Enjoy the Best of Gravel in a Time When It is What You Need More Than Anything
Everything You Need to Know About Ride Headquarters’ Social Distance Gravel Rides
Why Join in Social Distance Gravel Rides
You get a lot of great things and feelings being part of our Social Distance Gravel rides! Here are a few of the reasons to join in:
You get to ride a gorgeous, fun, well-planned route. The route is well-vetted and ready to load onto your GPS computer, complete with parking directions.
Staffed starting location with water, light food, clean toilets.
Staffed food stop with water, bike food, Ride Studio Cafe Iced Mochas
Route Support via a cyclist and/or driver riding sweep who are capable of helping for most mechanicals.
You can ride your own pace. If you’ve never felt comfortable joining in on a group ride, this is an event you can participate in and have just as much fun as everyone else while staying in your comfort zone of 10mph - 20+ mph.
Joy of participating in an event that a lot of other people are doing. Connect in person, at a distance, connect over social media, feel a sense of accomplishment with others
Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route as you
Substantial lunch at the end of the ride of delicious, hearty food prepared and packaged in advance
Reactions to our Social Distance Cycling Events
I cannot thank you and the RSC staff enough for all of the hard work that went in to make today a success. You gave me something to work for in 2020... just two months ago riding 100mi MT would have seemed impossible. 2020 has lacked all motivation, and it feels so good to have accomplished something I am really proud of. You gave me that opportunity. Thank you.
— C Schmidt
I had the most fun and am so grateful to you and the crew that made it happen. I can't believe how exciting it was to actually meet and hang out with a group of new people!!! (I did enjoy the cycling bit too, of course!)
I'm regretting not trying out the ones you organized earlier in the year now!
— Joanna D.
You did a beyond amazing job with the gravel series. […] Each one was a huge success. It was just so impressive. Not gushing, just fact.
— Geoff S.
Thank you so much for all your work and organization for a great day yesterday! Challenging, rewarding, soul-filling. Your work is very appreciated!
— K Moore
Thanks for a great event. All felt as safe as could be and everyone did their part. Made me want to explore that part of MA some more. - David P.
This was a TERRIFIC event! RSC did a fantastic job organizing. The course was awesome - quiet, challenging, scenic, fun. - Will M.
Had an amazing time. Thanks for the meticulous planning and execution! - Jess S.
Just wanted to let you know how fantastic the route was (pass on my compliments to whoever took the time to maximize all that Middle Mass had to offer).
More importantly, I am extremely appreciative of the RSC/ RHQ team efforts to pull this kind of event off under the most trying circumstances. I am confident that many other of my fellow riders share that sentiment. - Neil M.
Marc […] smiled and welcomed every rider while also making sure we had our Iced Mocha and snacks. He even remembered my name...
On my usual rides less than 10% of participants say "on your left" while passing, but 90% of your rides gave notice when they passed. Amazing. - Marc B.
Today was a great day. Almost all cycling events have been canceled this year for obvious reasons, but the incredible Ride Headquarters, have been very innovative and are hosting social distancing rides, where you set off at timed intervals, wear masks, and are able to enjoy amazing rest stops and after ride refreshments. Today's ride was in beautiful New Hampshire, 105km on gravel roads, with 1450m of climbing.
- Trevor N.
Thanks again to all of the RSC and Ride HQ folks for a great event yesterday. Well planned and executed and the weather was perfetto. - Phil P.
…thanks to you and your colleagues for a great ride yesterday. it was really wonderful to be out on a ride of this kind, and i was especially gratified to see how well you managed the social distancing so that we were safe. I hope you will do more of them over the summer. - Daniel M.
Thanks for organizing such an awesome ride today! [We] had a blast! Great course and great people! - Paul F.
Extraordinary event with Ride Studio Cafe: quiet scenery, killer climbs, screaming descents, & safe group distance
Your events never disappoint. RSC does so much for the community. Thank you for hosting. -Rami H.
RSC social distance gravel live free edition was a fun, tough route. Lots of views, hills, and heat. (Third bottle cage = no regrets!) Enjoyed meeting some new folks and chatting about the route gathered at a safe distance in the open air. Thanks to Ride Headquarters and Ride Studio Cafe for another top notch day. - Jenny W.
A quick note of thanks for hosting the ride in New Hampshire last weekend. You planned a terrific route and I had a blast riding. I'm especially appreciative of helping me solve my navigation woes - you went above and beyond. -Tony M.
You guys did a fantastic job this past weekend! The rest stop was great with enough choices. The mocha was a nice touch. The finish line sandwich, with cookie and watermelon, was such a nice touch. - Mark O.
Thank you, the event course was awesome! We rode on many roads from our old neighborhood, with a couple of turns that we hadn’t traveled! We had a terrific time saw some old friends we hadn’t seen in a bit! - Ed M.
I wanted to thank you again for the great ride yesterday and all the support from Ride Studio! It was well worth the drive up from Western MA. - Gail H.
Social Distance Ride Protocols: What we Expect of Each Participant
Keep your distance while at the start, rest stop and finish. Keep at least 10 feet between you and every other person when eating since you can’t wear a mask while eating and drinking.
Keeping your mask on your face is a show of respect for other riders and people you encounter.
We’ll be giving everyone specific starting times, please adhere to these. The safety of everyone depends on it. We have a schedule to keep and the sweep rider will be behind all riders who start on time and average at least 10mph.
We provide you with a lunch to eat afterward. No sharing of food or beverages. Bring a lawn chair with you, you may wish to tailgate after you’re done riding. It is easy to maintain a lot of distance outside while speaking with someone over 6 feet away.
There is no ride leader, you’ll be following your GPS computer. Owning and knowing how to use a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
Don’t risk fast descents or engage in risky cycling behavior. You are required to follow the rules of the road for the duration of the ride.
Eat enough before and during the ride so you won’t bonk or make poor decisions due to being hungry or thirsty. As we have been instructed by health professionals, now is not the time to ride too hard since this compromises your immune system. Keep your heart rate in your “aerobic” zone and you’ll benefit tremendously from the ride.
We want to know if there is anyone with whom you social distance who you will want to ride with when you register.
If we see any two people within 6’ of each other and neither party has listed the other person(s) as a ride partner/social distance partner, we will ask you to leave the ride immediately and not participate in anything else we offer. We are EXTREMELY serious that social distancing is exceptionally important and ask you to not attend this ride if you don’t take it seriously.
We’ll send a very detailed email the morning before the ride with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do. Please do not email us prior to the Friday before the ride asking for this information unless you have a special circumstance requiring this information early.
What to Bring & How to Prepare for a Social Distance Gravel Ride
What to bring, we recommend in addition to the obvious items you’d bring to any ride you’d do:
Check out the contents of our bug-out bag
All the clothing you typically use for 60-80 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either.
Headlight and taillight with batteries in good condition. Use these to be even more visible during daytime riding.
Helmet
Neck gator/mask - Required
Sunscreen
Protective glasses
Towel to dry off after the ride.
A change of clothes for after the ride - it’s not fun to drive home in sweaty, wet, clothes.
Flat fix kit
For those taking on the 100 Mile Challenge Route
In addition to everything we list above, carry at least 2 water bottles and a 1-3 liter hydration pack or the equivalent of 4 bottles on your body/bike. Consider how hot it will be and how much water you need for the conditions.
Bring at least 500 calories of nutrition on you, to eat in addition to what you get in your goodie bag and at the rest stop.
2 x Extra Tubes
Quick links for your chain
Multi-tool with chain breaker
Additional power source for your GPS computer.
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have us bring for you.