Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ride Type: Bikes with 38mm tires or bigger will enjoy this Mixed Terrain Experience
Date & Time: Saturday, November 9 / Rain date November 10
Distance: 25-30 miles depending on weather and other factors
Price: $45. Register at BikeReg.com. Must be a NEER member to join in due to insurance requirements.
Details of this Special Adventure with Mike & Mary
Come join mountain bike legends, Mary McConneloug and Michael Broderick, for a fun day of riding bikes on and off road on charming Martha’s Vineyard! They are taking you on a mixed terrain tour showcasing some of their favorite quiet back routes over ancient trails and roads. Highlights will include full immersion into the natural island beauty, cycling to remote areas, offering views from a favorite high point and a beach stop to to take in the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
Light 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 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 something 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.
Price
$45 for the experience, ride, and everything Mike & Mary are providing.
Refund Policy
Please be sure you’re able to ride on the rain date of Sunday, November 10 if we need to move the ride from November 9 due to rain or inclement weather that stops the ferry from running. If the ride can’t be run either day, a rain date will be established and anyone who isn’t able to make it will be given a 50% refund.
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. No one is getting dropped or lost. The route will be appropriately adjusted if the weather or time requires. The route length is 25-30 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 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 more technical than gravel).
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!
Who are Mike & Mary?
Mike Broderick (born on Marthas Vineyard, MA) and Mary McConneloug (born in Fairfax, CA) 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, pursuing many disciplines of off road cycling - mainly XCO, cyclocross, stage race and Enduro. For the past 25 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.
Both Mike and Mary are the current 2024 USAC Masters 50+ Enduro National Champions!!
Read more about Mike & Mary at the bottom of this page!
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by these Rules. Registering for this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
Be sure you’ve signed the NEER waiver, this is the same one you should have already have signed when you became a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
A bike with tires 38mm wide or bigger.
Required: A bike that’s in safe working order that has been recently tuned and is free of creaking and squeaking.
Required: All of the tools for typical mechanicals such as:
Flat fix tools and at least one spare tube (yes, even if you’re running tubeless tires), air via CO2 or hand pump, multi-tool
Nice to have: Extra chain link, chain breaker, chain pliers
Spare derailleur hanger if your bike needs a spare
Extra clothes and storage capacity so adding/taking off layers is easy
Required: Cell phone
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
More about Mary McConneloug!
Mary was born and raised in Fairfax, CA . She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Santa Clara University, CA (1993). She was always interested in sports - but did not discover competitive xc mtb racing until 1997 while living in Bend, Oregon. She has since been hooked on the ultimate challenge of pushing her mind, body and spirit to be the best she can be on her bike and in life.
She 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 waves on her SUP. An advocate for healthy active lifestyles, and sharing that with others, she is excited for the potential ahead! She has coached herself from the beginning and is currently starting her own practice of coaching /mentoring others. She holds a nutrition based philosophy combining lifestyle balance and periodization training techniques to reach fitness goals
More about Mike Broderick!
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. In his 30+ years of mtb competition, 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).