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 focused on rides that featured 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.

We have featured in WheelPeople articles 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 FOURTH CLASSIC FEATURE!

Meet Melinda Lyon

Melinda Lyon is leading Bagel and a Witch Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 10 AM out of Boxford, MA.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I am a local, grew up in Acton, attended Acton-Boxborough Regional High School then onto BU for a physiology degree. Robye Lahlum is from Valley City, North Dakota and we met at an AMC Pinkham Notch bike repair workshop. We eventually found our way to Boxford , where we have lived for nearly 40 years. We both commute to work, though in opposite directions.

Cycling right out our front door is our favorite way to start a ride. Long rides and lunch with friends is my fun way to ride. I found I always got stronger the longer the ride, so I realized that was my calling. I have been involved with Randonneuring since 1990 which was perfect training for Paris-Brest-Paris and I rode in six PBP’s and was Premier Randonneuse in two. I spent years with very long training days in the saddle and have been in other rides as well.

I ride differently now. I no longer do brevets or ride more than 4 or 5 hours at a time as I’ve had my share of repaired parts in recent years: ankle, knee, humerus – the usual jumble of an athletes’ life. I lead a number of rides annually both road and gravel. My weekends are typically split with 1 day as my long ride 4-5 hours on my own and the other in my garden. Our garden has expanded in the past few years and we now grow enough produce to feed ourselves for about 6 months of the year. Occasionally a friend will ask if they can scoop some bounty. My usual response is along the line of “if they didn’t work the land no bounty”. I probably couldn’t go back to all that time spent on the bike now…

How long have you been riding with CRW?

We first read about a CRW ride in The Boston Globe being run out of Winchester in 1984. Jacek Rudowski asked about our cycling credentials when we showed up! And from then on it was all about riding as many weekend rides, weekend tours, and the Tour of New England and being out all day with friends, having lunch and sometimes dinner. You called 325-BIKE to get the upcoming weekend rides outside of the newsletter back then. I created the North to New Hampshire ride which has since transformed into the current Spring Century.

What kind of rides do you enjoy the most?

I like long rides with friends, a solid pace out to enjoy lunch, a PB&J in my pannier on Littleton Common or beer and crabs at Woodman’s in Essex, have fun and then a nice ride back. Sharing interests about ‘NHF’ Not Having Fun? Stop. Get rest. Ride tomorrow. What keeps the blood pressure down better than that?

Back when I started this route – when everyone was riding from their homes and sharing their rides with everyone – it was “I have this ride and I love it. I’ll set it up”. And yes, I do like lunch so we stop for bagels on the ride usually at Abrahams in downtown Newburyport. Zumi’s in Topsfield for the short route  is the cycling hangout. The route is basically the same as it was from the beginning. Some people show up in costume and its fun. The long route can be windy as it goes out onto Plum Island but it is beautiful. I ride these roads all the time so I have altered the routes as necessary to accommodate how the area has grown and some roads have changed over the years. 

What makes it special so that you want to continue to lead the Bagel and a Witch?

It’s a beautiful area in my neighborhood. I love that all three distances give riders an opportunity to experience such charm and it just never gets old. 

Nina adds: I found a quote of Melinda’s from an article on the Seven Cycles website, undated, which strikes me as a true picture of Melinda: “First and foremost, randonneurs are always polite; you can ride hard, but your speed remains secondary to consideration for everyone, whether it’s another rider, a course volunteer, a motorist, a citizen with no affiliation with the event, or your own safety. In races, other riders try to drop you; in randonnees, your company is a welcome part of the journey. The course itself is the daunting competitor.”

REGISTER FOR BAGEL AND A WITCH

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We hope you  have enjoyed CRW's Classics Ride series in meeting and riding along again or anew with some superb CRW ride developers and ride leaders. 

2025's Classics were:

• April 19: Hills Are Your Friends
• June 1: Brake for Beavers
  
• July 6: Blue Moon
• Oct 26: Bagel and a Witch

It was wonderful fun. Keep seeking out your own Classic. 

Let’s Ride!

