Before-the-Storm Snow Ride

• Date & Time:  Sunday, Jan 24, 8am start

• Location: Wompatuck, MA

• Ride Type: Snowy trails

• Distance:  3-4 hours

• 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 fat bike fun ride on great trails in Wompatuck! This is a super fun, easy-ish place to ride when there is snow on the trails; it makes the ride less technical than what riders find there in the summer and it’s just great fun to be out there!

Pace

This ride is suitable for people with good fitness to push your fat tires! The group will ride fast enough to stay warm but it won’t be fast considering the conditions (snow on trails)! It’ll be good fun. It will be cold to start.

Start Time

7:55am - Be ready to ride!

8:00am - Safety talk starts, then everyone rolls out

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Wompatuck is a great place with lots of ways back to the cars early. We’ll have various route options prepared so that riding ~3-4 hours is an option but if people want to end early or if the snow storm is earlier than expected, the ride can be cut shorter.

Parking

Parking is free and ample at the Wompatuck parking lot. Details will be shared with all who RSVP no later than 7pm the evening before the ride.

Route

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

Route Notes

Dress appropriately for the weather since it will be very cold out. It will be easy to overheat if you overdress (overheating leads to freezing). Wear layers so that it’s possible to start warm and then take some off as the ride start moving. Bring chemical hand & foot warmers if your gloves/boots are thin.

With this cold, bringing extra of everything is smart. Goggles and hand warmers are really good to have no matter what.

Any mechanical issue that will take more than just a couple of minutes will mean that rider will need to walk back to the car and the group will need to proceed or else everyone could be at risk with the cold. Please understand that the group will need to continue moving and be ready for any issues with all of the right tools/tube.

After the Ride

With the snow storm coming, it is likely smart to get on the road once the ride is over so it’ll be a quick goodbye. If there is time and interest, we’ll bring a camp stove and boil water for hot chocolates. Practicing boiling water in the winter is important since it’s how to stay safe in winter expeditions!

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

• 3.8” knobby tires OR BIGGER.  Wider tires are nicer! It’s possible that narrower tires are okay, but it’s hard to tell.

• 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.

Extra Salty Trail Mix - 150 miles

This is a challenging day on the bike and it’s set up with the intention of offering riders proper training for big gravel events such as Unbound, Michigan Coast-to-Coast and other big rides/races early in the season.

If you’re looking for a more fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding, we’re hosting a 100km and 50km Trail Mix ride on Saturday, May 16. You can find information about this ride on its Ride Page.

• Location: Start and end at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA

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

• Date & Time: Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Distance: 150 miles

• Speed requirements: All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on bike and gear requirements covered AND you are confident in being able to complete the ride with a 10mph average minimum (not trivial for this kind of route).

• Price:  $60

• Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 6 at 11:59pm EST

• Register on BikeReg.com.

Details

We are hosting this long, hard 150-mile gravel ride out of our favorite farm, Red Apple Farm.

This is not a catered ride; it’s done in the style of Unbound meaning you bring the provisions you want to see on the route; pack a duffel and we’ll transport it to a mid-ride stop location so you’ll have access to your stuff twice during the ride. There is a stop mid-ride in a town where food/water can be purchased.

We will provide all-you-can-drink water at the two mid-ride stop locations where you have access to your stuff.

Your registration covers staffing this mid-ride stop location all day and insurance.

The start time is very early in the morning (4 or 5am) and it’s a big day out there. We want everyone back to the farm before sunset.

• Parking is free and ample at Red Apple Farm. There is unlimited water and bathrooms at the start as well. Riders have the farm to ourselves first thing in the morning at Red Apple.

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

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

• Food and drink are on your own at the end of the ride at Red Apple. This allows you to get what you want and if you would like to bring your own food, that’s fine. This keeps the price of the ride down, you get to eat and drink what you want, and still get a great social atmosphere post-ride. All good things!

• Red Apple will be open until 9pm so all riders will be in long before the farm and food closes.There are picnic tables outside, also plenty of tables inside.

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

• This ride runs rain or shine.

• This is a low-budget yet very nicely put together ride.

• NEER members receive a discount to their registrations.

• Refunds: no refunds are available for any reason, this is a low dollar event. Your dollars go toward organization of this ride and myriad other events we host; your dollars are well spent whether or not you are able to attend.

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

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

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 9pm Thursday, May 7 (two nights before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• Good communication and organization, a way to ride in a cool area with others without being alone, having a quality social aspect to riding before and after the ride, know you’re supporting a sweet local farm that offers a comfortable experience!

• A well-vetted route.

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

• A quality training ride that tunes you up for big event rides like Unbound! This 150-mile ride is properly hard and at the right time in your training schedule to allow you to feel confident. Unbounders have been using this ride as race training for years now. It works. We have many Unbound finishers point to this ride as being important in their training and prep.

• No clock: this is not a race, but we do expect riders to average a bare minimum of 10mph (including stops) only because we need you to get in before sunset!

Get your Friends Together to Ride Together, Ride with a group we assemble, or ride solo!

