Mixed Terrain, Fat Bike, Upcoming Ride, Adventure Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Fat Bike, Upcoming Ride, Adventure Ride Patria Vandermark

West Hill Dam Mountain & Fat Bike Ride

  • Location: West Hill Dam MTB

  • Ride Type: MTB & Fat

    • Date & Time: Saturday, October 11

  • Distance: 3 hours of riding with extra riding optional

  • Price: Free

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

  • Location: Start and end at West Hill Dam, Uxbridge, MA

  • Ride Type:  Trails of green and blue difficulty, mostly flowy and fun

  • Date & Time:  Saturday, October 11, 9am start

  • Distance:  Route is 14 miles long (almost 3 hours prob) & there will be a longer extra riding opportunity for those who want more

  • 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 great area for mountain bike riding with fun flow, not too technical so it’s a really nice venue for a terrific ride on mountain and fat bikes!

Pace

We’ll split into two groups: faster and endurance moderate. For endurance group, there will be re-grouping periodically at intersections so no one gets lost but everyone can ride at their comfortable pace.

Start Time

8:55am - Be ready to ride!

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

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Allow 3 hours for the ride. After the 14-mile route we’ll be following, there will be an opportunity to try out other trails nearby to tack on another few hours on the bike. Do what you want to do! Refill at your car after the first 3 hours for the next leg.

Parking

Parking is at West Hill Dam’s parking lot. Details will be shared 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

Nothing specific. This is a mountain bike trail area so we don’t expect to be on roads for the first 14 miles. The optional additional mileage will involve taking roads to other nearby trails to do some exploring and other trail riding.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to hang out and talk about bikes after the ride is welcome to do so. We’ll fill back up with water after the first 14 miles and then those who want to head back out will do that and everyone else can go on with their day!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

  • 2” knobby tires or bigger.  

  • MTB clipless or flat 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. No road pedals/shoes.

  • A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned.

  • High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.  

  • Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, 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.

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Autumn Overnight Bikepacking Weekend

  • Location: Fitchburg, MA

  • Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Bike Packing

  • Date & Time:  Saturday & Sunday, 27 & 28 Sept 2025

  • Distance:  ~50 miles each day

Riders enjoy time sitting around a fire after a long day of great riding!

  • Location: Starts in Fitchburg, MA, Ride to and camp to a campground in Philipston, MA then have a great ride back to your vehicle or the train back home in Fitchburg - route is a loop

  • Route: Bikepacking, mixed terrain, plenty of dirt under your tires, some paved roads as well

  • Ride Type: Mixed Terrain

  • Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, 27-28 September 2025, 9:30am & earlier rollouts Saturday. Back to the lot by 6:30pm Sunday.

  • Distance: ~50 miles each day

  • Price: $30 per person. Must be a NEER member to participate (this keeps the price down for everyone since we don’t have to buy extra insurance, become a member!) The cost covers your spot in a campground that offers showers, water, electricity, campfire (NEER buys the wood for a group campfire)

  • Non-Riding family/friend option! See details below.

Description:  The Autumn Overnight bikepacking weekend is a two-day and one-night event that covers almost ~100 miles of diverse terrain in New England.  This ride is intended to be fun, give you a chance to enjoy bikepacking with others who love to bikepack, give you a nice way to do it for the first time if you haven’t done it before with a not-too-hard and not-too-climby route at a perfect time of year.  The event is part bikepacking and part adventure ride.

This is a great way to have a full weekend of riding, test your bikepacking setup, enjoy camping with others of similar cycling interests, and share the experience with your friends and family as well.

  • Enjoy fun mixed-terrain riding over two days

  • This is not a catered trip, we’re not bringing stuff to camp for anyone.

  • We’re providing knowledge and ideas, ask questions and we’ll get you answers.

  • Self-sufficiency is important! We are not providing mid-ride support. You are expected to be able to fix mechanical issues or ride with friends who can help each other out.

  • We’ll teach campfire starting at camp and keep the fire going to stay warm at night and in the morning before rolling out Sunday morning

  • We’re providing a comprehensive packing list so you know what to bring and are prepared for this and any bikepacking trip. We’ll email this to all who register!

Photo from a warm 2017 bikepacking trip called Maneha. The fire was hot and post-ride feasting/post-ride food coma Saturday night was memorable.


