New England Randonneurs

After the candy has been safely distributed, NER plans to close out 2025 with one last ride and a members meeting / Party. More information here. The route is rolling 83 miles leaving from just north of Medford Square. With 3800′ of climbing it will keep you warm. This is a free event but a current RUSA Membership is required. If you aren’t a RUSA member, joining now will keep your membership active for all 2026.

The Members Meeting is at 3pm. These are short open forums for members to discuss any topic of their choosing. Normally we just continue chatting about the past season and rides scheduled for 2026.

We have three upcoming events for the mountain goats among you: this weekend’s 300k in Northern Vermont, the brand-new Emmets & Newts 8k600k, and September’s Reach For The Sky 200k from Cambridge out to Mount Wachusett.

First up, the VT Rail Trails and Jay Peak 300k updates the Northeast Kingdom 300k with some newly opened rail trails and a new start location. Starting in Morrisville, and about 2/5 dirt, this updated route is a little less hilly than the original, but just as pretty. The ride will run with extra time alloted due to the dirt component, and has about 11500 feet of climbing, for a challenging but fun day on the bike.

Following that up, the Emmets & Newts 8k600k offers a fairly new ACP event type: a 600k with 8000 meters of climbing. Roger has designed a route that offers gorgeous NH and VT mountain vistas, a little dirt here and there, some of the same lovely new rail trails as on the 300k, a fully supported hotel overnight control, and a new challenge to succeed at. (It’s also part of the new version of the ACP 10000 award, for those chasing that particular trinket.)

Finally, the Reach for the Sky 200k offers a classic challenge, brevet-style: ride out from the Boston area to Mount Wachusett, climb it, and ride back. The route has been adapted from the Reach for the Sky permanent as well as incorporating some of the Redemption Rock perm and some other NER favorite roads, and will leave from Thorndike Park near Alewife station. (Registration and details aren’t quite up yet, but will be soon!)

Hey NERds,

June we are featuring 3 events (there are 4 different “rides” total) that for the regulars we all know and love; Registration for all 4 rides are up on BikeReg.

6/7/2025:  Portland DayTrip (400km) and Portland Express (200km).  Start time for both ride will be at 4:30am instead of 4am at Woburn HIE.  Very minor detour of the route from last year.  Ride page will have more detail.  Ride organizer (Tsun) is looking for 1 or 2 additional help at the Woburn finish (or simply supportive spouse to wait for their rider).  Please thank Rob G for providing a staff control at Wells this year and please also thank Christian R for opening their home and be the gracious host at the turn around point/Portland Finish for the 200km whenever you see him.

6/14/2025:  MidCoast Maine 300km.  5AM start at Sewall St Portland ME.  NER’s “easiest” 300km that is being offered this year.  Strava or Garmin climbing do egregiously estimate more climbing than actual due to all the bridges we crossed on this route.  If you don’t come for “easier” climbing, at least come for the company and the Pemaquid light house rest stop.  We are going to reuse the entire route so we will make eBrevet app use available for this ride but please stop further into the Pemaquid light house to look for your lunch and check in at the end of the ride at the hotel (we are likely to be outside if the weather is nice and in the lobby if the weather is lousy…).  For the Mainer here who may be available to help as volunteer, either contact the ride leader Mike A directly if you know him or via board@ner.bike.

6/28 to 29/2025:  White Mountain 600km.  4AM start again at Woburn HIE and we will more or less use the same route.  E-Brevet app will be an option as the EPP.  Challenging yet scenic 600km ride involve climbing the Kagamancus Hwy (hopefully before sunset).  Overnight at the Westbrook Community center.  Expect to be fueled by NER volunteers at the overnight and ride on the remaining ~200km with stride (and much more forgiving terrain).  As above, please contact board@ner.bike (which ride organizer Jacob will get a message) if you would like to volunteer.

Please note that the starting/finishing hotels are not associated with the ride other than we are having/had grace with them in prior years.  Hotel cost doesn’t look terribly bad this year (in comparison to previous years) but room sharing/car pooling are highly encouraged.  For all 3 rides (sans the one way 200km) if riders bring their own towels, you can expect to have shower access immediately after the ride at Tsun’s hotel room.

Hope our mind and body meet somewhere in Maine (or adjacent) in June.

Tsun and NER board