Northeast - Martha's Vineyard - doing the whole island in one day

Anyone ever hit all three corners of the vineyard in one day? How many miles can I rack up. I seem to remember the road (read shoulder) quality being pretty good.

My wife and I did Oaks Bluff to Edgartown in 2006. It was only about 15 miles round trip, but with stops at the beaches, stops to chat with other riders, a stop for lunch in Edgartown, and a ride to the Edgartown Lighthouse, it was an afternoon's worth of tourism.

I'm told the piece we rode is the nicest.

I think you can definitely do it. Well, if you mean make a big circle, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Gay Head, Menemsha, Vineyard Haven,Oak Bluffs. We did that last year and still made a ferry before 5 in OB. If you want to linger you can definitely make a later ferry and even add in Katama. I like to stop in the Offshore Ale Company for a beer before the ferry, I feel I deserve a few cold ones after that ride!

ETA the roads are all pretty good there and traffic is minimal. I will try to find my log from last year when we did Gay Head and Menemsha for a mileage check. Normally we don't do both spots, it's one or the other.

ETA I checked my log from last year and the note said 55 miles Gay Head.

I'm thinking of doing this on Thursday...been wanting to ride 40 miles for my 40th birthday and this is just about the right length. plus, with coupon I can get the ferry for $15 round trip by leaving my car in Woods Hole. here's the proposed route:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/79505

Just be sure to take in as much of the waterside as possible! Your map seems to include a lot of inland riding. The best part of our ride was along the beach.

Just be sure to take in as much of the waterside as possible! Your map seems to include a lot of inland riding. The best part of our ride was along the beach.

good point - so, N road instead of middle road? makes sense. nto sure how to improve on Edgartown road, though - nothing runs along the southern coast given all the inlets.

>>>so, N road instead of middle road?<<<<

I'm not the best person to ask about specific roads, as I only did this once and I threw away my cue sheet after discovering that there was a much more scenic route to follow once I got there. As a general rule, when I ride an island that's got roads running along the north, east, south, or west coast, I will avoid like hell any road called "Middle!"

you won't see the water from north rd or middle road

only if a road runs along the coast will you see the water. most of the unique beauty of the vineyard is not the beaches - and most of the beaches are private

you'll see the water when you get down to Chilmark and Gay head. lock your bike at gay head and walk down to the clay cliffs and swim naked. its public and you can rub clay all over your body, bake till it dries then wash it off in the surf. this is the island's nude beach. but you have to go down the long trail to the left of the cliffs then walk all the way down to thr right on the beach to the cliffs

there's a restaurant by the lighthouse where you can eat and maybe buy water, plus indian souveniers - great native american flute music CDs

ok so it seems like the vineyard haven - edgartown loop is the only "scenic" one.

can believe what you're saying because the Cape Cod Rail Trail was a real letdown - much less scenic than the Providence-Bristol rail trail.

we're not on the same page
you don't need water for scenery, in my opinion
for example middle road has a great field with a stone wall; bulls and round hay bails
chilmark has rolling fields; a pond; sheep and a view of the ocean
laberts cove road has no water visible at all except lamberts cove beach is the best beach on the island
these are secrets of the vineyard that one only finds by exploring
another is long point where the great pond meets the ocean, go there at high tide and be swept away when the great pond flushes with salt water
walk out to cape poge and watch giant dead whales float by
I've got hundreds of these gems :)

furthermore :) the CCRT may be pleasant but I know where to go OFF the trail for the great secret places in Wellfleet ... like white crest beach; the beachcomber and great island.

race point to some is the tip of the cape but to the locals from april 15 to may 15 is where the humpback and right whales sleep next to the beach and you can hear them breath; they also breach and do other things within a couple hundred yards of the beach. its a 2 mile walk from the bike trail and there are no signs for it :)

ok so I think I found what I want: 40 miles mostly coastal on MV; http://ridewithgps.com/routes/79778

the chappy ferry is quaint and so is that part of edgartown, but most of Chappaquiddick is crappy roads; dirt roads and jeep trails. plus you can't ride a bike on the beach all the way to the end of cape poge. just remove the route beyond Edgartown.

vineyard haven and oak bluffs are the cutest towns with services and shops. state beach is public and clean. the bike trail along state beach is very pretty and goes past the inlet where they some of JAWS :) see the movie before you go!

In all fairness to Martha, we biked the shoreline route I touted above in the heat of summer, so we really NEEDED to be by the water for as much of the ride as possible. Perhaps Rumrunn6 is right and you DON'T have to find an all shoreline route to enjoy the Vineyard. (That's why this group is so awesome!)

yes, definitely an awesome group!

so the satellite view appears to show a paved road from the ferry all the way to the infamous bridge. If I stay on that I'd bet I'd be OK. I'm guess the side roads are the dirt trails rumrunn6 mentions.

I'll definitely explore the west side of the island and its many surprises :-)

You can do that, but there are so many interesting things to see, it seems like a waste to not stop and look around once in a while. I do it once or twice a year. The main road on Chappaquidic is often just loose sand. Tough to do on a road bike. Don't miss the "Campground" gingerbread houses.

