Join us for group rides, happy hours and other meet-ups throughout the season. NEW! If you sign up for the 2023 Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port on-site following a BBC ride, you will receive a $100 credit towards your fundraising goal!
Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Ride Leader: Richard Fries
Pedals up: 10:00 AM
Location: Ext 12 Park & Ride, Interstate 89, Sunapee NH
Route: 27 miles with 2,000 ft of gain, or 47 miles with 3,200 ft of gain
Join Best Buddies, Domestiques, and Team Marlowe for an autumn tour around Lake Sunapee. There will be two routes to choose from, 27 and 47 miles. The longer route has a few dirt sections. Pre-ride mechanical service from The Alternate Route will be available. On route SAG vehicle will offer water, snacks, and an optional transfer service.
Please note: helmets and a road bike are required for all our rides.
If you have any questions about the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, please email coach@bestbuddies.org.
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Ride Leader: Richard Fries
Pedals up: 10:30 AM
Location: Hardwick Winery 3305 Greenwich Road Hardwick, MA
Route: 28 miles with 1,900 ft of gain, or 50 miles with 3,500 ft of gain
Join Best Buddies and the Domestiques for an amazing foliage ride along the eastern side of the Quabbin Reservoir. This mostly car-free experience will include a covered bridge, a coffee stop at the Hardwick Common, and a unique visit to Dana Common, a town left empty in the 1930s by the rising waters of the Quabbin Reservoir. Pre-ride mechanical support will be available along with on-route SAG service, snacks, water, and optional transfer service. Stick around after the ride for a round on us, enjoy the beautiful Hardwick Winery, and learn more about Best Buddies and the Best Buddies Challenge.
Led by USA Cycling certified coaches and Best Buddies Challenge Domestiques, this ride is a structured 60-minute series with 3-5 laps on a 5-mile circuit that regroups regularly. Instruction and drills will improve any riders’ abilities with pedaling, pacelines, shifting, cornering, and braking.
Coaches will mix up the instruction to include intervals, threshold training, active recovery, power endurance riding, and all those metrics to measure improvement. Guest coaches and pro-cyclists will occasionally join us, too. All levels are welcome. In the event of inclement weather, the ride will move to Wednesday.
Proper road bike, helmet, shoes, and clip-in pedals are required. Questions? Email us at coach@bestbuddies.org.
Click here for full event details. Our Virtual Training Rides are open to everyone, regardless of cycling ability. Plus, automatically unlock our exclusive Best Buddies Challenge kit when you join our ride. It will be added to your garage after the ride so you can wear it anytime you Zwift! Let’s pedal together!
We’ve put together some amazing routes should you choose to ride for the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port! Please wear a helmet, observe the rules of the road, and have fun!
★ (Novice) – For riders new to cycling – welcome! We think you’ll like it here.
★★ (Beginner) – For riders that have been on a bike in the last few years and are comfortable pedaling for around an hour.
★★★ (Intermediate) – For riders that cycle regularly and are looking for something a bit more challenging than your everyday cruise.
★★★★ (Advanced) – For riders that cycle regularly and understand how to approach different terrains, changing grades, and other cycling challenges.
★★★★★ (Expert) – For the most seasoned of cyclists. Epic climbs and leg-shredding distances await. Don’t forget to smile!
1. Route: Craigville to Provincetown 110
Distance: 110.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 3,297 ft
Difficulty: ★★★★★ (Expert)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33846515
Description: This route showcases the “Outer Cape” routes. Riders will start this ride where the Best Buddies Challenge typically ends: Craigville Beach. As riders proceed east the traffic will soften. And the scenery – salt marshes, dunes, beaches, lighthouses, ginger bread houses, marinas, and the cultural kaleidoscope of Provincetown – puts this ride on every New England cyclist’s bucket list. This route also showcases the popular Cape Cod Rail Trail. Be advised, although riders never go higher than 200 feet above sea level, this sandy roller coaster will add up to nearly 3,300 feet of climbing. And with exposure to wind this “flat” route will challenge the fittest of riders.
2. Route: Plymouth, Marion Loop
Distance: 54.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2,318 ft
Difficulty: ★★★★ (Advanced)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33957175
Description: This is a classic South Shore loop that starts and ends in Plymouth at the Independent Fermentations Brewery. Traveling through Myles Standish State Forest, Best Buddies veterans will recognize the College Pond parking area that hosts a rest stop. This is also the start line for a 7.5 mile Best Buddies Strava segment loop that is woven into this longer ride. Do the loop either on the way out or the way back to tack on a few miles. To the south this route brings riders to a scenic lands end point in Marion before looping back through pine forests and cranberry bogs. Finish with a cold one at the Indy Ferm tasting room, where you might recognize the brewer-in-chief. That’s Paul Nixon, the longtime announcer at Best Buddies who greets every rider at the finish.
