GO - Sterling.

This Week - Sterling - Portsmouth - West Groton

Dear AdventuRiders,

After a couple of chilly rides last week, Monday is looking particularly nice. It should be Sunny, 50 degrees, and a light breeze in the morning and low 60s in the afternoon.

On Monday we will be exploring the very scenic Mass Central Rail Trail starting in Sterling and riding to Holden. The morning ride is flatter and shorter, and the afternoon ride will visit the Old Stone Church on the Wachusett Reservoir and is somewhat hillier and longer. Even though the MCRT is unpaved, the crushed rock surface is generally smoother than the Nashua River Rail Trail for instance, and either a hybrid or a road bike will work well. BTW, there is a PortaPotty at the starting point, and several other points along the way.

I have scheduled the Portsmouth ride for Wednesday, but it sometimes takes a few weeks to get good enough weather to make the one hour drive each way worth the effort. Stay tuned. The route is about 30 miles and basically flat. I have multiple tricks up my sleeve if we run into a sea breeze. Lunch will probably be at Portsmouth Brewery to avoid a mutiny if Janet, Joe, and/or Eddie come along :-)

On Friday, we will meet at Cutler Field in West Groton and ride to Brookline, NH. The route will be about 26 miles long and somewhere around 700 feet elevation gain. Most of the hills are getting up to the ridge in Townsend with beautiful views of the mountains of Central Mass and Southern NH. We can have lunch afterwards at the Clover Farm Store in West Groton, or there is always Filho's.

On Monday, April 30th - Sterling - MCRT

The Morning Recreation Ride will explore the Mass Central Rail Trail to Holden and we will return the same way since it is such a nice trail.

• The Morning Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We should be back by 11:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Sterling Center - PortaPotty equipped.
• Route Map - Sterling - MCRT.
• Distance - 16 1/2 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 8 1/2 - but it doesn't really count.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.

AR Index = roughly 19 flat, paved miles.

Lunch will be at Village Pizza & More in Sterling.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will cover the same parts of the MCRT, but will also visit the Old Stone Church in West Boylston.

• The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave at 12:30 PM.
• We should be back by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Sterling Center - PortaPotty equipped.
• Route Map - Sterling - MCRT
• Distance - 17 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 420 feet (moderate)
• Unpaved - 8 1/2 - but it doesn't really count
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.

AR Index = roughly 21 flat, paved miles.

On Wednesday, May 2nd - Portsmouth

On Friday, May 4th - West Groton

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Westminster

Its gonna be chilly, bring something warm. This is a portapotty free route, so go easy on the coffee. 

Reminder - Westminster Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

Get ready for a gorgeous ride around Mount Wachusett. Carole, Eddie and I did this ride last June and it shot right up to the Top 10 Ride category! Its a bit outside our 30 minute starting point radius around Groton, but Route 2 is pretty quick and I adjusted the starting  time accordingly.

The weather forecast is for Mostly Sunny, 47 degrees, and windy when we leave. It should be Sunny, 50 degrees, and still windy when we return. Bring something warm and a definitely a wind layer. It will be a cross wind much of the time, but a tail wind the last 4 miles.

On Friday, April 27th -Westminster

The Fitness Ride will take us west to the Mount Wachusett region. We will start in Westminster, climb UP toward

the west shoulder of Mount Wachusett on some scenic backroads before zooming DOWN to beautiful views at Princeton. From there we ride to Gardner passing many lakes before turning back to Westminster. There are a couple of significant hills at the beginning of the ride including a Cat 5 (easiest category) as we pass the mountain. From there it is rolling hills back to Westminster.

• The Exploration Ride will leave at 9:45 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Westminster Bandshell
• Route Map - Westminster - Wachusett
• Distance - 23 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 750 feet (more difficult)
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - some rough spots
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.

AR Index = roughly 31 flat, paved miles.

Here is the schedule:

• 9:45 AM - The Exploration Ride leaves.
• 12:45 PM - We will be back to Westminster.

We can have lunch at the Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Boxboro

Bring something warm. 

Reminder - Boxboro Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather forecast for tomorrow is Sunny and 50 degrees when we leave, and mostly cloudy and near 60 when we return. It should be mostly a tailwind coming back. Many of the trees are in bloom, so it should be a pretty ride.

On Wednesday, April 25th - Boxboro 

This is one of my favorite rides. Its scenic, challenging, and has a two mile downhill run through Harvard. Of course that means that there are some uphills too, but the one category 5 (easiest category) hill we have is mostly just long and not that steep. 

The route is about 27 1/2 miles long and 800 feet vertical with most of the elevation gain in the first hill, although it is uphill back to the starting point too. It is all on road and I plan to bring my road bike.


Lunch is at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson.

• At 9:30 AM the Exploration Ride will leave.
• We will return by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map. We will meet at the Soccer Fields on Liberty Square Road. PortaPotty equipped.
• Route Map. Boxboro - Harvard - Hudson.
• Distance = 27.5 Miles.
• Elevation Gain = 800 feet (more challenging).
• Unpaved = None.
• Equipment = I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index = Roughly 35 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - All Rides Today Are POSTPONED