Greetings + Actual Bike Stuff

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hate the term "Season's Greetings" since it's just a generic, politically correct cop out. So, "Harambee!" (Swahlli Quanzaa greeting), "Merry Christmas", "chag Chanukah sameach", "Happy New Years", "Io, Saturnalia!", and of course my favorite, "Bah Humbug".

Surprisingly, I have some bicycle related news. 

• Bike New York has gone back to a "rush" signup system for their Five Boro Tour. It typically sells out all 30,000 participants in less than 24 hours. I've done this ride twice, and while it's a logistical "problem", it's certainly something for the bucket list. Registration begins January 22nd at noon.
• Maine Lighthouse Ride has extended their early registration deadline until January 15th. We did this ride once, had two flat tires before we even started, and the weather was horrible. They have significantly extended the trail since then and the weather could be wonderful. I'm tempted to try this ride again.
• AdventuRides - January. The next week looks cold (YAY!!!), but if we get a January thaw (BOO!!!), stay tuned for a new Princeton ride.

In Downhill Ski related news, I have found that Christmas day is one of the best ski days of the year. Wachusett opens at 4:00 PM on Christmas day, the slopes are still freshly groomed, the lights are on, and there is no one there who speaks English :-) Let me know if you want to join me. BTW, All season passes are valid after 4:00 PM.

In non-ski related news, on days that my Wachusett pass doesn't work, or the ski conditions are crummy, I have been known to climb Mount Wachusett from the south on Administration Road. It's about a 5 mile round trip to the summit and back. Easy and scenic, who could ask for more? I'll let you know...

Peace,

Bill and Carole

GO - Groton Center

"Too Warm To Ski" Ride Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

Although I have been skiing twice already, it's always biking season if the weather cooperates. The Monday forecast is for Sunny and 40s when we leave, and 50s when we get back. 

Here's the synopsis: blah, blah, blah, Filho's.

We will meet in Groton Center, ride to West Groton, Pepperell, and Hollis on our way to Mine Falls Park in Nashua. Its basically flat on the way back and the last 8 miles are on the Nashua River Rail Trail.

The route is a little over 30 miles, but there are only a couple of noticeable hills. Hopefully the rain tonight will wash away some of the salt and sand on the roads. I plan to bring my hybrid bike since I'm in the process of cleaning my road bike.

On Monday, December 3rd - Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The "Too Warm To Ski" Ride will leave.
• 1:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Nashua.
• Distance - 31 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 550 feet.
• Unpaved - 1.5 miles (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 34 flat, smooth, miles.

Lunch afterwards at Filho's Cucina.

Hope to see you there,

Bill (and maybe Carole)

GO - Leominster State Forest

Friday: Leominster State Forest

Dear AdventuRiders,

Now that you are (hopefully) in a turkey coma, its a good time to remind you to work off the gluttony tomorrow :-)

The weather even looks good, Mostly Sunny and 40 degrees in the morning and about 50 when we get back.

We will meet at the composting toilet equipped parking area for Leominster State Forest on Route 31 just a couple miles south of Route 2. Look for the "Entering Princeton" sign on the left.

From there. we will ride south to Holden. Those of you who came on the Meadowbrook Orchards Fitness Ride will recognize the beautiful rolling farmland and forests. Then its UP, UP, UP with great views from Sholan Farms and Grand View Country Club before we get back to Leominster State Forest. A couple miles of unpaved fire road will take us past Rocky Pond to the starting point.

LUNCH? - I'm open for suggestions. There is always The Old Mill Restaurant for an "early bird special", but throughly unique and rustic New England experience.

On Friday, November 23rd - Leominster State Forest

• 9:30 AM - the Bright Friday Ride will leave.
• 1:00 PM - we should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Leominster State Forest.
• Route Map - Leominster State Forest.
• Distance - 25 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 850 feet (more challenging).
• Unpaved - 2.5 miles (reasonably smooth fire road)
• Equipment - I will probably bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 35 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill (and maybe Carole)

THANKS + Bright Friday Ride

Dear AdventuRiders,

Thanks again for a wonderful season. We couldn't do it without you!

 

I've never understood what was good about "Black Friday". Why would I care that the retailer's profits finally made it into the black? Wasn't it "Black Tuesday" when the stock market crashed in 1929?

Anyhow, the weather is looking VERY nice for Friday, mostly SUNNY, 50s, light winds, so I've mapped out a new ride far away from the shopping malls at Leominster State Forest. The ride starts at 9:30 AM, so you'll have plenty of time to trample little old ladies at Walmart to get to that $19.95 DVD Player. Just stay the hell out of my way :-)

We will meet at the composting toilet equipped main parking area for Leominster State Forest on Route 31 just a couple miles south of Route 2. From there. we will ride south to Holden. Those of you who came on the Meadowbrook Orchards Fitness Ride will recognize the beautiful rolling farmland and forests. Then its UP, UP, UP with great views from Sholan Farms and Grand View Country Club before we get back to Leominster State Forest. A couple miles of unpaved fire road will take us past Rocky Pond to the starting point.

