April 1st 2022 – Sterling 100k

No fooling around: we’ll hold our traditional season opener on April Fools day this year!

Start Location:  Lincoln, MA MBTA Parking Lot (Next to Donelan’s Supermarket)
Start Time: 8:00 am
Ride Leader: Melinda Lyon
Lights: Optional
Distance: 100k (62 Miles)
Time Limit: 6 Hours 40 minutes
Controls: Sterling, MA; Harvard, MA
GPS/Cue: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38637817 (Route confirmed for 2023 – no changes from 2022)
Sanctioning: RUSA only
Registration: https://www.bikereg.com/nersterling100km Registration Closes at Noon on March 31st, 2023

Parking Note: Please park in the MBTA Lot which is free on weekends. (The numbered spots on the west side of the complex, follow the signs.). The ride will start closer to Donelan’s Supermarket and finish at the tables by the Twisted Tree Cafe in the same complex.

The Sterling 100k is one of NER’s most classic rides and in 2022 it has been updated with a new start location and a modified route!

The ride will start in Lincoln, MA at 8:00am to give riders from Boston a chance to take the train if arriving by public transportation.    Riders should park in the MBTA parking lot at the back, we’ll meet in the parking lot, while the finish will be over by the Twisted Tree Cafe. (The Supermarket opens at 7:00am and Cafe opens at 8:00am for riders who want breakfast/pre-ride last minute snack shopping.)

This 100k is a RUSA Populaire — a RUSA brevet shorter than 200k. If you’re considering riding additional brevets, then this ride will give you a feel of what’s to come. The route travels though the scenic western suburbs on a surprisingly hilly route. The ride isn’t arrowed so it’s a good chance to brush up on your cue sheet reading skills or ensure your GPS unit is working properly.

Photos from previous years

Cold start in Hanscom but a nice day for a ride nevertheless. Photo by Amitoj Sukhija.
Scenic early spring peak. Photo by Amitoj Sukhija.
Spectacle Hill Road on April 7th, 2017. (Water was about 1″ deep for the ride.) Photo by Matt Roy.
Photo by Tracey Ingle
Scene from the Boston 100k
Photo by Tracey Ingle
Photo by Tracey Ingle