Northeast - Massachusetts Cut In Half (Interesented)

Hi !


I'm looking to see if anyone is interested in joining me on a ride from the New Hampshire boarder to the Connecticut boarder and back via. rte.12. The ride can start at my house which is a little over 2 miles off of rte. 12 in Winchendon, MA., and about 5 miles from the New Hampshire boarder. The total distance is around 140 miles, and I woould be looking to start between 7 and 8am. The best day for me is a Saturday but will consider a Sunday, and will be looking to do this anytime within the next 4 weeks. Anyone up for the adventure ?

Not me, if only because I'm too slow. But I want to warn you about where Rt. 12 goes under 190 in Worcester. 12 splits, you're on a downhill ramp, then you're joined by ramps from both sides -- right where you're under 190 and it gets dark, no less -- with drivers from both sides looking to quickly whip across several lanes and take various exits. It is the one and only place in Worcester where I WILL NOT ride, even though I did it once and lived.

One way to get around it: at the bronze statue of the Great Bird (you'll know it when you see it) follow the dirt path down the little hill to the hole in the fence, carry your bike over the railroad tracks, ride down the street that starts there, follow it to the end (going under 190 safely), go left, and you'll shortly be back on 12 past the madness.

Have fun :-)

Thank for the heads up, but I blast down that section on my way to the Worcester airport ride that I do. If your ever interested in rolling around the resivior just give me a yell. I like riding out in that area.

Well, thanks for the invitation but I'm sure you're way out of my league. I live not far from the airport (< 3 mi. on the road). Presumably you're coming down here for the hills -- I saw your post about doing all 3 airport approaches. You might enjoy adding Asnebumskit to your tour, if you haven't already. It's up a side road a short ways up 122 from the airport, across from where rt. 56 heads south. It goes up to about 1350 ft. above sea level.

There are some real beauts inside the city. E. g.,take June St. from Mill St. and you'll soon spot Potamska, which is 1000 feet of 15% grade, straight up the side of a hill.

From Winchenden do you ever just come down Rt. 68? Seems to me it would be several miles shorter and you could avoid riding all the way through Worcester.

Hey walter231 !

I'm not really a young guy anymore, and like riding at whatever pace someone would like to ride at. I do kind of change my approach into Worcester sometimes and did come in from rte. 68 my last ride into Worcester. I have hit George Street a couple of times and that is close to 18%, thanks for the info on the other climbs, i'll try them out soon.

I'm 60 and on most of my rides in central MA average less than 14 mph. I'd be happy to join you on your bisection of the state from Worcester down to the CT border if our schedules and the weather make it possible. I've been down Rt. 12 to Webster and back several times, once to the border, and it's a pretty easy ride. Usually I take back roads from Auburn to Oxford, avoiding the Auburn road-spaghetti zone where 12, 20, 90, 290 and 395 all come together (and saving 1.5 miles over Rt. 12).

Not this weekend, though, because I'm heading to the North Shore for the Blazing Saddles Century. (Which is nice and FLAT :))