Maneha is the ride that started it all.  We first scouted Maneha in 2010. It has evolved over the years and has brought a terrific bikepacking experience to riders of all backgrounds and experience levels together and to cool places. This ride is a close relative of Maneha, the difference being that this ride isn’t catered and Maneha was.


Overview

The Autumn Overnight is a bikepacking ride on a mixed-terrain route.  We're riding everything from primitive 'goat trails' to good paved roads. There are lots of nice, smooth dirt paths and roads too. Everyone goes the pace that works for each person, some people will be riding loaded fat bikes at the rear and others will have 40mm tires and have a lighter bike setup.

Route Information

  • Distance: About 50 miles each day. We’ll tell you the specifics of the route as we get closer to ride time. Be sure you have the fitness and ability to ride an unloaded gravel bike on mixed terrain/gravel 100km without excessive fatigue or body issues. This ensures you’ll have the baseline fitness and readiness for this trip.

  • Territory: Central MA, there’s not a lot in the areas where we’re riding either day.

  • Riding Options: Two day, Saturday only, Sunday only - if you have a non-riding friend or loved one coming up to meet you, you’re welcome to ride one day up and get a ride home. We are not transporting anyone to the start or from the campsite back to the starting lot. The price stays the same regardless. Just let us know your plans so we’re aware, that’s all you need to do.

  • Gear Packing Options: There are no options: if you want it to eat, to sleep on, to wear, you’re carrying it with you! You are expected to have everything you need for a long-day ride on you where it comes to fixing mechanicals. This said, there is a nice place farm with food, drinks, woodfired pizza about a mile from the campground so you could cheat and grab dinner there. But be sure to bring it back to the campfire to enjoy the group dynamic with everyone!


When:

27 & 28 September 2025.  Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s Grand Depart happens at 9:30am. Riders are encouraged to arrive at the start (a parking lot at a train station) no later than 7:15 so there’s time to deal with all of the stuff on the bike prior to 8am. Starting on time is important!

Sunday’s ride back begins when riders want to get moving, this will probably be around 9am though this will be discussed around the campfire prior to everyone heading off to slumber land.

Where we Start:

Wachusett Train Station. There is overnight parking offered here.

Train Schedule:

The outbound train from Boston leaves North Station at 7:45am and picks up riders all the way west, arriving at the Wachusett lot at 9:21am Saturday.

The inbound train to Boston from Wachusett picks up at 6:25pm, arriving back to North Station at 8:01pm. The last train Sunday is at 8:55pm though we expect all riders will have ample time to get to the 6:25pm train. The next earliest train is at 4:25pm for faster riders.

Where we Camp:  

We have campsites reserved together for riders in the Lamb City campground in Philipston, MA. NEER buys wood for a fire/fires everyone can enjoy.

There are showers, picnic tables, electricity to recharge your electronics, campfire rings, a campground (small) store if you forgot something.

Why:  

Bikepacking trips are hard to find and it’s nice to have the opportunity to test your equipment, figure out how to pack your bike, and isn’t it fun to get two big days on the bike with nice people also out for the same? It’s important to do it while it’s still possible with the weather and campfires sure feel amazing at this time of year!

How:

Register at the NEER store!

Questions?  Email us at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com

Register now

Who can do the Autumn Overnight ride?

Any fit and competent cyclist with equipment that meets our minimum requirements and who is willing to abide by basic riding safety rules may participate.  Riding 50+ miles of mixed-terrain feels about three times that amount of road riding. If your bike is loaded, it feels even further. There are no time cut offs, you’re welcome to take your time. We do want you to be in to the campsite before dark.

All who register to participate in this ride will receive the following pre-ride:

  • Equipment Checklist: This is a comprehensive list of what NEER recommends for participants to have on bike and body. It also includes a list of items we find useful on self-supported multi-day rides for your knowledge and you’re welcome to add whatever you wish for this ride.

  • Logistics, Route & Route Notes by 7pm September 25: You’ll understand how the ride is being run, where you’re headed, where to be when.

    This information will help you prepare your bike, mind, and spirit for the adventure ahead. It includes recommended food and rest stops along the route. The information also includes tips on how to navigate difficult trails.

  • Waiver: This ride is being insured by NEER’s insurance. Your NEER waiver covers your participation on this ride.

