STOP - Today's Ride is POSTPONED.

Reminder - Groton Center on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather tomorrow doesn't look good at all. Cloudy, drizzly, and cold doesn't make for a pleasant ride. I will hold off until tomorrow morning to make the GO / STOP decision, but unless the weather changes significantly, we won't go.

On Wednesday, April 30th - Groton Center

So, how about a ride from Groton Center to Hollis via West Groton and lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen. Then it's a straight shot down freshly paved Route 122 to Pepperell and we can take either Nashua Road or the Rail Trail back to Groton.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Hollis
• 11:30 AM - Lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen.
• 2:30 PM - We will be back.
• Starting Point - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - Nashua Road
• Distance - 29 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 600 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 34 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Sterling Center

It will be a chilly start. 

This Week - Sterling - Groton - Harvard

Dear AdventuRiders,

After more than a week off, you would think I would be caught up on planning bike rides, but .... In my defense, I've driven to Haverford, PA and Bar Harbor, ME, and helped my son build a pipe organ for his senior project.

Anyhow, the weather on Monday is looking pretty nice. It should be Sunny and near 50 in the morning and near 60 in the afternoon. The rest of the week is looking rather iffy at this point.

The plan is to explore the Mass Central Rail Trail in the morning, have lunch at Village Pizza, and explore the Wachusett Reservoir and Dam in the afternoon.

On Monday, April 28th - Sterling

The Morning Recreation Ride will explore the Mass Central Rail Trail to Holden.

• 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 - Recreation.
• Distance - 14 1/2 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet (moderate). NOTE: MapMyRide changed the way it calculates elevation gain. Don't be intimidated.
• Unpaved - 8 1/2 - but it doesn't really count.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.
• AR Index = roughly equal to 18 flat, smooth miles.

11:30 AM - Lunch will be at Village Pizza & More in Sterling.

The Afternoon Fitness Ride will ride to the Wachusett Reservoir and Dam.

• The Afternoon Fitness 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 - Wachusett Dam
• Distance - 14 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 650 feet.
• Unpaved - 1 mile smooth dirt.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.
• AR Index = roughly equal to 20 flat, smooth miles.

On Wednesday, April 30th - Groton Center

So, how about a ride from Groton Center to Hollis via West Groton and lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen. Then it's a straight shot down freshly paved Route 122 to Pepperell and we can take either Nashua Road or the Rail Trail back to Groton.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Hollis
• 11:30 AM - Lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen.
• 2:30 PM - We will be back.
• Starting Point - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - Nashua Road
• Distance - 29 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 600 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 34 flat, smooth miles.

On Friday, May 2nd -Harvard Center

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - Today's Ride is POSTPONED

Reminder - Groton Center Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, the good news is that it's supposed to be Sunny tomorrow. The bad news is that it's supposed to SNOW tonight. The temperature should be just above freezing tomorrow morning, but the windchill will be about 20 degrees.

If the forecast is a even 50% correct, then there is a 100% chance that I will postpone the ride before 8:00 AM tomorrow morning.

On Wednesday, April 16th -Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - Country Kitchen
• Distance - 25.5 miles
• Elevation Gain - 1000 feet
• Unpaved - A few miles of smooth gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

Lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen

On Friday, April 18th - No Rides

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Larter Field, Dunstable

This Week - Dunstable - Groton - No Rides

Dear AdventuRiders,

Our 21st season is off to a great start, and Monday is looking like another great day! It should be 60s and Partly Cloudy and the morning, and 70s and still Partly Cloudy in the afternoon. The wind will pick up in the afternoon though.

There are no Friday rides due to Good Friday.

The morning Recreation Ride is TBD at this point. Pond Street was washed out by the flooding a few weeks ago, so I have to make a new route.

The afternoon Fitness Ride features Massapoag Pond and the "Field of Dreams".

On Monday, April 14th -Dunstable - Larter Field

• 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
  
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
  
• Starting Point Map -  Dunstable - Larter Field.
  
• Route Map - TBD
  
• Distance - 12 - 14 ish
  
• Elevation Gain - TBD
  
• Unpaved - None
  
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
  
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat. paved miles.

LUNCH 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Picnic Lunch at Larter Field - BYOL

• 12:30 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map -  Dunstable - Larter Field.
• Route Map - Dunstable - Westford - Tyngsboro.
• Distance - 14.5 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 350 feet.
• Unpaved - None
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat. paved miles.

On Wednesday, April 16th -Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - Country Kitchen
• Distance - 25.5 miles
• Elevation Gain - 1000 feet
• Unpaved - A few miles of smooth gravel.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 36 flat, smooth miles.

Lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen

On Friday, April 18th - No Rides

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Carlisle Center

Reminder - Carlisle Center Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

The great biking weather (hopefully) continues! On Friday, it should quit raining by 9:00 AM and be Cloudy and mid 50s when we leave and Partly Cloudy mid 60s in the afternoon.

Here is a picture from our Wednesday adventure.

The morning Fitness Ride will explore some quiet Carlisle backroads on our way to the Old North Bridge in Concord (porcelain!). There could be some water/mud at Old North Bridge.

The YUMMY lunch will be at Fern's Country Store (porcelain for customers).

The afternoon Recreation Ride will ride to Great Brook Farm State Park (porcelain!) and return through scenic backroads in Carlisle.

 

On Friday, April 11th - Carlisle Center

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness 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 - Old North Bridge.
• Distance - 15 1/4 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 275 feet (average)
• Unpaved - a little bit.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 17 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 - GBFSP.
• Distance - 12 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 230 feet, 2 noticeable hills.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 14 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Hopkinton Green

More Info on Hopkinton Ride

Dear AdventuRiders,

I have a route and a lunch spot. I think it will be an EPIC ride! 

