By Nina Siegel and Harold Hatch
This ride series is meant to highlight some of the “best of the best” routes that have been created by CRW Route Developers/Ride Leaders over the club’s nearly 60-year history. Familiar to long-time club members, some routes have been running annually since 2010 while others haven’t been offered recently. This season we are focusing on rides that feature 3 or more routes. With beautiful roads, multiple speed and distance options, including a welcoming 10-12 mph pace, these routes offer something for everyone in CRW, new and long-time members alike.
Be on the lookout for upcoming WheelPeople articles featuring the Route Developer and/or Ride Leader and what it is about their ride that makes it special to the club. You’ll find notifications in Chain Link and club social media channels when the rides are posted on the Events Calendar. Please join us as we celebrate what our Club has to offer in its long history of riding.
AND NOW – OUR THIRD CLASSIC FEATURE!
Barry and Linda Nelson in Croatia, 2014.
Meet Linda and Barry Nelson
Linda and Barry are leading “Blue Moon” Sunday, July 6, 2025, out of Medfield, MA – their favorite lunch spot!
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Linda and Barry met in Boston during college when friends invited Linda to a weekend gathering. Barry had been cycling through Europe unsupported for 8 weeks before they met, and Linda cycled a bit locally in college. When their son was born, he rode right along on the back of Barry’s bike starting with a child’s seat advancing to a Burley trailer. Their son now rides and has a trailer for transporting his own children on his rides! Barry and Linda were originally riding singles, moved to a tandem as Barry was faster and now are back to singles as Linda prefers the white line and Barry the middle of the road. They used to live in Newton and are now in Weston, which they love. Linda devotes a lot of her time to moving the Fitchburg Rail with Trail (a trail alongside the tracks of the Fitchburg line from Weston to Lincoln, Concord and potentially including Acton to Ayer and Nashua, NH) forward and a shared use path along Route 30 in Weston. Barry volunteers to assist non-profits with their computer systems. They have ridden the Pan Mass Challenge for 30 years.
How long have you been riding with CRW?
They joined CRW in 1990 and have covered a huge array of volunteer positions in the past 35 years both as present ride leaders, and past board members, membership coordinators, and century committee volunteers. In addition, Barry has been a former CRW President, VP, VP rides, Secretary, Saturday rides coordinator, email list moderator, century ride leader, and apparel coordinator. His current position is membership coordinator, a job that Linda held for 15 years. Whew! And what a huge thank you is extended to you both!
What kind of rides do you enjoy the most?
They like to ride in good weather and enjoy a full day of riding when they can. Barry likes the hills, and Linda Likes the flats and the downhills. They like riding with the Wednesday Wheelers. No e-bikes for them yet. When they can’t ride, they run 5k on either the Weston HS track or the Regis College track, and if neither option is available, they become very grumpy.
History of "Blue Moon" route:
It was a birthday present for Linda, or it was a birthday present for Barry – they cannot seem to remember but Linda’s birthday is in the fall, so some years the temperature can be a bit cold. This year they are leading it in July to help keep the buzz going for the Classic! Barry did the initial development of it, and Linda refined it a few times until they deemed it a perfect metric century. They created the 41- and the 33-mile routes for colder weather. The key is always the start location. And the Blue Moon is a favorite restaurant opened by a dear friend with great desserts which is the key to entice Barry on any ride. Barry has a nickname, “The Muffin Man”. There must be a terrific muffin or fabulous dessert stop along the ride or at the end of the ride. One example is that in the fall Dunkin Donuts have the pumpkin spice muffin.
What makes it special so that you want to continue to lead the Blue Moon ride?
The route has some very lightly traveled roads in many towns, not often on CRW routes: Medfield, Norwood, Sharon, Mansfield, Foxboro, Walpole, Norton and Attleboro. There are nice long stretches with a few good long slow climbs. A few busy roads of course but some good dessert stops (Sharon and Foxboro), then end back at the Blue Moon for a well-made lunch and of course dessert after your metric ride!
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Ride a Classic route or two this season and find out exactly why they are such enduring Club rides. Explore new territory, scenic views, and the best snack stops all while riding with great people the way you like to ride.
Some of the exciting routes that we’ve planned so far include:
- Northern Lighthouses – Renee LeVerrier/Andy Meyer (Route Developer) Nina Siegel (Ride Leader) – 9/7
- Bagels and a Witch – Melinda Lyon – 10/26
- Earlier this season: Hills Are Your Friends - Lindy King; Brake for Beavers- Harold Hatch
Check out the CRW Ride Calendar and choose your next ride – which will become your Classic?
If you would like to have one of your routes featured as a CRW Classic, please reach out to either Nina (ninasiegel7@gmail.com) or Harold (haroldhatch@yahoo.com).
Let’s Ride!