Looking ahead to next season: If you would like to have one of your routes featured as a CRW Classic in the future, please reach out to Nina (ninasiegel7@gmail.com) or Harold (haroldhatch@yahoo.com).

Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM  | Lincoln, MA

The Northeast Bicycle Club is happy to provide instruction on paceline riding for CRW members.  This is a CRW members only event. Those who have always wanted to ride a paceline will be shown how to do this safely and effectively within small groups of about 5 each.  Speed is NOT the objective for this instruction session, rather we want to get people feeling comfortable riding more closely together, get everyone to ride safely and predictably, and how to exchange the lead rider for each paceline.

Hone Your Skills Before the Century!

The very next day is the Cranberry Harvest Century. Groups of riders will be riding pacelines. Have the confidence to join a well-organized, efficient paceline!

Why Cyclists Ride in Pacelines

The reason is, as any cyclist knows, riding into a headwind is harder than riding in no wind.  Riding in a draft (e.g., behind a truck or school bus or another rider) makes riding easy.  So, if five riders wanted to ride faster and more efficiently, they should share the load of breaking the wind for the group.  Each rider should take turns riding at the front doing most of the work, then drop back and spend the rest of the time in the draft taking it easy.  Once you experience this, you'll have an "Aha!" moment.  (By the way, we're not advocating drafting trucks or school busses.)

Session Description

It is assumed that participants have little or no previous experience riding in a paceline.  We will break into small groups and assign an NEBC instructor for each group.  In the parking lot, we will start with a lecture on the responsibility of the lead rider, expectations for rider predictably, the importance of group communication, and how the group should behave on trafficked roads.  We will demonstrate how (and when) the lead rider exchange is to be performed.  Then each group will ride to a mile-long stretch of road nearby to practice this technique, including the exchange of lead riders.  The instructor will accompany the group, providing tips, critiques, etc.  At each end of the road we'll stop to turn around and discuss how to improve the group's performance.

Note that the road session will not be fast, so you may not feel the full advantage of pacelining.  But with practice, as you and your fellow riders gain more experience and speed, you'll have your "Aha!" moment.

Limited Attendance!

Only 10 riders are allowed to be part of this clinic. Sign up today!

REGISTER HERE

***SHARE YOUR RIDE PHOTOS WITH CRW!***
Email them to: media-share@crw.org

Tour of Martha's Vineyard, September 20.

By Ken Schwarz

CRW debuted a new seaside route on Saturday, August 23 with the North Shore Lobster Loop, a figure-eight ride through Essex, Gloucester, and Rockport. Starting and ending at Woodman’s of Essex—the mother of all lobster shacks—the ride delivered everything it promised: ocean views, rolling hills, and a proper lobster-roll finish.

We set out at 9 AM, intent to make it back just in time for that well-earned lunch. The loop covered 44 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing. No single climb was high (the tallest peak just 130 feet), but the route packed in plenty of short, punchy rollers that kept riders honest. At mile 20.5, the adventurous took the unpaved spur to a hidden beach, while others stayed on the main road to rejoin the loop a mile later.

Midway through Rockport, the group paused in town at The Ice Cream Store and the Bean & Leaf Café, a well-timed chance to recharge and tempt riders into spoiling their appetites for lunch! (Nobody succumbed.)

Back at Woodman’s, riders dug into mountains of seafood. Katie seemed worried that she may have ordered too much fried food but fortunately Ken and Matt were sitting nearby and able to help her out. 

The day couldn’t have been more spectacular. Clear skies, dramatic seas, and great CRW company made the miles fly by. Hopefully we can turn this ride into an annual CRW summer tradition.

Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?

Metuchen, NJ / Newton, MA.

How long have you been cycling, and what initially got you interested in the sport?

Since the early 1990s when I moved to Boston. Initial interest? Wanting to explore the area, seeing a lot of cyclists riding, and the memory of my first bike as a kid— pink-and-purple with tassles on the bar ends.

How long have you been a CRW member?

I rode with CRW for a few years in the early 1990s, then rejoined in 2017.

How many miles do you typically ride per year?

