannot offer rides to anyone (per insurance requirements)

• Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride

• Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in the dark or in inclement conditions. Visibility is always a good thing for safety.

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

• VERY NICE TO HAVE: Lawn chair/camp chair for post-ride hanging out and eating food in relaxed manner.

• Change of clothes to wear after the ride so you’re comfy!

Horizon Chasers Road Ride - March 9, 2024

• Location: Start and end in Framingham

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement

• Date & Time:  Saturday, March 9, 9:00am start

• Distance:  68.5 miles

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

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

Details

This road ride takes riders from Framingham to Purgatory Chasm and back. It’s hilly. We’re taking it at an endurance pace and using this for early season fitness. Slow up hills, steady on the back sides of hills.

March 8 mid-day Update: We have a solid group of faster riders registered, will likely average 17-18mph.

We also have a good group of “funner” riders at 14-15mph average pace registered.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~14-15 mph average speed endurance pace. We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.

If you want to ride slower than ~14-15mph average for the distance, please email us.

Parking

Lots of parking is here:

110 Dudley Rd., Framingham, MA

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BWvXatr6uDc3xpV98

Look for the big, red van in this lot! The van will be there by 8:45am, but probably closer to 8:30am.

Distance

The ride is 68.5 miles in length.

Route

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45789286

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

Start Time & Estimated Ride Time

The ride starts at 9:00am, just after we do a safety talk. Please be ready to ride at 8:55am and at the big, red van.

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

Route Notes

It’s hilly. There will be a few busy roads, but most are back roads with less traffic.

Food/water/bathrooms

Mi 27 - Shaw’s market for bathroom and any food

Mi 48.8 - Little Coffee Bean in Upton, this is an out/back on the route to get here, lots of food options

After the Ride

Everyone will be ready to go home, this is a lot for early in the season!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

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

Horizon Chasers Road Ride

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

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

• Date & Time:  Sunday, March 3, 10am start

• Distance:  58 miles

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

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

Details

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

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~14-15 mph endurance pace. We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together.

If you want to ride slower than ~14mph average for the distance, please email us. We usually have people looking for paces under 14 mph, but we need to know who you are and what your pace is so as to find others to fill this group.

Parking

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

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

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

Distance

The ride is 59 miles in length.

Route

The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45725549

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

Start Time & Estimated Ride Time

The ride starts at 10:00am, just after we do a safety talk. Please be ready to ride at 9:55am and at the big, red van.

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

Route Notes

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

Food/water/bathrooms

This route incorporates a food/water stop at Blue Moon Cafe in Medfield, MA at mile 26.

After the Ride

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

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

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

Horizon Chasers Road Ride, Concord, MA Start

• Location: Start and end in Concord Center, MA

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement

• Date & Time:  Saturday, March 2, 9:00am start time

• Distance:  48 miles

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

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

Details

This road ride takes riders from Concord to Harvard. We ride steady for good endurance and quality base miles this time of year. Most of the roads are very low traffic and offer fun flow for road cycling.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~14-15 mph endurance pace. We’ll split the group so faster riders can ride faster together. We expect to be able to have 3 speed groups (14-15, 16-17, 18+ averages).

There may be rain toward the end of the ride, bring rain gear just in case!

Distance

The ride is 48 miles in length.

Parking

Parking is free and ample here:

Public lot off of Keyes Rd., Concord, MA

Link: https://goo.gl/maps/jjS2uBcjU68GneDv7

Route

The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41869093

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

Estimated Ride Time

~3-4 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at food/bathroom stop at mile 31.

Please be ready to roll at 8:55am. We do a safety talk, then roll just after 9am.

Route Notes

The route is all paved. There will be a quick food/water replenishing stop at mile 31. Bring money for food if desired.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy food/drink at a nearby cafe is encouraged to hang out!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

• 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.

NoFlake Adventure Road Ride

• Location: Start and end in Norwood, MA

• Ride Type:  Road ride, all pavement in a bucolic part of our state! Starting & ending at a large tap room with food and all kinds of drinks.

• Date & Time:  Saturday, February 10, 9:00am start

• Distance:  60 miles with an option to cut the route to 45 miles

• Price:  Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us, we hope you use this as a way to get to know NEER and become a member for 2024!

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

Details

This is a beautiful day on the bike starting/ending in Norwood, MA!

We have a designated Super Domestique leading one group which will be rolling at a steady 14-15mph average conversational, endurance pace perfect for many this time of year.

We’ll create other groups based on expected average speeds so people can ride with similar-speed riders so you get the ride you’re after. No one should be looking for race pace or surging this time of year. This is a chance to enjoy a great day on the bike with others at the pace that feels comfortable to you and your fitness level.