LUNCH? - I'm open for suggestions. There is always The Old Mill Restaurant for an "early bird special", but throughly unique and rustic New England experience.

On Friday, November 23rd - Leominster State Forest

• 9:30 AM - the Bright Friday Ride will leave.
• 1:00 PM - we should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Leominster State Forest.
• Route Map - Leominster State Forest.
• Distance - 25 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 850 feet (more challenging).
• Unpaved - 2.5 miles (reasonably smooth fire road)
• Equipment - I will probably bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 35 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill (and maybe Carole)

GO - Bobbie's House

GO - Elm Street Playground, West Acton

Friday: Elm Street Playground, West Acton

Dear AdventuRiders,

What a dilemma! Loon Mountain opens tomorrow and lift tickets are only $29. Oh well, there is only one trail open top to bottom...

Anyhow, I have an interesting ride planned for tomorrow. We will ride to Bolton, past the Stow golf courses, along the future Assebet River Rail Trail, through the Assebet River National Wildlife Refuge, and around the old mill buildings in Maynard. Whew! BTW, the PortaPotty is still at the starting point as of this afternoon.

The route is about 29 miles and relatively flat. The weather you ask? My best guess is Partly Cloudy, light North breeze, and about 40 degrees when we leave and mid 40s when we get back.

Idylwilde Farms took their picnic tables away, so I guess they are out for lunch. Our fearless great lunch place finder is back from NYC, and I found a place in West Acton called "The Local Table".

On Friday, November 16th - Elm Street Playground, West Acton

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - 7 Elm Street, West Acton, MA.
• Route Map - Acton - ARNWR - Maynard.
• Distance - 29 1/2 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 550 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 8 miles - mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

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

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Wachusett - Last Chance to Save $100

Dear AdventuRiders,

Ralph's Run is not quite skiable yet, but they are working in it!

MIDNIGHT TONIGHT is the deadline for buying a cheap season pass! 

Go HERE and pick your pass. Use ADVENTURIDES as your group name. 

See you on the slopes,

Bill (and hopefully Carole)

GO - But You May Be The Only One

Wednesday : DIY - Bedford - Somerville

Dear AdventuRiders,

The good news is that it's supposed to quit raining tomorrow. The bad news is that I broke a tooth and the dentist ripped it out today, so I will be laying low tomorrow :-(

However, this route is pretty self-explanatory so I'm sure our intrepid AdventuRiders can soldier on without me (or Carole).

If you are planning to come, RSVP so I can assure that more than one person is going.

The weather for tomorrow looks Sunny, 40s and a bit breezy (head wind going back).

Note the 10:00 AM starting time. BTW, the bathrooms at the starting point parking lot were open on Sunday, but there are no guarantees. The route is about 22 miles, all paved, and essentially flat. Its a good way to rack up some miles without killing ourselves, and we get delicious sandwiches from Dave's Fresh Pasta.

On Wednesday, November 14th, we will meet in Bedford at the Minuteman Bikeway Parking.

• At 10:00 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave from the Minuteman Rail Trail Parking in Bedford. Here is a map.
• At 11:30 AM - LUNCH at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville.
• At 12:30 PM - We will head back to Bedford.
• At 2:30 PM - We should be back to the Minuteman Rail Trail Parking.

Hope to see you there,

not Bill and not Carole

GO - Beverly Soccer Field

This Week - Beverly - Somerville - West Acton

Dear AdventuRiders,

Even though Monday is a school holiday, I have scheduled an awesome ride! It's not fully "cooked", so there may be a bit more adventure than usual, but the North Shore from Beverly to Magnolia is tough to be anything but magnificent!

Our starting point is the same soccer field in Beverly as the Salem ride and it is still PortaPotty equipped (as of today at least). We will also revisit Lynch Park before heading north to Gloucester. We will stop at a bunch of beaches, including Singing Beach in Manchester-By-The-Sea, on the way.

I haven't figured out lunch yet, but I think we will find a place in Beverly after the ride, so bring a snack to refresh yourself along the way.

On Monday, November 12th - Beverly Beach Bonanza

• 8:15 AM - Carpool from Shaw's in Groton.
• 9:30 AM - We will leave from the Curve Lane Soccer Field.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Curve Lane Soccer Field.
• Route Map - Beverly - Manchester - Magnolia.
  
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet - pretty flat actually.
• Unpaved - None, but there is some sand from past storms.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 30 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH - TBD

On Wednesday, November 14th - Minuteman to Somerville.

We will ride the Minuteman Bikeway from Bedford to Somerville for our usual "Last Exploration Ride of the Season" trip to Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square for LUNCH.

