Northeast - Who's riding the windy Cape Cod Rail Trail Sunday?

The weather looks pleasant if you don't mind the wind potential:

Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

The weather looks pleasant if you don't mind the wind potential:

Sunday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

I wish I was .... I don't open up the summer house until the end of April. Have a great ride!

Scott

is there a website where i can find more info on the cape trail? i wanna check it out once it warms up but don't know much about it

nvm...google is a hell of a drug

I did some searching real quick and I will post the links I think may be helpful. The sad thing is, what's out there is pretty disappointing. Here are the basics.

Main parking lot is in South Dennis.
Cross the canal, take route 6 to exit 9B take a right on 134 and go about 3/10s mile.
Big parking lot will be on your left, yes there is a sign.
Plenty of services right around there with bathrooms and food and gas and snacks, etc.
There are 2 branches - 1 to Welfleet and 2 to Chatham.
The trip to Wellfleet is best leg because it was recently completely renovated.
You'll find it flat and fast. Watch for children mid day when it is warm.
There are a ton of bike shops along the trail.
There seems to be some dispute as to the actual length from S. Dennis to trail end in Wellfleet but you can easily get in 25 miles each way. If you continue on local ocean side roads to can get a decent 60 mile round trip.
If you sepnd any time in Wellfleet then you can make a nice day of it. There are plenty of freshwater swimming holes to explore.
The endpoint is Marconi Beach (ocean) and they have changing rooms and showers. This is best in the warm summer.
There are many parking lots along the way so one can start in places other than South Dennis.
Yes, it can be a long drive but it is worth it!

OK let's see what I got for links ...

http://www.yelp.com/map/cape-cod-rail-trail-south-dennis

http://www.cctrails.org/bike.htm

http://www.traillink.com/ViewTrail.aspx?AcctID=6015955

http://www.trailsfromrails.com/cape_cod_trail.htm

http://www.capecodbiketrails.com/Directions%20pages/Cape%20Cod%20Rail%20Trail%20%20Directions.htm



http://www.dennischamber.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=34&page=1

Had a great time and was glad to clock a solid 50 miles. End in South Wellfleet on Route 6 and had my lunch. FYI: That general store closes at 12:Noon on Sundays. The ride was good also because I was able to determine for sure that my new drops on my hybrid require a stem extender because the stem was made for the straight bar and just not high enough to get the drops where they should be.

I saw 1 dead seal (and smelled) from one of the march overpasses.

I saw 1 dead seal (and smelled) from one of the march overpasses.

maybe it was an easter seal- I hear they rise again.;)

cute buzzman - if it was an Easter Seal it was from last Easter ...

I've had great fun on the Cape Cod Rail Trails the past two summers when I've vacationed there. I look forward to returning this summer.

One morning last year I rode back and forth the length of the Canal trail (about 16 miles round trip). Returned to the B&B Inn in Sandwich, and had lunch with my wife. Then I drove out to Dennis and rode the Rail Trail, round trip in the afternoon. It was the first time I had ridden more then 50 miles in a day since I was in my 20s (a long time ago). Along the way I helped a teen repair a bent link in his chain.

It was a great day!

Wow, that's quite the day! I've toyed with the idea of doing the whole thing twice in one day for my own custom century ride. Maybe this summer when I am in peak form.

I've had great fun on the Cape Cod Rail Trails the past two summers when I've vacationed there. I look forward to returning this summer.

One morning last year I rode back and forth the length of the Canal trail (about 16 miles round trip). Returned to the B&B Inn in Sandwich, and had lunch with my wife. Then I drove out to Dennis and rode the Rail Trail, round trip in the afternoon. It was the first time I had ridden more then 50 miles in a day since I was in my 20s (a long time ago). Along the way I helped a teen repair a bent link in his chain.

It was a great day!

PasterBob, Rumrunn, let's keep in touch about your return to the Cape this year. There's a bunch of us C&V guys who want to organize a ride on the rail trail this summer. I'm down there just about every weekend.

Cheers,


Scott

Try Martha's Vineyard for much better bike paths. More scenic, longer, smoother, but in the nice weather crowded. Nice before tourists season hits, or if you don't mind bike traffic. Well worth the trip.

I can be talked into going to the vineyard! But someone will have to help me stay away from the beer and hotdogs on the ferry!

