I love to go on adventures. These rides, especially with friends, are what drew me to the sport and what I love most about it. Here are a few of my favorites from home in MA and where I go to school in CO. I will be adding more! Each route had detailed point of interests with descriptions so you can learn a little history along the way!
Vermont
Woodstock to Ascutney Gravel
Recommended Gear
Woodstock is a classic New England town with some of the best gravel riding in the US. This route will take you through covered bridges past rolling farm fields, barns, and ancient maple trees. Enjoy one of our favorite descents down Town Farm Hill Road on the way to Brownsville before riding back through South Woodstock. Enjoy a snack stop at South Woodstock Country Store before the last few hills back to Woodstock.
- Location: Woodstock, Vt.
- Surface: Gravel
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 36.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 3,800 feet
Recommended Gear
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mixed 38c. Why? These are great for any wet "New England-y" sections and to handle the bumps. This route is largely smooth, but can be muddy in the spring.
- Kit: Endurance Threads HLT Slick Cargo Bibs, HLT Adventure Jersey, and Stripey SendIt Gloves. Why? The cargo bibs are super comfy and provide great storage for food, tools, and more! The Adventure Jersey has a relaxed fit with plenty of storage for long days on the bike.
- Glasses: Julbo Fury with Reactiv 1-3 lenses Why? The Reactiv Photochromic lenses are perfect for the darker and lighter sections so you can always see!
- Fuel: Neversecond C30 drink mix and C30 gels. Why? They are easy to digest and taste good to keep you fueled all day. This ride is likely to take 3-4 hours, so I would recommend carrying 9-12 gels and 3 bottles of C30 mix.
- Please reach out to me with any gear questions!! I love to talk gear and explain why I use what I use and what might be best for certain situations!
Woodstock is a classic New England town with some of the best gravel riding in the US. This route will take you through covered bridges past rolling farm fields, barns, and ancient maple trees. Enjoy one of our favorite descents down Town Farm Hill Road on the way to Brownsville before riding back through South Woodstock. Enjoy a snack stop at South Woodstock Country Store before the last few hills back to Woodstock.
Massachusetts
North Shore Gordon Gravel
Recommended Gear
This gravel route will take you from Gordon College through Chebacco Woods. After a brief stint on the road, you will enjoy a ride on some relatively easy singletrack up to Sagamore Hill, my favorite spot on the North Shore. After enjoying views from atop the "Chief's Alter," you will ride through New England Biolabs before a trip to British pastures in Appleton Farms. Enjoy the beautiful stone walls and fields before riding through Pingree Woods to Bradley Palmer State Park. A stint on the quiet, paved Perkins Row will take you to the dirt bike path, where you will ride along a canal straight out of the Netherlands before meandering your way back to Gordon.
- medium length/difficulty
- 27.7 miles
- 930 feet of elevation gain
Recommended Gear
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Mixed 38c. Why? These are great for any wet "New England-y" sections and to handle the bumps
- Kit: Endurance Threads HLT Slick Cargo Bibs, HLT Adventure Jersey, and Stripey SendIt Gloves. Why? The cargo bibs are super comfy and provide great storage for food, tools, and more! The Adventure Jersey has a relaxed fit with plenty of storage for long days on the bike.
- Glasses: Julbo Fury with Reactiv 1-3 lenses Why? The Reactiv Photochromic lenses are perfect for the darker and lighter sections so you can always see!
- Fuel: Neversecond C30 drink mix and C30 gels. Why? They are easy to digest and taste good to keep you fueled all day. This ride is likely to take 2-3 hours, so I would recommend carrying 6-8 gels and 2 bottles of C30 mix.
- Please reach out to me with any gear questions!! I love to talk gear and explain why I use what I use and what might be best for certain situations!
This gravel route will take you from Gordon College through Chebacco Woods. After a brief stint on the road, you will enjoy a ride on some relatively easy singletrack up to Sagamore Hill, my favorite spot on the North Shore. After enjoying views from atop the "Chief's Alter," you will ride through New England Biolabs before a trip to British pastures in Appleton Farms. Enjoy the beautiful stone walls and fields before riding through Pingree Woods to Bradley Palmer State Park. A stint on the quiet, paved Perkins Row will take you to the dirt bike path, where you will ride along a canal straight out of the Netherlands before meandering your way back to Gordon.
Colorado
Phantom Canyon to Gold Camp Gravel
Recommended Gear
Phantom Canyon, formerly a railroad route, is one of the most spectacular rides in COS. With towering rock formations on either side and little traffic, it makes for a unique and unforgettable riding experience. The ride down on 115 is well worth it! The sights awaiting you at the top of incredible. Spending time in Victor will transport you back in time. As you ride into the mountain back toward COS on Gold Camp Road, you will experience more mining history as you pass through old railroad tunnels. The descent back down to the Springs is loose in some places but oh-so fun and a nice reward after a long day of climbing.
- Epic
- 116.5 miles
- 9,100 feet of elevation gain
Recommended Gear
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 38c. Why? They are durable and the added volume gives comfort on the washboard and the loose Gold Camp descent.
- Kit: Endurance Threads HLT Slick Cargo Bibs, HLT Adventure Jersey, and Stripey SendIt Gloves. Be sure to pack a Packie Jacket for fast weather changes in the mountains! Why? The cargo bibs are super comfy and provide great storage for food, tools, and more! The Adventure Jersey has a relaxed fit with plenty of storage for long days on the bike.