If you have questions about the pace, please email us in advance.

Distance

The ride is 60 miles in length. There is a shorter 45-mile option which simply involves cutting the route around mile 21 so everyone starts the same 21 miles and we’ll make it obvious via a separate route for anyone who’d like a 45-mile option.

Parking

Exact parking directions will be emailed to all who RSVP. We’re starting at the Castle Island Brewing Company, 31 Astor Ave, Norwood, MA 02062

Route

The routes will be shared with all who RSVP.

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

Estimated Ride Time

~3.5-5 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food/bathroom stops.

Route Notes and Food Stops

Food/water: There is one food/refuel stop at mile 25 at a small market (basic store and sandwiches offered). It is worth being a little hungry at the end since there’s a nice food truck with a lot of offerings in addition to the tap room full of beer and non-alcoholic drinks as well.

Route notes: The 1/2 way destination is Diamond Hill Reservoir in Rhode Island. It’s a beautiful place to ride to and through. There are many lovely areas and bodies of water to be seen enroute as well. The roads are not heavily traveled and are most back roads with a few crossings of major roads. As always, there will be rough roads and potholes so keep an eye open.

After the Ride

Enjoy food and drink at the Tap Room and time together before you take off! There is plenty of room in the Tap Room for us to have our own large table(s). At 2pm, there’s a “Puppy Bowl” happening at the tap room so if you like dogs, this is the place to be.

The Tap Room opens at 12pm. The fastest riders are likely to arrive right around 12pm.

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

• Bring your road bike OR gravel bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group you would like to ride with.

• If the roads are 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.

Burning Snowflake GRAVEL Event Ride

Join us for incredibly beautiful cycling on the back roads of central Massachusetts!

The distance offered will be determined after we scout the condition of the dirt roads in central Massachusetts.

Imagine you a little more bundled than this but with this similar kind of smile on your face!

This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride starts about a 1 hour drive west from Boston so most people will need to drive to the start.

This is a group or solo ride, depending on how you want to ride it. You may get a group of your friends together, you may request to ride with others who are likely of your similar cycling pace and experience, or you’re welcome to ride it alone, though you’re hardly alone when there are so many people on the same route.

There is little to no cell coverage on many parts of the routes.

Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety and visit the links, so you know exactly what’s what.

Due to insurance requirements, this ride is only open to NEER members. You may become a NEER member, so it’s not too late.

There is NO fee to join in this ride, rather it’s an opportunity for you to become a NEER member or renew your membership for a full year of adventures on your bikes! This is the first of many gravel rides and events we’re hosting this year.

Get a Group of Friends Together to Ride!

Ride with your friends at whatever pace you and your friends like to ride. Let us know you’d like to do this when you register, we ask who is riding with who. ALSO if you’d like a different start time, let us know and it’s highly likely it’ll work out very well for all of us.

Ride with New-to-You People Option

Ride with people of your riding speed, but you don’t have to know anyone prior to the ride! This is an option for you if you’d like to ride with a group, but don’t have friends riding or simply want to meet new people who are of a similar strength. We do our best to group you together.

Ride Solo

You’re also welcome to ride solo. We prefer if you are a solo rider that you choose an earlier start time so that there are riders behind you, for the purposes of safety and everyone seeing people out there on the route.

We are glad to start you off earlier than the advertised starting times so that you’ll see others all day long, yet still get to ride solo.

Food & Drinks

We will ensure we are finishing at a place that offers food and drinks so you can refuel and enjoy some after-ride socialization before making the trip home.

Photo courtesy of Red Apple Farm. Sunset at the farm.

Details

What you get

• A gorgeous, well-planned route: Route file for your GPS computer, parking directions/instructions.

• Staffed starting & finishing location with water, toilets, friendly people and sweet farm animals

• Staffed food stop with water, your drop bag if you’re doing the 150 mile, and a few additional calories for you to enjoy

• Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route.

• Option to purchase breakfast, lunch or dinner and beer or non-alcoholic drinks at the end of the ride at the farm, nice place to hang out with each other and spend the afternoon. Invite your non-riding loved ones and friends to come join you for the after-ride picnic at Red Apple!

Price

• Free

• You MUST be a NEER member (a Cat 4 NEER membership is $50 for a full year of hosted rides of all varieties, and there are lots of additional benefits to being a member) - details on joining are here). This is a requirement of insurance, otherwise, we would be unable to host this or any bike ride.

  • No day-of registrations

Start Location

We will update you on the specifics. It’ll be a ~1 hr drive from Boston.