All details subject to change, all who register will receive every communication by email.


"The staff did a remarkable job on a complex event. I can't wait until next year!" - C.B.

Ride with Your Friend Group

You can ride this ride as a solo rider or with a team/self-organized friend group (AKA team) ahead of the NEER-led group.  All of these ways of participating are fantastic and your choice.  Solo riders and slower groups will be encouraged to start earlier than 9am so there’s some cross-over during the day. It’s early and understandable if people don’t want to start earlier than this!

The last group to depart will be Super Domestique-led, and the Super Domestique will be riding a loaded fat bike so it won’t be fast, but steady.

  • A team consists of as many riders as you want to assemble to take this on together.

  • The team must have at least two people with GPS units for navigation along with backup batteries for the GPS units.

  • The team members commit to riding together and finishing together.

Solo Riders

  • Solo riders must have their own GPS navigation device with backup battery to charge the unit if necessary.

  • Ride as fast or slow as you wish, we just want you to be at camp no later than 8pm.

  • We prefer if you start earlier (we will be at the start very early so it’s possible to leave earlier and have a send-off committee). It’s nicer to be solo in a rider sandwich somewhere rather than off-the-back solo for safety and all of the positive psychological benefits as well! We usually have all paces show up to our rides so there’s a good chance your pace will be similar to that of others.

Display your location

We will have ALL riders display their location on the route via Life360 (not necessary to pay for an account for this), it helps us know where everyone is. This will take a little more battery life from your cell phone, so a backup battery is essential.

Non-Riding Significant Other Camping Option / Bringing your Family

Your non-riding spouse or significant other is welcome to join you for the weekend at the campsite at no additional cost as long as you’re sharing a tent. Please let us know if you’ll have someone meeting you at camp.

If you’d like this to be a bigger family affair, we’ll ask you to make a reservation with the campground on your own and we’ll credit you for the campsite space you won’t be occupying. Email us separately if this applies to you and we’ll figure it out.


Sunday After the Ride back at the parking lot/train station

We’re expecting riders to arrive back at their cars/train at various times. Most people will be tired from the long weekend and just want to get home. There is no food there so bring some with you or have it in the car awaiting you for the few moments after you finish.

Contact Information - Call 413-461-7433 if it’s urgent

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. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!

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.

Proper Bike & Equipment

There are quite a few bikes and setups that work great for bikepacking and gravel riding on terrain you’ll find on this ride. Your choices will potentially impact your speed relative to others. We don’t care how fast/slow you ride, this is up to you, as long as you are on a safe bike with minimum basics and arrive before sunset on both Saturday and Sunday.

  • Required: A bike with 38mm tires or wider. Mountain, gravel, fat, CX bikes are all acceptable. Ideally, the bike will have 40mm knobby tires or bigger.

  • Required: Flat pedals or mountain-style pedals should be used, no road pedals/shoes.

  • Required: A GPS computer with the route loaded ahead of time if you’re riding solo. If you’re riding with a friend group, the group must have 2 GPS computers among members.

  • Required: Backup battery to charge GPS computer and phone during the ride. (There is no electricity to recharge things at camp.)

  • Required: Sign-on to Life360 or other service that you share with us so we can see your location you when you’re riding. We’ll share connection info with you in the pre-ride information email.

  • 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. Squeaky chains and noisy bikes are unacceptable because it means there is something wrong with your bike and more might be wrong.

  • Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals. These are on the Gear Checklist you’ll receive when you register. Lots of extra “nice to haves” are on the Checklist too!

  • 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) and there won’t be a vehicle on the route.

  • Required: Two full water bottles/other vessel with at least this much water at the start of the ride

  • Required: Front and rear lights (do not need to be turned on if visibility is good but available), reflector on ankle or pedal (this is now required per MA law at dusk and later). Visibility is always a good thing for safety regardless of weather or time of day. Lights are important at camp too!

  • Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets to get you to stores where you can buy more.

  • Change of clothes to wear after the ride at camp and for sleeping so you’re comfy!

Register Now
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Upcoming Ride, Mixed Terrain Patria Vandermark Upcoming Ride, Mixed Terrain Patria Vandermark

Thursday Evening Mixed Terrain

  • Location: Start and end Revolution Hall

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

  • Date & Time: Thursday, Sept 18

  • Distance: ~15mi.

