Reminder - Hampton to Portsmouth on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

May Day!!! If you believe the forecast, it should be SUNNY and near 60 degrees for our seacoast ride from Hampton North Beach to Portsmouth on Wednesday. It doesn't even look like a sea breeze headwind on the way back!

RSVP if you are interested in carpooling. I will send out the list to the interested parties.

On Wednesday, May 1st - Hampton North Beach

• 9:45 AM - We will meet at Hampton North Beach (porcelain and everything!)
• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• Starting Point Map - Hampton North Beach.
• Route Map - Hampton - Portsmouth.
• Distance - 31 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (easy).
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

• 12:00 PM - LUNCH at Portsmouth Brewery.
• 2:30 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 31 flat, smooth miles

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - East Pepperell Center

This Week - East Pepperell - Portsmouth - Brookline, NH

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather for the week ahead looks perfect for bicycling (I hope I didn't just jinx it). It's supposed to be Partly Cloudy and upper 60s every day, let's hope ....

On Monday we will meet in East Pepperell Center and ride the Nashua River Rail Trail north to Dunstable and Nashua. The morning Recreation Ride will stop at the rapids on the Nashua River before returning through Dunstable. The afternoon Beginner Ride will enjoy beautiful backroads through Dunstable and Pepperell.

LUNCH and Porcelain will be provided by the Pepperell Spa Cafe.

On Monday, April 29th - East Pepperell Center

• 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Nashua.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - East Pepperell - Nashua.
• Distance - 14 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 200 feet (easy).
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

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

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Pepperell Spa Cafe.

• 12:30 PM - The Beginner Ride will leave for Dunstable.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - East Pepperell - Dunstable.
• Distance - 12 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 200 feet (easy).
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

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

On Wednesday, May 1st - Hampton North Beach

• 9:45 AM - We will meet at Hampton North Beach (porcelain and everything!)
• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• Starting Point Map - Hampton North Beach.
• Route Map - Hampton - Portsmouth.
• Distance - 31 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (easy).
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

• 12:00 PM - LUNCH at Portsmouth Brewery.
• 2:30 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 31 flat, smooth miles

On Friday, May 3rd - Lake Potanipo - Brookline, NH

LUNCH is at Chrysanthi's a couple miles from the Starting Point.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Meadowbrook Orchards - Sterling

Reminder - Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

It looks like the great bicycling weather will continue tomorrow too. It should be SUNNY and 50 degrees when we leave and SUNNY and near 60 degrees when we return.

BTW, Meadowbrook Orchards Farmstore will be open when we start  (complete with porcelain!) with coffee, goodies, etc.

The route is a bit hilly, so it is a bit shorter to compensate. There is one nasty cat 5 hill on the way back, but it is very short and very walkable. We will ride the beautiful Mass Central Rail Trail (hard crushed rock surface) out to Holden and then another piece of the MCRT back to Sterling. After the aforementioned cat 5 hill we will have a great view of the Nashoba Valley as we ride past Davis' Farmland back to the start.

A YUMMY lunch awaits us at Meadowbrook Orchards.

Please park away from the building so their regular customers aren't inconvenienced.

On Friday, April 26th -Meadowbrook Orchards

• 9:30 AM Start time.
• 1:00 PM Return time.
• Starting Point Map - Meadowbrook Orchards.
• Route Map - Meadowbrook- Sterling - MCRT
• Distance - 26 Miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 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

Today's Ride Route

Dear AdventuRiders,

Since today's ride was an "Exploration Ride", here is a map of where we actually went today, although I guess not everyone did the McDonald's detour in Cumberland.

The graph shows that I hit almost 9000 MPH on the way back, but I distinctly remember keeping it under the speed of sound :-)

Here is a link to the Razor Wire Palace we saw in Central Falls.

Bill

GO - Woonsocket

Reminder - Woonsocket on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Despite the cold and drizzle outside your window right now, tomorrow is supposed to be Partly Cloudy with a high in the 60s!

According to Google Maps, it is an hour and 3 minutes from Groton Center to Woonsocket. For those of you who want to carpool, let's meet at the Shaw's at Routes 119 and 225 in Groton. 

8:30 AM - Meet at Shaw's Parking Lot in Groton.

8:45 AM - Leave for Woonsocket.

On Wednesday, April 24th -Woonsocket, RI - Blackstone River Bikeway

Note the 10:00 AM Starting Time from Woonsocket, hopefully we'll avoid some traffic that way.

 Another new ride you ask? Yup, it's also way outside the 1/2 hour drive from Groton "rule", but it's worth it. Because some people will need to get back for kid duty, we will have (optional) LUNCH after the ride. Bring a snack and / or we'll get something quick in Central Falls.

NOTE: On RI rail trails, you ride on the right and walk on the left, it takes a bit to get used to walkers coming toward you in your lane. Stay alert.