Scott - what's a C&V guy? Also you mentioned a group ride this summer but you go every weekend. Maybe I'll post a quick ping before I head out and see what sticks. I'm liking the spring for sure. My only other distraction aside from life and children are the spring whales in Ptown. I am obsesed with them from 4/15 - 5/15. After that I'm all about biking that trail.

I can be talked into going to the vineyard! But someone will have to help me stay away from the beer and hotdogs on the ferry!

Scott - what's a C&V guy? Also you mentioned a group ride this summer but you go every weekend. Maybe I'll post a quick ping before I head out and see what sticks. I'm liking the spring for sure. My only other distraction aside from life and children are the spring whales in Ptown. I am obsesed with them from 4/15 - 5/15. After that I'm all about biking that trail.

I hang out over in the Classic and Vintage section (C&V). We're always looking for opportunities to show off our old steel. I'm heading down this weekend to pick up a Craigslist find but just a back and forth.

Keep in touch!

Scott

Well, if that's the case then I will use my old steel bike! Then maybe you guys can show me a thing or two to bring it up to speed. I've done lots to it but I think the big thing it needs is aluminum wheels and someone said to upgrade the bottom bracket too. I think then that's pretty much all that can be done to improve speed.

I can be talked into going to the vineyard! But someone will have to help me stay away from the beer and hotdogs on the ferry!

Scott - what's a C&V guy? Also you mentioned a group ride this summer but you go every weekend. Maybe I'll post a quick ping before I head out and see what sticks. I'm liking the spring for sure. My only other distraction aside from life and children are the spring whales in Ptown. I am obsesed with them from 4/15 - 5/15. After that I'm all about biking that trail.

You can park for free in Falmouth and take the nice bike path down to Woods Hole too. It adds about 4-5 miles to the ride one way. FREE parking. !!! Arrive early an leave late, there will be lots of distractions on the Vineyard. If you don't mind a few miles on a road that turns to sand, you can take the ferry over to Chappaquidick and ride over the bridge Ted Kennedy drove off of. And there is an interesting Oriental garden. The sand road is a lot of work on 27" tires and almost impossible on 700x 23 tires. Hybrid or mtb fatties are easier. But I did it once on 27 x 1 1/4. One is sliding sideways most of the time. There are 4wd jeep dune tours at the very end.

The East Bay Bike Path in Rhode Island is more scenic than the rail trail, but only 14.2 miles one way. There is no reason to stop at the end of the path though.


The Vineyard.......
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East Bay Path Rhode Island

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AAAaaahhhhh ... SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!! I can smell the salt air and feel the warm breezes and tastes the cold clams and tequila! THANK YOU for the pics!

AAAaaahhhhh ... SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!! I can smell the salt air and feel the warm breezes and tastes the cold clams and tequila! THANK YOU for the pics!

Starting in Boston going towards the Cape Cod canal there is a lot of excellent riding too. I have way 2many photos. South from Boston on 138 and a little west at the end will get you to the East Bay Path in R.I. It's 52 miles from the southern town line of Boston that way by bicycle.

Plymouth is a nice bike ride form Boston.

Tell me more about the East Bay Path in R.I. pics not required. how flat? how many road intersections? any services along the way? so a round trip would be 104 miles? is it a FAST ride? That photo makes it look narrow like I wouldn't be able to go too fast.

I've never ridden much on the Cape trails, it's still on my to-do list. I have done the path that runs along side the canal, from one bridge to another. When I rode the MS ride from Quincy to P-town we used that. Otherwise, my riding there has been on main roads.

I have ridden on Martha's Vineyard twice, the last time doing a loop around the island. Once again I pretty much stayed off the trails and used the roads.

The East bay path is flat except two hills, it was an old railroad bed. A lot of road intersections in some places and a few miles with none. On the weekend you need to go slow. If there is no bike traffic there are just a couple of places to go fast, not much. Any service you can think of is there. Bathrooms in the adjacent parks, everything, swimming etc...
104 miles from Boston round trip not including any of the bike path, just to one end. You can also drive to the path start and start on the path and do century rides on nice roads connected. I have done so many I can't remember.


Connected to the Path in R.I.

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A few more miles of another path connected to the East Bay path. Maybe 5?
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/41/hpim8487up7.jpg
a park at one end of the path connected to some other things like a boardwalk.
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6316/hpim8528kj8.jpg
the path goes over that bridge, it is connected to this by bike path
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connected at one end
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you can take a ferry to a small island and ride around the island.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7781/hpim8646withbaileyfreexd7.jpg

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bike shop five feet from the path
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The "Bailey Free" just cranks me up!!!!