If you want to do this with a friend group, please let us know that when you register. It’s good for us to know who is riding together for safety.

If you don’t have friends who want to do the ride, that’s fine, you’re welcome to ride solo.

If you would like to ride with a group of people you don’t know who are likely going to ride at or near your pace, please register for that option and we’ll do our best to get you a group to ride with.

There will be at least one group that will be averaging just above 10mph for the duration of people who are open to riding with anyone who wishes to join in the fun!

We will want to start solo riders first before groups so you’re seeing others throughout the day as much as possible.

Start Time

4am for those expecting to average close to 10mph average, 5:30am for fast riders.

You'll get an email with exact rollout times by 9pm Thursday prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding before sunset. People should arrive well before this time.

Pace

We need everyone to be ready to ride a minimum of 10mph average for the ride. This is not trivial given the terrain and 11,000 ft of climbing. There are ways to cut the route and we’ll suggest timing and mileage where it is good to make sure you’re there by a certain time, otherwise, cutting the route is a good idea to get back before sunset.

Feel free to ride as fast as you want, within the constraints of safe riding on open roads, of course. This is NOT a race, do not ride it like it’s a race.

Parking

Parking is in a large dirt lot that is free of charge. It’s a very short ride or ~4-minute walk to the bathrooms/starting area/Brew Barn from where you’ll park. It is very important not to park where Red Apple day visitors park. We send detailed instructions to get into the proper parking lot.

Toilets

Indoor bathrooms are open for all riders at the start/end. We’ll be set up near these so it’s easy to access them and the person who is organizing the starting groups for roll-out.

Your pre-ride instructions will include specifics as to exactly where to find the toilets and the start location.

Route & Route Notes

The route and detailed instructions will be emailed to all who register no later than 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

Route notes and special things to watch for or to expect are included in the email to riders. We never have you do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!

We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in central Massachusetts, there will be plenty of climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad!

Elevation: It’s approximately 11,000 ft of elevation gained over the 150 mile route.

Food & Water During the Ride

We’ll provide riders with water and a van stocked with mechanic tools and your duffel bag with your food and supplies in it. This is exactly how Unbound is run, so you get access to your preferred calories and gear. You will see this support vehicle twice during the day, also similar to Unbound. Someone will be at the van with stuff all day until the last rider has come through as long as the rider maintains a 10mph average. After this point, all riders’ bags are transported back to the farm for retrieval upon the completion of your ride. We include details of how these logistics work in the pre-ride email.

After the Ride, Food & Drinks Post-Ride

Enjoy food at the farm, ice cream, drinks on tap, and more. Red Apple has plenty of tables for hanging out together and the farm animals are right there, too. It’s a wonderful atmosphere for spending good time together!

Check out the Red Apple Menu. There is also brick-oven wood-fired PIZZA! (These are two separate businesses at the farm, you can order from your ride and food will be ready for you when you arrive!)

Red Apple has opened their arms to our rides since the start of the pandemic and they bend over backwards to help us all be comfortable while on their property. Their food is tasty and there’s a big selection of food and drinks including wood fired pizza and tasty brews; their animals are friendly and welcoming too! We want to support their business as much as we can by way of this ride! A lot of the food we provide to you mid-ride is purchased from Red Apple.

What happens if it’s rainy?

This ride will happen rain or shine. Yes, it’s possible to have a great day out there regardless of rain.

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain or tires rolling through on them 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.

Last-Minute Information

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

Everyone will receive complete ride details before 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride to their email. If you do not receive an email by 9pm Thursday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please do not email prior to 9pm Thursday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

Contact Information

Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

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

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

This is covered by USA Cycling insurance, you’ll fill out the waiver online when you register or it’ll be emailed to you prior to the event to complete in advance of this ride.

Day-of Registrations and Last-Minute Favors

We would have to charge a lot more for this ride if we needed to pay more people to staff this ride. Therefore, check-in has to be manageable for a single person. Please do not email a few hours before the ride asking for special favors or show up at the ride expecting to ride. If you have a special circumstance, email at least 48 hours before the ride and we’ll work with you.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike or road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to ride slower in spots. Ride what you’re comfortable with. You know your skill level and what you’re capable of. Either flat pedals or mountain-style clipless pedals (like Shimano SPD, for instance) 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

• Very nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers

• Nice to have: Change of socks if it’s a rainy/wet day

• 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)

• Extra battery and cords so you can plug in your GPS computer and cell phone to charge them in case they need more juice.

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

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

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

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

• A duffel to drop off with the support person in the wee hours of the morning, just before starting your ride.

Trail Mix Gravel Ride Middle Massachusetts - 32 mi & 100km

• Location: Start and end at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA

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

• Date & Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Distance: 32 miles or 100 km options offered

• Our 150-mile Extra Salty Trail Mix is happening Saturday, May 9, not on the same day as this event.

• All are welcome if you’ve got the basics on bike and gear requirements covered. Your pace is your choice.

• Theme: Enjoy a great day of gravel riding for the 100km riders.