On Friday, November 16th - West Acton - Assebet River

This ride will start at the Elm Street Playground near Idylwilde Farms in West Acton. It features 8 miles of traffic free riding on the future Assebet River Rail Trail and in the Assebet River National Wildlife Refuge.

LUNCH is a picnic at Idylwilde Farms.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

We Will Be Riding Monday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Even though Monday is Veterans Day, the weather forecast is simply too nice to pass up. I haven't figured it out yet, but the plan is to do an extended Recreation Ride in the morning and then go for lunch.

Stay Tuned,

Bill

Wachusett Ski Pass Deadline

Dear AdventuRiders,

Now that we have had a taste of snow, it's time to buy your Wachusett Mountain Ski Pass. The deadline is Wednesday, November 14th.

It's the best deal around, and Wachusett Mountain has 3 high speed quad chair lifts (including one for the bunny hill!) and phenomenal snow making and grooming. If you show up on weekdays at 9:00 AM, it's like having your own personal ski area.

You only need to use your pass 5 times to save money. The best part is that you never have to wait in ticket lines. 

After skiing, we've been known to go upstairs to the Black Diamond Restaurant for some surprisingly good and inexpensive food while soaking up some sun. Another favorite activity is to get a beer at the Coppertop Lounge and sink into one of the Adirondack chairs on the deck.

If you are interested, go to Group Sales and save $110 by using the name ADVENTURIDES as the group name. Personally, I have a Silver Pass so I can ski early and late season weekends. 

See you on the slopes!

Bill (and hopefully) Carole

GO - Andres Art Institute

Friday - Change of Plans

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, now what? All this slop is supposed to freeze tonight making bicycling a treacherous business. It's supposed to be SUNNY tomorrow and staying inside is not an option.

So, let's go for a HIKE at Andres Art Institute in Brookline, NH. They have over 60 sculptures on 140 acres at the old Big Bear Mountain Ski Area. It's all free and the views from the top of the mountain are especially nice. Bring good hiking boots / shoes / ski poles since some of the trails are steep and rocky and could be slippery.

LUNCH is at Chrysanthi's Restaurant just up the road from Andres. I had the Ruben last week and it was outstanding!

On Friday, November 9th - Andres Art Institute - Brookline, NH

• 9:30 AM - Let's hike!
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Andres Art Institute - Brookline, NH
• Trail Map - Andres Art Institute.

LUNCH at Chrysanthi's Restaurant.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - The Exploration Ride is Postponed

Wednesday - Change of Plans

Dear AdventuRiders,

Cloudy, windy, cold, showers, and/or snow are not words to describe good biking weather :-( Its not worth a trip to Jefferson, but if by some wild chance the forecast is wrong, I have a backup plan for a ride from Groton Center.

On Wednesday, November  7th - Groton Center

This ride travels along the Squannacook River toward Townsend, passes the Cowdry Nature Center and Hickory Hills Lake in Lunenburg before stopping to visit the Alpacas. From there we will ride past Lake Shirley to the old Fort Devens for a short tour and then to the Nashua River Rail Trail back to Groton.

Lunch is at Filho's Cucina.

• 9:30 AM - the Exploration ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - we should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Lunenburg - Ayer.
• Distance - 26 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet (moderate).
• Unpaved - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 30 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Wachusett Dam Video

Dear AdventuRiders,

For those of you who braved the sleet on this "sunny" day, here is a video that I did with my son Keaton a few year ago.

Enjoy,

Bill

PS. OK, so I exaggerated a bit on the ride today, it's still a REALLY BIG structure :-)

GO - Meadowbrook, Sterling

Bring your warm gear. 

GO - Beverly Soccer Field

Its quite a ways past the Salem exit on 128. 

This Week - Meadowbrook - Mass Central - West Acton

Dear AdventuRiders,

We seem to have turned the corner from Fall into Winter. The temperature is starting to drop, but we don't have any pesky Frankenstorms to deal with.

The Monday ride will feature a nice, warm, porcelain, coffee and cider donut equipped starting point. Yes, I'm talking about Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling.

The morning Recreation Ride will feature a ride along the Wachusett Reservoir and a visit to the dam. We will also visit the currently defunct Atlantic Union College and currently defunct Maharishi Ayurveta Health Center.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will go past Davis Farm and currently defunct Mega Maze, ride a bit of the Mass Central Rail Trail, and visit the permanently defunct Old Stone Church. Hmmmm, seems to be a theme here :-)

On Monday, November 5th - Meadowbrook Orchards, Sterling

• 9:30 AM - The Morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Meadowbrook Orchards, Sterling.
• Route Map - Meadowbrook - Lancaster.
• Distance - 15 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet (one cat 5 hill).
• Unpaved - 1 mile (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH - Meadowbrook Orchards - Yummy!

