Join us for a training ride! A properly functioning road bike and helmet are required for our rides. We highly recommend clipless pedals. Please join our Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Strava Club and stay connected to our cycling community!
Tuesday Weekly Meetup Ride
Tuesdays, 6:30 a.m.
April 4th to September 26, 2023
Caffe Nero,
321 Broadway
Arlington, MA 02474
Ride style: Group ride
This 90-minute ride along the Minuteman Bikeway starts and finishes at Caffe Nero. This ride focuses on developing cycling skills and confidence, with some guidance on pacelines, drafting, and performance cycling. This ride is “no drop” so no rider is left behind. Join our ride leaders after each ride for a coffee!
Medusa Brewing Company Hudson Training Ride
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Start Time: 9:00 AM pedals up!
Meetup Location: Medusa’s Downtown Beer Garden
1 Houghton St, Hudson, MA 01749
Route Details: 40 miles, 1,580 feet of elevation; 33 miles, 1,175 feet of elevation
Estimated Ride Time: 2-3 hours.
Check out the40-mile route on Strava
Check out the 33-mile route on Strava
Join the Best Buddies Challenge staff for our final training ride of 2023! On Saturday, October 21st we will be meeting at the Medusa Brewing Company Downtown Beer Garden to embark on one of two routes departing from Hudson. Riders will choose between a 40 or a 33-mile loop, both of which will head northeast towards Concord before turning south along familiar local training roads.
Our ride will take us past Walden Pond, made famous by Henry David Thoreau, with the shorter route option returning through the Assabet National Wildlife Refuge, while the longer route option dips further south to hug the northern edge of the Sudbury Reservoir before returning on the Assabet River Rail Trail. Stick around at the Beer Garden for a round on us and hear about our exciting plans for the 2024 training ride schedule, and the 2024 Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port!
Wachusett Brewing Tour
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Meet: 8:30 AM
Pedals Up: 9:00 AM
175 State Road E. Westminster, MA 01473
Route: 42.3 mi total distance with 2,199 ft elevation gain.
Ride Time 4 hours
Check out the Route on Strava
Starting from the Wachusett Brewing Company, this ride will explore the Central Highlands of Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. These lightly traveled roads afford splendid views of lakes, streams, wetlands. After an uphill opener, riders will be treated to rolling terrain and a stop at the River Walk Cafe in Winchendon before draining down the North Central Pathway, one of the newer rail trails of New England. Back on the roads, it’s a downhill run back to the Brew Yard for some cold ones.
Naukabout Brewing Ride
Saturday, September 23, 2023
9:00 AM pedals up!
Mashpee Community Park
13 Great Neck Rd N, Mashpee, MA 02649
Route details: 42 miles, 1,350 feet of elevation; 32 miles, 1,000 feet of elevation
Estimated Ride Time: 2.5-3.5 hours.
Long Route on Strava
Short Route on Strava
Join Best Buddies Challenge staff and Domestiques for a training ride with 42 and 32-mile route options departing from the Mashpee Community Park and ending across the street at Naukabout Brewery and Taproom in Mashpee, MA.
Our route takes us into Falmouth, past Falmouth Heights Beach, and along the iconic Surf Drive. Our longer route option will go past the beautiful Nobska Lighthouse, and into Woods Hole. From there, we will head north along the Shining Sea Bikeway before returning to Naukabout for food and refreshments!
Best Buddies Challenge Concord to Harvard Training Ride
Saturday, May 6, 2023
9 AM pedals up
Concord Visitors Center
58 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
Route details: 33 miles, 1,730 feet of elevation
Route map: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42022785
Estimated Ride Time: 2-3 hours
This is a slightly more challenging road ride. These roads wind upwards into the orchards and farms of the Central Highlands. The route will showcase Strawberry Hill, Nagog Hill, and Oak Hill before stopping at the Harvard General Store. After all that up, it’s a pleasant (mostly) downhill roller coaster back to Concord. Want to kick it up a notch? The faster riders may start the ride from Belmont Town Hall at 7:30 and then continue around to the Fruitlands loop in Harvard before rejoining the group. Please note: Please park along the cemetery wall on Massachusetts Avenue.
Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port Summer Training Series
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
Weekly Fitness Rides
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
June Strava Challenge
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!
NEW! Strava Challenge
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!
The Columbus Day Revolutionary Ramble
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!
The Buddy Network has a few upcoming events!
Evening of Opportunity
Thursday, December 1st
6:30- 9:00 PM | Cocktail attire
Southline
135 William T. Morrissey Blvd,
Boston, MA 02125
An Evening of Opportunity is an annual celebration highlighting the growth and success of the Best Buddies Jobs program in placing participants in integrated fulfilling roles with employers throughout Massachusetts.
Join us at Southline, a brand new event space formerly inhabited by the Boston Globe. We are thrilled to be celebrating the vast accomplishments of our over 400 Jobs participants, employers, and partners in this up-and-coming venue.
For more information about an Evening of Opportunity, click here.
Purchase TicketsTEAM AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
In 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.
Nove p/b ProThirteen Fundraiser Ride
Sunday, April 30th
Pedals up: 8:00 AM
Nove Yoga & Wellness
581 Main Street
Dennis, MA 02670
Best Buddies Challenge staff and domestiques will be supporting Jitka and Bart, the team captains of Team Nove p/b ProThirteen, as they lead participants on a fully supported group ride complete with provided nutrition, hydration, maintenance help, and sag support on beautiful Cape Cod.
After the ride bring your best buddy to experience a special class led by Jane Costello at Nove Yoga & Wellness Studio. Jane, a special education teacher of 30 years and certified instructor in yoga for special populations, will be leading the 30 minute class beginning at 11:15, following the ride. All participants are also welcome and encouraged to stay and Join us for lunch from 12-12:30, provided by Aredo Cafe and Catering.
There will be two offered routes, a 23 mile beginner option, and a 50 mile option for our more experienced, ambitious cyclists.
Join This Ride