- Glasses: Julbo Fury with Reactiv 1-3 lenses Why? The Reactiv Photochromic lenses are perfect for the darker (tunnels!) and lighter sections so you can always see!
- Fuel: Neversecond C30 drink mix and C30 gels. Why? They are easy to digest and taste good to keep you fueled all day.
- Please reach out to me with any gear questions!! I love to talk gear and explain why I use what I use and what might be best for certain situations!
Phantom Canyon, formerly a railroad route, is one of the most spectacular rides in COS. With towering rock formations on either side and little traffic, it makes for a unique and unforgettable riding experience. The ride down on 115 is well worth it! The sights awaiting you at the top of incredible. Spending time in Victor will transport you back in time. As you ride into the mountain back toward COS on Gold Camp Road, you will experience more mining history as you pass through old railroad tunnels. The descent back down to the Springs is loose in some places but oh-so fun and a nice reward after a long day of climbing.
Rampart Range Gravel Loop
Recommended Gear
The Rampart Range Gravel Loop is the quintessential Colorado Springs loop. Taking you from the renowned Garden of the Gods Park, you will climb up for about 12 miles with views of COS to the east and Pikes Peak to the West. You will overlook the stunning Williams Canyon before enjoy a rest at the top with near 360-degree views of the Pikes Peak region. A rolling section awaits you on the plateau of the Rampart Range. After passing Rampart Reservoir, you will enjoy a long descent down Mt. Herman Road into Monument. You will cruise pass epic rock formations as you come back down to the valley floor. After a brief stop in Monument for a snack you will ride the Sante Fe trail home through the US Air Force Academy. You will finish with a lap of Garden of the Gods to take your breath away.
- Difficult
- 64.8 miles
- 5,700 feet of elevation gain
Recommended Gear
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 38c. Why? They are durable and the added volume gives comfort on the bumps.
- Kit: Endurance Threads HLT Slick Cargo Bibs, HLT Adventure Jersey, and Stripey SendIt Gloves. Be sure to pack a Packie Jacket for fast weather changes in the mountains! Why? The cargo bibs are super comfy and provide great storage for food, tools, and more! The Adventure Jersey has a relaxed fit with plenty of storage for long days on the bike.
- Glasses: Julbo Fury with Reactiv 1-3 lenses Why? The Reactiv Photochromic lenses are perfect for the darker and lighter sections so you can always see!
- Fuel: Neversecond C30 drink mix and C30 gels. Why? They are easy to digest and taste good to keep you fueled all day.
- Please reach out to me with any gear questions!! I love to talk gear and explain why I use what I use and what might be best for certain situations!
The Rampart Range Gravel Loop is the quintessential Colorado Springs loop. Taking you from the renowned Garden of the Gods Park, you will climb up for about 12 miles with views of COS to the east and Pikes Peak to the West. You will overlook the stunning Williams Canyon before enjoy a rest at the top with near 360-degree views of the Pikes Peak region. A rolling section awaits you on the plateau of the Rampart Range. After passing Rampart Reservoir, you will enjoy a long descent down Mt. Herman Road into Monument. You will cruise pass epic rock formations as you come back down to the valley floor. After a brief stop in Monument for a snack you will ride the Sante Fe trail home through the US Air Force Academy. You will finish with a lap of Garden of the Gods to take your breath away.
Old Stage to Gold Camp Gravel Loop
Recommended Gear
This route will take you on a trip through some of Colorado Springs' mining past. It can be done in either direction. I like riding this way (clockwise) because, although the climb up Old Stage is steeper, the descent down Gold Camp is very fun! Experiencing the tunnels of Gold Camp is something few other locations can offer. The scenery as soon as you climb out of the city is incredible. Be sure to pack plenty of water and food as there is nowhere to stop once you are out of the city, and be sure to bring a layer as the weather up high can change quickly and you will spend over an hour descending!
- Difficult
- 30.4 miles
- 3,470 feet of elevation gain
Recommended Gear
- Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 38c. Why? They are durable and the added volume gives comfort on the bumps.
- Kit: Endurance Threads HLT Slick Cargo Bibs, HLT Adventure Jersey, and Stripey SendIt Gloves. Be sure to pack a Packie Jacket for fast weather changes in the mountains! Why? The cargo bibs are super comfy and provide great storage for food, tools, and more. The Adventure Jersey has a relaxed fit with plenty of storage for long days on the bike.
- Glasses: Julbo Fury with Reactiv 1-3 lenses Why? The Reactiv Photochromic lenses are perfect for the darker and lighter sections so you can always see!
- Fuel: Neversecond C30 drink mix and C30 gels. Why? They are easy to digest and taste good to keep you fueled all day.
- Please reach out to me with any gear questions!! I love to talk gear and explain why I use what I use and what might be best for certain situations!
This route will take you on a trip through some of Colorado Springs' mining past. It can be done in either direction. I like riding this way (clockwise) because, although the climb up Old Stage is steeper, the descent down Gold Camp is very fun! Experiencing the tunnels of Gold Camp is something few other locations can offer. The scenery as soon as you climb out of the city is incredible. Be sure to pack plenty of water and food as there is nowhere to stop once you are out of the city, and be sure to bring a layer as the weather up high can change quickly and you will spend over an hour descending!
