Join Ride Headquarters for beautiful and fun cycling on the back roads of Rhode Island! This ride is full of dirt roads, with nice paved roads as well. Most of the route is back roads, away from traffic and people. Keep reading to understand the logistics. This ride begins in Voluntown, Connecticut, just over the border from Rhode Island. Most of the ride is in Rhode Island, but this is an especially nice place to park. It only adds another 10-15ish minutes to get to Voluntown, RI from the Boston area and is closer to those of you who are coming from CT & western MA!
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: Remote paved and dirt roads
Time & Date: Saturday, July 9 - 7:30- 8:30am Rollout
Starting Point: Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown, CT
Distance: 65 miles / 105 km
Price: Free
What you get
A gorgeous, well-planned route. You’ll receive a route file for your Garmin, parking directions and instructions.
Staffed starting location with portable toilets, bike tools if needed, air, water to top off at the start
Peace of mind knowing there are other riders on the same route
Nice place to end the ride, bring a picnic lunch and camp chair for enjoyable time to spend post-ride
We are not providing food or water on the ride, be sure to bring these with you. The route does include water/food via Dunkin Doughnuts & ice cream stand, be sure to bring money with you
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
Distance: 65 miles
Miles of dirt: ~40% of the miles are on dirt roads.
Approximately 4,300 feet of total ascent.
We will share the route and ride details no later than 12pm Friday, July 8 to all who RSVP before then.
The route has not been vetted this year so there’s a chance a road is closed or a trail is closed or conditions have changed since we vetted it last summer. This route is not that likely to present big navigation challenges given its location and the roads/trails we’re taking.
Pace & Ride Options - It’s a Ride for Most Everyone to Enjoy!
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. Do not plan on having cell service since there are spots with weak to no service.
There is one ride leader who will be in charge of the organized group. This group will aim to average 13-14 mph rolling speed - this is a solid endurance pace for many average gravel cyclists. The group will stop 1/2 way into the ride for an ice cream break / water fill up at a leisurely pace.
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.
You may begin your ride before the organized group departs. This way, if you have a mechanical or anything, you’ll have riders coming up from behind so you won’t be alone for long.
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 of the organized group. Slower riders will get to start earlier (closer to 7:30am) with faster riders starting a bit after this and the organized group will begin at 8:30am. This way, we overlap as much as possible with each other offering people the chance to see others and if anyone needs a hand with a mechanical, others will be coming up from behind.
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!
Proper Bike for this Ride
28mm-40mm tires are appropriate. Feel free to use bigger tires. Narrower than 28mm are strongly discouraged. There is some loose gravel on the roads. Narrower tires are more likely to pinch flat and are less stable than 28mm or bigger. Mountain and fat bikes are more than welcome! Bring what you want to ride and recognize the speed differences of various tires on various terrain.
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. by 12pm the day before the ride.
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.
Timing Math: If you average 12.5mph, your total rolling time will be just over 5 hours. Add in a stop for food and a nature break or two and you’re quickly at 6 hours. Some will ride faster, others not as fast.
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 don’t RSVP. Get your plans 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.