New England Randonneurs

Start Time:  6:30am on Sep 6, 2025

Time Limit:  13hr30 min (Finish by 20:00)

Start:  Thorndike Field, Arlington, MA. 99 Margaret St, Arlington, MA 02474

Controls:  Wachusette Mountain, Princeton, MA; Ashburnham Wine and Liquor, Ashburnham MA; Heart Pond Mobil, Chelmsford, MA

Route confirmed by pre-riding on Labor Day, Sep 1, 2025: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52370061

Elevation Gain:  ~7500ft climbing.

Distance:  ~125 miles/201km

Lights and Reflective:  Required, in case one finish close to or at cut off (Sunset is at 7:09pm)

BikeReg: https://www.bikereg.com/ma200k2sky#Register

Did you miss going to Wachusette Mountain Visitor center during the last 2 year’s spring brevet series?  Now you have a chance to go there plus summit the mountain in a brevet late season when your training should pay off to make that seem easier.  Check out the Reach to the Sky 200km offering on Sep 6, 2025.  The outbound to Wachusette is basically the mix of the Sterling 100km from Lincoln to Lancaster, then follow the climbing sequence of Wachusette 200km to Princeton via North and East Sterling (Think Justice Hill Rd).  After Summiting Wachusette, riders will travel to Ashburnham (the designated lunch spot at 1/2 way point) via East Westminster.  Some NER riders may have visited the Ashburnham Wine and Liquor store during the very rainy spring 300km/200km this year and found tasty bagels and breakfast sandwiches as they were sheltered from the rain.  They also serve deli sandwiches and ice cream (kind of sad story is that they are kind of the only store in the town center, so they are more than just a liquor store).  Bathroom is available and water from bathroom sink is safe to drink.

After lunch, the ride should feel easier as 2/3 of the elevation gain is before lunch (~5000ft climbing before and only ~2500 ft after).  The jarring pavement condition is more of the challenge for the second half.  We try our best to pick low traffic roads with decent pavement but there is really no alternative in Fitchburg after descending the Rindge Turnpike that has a bike lane.  The section of Fisher road between Pearl Hill Rd and Marshall Rd is under constructions so the FPWD is actually doing something about it (I think the streams coming down from the side of the hills were trying to wash away the road this past spring).  You may have better luck then us pre-riders/alternative route scouter this past month.  The two sections of Fisher Rd before and after that doesn’t seem to have any active repairs, even though they also desperately need some TLC.  Please descent the half mile section of Fisher rd after Marshall Rd with extreme vigilant (mile 73.5 to 74) for potholes.  Ashburnham, Lunenburg, Townsend, and Groton generally has good pavement, while Ashby, Fitchburg, and Shirley has noticeably bad pavement.

There is a ~40 mile gap between controls after lunch (mile 62 to 103).  Route design has made an effort for riders to choose where they want to replenish water and snacks.  Dick’s vegatable farm stand (mile 75) on Northfield St has portable toilet at the back near the field and tomatoes and berries are in season, but they don’t sell any drinks.  There is the Hilltop farm market (which is actually a c-store) next to Lunenburg town hall at mile 77 (right before you turn onto 2A), along with the library (it closes at 2PM though) that can provide portable liquids.  Riders are routed onto Rt 119 near Groton Center for a block so the Haffner gas station at the turn can be used as a resupply point at mile 88.  For the Dunk’s lover, there is a Dunk inside the Haffner gas station.  If you prefer Honey Dew donuts, then you have to wait until Chelmsford control.

There are two short stretches of dirt road on this ride.  They are both located in Groton, MA.  You will encounter the first one at around mile 86 as you turn onto Fitch’s Bridge from Pepperelle Rd.  This is the only non-numbered road crossing for the Nashua river in that area.  There is about a mile of dirt road after crossing the pedestrian and bike only bridge that is flat, but watch for potholes, although there are multiple lines unlike the earlier Fisher Rd.  The second dirt segment is Rocky Hill rd after Martian Pond Rd becomes dirt at mile 92.  That is on a slight incline but the overall length of the dirt/gravel rd is short (~1/3 mile).

After stopping at the Heart Pond Mobil/Honey Dew Donuts at the penultimate control, It is pretty much a straight shot (with reasonable detour off route 2A if possible, like Virginia Rd and Mill St) back to the start via Concord and Lexington.  Hanscom drive has been repaved and restripped to include bike lanes.  Please make sure not to speed on Minuteman Rail trail for the last 2 miles of the ride.  Minuteman is a shared path and late afternoon on Saturday is a busy time for the path.

Thanks for reading my route reports.

Tsun (NER’s Club President)