  • Price: Free

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

  • Location: Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA

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

  • Date & Time:  Thursday evening, September 18 - 7pm start

  • Distance:  ~15 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 & Pace

This mixed terrain ride takes cyclists to many interesting trails with roads connecting them.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any bike with 38mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. Faster riders are always welcome to go ahead, we discuss how we manage this before the ride starts.

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

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

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

Distance

~15 miles

Parking

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

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

Route

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

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40871313

Start time, Estimated Ride Time

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

Ride time: Aiming for 90 minutes, possibly a few minutes beyond this depending the pace of the group and if there are mechanicals.

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a “mixed terrain” ride is rougher, twistier, and slower than a “gravel” ride. There are roots, a few boardwalks, etc to navigate. If you’re concerned about your ability to ride mixed terrain, do one of our weekend rides first.

After the Ride

Some riders will enjoy post-ride food and drink at Revolution Hall. Feel free to join in having food and hanging out afterwards if you’d like!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

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

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

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

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

  • High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.  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.

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NH Weekend of Gravel!

  • Ride Type: Remote paved and dirt roads, trails

  • Time & Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2025

  • Starting Point: Meredith, NH

Details

  • Enjoy one or both days and camping in between of two terrific gravel rides starting in Meredith, NH

  • Time & Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21

  • Starting Point: Meredith, NH

  • Distance Options:

    • 60 mi routes both days and quite different loops going in different directions each day!

    • Short option of 29 mi for anyone who wishes to go shorter either day

  • Elevation gain:

    • A little less than 100 ft per mile, this is a hilly area but also offers lots of great terrain and views!

  • Price: $0 if you’re just coming for the day. It’s $30 each for those staying over Saturday night, we’re taking a collection then doing a group food shopping trip Saturday evening for dinner (cooking out on the grill) and the remainder goes to our hosts who are generously inviting us to stay on their property!

  • You MUST be a NEER member if this is your second or more ride with us to participate

Start Location

Meredith, NH - Parking is at a private residence. Address will be shared with all who RSVP.

Route Information

  • All who RSVP for one or both days will get 3 route files: one for Saturday, another for Sunday and an optional shorter route if one doesn’t want to ride as far one or both days.

Pace

  • We’re likely to split into two groups, a faster, stronger pace and a good endurance pace. It all depends on who chooses to join in! We expect to have a good turnout for both rides so everyone has people to ride with at their preferred pacing!


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

  • All of our Riding Rules apply. 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.

  • Gravel bikes with 40mm or bigger tires are suited for the expected terrain.

  • 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.

  • Bring your tent, change of clothes, everything you need to be comfortable camping if you’re choosing to stay over Saturday night.

  • Rain jacket in case of inclement weather, etc.

  • There is water and bathrooms where we’ll start so you can fill up prior to rolling out in Meredith.

  • Waiver: If you think you haven’t signed the waiver in 2025, please do it now: https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-waiver (If we discover that you haven’t filed out a waiver at the start, you won’t be able to ride with the group, no exceptions. It’s a requirement of our insurance.)

Proper Bike & Equipment for this Ride

  • A road or gravel bike that has 38mm tires or wider. 40mm should be ideal. Hardtail mountain bikes with strong riders will be happy out there. These are all gravel routes intended for gravel bikes.

  • There is some loose gravel on the roads, and sandy spots. Expect anything and you’ll be ready!

  • 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.

  • There is no support on the ride so if your bike or body stop working, you’ll have to figure out how to return to the start.

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! Be sure to select one or both days you plan to be there & the camping option if you’re camping & staying over Saturday night!

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Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark

Saturday Mixed Terrain Ride starting in Arlington

  • Location: Start and end in Arlington

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

    • Date & Time: Saturday, September 6 at 9am

  • Distance: 36 miles

  • Price: Free

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

  • Location: Start and end in Arlington near the Arlington reservoir

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

  • Date & Time:  Saturday, September 6, 9am start

  • Distance:  36 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 trails for a total of 36 miles. This equates to 4-5 hours of total time.

The route is a mixed terrain route so any gravel bike with 35mm tires or larger should be suited for the terrain. We’ll split people into groups based on bikes and speeds that are likely to result.

We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart, if we split into groups.

