SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

This ride is largely a repeat of last Sunday's "Center of the Universe" gravel ride on hopefully a less rainy day.  A few intrepid riders rode in about 3 hours of cold rain.  And then it was just cold. This gives those that prefer to stay dry another chance at this ride. 

It still goes to Rutland, MA, which is the geographic center of Massachusetts, but it no longer goes to Center Tree.  I've also moved the ride starts and rerouted the section near Rutland.  Choices for this ride are 27 or 35 miles.

Start will be at the MCRT lot at 190 Manning Street in Jefferson, MA.

Highlights include- many sections of the Mass Central Rail Trail, the newly developed Quinapoxet Rail Trail, ruins of the Old Rutland Prison Camp, the Center Tree Bar and Grill lunch stop and many quiet unpaved and paved roads.  This ride is not very hilly by gravel ride standards, but it does have a high percent of gravel.  Expect to hold about 9-10mph if you are an average rider.  Note that at about mile 12 Ware road becomes unmaintained, and the next 0.70 miles are rough with a 0.25 mile steep rocky downhill.  It is certainly ride-able, but if you are not experienced with bumpy, slightly technical descents I recommend walking.  Or email me (lindaandwesbcd [at] gmail.com), and I can give you routes that avoid this section.  Otherwise, this ride is quite good for those that are new to gravel riding.

Rain cancels.  This time I mean it!

Note: WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHES DURING HUNTING SEASON (December)!!!! SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

SHORTER ROUTE for early sunsets! We've removed Estabrook and added an out-an-back on the Concord section of the Reformatory. Should finish just as the sunsets. BRING FRONT AND TAIL LIGHTS!!! Join us for a fun and social gravel/mixed terrain ride! This ride is mostly on wide gravel roads & rail trail. Some of it may be rough, sandy, & muddy. According to Strava, the route is 66% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. If you are familiar with the route you can show-and-go at your own pace; if you are new, we will have a no-drop group.

A journey through Revolutionary War history. Start at Revolution Hall and ride via Meagherville trail and residential streets to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road past several historic buildings, soldier graves, Paul Revere capture site, all the way to the other side of the park at Meriam's Corner. Continue over trails through Concord farmland and open space. Right out to Concord center and back on historic rail beds that connected Lexington-Bedford-Concord: Reformatory Branch & Minute Man Bikeway. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer! 

*** Bring proper navigation tools: GPS device, phone app, or cue sheet. Do not rely on others to help you with navigation. They may ride at a different speed than you. ***

Rain cancels. Ride leader will make the call by noon on the day of the ride.

11/12/2022 10:45 pm update:

Ride is on as scheduled!  Looks like it won't be the greatest day, but not a total washout either.  Looks like drizzle until 11 am, with conditions improving thereafter.

Wes

To some, Massachusetts is the center of the universe.  And Massachusetts has a geographic center- Rutland, MA or to be more specific, one particular tree on Center Tree road in Rutland.  This tree is a highlight, so this ride will take you to the center of the universe!  Other highlights include- the interesting ruins at the Old Rutland Prison Camp (not on the short ride), the Center Tree Bar and Grill for lunch (or numerous other options in Rutland), lots of scenic paved and gravel roads, and, of course, many pieces of the Massachusetts Central Rail Trail (MCRT).

This is a gravel ride.  There are 3 options- short (26 miles), medium (36 miles), or long (46 miles).  The long ride will start from the Mass Central Rail Trail- West Boylston lot on Thomas Street.  The short and medium rides will start from the Mass Central Rail Trail- Holden lot on Mill Street.  Your ride leader will get the long ride started and ride to the start point for the short/medium ride to get the 2nd group started.

This is a typical CRW ride- once the ride talk is given, you ride at your own pace.  You will need to download the ride you are doing to your phone, and are expected to be self-sufficient.  There is no sweep.  This said, we do encourage people to ride together in small groups.  The low/no traffic feature of gravel rides are very conducive to this.

The routes include a few technical sections.  Surprisingly, on the long route, the MCRT has 2 switchback sections of about 1/4 mile of almost 10% grade.  (C must be for Cog here, not Central!)  Further on, Ware road goes from a nice dirt road to an unmaintained road.  Compared to most, this one is in good shape, but it is somewhat rocky.  All told, there's about 1 mile that riders with no mountain bike skills may want to avoid or walk parts of.  I have routes that avoid these sections.  If you'd like to get these alternate routes, email me (Wes DeNering, lindaandwesbcd [at] gmail.com), and I will send you the links.