Join Ride Headquarters for an adventure ride! We’re riding a route more urban in nature, though it’s replete with back roads, dirt trails, and unusual turns. It’s an ideal ride for a gravel bike and rider who is interested in an adventure.
This is a group or solo ride, your choice. You may ride with your friends, with a group we organize, or on your own.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, in addition to pages linked to, every single word.
Details
Ride Type: Urban paved roads (mostly back roads), dirt trails, a variety of places and surfaces
Time & Date: Sunday, July 17 - First riders roll at 7:30am, HQ group starts at 8:15am
Starting Point: Winchester, MA Center
Distance: 60-65 miles
Price: Free
What you get
A big adventure ride with others who are excited to ride an adventure too
A route that includes surprising areas to enjoy on your bike and one mid-ride ice-cream stop (bring $ for food, water, and ice cream to enjoy during the ride)
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
Distance: 60-65 miles total
Elevation: It’s a relatively flat route, it goes east from Winchester Center with the mid-ride point on the water in the southern portion of the North Shore
All of the route was vetted a few years ago. Thus, be up for an adventure! If a road or trail isn’t rideable, we’ll find a way around. It’s all part of discovery and fun.
We will share the route and ride details no later than 8pm Friday, July 15 to all who RSVP before then. Anyone who registers on Saturday will receive the route and information by 5pm Saturday. We’ll share it as soon as we can, but we’re spending Saturday in Vermont doing the Guilford Gravel Grinder so won’t be at email until that event has wrapped up.
Be sure you’ve got the route loaded on a GPS device and bring at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and/or phone during the day.
Pace
There is one ride leader who will be in charge of one organized group. This group will aim to average a 15 mph rolling speed. Pace will be faster on flat/open sections, slower on climbs and twistier areas. This is a solid endurance pace for many average gravel cyclists.
The HQ-led organized group is capped at 10 people, so be one of the first 10 to register to join in on this group. We’ll put together another group if we receive enough RSVPs and we’ll let you know in the detailed ride email what to expect.
The group will stop 1/2 way into the ride for an ice cream break / water fill ups & bathroom breaks at reasonable intervals. These locations will be included in the pre-ride instructions and we can add stops if riders need.
Want to ride faster than this group? Want to ride with your friends? Want to take it easier and ride slower? We give you the chance to sign up for what you want when you register at the bottom of this page.
Registration/RSVPs via the form on this page are required to participate.
Start Time
For anyone who wishes to start earlier and ride alone or those who want to ride with your friends, we’ll get you rolling out ahead or behind the organized group.
You are welcome to start with the organized group and choose to ride faster or drop off, just as long as you tell us what you want to do!
Adventure rides are meant to be enjoyed with others. We recommend getting a group of your friends together if you’d like to ride it but don’t want to join in on the group we're organizing.
Proper Bike for this Ride
28mm-40mm tires are appropriate. Feel free to use bigger tires. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. We can’t predict the conditions of the dirt sections, so assume there will be sandy sections (it’s been pretty dry lately) and loose gravel, along with potholes and other average “features” on roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. With no drafting, the requirements about fenders are a bit more relaxed now!
Weather: We will ride rain or shine. Dangerous weather (like an electrical storm) cancels the ride or postpones the start time.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.
Don’t take risks on the bike or not eat enough causing you to bonk. Drink plenty of water considering how hot it will probably be. This is very common sense for any ride.
We will not shuttle riders anywhere, it’s your responsibility to have a plan in case your bike or legs stop working.
We’ll send a very detailed email by 12pm Friday, the day before the ride, with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
What to Bring
Every rider is expected to come prepared with the route on a GPS device and battery that will last a minimum of 7 hours.
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 at the start of the ride.
Email us with anything you would like to have preferably by Wednesday 4pm so we have time to put in an order with our supplier if it’s something we don’t have in stock.
RSVP Now Here! It’s required to participate.
If you aren’t sure you’ll be able to make it, please do not RSVP. Get your plans for the day sorted, then RSVP.
It is inconsiderate to say you’re coming and not show up. We appreciate that things arise last-minute and we just ask that you send an email to connect@rideheadquarters.com if you’ve RSVP’d and can’t attend for a good last-minute reason.