Location: Start and end in Norwood, MA
Ride Type: Road ride, all pavement in a bucolic part of our state! Starting & ending at a large tap room with food and all kinds of drinks.
Date & Time: Saturday, February 10, 9:00am start
Distance: 60 miles with an option to cut the route to 45 miles
Price: Free; see NEER membership requirements discussed below after the first ride you do with us, we hope you use this as a way to get to know NEER and become a member for 2024!
RSVPs: Required, see bottom of page for RSVP form
Details
This is a beautiful day on the bike starting/ending in Norwood, MA!
We have a designated Super Domestique leading one group which will be rolling at a steady 14-15mph average conversational, endurance pace perfect for many this time of year.
We’ll create other groups based on expected average speeds so people can ride with similar-speed riders so you get the ride you’re after. No one should be looking for race pace or surging this time of year. This is a chance to enjoy a great day on the bike with others at the pace that feels comfortable to you and your fitness level.
If you have questions about the pace, please email us in advance.
Distance
The ride is 60 miles in length. There is a shorter 45-mile option which simply involves cutting the route around mile 21 so everyone starts the same 21 miles and we’ll make it obvious via a separate route for anyone who’d like a 45-mile option.
Parking
Exact parking directions will be emailed to all who RSVP. We’re starting at the Castle Island Brewing Company, 31 Astor Ave, Norwood, MA 02062
Route
The routes will be shared with all who RSVP.
All riders should load the ride on a GPS computer so everyone knows where we’re going and it makes splitting into groups easier.
Estimated Ride Time
~3.5-5 hours depending on your pace and the time the group takes at the food/bathroom stops.
Route Notes and Food Stops
Food/water: There is one food/refuel stop at mile 25 at a small market (basic store and sandwiches offered). It is worth being a little hungry at the end since there’s a nice food truck with a lot of offerings in addition to the tap room full of beer and non-alcoholic drinks as well.
Route notes: The 1/2 way destination is Diamond Hill Reservoir in Rhode Island. It’s a beautiful place to ride to and through. There are many lovely areas and bodies of water to be seen enroute as well. The roads are not heavily traveled and are most back roads with a few crossings of major roads. As always, there will be rough roads and potholes so keep an eye open.
After the Ride
Enjoy food and drink at the Tap Room and time together before you take off! There is plenty of room in the Tap Room for us to have our own large table(s). At 2pm, there’s a “Puppy Bowl” happening at the tap room so if you like dogs, this is the place to be.
The Tap Room opens at 12pm. The fastest riders are likely to arrive right around 12pm.
Last-Minute Information
We will email all participants who RSVP with any critical late-breaking news if there is any.
Contact Information
Email - connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com with questions about this ride anytime 1 hour or more prior to the start of the ride.
CALL US if you need us to know anything just before the ride start or during the ride at 413-461-7433.
Don’t txt if you need an immediate response, all txt msgs go to our email that we aren’t checking if we’re in front of people at the ride or on our bikes.
Riding Rules
All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. RSVP’ing to this ride indicates you have read and accept all of the rules. These make the ride safer and more fun for all.
Waiver
We require a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
If this is your second or more ride with us, our insurance requires that you become a member of NEER.
Proper bike & Equipment
Bring your road bike OR gravel bike with whatever size tires you enjoy riding that will allow you to keep pace with the group you would like to ride with.
If the roads are wet/messy, please mount a rear full-coverage fender. If you don’t have one, expect to ride at the back!
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control. Since we are riding near to each other on the road, platform pedals don’t offer necessary bike control for this kind of riding.
A bike that’s in safe working order that is properly lubed and tuned. We’ll ask you to call for a ride or take an Uber home if you have a mechanical situation that will hinder the forward progress of the group by more than a few minutes.
Be sure you have supplies necessary for all common mechanicals including extra derailleur hangers, a multi-tool, quick chain links, tubes, CO2 or hand pump, etc. You are responsible for you and your bike.
RSVP to Participate in this Ride Now!
Please RSVP only after you’ve made sure you can attend. It is inconsiderate to RSVP prior to committing to attending since it affects the experience of the other cyclists in attendance. We understand that things come up last-minute. Be sure to email us if you can’t attend: connect@newenglandexpeditionriders.com.