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