Join us for another Ice Cream Social Ride this time starting at Kimball Farm in Carlisle. A scenic 23 mile ride includes about 5 miles on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. There is also a 34 mile route which continues up the BFRT to Chelmsford and back. This will be a leisurely ride through Carlisle, Concord, Acton and Chelmsford. Upon return to Kimball Farm you can choose from a never ending list of ice cream flavors to help you recover some of those burned calories!
This Wednesday's lunch ride features the short and medium routes of a new, popular ride that was first run this past July. The short route loops through Topsfield, Boxford and North Andover following a route similar to that of the short Saturday fitness ride. The medium route continues across Harold Parker State Forest to Andover, incorporating some of the roads used for the NSC Andover Tuesday night ride. After circling the scenic Andover Green, the ride returns via Harold Parker.
Harold Parker State Forest Headquarters
(Google map)
Gravel ride
Gravel riders, please join me on a beautiful but challenging ride through Harold Parker state forest and a few nearby reservations. We will be riding on quiet paved streets and mostly wide double track trails that go through the forest and around Sterns Pond, Salem Pond, and Field Pond. There are some sections with loose gravel that will require some extra attention, but the majority of the 7.5 miles of gravel riding are easy to negotiate.
Ride into some different territory than most NSC rides. These rides go west and south through a variety of scenic landscapes, including wooded areas, farms and the historic sites of Concord.
Come join us this Wednesday as we will take a scenic ride from Cushing Park. The ride heads out on the High St. bike lanes and passes through Maudslay State Park. We swing down through the wooded roads in the Byfield and West Newbury area, then cross the Merrimack River at the Bates Bridge and ride along the river to Merrimac where the split occurs. The short route continues along the Merrimac River returning via the Chain bridge and Merrimac St. The long route heads north for a loop into South Hampton NH.
A casual but somewhat hilly route from Manter Fields in Newbury, MA with 30 and 40 mile options. We'll ride through scenic woodlands passing many farms, golf courses and curiosities.
Bring your own picnic (BYOP) for lunch on the lawn after the ride.
BTW: If you rotate the long route to the right, it looks like a chicken!
A classic rail trail ride thru NH scenery. The route starts in Boscawen, NH, at the Jamie Welch Park on Depot Rd and goes to Danbury at Rt. 4. Riders can take a break for refreshments at the Danbury Country Store before heading back to the starting point. The route is flat, with a gradual climb to Danbury and may be cut short at any point simply by turning around and heading back to the start.
Come join your fellow club members for a ride from Groveland through the New Hampshire / Massachusetts borderlands, where NSC rides rarely venture.
All three rides are somewhat shorter than the usual Sunday morning options to allow riders more time to return to Groveland for our fall picnic and to spend time with other NSC members.
All routes begin at the Pines Recreation Area in Groveland, cross the mighty Merrimack via the Bates bridge, and head north together past the Whittier Homestead into NH.
Discover the scenic quiet roads of the Revolution Ride with its beautiful open fields and woodlands. The routes are variations of the NSC Apple Pi ride routes.
Ride counter-clockwise along the Cape Ann coastline, through Gloucester, out to the Eastern Point Lighthouse and Atlantic Ave, to Rockport and back through Annisquam Village. The short and medium routes return to the start location in Manchester from Essex. The longest option continues to Ipswich before looping back to Manchester. The coastal shoreline offers many scenic vistas by taking short excursions from the route.
Fall is here! And it is time to ride the Pepper and Maple route in the season's changing colors. Come join other club members in a delightful journey through the farmlands, river valleys, and highlands of Groton, Pepperell, Brookline, Hollis, and Tyngsborough.
Two routes are offered for the ride: a short 32 mile route and a longer 46 mile route. Both routes overlap at various points, particularly the first crossing of the Nashua River south of Pepperell and the last eleven miles or so of each route.
A casual but somewhat hilly route from Manter Fields in Newbury, MA with 30 and 40 mile options. We'll ride through scenic woodlands passing many farms, golf courses and curiosities.
Bring your own picnic (BYOP) for lunch on the lawn after the ride.
BTW: If you rotate the long route to the right, it looks like a chicken!
Another north shore gravel route, this time with a little more time off road than on. The route will traverse double/single track, rail trail, dirt road, with excursions into Pingree Woods, Bradley Palmer State Park, Willowdale (East and West), Appleton Grass Rides, and Harvard Forest before returning to the start at Patton Park.
Bikes with tire widths of 35 mm or more will be more comfortable.
Please be ready for pre-ride discussion at 9:15 am.
The shoulder season is a perfect time to ride the coast of Maine! We start in Portsmouth, NH, just off I-95, and head up the coast to Nubble Light and Perkins Cove. You might assume the best part of the ride is along the coast, but many peope enjoy the inland return options, including the Piscataqua River, even more.
A casual but somewhat hilly route from Manter Fields in Newbury, MA with 30 and 40 mile options. We'll ride through scenic woodlands passing many farms, golf courses and curiosities.
Bring your own picnic (BYOP) for lunch on the lawn after the ride.
BTW: If you rotate the long route to the right, it looks like a chicken!
Harold Parker State Forest Headquarters
(Google map)
Gravel ride
Gravel riders, please join me on a beautiful but challenging ride through Harold Parker state forest and a few nearby reservations. We will be riding on quiet paved streets and mostly wide double track trails that go through the forest and around Sterns Pond, Salem Pond, and Field Pond. There are some sections with loose gravel that will require some extra attention, but the majority of the 7.5 miles of gravel riding are easy to negotiate.
Mostly flat to rolling, shady roads. All rides go through Harold Parker State Forest. Short ride goes through Reading, Wilmington, N. Reading, Middleton, and Lynnfield. Medium ride adds N. Andover, Boxford, and Topsfield. Long ride adds Groveland, W. Newbury, and Georgetown. Rest Stops at Food Mart in West Newbury and Richdale in Middleton.
Ride start can be reached from the MBTA Reading or Wakefield Commuter Rail Stations.
Join us this week for a delightful ride from Topsfield to Ipswich's Great Neck coastline and back. We will travel to Ipswich via a short passage thru Willowdale State Forest, across Linebrook Rd. and Jeffrey's Neck Rd. The return will be via Jeffrey's Neck Rd., through Ipswich, and around a section of Appleton Farms on Waldingfield Rd. and Highland St. A sharp turn onto Ashbury St. will take us along Bradley Palmer SP up to Ipswich Rd. and on to Perkins Row, Central St., and Main St. in Topsfield. A quick turn on to Ipswich Rd. and North St.
Another north shore gravel route, this time with a little more time off road than on. The route will traverse double/single track, rail trail, dirt road, with excursions into Pingree Woods, Bradley Palmer State Park, Willowdale (East and West), Appleton Grass Rides, and Harvard Forest before returning to the start at Patton Park.
Bikes with tire widths of 35 mm or more will be more comfortable.
Please be ready for pre-ride discussion at 9:15 am.