• Price:  100km: $75 if registered before May 1, $95 after this. Don’t wait until the last minute to register, it may fill up and we don’t want to turn anyone away.

• Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 14 at 5:00pm. No exceptions.

• Register at BikeReg.com

Details

We are hosting a really fun day of gravel and mixed terrain riding in the middle of Massachusetts, out of the really nice Red Apple Farm. Red Apple has opened their arms to our rides since the start of the pandemic and they bend over backwards to help us all be comfortable while on their property. Their food is tasty and there’s a big selection of food and drinks including wood fired pizza and tasty brews; their animals are friendly and welcoming too!

This is a great opportunity to get your riding friends together, 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!

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

• Start with tasty coffee we’ve brewed for you at the start.

• Parking is free and ample at the farm. There is water and bathrooms at the start as well. Riders have the farm to ourselves first thing in the morning at Red Apple.

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

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

• Finish the ride with tasty, wholesome freshly made warm food, friends, and quality relaxation time. Food and drink are on your own at the end of the ride at Red Apple. This allows you to get what you want and if you would like to bring your own food, that’s fine. This keeps the price of the ride down, you get to eat and drink what you want, and still get a great social atmosphere post-ride. All good things!

• Red Apple will be open until 9pm so all riders will be in well before the farm and food closes. Assuming it’s a nice day out, there are picnic tables outside, also plenty of tables inside.

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

• This ride runs rain or shine.

• If dangerous weather or forces out of our control cancel the event, we will give you a credit of some portion of your registration toward a future event that we run.

• This is a low-budget yet very nicely put together event. We want to offer you a great day on the bike, high quality calories, and it’s a really fun way to start the gravel season. Note that NEER members get some $ off registration based on membership level, so if you become a NEER member prior to May 1, this offers you maximum value.

• Refunds: if you tell us 5 or more days in advance that you can’t make it, we’ll give you a credit of 50% of your registration toward one of our future events. Otherwise, you’re welcome to transfer your registration to another rider prior to when registration closes for no additional charge via BikeReg’s rider transfer functionality.

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

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

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

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

Everyone who registers will receive an email by 5pm Thursday, May 9, 2024 (two nights before the ride) with route information and exact start time information along with parking instructions and more.

What You Get

• Good communication and group organization, a way to ride in a neat area with others without being alone, having a quality social aspect to riding before and after the ride, know you’re supporting a sweet local farm that offers a comfortable experience!

• A well-vetted route.

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

• Any bike that meets minimum tire size requirements (and is safe/tuned up!) is welcome at this ride.

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

• No clock: this is not a race, it’s an opportunity to enjoy riding your bike, getting back to gravel and mixed terrain after a long winter. Take the time you want to out there, ride as fast or slow as you wish on the 100km route. Yes, this is a perk of the day. FUN is the idea. There are plenty of great events that have a clock happening this year. This isn’t one of them. We do expect the 150-mile riders to average a bare minimum of 10mph (including stops) only because we want you to get in before sunset!

Post-ride, a happy participant chats with Mary McConneloug on right, 2-time Olympian, who was serving chili at the end of the Brutiful Cape Ride. You never know who you’ll find out at our rides either riding or working!

Get your Friends Together to Ride Together!

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

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

Start Time Requests if different from the category start time

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

Pace

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

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

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

Speed Definitions, for those opting in to a group we assemble for this ride

Your pace will be well below these on a longer gravel/mixed terrain ride, but use this as a gauge as to who you are likely to enjoy riding with!

Fun: You usually average ~13-14mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fun Plus : You usually average 15-16mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate: You usually average 17mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Moderate-Fast: You usually average 18-19mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Fast: You usually average 20+mph on a road bike, on a paved road ride of 30 miles in length with the usual hilly terrain we find in New England.

Start Time

Start times that you see when you register are all approximate. We will roll out groups of friends, groups we assemble, and solo riders separately. You'll get an email with exact rollout times by 9pm Thursday prior to the ride.

We expect all riders to be done riding before sunset. People should arrive well before this time.

Distances: 32 miles and 100km

32-mile riders will be given ride food at the start of the ride since they won’t see the the supported food stop along the route.

In the past, we’ve run a 150-mile ride on the same day as these distance options. This year, the 150 mile Extra Salty Trail Mix is happening May 9. See its Ride Page for details if you’d prefer this distance. It will be run a little differently than this ride.

Parking

Parking is in a large dirt lot that is free of charge. It’s a very short ride or ~4-minute walk to the bathrooms/starting area/Brew Barn from where you’ll park. It is very important not to park where Red Apple day visitors park. We send detailed instructions to get into the proper parking lot.

Toilets

Indoor bathrooms are open for all riders. We’ll be set up near these so it’s easy to access them and the person who is organizing the starting groups for roll-out.

Your pre-ride instructions will include specifics as to exactly where to find the toilets and the start location.

Route & Route Notes

The route and detailed instructions will be emailed to all who register no later than 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride.

Route notes and special things to watch for or to expect are included in the email to riders. We never have you do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!