>>>>Don't miss the "Campground" gingerbread houses.<<<<

Are those the ones right near the ferry in Oak Bluffs? Definitely cool to see. And if you are on that road, you will be riding along the beach.

i have spent a great deal of time biking around the island (my parents live there now)...I think your first route with some modifications would be the best...

out of Vineyard Haven, go out Main Street to West Chop and back in Franklin...a short detour, but very pretty views of the cape and sound and West Chop light...plus a charming tennis community out there

head out towards Menemsha and stay on State Road all the way into Menemsha...(only do this if the bike ferry is working -- not sure if it is) or you can ride dow nand back out...Menemsha is really quaint fishing village...then head up to Gay HEad/Aquinnah and proceed though Chilmark

around your mile 35 (Meethinghouse Road -- caution...I think this is 100% paved, but may not be???) turn right and head out to South Beach and then head back to Edgartown via Katama road into Edgartown and then you can decide if you want to go onto Chappy (I say no, but if you feel the need to cover it all, do a 30 minute jaunt)..

then finish up along Edgartown/Oak Bluffs road and then back to VH

a favorite memory is the dappled light on the inland roads in mid to late June. it's like no other

be sure to use strobes cuz the deep shade can make you invisible on sunny days

>>>>Don't miss the "Campground" gingerbread houses.<<<<

Are those the ones right near the ferry in Oak Bluffs? Definitely cool to see. And if you are on that road, you will be riding along the beach.
Close to the ferry, Walking distance.

i have spent a great deal of time biking around the island (my parents live there now)...I think your first route with some modifications would be the best...

out of Vineyard Haven, go out Main Street to West Chop and back in Franklin...a short detour, but very pretty views of the cape and sound and West Chop light...plus a charming tennis community out there

head out towards Menemsha and stay on State Road all the way into Menemsha...(only do this if the bike ferry is working -- not sure if it is) or you can ride dow nand back out...Menemsha is really quaint fishing village...then head up to Gay HEad/Aquinnah and proceed though Chilmark

around your mile 35 (Meethinghouse Road -- caution...I think this is 100% paved, but may not be???) turn right and head out to South Beach and then head back to Edgartown via Katama road into Edgartown and then you can decide if you want to go onto Chappy (I say no, but if you feel the need to cover it all, do a 30 minute jaunt)..

then finish up along Edgartown/Oak Bluffs road and then back to VH

that's extraordinarily helpful, thanks!! I re-mapped the route according to your directions, stretching it to a metric century.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80454
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80454/full.gif

a couple of questions if you don't mind:

* why skip Chappy? ferry problems, or is the road too sandy? I'll admit to curiosity of seeing the infamous bridge, and it does look like there's a paved road to it

* I left out the Menemsha ferry as it appears closed until June, though that looks fun!

* I've read elsewhere that the "up island" route is tricky / narrow / sandy. I wouldn't consider myself a master cyclist - I just started six months ago though I've done 1,000 miles in that time. should I skip that segment? (about 22 miles if you just go east at W. Tisbury)

that's extraordinarily helpful, thanks!! I re-mapped the route according to your directions, stretching it to a metric century.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80454
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/80454/full.gif

a couple of questions if you don't mind:

* why skip Chappy? ferry problems, or is the road too sandy? I'll admit to curiosity of seeing the infamous bridge, and it does look like there's a paved road to it

* I left out the Menemsha ferry as it appears closed until June, though that looks fun!

* I've read elsewhere that the "up island" route is tricky / narrow / sandy. I wouldn't consider myself a master cyclist - I just started six months ago though I've done 1,000 miles in that time. should I skip that segment? (about 22 miles if you just go east at W. Tisbury)

If you are up for it, do the Chappy ferry and bike out to Dykes Bridge (It's been a while since I was out there, so I can;t comment on the road) -- chappy isn't all that scenic, but it makes sense to do it all so go for it! it is flat so wont tax you too much

you will be fine if you have done 1000 miles in the past 6 months...smallish hills out Gay Head/Acquinah way...you will be fine, the drivers are pretty used to having bikes around..the hills are short and not that bad...

sounds like you have a great day planned, look forward to reading the ride report on here!

I have not gone out to chappy for a couple of years either. If my memory is right the road turns to sand a long way from the bridge. In places it is loose sand. It's a lot of work on mountain bike. On a road bike one needs to constantly correct as the front wheel wants to wash out in the sand. Unless you're an experienced dirt rider I would not take a road bike all the way to the bridge. There is a nice public oriental garden on the way. If you don't mind the work or don't mind almost sliding out the front wheel almost all the time, try chappy.

I did it on 27x1 1/4 105 psi road tires, I have decades of dirt motorcycle and mtb racing experience, I fell over once at slow speed. It's a lot of work keeping upright on a road bike. On a hybrid if you lower the tire pressure and you're careful it's do able. But still a lot of work correcting the front wheel all the time. Did you ever try to ride a road bike on beach sand?

