This week we are back in Essex for some nice riding on quiet roads staying east of I-95. Some of the notorious bad roads are much smoother now. There are 2 route options. All routes head south to Manchester by The Sea via Apple Street and Southern Avenue. The routes head north towards Hamilton from Beverly Farms and split at the intersection of Highland and Asbury at mile 15.6. A & M Motors has a convenience store and restrooms at that point. The long heads to Topsfield via Asbury, adding Howlett Hill. The shorts continue up Highland Street.
Merrimack River from Newburyport allows all riders to enjoy very scenic stretches along both sides of the Merrimack River. All routes head out of Newburyport on Hale Street then along the Upper Artichoke Lake before doing several scenic miles along the river. The 30 mile medium route follows the short route but avoids Rocks Village Bridge by continuing through West Newbury to cross the Merrimack on 113 in Groveland then follows scenic E Broadway to rejoin the short on the north side of Rocks Village Bridge.
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!
The ride starts out on a beautiful scenic stretch with good roads. The medium and long options go out and back on Plum Island, and the long option continues through Newburyport and past the Artichoke Reservoirs. The extra-long route goes along the shore in Salisbury and returns through Maudslay State Park to rejoin the long route.
Join fellow NSC members for the second instance of Bikes & Tunes, an evening of cycling and rousing jazz music.This time we are also offering a gravel ride option.
The road ride rolls out from Odell Park in Beverly at 5:00 pm. The 20 mile route flows through Beverly over to the shore line, then proceeds up the coast past Endicott College, then over past Gordon College in Wenham, on to Hamilton, and then turns back to Beverly and the ride start. Please be ready for the pre-ride talk at 4:45 pm.
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!
Exeter Municipal Lot near Szechuan Taste
(Google map)
Road ride
The long route gives the rider the best bang for the buck of the NSC Great Bay offerings. The beautiful 39 mile ride goes through picturesque Newfields, around Great Bay, Newmarket, and the lively college town of Durham. Both of these routes go through the scenic farm country of southern New Hampshire. The terrain is rolling hills with old barns, scenic vistas, and lots of quiet roads. Both loops go by historic Kingston NH common.
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.
This Beverly-Ipswich loop travels quiet woodland and open roads near Cape Ann area, including North Beverly, Centerville, Essex, Ipswich, Wenham and Hamilton. Extra Long, long and medium rides go out to Jeffrey’s Neck loop from the town wharf in Ipswich.
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!
Before firing up the Barbie, before chilling some beverages, before sitting down to a great Labor Day picnic, come on out for NSC's Firecracker, two gravel routes to set right your holiday and your appetite.
The routes, 51 or 39 miles, pass through rail trails, fire roads thru forests, and single track through meadows and woods. The routes are mostly
Category 2
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!
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.
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.