We never seek out gratuitous climbs. However, since we’re in central Massachusetts, there will be plenty of climbs and descents, for that matter. Climb at your own pace and hills aren’t as bad!

Elevation: It’s approximately 6,200 ft of elevation gained over the 100km route.

Food & Water During the Ride

We’ll tell you all about this prior to the ride. We have a support person working a food stop mid-ride for the 100km riders. We provide a variety of tasty foods at this location as well as water to refill your bottles. The 100km riders will see the support person once mid-ride.

After the Ride

Enjoy food at the farm, ice cream, drinks on tap, and more. Red Apple has plenty of tables for hanging out together and the farm animals are right there, too. It’s a wonderful atmosphere for spending good time together!

Red Apple has been wonderful to work with throughout the years and they’re really welcoming. We charge less for this ride so that you can purchase what you want from them. They also have a farm store we suggest you check out while you’re there. We want to support their business as much as we can by way of this ride! A lot of the food we provide to you mid-ride is purchased from Red Apple.

FOOD & Drinks Post-Ride

Check out the Red Apple Menu. There is also brick-oven wood-fired PIZZA! (These are two separate businesses at the farm, you can order from your ride and food will be ready for you when you arrive!)

What happens if it’s rainy?

This ride will happen rain or shine. Yes, it’s possible to have a great day out there regardless of rain.

The roads and trails won’t be affected by rain or tires rolling through on them 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.

Last-Minute Information

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

Everyone will receive complete ride details before 9pm Thursday evening prior to the ride to their email. If you do not receive an email by 9pm Thursday, please email us so we know you haven’t gotten information. Please do not email prior to 9pm Thursday wondering where your information is because we probably haven’t sent anything to anyone yet and your email will just slow down our ability to release information to everyone.

Contact Information

Email us with questions at connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.

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

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

The insurance for this ride requires a signed waiver. This will be shared with all who register to sign electronically. Please sign this electronically so we don’t have to fuss with it prior to the ride.

Day-of Registrations and Last-Minute Favors

We would have to charge a lot more for this ride if we needed to pay more people to staff this ride. Therefore, check-in has to be manageable for a single person. Please do not email a few hours before the ride asking for special favors or show up at the ride expecting to ride. It’s not fair to everyone else who registered ahead of time and have followed the rules. If you have a special circumstance, email at least 48 hours before the ride and we’ll work with you.

Proper bike & Equipment

A gravel bike is ideal, though a mountain bike, fat bike or even road bike with 35mm tires or wider is fine if you know you’ll be able to keep the pace you’re signing up for with that bike. Riders with tires on the narrower side will want to ride slower in spots. Ride what you’re comfortable with. You know your skill level and what you’re capable of. Either flat pedals or mountain-style clipless pedals (like Shimano SPD, for instance) 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

• Very nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers

• Nice to have: Change of socks if it’s a rainy/wet day

• 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)

• Extra battery and cords so you can plug in your GPS computer and cell phone to charge them in case they need more juice.

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

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

• Nice to have: Extra calories in your pockets

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

Thursday, December 11 - Mixed Terrain Night Ride!

• Location: Revolution Hall near Bedford, MA

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

• Distance:  ~15 miles, just shy of 2 hours of riding

• 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.

There are enough regroups to keep riders together and allow faster and not-as-fast riders to all ride a comfortable pace.

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: Just shy of 2 hours total

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.

This ride is a good “first” night ride for those who have mixed terrain riding experience but haven’t gone out at night before.

After the Ride

Some riders will enjoy post-ride food and drink at Revolution Hall if riders return before 9pm (food service stops at 9). 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.  

• 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.

The Professional Bikepacking Approach with Jay Petervary

Gain a lifetime of bikepacking perspective and unlock valuable resources in this live conversation with legendary bikepacker Jay Petervary.

Photo above: Patria Vandermark and Jay Petervary at Fat Pursuit. Patria is Seven Cycles’ Sales Manager and NEER’s Adventure Coordinator, she will be moderating this special session with Jay.

There is unlikely another cyclist on the planet who has as much experience and broad scope of knowledge when it comes to bikepacking then Jay Petervary. Whether its gear, bike set-ups, systems, teaching others, mentoring, hosting events, and/or consulting, Jay has been doing it all obsessively, thoroughly and with great passion for 20 years! Jay has raced the Tour Divide route 7 times while winning and setting records along the way. He has raced the Iditarod 12 times while winning the 1,000-mile twice and the 350-mile twice, he has done the Silk Road Race 3 times, winning it as well, but also did it with a 16-year-old another year. Jay has racked up over 50 3+ day bikepack races which does not include his previous 15 years of other various ultra racing pursuits. It's not just the races, it's the years of testing and improving on every facet of bikepacking that has helped him become the preeminent source of bikepacking knowledge.

Photo credit: Fred Marmsater

This focused, no-fluff, 2-hour session is your chance to understand the mindset that drives Jay’s success and you’ll learn how to apply his decision-making framework to your own bikepacking adventures and races.

Learn the processes Jay uses to choose the right gear, how he prepares, and how he navigates challenges through a lifetime of experiences.

