Chief Brody

I'm looking for some can't miss/must do rides in either RI or SE Mass. I'm doing most of my riding in Tiverton/Little Compton/Westport. I'm just wondering what great routes I'm missing; hit me with what you think are some must do or otherwise worthy rides.

mprelaw

Do a Google search for Narragansett Bay Wheelmen. On their website, you can download ride maps that they have for this area. This coming Monday (Memorial Day), they're doing a repeat of their recent Westport ride. It leaves from the parking lot of the middle school on Old County Road. They have routes from 20-50 miles. That's probably along roads that are your usual haunts, but check out some of their other route maps. Most of their rides are basically in RI and SE Mass. Occasionally in eastern CT and central MA.

Pug

I second the NBW suggestion. Their ride maps are an excellent resource. Last summer I did #64 "Island Circuit Tour" around Newport for 45 miles. The map was accurate and the scenery was fantastic. Some of the traffic was a little dodgy toward the north side of the island, but there were sidewalks so I hopped on them when necessary. An unexpected bonus was riding past the USS Saratoga.

berner

Chief, I ride with the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen frequently. I live in Bristol and ride in the Tiverton to Dartmouth area much of the time. The Wheelmen have all of Rhode Island and S. E. Mass mapped out with rides of of almost any length. Check out the club website and maps. https://www.nbwclub.org/

June 10 the club ride is named the Dartmouth 50 with options for 15, 34 and 55 miles and right in your area. You should get the Rubel map specifically for cyclists of S.E. Mass. It shows the best roads for cycling. https://bikemaps.com/regmaps.htm The Bike Works in Swansea also carries these maps. https://www.bikeworksma.com/Bikeworks/Home.html I need to stop by myself to pick up a new map as my old one is barely holding together.

If you can do the Dartmouth ride, let me know so we can meet up. This is will be a very popular ride with many people and it may be difficult to spot someone. If you decide to do this ride, I'll wear a gorilla suit and thus be easy to see. It is not required to be a member to do a club ride.

xlibrarygeekx

last weekend, i rode for the first time in the northeastern corner of ct (skirting the ri state line). lots of rural roads, few cars ... really sweet! i now know why that area is called the "quiet corner."

godshammgod

I've ridden down there as well (twice as part of MA/RI/CT century starting in Wellesley, MA). It really is great riding. Some decent sized rollers, but really quiet roads. I feel like I would have liked it more had I not been 60+ miles into a 115 mile ride at the time. My legs were hurting.

Additionally, OP, check out the Flattest Century in the East run by the NBW. Really beautiful route.

Chief Brody

Berner - Are you a member of the Wheelman? Actually making it to one of their rides has been on my list of things to do for a while, but having a young son tends to put a kink in my plans...but I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe June 10th will be the first one.

berner

Yes, I am a member for about two years now. The club seems to be happy to host visitors to the area who are looking for a ride or prospective members. How old is your son. I have seen kids about 8-10 yrs old on rides with family members. I hope you can make it. Let me know if that is the case.

mprelaw

We had about 20 people show up today for the Westport do-over "show and go". I chose to do the 50 miler. Strava mapped it at 47.8 miles. Looking forward to joining the Dartmouth ride in a couple of weeks.

transporterjr

Did anyone else do the Dartmouth 50 a couple weeks back? I rode from my house to the start, and when the route passed my street I went home for 56 miles. I'm lucky to live in such a great area to ride.

mprelaw

Yes, I did. Strava crapped out like 3 miles into the ride, so I don't know the exact mileage of the 55 mile route. There was a huge turn-out for that one, but after the 35 mile turn-off, I was basically alone the rest of the way.

transporterjr

I was basically alone most of the way as well - which had me wondering - why am I on a group ride - LOL!