3. Route: Wompatuck, Cohasset Loop
Distance: 12.2 Miles
Elevation Gain: 272 ft
Difficulty: ★ – ★★ (Novice – Beginner)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33969784
Description: This is a short spin that starts and ends in Wompatuck State Park, site of Rest Stop 1 in the traditional Best Buddies Challenge ride. The ride includes a pleasant spin through the wooded bike path that brings a rider to the classic seaside town of Cohasset. The route includes the most scenic sections of Jerusalem Road, an iconic New England seaside road. Riders will also be completing a Best Buddies Strava segment on this route. While this entire route is relatively short, adding a second loop with a touch more gusto on that segment brings the total distance to about 20 miles. Those seeking more can enjoy a cool down loop in the park or hop into the nearby pump track for some fun with the kids!
1. Route: Nahant, Marblehead Loop
Distance: 23.3 Miles
Elevation Gain: 557 ft
Difficulty: ★★ – ★★★ (Beginner – Intermediate)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33942615
Description: This circuit has been a long favorite among North Shore roadies who hop out out for an evening roll. Recent improvements in the bicycle infrastructure have now afforded beginners comfortable access to these oceanside vistas all within view of the Boston skyline. Metro residents can either take the train to Lynn or ride the new Northern Strand Rail Trail to make a full day excursion. The mansions and yacht clubs of Marblehead Neck, including the fabled Carcassone on Ocean Drive, the seals off Swampscott, and the amazing Battery 206 gun emplacements on Nahant’s East Point.
2. Route: Beverly, Rockport Loop
Distance: 44.8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,669 ft
Difficulty: ★★★ (Intermediate)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33969648
Description: This route follows along the MBTA Commuter Rail route, allowing a rider to start or finish this scenic loop any where along the line. Beverly makes a great starting point. We suggest hitting the Atomic Cafe on Cabot Street before rolling north along the ocean. With no major climbs and a wide shoulder, this is a great excursion for an intermediate rider. After passing the fabled Gloucester Fisherman statue, the route turns north. Use due caution through two rotaries and then roll towards Rockport, keeping the ocean to your left. These views afford us a taste of iconic Maine seascapes such as Halibut Point and Pigeon Cove but keep us close to home. There are countless lunch stops to hit in Rockport before rolling back south.
3. Route: North Shore 3-State Century
Distance: 106.3 Miles
Elevation Gain: 3,421 ft
Difficulty: ★★★★★ (Expert)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34093763
Description: This three-state route is a glorious exploration of the Merrimack River valley, the Great Bay and reedy shores of the New Hampshire seacoast. This ride starts by rolling right off the MBTA Commuter Rail platform into downtown Newburyport via the Clipper City Rail Trail. From there the route brings us inland along the river before rolling north through the mills of Newmarket and the collegiate villages Dover and Durham. Then the route explores tidal marshes and causeways before crossing briefly into Maine and towards the Atlantic where it turns southward. While the route is dotted with cafes, creameries, general stores and clam shacks, save room for a lunch in Portsmouth or press back towards to Newburyport to make the train home.
1. Route: Lexington, Wachusett Loop
Distance: 96.9 Miles
Elevation Gain: 5,330 ft
Difficulty: ★★★★★ (Expert)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33942257
Description: This is more of graduation ceremony than a training ride. The profile can appear modest but note the numbers on the left hand side of that graph. At just under 100 miles, this mile-high ride requires one to summit Wachusett Mountain, which lords over the Central Massachusetts highlands. The climbs to the base of the mountain road prove more challenging than the mountain itself. Along the way, however, are classic town centers, orchards, cemeteries and countless historic markers. The redemption, however, is in the return. One gets to descend the mountain like a falcon and take Mountain Road to Princeton Center, from where one can see the Boston skyline on a clear day. This joyful view is not just awesome; it’s inviting. For the rider gets to pedal almost entirely downhill back to Lexington. And the prevailing northwest winds aid a cyclist that much more. Finish this ride and one has stamped a passport for entry into the ranks of a seasoned New England cyclist.
2. Route: Harvard, West Boylston Loop
Distance: 35.9 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1,737 ft
Difficulty: ★★★ – ★★★★ (Intermediate – Advanced)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33942089
Description: This route starts and finishes at the Harvard General Store, long a favorite stop for cyclists willing to make the 500 foot climb out of the Boston Basin. But this route takes a rider through the orchards and vineyards of the Central Massachusetts highlands and around the Wachusett Reservoir. After circling back towards the north, riders can follow a path along the western shore of the reservoir, through a railroad cut, over the spillway and down to the base of the Wachusett Dam, which has gathered the waters of the Nashua River for Metro Boston consumption since 1905. Thereafter the route grinds north and back to Harvard for this challenging loop.
3. Route: Concord, Carlisle Loop
Distance: 13.5 Miles
Elevation Gain: 523 ft
Difficulty: ★★ (Beginner)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33942128
Description: There may not be a more heavily ridden set of roads in all of New England. These loops were established more than a century ago but became fabled training hills for the likes of John Allis. The meeting spot at Haute Coffee, hidden in an alley of Concord Center, provides an almost clandestine membership to the elite ranks who plan weekday training trysts. From there it is up and over Strawberry Hill and then to stiffer challenge of Cross Street. But the delight of short loop is the Bingham Street descent, with its sweeping left turn that befuddles all but the best riders. Return to Concord along Lowell Road but consider a second lap over Strawberry to set your time on the Best Buddies Strava segment. Or set off for other wonderful explorations to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Walden Pond or the Old North Bridge.