I would suggest going back another time with an MTB and try 25 psi in the tires. If you have the time, you can walk a road bike in the soft places.

Edit I'll see if I can find photos of Chappy. Do you want a couple of biking photos posted from M.V.? The path/ road along the water between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs is probably the most scenic place I have ever ridden a bike.

What the heck, I'm stuck here for another hour............

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8702/72109100.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/4721/72109103.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/338/72109029.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/8138/72109010.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8531/hpim5337ic7.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2539/hpim5319ew7.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2350/hpim2157gr0.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/5469/hpim5269eh5.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7901/hpim2147wz5.jpg

I provide several Cape Cod and Marthas Vineyard cycling routes at http://www.bikenewengland.com/cape_cod.html

mtalinm ~ I like your new route. enjoy

I have not gone out to chappy for a couple of years either. If my memory is right the road turns to sand a long way from the bridge. In places it is loose sand. It's a lot of work on mountain bike. On a road bike one needs to constantly correct as the front wheel wants to wash out in the sand. Unless you're an experienced dirt rider I would not take a road bike all the way to the bridge. There is a nice public oriental garden on the way. If you don't mind the work or don't mind almost sliding out the front wheel almost all the time, try chappy.
.

thanks, you've cured me of wanting to try it. I have enough trouble washing out in a tiny bit of sand, so I'll spare myself the certain embarrassment!

thanks, you've cured me of wanting to try it. I have enough trouble washing out in a tiny bit of sand, so I'll spare myself the certain embarrassment!

I went to the bike shop Saturday and asked if everyone else remembered what I did about the road. Everyone agrees that there is about one mile to a mile and a half of dirt and sand before getting to the bridge. Enjoy your ride.

We went to MV the summer of 2008. Biked to the infamous bridge - I was on a road bike with 25C tires and my husband and son were on a tandem with slightly bigger tires - maybe 32? It wasn't a picnic but we did it without nary a problem (that usually implies I *****ed a bit but got there and back without killing each other...).

2ManyBikes: Thanks for the photos. The day my wife and I rode the Vineyard, it was so hot that stopping to take photos was a miserable proposition. You seem to have taken the same route we did, so now we have some good pics for our memory collection!

What the heck, I'm stuck here for another hour............

Nice photos; they really capture a day cycling on MV, though I too enjoy the inland roads. I was always bemused by a bikepath along such nice roads. :thumb:

We have friends in Oak Bluffs, so I've spent most of my time there. It's nice to have a bicycle when you have to park a few miles from the ferry in Wood's Hole, and can ride the nice bikepath from the parking lot to the ferry, and the reverse. I cycled to Woods Hole once from Boston and Rte 28 was a pretty good route.

nuts, looks like thundershowers. may be another week before I get to try MV...

you were gonna try this weekend? I've got a HS reunion in NY and we're supposed to pitch tents on a friends property. I think I'm gonna be using a motel room instead! you know the weekends are so nuts on the cape and islands, especially with the ferry and all - I would suggest - if you can - to take a few weekdays of fair weather to do your ride.

all-all - going in the late spring is better than mid summer though - that's for sure!

point taken but that's the only day I can get friends to go with me ... come to think of it, though, I have a friend who's not working this summer, so maybe he'd tag along on a weekday (i have flexible academic schedule)

you're makign me think it may be a GOOD idea to go on a day when t-storms are forecasted - might keep some of the folks away

if they are scattered t-storms, but you'd be so much happier in good weather - also - less clothing to carry (and wear)

made it to MV today despite the weather. in fact, I'm thrilled we went, because the rain scared off all the cyclists and we had the bike paths pretty much to ourselves!

it was raining a bit when we left home at 7:30, and by the time we got to Cape Cod it was buckets/thunder/lightning. I could barely see where I was driving and felt like an idiot with two bikes on the back of my car. we almost turned around and came home but plunged ahead. the Bike Bus driver asked us "what possessed you to bring your bikes today?" :roflmao2:

then, miraculously, the clouds parted when we got on the ferry, and it was perfect thereafter: warm enough for short sleeves, but not so hot/sunny that you sweat profusely and need a Camelbak.

we got in 31m on the island (and finished off "40 for my 40th" back on the cape) (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35803056). we didn't have time to do the extra 20 miles to see the cliffs, but we did manage to take in South Beach - see pic below - and of course Beach/Seaview Dr from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs. I had enough trouble with the sand on State Road that we didn't even consider Chappy. next time I head down there I want to do double the length for my first metric century, getting in the cliffs.

http://mtalinm.bostonbiker.org/files/2010/06/006.jpg

craziest part was that the only other cyclist on the ferry home had the exact same bike I did ('07 Roubaix), just a different paint scheme. coincidences, coincidences...

thanks all for your outstanding advice!!!!!

Excellent !

nice! thanks for sharing

This weekend was a metric century, 50 pn MV and 12 to and from ferry parking.

Very nice ride, ESP at the Aquinnah cliffs, though I think I need to do some closer to home rides.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/38280274

haha, yeah I hear ya. the vineyard is a schlep. it helps to stay overnight or two