What you’ll learn:

Photo credit: Eddie Clark

• How bikepacking has evolved recently and how that might change your preparation and load out

• How to think like a competitive bikepacker and how to make the right trade-offs

• Know where to find the right information and not get overwhelmed

• How to evaluate gear, bags, components, and systems

• How to separate marketing from real content

• Hear real stories of what has gone wrong on the trail

• Bring your questions to tap Jay’s brain as he answers your specific questions during the Ask-Jay-Anything portion of the session

The bikepacking world is filled with too many gear options and opinions. Jay will help you cut through the noise and build a mindset that leads to confident decisions and successful rides.

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Time & Day: 7:00-9:00pm EST - Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Join in no matter where you live on the planet! 4pm-6pm PST, 5-7pm MST, 6-8pm CST

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Register to attend now!

Jay offers private consulting services to clients and hosts ultra cycling seminars starting at $1,000 per attendee. This is an exceptionally valuable session that will save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars in gear.

Bikepacking with Jay Petervary

$25.00

Purchase

To kick off Seven Cycles’ 2026 line of Bikepacking bikes, attendees receive a voucher for $500 in upgrades on a new bikepacking bike from Seven!

New Year’s in Rutland

• Start location: Rutland, MA

• Ride Type:  Studded gravel, mtn & fat bike ride - a lot dirt

• Date & Time:  9am Thursday, January 1

• Distance:  60 miles total

• 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. The route runs all through Rutland with almost all of it on trails. There are lots of ways to cut it early if needed. BE SURE to bring lights. With the cold, expect ice. Bring plenty of water and food. There will be at least one refueling stop, but on New Year’s Day, it’s a good idea to assume small businesses will be closed. We’ll use cars as a refuel location if it’s not possible to find food in the world.

Schedule

We’ll be at the parking lot by 8:45am. Please be ready to roll by 8:55am.

Parking

There is free all day, all who RSVP will be sent directions to the lot.

Route

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

Estimated time

It will be ~8 hours.

Lunch Stop

Will be communicated in the pre-ride email.

Contact Information

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

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

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

Waiver

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

The proper bike & equipment for this ride includes the following:

• Bike with 38mm minimum width tires, studded tires are required.

• Bring front and rear lights, there is a very good chance we’ll finish up after dark. Ensure batteries are fresh and will last for a minimum of 3 hours on a warm day (batteries last less long in the cold).

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

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

• Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need & storage area to take layers off/carry them!

First Snow Ride - 2025/2026

• Ride Type: Mixed Terrain Ride / Roads and snow-covered trails - over 80% of the ride is on dirt trails

• Location: Waltham/Belmont. Exact location will be announced closer to when we expect the first snow to hit

• Date & Time: Right after the first “official” snow hits!

• Distance: ~10 miles, approx 2 hrs, condition-dependent

• Price: Free, but you must be a NEER Member to attend (use this as your excuse to join up since we have a full year of awesome rides ahead!!!)

• Please RSVP in the form below if you hope to join in on this ride. We’ll ask for a more definite RSVP once the “go time” becomes clearer

• #rscfirstsnow

In 2017, we had a huge turnout for the first snow ride which hit early in the afternoon on a Saturday!

Important Ride Updates Last Update: 26 November 2025 7:00pm - posting this information so everyone can start prepping for the first snow ride this season!

Details: When the first snow comes to eastern Massachusetts, we ride in it regardless of the time of day or day of the week. This is our 11th year hosting this memorable and much-too-fun ride!

Starting/ending Location: The ride will begin in Belmont/Waltham. Exact location will be shared with all who RSVP.

Route:  The route will be emailed to those who have registered if time permits. We’ll have at least one ride leader, possibly more, who will lead the way so it is not required for you to come with the route loaded.

Estimated time: ~2 hours

RSVP: Please RSVP below (at the very bottom of this page) so we know if you’re interested in this ride.

Required: Possibly studded tires. We will determine this based on conditions. You might as well get the studded tires on your bike now regardless of this possible requirement since they’ll be needed in the post-snow freeze/thaw cycle which brings ice.

New snow falling on the frozen ground will turn to ice. If the ground isn’t frozen, there won’t be ice yet.

Front and rear lights are required anytime we’re riding in hard-to-see conditions which includes falling snow and/or night.

Ride Notes:  The pace is based on conditions. We don't ride too slowly because we'd get cold, we don't ride too fast because that wouldn't be safe with the snow. We will ride spaced out with a leader or two. Be sure to come prepared with the right bike & tires, and proper attire for the conditions and temperature.

The pace assumes riders who attend have adequate fitness to keep up on a 14mph avg road ride, if riders were on road bikes on a road ride. This is not that kind of a ride, of course, but that is the best way to describe the amount of fitness necessary to ensure you’ll have a good time.

Read on below, there is a lot to this ride and how it works. Be sure to understand it to be able to participate in it! KEEP READING - lots more information is further down this page.

Last Minute Information: We’ll send all who RSVP below an email - check your spam boxes and you’ll know if you’re getting our emails since we’ll email at least a day ahead to tell you where to go and further details.