South Shore Saturdays
Saturdays, starting July 17th to September 25th
Pedals up at 9:00 AM
Independent Fermentation
127 Camelot Drive, Plymouth, MA, 02360
Distance: 35 miles
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36709811
This is a no-drop, show-and-go ride led by experienced Best Buddies Domestiques with decades of cycling experience. Routes may vary slightly depending on the ride leader, conditions, and the will of the group. These are safe and fun routes through the cranberry bogs and rolling roads of the South Shore. (Note: there are no restrooms at the start but the brewery will be open for post ride amenities).
Sundays in Concord
Sundays, starting July 18th to September 26th
Pedals up at 9:00 AM
Caffe Nero
55 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742
Distance: 30 miles
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36681997
This is a no-drop ride led by experienced Best Buddies Domestiques with decades of cycling experience. Routes may vary slightly depending on the ride leader, conditions, and the will of the group. These are safe and fun routes through the orchards and farmlands of Middlesex County. The route will include a stretch along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. There are restrooms at the Concord Visitors Center.
Tuesday Fitness Rides
Tuesdays, starting July 13th to September 21st
Pedals up at 6:00 PM
Shannon Beach Parking Lot, Mystic Lakes State Park
Mystic River Path, Winchester, MA 01890
Distance: 5-mile loop
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35085692
These are structured fitness rides held on a five-mile circuit around the Mystic Lakes. Riders may join at any point during the ride which will be between 3 and 5 laps with a dedicated ride leader structuring each lap to suit the goals and objectives of each rider.
Updated ride regulations: Per the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the mask order is rescinded for fully vaccinated individuals. In general, people are considered fully vaccinated: ±
2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine
Practice riding in a group, hone your bike handling skills, and improve your fitness. Each ride will follow a short loop course and the group will complete as many laps of each route as sunlight allows. Each lap will take the group between 10 – 15 minutes to complete and will be followed by a regroup and restart. Riders may join late or depart early. All rides are limited to 25 people and masks are required.
Tuesdays Fitness Rides
Time: Pedals Up @ 6:00 p.m.
Address: Shannon Beach, Mystic Lakes State Park
Mystic River Path, Winchester, MA 01890
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35085692
Record 20 cycling activities this month for the chance to win BBC swag! Best Buddies Challenge Strava Club members that complete the Challenge will be automatically entered into a drawing at the end of the month. Two winners will be selected at random and will receive Best Buddies Challenge swag.
Here’s how to enter:
1. Follow @bestbuddieschallenge on Instagram and join our Strava club here.
2. Record 20 cycling activities in June.
3. Comment “Done” on our June Strava Challenge Instagram post once you’ve done 20 activities, both indoor and outdoor count!
That’s it! Two winners will be selected at random and announced at the end of the month.
Don’t forget to tag us in any social media posts and stories you create while you’re getting active and use hashtag #bestbuddieschallenge. We’ll repost our favorites!
The Fine Print: Winners must be following the Best Buddies Challenge on Instagram and Strava to be eligible win. Activity totals will be recorded at the end of each week to verify eligibility. You must be a member of the BBC Strava Club in order for activities to count towards the month’s total. Not a member? Join today!
We’re kicking off February with a new monthly Challenge on Strava. Record 10 activities this month for the chance to win BBC swag! All activity types count so get active your way. Best Buddies Challenge Strava Club members that complete the Challenge will be automatically entered into a drawing at the end of the month. Two winners will be selected at random and will receive a Best Buddies x BMC water bottle.
Don’t forget to tag us in any social media posts and stories you create while you’re getting active and use hashtag #bestbuddieschallenge. We’ll repost our favorites!
The Fine Print: Activity totals will be counted at the end of each week. You must be a member of the Best Buddies Challenge Strava Club in order to participate. Not a member? Join today!
Monday, October 14th
10:00 AM arrive
Alewife MBTA Station, Cambridge, MA
This family-friendly historic tour of Arlington, Lexington, Bedford and Concord takes you on multi-use paths. There will be plenty of stops for coffee, snacks, photos, historic markers, natural beauty, visitor centers, and rapturous fall foliage. This is the perfect ride to invite a beginner to join you! We will meet at the corner of the Alewife Station Access Road.
Total distance is 31 miles. Travel time is four hours. The ride is free to attend, but plan to purchase refreshments along the way!
Walk for change with us in Boston this October! Join 40,000 walkers across the country to support the Best Buddies programs in your schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time.
RegisterIn addition to events organized by Best Buddies Challenge staff, many of our event’s teams organize their own events that are open to the public. If you are a Team Captain and would like to have your event listed below, please contact Coach@bestbuddies.org.
Women’s Mechanics Clinics at Wheelworks
480 Trapelo Rd
Belmont, MA
Wheelworks is holding Women’s Mechanics Clinics starting next week lead by esteemed mechanic Taryn Askew. Please visit Wheelworks for more information and to sign up!
Join This Ride