• 12:30 PM - The Afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map -  Meadowbrook Orchards - Sterling.
• Route Map - Meadowbrook - Old Stone Church.
• Distance - 16 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 450 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles (very smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

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

On Wednesday, November 7th - Jefferson - MCRT - Barre

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen in Rutland.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Jefferson Church.
• Route Map - Jefferson - MCRT - Heavy Evie's.
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 950 feet.
• Unpaved - 15 miles (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat smooth miles.

On Friday, November 9th - West Acton

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - West Acton - ARNWR.
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 450 feet.
• Unpaved - 8 miles (mostly smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 30 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

SUNDAY Salem Spooktacular Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR TONIGHT. And change your smoke / CO detector batteries too.

The weather is looking very nice for this time of year, but chilly. Bring your warm stuff! It should be SUNNY and about 40 degrees when we leave and SUNNY and 50 degrees when we return. It will be a bit breezy, so be sure to bring a wind layer.

On Sunday, November 4th - Salem Spooktacular.

As I was was scouting out this ride, I ended up wanting to yell "Enough with the beautiful ocean vistas already, I get it!". Along with the history and Halloween madness of Salem, this promises to be a EPIC ride. Lunch is at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub. One of my friends works there and she claims it's the best place in town.

• 8:15 AM - Carpool from Shaw's in Groton.
• 9:30 AM - We will leave from Beverly.
• 12:30 PM - Lunch at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back to Beverly.
• Starting Point Map - Beverly, Cross Lane Soccer Field.
• Route Map - Beverly - Salem - Marblehead.
• Distance - 31 miles (mostly flat).
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 1 mile (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

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

Hope to see you there,

Bill and maybe Carole

GO - Lake Potanipo, Brookline, NH

Good News - The SUNDAY Salem Ride is ON!

Dear AdventuRiders,

We have a quorum of riders and a decent weather forecast for a rescheduled Salem Spooktacular ride on SUNDAY, November 4th.

I am going to move the starting time back to our normal 9:30 AM since we won't have to deal with rush hour traffic.

On Sunday, November 4th - Salem Spooktacular.

As I was was scouting out this ride, I ended up wanting to yell "Enough with the beautiful ocean vistas already, I get it!". Along with the history and Halloween madness of Salem, this promises to be a EPIC ride. Lunch is at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub. One of my friends works there and she claims it's the best place in town. Stay tuned for more info.

• 8:15 AM - Carpool from Shaw's in Groton.
• 9:30 AM - We will leave from Beverly.
• 12:30 PM - Lunch at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back to Beverly.
• Starting Point Map - Beverly, Cross Lane Soccer Field.
• Route Map - Beverly - Salem - Marblehead.
• Distance - 31 miles (mostly flat).
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 1 mile (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

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

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Reminder - Lake Potanipo - Hollis - Milford on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather is looking much better tomorrow, but chilly. Its supposed to be Partly Cloudy, low 40s and light winds when we leave, low 50s when we return. Dress warmly!

We will start at Lake Potanipo (just past South Brookline on Route 13 then left at the blinking yellow light). From there we will ride through Brookline Village, UP to Rocky Hill Road and a visit to Rocky Hill Pond. Then we will ride to Silver Lake before turning back UP on Federal Hill Road. Once we get to the ridge, we will visit the ghost town of Monson Center and enjoy the mountain views on our way DOWN to see cute farm animals at Grand View Farm.

We will cross the 100 year old suspension bridge over the Souhegan in Milford and pass the Granite Town Rail Trail (not very bikeable) before stopping for lunch at Chrysanthi's Restaurant. If you want to skip lunch, its just a couple of miles straight down Route 13 back to the start.

There are 2 category 5 hills on this ride, but if you survived last Friday's ride, you will find this ride to be about the same level of difficulty.

On Friday, November 2nd - Lake Potanipo, Brookline, NH.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Milford, NH.
• 12:30 PM - Non-lunching people should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lake Potanipo, Brookline, NH.
• Route Map - Potanipo - Silver - Milford.
• Distance - 23 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 760 feet - 2 Category 5 hills.
• Unpaved - 4 miles - mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 31 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Fwd: 14 Days to Save $100

Dear AdventuRiders,

Since the Friday Fitness Ride is already planned, I haven't got anything better to do than remind you about Wachusett Season Ski Passes. Use the group name ADVENTURIDES, or the coordinator name WILLIAM BRANDT before November 14th and save $100.

Bill

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Wachusett Mountain <wachusettmt@wachusett.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Subject: 14 Days to Save $100
To: bill.brandt@gmail.com

To view this email as a web page, go here.

Groups of 4 or more: Save $100 on your Season Pass when purchased by Nov. 14.  Buy Now

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Anyone interested in a SUNDAY Salem ride?

