📝 Overview

Wanna work on your hills game?  Training for an upcoming hill climb?  Do you enjoy pain?  Then, you are in luck!

A ride is considered to have a substantial amount of climbing if there is 100ft elevation gain per mile.  This route has 120ft per mile, so saddle up!

Come join us for an enjoyable workout starting from Porter Square in Cambridge or Monument Park in Arlington, where we will do hill repeats in Arlington Heights. 

🕝 Timing and Options

There is no obligation to join for all the hills.  A convenient spot to drop from the ride to get home for work or other obligations may be the final ascent to the water tower in Arlington Heights prior to heading over to the other side of Mass Ave.  Most likely we will hit the water tower between 7am and 730am, depending on pace.  Plan for the the bonus section east of Mass Ave to take approximately 30 minutes longer to complete.

🚲 Ride Format

⛰️🛑 Regrouping

This is a NO DROP ride, we will wait at the top of most hills to regroup when safe to do so.  Everyone can climb and descend at whatever pace they feel comfortable with.

🚴🏼‍♂️🚴🏿🚴🏽‍♀️ Pace Groups

If the group is large enough, we will split it into 2 different paces, such that people aren't waiting too long at regrouping points.

🗺️ Route Notes

🧭 Navigation

Since this route has a few overlapping sections, the GPS may be thrown off a bit and get confused in some sections.  Be sure to review the cues prior to the ride to familiarize yourself with the route.

⛔ Hazards & Road Conditions

Rough Roads: Traversing Hawthorne Ave (regrouping point and slow speed so okay), going up on Brattle Street (going slow so okay)

Speed Bump: Between Wheeler Lane & Ridge Street connection

⚠️ Disclaimer

↗ ↘ Steep Ascents and Descents

There are some steep ascents on this route (up to 20%).  Make sure to bring a bike with proper gearing. 

What goes up, must also come down; meaning there are also steep descents.  Make sure your brakes in good working order.

📍 Meeting Point(s)

1️⃣ We will meet at the bike racks closest to the main intersection at Porter Square on the island between Dunkin and CVS.  There is also a convenient bike repair stand there if needed. 

2️⃣ If you would like to join us in Arlington, we will probably be rolling by Monument Park in Arlington center about 10 minutes after the ride starts.

🚗 Parking

If you are driving to the start, you can park in Porter Square shopping center parking lot for free.

Join us for a fun and social intermediate gravel/mixed terrain ride. This ride is a bit more technical than the Battle Road ride and is mostly on fire roads with some technical roots, sand and rocks. There are also a few smooth single-track sections. According to Strava, the route is 65% unpaved. If you have gravel tires 32–35mm, and have ridden on the Estabrook portion of the Dirty Battle Road, you should be fine.

Start at Revolution Hall and ride on the road past Hanscom to the eastern entrance to Minuteman National Historic Park. Follow the Battle Road to the gravel Bedford Lane, up and over Route 2 to Sandy Pond, and then around (with a short incline) Pine Hill and into the Adams Woods, passing south of Walden Pond. There’s a short steep sandy descent back to Walden St, which we cross and go back into the woods around Goose Pond and under Route 2 via a spooky tunnel. After crossing Route 2, we see the Thoreau and Dr. Seuss memorials and head back to Rev Hall via the Reformatory Branch Trail.

With more gravel this ride will not be as quick as the Battle road ride, but with a 5:30 start we have plenty of time before dark. Finish at Revolution Hall, and treat yourself to a beer!

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.

UPDATED ROUTE! ***Includes Estabrook which is a bit more technical than our standard route.*** 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 58% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. ***Estabrook section is NOT appropriate for bikes with slick or skinny tires.*** 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. Ride on the road into historic Concord Center, past the Old North Bridge, and into the Estabrook reserve. Come back to Concord Center via Hugh Cargill (dirt road) and Lowell Rd. Loop 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.

UPDATED ROUTE! ***Includes Estabrook which is a bit more technical than our standard route.*** 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 58% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. ***Estabrook section is NOT appropriate for bikes with slick or skinny tires.*** 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. Ride on the road into historic Concord Center, past the Old North Bridge, and into the Estabrook reserve. Come back to Concord Center via Hugh Cargill (dirt road) and Lowell Rd. Loop 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.

Come enjoy the quiet, tree lined back roads of Groton, Pepperell and Dunstable near the New Hampshire border. Both routes take the roller coaster like Whiley Rd past Lost Lake in Groton. The long route passes Massapoag Lake in Dunstable. After the ride come enjoy the beer and fine food at True West brewery in Acton. If beer isn't your thing (wait, what??) you can reward yourself next door at the West Side Creamery. Or have a cold iced coffee next next door at the Acton Coffee House. There is something for eveyone! Long route will have a 15-16 mph paced group but riders are free to ride at their own pace. Route design courtesy of Bob Wolf.

Let's try a new Friday coffee stop!  Since the Roosters have gotten so fast, few places are open before the end of the ride.  Luckily, Pressed Cafe is open at 5AM.  If you've got the time, stop by for some George Howell Coffee and Pastries on the way back to The Mighty Squirrel!  For the riders averaging less than 17mph, two other stops along the route  (Lakon Paris and Clover) open at 7AM and are also good options.  

We will meet in front of Cassidy Playground right by the reservoir and across the corner from the MBTA Cleveland Circle stop.
Start your morning off right with a tour of scenic roads South! We will pass through Needham Junction, Dedham, Stonybrook Reservation, and by the Brookline Center before rolling back to Cleveland Circle. We will swing by Fuel (nearby on Chestnut Hill Ave) at the end of the ride to relax and chat; come for the ride and stay for the coffee!
Use club Slack channel #ride to discuss this event further: https://crwheelers.slack.com/archives/C0109BPQPAR/p1635859706206700
Take some pictures, post on Instagram with #CRWheelers

UPDATED ROUTE! ***Includes Estabrook which is a bit more technical than our standard route.*** 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 58% unpaved. Tires 32–35mm should be sufficient. ***Estabrook section is NOT appropriate for bikes with slick or skinny tires.*** 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. Ride on the road into historic Concord Center, past the Old North Bridge, and into the Estabrook reserve. Come back to Concord Center via Hugh Cargill (dirt road) and Lowell Rd. Loop 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.