Ride Description

CRW "Devo" for Development for all riders who want to improve their performance, skills and enjoyment of cycling. This is a chance to learn and work on climbing on the gorgeous roads of Dover. Groups are divided into 4-8 riders by average pace which ranges from 13 to 22+ mph.

Short stretch to get the legs warm before the first climb up Union and then a descent through South Natick and onto Pleasant. Left at the top to descend onto Claybrook and a chance to get some real warmth in the legs with rolling hills. A couple of turns brings us onto Dedham and towards our first repeat chance on Strawberry Hill 3x or 5x - Your choice!. Then we take the Wilsondale rollercoaster, but turn right before the end to climb up to the Skyline loop. Right again onto Summer and a steady climb before turning into some rollers. Watch for the speedbumps here, you can pass them on the right and the blacktop is smooth! Right onto Dover for a short stretch, before a quick surprise climb up High Rock and Cedar. This loops us back to Dover and its rolling hills, before feeding into Powisett. A right turn onto Walpole and through Dover Center, here comes the moneymaker! A careful cross of Main and we are onto Pegan Hill, do you have a three-peat in you? Take your breath and we descend again before heading left onto Main Street and some gentle hills. We are back in South Natick and we hook left onto Eliot for a short stretch. Thought you were done? Nope! Farm Hill Road awaits, the last of our leg busters! Empty your tank and enjoy the last descent down into Natick and the all important Ice Cream stop! Enjoy! You earned it!.

Cancellation due to poor weather is posted before 4:30 PM.

Ride Description

CRW "Devo" for Development for all riders who want to improve their performance, skills and enjoyment of cycling. This is a chance to learn and work on paceline skills on the gorgeous roads of Dover. Groups are divided into 4-8 riders by average pace which ranges from 12 to 22+ mph. Working in a paceline, and using smooth and predictable movements and techniques, will increase your normal average pace. The goal here though is not about going as fast as you can, but as smooth as you can, keeping the paceline working together as a unit, this means the slowest rider is the base for speed.
Please arrive by 5:20pm so we can cover the specific drills for the ride.

After about a mile to get warm we launch onto Pond road, a tree-lined, rolling hill and quiet road to get your legs pumping. A short flat road to South Natick and then down towards Dover. Another short stretch before turning onto Main and then onto Claybrook, where the fun really begins. Dips and lifts, curves and straightaways. A chance to catch your breath as we move into Dover Center and then it's TT time! Tuck in because this is the famed Dover TT segment, a sharp turn onto Farm St and keep the hammer down. A final turn and a hard push to finish. Next up onto Walpole until we turn onto Powisett and it's smooth as butter blacktop, before transitioning onto Dover and then a left and some rollers up to Summer. Our route hooks back now toward Dedham Street, with a great dash along the Charles river on Mill Street before we Strip the Willow. Cross St takes us back to hit Claybrook once more (so good you need to do it both ways!) A Sprint at the end, then a small climb to Pleasant. Almost home! A nice descent and then a great up and up again climb on Union, time to pour out whatever you have left. Last turn and an easy roll back down to Natick Common.

Cancellation due to poor weather is posted before 4:30 PM.

Enjoy this delightful ride with a friendly group. We span Newton, Wellesley, Needham and Dover. There's a regular (25 miles), medium (33 miles) and long (47 miles). Back by popular demand: we'll have another pre-ride social gathering for anyone who wants to join; have a free coffee and donut on CRW's tab; see instructions and secret code phrase below. Parking is behind the condo building at 1172 Beacon St., Newton. There is free parking but please park in the back only. The ride is show-and-go, everyone at their own pace. You can use GPS or print a cue sheet ahead (no printed copies at the ride start).  

9 a.m.- 945 a.m.: social time. Grab a free donut & coffee at Dunkin Donuts, 1148 Beacon St., Newton, and join us in the ride-start parking lot (per above). Dunkin's is next door to the ride start, a 1 minute walk. We're not meeting inside Dunkin's this time, as a COVID-safety precaution, but we'll hang out in the parking lot, which is quiet and has shade. Bring a folding chair if you'd like. At Dunkin's you can order anything up to $5 per person and the magic code is 'put it on Lisa's card.' (You can also try this code at the Four Seasons restaurant, though it might not work as well.) 

9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: safety talk, overview of the ride. 

10 a.m.: Ride start, all distances.

"You may not be interested in war, but war may be interested in you"  -  Leon Trotsky.  Located between several of CRW's most frequenty traveled roads is the one of the country's best museums that no one has ever heard of.  The American Heritage Museum - Tanks, Guns (big ones!), Cars, and Planes,  A towering testament to testosterone.  Pull yourself away from the "Call of Duty" keyboard and the nightly news.  See the stuff IRL.  All the exhibits are open including the car barn and aircraft hanger. Starts in Concord at the Keyes St parking lot.  Meet on the side opposite the rest rooms.  The  Museum admission is $25 if you want to see it.  It's an event weekend with tank driving demos and rides.  There is a lot to see - allow some time for this.  Pace - If there are enough riders, I'll stagger the start by speed groups so people can ride with compatible pace partners.  Otherwise it'll be catch as catch can.  I'm coming off an injury and will be even slower than my typical torpid pace.    Any questions - email the ride leader.  With a forecast of hot weather over the weekend, I've added a shorter version of the route with a length of 34 miles.  

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.

A great way to meet other women CRW members!

This is a low-traffic, scenic ride through Lexington, Burlington, Woburn, Winchester, and Arlington! The ride leaves from the Minuteman Bikeway terminus near Alewife (at the intersection of three bike paths: Fitchburg Cutoff, Alewife Linear, and Minuteman). We head down the Minuteman bikeway to Lexington Center, then to Burlington and up Blanchard Rd to the water tower at Mary Cummings Park. We descend to beautiful Horn Pond, spin past Mystic Lakes, and take our "secret" route back to Alewife (that cuts out the traffic in Arlington Center). Expect a pace of about 13-15 mph, with stops to regroup as needed (faster riders can form groups to make their own time).
Rain cancels. Will make call by 10 pm the night before. Will check again at 6 am in case of unexpected weather.