Martha’s Vineyard Off-Road Adventure Tour with Mike and Mary - Spring 2026
Location: Martha’s Vineyard
Ride Type: Adventure mixed terrain
Date & Time: Spring 2026
Price: $150
Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Adventure - ride trails, dirt roads, ancient paths, and back roads with the day catered by Mike and Mary with homemade, tasty food to delight hungry riders
Date & Time: Re-scheduled to Spring 2026 when it’s warm and Mike & Mary are back in town!
Distance: ~40 miles
Max attendance: Registration is capped at 35 riders
Price: $125. Register at BikeReg.com. Open to everyone! (NEER membership not required.)
If you’re interested in doing a private ride or tour of the Island with Mary at a separate time, please email Mary at:
marymcconneloug at fastmail.com (replace “at” with “@” when you email her!)
Details of this Special Adventure Tour with Mike & Mary
Come join mountain bike legends, Olympian Mary McConneloug and pro Michael Broderick, for a fun day of riding bikes on and off road on charming Martha’s Vineyard! They are taking riders on a mixed terrain tour showcasing some of their favorite quiet back routes over ancient trails and roads with an emphasis on cool trails that are hiding all over the island. Highlights include full immersion into the natural island beauty, cycling to remote areas, offering views from a favorite high point and a beach stop to take in the Atlantic Ocean. Riding will be fun at a moderate pace; all riders will enjoy a solid day on the bike at a moderate (not slow) pace. This should not be a rider’s first gravel or mixed terrain ride, participants should be experienced cyclists with experience riding on dirt and mixed terrain.
What You Get
An exciting full day adventure on bikes with Mike & Mary, professional cyclists who have a lifetime of adventures to share and who continue to live their dream racing all over the world.
A day to just ride and enjoy nature, experience the incredible mixed terrain riding on Martha’s Vineyard.
Nice welcome gathering with refreshments to start the day.
Hot, homemade meal served at the end of the ride.
All diets and preferences are accommodated.
Opportunity to enjoy ferry crossings of the Vineyard Sound which offer picturesque calm during the trip to/from the island. (Tickets for the ride aren’t included in event price.)
A morning greeter where you park in the morning prior to catching the ferry.
There are 3 ride guides and 2 professional mechanics on the ride so you’re well taken care of though we want you to come with tuned and ready bikes!
An intimate cycling experience with locals, a chance to meet some new friends and gain knowledge of special places to ride off-road on Martha’s Vineyard!
Food & Water During the Day
After arriving to Martha’s Vineyard on the ferry, Mike and Mary will greet riders and treat everyone to coffee and tea and some homemade wholesome treats to eat.
There will be food & water stops during the ride where riders may fill water bottles or purchase food if desired.
Riders will enjoy something to eat prepared by Mary prior to departing the ride/catching the ferry for those who are taking it back to the mainland.
All dietary preferences are accommodated, we ask for this information when you register.
Martha’s Vineyard riders having the time of their lives with Mike and Mary and crew!
Price
$125 for the experience, ride, and everything Mike & Mary are providing in terms of homemade food, hot drinks and baked goods at the start of the ride, hot tasty food at the end of the day and mid-ride food too.
Refund Policy
Cancellations up to 2 weeks in advance will be refunded 50%. If the ride can’t be run due to dangerous or miserable weather (forecast of light rain doesn’t cancel), a rain date will be announced and if participants can’t make the new date, a 50% refund & 50% credit will be issued.
Parking for People Coming from the Mainland & Ferry Details
For riders coming from off-island, there are a number of free parking lots a short bike ride away from the ferry. Everyone who registers will receive detailed information about where to park, where to meet up with each other and when to ride over to the ferry. A NEER Super Domestique will be at the lot to get everyone together for the ride to the ferry terminal.
Riders will be taking the 9:30am ferry which arrives Vineyard Haven at 10:15am.
At the end of the day, riders will be back at Vineyard Haven around 3pm making the 3:45pm ferry the earliest ferry ride possible to return on. Be prepared to take the next ferry in case it’s not possible to get back in time for the 3:45pm departure or if you’re having such a nice time you want to stick around a little longer.
Ferries run nearly every hour until the last ferry which is ~9:30pm.
Route, Distance, Pace
This is a guided experience so no one needs to have the route, but a route file will be provided and a shorter option will be provided as well via GPS file. No one is getting dropped or lost. The route will be appropriately adjusted if the weather or time requires. The route length is 40 miles.
The pace will be moderate throughout the day, it’s important to keep riding to stay warm. The ride assumes riders have the ability to ride 15-17 mph on a road bike (this is not a road ride, it’s just a way to state speed/fitness levels), and the ride assumes riders have experience riding mixed terrain (mixed terrain is a little more twisty, turny and sandy than gravel), but this is not an overly technical route. As long as riders have experience riding some dirt on a gravel or mountain bike and fitness for a 15-17mph road pace, this ride is within the scope of riders’ abiities.
Terrain Details
Mostly off road paths, trails, dirt roads, and some pavement, very light traffic. Most trails are not overly technical, but there will be more emphasis on super fun trails this year than in previous editions of this adventure ride. There is a fair amount of sand on the roads and trails. You’ll see some secret spots very few people have visited!
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
Required: A bike with tires 38mm wide or bigger. The bigger, the better!
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
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
Required: Two full water bottles at the start of the ride
Required if coming from off-island: Front and rear lights that have at least 1.5 hours of run time.
Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets
About Mary McConneloug!
Mary is a 2 x Olympian (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), 4 x US National MTB Champion and also the 2017 Masters Enduro MTB World Champion. She loves to get creative in the kitchen, fueling their days with good healthy foods. Mary loves the outdoors, riding in new places where the car cannot go. She manages many of the fine details necessary to run their professional race team.
Mary loves to cook, garden and is learning to surf. She is an advocate for healthy active lifestyles, and sharing that with others! She has coached herself from the beginning and has her own coaching and mentoring business. She holds a nutrition based philosophy combining lifestyle balance and periodization training techniques to reach fitness goals.
About Mike Broderick!
In Mike’s 30+ years of competitive bike racing, he has ranked among the top of his field in Cross Country, Cyclocross, mixed team stage racing (with Mary) and most recently in the Masters Enduro World Series. Legendary for his technical handling skills and fitness, Mike has raced on the US National Team for over 10 years alongside Mary. He earned the Masters Enduro MTB World Champion Title in 2016. His mechanic skills have stood by him as he continues to tune and refine both his and Mary’s race machines. He earned his University degree with a Bachelor in English and minor in Art from Springfield University, MA (1995). Mike was born and raised in Chilmark, MA and has always enjoyed riding in the woods, shredding dirt and surfing waves since he was a kid.
More about Mike and Mary, The A-Team!
Mike was born on Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Mary was born in Fairfax, CA. They met at a MTB race in Northern California during the Spring of 1999. Their first date, a 70-mile road ride out to Point Reyes National Seashore set the back drop for a life time of adventures on the bikes - which they continue to enjoy today. Their second date was a week long road trip to race at the NORBA National XC in Big Bear, CA…. They were smitten from the start, by each other and the challenge of racing, riding bikes and pushing their limits to improve. They have supported each other, creating their own 2 person team, alongside a handful of great companies (which includes Seven Cycles), pursuing many disciplines of off road cycling - mainly XCO, cyclocross, stage race and Enduro. For the past 26 years Mike and Mary have built their life around sustaining a career in racing bikes and continue to be involved at domestic and international events and sharing the ride.
Still going strong, both Mike and Mary were the 2024 USAC Masters 50+ Enduro National Champions in their respective fields!
Express your interest in attending this event now! Once registration opens up, you’ll be the first to know (we’ll email you)!!!
Revere Beach Fun Season Opener
Location: Start and end in Revere, MA
Ride Type: Fat bikes on beaches, trails and back roads
Date & Time: Sunday, November 2
Distance: 17 miles & extra mileage as a bonus
Price: Free
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Location: Revere Beach (you’ll see a lot more than just Revere Beach!)
Ride Type: Fat bike ride
Date & Time: Sunday, November 2, 9am start
Distance: ~3ish hours of riding, 17 miles (plus extra adventure option to go to Nahant for an extra 2.5-3 hours after the first part wraps up)
Price: Free*
* You are welcome to ride once as a non-NEER member, after this membership is required to attend
RSVPs: Required, form is at the bottom
Details:
This ride departs at 9am. 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 before exiting the beach where we pick up trails and back roads. Most of the ride is on sand and dirt. It is great fun on big tires on the sand. There are roads and trails connecting the beaches so be ready for both pavement and sand.
If your fat bike has studded tires on it, that’s OKAY. Just get you and your bike out for this ride regardless since it’s important to shake down your bike and get it ready for other really great upcoming fat adventures happening this “FUN” Season!!!
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 meeting spot by 8:45am. Please be ready to roll by 8:55am.
Parking: There is free, ample on-street parking next to the start.
Route: The route will be shared via email with all who RSVP.
Questions? We’re at connect@rideheadquarters.com. Need to reach us at the ride? Call 413-461-7433, this is our shop number and reaches the organizer who is at the ride.
Estimated time: ~2 ish hours for the first part, and 2-3 hrs for the optional second part to Nahant
Ride Notes: We discuss these with you prior to rollout. There will be beachy sand and paved roads to connect various sections. It’s all appropriate for 3.5” tires or bigger. We can’t speak to the exact quality of the sand for those of you who want to ride skinnier tires and we can’t recommend anything narrower than 3.5”.
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: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
The proper bike for this ride includes the following:
Fat bike with 3.5” minimum tires.
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.
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
Horizon Chasers, Leaf-Peepers Wachusett Ride!
Location: Start and end in Lincoln, MA
Ride Type: Road ride, almost all pavement
Date & Time: Saturday, October 18
Distance: ~90 miles
Price: Free
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
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
Date & Time: Saturday, October 18, 7:30am start
Distance: ~90 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 to the top of Mt Wachusett on a beautiful autumn day!
We have a designated Super Domestique leading the last group to depart which will be rolling at a ~16-17 mph pace which is peppy given the amount of climbing. We’ll split into groups so faster riders can ride faster together.
If you want to ride slower than the Super Domestique for the distance, please email us. We usually have people looking for paces under 17 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 no later than 7:15am.
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 ~90 miles in length.
Route
The route will be shared with all who RSVP by 7pm the night before the ride.
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 7:30am, just after we do a safety talk. Please be ready to ride at 7:25am and at the big, red van.
~6.5ish hours total ride time depending on your pace and the time the group takes at food stops.
Route Notes
These will be emailed to all riders, there will be proper stops for food, bathrooms, and water refills.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.