1500-2000. But my real metric is, “Whoever has the most fun, wins.”

What is your greatest cycling accomplishment?

I’ve biked all over the world—Vietnam, Cuba, many parts of Europe and the US (Death Valley was one of my favorites). That’s not an accomplishment per se, but biking vacations are my love language.

What is your favorite route to ride?

Rides that start around Carlisle/Concord; it’s like being back in the 18th century with the farmland and small towns.

What is your favorite post-ride food or drink?

Anything that lists “sugar” or “caffeine” as ingredients.

What is your best advice for a new club member?

The club has changed a lot over the years to encompass a wider range of cyclists. Find your level, find your people.

In what capacities have you volunteer(ed) for the club, and for how long?

• Ride leader since 2017
• Board member 2019 to 2021
• Century volunteer several times
• VP of Volunteers (2021)
• Communications committee lead (2020)
• I co-founded the CRW diversity group in 2020 with Randolph Williams, which turned into the New England Cycling Coalition for Diversity.

What led to you becoming a Ride Leader?

I thought it would be nice to have more rides leaving from closer into Boston.

What ride(s) do you lead? Can you tell us a bit about that ride?

The “Donut” rides that leave from Newton: Newton-Weston and Newton-Dover. Each has 3 lengths from 20+ miles to 50+ miles. There’s an option to join the social time prior to the ride at the Dunkin next to the ride start (free donuts!).

Are you planning any new ride(s) this year?

Always open to new routes, but nothing specific.

Anything else you want to share about yourself or cycling journey?

Yum, donuts.

Sunday, October 12, 2025  | 7:00 AM  | College Pond, Myles Standish State Forest, Plymouth MA

It’s almost fall, which means it’s almost time for CRW's annual Cranberry Harvest Century! Starting at Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth and traveling past the cranberry bogs in Rochester, Wareham, Carver and Acushnet, the Cranberry Harvest Century is a fully-supported event offering 35, 53, 65, and 100-mile routes.

Newsflash: We are hoping to add a gravel route. Stay tuned!

REGISTER FOR THE CRANBERRY HARVEST CENTURY

Calling all CRW Ride Leaders!

We are looking for ride leaders for a variety of pace groups, for distances between 35 and 100 miles. Pace groups offer a fun, social way for riders to push themselves and go faster. Help make this century our best yet and lead a group! Pick a route, a pace, and a start time, and be a part of the action!

Two years ago we had eight ride leaders. Last year we had twelve! Can we beat that number this year?

Bonus: If you haven't led a ride yet this year, opting to lead a paced group will earn you the code to register for FREE, AND you will be invited to our end of year volunteer/ride leader thank you party!

If you have any questions or want to lead a pace, or volunteer in any other capacity, contact century@crw.org

By John Allen

A couple of years ago, the CRW Ride Leader ride started and finished at the Craft Food Hall in Waltham. The ride had to cross Route 95/128 to get out to those scenic country roads, and the nearest crossing is the bridge on Winter Street in Waltham, with three lanes westbound,  four eastbound, and ramps to the highway. Just west of the highway is the Winter Street Oval, with five lanes westbound and six eastbound over much of its length. 

This can sound intimidating! But it doesn’t have to be. I had the pleasure of leading the Ride Leader group out, showing how traffic signals make it possible to time entry to the bridge so there is only light traffic, and I have written about that.

Have you been waiting for the other shoe to drop? Okay, I now have (finally) gotten around to editing my raw video of the return ride through the Oval and over the bridge:

https://vimeo.com/1108489609/f27cccd7ab?share=copy

As the video shows, the strategy which works here is highly counterintuitive. Bicyclists tend to think that staying to the right is best, but that works poorly here because of the large number of entrances and exits, including high-speed highway ramps. Previewing the route in Google Maps satellite view and Street View can be very helpful (you need to do this on a computer screen, or at least a large tablet, to see detail).

The Google Maps exercise will show you the lane configuration and the arrangement of traffic signals. Stepping ahead in Street View, you can often even discern the traffic-signal sequence: the Google camera car was moving as the signals advanced. I performed this for the Oval and the bridge, and you may review it too using the Google Maps link near the start of this article.