Pilky

Been off the bike for a couple weeks but wouldn't mind checking out these group rides.

berner

https://ridewithgps.com/users/16607 The link is to a typical ride in eastern R. I. and southerm Mass. I laid out the route to maximize water views and to illiminate several steepish hills. A good lunch spot is Demarest-Lloyd State Park in Mass, overlooking Buzzard's Bay. The route is actually quite flat but does accumulate over 2000 feet of climbing. There is parking at a commuter parking ares off rt. 24 at Fish Rd. just crossing over the Sakonett River in R.I. Total distance is about 58 miles but the County roads are all fine riding so the distance can easily be lengthened or shortened. I use a Bristol County and a Rubel Eastern Mass map and just head out. I am heading out to ride those roads in a little while.

otg 

This is my corner of the planet, and the riding here is exceptional. It's really only about a 25 minute ride from Providence (by car). Give it a shot some time, some great country roads out here with great scenery.

Pilky

Nice route berner. I'v ridden something similar to that before. I'm still getting over some poison ivy (damn trail riding) but once I get back at it I'd be willing to tag along with ya.

etw

You might find some good rides listed at

https://www.bikenewengland.com/

mprelaw

I usually don't have a problem finding company, at least until the medium length ride splits off from the longest ride. NBW usually offers at least 3 choices for rides---one of ~15 for new riders, one in the 30-40 range, and one 40-50. Occasionally they'll have a metric or a full century, and in August they have a double metric. But, on all of these rides, there are shorter options.

berner

Hiya Pilky. I ride that area frequently, say once a week. I'm retired and can ride at any time. Let me know your schedule so we can work on getting together.

I just got back riding there. What an awesome day today is. Rode 57 very slow miles over many of the same roads in the link. Almost cut the ride short as I've been having arm numbness. Instead, I kept to the return route but stopped at Grray's ice cream shop at the Tiverton 4 corners for a dish of homemade frozen yogurt. The yogurt fueled the last 10 miles to my car. I won't say I flew up the road but I was able to finish the ride and still have enough strength to press the keys on the computer.

As a boy growing up in upstate New York, I got a severe case of poison ivy and have been mostly immune ever since. These days I pay more attention to ticks which are everywhere. A few weeks ago I got home from a ride and found a tick under a sock. It was not attached but it's not uncommon to come down with Lyme disease. I now spray my socks with Permathrin.

Pilky

I should be able to handle 60 (probably at a slower pace) in a couple weeks. Haven't been to Grays since i was a kid, I need to stop in there one of these days. The poison ivy isn't so so bad since it's mostly on my legs but I got this one big bubble (gross) on my foot that was preventing me to put on a shoe haha. So once that's all healed up I'll be good to go. I actually work out in Bristol quite often, but anyhow my schedule is 7:30-4:00PM M-F.

transporterjr

Poison ivy put me off riding for a couple of weeks this may. I live one that route posted above, so I can join in if you are running it - but not this week or weekend.

Pilky

I'm thinking two weeks and I should be good to go, three max.

berner

Transporter, I know what you mean on these club rides. The hot shots take off and you never see them again until the very end of the ride when they overtake you, having traveled twice your distance. The intermediate speedsters are also faster than myself so that after the first few miles, I seldom see them either until they stop for a break. Actually, I'm ever so slowly getting stronger and faster and so long as I'm showing progress I'm satisfied.

Pilky, PM me when you are ready to roll. You will not be in great shape at that time so I would suggest 30 to 35 slow miles from the commuter parking lot off Rt. 24, along the Sakonnet River to Sakonnet Point and return via Little Compton and the many small town roads in that area.
Transporter, I'd be delighted to ride with you on Pilky's Rehab Ride or any other time. Fair warning to all - I'm an old guy and mostly quite slow.

Pilky

Sounds good berner. No worries about speed, you say you're old and slow well I guess I"m just young and slow . Fairly new to road cycling actually, got my first road bike earlier this year. I actually just got home from REI with two jerseys so I'm slowly getting there, gear adds up! Still on the look for a helmet so that will probably be next.

berner

Pilky, got your PM. I was out of town for a few days visiting family and got home last night. You should have my e-mail address as of this morning.