Great pics!

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7781/hpim8646withbaileyfreexd7.jpg

runrun, & Scottryder, I'll let you know when I plan to go to Cape Cod this summer. Top506 is usually there for a week or two. Also the bike paths on Nantucket are nice rides as well.

re: "Bailet Free" is cute but in this economy that may not last long, huh?

BTW: This weekend's weather is looking mighty tempting ... Can't wait for some HEAT. You know - like the sensation of getting into a car that's been sitting in the sun these days.

runrun, & Scottryder, I'll let you know when I plan to go to Cape Cod this summer. Top506 is usually there for a week or two. Also the bike paths on Nantucket are nice rides as well.

They are OK, but they are like the spokes of a wheel, one needs to return to the hub to get to another path. The ferry is a lot more money than the Martha's Vineyard ferry, and the ride is longer. The paths and all the riding on Marth's Vineyard and the prices are so much better I'm not going back to Nantucket to ride.
Being stopped by the police and not allowed to ride on the cobblestones in the center of town was annoying too. I don't mean it's lousy place to ride, it's not. But it's a waste of a day if you have to pick between Nantucket and the Vineyard. If you can do both, it's OK.

Block island R.I. is a better day trip than Nantucket. Cheaper, better riding, more to do and see.

If you drop Bailey's name at the Prudence Ferry you might get a discount. :)

Nantucket..
Can't ride first photo, cobblestones-police. :(

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Trees ... seen one - seen 'm all. Don't care to shop either. For me the Vineyard is about vacationing; a house; friends; food and drink; hot sunny beach days. Sure I brought my bike on vacation to the Vineyard but I wouldn't go for the day - too much trouble ON TOP OF a long drive.

I miss it though, Lambert's Cove Beach ... Ahhhh ... last time I rented a house was 2000. Dam that's a long time ago. :cry:

Trees ... seen one - seen 'm all. Don't care to shop either. For me the Vineyard is about vacationing; a house; friends; food and drink; hot sunny beach days. Sure I brought my bike on vacation to the Vineyard but I wouldn't go for the day - too much trouble ON TOP OF a long drive.

I miss it though, Lambert's Cove Beach ... Ahhhh ... last time I rented a house was 2000. Dam that's a long time ago. :cry:

Much of the riding can be done near the water if desired, that's what I have chosen. One can include bike paths or roads on the mainland too, leading to Woods Hole. If I were in New Hampshire I would ride route 1A mostly on the water from Maine to Mass and back again. 60 miles plus, or however long you want it to be. To get to the Vineyard Ferry is a short drive for me. I would not do it if it were a long drive either. I can ride to the ferry from my house, it's only about 30-35 miles. I can get the Ferry in New Bedford Mass.

runrun, & Scottryder, I'll let you know when I plan to go to Cape Cod this summer. Top506 is usually there for a week or two. Also the bike paths on Nantucket are nice rides as well.

NLerner and I have been talking about getting him down there as well...

BTW, Top was down on the Cape last week and helped me secure a deal on a Masi ... I owe him big time!

Scott

2manybikes,

Maybe I should pick up a "BOB" trailer for my two Corgis, and the ladies of my house, could have a greet and sniff with the man of your house!

About Nantucket, we have friends who have a small house in the middle of the Island (no views and somewhat affordable). They have a bunch of bikes, but all are too small for me. Last summer I took my C-Dale over on the ferry (which you are correct is too expensive), and had so much more fun on my own bike.

I guess I rode around the edges of the cobblestones not realizing they were off limits. It was a zoo in the area you pictured, so I guess I just instinctively stayed away. I did have fun and had a couple of great rides off the paved trails out on the "Downs," or the dirt roads which lead out into the heart of the island.

2manybikes,

Maybe I should pick up a "BOB" trailer for my two Corgis, and the ladies of my house, could have a greet and sniff with the man of your house!

About Nantucket, we have friends who have a small house in the middle of the Island (no views and somewhat affordable). They have a bunch of bikes, but all are too small for me. Last summer I took my C-Dale over on the ferry (which you are correct is too expensive), and had so much more fun on my own bike.

I guess I rode around the edges of the cobblestones not realizing they were off limits. It was a zoo in the area you pictured, so I guess I just instinctively stayed away. I did have fun and had a couple of great rides off the paved trails out on the "Downs," or the dirt roads which lead out into the heart of the island.

Another Corgi owner always knows that Bailey is the man of the house, not me. :D