As the video shows, traffic signals keep most traffic from entering when you are proceeding through the Oval. Also, another lane besides the one you are using is always available for motorists to go in the same direction. On the bridge, as is often the case on a street with a median, the lane next to the median is the quietest one. It is a left-turn lane onto a rather small two-lane street, and it is long enough that motorists can pass you before merging into it–until you are nearly at the end, and then they can slow and follow you.

But then, what are you doing in a left-turn lane if you want to turn right? Traffic signals hold the key to this. The one before the bridge creates long gaps in the traffic crossing the bridge, so you can merge across to the right, and the traffic signal after the bridge slows down traffic so you can change lanes to the one you need to use (unless, of course, you will be turning left yourself).

If you are riding in a group, it works best here to go double file, and use the “got your back” tactic when changing lanes–the sweep moves out first, so a car won’t break up the group. I have reviewed the Winter Street route with a member of the local Ride Together Waltham group, and ridden it with the group, which mostly did as I had suggested. We got across without any problem.

Winter Street offers one example of how some strategic planning can tame a seemingly intimidating challenge. I should add that I don’t seek out challenges like this for the fun of it. I take pride in being able to manage the challenges, but the point of taking them on, after all, is to have reasonable safety and comfort in getting out to those scenic country roads, and back to the Craft Food Hall for the post-ride refreshments!

Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM  | Mattapoisett, Rochester, Carver MA

Get ready for the flattest, fastest 50 miles you’ll ever see! Ride Leader Edward Cheng is offering an 18-19 average mph paceline, with other groups for lower paces and the shorter 30-mile route. Come break your records, ride past the lovely Mattapoissett Harbor, and get ready for the fall centuries!

Start: 9:30 AM, Commuter parking lot, right off Rt. I-195 (Exit 31A), Mattapoisett, across the street from Uncle Jon's Coffee

Finish: 3:00 PM

REGISTER FOR THE MATTAPOISETT 50

By Terry Gleason

This month we are doing a special advocacy article about rail trails (RT). It's not possible to explain all the challenges of converting abandoned rail lines into rail trails without a basic understanding of the rise and decline of railroads. For readers who enjoy history, "From Rails To Trails" by Peter Harnik is highly readable and recommended.

For those waiting for the movie version, a documentary about the rail to trail movement based on Harnick's book will debut on PBS, October 15.  Here's a link to the one minute trailer for Harnick's documentary.

The Rail Trail Conservancy (RTC) is the resource for rail trail advocacy. Their RTC Trail-Building Toolbox is a good place to start.

Based on the success, failure, and lessons learned from countless RT projects across the country, RTC established their 'Triangle For Success" list:

• Formal Plan of Action
• Public Agency to own the (completed) project
• Advocacy Organization(s) providing a unified, enduring, and strong public push

Even though these three pillars for success were derived from RT project experiences, it's clear they are appropriate for any public project competing for funds and attention in a political environment.

Alan McClennan, former Arlington, MA city planner once famously quipped "the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway took 18 years to complete - 17 years of politics and 1 year of construction."

The Minuteman Commuter Bikeway is the fifth RT inducted by the RTC into its Rail Trail Hall of Fame, 2008. For a sense of the challenges faced by RT pioneers back in the movement's beginning in the 1970's, take a look at the 15-minute video Revival: The Story of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway created as part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the RT.

Rail Banking

One of the biggest game changers for RT advocates was 'rail banking', created in 1983 two years before RTC was established. When railroads started unloading unprofitable rail lines in the 1960's and '70's through a formal 'abandonment' process, any rail bed parcel obtained as an 'easement' would revert back to the landowner since the easement existed only as long there was train service.

Instead, railroads were encouraged to rail bank their abandoned lines with an option in the future to restore service. As long as there was the possibility of railroad service, the courts ruled that the easements remained. Railroads were content to allow bicycle and foot use in the mean time as long they could unload all liabilities. Adjacent land owners with the easements were very unhappy and sued many times with little or no success.