The Exploration Ride will leave Woonsocket, RI bound for at least Central Falls and maybe Providence.

• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Providence.
• 2:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Woonsocket RI.
• Route Map - Blackstone River Bikeway.
• Distance - 21+ miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300+ feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 23+ flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

"T" Cow + Taking Care of Business

Dear AdventuRiders,

While wandering around Chelmsford this afternoon, we came upon a "T" cow. Check this out!

Seacoast Century

The 2013 Granite State Wheelmen's Seacoast Century Weekend on September 21-22 is now open for registrations.  One $35.00 fee (plus Active.com's service charge) covers both days, $45.00 after July 31.  For more info and to register, please visit www.GraniteStateWheelmen.org.

Wachusett Ski Pass

Buy your 2013-2014 Wachusett ski pass (at this years price) before May 1st and get a free $25 COW (Cash Of Wachusett) Card. That's like getting 4 free beers :-)

Bill

ATTENTION - CHELMSFORD CENTER

Dear Adventuriders,

I made a copy and paste error on this afternoons ride. We are meeting in CHELMSFORD CENTER.

Sorry, Bill

GO - Chelmsford Center

It's gonna be chilly. Bring something warm.

This Week - Chelmsford - Woonsocket - Sterling

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, after the events of this week, we REALLY, REALLY need a nice bike ride! Fortunately, I have 4 rides planned for this week.

The weather isn't looking picture perfect this week, but so far there is no rain in the forecast.

The Monday rides will start in Chelmsford Center and ride the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail toward Carlisle and Great Brook Farm State Park or the Cranberry Bog (which seems to be in blossom).

On Monday, April 22nd - Chelmsford Center.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Great Brook Farm State Park.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Chelmsford Center.
• Route Map - Chelmsford - GBFSP - BFRT
• Distance - 14 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 250 feet (moderate).
• Off Road - a little bit (and very walk-able).
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

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

LUNCH - TBD, unless someone has a better idea, Brickhouse Center Sports Grill.

• 12:30 PM - We will leave for the Cranberry Bogs.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Chelmsford, BFRT, Cranberry.
• Distance - 10 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet (easy)
• Off Road - maybe a little at the cranberry bogs.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 11 flat, smooth miles.

On Wednesday, April 24th -Woonsocket, RI - Blackstone River Bikeway

Another new ride you ask? Yup, it's also well outside out 1/2 hour drive from Groton "rule", but it's worth it. Because some people will need to get back for kid duty, we will have (optional) LUNCH after the ride. Bring a snack.

The Exploration Ride will leave Woonsocket, RI bound for at least Central Falls and maybe Providence.

• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Providence.
• 2:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Woonsocket RI.
• Route Map - Blackstone River Bikeway.
• Distance - 21+ miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300+ feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 23+ flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, April 26th -Meadowbrook Orchards

• 9:30 AM Start time.
• 1:00 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

Boston Marathon Ride

Dear AdventuRiders,

On this extremely sad day, I want to assure everybody that all of our riders who rode the Boston Marathon route this morning left Boston hours before the explosions occurred.

Bill

This Week - Boston Marathon Ride on Monday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Since it's school vacation week, we have no officially scheduled rides. However, I am planning for our third Boston Marathon Ride on Monday. April 15th. The plan is to leave Hopkinton (before we get thrown out at 7:30 AM) and ride the Boston Marathon route to Boston (hopefully arriving before the wheelchair racers).

Here is the plan:

On Monday, April 15th - Boston Marathon Ride.

• 6:00 AM - If you want to carpool, we will meet at Shaw's parking lot in Groton and divy up bikes and riders for the trip to Southboro.
• 6:15 AM - We will leave Shaw's bound for the Southboro Train Station.
• Remember to bring (4) One Dollars Bills to pay for parking at Southboro.
• 7:00 AM - We will leave Southboro Train Station for Hopkinton. It's only 3 miles, but it is a Cat 5 hill roughly equivalent to Oak Hill Road from Littleton to Harvard. Here is a map. This is our Heartbreak Hill.
• 7:30 AM - Finish taking pictures at the start line before "Officer Krupke" strongly suggests that we move on. Here is the map to Boston.
• 10:00 AM ish - We should be in Boston to watch the REAL racers finish.
• LUNCH - Somewhere...
• 10:36 AM - Back Bay to Southboro Train. Here is the schedule. It costs $8.75 if you buy your ticket at Back Bay. It's $3.00 more it you buy your ticket on the train. Bikes are FREE including the 2:51 PM train, then they are no longer allowed until the 7:24 PM train.
• 12:28 PM - ditto.
• 1:21 PM - ditto.
• 2:51 PM - ditto.