LUNCH is at the 20 mile mark. We have two choices:

Bison Burger

Quattro

On Wednesday, April 9th - Hopkinton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hopkinton Center.
• Route Map - Hopkinton - Whitehall
• Distance - 31 miles
• Elevation Gain - 1700 feet
• Unpaved - Probably None
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 46 flat, smooth miles.

NOTE: MapMyRide has changed how they calculate elevation gain, so the AR Index is likely to be much greater than before. Don't be intimidated...

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

Reminder - Hopkinton on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather is looking really nice tomorrow, Mostly Sunny, 50s, but windy in the afternoon.

The original route I planned with the Upper Charles River Rail Trail was flooded this afternoon from the rain last night, so I planned an alternate route from Hopkinton. We will still follow the first few miles of the Marathon Route before we go to a much more scenic area.

Hopkinton is a pretty little town, but it is at the top of the hill, so it will be easy in the morning, but a climb to get back. I haven't finished the route yet, but it will be around 30 miles with about 1500 feet of climbing according to the new MapMyRide calculation. I would guess it will be similar to Monday afternoon's ride except twice as far.

Lunch is TBD.

On Wednesday, April 9th - Hopkinton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Hopkinton Center.
• Route Map - Hopkinton - Whitehall
• Distance - 30 miles
• Elevation Gain - 1500 feet
• Unpaved - Probably None
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 40 flat, smooth miles.

NOTE: MapMyRide has changed how they calculate elevation gain, so the AR Index is likely to be greater than before. Don't be intimidated...

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - East Pepperell Center

Details for Monday, April 7th - East Pepperell Center

Dear AdventuRiders,

As promised, here are the details for tomorrow, even though I have more chauffeuring to do tonight.

The weather for tomorrow looks pretty good, warmer but cloudier than today. It should be around 50 degrees when we leave in the morning and 60 degrees by afternoon.

The morning Recreation Ride will visit the rapids on the Nashua River. They should be pretty high after the recent rain and snow melt.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will ride around the hills of West Pepperell, but we will probably skip the swim in Heald Pond :-)

On Monday, April 7th - East Pepperell Center

• The Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We will return by 11:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - East Pepperell - Nashua - NRRT.
• Distance - 12 1/2 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet.
• Rough Surface - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 15 flat, smooth miles.

NOTE: MapMyRide has changed how they calculate elevation gain, so the AR Index is likely to be greater than before. Don't be intimidated...

LUNCH - 11:30 to 12:30 - TBD

• The Fitness Ride will leave at 12:30PM
• We should return by 2:30PM.
• Starting Point Map - East Pepperell Center.
• Route Map - Hills Of Pepperell (your friends).
• Distance - 15 1/2 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 feet.
• Rough Surface - 1/2 mile.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 21 flat, smooth miles.

NOTE: MapMyRide has changed how they calculate elevation gain, so the AR Index is likely to be greater than before. Don't be intimidated...

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

This Week - Pepperell - Hopkinton - Carlisle

Dear AdventuRiders,

I'm still not running like a well oiled AdventuRide machine yet, even though Carole and I have done 55 miles already this season. I will get you all the ride details after I finish my chauffeur duties for the day.

So Monday we will start in East Pepperell Center and ride up to the Nashua River rapids in the morning. I haven't figured out the afternoon yet.

I just got back from exploring around Hopkinton so we can ride a bit of the Marathon route on Wednesday and then check out the new Upper Charles River Rail Trail on the way back.

Friday I am planning to ride around Carlisle, Great Brook Farm, Old North Bridge, etc.

Stay tuned for more info shortly.

Bill and Carole

GO - Groton Center

It's a bit chilly, bring something warm. 

Reminder - Groton Center on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Unfortunately the weather will not be as nice as it was today. It will be more like what we had on Wednesday, pleasant but a bit chilly.

The morning Fitness Ride is one of my favorites, but it could be a bit challenging for this early in the season. We will go to Shirley to see the Storybook House, Shirley Center, and the not quite flooding Squannacook River. I tried to minimize the hills, but ...

Don't miss the YUMMY lunch at Filho's.

I haven't figured out the afternoon Recreation Ride yet because the rail trail is snow covered north of Sand Hill Road. I'll come up with something though.

On Friday, April 4th - Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Storybook - Shirley
• Distance - 16 miles
• Elevation Gain - 350 feet
• Unpaved - Yes! We may find some mud and snow along the way.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 19 flat, smooth miles.

LUNCH - 11:30 to 12:30 - Filho's Cucina.

• 12:30 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
• Route Map - TBD
• Distance - 12-ish
• Elevation Gain - flat-ish
• Unpaved - Possible Mud and Snow.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 14 (or less) flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Minuteman Bikeway, Bedford

It's chilly. Bring something warm. 

No Foolin' - Minuteman Bikeway Tomorrow

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather is looking very nice tomorrow. Partly Sunny, little wind, and highs in the low 50s. It will be a bit chilly in the morning, so be prepared.

On Wednesday, April 2nd - Minuteman Bikeway, Bedford.

This is an "Everyone Ride" where you can ride toward Somerville until you are 1/2 tired and then turn around. This is a good way to get in some early season miles without hills and traffic.

• 9:30 AM - The Everybody Ride will leave Bedford Depot Park.
  
• 11:30 PM - LUNCH at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square.
  
• Route Map - Minuteman - Somerville
  
• Distance - 23 miles
• Elevation Gain - 350 feet
• Unpaved - None
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.
• AR Index - roughly equal to 25 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see there,

Bill and Carole