Dick Williamson

Since the focus this month is on rail trails, it is very fitting to recognize Dick Williamson who played an oversized role in the progress of two important rail trails with significant segments in Sudbury where he resided: the Bruce Freeman and the Mass Central RTs, and who passed away in August. Although a one-time CRW member, I believe Dick didn't partake in many club rides because of his many other activities and duties in addition to his 25 mile daily commute to work at MIT Lincoln Lab for decades.

Visit Dick's Obituary Page for more details and photos.

A gathering to celebrate Dick's life and contributions is scheduled at Davis Field, Sudbury, Sept 14, 3 pm.

Dick Williamson, Sept. 10, 1939 - Aug 9, 2025

CRW has invited Terry Gleason to contribute articles to WheelPeople from his perspective on cycling community advocacy. We hope that these articles will serve to educate CRW members on local, regional, and national issues that directly affect their safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Comments, suggestions, and alternate opinions are always welcomed. Click on “Add Comment” below to share your thoughts and get a public conversation going. Feel free to contact Terry directly via email (BedfordBike@gmail.com [include "CRW" in the Subject]) if you are an active bicyclist advocate and/or wish to do more in your community,

By Mike Duclos

On 7/30/25, after saying goodbye to everyone at the St. Johnsbury Park n’ Ride following a Worcester AMC Northeast Kingdom four day self-contained tour, and fueling up at the St. Johnsbury Supercharger while doing some food and other shopping, I drove to Moose Brook SP in Gorham, NH. I easily got a nice campsite (midweek) and used the excellent dishwashing sinks for hot soapy water to clean my bike for the next adventure.

On 7/31/25, I rode 1 mi. from Moose Brook SP to the Cross NH Adventure Trail, then about 19 mi West to the end of that cleared section of trail at Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, and back. It was misty with a low cloud ceiling, but still great scenery, including wetlands and limited mountain views. The trail surface was mostly improved and in good condition, there were some chunky sections with some old, half buried railroad ballast, but no real issues on a Surly Disk Trucker with 38 mm tires, not loaded. I’d have preferred wider, softer tires, but it was very enjoyable in any case. Check out the Story Map and the ride. 

Left Gorham at about 1 PM, stopping at the Bethel, ME Visitors Center to chat with the attendant about the Cross NH Adventure Trail. On the way out the door, I met a couple of cyclists headed back to Gorham on the CNHAT with a large flat mountain bike tire and a tiny frame pump, so I loaned them my floor pump. This was about 3 PM, so I hope they made it to their B&B in Gorham. I continued on to the Super 8 in Augusta for some re-packing, etc.

On 8/1/25, stopped briefly at the Augusta supercharger then on to Winslow, ME to pick up Jeanine Libby who is with Maine AMC, I met Jeanine on Don’s MV trips. Jeanine invited me to the AMC Medawisla Gravel Weekend, offering a free stay at the lodge if I would sweep group rides on Sat. and Sun. We are both long time AMC’ers, so we had plenty to discuss on the 2.5 hour drive to Medawisla Lodge, about 25 mi NE of Greenville, ME. A brief stop at the Skowhegan Supercharger allowed us to buy crucial provisions including pretzels and IPA, which we learned we both enjoyed. 

Medawisla Lodge, is one of three AMC Sporting Camps located within a 10-30 mi. distance of each other so, it is possible to bike pack from camp to camp, Additionally there are lean-tos, tent sites, as well as other locally owned RV and cabin options. There is a 3 min. professionally produced video overview of the area and the facilities. 

There is a red passport sized book called the Gravel Adventure Field Guide that is apparently only available in printed format (I could find no download link here), and it contains a number of example loops with Ride w/GPS files, and descriptions.  The Get One link at the top of the page and scrolling down a long way will eventually bring you to AMC / Maine Woods / Moosehead Lake Region guide and a list of businesses in Maine, NH and MA at which a hard copy can be obtained. I have a dozen or so copies if anyone is interested.