Dear AdventuRides,

Between the rain / drizzle and slippery leaf gunk on the roads, I thought it was best to postpone the Salem ride today. This time of year the beautiful day are fewer and farther between. Not that I believe 10 day forecasts, but next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be rainy :-(

Anyhow, this SUNDAY, November 4th is looking very nice, perhaps a TOP 10, but chilly!

Is there any interest in a SUNDAY Salem ride? We won't have to worry about rush hour traffic and the Salem / coastal crowds are probably non-existant. Let me know, and I'll try to work something out. Spouses and older children capable of 31 miles of purposeful riding are welcome.

Bill (and maybe Carole)

STOP - The Exploration Ride is Postponed :-(

Reminder - Salem Halloween Spooktacular on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, I just got back from a reconnaissance trip to Salem, and other than "Parking $20" signs, everything was wet but undamaged by the Frankenstorm. The edges of the road and many of the bike lanes are covered in wet leaves, so we will need to be especially careful. It looks like Marblehead brought out the street sweepers to clean up the main roads!

The weather forecast doesn't look great, but there is a chance it will quit raining by 10:00 AM. I am counting on all of you to aim your massive psychic power toward Salem tomorrow!

For those driving, the starting point is well  PAST Salem on Route 128. Get off at Exit 18 (Route 22 - Essex St). Take a RIGHT at the end of the ramp onto Route 22, drive about 1/4 of a mile Turn LEFT onto Cole Street. Bear RIGHT at the stop sign, cross the railroad tracks and it becomes Cross Ln. In about 1/4 mile the soccer field will be on your RIGHT. The PortaPotty was still there today.

For those who want to carpool, let's meet at Shaw's in Groton at 8:45 tomorrow morning. RSVP.

On Wednesday, October 31st - Salem Halloween Spooktacular (Thanks Dewi).

As I was was scouting out this ride, I ended up wanting to yell "Enough with the beautiful ocean vistas already, I get it!". Along with the history and Halloween madness of Salem, this promises to be a EPIC ride. Lunch is at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub. One of my friends works there and she claims it's the best place in town. Stay tuned for more info.

• 8:45 AM - Carpool from Shaw's in Groton.
• 10:00 AM - We will leave from Beverly.
• 12:30 PM - Lunch at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back to Beverly.
• Starting Point Map - Beverly, Cross Lane Soccer Field.
• Route Map - Beverly - Salem - Marblehead.
• Distance - 31 miles (mostly flat).
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 1 mile (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

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

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - All Monday Rides Are Postponed

This Week - Hurricane - Halloween - Hollis

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, I've given up trying to forecast the weather! I am going to plan this week's rides as if nothing is going on, and we'll see what happens...

On Monday, October 29th - West Groton

By popular demand, the morning ride will feature "civilized off-road" along the future (don't hold your breath) Squannacook River Rail Trail. We will visit the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area and the swimming hole. After a ride along the river behind McDonald's we will explore the other side of the river.

The afternoon ride will explore a bit more rugged off-road on the Shirley side of the river.

• 9:30 AM - The morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Cutler Field (PortaPotty equipped).
• Route Map - West Groton - Squannacook.
• Distance - 11 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet (easy).
• Off Road - 2 miles.
• Equipment - I will do my best to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 13 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH is at the all new and improved Clover Farm Market.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Cutler Field (PortaPotty equipped).
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - Yes.
• Elevation Gain - Yes.
• Off Road - Yes.
• Equipment - I will do my best to bring my hybrid bike. 

AR Index - Roughly equal to 16 flat, smooth miles.

On Wednesday, October 31st - Salem Halloween Spooktacular (Thanks Dewi).

As I was was scouting out this ride, I ended up wanting to yell "Enough with the beautiful ocean vistas already, I get it!". Along with the history and Halloween madness of Salem, this promises to be a EPIC ride. Lunch is at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub. One of my friends works there and she claims it's the best place in town. Stay tuned for more info.

• 10:00 AM - We will leave from Beverly.
• 12:30 PM - Lunch at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back to Beverly.
• Starting Point Map - Beverly, Cross Lane Soccer Field.
• Route Map - Beverly - Salem - Marblehead.
• Distance - 31 miles (mostly flat).
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet (easy).
• Unpaved - 1 mile (smooth).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

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

On Friday, November 2nd - Pepperell - Hollis - Milford

The plan is to start in East Pepperell Center, ride to Hollis, climb Federal Hill and stop at the ghost town of Monson Center before zooming down to Milford. From there we will return via the wide shoulder of Route 13 with an optional stop at Chrysanthi's Restaurant for lunch on the way back. The ride should be about 30 miles with at least one Cat 5 hill.

Hope to see you there (and not blown away),

Bill and Carole

GO - Bolton Center

Reminder - Bolton Center on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, after an AWESOME day scouting out an AWESOME ride from Beverly to Salem to Marblehead with an AWESOME lunch at Cap't Waterfront Grill & Pub and an AWESOME PortaPotty at our starting / ending point, I forgot where I was going with this ...