Pace: endurance zone 2/3 for most cyclists - if you can average 15/16mph on a road bike on a paved road, you’re fit enough for this ride.

Distance

The ride is 36 miles in length.

Parking

Free, all day parking near the Arlington Reservoir

All who RSVP receive exact instructions to get to the parking lot in the pre-ride email.

Route

The route will be emailed to all who RSVP no later than 7pm Friday night before the ride. If you RSVP later than 7pm, that’s fine, the route will be in your inbox by 7am Saturday morning.

Estimated Ride Time

4-5 hours

Route Notes

We discuss these with you prior to rollout. Note that a mixed terrain ride is rougher than a “gravel” ride on the dirt sections. There are a number of boardwalks. It should be dry on these so as long as you feel comfortable riding average width boardwalks, you’ll be fine.

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

Proper bike & Equipment

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

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

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

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

RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!

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

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Mixed Terrain, Fat Bike, Adventure Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Fat Bike, Adventure Ride Patria Vandermark

West Hill Dam Mountain & Fat Bike Ride

  • Location: West Hill Dam MTB

  • Ride Type: MTB & Fat

    • Date & Time: Sunday, Sept 7

  • Distance: 3 hours of riding with extra riding optional

  • Price: Free

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

  • Location: Start and end at West Hill Dam, Uxbridge, MA

  • Ride Type:  Trails of green and blue difficulty, mostly flowy and fun

  • Date & Time:  Sunday, September 7, 9am start

  • Distance:  Route is 14 miles long (almost 3 hours prob) & there will be a longer extra riding opportunity for those who want more

  • 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 great area for mountain bike riding with fun flow, not too technical so it’s a really nice venue for a terrific ride on mountain and fat bikes!

Pace

We’ll split into two groups: faster and endurance moderate. For endurance group, there will be re-grouping periodically at intersections so no one gets lost but everyone can ride at their comfortable pace.

Start Time

8:55am - Be ready to ride!

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

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Allow 3 hours for the ride. After the 14-mile route we’ll be following, there will be an opportunity to try out other trails nearby to tack on another few hours on the bike. Do what you want to do!

Parking

Parking is at West Hill Dam’s parking lot. Details will be shared 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

Nothing specific. This is a mountain bike trail area so we don’t expect to be on roads for the first 14 miles. The optional additional mileage will involve taking roads to other nearby trails to do some exploring and other trail riding.

After the Ride

Anyone who wants to hang out and talk about bikes after the ride is welcome to do so. We’ll fill back up with water after the first 14 miles and then those who want to head back out will do that and everyone else can go on with their day!

Last-Minute Information

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

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

  • 2” knobby tires or bigger.  

  • MTB clipless or flat 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. No road pedals/shoes.

  • A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned.

  • High enough tire pressure to prevent pinch flatting and burping your tires.  

  • Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, 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.

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Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark

Saturday Adventure Mixed Terrain Ride

  • Location: Start and end near Bedford, MA

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

  • Date & Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025

  • Distance: 25 miles

  • Price: Free

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

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

  • Ride Type:  Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes

  • Date & Time: 8am, Saturday, August 30, 2025

  • Distance:  ~55 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 roads, back roads, plenty of dirt paths and single-track trails for a total of 55 miles. It’s probably 50% paved. The dirt sections are all very nice (and slower so they occupy a good amount of time!)

Any gravel bike with ~40mm tires is suited for the terrain. The terrain is not that technical where it’s off-road, expect (as always on mixed terrain): dirt, some sticks, rocks.

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 slower steady endurance pace on a slower bike so riders who are concerned about being off the pace should come out (or at least ask questions to see if you’ll be at the right level for this ride). If you can maintain a 14-15mph 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 8-10mph average).

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.

The ride is ~55 miles in length.

Allow 6ish 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.

Contact Information

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

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

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

Riding Rules

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

Waiver

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

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

Proper bike & Equipment

  • 35mm knobby tires minimum.  Wider tires are nicer! Tire choice depends on your riding skill set. We expect to see 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.