Jeanine and I settled into one of the four person bunkrooms. the receipt I received from AMC for the two day stay was $172.22 for 8/1 dinner, 8/2 breakfast, trail lunch and dinner, 8/3 breakfast and trail lunch, for which I was comped for sweeping the two rides. Nice hot showers, very nice lodge with bench type dining space, a gathering space, a lounge area, etc.

Jeanine and I then went out for a ride so I could get a feel for the place. Behind the lodge there is a lake w/ swimming, boat launch, SUPs, kayaks, etc. and more bunk houses / cabins connected by short trails. Most of the riding was on logging roads; we came upon one road grader with a rake stirring things up, and we negotiated a short section of newly laid gravel maybe 3” thick that would eventually be packed by passing motor vehicles, which seemed to be all private cars and trucks. There were no logging trucks in the area at the time, but Jeanine told me we should get well off the road if we encountered one.

Jeanine, who seems to know just about everyone in these parts, met someone she knows on a 4-wheeler from whom we learned the trail ahead was flooded with about 2 feet plus of water, but he said it ‘had a good bottom.’ We decided to press on, expecting we might need to turn around, but we were able to walk on the side in the brush a bit and get by that way without getting our feet wet. I should mention I was riding my Surly Disk Trucker with 38 mm tires at 35/40 psi, and would have preferred wider, lower pressure tires, but it worked well enough.

We enjoyed the IPAs after we got back before the dinner whistle blew at about 6 PM for a very nice dinner, which included vegan choices for those expressing an interest beforehand and for anyone after those who signed up for vegan had their share. Activities for the weekend were described, including a ‘small ride’ and a ‘medium ride’ leaving at 9:30 following a hearty breakfast at 8 AM. The opportunity to first take a pack raft on your bike, then your bike on a pack raft was offered after both ‘small’ and ‘medium’ rides.

The bunkhouses (I recall six rooms of 4 bunks each in ours) did not have bathrooms; it was a very short walk from our bunkhouse to the lodge bathrooms, for which we were rewarded with amazing views of the Milky Way, thanks to AMC’s Dark Sky Park.

I think the low temp the first night was about 40F. It was a bit warmer the second night, but that overnight low temp meant low humidity which was welcome as the day warmed up.

On 8/2/25 I was sweep for the ‘middle ride’. I recall a number of downs and ups that would allow me to gain and keep some momentum for the next up. Generally it was pretty good gravel, with a few rough spots but nothing too challenging, we had no significant mechanical issues.

The ‘medium ride’ arrived back at the lodge later than planned, but Alejandro Strong of Pack Raft Maine was undeterred, giving us about 15 minutes to catch our breath before starting the pack raft adventure.

He first showed us how to roll up and attach a pack raft to our bikes, nominally to the handlebars (the rafts weighted only 8 lbs.) but for those of us who didn’t do such a great job rolling the raft on our first try, the rear rack was a possibility, where I also put my paddle and PFD. We then rode about two miles to another location on Second Roach Pond, where Alejandro showed us how the raft peripheral tube zipper worked so we could store gear like tent, sleeping bag, clothing, etc. inside, no dry bag needed!

Then he showed us how to use a light nylon bag with two sticks attached, connected to the inflation port of the pack raft. Manipulating the open end of the bag with the sticks to ‘swallow’ a gulp of air, then tightening them and compressing the bag was used to inflate the pack raft.

He told us to remove only the front wheel (normally we would remove both wheels, but we were running late) and how to strap the bike and wheel to the front of the pack raft. We then proceeded to inflate our rafts, attach our bikes and help each other move the rafts into the pond. We paddled back to the landing at the Medawisla lodge, helped each other carry the pack rafts onto the lawn, reassembled our bikes and rode the short distance back to the lodge. The timing all worked out well: I had time to take a shower before dinner, which was already in process. One less item on the bucket list!

Early Saturday AM I had noted my car had a flat tire, so after dinner, instead of attending the evening program of music, I made a soap solution, ran my tire inflator till it went up in smoke, then soaped up the tire looking for the leak. From the gauge I saw it was leaking about 1 PSI per minute, and it was remarkably difficult to find the leak. It took me almost an hour.