Hope to see you there,

Bill (and maybe Carole)

Friday's Fitness Ride POSTPONED

Dear AdventuRiders,

I rarely postpone rides until the morning of the ride because I don't trust the weatherman, however, here is the forecast for tomorrow.

"Rain...sleet and freezing rain in the morning...then rain in the afternoon. Patchy fog. Colder. Near steady temperature in the mid 30s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph...decreasing to 25 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent."

The Marathon Monday ride is still looking good.

Bill and Carole

GO - Harvard Track

Change of Plans - Harvard Track on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

I just checked the latest forecast for Woonsocket, and it's borderline at best, especially considering the 1+ hour drive each way :-( I do want to ride though since Friday is looking even worse :-(

How about we meet at the Harvard Track and do my old favorite Shaker Cemetery, Oak Hill Roller Coaster, Bare Hill Pond. If Oak Hill tires you out, you can always take a shortcut back to the cars.

Lunch is at Sorrento's.

On Wednesday, April 10th - Harvard Track

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 1:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Track.
• Route Map - Harvard - Hills - Pond.
• Distance - 22 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 feet (challenging at this point in the season).
• Off Road - 1/2 mile smooth dirt..
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

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

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Other Stuff

Dear AdventuRiders,

Another fabulous, SUNNY ride this afternoon!

Flattest Century in the East

• Online registration begins May 1st. 
  
• www.nbwclub.org Narrangansett Bay Wheelmen.
• It fills up QUICKLY!
• Personally, I'm waiting for the Seacoast Century which is 2 weeks later.

Wachusett Mountain Season Pass

• I SWEAR I'll quit talking about skiing after this (fingers crossed behind back).
• If you order a pass for next season by the end of April they will throw in a $25 COW Card (usable for food, BEER, etc. at Wachusett).
• 2013-2014 Season Pass Offer.

Bill

GO - Groton Center

Boston Marathon Ride on Monday, 4/15/2013

Dear AdventuRiders,

Next week is school vacation week, so we have no regularly scheduled rides. However, we are planning the third annual AdventuRides Boston Marathon Ride. The idea is to ride the Boston Marathon route before the official event. The wheelchair racers leave first, and they are wicked fast, so we need to leave well before they leave at 9:00 AM.

Last year we got kicked out of Hopkinton at exactly 7:30 AM. Fortunately they kicked us out of town toward Boston, so everything worked out.

On Monday, April 15th - Boston Marathon Ride.

OK, here's my plan. We park at the Southboro MBTA train station, it's about 32 miles and 41 minutes from Groton Center. We leave there at 7:00 AM  and ride the 3 miles UP to Hopkinton Center where the Boston Marathon starts. We leave Hopkinton at 7:30 AM just as they are closing the road behind us and cruise - mostly downhill - to Boston. We should get to Boston by 10:30, how hard can 26 miles, 385 yards be? The top runners will shame us by running to Boston in just a little over 2 hours.

I think if we leave Hopkinton by 7:30 AM we should be all right, at least until we get to downtown Boston. Boyleston Street will be a madhouse, but we can always walk the last 4 blocks. We can get lunch in Boston, watch the Marathon finishers and grab the train from Back Bay station back to Southboro. Here is the MBTA schedule.

People coming from Boston to join us can take Train P503 or P505 and meet us in Framingham.

Here's the schedule:

• At 7:00 AM - Meet at the Southboro Commuter Rail Station. It's $4.00 (cash in 1 dollar bills) to park all day. Here is a map.
• Ride the 3 miles UP to the starting line in Hopkinton.
• At 7:30 AM - Leave Hopkinton (hopefully voluntarily) for Boston.
• At 8:45 AM - We should easily get to Framingham before they close the road.
• At 10:30 AM - We should be in Boston. 
• At 10:36 AM, 12:28, 1:21, or 2:51PM - Take the train from Back Bay Station to Southboro. Bicycles are allowed, and it costs $8.75 (buy your ticket before boarding the train)
• About an hour later - Arrive in Southboro.
• Nap!

Let me know if you are interested,

Bill and Carole

Reminder - Groton Center Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, Wachusett Mountain closed for the season today :-( so it's unlikely I will be playing hooky again any time soon.

Tomorrow looks like an exceptionally nice day for biking, SUNNY and near 50 in the morning and mid 60s in the afternoon!

The morning Recreation Ride will ride a bit of the rail trail before turning east toward Dunstable and riding some scenic backroads on the way to Baddacook Pond before returning to Groton Center.

The afternoon Beginner Ride will travel the rail trail to East Pepperell Center and take a small side trip across the covered bridge to the banks of the Nissitissit River where I will regale you with tales of the river's cleanliness.

On Monday, April 8th - Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Dunstable - Martin's Pond.
• Distance - 14.5 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 250 feet (easy).
• Off Road - 1/2 mile of dirt / gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

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

LUNCH - Filho's Cucina - YUM!!!