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Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark

Brutiful Cape 2025: Experience Awesome Gravel and Fat Riding

  • Location: Eastham, MA on the Cape

  • Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride for gravel bikes & Fat Bike ride for Fat Bikes

    • Date & Time: Saturday, October 25

  • Distance: various

  • Price: $65-115

    • Register at BikeReg.com

  • Location: Start and end in Eastham, MA on the Cape

  • Ride Type:  Fat and Gravel adventure event ride! Mtbs have great fun on the gravel routes as well!

  • Date & Time: Saturday, October 25, 2025 (a special 100 mi fat ride is on Sunday, October 26!)

  • Distance: 50km, 100km, 100mi options for gravel/mtn bikes AND

    50km option for fat bikes on Saturday, 100 mi on Sunday for fat bikes only.

  • A 100 Mile VERY SPECIAL Fat Ride is happening on Sunday, October 26! 4th Annual running of this ride! This option is $30, also available on BikeReg - open to NEER members only so become a member by October 15 if you want to get in on this exceptionally special experience!

  • Price:  $75 now, prices go up October 21

  • Registration deadline: Thursday, October 23 at 11:59pm. No registration will be allowed after this time.

  • Camping option offered upon checkout (at BikeReg) - stay right where the ride starts & ends!

Details

This very special ride takes cyclists to many interesting trails, dirt roads, and pavement that connects the dirt sections on the Cape. Fat bikes go to some sandier places and a few beautiful beaches for extra fun. This is a sandy place meaning the trails dry very quickly if they get wet and there is sandiness on the trails in general. The chances we would need to cancel this ride due to the weather are very small. We expect to ride rain or shine and will only cancel if the weather appears dangerous to riders or trails.

If you’re a bikepacker and want to test your gear, strap it to your bike and come along! If you just want to enjoy a lovely autumn day on the bike without hoards of people on the Cape, this ride is for you, too.

Keep reading, there’s a campsite near the start of the ride if you want to bikepack out to the ride or drive from somewhere that’s further away.

100 Mile Fat Bike Option offered for NEER members

If you are a fat bike rider interested in a 100-mile fat bike ride option, we have this running separately on Sunday, October 26. The 100-mile fat ride is open to NEER members (become one in advance to join in) and registration is $30 for this option. Riders will self-support via stores and have the ability to access the parking lot/one’s personal vehicle mid-ride.

100 mile Fat Bike riders experience the very best of fat riding on glorious stretches of beach, sandy trails, back roads, and just have a full day of joy on their bikes!

What You Get

  • Ride a beautiful place not all that far from civilization nor too far from where you started. It’s off-season on the Cape but before everything closes for the winter - a perfect time to be there!

  • A well-vetted route that takes you to places you’d never know to ride otherwise.

  • An opportunity to ride your gravel or fat bike with plenty of dirt, cool trails and beautiful beaches.

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

  • A hearty, warm meal at the end of the ride to finish feeling satisfied from riding and not being hungry!

  • No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish.

  • Get your friends together to do the ride and enjoy camping together right at where the ride starts and ends, it’s a mini-vacation for everyone!

Register at bikereg.com Now!

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 for your friend-group rollout. We’ll accommodate as much as possible, just ask!

If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, we are grouping 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 be 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 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 this request.

Pace

If you choose to ride with a group of friends you or one of your friends 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 you’ve told us your pace and 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 will alter their pace to appease others in the group so as to have a group experience.

Start Times

Start times that you see when you register are all approximate. We will roll out groups of friends, groups we assemble, and solo riders separately. You'll get an email with exact rollout times by 7pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

Your roll-out time will be within 30 minutes of the time you’ve registered for and it’ll probably be a bit closer than that.

We expect all riders to be done riding by 6pm, that’s when the sun sets. We don’t want anyone out riding after dark.

Distance Options

Distances offered for gravel & mountain bikes are 50km, 100km & 100 miles.

A 50km fat bike option is offered on Saturday.

A very special 100 mile fat bike option is offered on Sunday. We offer this separately in order to give adventure fat bike riders a special day of riding and it’s a way for adventure fat bike riders to find each other prior to the winter since there will be many other adventure fat rides happening that this ride is great prep for! NEER membership is required to participate on Sunday’s 100 mi fat ride.

Parking

The ride starts and ends at a lovely campground on the Cape where we’re serving coffee, a light breakfast, and after-ride warm, hearty meal. There will be plenty of chairs, places to sit and enjoy time together.