I tried the plug kit I had, but the cement had dried out and the plug insertion tool was not working very well. Alejandro walked by, offered his compressor and plug kit (if  you don’t have a spare tire in your car, I’d highly recommend both a compressor and a plug kit with fresh cement.) With Alejandro’s heavy duty ‘T grip’ plug insertion tool I was able to get the plug in, using his compressor I was able to inflate the tire to about 50 psi, and I left it for the night to join the remainder of the evening program which included a bike repair discussion session Eric of BCOM Maine was holding in the lodge.

Checking early Sunday AM, the tire had held air very well overnight. Alejandro offered to follow us to Greenville where tire repair service might be found if we left at the same time following the Sunday ride. 

On 8/3/25 I was again sweep for the ‘middle ride’, which was a bit shorter, but with a bit more elevation gain, and more challenging road surfaces. 

Near the start of the ride I told Alejandro his tires looked really low, he said he was going to turn back, but I convinced him to use my frame pump, which provided enough air so he was able to complete the ride.

The pace was a bit quicker than Saturday, the riders seemed somewhat younger, we again had two ebikes in the group, and some of the climbs (and descents) had more loose rocks, gravel, etc. so it seemed to me to be a fair bit more challenging, and I often was well behind most of the group until near the end.

There were a number of interesting climbs and descents, washed out bridges and road sections. I was riding a Surly Disk Trucker with 38 mm tires (unloaded), a bike primarily intended for loaded touring on much smoother surfaces. It was all manageable but I did a fair bit of walking both up and down. We stopped at First Roach Pond and some of us went wading: iI’s a beautiful spot.   A short time later Henry from Greenville broke a spoke on his ebike. I lent him my spoke tool and he easily removed it.  From Henry I learned there was no garage open in Greenville on Sunday to repair my car tire, so I hoped my plugged tire would hold for the entire ride home.

 

One rider with tubeless tires had a flat which he tried and failed to fix with a plug, it appears there was little to no sealant left in the tire, so a tube provided by another rider was quickly inserted and we were soon rolling back to the lodge. 

When we returned to the lodge, my car tire was still holding air so we took showers, and when Alejandro had all his pack rafts loaded into his vehicle, he followed us back to Greenville. There is now a NACS charger in Greenville, so we did a bit of grocery shopping for the ride home while charging, then headed back to civilization.

On the ride back Jeanine and I discussed the weekend. She had a goal of getting some people from different chapters up to Medawisla to see what it and the other lodges provided, ride the gravel, enjoy the ponds, and bring back some first person information to other AMC chapters about what the place is like, which I’ve tried to do here.

One thing we discussed is maintenance on the roads (e.g. rake dragging behind a road grader, laying down more gravel, which appeared to happen in about 3 inch thick layers, so riding that was slow and challenging in the short bit we hit on Friday) and the importance of making road condition information available to those who wanted to ride there, something the AMC should be working on, I think. I think there is some ‘local knowledge’ about road conditions, e.g. for the Sunday ‘middle ride’ Eric was clear in describing that some of the roads had not been maintained in quite some time, and so would be more of a challenge.

Some of the fondest memories of this trip include the long tables in the dining area, where people just randomly mixed together and talked. I met someone who lives in a town adjacent to my home town, a couple of gravel racer types from mid-coast Maine, and a variety of others, all sharing a common interest in riding gravel, and otherwise enjoying the area using the available SUPs, kayaks, hiking trails, etc.

The stars at night were spectacular. It was really quiet. There is no Internet or cell coverage. It really feels remote and disconnected from the world, and I found that to be very attractive. The food was really good, the additional things like the packrafting / biking, the evening slide shows, discussion of bike maintenance and other entertainment all served to enhance the total experience.

There are two more 2025 Gravel Cycling Weekends, this year: 9/19-21/25 and 10/3-5/25 and I’d encourage anyone interested in what I’ve described above to check them out, see Medawisla Summer Trail Map.

Hopefully this gives you a flavor of the experience, it was a most enjoyable adventure, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Mike Duclos

mduclos1@icloud.com