Anyhow, if Hurricane Sandy doesn't scuttle my plans, get ready for a Spooktacular ride on Halloween!

In the mean time, I have a very nice Fitness Ride planned for tomorrow. We will explore the Vineyard (singular) in Bolton and the Orchards (plural) in Bolton and Berlin. The old church in Berlin has a new foundation, and the hills around Wachusett Reservoir are as challenging as ever.

The weather looks good at this point, but who knows. The "SUNNY" skies forecast on Wednesday were very illusive and seemed quite cloudy to me. The Friday forecast calls for Partly Cloudy, light breezes, and low 50's when we leave and Sunny and low 60's when we return.

On Friday, October 26th - Bolton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Bolton Center Baseball Diamonds (PortaPotty equipped).
• Route Map - Bolton - Berlin.
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 800 feet (more challenging) - 2 x Cat 5 hills.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index = Roughly equal to 35 flat, paved miles.

Lunch? - How about Bolton Orchards?

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Townsend Center

Reminder - Townsend - Greenville on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, the weather forecast has changed from iffy to delightful for tomorrow. It should be upper 40s, SUNNY, and a light breeze when we leave. Its should be upper 50s, still SUNNY, still a light breeze when we return.

This ride is definitely hilly, but to put in in perspective, if you did both rides Recreation rides on Monday you rode 27 miles with 800 feet elevation gain. 

On Wednesday, October 24th -Townsend Center to Greenville

The ride will be about 25 miles and 1050 feet vertical with a category 3 hill (5 miles long, but not real steep) getting up to the plateau, but then its rolling hills and beautiful distant views, "You can see Boston from here". After lunch at Marcus P's Diner Plus, we have a cat 5 hill (easiest category). Its all on road, but there are a few gravel / dirt roads on the way. I plan to bring my road bike.

• The Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We should return by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Townsend Center.
• Route Map - Townsend - Greenville - On Road.
• Distance = 25 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 1050 feet (challenging).
• Unpaved = 1 mile
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work. I am bringing my road bike.

AR Index = Roughly 37 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Shaker Villages

Dear Adventuriders,

For any of you interested in Shaker history, we ran across an interesting video while on our ride this afternoon. The Shakers always embraced the latest technology, but a QR code nailed to a tree at the cemetery???

Anyhow, here is the link for those of you who don't want to scan the QR code. I found another video about Holy Hill.

Enjoy.

Bill (and Carole's back!!!)

GO - Harvard Track

This Week - Harvard - Greenville - Bolton

Dear AdventuRides,

The weather forecast for Monday is looking fantastic! It should be SUNNY around 50 degrees in the morning and still SUNNY and around 60 degrees in the afternoon. It will be breezy / windy, but it is late October after all.

On Monday, October 22nd - Harvard Track

The morning Recreation Ride features the beautiful mountain views from Prospect Hill, although there is a category 5 hill (the easiest category) getting up to the view. We will also stop and see lots and lots of goats on our way to Bare Hill Pond. We will stop at the beach and hopefully we won't get thrown out.

The afternoon Recreation 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. This is the famous (infamous?) "roller coaster" ride that seems to be more downhill thrills than uphill work.

• The morning Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We will return by 11:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Track.
• Route Map - Harvard - Bare Hill Pond.
• Distance = 12.5 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 300 feet (moderate).
• Unpaved = 1.5 mile - generally smooth.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 15 flat, paved miles.

Lunch will be at Sorrento's. We can either drive over or ride over on some back road with just a little time spent on Route 110.

• The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave at 12:30 PM.
• We will return by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Track.
• Route Map - Harvard - Shaker Villages.
• Distance = 15 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 500 feet (more difficult).
• Unpaved = 1/2 mile.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work.

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

On Wednesday, October 24th -Townsend Center to Greenville

The ride will be about 25 miles and 1050 feet vertical with a category 3 hill (5 miles long, but not real steep) getting up to the plateau, but then its rolling hills and beautiful distant views. After lunch at Marcus P's Diner Plus, we have a cat 5 hill (easiest category). Its all on road, but there are a few gravel / dirt roads on the way. I plan to bring my road bike, or at least my road bike tires.

• The Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We should return by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Townsend Center.
• Route Map - Townsend - Greenville - On Road.
• Distance = 25 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 1050 feet (challenging).
• Unpaved = 1 mile
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work. I am bringing my road bike.

AR Index = Roughly 37 flat, paved miles.

On Friday, October 26th - Bolton Center

I've given up on Hudson, it seems to be jinxed. I never did figure out a good way to get to the ARRT in Marlboro. Its very hilly and urban ...