Contact Information:  Email - connect@rideheadquarters.com, Phone - (413)-461-7433 - we receive voicemails left at this phone number regardless of where we are.

Riding Rules

• Everyone who chooses to participate in this ride must be comfortable with the protocols.

• All of our Riding Rules apply. Read and digest them before the ride. All riders are expected to abide by these throughout the ride. All rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules stated in our ride rule page.
  
  Waiver:  When you join NEER, you’ll sign a waiver that applies for the year. Only NEER members may participate in this ride.

First Snow Nitty Gritty Details

One of our favorite pastimes is riding in snowfall.  You can hear the snow crunching under your tires.  It’s such a quiet time; all sound is suppressed by the snowfall.  No one is out on the roads and trails.  The world feels primitive and peaceful.

The moment of the first snowfall is THE time to ride. We are leading a ride when this first snow hits!

We are ready.  Are you?

Ride Synopsis

• We are leading a ride that begins very soon (1-2 hours) after the first snow of the season begins. We define the first snow as having accumulation of approximately 1” of snow at “go” time, and the forecast must predict that it will snow for the duration of the ride. This means the prediction will need to be for 4+ hours of snow fall, at least.

• We won’t be riding if the snow isn’t going to last for the duration of the ride.

• Most important to note: GO time is decided with at least 1 hour of notice for you, more if possible. So be ready and keep checking your email for our updates to know when it will hit. We try to get ahead of notifying you when it sounds like it might be happening a day or two in advance, depending on the weather forecast.

• The ride will be 90 minutes to 2 hours in length total. The distance of the route will take into account how hard the snow is falling & how fast the ride will be.

• The route is mixed terrain. Expect to be on- and off-road, on trails and through woods with some back roads too.

• The pace of the ride will be high enough to keep everyone working hard. This way, everyone stays warm. This doesn’t mean we’ll be moving fast considering studded tires and winter setups aren’t exactly fast. No one gets dropped.

Here’s How We Plan for the First Snow

• Be flexible. We have no idea when it’s going to snow. It’s most common for snowfall to occur during the afternoon but it could be 2am or any other time. A mindset focused on the ride, rather than when the ride will occur, is helpful.

• Be ready. Have a Snow Essentials Duffel packed and with you at all times – we provide some content hints below. Have your bike ready to go.

• The Right Tires: Studded tires may be required for this ride. Once the first snow falls you will very likely want to be riding studs for the rest of the winter since ice will be much more likely with the freeze/thaw of winter temps during the day and amount of precipitation.

• Headlight & Taillight: Whether we’re riding at 2pm or 2am, you have to have at least one headlight and taillight to join us. Snowfall makes it really difficult for drivers to see cyclists. A headlight and taillight will help a great deal with visibility for everyone. Make sure you charge those lights a few days in advance. If you’re looking to upgrade your lights, we stock very good lights and can bring them to you already charged!

First Snow History

In 2025/2026, after many snow false alarms in December and January, the first “official” snow hit the evening of January 18, as 15 NEER members were traveling back home from our 3-day Maine Hut-to-Hut trip. So we missed it. Yes, guilt was had and more snow rides ended up on the NEER calendar to say “SORRY!” to everyone who missed it!

2024/2025, the first snow hit on December 20 at 7:30pm and we had a great ride and 7 people were able to make it out for the festivities + perfect snow.

In 2024, the first snow hit on January 6 late in the day, we started riding late in the evening in the dark of night in Cambridge and experienced a city asleep while we soaked up the atmosphere…and the melted snow that turned to slush.

In 2023, the first snow hit on the MLK holiday, later in January - a Monday morning! We had a fun, small group come out and we enjoyed the morning from Revival Cafe.

In 2021, there was no first snow! It came Friday, January 7 of 2022 and we started riding at 7:30am, in deep, rideable fluffy power. About 20 people joined in the festivities and enjoy hot cocoa at the big, red van afterward!

In 2020, we were out on December 17 in a big snowstorm with a ride that started at 10:30pm. We started from Sherborn so it was hard for people to drive to it. However, it was magical and in the heart of the pandemic, it felt normal and so full of good feelings and community. Sharing hot chocolate around a fire after the ride was special.

In 2019, we were out on December 1st in the early evening with 30+ people. This was the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

In 2018, we were out from 9:30-11:30pm on a weeknight in mid-November with over 40 riders.

In 2017, we were out riding at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon with over 40 riders.

2016 was an 8am Monday morning ride, the hardest time to find riders and quiet trails/roads of all - but we still did it!

2015 - This was our inaugural year. We were out riding with a “go” time of 3am. People came as far and wide as Jamaica Plain to join in the festivities!

Knowing When the Snowfall Ride Moment Arrives

We’re emailing everyone who RSVPs for the ride with timing and details and we’ll post frequently on Instagram as well.