We’re offering a camping option at the campground (more details are further down this page) so you can park and start/end right there & be near us too (if you want!) We highly recommend you and your friends camp together the night before and night of the ride; we’ve had lots of people do this in previous years and have enjoyed a mini-vacation together doing this.

If you’re driving to the ride the day of the event, there will be ample and free parking offsite. It is 0.4 miles from the start on the same side of the road. Those staying at the campground can park their vehicles at the campground.

Bathrooms, water at the start & end

With the start at the campground, bathrooms and clean water are abundant. You’re welcome to all of the services a comfortable campground offers.

Route & Route Notes

The routes will be emailed to all who register no later than 7pm Thursday evening prior to the weekend of the ride. Please don’t email prior to this asking for the route.

This is a sandy area. Both gravel and mountain bikes are welcome for the gravel-version of the ride. Gravel cyclists not familiar with sand will have the opportunity to get familiar with it! 40mm or larger tires are recommended. The terrain is special and really fun to ride.

For the fat bike routes: fat bikes are required with a minimum of 3.8” tires in order to properly enjoy the beaches included.

Terrain Description

The routes may evolve prior to them being finalized. Weather may change the route at the last moment, too. Last minute road work also sometimes requires re-routing. The point is, these percentages are estimates and may change.

Percentages are by shown by distance, not time.

  • Percentages are very similar regardless of route distance. The fat bike class is the exception; see those differences below.

  • Total climbing: 4,300 ft.

Cars/No CarsTerrainPercentageIdeal Bike
Cars LikelyPavement, roads20%Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires
Cars AllowedDirt roads5%Gravel bike w/30mm slick tires
No CarsPavement that's car-free, abandoned roads, closed roads, and bike paths10%Gravel bike
No CarsFire roads and access roads20%Gravel bike w/40mm tires
No CarsSmooth Singletrack15%Gravel bike w/40mm knobby tires
No CarsRough, abandoned, washed out, and class 4 roads10%Hardtail Mountain Bike
No CarsSinglegrack, tight, rocky, or overgrown15%Hardtail Mountain Bike
No CarsTrail Sand5%Gravel 40mm knobby or wider, depends on how rainy it is just prior to the ride
No CarsBeach Sand0.3%Fat tires 4" or wider, Probably not rideable on a mountain bike tire. Definitely not rideable on a gravel bike tire.
For the Fat Bike Routes:
No CarsBeach & Sand20%Fat tires 4" or wider
This % replaces some of the above terrain

Plant life on the Cape & Tall Socks

Cape plants are tougher than usual mainland plants, so they can be scratchier to your skin. We recommend wearing tall socks to protect skin from these plants and any insects, etc as well. There are some places where you’ll be riding through trails with plants that are a little overgrown into the trail.

Food & Water During the Ride

There are quality food stops on the route with stores that are open at this time of year that provide water and tasty food if you’d like to get extra things to eat while you’re riding. Free water is available at a number of stores so it doesn’t need to be purchased.

We charge less for this ride so that you have $ to buy food at local establishments. The routes we provide and pre-ride notes discuss nice places to stop for food and the route directs you through the front door of these places so you can’t miss them.

Our pre-ride email will include information on places to stop to refuel during the ride.

Support on the Route

There are no support vehicles on the route, be prepared to deal with the usual mechanicals by bringing tools and supplies. Have a plan if your body or bike won’t allow you to finish the ride. The Cape is quiet this time of year, but it’s not shut down, either. Cell reception is generally decent in places where we’re riding, though it can’t always be depended on.

After the Ride

Bring a change of clothes and a lawn chair so you can enjoy a bunch of social time post-ride!

We’ll provide a hot, tasty after-ride meal for all riders. We’ll be serving food until the sun sets and hanging out until everyone is done enjoying themselves. Be sure you have completed your ride prior to sunset which is 6pm.

The end of the ride is at a campground so enjoy campfire, food together, and if you bring a bag with a change of clothes for the end of the ride, you can change and stay awhile!

What happens if it rains?

This runs rain or shine. Dangerous weather cancels and we’ll offer a partial credit for a future ride based on expenses already incurred by the time we need to make the decision.

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!

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.

Camping Option

We recommend staying at the Atlantic Oaks Campground if you’d like to camp at the start. We’ll be hanging out there Friday and Saturday evening.