Anyhow, I've salvage the beautiful Bolton and Berlin sections and I am looking at some route through Northboro to round out the Fitness Ride. Stay tuned.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Halloween - Save The Date

Dear AdventuRiders,

This year Halloween is on Wednesday, and it occurred to me (duh?) that an Exploration Ride to Salem MA would be really cool! I am planning about a 30 mile ride (its pretty flat) with lunch in Salem. Hopefully the weather doesn't haunt us. Stay tuned for more details.

Well, the "Nearly 100% Chance of Rain" for today turned out to be "Nearly 100% Wrong" :-( Anyway, I spent the day exploring Salem / Beverly / Marblehead (warm and dry in my convertible with the top down) for our first ever Salem ride, on Halloween no less! I found many beautiful places along the coast and of course the madness of Salem this time of year. Did you know that Waikiki Beach is in Salem? Hopefully I can find a starting place near 128 and we can sneak into Salem on some backroads and / or along the coast and avoid the traffic jams.

Bill

STOP - The Friday Fitness Ride is POSTPONED

... I'll just replay the beautiful Portsmouth ride in my mind ...

Bill

Reminder - Horseshoe Pub, Hudson on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Unfortunately the gorgeous weather of the last few days is not supposed to last into tomorrow :-( Even though the forecast says "Nearly 100% Chance of Rain", I will wait until tomorrow morning to make the call.

On Friday, October 19th - Hudson

Orchards and Vineyard of Bolton - Beautiful views from Old Bay Road - Old Church / New Community Center renovation in Berlin - Wachusett Aquaduct in Northboro - DOWNHILL on ARRT from Marlboro to Hudson.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub.
• Route Map - Hudson - Berlin - ARRT
• Distance - 25 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 870 feet - 2 Cat 5 hills.
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - very smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH afterwards at Horseshoe Pub with 80 beers on tap, and it's Oktoberfest!

Hope to see you there,

Bill, but not Carole :-(

Reminder - NH Seacoast - Portsmouth on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The Portsmouth weather for Wednesday is looking very nice! It is forecast to be near 50 degrees, mostly SUNNY, with a WNW breeze (mostly an off-shore cross wind) when we leave. On the way back it should be Partly Cloudy, near 60 degrees, with a light WSW breeze.

I am going to move the start time to 9:30 AM so we won't be in a rush. Also, by leaving at 9:30 we can get to Portsmouth before noon and beat the lunch crowd.

Here are some possibilities for lunch:

1. Pub lunch with fresh microbrew beer (and yummy mussels in butter sauce) at the Portsmouth Brewery.
2. Lunch on the deck overlooking Portsmouth Harbor at River House Restaurant.
3. Lighter fare at Popovers on the sidewalk in bustling Market Square.

Surprisingly, lunch is not the highlight of the trip! The NH seacoast, the Isle of Shoals, and New Castle are among the most beautiful places in NE.

If people are interested in carpooling, RSVP and I will put you in touch with other interested riders.

On Wednesday, October 17th - Portsmouth

• We can meet at Shaw's in Groton to carpool at 8:15 AM. Here is a map.
• The Exploration Ride will leave Hampton North Beach at 9:30 AM. Here is a map.
• We will return to Hampton North Beach by 2:00 PM.
• Starting Point - Hampton North Beach (not to be confused with North Hampton Beach!).
• Route Map - Hampton North Beach to Portsmouth
• Distance = 31 miles.
• Elevation Gain = 310 feet (basically flat).
• Unpaved = none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index = Roughly equal to 31 flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, October 19th - Hudson

Hope to see you there,

Bill but not Carole :-(

GO - Carlisle Center

It looks like the rain will hold off ...

This Week - Carlisle - Portsmouth - Hudson

Dear AdventuRiders,

Let's hope the weather forecast for Monday is wrong since it's calling for a Few Showers in the morning and Thundershowers in the afternoon. At least it's supposed to be warm. I'll make the call tomorrow morning.

The Morning Recreation Ride will travel to Chelmsford and cruise part of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Then we will ride past the Cranberry Bog on the way to Great Brook Farm State Park, and finally some quiet backroads in Carlisle.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will also explore some quiet Carlisle backroads on our way to the Old North Bridge in Concord. 

On Monday, October 15th - Carlisle Center

• 9:30 AM - The Morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Carlisle Center - Please DO NOT park at Fern's.
• Route Map - Carlisle - Heart Pond - GBFSP.
• Distance - 16 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (average)
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, paved miles.

Lunch is at Fern's Country Store.

• 12:30 PM - The Afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Carlisle Center - Please DO NOT park at Fern's.
• Route Map - Carlisle - Old North Bridge.
• Distance - 16 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (average).
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, paved miles.

On Wednesday, October 17 - Portsmouth

So far, the weather looks really nice on Wednesday. I am planning our good old 30 mile route along the coast with lunch at Portsmouth Brewery.