This is the hashtag to use with all photos you post: #rscfirstsnow

Tricks for Riding in the Snow

• Traction: Snow riding is all about traction. Four ways of maximizing traction are:

• Apply steady horsepower to the pedals.  This is a lot more difficult than it appears.  If you’re riding at 70 hp on a snowy trail, a change of 10%, or 7 hp, is a lot – and can be the different between maintaining your line and losing traction entirely.  Practice steady horsepower output.

• Keep your bike upright, even while turning.  The more you lean into a corner, the less traction you have.  Most tires have less tread and fewer studs toward the sides of the tire.  Don’t lean your bike too much.  Riding upright keeps you upright.

• Tire pressure:  Lower tire pressure provides better traction.  Of course, you want to balance this with the possibility of getting a flat.  We find that riding on an inch of snow is deceptive, in that you feel like the trail is really smooth, when in reality, all the obstacles are still there – and just as sharp – you just can’t see them, so your chance of getting a flat probably increases slightly.

• Tires and treads:  Studs are best.  Wider is better than narrower.  Treads are better than slicks.

• Be careful. This may seem obvious but we see this as a fundamental issue each season in the first snow. Taking a tumble in the ice and snow can be problematic; these falls are fast, unexpected, and hard. Ride conservatively and don’t worry about winning.

• No fenders: Snow time may seem like a great time to have fenders, but it’s not. Not only are fenders dangerous on mixed terrain – due to sticks and debris on the trail, it’s also likely that your fenders will get packed with snow and make your ride a lot tougher.

• Batteries die. Batteries don’t like the cold so they power down a lot more quickly than on an autumn day. Three hours of battery life can become one hour – or worse – in the cold months. Keep your electronics warm – in your jacket or jersey, not in your saddle bag – until you need them. This includes your phone, backup battery, spare light, and your Garmin – if you’re not the ride navigator.

Likely Weather Conditions

It can’t snow if it’s too cold so it’s likely to be somewhere between 28 and 36 degrees.  Also, you’re likely to get a bit wet as the snow melts on you; gear that leans toward rain protection can be useful.

Always Be Prepared:  Snow Essentials Duffel
Have your Snow Essentials Duffel in your car – if that’s your mode of work transport – so you’re always ready to roll.  In that bag, we recommend:

• All the clothing you typically use for 30-40 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions. If you forget to put your bibs in your Snow Essentials Kit, we have no sympathy!

• Headlight 100% charged and ready for 2.5 hours of use. Ideally, two headlights – one on your bars and one on your helmet.

• Taillight batteries in good condition.

• Winter shoes or your autumn shoes with overshoes.

• Long thick wool socks

• Helmet – with light mount ready to go.

• Long finger gloves, possibly with liners.

• Three season cap that covers your ears. A brim will be appreciated – it can help keep the snow out of your eyes.

• Neck gator - doubles as a face covering.

• Protective glasses if that’s your kind of thing for riding in a snowstorm.

• High-vis vest if you like to be visible. If there’s ever a time to increase your visibility, it’s during a snowstorm; drivers have a really difficult time seeing cyclists through snowfall.

• Towel to dry off after the ride.

• Puffy jacket, a change of clothes that are warm and fleece-lined, warm cap and mittens feel so good post-ride!

We are Here To Help

We have just about anything you could need for winter riding, including:

• Winter Bikes. There are considerations to be made where it comes to the bike you ride in the winter. We have bikes that are great all year, but are extra special for winter riding. Check out the Seven Cycles Treeline bike: summer mountain bike, winter fat bike. Titanium is a perfect frame material for a bike that’s going to see the salt and harsh conditions of winter. A winterized bike is also important. For example, if snow is allowed into the brake housing, your brakes will likely freeze up. We can winterize your bike to keep your rolling.

• Lots of studded tire options. And the tubes needed for each tire size. We can help determine the ideal tire size for your bike and guarantee what will fit and what won’t. Not all studded tires are created equal. We can help determine the right price point for your riding needs.

• Studded tire installation help. Studded tires are often the toughest type of tire to install because they’re thicker, stiffer, and sometimes are steel beaded. We’re happy to help.

• Lights: We have the toughest winter lights available. We’ll help you determine optimal number of lumens for your needs. We’ll help you determine where the best mounting spot is on your bike or body. The best kind of taillight for visibility and longevity. So many options – all with different strengths and weaknesses.

• Gloves: We have everything from lightweight full fingers to deep winter 45Nrth gloves and liners. We have an array of models and sizes to determine the ideal setup for your type of riding. We can help with determining which are best for wet weather, for glove liners, or for the coldest days. Lots of glove options for lots of kinds of riding.

• Winter Shoes: We’ve got 45NRTH Wolvhammers in stock and will order more upon request. We’ll help you find the right size, and install cleats on your new boots, too.

We hope to see you in the first snow!

#rscfirstsnow

Come by at least 15-minutes early to the ride starting location so you can make any last minute bike adjustments. We’ll be there with the van with supplies, hand warmers, toe warmers, and any gear you’ve asked us to bring to the start for you!

RSVP with your interest in joining now!