Route Information

Like all of our routes, it’s adventure-filled, but also very appropriate for gravel bikes. You’ll ride plenty of dirt roads, trails, and what’s pavement will be on the quiet roads.

Expect elevation in the 75 ft. per mile range.

Safety & Dealing with Mechanicals

Every rider is expected to follow the rules of the road at all times. This means obeying stop signs and staying to the right-hand portion of the road.

If we think you’re being unsafe, you will be asked to leave the ride. You will not be invited to return to any group rides as well. This applies for all aspects of cycling and general behavior.

We are NOT providing a roving mechanic. That means you should bring all of the tools and supplies necessary for possible mechanical situations. There are other riders out on the route and we hope people will assist each other in case of a problem.

Come out with a freshly tuned up bike, fresh sealant in your fresh tires, have electronic bikes charged fully, shifter lever batteries checked for freshness, lube those chains! Check your spare tubes to be sure they will hold air. If you’re in doubt about this, take new tubes. It’s not worth getting stuck out there.

Most mechanicals are easily avoidable by taking proper care of your equipment in advance of the ride.

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.

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

We’ll send a very detailed email by 7pm the night before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.

Since many details are up in the air, many more details will be shared with all on this page by Monday, February 5.

Preparation

What to bring, we recommend:

Everything necessary for common mechanicals. Items include:

• 2 x tubes

• Hand pump

• Co2 cartridges & Co2 inflator

• Tire levers

• Boot/dollar bill if your tire gets ripped

• Patch kit

• 1 pair of quick links compatible for your chain

• Chain pliers

• Chain breaker

• Multi-tool (if your chain breaker is on your multi-tool, even better)

• If your bike uses a replaceable derailleur hanger, be sure to have an extra that is compatible with your bike

• Rain jacket and warm gloves, chemical hand/foot warmers, neck warmers, etc in case the temps change on you

• 2 x 26 oz water bottles minimum.

• Food/nutrition in case you need a zap of energy before the food stop

Proper Bike for this Ride

• 40mm tires are best suited for the ride. Err on the side of bigger, especially if you’re newer to gravel riding. Feel free to use bigger tires. Your gravel bike is the most appropriate bike for the ride. Mountain bikes and flat-bar bikes are welcome. Narrower than 28mm tires are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger. We welcome mountain bikes, fat bikes, and any bike that you feel comfortable completing the distance on in the time frame allotted for the ride.

• We will let you know if studded tires are recommended or required.

• 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. If you’ll be riding with others and it’ll be wet, please be nice to your co-riders and use full-coverage fenders.

Weather

We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.

Last Minute Information

We will email everyone who registers with the latest information if last minute details change.

Unregistered riders, riders who are not members of NEER, or riders who haven’t signed the liability waiver may not participate.

If you have financial reasons to be unable to pay, please email us so we can accommodate you. We want everyone to ride who wants to ride.

Waiver

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

Contact Information

Email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.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.

Saturday, Feb 3, 2024 Fat Bike Ride

• Location: Start and end in Leominster, MA

• Ride Type:  SNOW Mixed Terrain Ride for fat bikes with studded tires

• Date & Time:  Saturday, February 3, 2023, 9:00am start

• Distance:  2-2.5 hours total (it’s twisty so probably not more than ~10 miles)

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

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

Details

This trail snow ride takes cyclists on the trails of Leominster State Forest. The plan to go to Leominster is tentative until we know that the trails have been groomed considering the amount of snow that will fall on Saturday.

There is ice on the ground, thus studded tires are required.

Pace

If you can maintain a 14mph 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 much less than this (probably more like 4 mph) with the winter clothes, big boots, new snow conditions, twisty trails, etc. We’ll regroup periodically.

Start Time

8:55am - Be ready to ride! Stay in your car if you’re ready early if it’s cold enough to freeze you before the ride starts.

9:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out

If the roads aren’t safe to drive, we encourage you to not be on the road.

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

The ride is probably ~10 miles in length.

Allow 2-2.5 hours for the ride.

Parking

Parking is free and ample at the Leominster trail head, we’ll share the exact location with all who RSVP by 7pm the night before the ride.

Route

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

Route Notes

The most important aspect of this ride is to dress appropriately for the weather since it will not be that cold out, so it’s going to be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating leads to freezing). Wear enough layers so that it’s possible to start warm and then not overheat. Bring chemical hand & foot warmers if your gloves/boots are thin.

Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider needs to walk out to the car and the group will need to proceed or else everyone could be at risk with the cold. Please understand that the group will need to continue moving.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to enjoy a hot cocoa or talk about bikes after the ride is welcome to do so. We’ll make hot chocolates for anyone who wants one at the big, red van.

