GO - Bring Plenty of Water.

Change of Plans ...

Dear AdventuRiders,

When I planned the Wednesday ride, the forecast was Partly Cloudy and mid 70s. Not that I particularly believe the weatherman, but the current forecast is for 96 degrees on Wednesday. That is WAYYYY beyond my limit for dry biking, so I am changing the Exploration Ride to a potentially wet ride along the Squannacook River in West Groton and Heald Pond in Pepperell. As Alex and I found out last summer, even 98 degrees feels good as long as there is a pond / river to jump into.

On Wednesday, June 8th - West Groton

We will meet at Cutler Field in West Groton. Here is a starting point map.

This is a variant of my hot summer day ride from Groton Center. We will stop at the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area with an optional dip in the Squannacook River. Then its off to the hills of West Pepperell and Heald Pond. For those who haven't been there, Heald Pond is as close to a mountain lake as you are going to find around here. I know a secluded beach where we can enjoy the crystal clear water. I've extended my normal route a bit to avoid the really steep hills and still stop at Heald Pond. Then we zoom down the hill to Pepperell Center before returning by way of (but not over) Mount Lebanon.

• We will leave at 9:30 AM
• Start Point Map - Cutler Field
• Route Map - West Groton - Swimming Holes
• Distance : 19 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain : 425 feet (moderate)
• Unpaved : 1.5 miles
• Equipment : I will riding my HYBRID bike.

AR Index = roughly equal to 23 flat, paved miles.

Here is the schedule:

• At 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave.
• By 1:00 PM - We will be back.
• Lunch - Clover Farm Store? Filhos?

Hope to see you there,

Bill (and maybe Carole)

GO - It's A Beautiful Day!

This Week - Sterling - Westminster - Lancaster

Dear AdventuRiders,

This is the next to last full week of AdventuRides Spring 2011 :-( Our last scheduled ride is Monday, June 20th. We are also planning an End of Season Party probably on Friday, June 17th. Stay tuned for more details! BTW, we continue rides during the Summer as the Fearless Leader sees fit :-)

This week we are going to be exploring Central Massachusetts starting Monday with a trip to Sterling and the beautiful Mass Central Rail Trail. The morning Recreation Ride will take the easy (but less scenic) route from Sterling along the MCRT to Holden. The afternoon Recreation Ride will cover the same parts of the MCRT, but will also visit the Old Stone Church in West Boyleston.

The Wednesday Exploration Ride will take us further west to the Mount Wachusett region. We will start in Westminster, climb UP toward the west shoulder of Mount Wachusett on some scenic backroads before zooming DOWN to beautiful views at Princeton. From there we ride to Gardner passing many lakes before turning back to Westminster. I'm planning to do the whole ride with just a couple of snack breaks and then have lunch afterwards. Lunch options include Gardner Ale House, Old Mill Restaurant, or a brewery tour at Wachusett Brewing.

On Friday, we will meet in Lancaster. After a quick tour of the historic center and Atlantic Union College, we will climb UP to the hills above Sterling before swooping down to the "Mary Had A Little Lamb" statue in Sterling Center. From there we ride a bit of the MCRT on our way to the Wachusett Reservoir Dam before returning to Lancaster. I can't stay for lunch since my sons are doing "gateway" presentations at school in the afternoon.

On Monday, June 6th - Sterling - MCRT

The MCRT is technically unpaved, but it has a very smooth crushed rock surface, so I'm not going to count it as unpaved.

• The morning Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Sterling Center
• Route Map - Sterling - MCRT - Easier
• Distance - 16 1/2 miles
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet (easy)
• Unpaved - 8 1/2 - but it doesn't really count
• Equipment - I plan to bring my HYBRID bike.

AR Index = roughly 19 flat, paved miles.

Lunch will be at Village Pizza & More in Sterling.

• The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave at 12:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Sterling Center
• Route Map - Sterling - MCRT
• Distance - 17 miles
• Elevation Gain - 420 feet (moderate)
• Unpaved - 8 1/2 - but it doesn't really count
• Equipment - I plan to bring my HYBRID bike.

AR Index = roughly 21 flat, paved miles.

Here is the schedule:

• At 9:30 AM - The morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Village Pizza.
• At 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• At 2:30 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, June 8th - Westminster

• The Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Westminster Bandshell
• Route Map - Westminster - Wachusett
• Distance - 27 miles
• Elevation Gain - 800 feet (more difficult)
• Unpaved - 1 mile - some rough spots
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.

AR Index = roughly 36 flat, paved miles.

On Friday, June 10th - Lancaster

• The Fitness Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• Starting Point Map - Lancaster - Packard Street
• Route Map - Lancaster - Sterling - Wachusett
• Distance - 25 miles
• Elevation Gain - 775 feet (more difficult)
• Unpaved - 1 1/2 miles on the MCRT
• Equipment - I plan to bring my ROAD bike.

AR Index = roughly 33 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - It's A Beautiful Day!

It could be a bit chilly this morning.

Reminder - East Pepperell Center to Nashua on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Wow, what crazy weather we have been having. Tomorrow looks like a TOP 10 sort of day, SUNNY and 60 when we leave and near 70 when we get back with a refreshing breeze!

Here is a picture from today's Cape Ann ride. We were having a snack on the headlands overlooking Rockport Harbor. Nashua isn't quite that scenic, but it will be a fun ride along the old mill canals.

On Friday, June 3rd - East Pepperell

We will meet at the Rail Trail parking lot in East Pepperell Center. Here is the starting point map.

This is a "new" ride that starts at East Pepperell Center, goes UP to Hollis Center, then DOWN to Nashua. Then we will ride through Mine Falls Park on our way back to the Nashua River Rail Trail and back to Pepperell. There is a considerable amount of unpaved road and trail, but it is smoother than much of the pavement that we ride. I'm bringing my hybrid bike because its more comfortable.

• We will leave at 9:30 AM
• Start Point Map - East Pepperell Center
• Route Map - Pepperell - Hollis - Nashua
• Distance : 27 miles
• Elevation Gain : 500 feet (moderate)
• Unpaved : 4 miles
• Equipment : I will riding my HYBRID bike.

AR Index = roughly equal to 32 flat, paved miles.

Here is the schedule:

• At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• At 12:30 PM - We will be back.
• Lunch

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - It's a Beautiful Day!

It could be a bit chilly this morning.