• 12:30 PM - The Beginner Ride will leave for Pepperell.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Pepperell.
• Distance - 10.5 Miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet (easy).
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 11 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

This Week - Groton - Woonsocket - East Pepperell

Dear AdventuRiders,

What a GREAT ride we had on Friday! Despite the forecast of cloudy and chilly, it was sunny and comfortable. The moral of this story is "Never Believe the Weatherman".

Anyhow, the Recreation and Beginner rides will start from Groton Center on Monday of this week. There were still large patches of snow on the rail trail north of Groton on Friday, but I'm going assume that they will melt this weekend or we may have to walk our bikes a short distance.

The Recreation Ride will ride a bit of the rail trail before turning east toward Dunstable and riding some scenic backroads on the way to Baddacook Pond before returning to Groton Center.

The Beginner Ride will travel the rail trail to East Pepperell Center and take a small side trip across the covered bridge to the banks of the Nissitissit River where I will regale you with tales of the river's cleanliness.

On Monday, April 8th - Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Dunstable - Martin's Pond.
• Distance - 14.5 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 250 feet (easy).
• Off Road - 1/2 mile of dirt / gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

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

LUNCH - Filho's Cucina - YUM!!!

• 12:30 PM - The Beginner Ride will leave for Pepperell.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Pepperell.
• Distance - 10.5 Miles.
• Elevation Gain - 150 feet (easy).
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my hybrid bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 11 flat, smooth miles.

On Wednesday, April 10th - Woonsocket, RI - Blackstone River Bikeway

Another new ride you ask? Yup, it's also well outside out 1/2 hour drive from Groton "rule", but it's worth it. Because some people will need to get back for kid duty, we will have (optional) LUNCH after the ride. Bring a snack.

The Exploration Ride will leave Woonsocket, RI bound for at least Central Falls and maybe Providence.

• 10:00 AM - We will leave for Providence.
• 2:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Woonsocket RI.
• Route Map - Blackstone River Bikeway.
• Distance - 21+ miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300+ feet
• Off Road - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

AR Index - Roughly equal to 23+ flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, April 12th - East Pepperell Center

I haven't finished planning this one, but the idea is to start in East Pepperell and wander the hills of Pepperell before heading to Devens and then riding the NRRT back to East Pepperell.

I have to pick up kids at Parker Charter School in Devens at noon, so my plan is to leave my car in Devens and ride to East Pepperell and meet everyone at 9:30 AM. After riding around for 2 1/2 hours, I will leave you in the capable hands of Carole for the ride on the NRRT back to Pepperell.

LUNCH - TBD.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Groton Center

Reminder - Groton Center Fitness Ride on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

After two glorious bike rides on Monday followed by 3 glorious days of skiing, it's time for another glorious bike ride. This time we will travel the scenic back roads (and some dirt / gravel) to Hollis NH. We will then return on the Nashua River Rail Trail (hopefully it has melted). A YUMMY LUNCH awaits us Filho's Cucina in Groton Center

The weather is looking warmer and cloudier than the last few days. It should be mid 40s and Cloudy when we leave and mid 50s and Mostly Cloudy when we return. 

Please make sure your tire are INFLATED PROPERLY. If you need help, let me know before the ride.

On Friday, April 5th - Groton - Hollis, NH

The Fitness Ride will leave Groton bound for Hollis, NH.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Hollis.
• 1:00 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - NRRT
• Distance - 27 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 550 feet.
• Off Road - a couple miles of smooth gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

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

LUNCH is at Filho's Cucina in Groton Center.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

CHANGE of Change of Plans

Dear AdventuRiders,

Most people can't make the Woonsocket ride tomorrow, so I am going to POSTPONE it to next Wednesday, April 10th.

Bill

PS. Carole, Joe, Bobbie, and I had an EPIC ski day. The wind was a bit brutal at times, but the snow was PERFECT.

RSVP for Woonsocket Ride

Dear AdventuRiders,

So far I've gotten 1 "yes" and a whole bunch of "no"s for the Woonsocket trip on Thursday. Many of the "no" people suggested moving it to next Wednesday.

If there is enough interest, I'm happy to do it twice, but let me know if you are planning to go this Thursday.

Thanks!

Bill

CHANGE of Plans - Woonsocket on Thursday

Dear AdventuRiders,

After a beautiful Spring-like 62 degrees on our ride in Lexington yesterday (YAY!), it was a beautiful Winter-like 26 degrees and snowing at the top of Mount Wachusett today (YAY!).

Tomorrow the windchill in Woonsocket isn't supposed to get above freezing (bad for biking) and the actual temperature at Wachusett isn't supposed to get above freezing (good for skiing).

So, I am POSTPONING the Woonsocket ride until Thursday, April 4th. The forecast calls for Sunny and highs in the 50s with less wind.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Lexington Center

GO - Lexington Center