Reminder - Meadowbrook Orchards, Sterling Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

Can you say TOP 10 DAY? If you believe the forecast, and why wouldn't you, it should be SUNNY, mid 60s to low 70s, low humidity, and a light NE breeze. 

Google Maps claims its a 35 minute drive from Groton Center, so leave plenty of time to enjoy coffee and pastries before the ride to negate any possible weight loss :-)

The Friday ride will start and end at Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling. They will be open for coffee, pastries, and porcelain in the morning and a full lunch when we get back. Just as a side note, Meadowbrook Orchards is celebrating its 100th anniversary on June 16 with a pig roast, tours, and more! 

Please park at the far end of the parking lot so their regular customers don't have to walk.

The ride will feature some Mary Had A Little Lamb stuff in Sterling, 5 miles of the Mass Central Rail Trail, a very pleasant backroad to Holden, and the Old Stone Church. The 750 feet elevation gain looks kind of daunting, but almost half of it is one category 5 hill in West Sterling. The payback is nearly 8 miles of mostly downhill back to West Boyleston.

On Friday, June 1st - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT

• 9:30 AM Start time.
• 12:30 PM Return time.
• Starting Point Map - Meadowbrook Orchards.
• Route Map - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT
• Distance - 26 Miles.
• Elevation Gain - 750 feet (just 1 challenging category 5 hill).
• Unpaved - 5 miles of beautiful, smooth, crush rock on the MCRT.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 33 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Harvard Track

How about a Harvard Track Ride Tomorrow (Thursday)?

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks TERRIFIC! It should be SUNNY, near 70 degrees, low humidity, and a light NW breeze.

I had so much fun on the afternoon Recreation Ride in Harvard a few weeks ago that I decided to "re-cycle" it  tomorrow.

The Rescheduled, Substitute, Exploration Ride features the Shaker Villages and Shaker "lollipop" Cemetery. No trip around Harvard would be complete without riding UP Oak Hill, yes, its a category 5, but its not that steep, just long. Hopefully there will be some views from the ridges. Then its a bunch of downhill fun on the way back. That loop is 15 miles. Since its supposed to be such a nice day, I added an optional 7 mile loop around Bare Hill Pond if anyone is interested.

We can have lunch at Sorrento's afterwards.

On Thursday, May 31st - Harvard Track

• The Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We will return by 12:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Track
• Route Map - Harvard - Shaker Villages.
• Distance = 22 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 650 feet (more difficult).
• Unpaved = 1 mile smooth dirt.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 29 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - The Wednesday Ride Is Postponed

Harvard Tomorrow - Sterling on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Once again the weather doesn't look good enough to make the trip to Providence :-(

Hopefully the weather will cooperate enough to get a local ride in between the Showers and Thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow. Its supposed to be Mostly Cloudy, Warm and Humid with temps in the mid to upper 70s.

I had so much fun on the afternoon Recreation Ride in Harvard a few weeks ago that I decided to "re-cycle" it  tomorrow.

The Substitute Exploration Ride features the Shaker Villages and Shaker "lollipop" Cemetery. No trip around Harvard would be complete without riding UP Oak Hill, yes, its a category 5, but its not that steep, just long. Hopefully there will be some views from the ridges. Then its a bunch of downhill fun on the way back.

We can have lunch at Sorrento's afterwards.

On Wednesday, May 30th - Harvard Track

• The Substitute Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We will return by 12:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Track
• Route Map - Harvard - Shaker Villages.
• Distance = 15.4 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 500 feet (more difficult).
• Unpaved = none.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 20 flat, paved miles.

The Friday ride will start and end at Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling. They will be open for coffee, pastries, and porcelain in the morning and a full lunch when we get back.

I couldn't work in the Wachusett Reservoir and still get out to the Mass Central Rail Trail on this ride. The 750 feet elevation gain looks kind of daunting, but almost half of it is one category 5 hill in West Sterling. The payback is nearly 8 miles of mostly downhill back to West Boyleston.

On Friday, June 1st - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT

• 9:30 AM Start time.
• 12:30 PM Return time.
• Starting Point Map - Meadowbrook Orchards.
• Route Map - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT
• Distance - 26 Miles.
• Elevation Gain - 750 feet (just 1 challenging category 5 hill).
• Unpaved - 5 miles of beautiful, smooth, crush rock on the MCRT.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 33 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Dunstable - Larter Field

Route Map for Monday Morning

Dear AdventuRiders,

Here is the Route Map for tomorrow (Monday, May 28th).

Its 23 miles, 550 feet elevation gain (moderate) with a few steep uphills followed by lovely downhill runs.

Hope to see you tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM at Larter Field in Dunstable.

Bill (and maybe Carole)