Saturday, Dec 6 - Massachusetts’ Global Fat Bike Day!! Adventure Ride

• Location: Start and end in Wompatuck State Park, Hingham, MA

• Ride Type:  Trails, Beaches, Roads on Fat Bikes

• Date & Time:  Saturday, December 6, 2025 8am start*

• Distance:  We have OPTIONS! ~40 and ~70 miles (bring lights!)*

• Price: $0 - if this is your first ride with NEER, it’s no charge, come on out! If you’ve ridden with NEER previously, please become a member, it’s required of our insurance.

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

Details

This is a fat bike adventure ride! It’s got a little of all of the fun riding and a whole lot of adventure to look forward to. It’s a big day on the fat bike, come well prepared for a big day! There are quality beaches, sand, trails, back roads. A whole lot of everything.

* We reserve the right to shift start times & change route lengths based on conditions for the day.

Raffle! Win $350 in Cold Weather Goodies

All riders who show up to this ride will be entered into a raffle that will be held prior to rollout! Fat-bike and winter-specific items will be raffled.

• The raffle Grand Prize is these sweet pedals and studded boot system from 9point8 out of Canada! Other items include:

• NEER Wool Neck Warmer - 2 will be raffled! $60 value each

• 45NRTH Draugenklaw drop bar pogies - 1 set, $85 value

NEER members receive an extra entry each to this raffle!

Pace

This ride is suitable for people with good fitness to push your fat tires all day long! The average pace will be ~8mph for the stronger riders. This is not slow when you’re on a fat bike.

We are offering a “fun” pace for those wanting a less intense day or riders who are newer to their fat bike. This pace is offered for the 40-mile version only considering this is still a big day in the saddle.

Distance & Estimated Ride Time

Allow 9-10 hours for this ride for the 70-mile version, depending on your pace. We’ll break up into groups if that allows everyone to get the ride of his/her desires, but only if we have > 10 riders or people at different paces.

The 40-mile route is a ~5.5 hour ride for stronger riders, 6.5 hours for less strong riders so still a big day at this time of year!

Food and Drink During the Ride

There are good cafes and places to fill up water bottles and eat calories on the route. Riders should bring the equivalent of 2 x 26 ounces of water and extra calories as you would on any long ride, but expect to have enough places to stop (and warm up!) on the way for both route options.

Parking

Parking is free and ample at the Wompatuck parking lot. Details will be shared with all who RSVP no later than 7pm the evening before the ride.

Route

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

Route Notes

Expect everything on this ride! Beaches, paved roads, plenty of fun trails, nothing too technical, but lots of fun.

After the Ride

Bring something to eat for post-ride. Also bring a change of clothes for the drive home! Since we aren’t charging, we aren’t staffing the finish of the ride or providing food.

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.

Proper bike & Equipment

• 3.5” knobby tires OR BIGGER.  Wider tires are nicer! We’ll be on some beaches so mountain bikes don’t have wide enough tires for these sections. Besides, it’s Global Fat Bike Day! Studded tires are fine. There are paved sections, these won’t be bad or unsafe for studded tires, it’s just louder.

• All 70-mile (long route) riders MUST bring front and rear lights to see and be seen for 2+ hours. The ride will finish in the dark.

• Enough food and water to be hydrated and satisfied in between food stops. This should mean 2 x 26 ounce bottles + 2 food bars/equivalent.

• Bring money for food, there are cafe and food stops on the routes.

• 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. Some of the beach riding may involve riding on rocks, and there are paved roads connecting the beaches and trails.

• 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. Have a plan if your legs or bike stop working so you can get home.

Register to Participate in Global Fat Bike Day Massachusetts 2025 Now!

If you can’t make it, we just ask that you let us know (email connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com) so we aren’t looking for you at the start or during the day.

Super Full Moon this Thursday, Dec 4, 7pm: Mixed Terrain Ride

• Location: Mighty Squirrel, Waltham, MA

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

• Date & Time:  Every other Thursday in December: December 4 & 18 (the other Thursday rides in December start at Revolution Hall)

• Distance:  ~15 miles, 2 full hours of riding

• 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 40mm tires or bigger is suited for the terrain. This route is not appropriate for people who don’t have mixed terrain riding skills or night ride experience. The Revolution Hall rides that we host are more appropriate for those just getting into mixed terrain and night riding.

There are rocks, roots, boardwalks, road crossings, and short sections of road to ride. Leaves can be wet and slippery whether or not it just rained.

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 it’s dark out. We have to stay moving since it’s cold so come prepared.

Distance

~15 miles

Parking

Address for your GPS: 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452

Pin of the exact spot to park in the lot - it’s not next to the Mighty Squirrel since that’s for customers: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7EWmn2YTh66Nj2Xj6

Route

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

All who RSVP will receive the route in your inbox the morning of the ride.

Start time, Estimated Ride Time

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

Ride time: Expect this to take a full 2 hours.

After the Ride

Mighty Squirrel is open and they serve beer, hot (large) pretzels, chips and guac, that sort of cuisine. It’s fun to hang out for a few minutes post-ride if riders are up for it. Ride leader will always be up for post-ride hangs!

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

• 40mm 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.

• 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.