Early Spring Events
April 1st — No joke, it’s the date of our annual 100k to Sterling, MA. The route was updated in 2022 and will be used again in 2023. This hilly RUSA populaire starts and ends from the Lincoln, MA MBTA station complete with a supermarket and cafe for after-ride snacks. Like all NER events, it’s held rain or shine and we’ve had years with plenty of both. It’s a nice way to start the season.
April 22nd — NER’s second ACP 200k of the year and the first leaving from Concord, Massachusetts. The route is expected to be the same save a slight shift in the location of the DCR Purgatory Chasm control. It’s a quiet and hilly route to the base of Mt. Wachusett, through the central town of Oakham, and south to Sutton, MA. Controls are fully supported (pending volunteer availability) which is helpful as riders pass few stores along this back-road route.
Regarding to volunteer, please contact ride leader Tsun Au Yeung if you would like to be an event day volunteer for the ride to staff 1 of the control.
May 13th — NER ACP Sanctioned 300k & 200k. All new routes for 2023! The 300k makes a clockwise route to Rutland, Hardwick, Ware, Amherst, Northfield, Ashmburnham, Ayer, and back to Concord. It’s a 190 loop around the Quabbin. Intermediate controls are spaced at exactly 30 mile intervals. The 200k is a counter-clockwise route past the famous Tweedo’s before making a shortcut through Athol and tasty lunch at the Petersham General store. More info coming soon.
May 19th Team Event Weekend! – These is the only Fleche and Trace offered in New England. Riders form small groups and design their own unique route starting from anywhere and finishing in Medford, MA. We’ll have a big pancake brunch at Jake & Emily’s house on Sunday, May 21st. For many riders this is their cycling highlight of the year. You get to ride with friends for 24 hours continuously (Fleche) on a route selected by the group. We’ve had teams start outside NYC, in Canada, and Provincetown. Or teams can start closer to the finish and ride a large loop.
Tip: You can automatically sync your calendar to NER’s schedule of events and know instantly when a new one is added. Just copy the following URL into your calendar’s “URL Subscribe” feature: https://rusa.jkassen.org/cal/MABoston
If you want even more riding, consider RUSA’s Permanent program. This is a library of thousands of randonneuring routes nationwide including several dozen in New England. Riders get RUSA distance “credit” for completing these routes and they can be ridden at any time. There’s a new search tool to help riders find routes close to their home. The tool is also useful for finding brevets offered by other RUSA regions.