On Friday, October 19th - Hudson

Orchards and Vineyard of Bolton - Beautiful views from Old Bay Road - Old Church / New Community Center renovation in Berlin - Wachusett Aquaduct in Northboro - DOWNHILL on ARRT from Marlboro to Hudson.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub.
• Route Map - Hudson - Berlin - ARRT
• Distance - 25 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 870 feet - 2 Cat 5 hills.
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - very smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH afterwards at Horseshoe Pub with 80 beers on tap, and it's Oktoberfest!

Hope to see you there,

Bill, but not Carole :-(

STOP - The Fitness Ride is Postponed

It looks nice now, but rain is coming :-(

Reminder - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Unfortunately the glorious weather we had today is not supposed to return tomorrow. It should be in the mid 40s, Partly Cloudy and breezy when we leave. By the time we get back, it should be near 50 degrees with an increasing wind.

My shoes have finally dried out after 28 miles with Eddie on Wednesday, so I'm really looking forward to a yummy lunch and adult beverages at the Horseshoe Pub tomorrow!

On Friday, October 12th - Hudson

Orchards and Vineyard of Bolton - Beautiful views from Old Bay Road - Old Church / New Community Center renovation in Berlin - Wachusett Aquaduct in Northboro - DOWNHILL on ARRT from Marlboro to Hudson.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub.
• Route Map - Hudson - Berlin - ARRT
• Distance - 25 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 870 feet - 2 Cat 5 hills.
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - very smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH afterwards at Horseshoe Pub with 80 beers on tap, and it's Oktoberfest!

Hope to see you there,

Bill, but not Carole :-(

GO - East Pepperell

Reminder - East Pepperell on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

It doesn't look like a top 10 day tomorrow, but 50 degrees and Cloudy when we leave and upper 50s and Partly Cloudy when we return  isn't that bad for this time of year.

On Wednesday, October 10th - East Pepperell

Don't be intimidated by the distance and elevation gain. The first half is pretty hilly, but the visit to the ghost town of Monson Center and the views from Federal Hill makes it all worthwhile. Lunch is at the 27 mile mark and it's mostly smooth and downhill from there. We have 4 hours to do the ride, so our average speed doesn't need to be greater than normal.

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Chrysanthi's Restaurant in Brookline.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - East Pepperell - Milford.
• Distance - 36 1/2.
• Elevation Gain - 950 feet (more difficult - Cat 5 hill going to Monson Center).
• Unpaved - 1 1/2 miles - generally smooth.
• Equipment - Despite the unpaved portion, I highly recommend a road bike due to the distance.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 45 flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, October 12th - Hudson

Orchards and Vineyard of Bolton - Beautiful views from Old Bay Road - Old Church / New Community Center renovation in Berlin - Wachusett Aquaduct in Northboro - DOWNHILL on ARRT from Marlboro to Hudson.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub.
• Route Map - Hudson - Berlin - ARRT
• Distance - 26 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 860 feet - 1 Cat 5 hill.
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - very smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH afterwards at Horseshoe Pub with 80 beers on tap, and it's Oktoberfest!

Hope to see you there,

Bill and maybe Carole (Birthday Girl)

This Week - Columbus Day - East Pepperell - Hudson

Dear AdventuRiders,

The forecast for this week is generally Cooler and Partly Cloudy. The Fall foliage should start to peak in the next couple of weeks.

On Monday, October 8th - Columbus Day

No Rides :-( I'm planning to go to Troy, NY to visit my college freshman :-)

On Wednesday, October 10th - East Pepperell

Don't be intimidated by the distance and elevation gain. The first half is pretty hilly, but the visit to the ghost town of Monson Center and the views from Federal Hill makes it all worthwhile. Lunch is at the 27 mile mark and it's mostly smooth and downhill from there. We have 4 hours to do the ride, so our average speed doesn't need to be greater than normal.

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Chrysanthi's Restaurant in Brookline.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - East Pepperell - Milford.
• Distance - 36 1/2.
• Elevation Gain - 950 feet (more difficult - Cat 5 hill going to Monson Center).
• Unpaved - 1 1/2 miles - generally smooth.
• Equipment - Despite the unpaved portion, I highly recommend a road bike due to the distance.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 45 flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, October 12th - Hudson

Orchards and Vineyard of Bolton - Beautiful views from Old Bay Road - Old Church / New Community Center renovation in Berlin - Wachusett Aquaduct in Northboro - DOWNHILL on ARRT from Marlboro to Hudson.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 12:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hudson - Horseshoe Pub.
• Route Map - Hudson - Berlin - ARRT
• Distance - 26 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 860 feet - 1 Cat 5 hill.
• Unpaved - 1/2 mile - very smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

AR Index - Roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH afterwards at Horseshoe Pub with 80 beers on tap, and it's Oktoberfest!

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole (Birthday Girl)