Ride Information
Notable Points: Overlook on Mountain Rd in Princeton and DCR Purgatory Chasm
Start/Finish Location: Bike Parking and Picnic Area Behind Welch’s Building, 300 Baker Ave., West Concord, MA. Coordinates: (42.459134, -71.390452), See Map Below.
Start Time: 07:00
Length: 200k / 125mi
Time Limit: 13.5 Hours (20:30 is the Cutoff time)
Lights & Reflective Gear: Optional if finish before sunset at 19:35
Ride Leader: Robert Liu
Controls: Princeton, Oakham, and Sutton, MA
Sanctioning: RUSA and ACP.
Cue Sheet: See RWGPS Link Below
Online Map/GPS: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54167643 No Dirt on the ride, RWGPS used open sourced map that some road surface data are actually never updated, and the new Mass Central Rail Trail segment in Marlborough/Sudbury is paved
Registration:BikeReg
Parking Info: Parking will be available in Start/Finish. If you are driving to the start and need a place to park, please park in the complex near the train track away from the building (On the most Southern Side of the lot so we organizer can keep track of finishers/stragglers.)
The route is about 90% the same as prior year. We’ll have snacks at Oakham and again at the DCR Purgatory Chasm control. Note that the control in Princeton is changed to Mountainside Bakery and a very small detour to the Wachusett visitor center is possible if one is looking for only refilling water and restroom. Small adjustment has been implemented to go via Western part of Spencer.
Road condition generally is above average for MA standard except 3 deplorable sections at Mill St in Rochdale, Rochdale St in Oxford, and Leicster St in Auburn (Mile 68.7 to 73.5). Please exercise caution to dodge the large potholes on the road. These were unchanged or even in more deplorable condition when compared to 2023.
Route Description:
This is a challenging route, with approximately 7500 ft of ascent, with much of the climbing occurring in the first 51 miles to Wachusette then Oakham, but there are significant hills in the latter part of the ride as well.
The first leg has the most elevation gain, topping out at about 1400 feet a mile before the first control at Mt. Wachusett State Reservation. The merchant control will be at Mountainside Bakery Cafe. Slower riders are well advised not to tarry along this first and second section, as the cutoff time at Oakham is 5 hour and 28 minutes after the start. Oakham is mile 51.3. The town common itself feels like a summit on its own as one can see the tall white church building from route 148 and it just keep appearing on the right hand side of the road just up ahead. Riders will find friendly volunteer at the Gazebo and Bathroom will be available for riders who gets to Oakham between 10 to Noon inside the library across the street from the Gazebo.
After Oakham riders get a break in general for the next 33 miles on their way to Purgatory Chasm, winding through first the rural towns of Spencer and Leicester, then to the southern suburbia towns of Auburn, Millbury and Sutton in Worcester County, before arriving at Purgatory Chasm. The volunteer staffed control will be at the pavilion next to the chasm entrance.
The final leg from Purgatory Chasm to West Concord is the longest at about 40 miles. Big climbs are done, but there are a few hills sprinkled about here and there, particularly first visiting the top of the hill town common of Northbridge and Shining Rock Golf Course developments. Riders will be on a lot of side roads through Northbridge, Upton, Westborough, Hopkinton, Southborough, Marlborough and finally finish the ride with last 10 miles or so on the Mass Central Rail Trail and Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to go back to West Concord.
The Oakham and Sutton controls will be staffed with NER volunteers and light snacks. Mountainside Bakery and Cafe is a worthy stop if one has time in the bank after climbing up to Wachusett. Water fountains and restrooms are available at both DCR properties. There are other services along the route if needed but services are particularly hard to come by before Spencer at mile 60ish.
Pictures & Ride Reports:
Jesse Morrow’s 2017 Ride Report
2016 and Prior Route Ride Pictures:
Photo by Sara Huston
Photo by Sara Huston
Photo by Henry van den Broek
Photo by Henry van den Broek
Photo by Henry van den Broek
Photo by Henry van den Broek
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