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

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. If you registered to be a NEER member November or December of 2022, it’s time to renew your membership!

Proper bike & Equipment

• STUDDED 3.5” knobby tires OR BIGGER.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see fat bikes at this ride considering the snow conditions. It is possible a mountain bike with studded tires will be okay out there too, hard to know until we’re rolling!

• 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 Snow Ride! January 20, 2024, Hollis, MA

Saturday Snow Ride! January 20, 2024

• Location: Hollis, NH

• Ride Type:  Fat bike ride

• Date & Time:  10am Saturday, January 20

• Distance:  ~2-3+ hours of riding, see details

• Price:  Free*

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

• RSVPs: Required, form is at the bottom

Details

This ride departs at 10am. We’re riding together as a group, everyone climbs at a comfortable pace, re-groups happen at the top and bottom of hills. No one will get dropped, we re-group periodically.

Studded tires are REQUIRED. Fat tires are going to be the best tires for the terrain, but studded mountain bikes might be okay. We won’t know until we start riding. The snow isn’t that deep, so maximum float might not be necessary.

Distance

The route is ~13 miles in length and there’s some elevation gain/loss so it’s not a fast 13 miles by any means. We’ll return to the lot at the end of this loop and there’s a very good chance the Super Domestique will want to keep riding so if you want to go longer, you’ll probably have that option. PLEASE mention in your RSVP if you’d like to take on a longer ride for another 2-3 hours.

Schedule

The big, red van will be in the parking lot at 9:30am, so look for it and park nearby. Please be ready to roll by 9:55am.

Parking

Parking is free in this very large lot:

130 Silver Lake Rd, Hollis, NH 03049

https://goo.gl/maps/Zj5Rdx7XzGRVq2gd6

As far as we know now, trails will be closed to snowmobiles. If the trails are open, this lot might fill up.

Route

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

Questions? We’re at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com. Need to reach us at the ride? Call 413-461-7433, this reaches the organizer/Super Domestique who is at the ride.

Estimated time

~3+ hours

Ride Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. It’s all appropriate for 4” tires or bigger. We can’t speak to the exact quality of the snow. Be ready to take air out or add air to your tires.

Contact Information

Email - connect@rideheadquaters.com, Phone which reaches the ride leader before and during the ride: 413-461-7433

Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different

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

Waiver

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

The proper bike for this ride includes the following:

• Fat bike with 4”+ tires are suggested, but tires MUST be studded.  If you want to try a studded mtn bike, you’re welcome to, but no guarantees.

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

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

• Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need

After the Ride

Buckley’s Market (9 Market Pl, Hollis, NH 03049) is around the corner from the Silver Lake lot (probably a ~5 minute drive) and they offer a nice selection of food and treats. It’s a good place to stop enroute to the ride and again before heading home.

Sand is Like Snow Beach Ride, Barnstable, MA

Sand is Like Snow Beach Ride, Barnstable, MA

• Location: Barnstable, MA

• Ride Type:  Fat bike ride

• Date & Time:  10am Sunday, January 14

• Distance:  ~2.5-3ish hours of riding sandy beaches

• Price:  Free*

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

• RSVPs: Required, form is at the bottom

Details

This ride departs at 10am. We’re riding together as a group, but on the beach, everyone can ride at his/her own pace; no one will get dropped, we re-group periodically. There may be a few roads connecting trails, but most of this is beach. If you recently mounted your studded tires, that’s fine. Both non-studded and studded tire bikes will be fine since there’s little or no pavement on the route. Route details will be shared with those who RSVP.

It’ll be windier on the sand, so be sure to dress warmer than the weather forecast predicts numerically.

Schedule

We’ll be at the parking lot by 9:45am. Please be ready to roll by 9:55am.

Parking

There is free parking in a large parking lot.

Route

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

Questions? We’re at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com. Need to reach us at the ride? Call 413-461-7433, this reaches the organizer/Super Domestique who is at the ride.

Estimated time

~2.5-3ish hours

Ride Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. It’s all appropriate for 4” tires or bigger. We can’t speak to the exact quality of the sand. There is some very fine, deep sand on some of the route so fatter tires with lower pressures will do best. If you come out with narrower tires than 4” and you can’t keep up, you’ll probably have fun riding at the water line where the sand is more compact, but we won’t be able to wait for you.

Contact Information

Email - connect@rideheadquaters.com, Phone which reaches the ride leader before and during the ride: 413-461-7433

Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different

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

Waiver

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

The proper bike for this ride includes the following:

• Fat bike with 4” minimum tires.  

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

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

• Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need