We offer camping options in your registration if you want to stay next to us, right where the ride will start/end.

Otherwise, you will want to make your reservation with this campground via calling them. If you try making the reservation online, it makes it look like the sites are full or that a 3-day reservation is required. It’s $43/night this time of year per site. Their phone number is (508) 255-1437.

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 via an email from BikeReg.com.

Proper bike & Equipment

For the Gravel Routes: A gravel bike or mountain bike with 38mm tires or wider.

For the Fat Routes: A bike with tires 3.8” or wider is required due to the beaches these routes include.

For ALL Riders:

  • 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.

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

  • Flat fix tools and at least one spare tube (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

  • 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 (there is running water at the start so you can fill up)

  • Required: Front and rear lights if there is any chance you’ll be riding in rain or before the sunrise/after the sun sets

  • Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

Register Now!
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Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark Mixed Terrain, Upcoming Ride Patria Vandermark

Summer Gravel 100km

  • Location: Dover, NH

  • Ride Type: Gravel/Mixed Terrain Ride

    • Date & Time: Saturday, August 16

  • Distance: 100km, 66 miles

  • Price: $55 before April 1, $65 after April 1

    • Register at BikeReg.com

  • Location: Start and end in Wilton, NH

  • Ride Type:  Gravel & mixed terrain ride for your gravel, adventure, or mountain bike (any bike with 38mm or wider tires)

  • Date & Time: Saturday, August 16, 2025

  • Distance: 106km, 66 miles

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

  • Theme: Have fun riding gravel and enjoy riding in a new area on a new route

  • Price:  No charge for NEER members, non-members may ride 1x with us before becoming a member - waiver must be signed by all prior to the ride

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in New Hampshire, out of Wilton, NH. This is a great opportunity to spend the day on a dirt adventure, enjoy each other’s company, 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, we haven’t offered this one before though parts may look familiar if you’ve ridden with us a lot in NH.

Everyone who RSVPs for this ride will receive an email by 7pm Friday, August 15 with route information and exact parking details, etc.

Pace

We’re likely to split into two groups and possibly 3 depending on number of riders: those who are going to ride at a strong moderate plus pace (this will be the gravel equivalent of those who would usually average ~18-19mph on a road ride with drafting employed) and moderate pace (this is the gravel equivalent of those who would usually average 16-17mph on a road ride with drafting employed).

Drafting isn’t a thing almost ever when on a gravel ride and speeds are ~4-5 mph slower than a road ride on average, especially with the hills in NH.

If you want to ride faster or slower than the Super Domestique-led group, please state this in your RSVP so we have a sense of what you’re lookig for out there.

Start, Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Ride starts at 8am in the center of Wilton, NH.

Allow 6-7 hours for this 100km route, there are two locations the route passes through where it’s possible to stop for food, to refuel on water, etc.

Parking

Free and ample parking is right at the start of the ride, next to the police station in Wilton, NH. You’ll receive details about parking in the pre-ride email.

Toilets

Unknown if they exist, find a gas station enroute to the ride if you need facilities.

Route & Route Notes

The route will be emailed to all who register no later than 7pm Friday evening prior to the ride.

There is at least one stop to refill food/water on the route so be sure you have enough food and water on you at the start to ride 40 miles in the sun and heat to be safe.

We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in NH, there will be climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad! Be sure your bike has fresh brake pads for all of the reasons this makes sense.

After the Ride

There are tasty local establishments not far from the parking lot where drinks and food may be enjoyed for those who’d like to socialize after the ride.

What happens if it’s rainy?

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

We will host the ride if rain is predicted. Dangerous weather cancels the ride or postpones the start.

Last-Minute Information

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

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. Ring our phone please with urgent anything!!!

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

Be sure you’ve filled out the waiver in 2025: https://www.newenglandexpeditionriders.com/ride-waiver

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 38mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace with the bike you choose. It’s been awhile since we rode this route so expect all terrain and don’t be surprised if it’s on the easier end of gravel (more dirt roads than trails or single track). Could be sandy sections since there hasn’t been much rain lately.

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 canisters or hand pump, multi-tool

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

  • Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare

  • Required: Cell phone & backup battery supply, phones die faster in areas without proper cell service. Have 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

  • Good idea, not required: Front and rear lights.

  • Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

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

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