Author: Gordon Harris

Gordon Harris is a local historian living in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and publisher of the Historic Ipswich site. Follow him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonrharris/

Niagra Frontier Cycling Club rides

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
NFBC bicycle rides

The Niagara Frontier Bicycle Club is Western New York's largest bicycle club, with daily rides spanning Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Wyoming and Genesee Counties. Down PDF cue sheets below. 747WillistonRoad 748BloodyRun 749WilsonOlcottExpress 751SturgeonPoint 752GeneseeParkAndForest 757FoxValley 758OldGreenwalls 761EastAmhers-AkronFalls 762NiagaraWheatfieldMetricCentury 763GeneseeParkAndForest 915FreedomRunWineRide Niagara_Frontier_Cycling 006St.PatsRide 19FtErieToNiagaraFalls 27HamburgToLakeErie 46HillsDarnHills 82AldenCenterToNorthJava 86SkiCountry 98LockportMarina 106GrapeCountryAndCockaigneGallop 118QuakerShaker 130WestFallsBackCreek 142MembersMemorialCentury 169ElmaMarilla_II 201_41MileChallenge 202MetricCenturyChallenge 205MultipleChoice-31… Continue reading Niagra Frontier Cycling Club rides

Northampton MA to Rockland ME

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Northampton Quabbin Reservoir bicycle ride

This requested tour was designed to start in Northampton Massachusetts and ended in Rockland Maine. Other persons using these routes will need to find alternative overnight locations.The route takes a mix of local roads and highways to Westford and Newburyport MA, then follows generally follows the New Hampshire and Maine coast to Rockland. Roads are selected to optimize… Continue reading Northampton MA to Rockland ME

Rides from Beamsville, Ontario

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

PDF cue sheets and maps from Niagra Freewheelers Beamsville-Escarpment Beamsville-Grassie Beamsville-Lake Ontario Beamsville-Rosedene Beamsville- Silverdale Beamsville-Smithville Beamsville-South_33 Beamsville-Tintern_29 Beamsville-Tintern-Pelham_30 Vineland-Beamsville Beamsville 23 Beamsville_37 Beamsville East Beamsville-Escarpment Beamsville Mountainview_30 Beamsville-Camden Beamsville-Camden_25 Beamsville-Camden_28

Woodstock Wandering

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

Start: Ghent, NY Town Garage, intersection of Rt. 66 and Garage Place Rd. Highlights: Miles of quiet farm country in the west, beautiful hilltop views and long downhill cruising in the east, and several historic sites. One of Ken Roberts' favorite rides on his Cycling the Hudson Valley site. 40 miles, moderately hilly. View this ride… Continue reading Woodstock Wandering

The New England National Scenic Trail

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

The 220 mile New England National Scenic Trail in southern New England consists of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, Mattabesett Trail and the Metacomet Trail and is better known as the Triple-M Trail. The network starts at Guilford, Connecticut and goes north along the Metacomet Ridge and continues through the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts to the New… Continue reading The New England National Scenic Trail

Boston to Provincetown cycling routes

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Boston to Provincetown bicycle ride

The Claire Saltonstall Bikeway, or State Bicycle Route 1, is a series of bicycle paths and on-street routes that travel from Boston to both Provincetown and Woods Hole. The bikeway starts on Cape Cod at Route 3A in Bourne. It travels across the Sagamore Bridge, utilizing the bridge’s sidewalk. After the Sagamore Bridge, the bikeway… Continue reading Boston to Provincetown cycling routes

Lyndonville Glacial Lakes

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Lyndonville bicycle ride

This ride is from Cycling the Kingdom by the Northeastern Vermont Development Association: "Don’t leave the Kingdom without visiting two of its most beautiful glacial lakes — Willoughby and Seymour. The all-paved roads on this ride take in both of them including Island Pond. Stunning scenery. Aromatic evergreens. This is quintessential Northeast Kingdom. Good accommodations… Continue reading Lyndonville Glacial Lakes

Adirondack mountain bike rides

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Adirondacks bicycle interactive map

The following map is provided by New York State Scenic Byways Program project managed by the Adirondack North Country Association, funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation.

Penobscot four day tour

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Penobscot Peninsula and Mount Desert Island cycling tour

Day 1: Camden to Stonington. Ride inland around Camden Hills State Park, with some coastal sections on Rt. 1. Reaching Orland and Bucksport continue to Stonington on Deer Isle. View Larger Map View at RidewithGPS Day 2 Stonington to Bar Harbor: From Stonington the ride hugs the southern shore of the Penobscot Peninsula, goes through Blue Hill and on to… Continue reading Penobscot four day tour

Haverhill riding north

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Haverhill bicycle ride

Start: Northern Essex Community College 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA (View map) Meet in the Technology center Parking Lot. Description: This ride takes us on familiar roads, some a bit hilly, and travels north of the Merrimack River into Merrimac and Amesbury, with longer rides continuing through Newton, Kingston and South Hampton in New Hampshire. Distance… Continue reading Haverhill riding north

Salem-Marblehead ride

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Salem - Marblehead bicycle ride

Start Location: Salem Willows Park at the corner of Fort Ave. and Bay View Ave. near “Salem Willows Park” signage in Salem, MA. A bike rack and park benches are nearby. Plenty of parking is available. Map to start. Description: This is a ride on the streets of historic Salem and surrounding towns. The routes… Continue reading Salem-Marblehead ride

Exeter to Great Bay

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Exeter Great Bay bicycle ride

What to expect: The rides go through the scenic farm country of southern New Hampshire. The terrain is rolling hills with old barns, scenic vistas, and lots of quiet roads. All the loops go by historic Kingston NH common,  picturesque Newfields, Great Bay, Newmarket, and the lively college town of Durham. This ride is marked… Continue reading Exeter to Great Bay

NSC Saturday ride, Boxford

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Topsfield to Merrimack River bicycle ride

Start: Masconomet Regional High School, Boxford MA map to start. Directions: From Route 95 take exit 51 (Endicott St) east towards Topsfield. The school is 1/4 mile on right. The ride leaves from the parking lot closest to I-95). What to expect: The North Shore Cyclists Saturday Fitness Ride meanders through Middleton, Boxford, Georgetown, Byfield, Newbury… Continue reading NSC Saturday ride, Boxford

NSC Hamilton to Newburyport

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Hamilton to Newburyport MA bicycle ride

Start: Cutler Elementary School, Asbury St., South Hamilton, MA map to start Description: Enjoy some of the nicest cycling in our area. Generally quiet, scenic country roads in Hamilton, Topsfield, Ipswich, Georgetown and Boxford. Long ride adds Newbury and Newburyport. Generally flat to rolling, with a few small hills. Ride created by Arnold Nadler. Combined NSC… Continue reading NSC Hamilton to Newburyport

Tyngsborough Pepper and Maple

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Tyngsborough Pepperell Hollis bicycle ride

Start: Tyngsborough Elementary School, 205 Westford Rd, Tyngsborough, MA (map). Arrow Shape: White T. Description: The ride is remarkable for staying on so many low-traffic roads with excellent pavement. The short ride goes through Tyngsborough, Pepperell, Hollis NH, Nashua NH, and Dunstable; the long ride adds Townsend and Brookline NH. The short route has 0.5 miles of packed gravel,… Continue reading Tyngsborough Pepper and Maple

NSC Over Hill and Dale from Ballardvale

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Ballardvale Andover bicycle ride

Start locations: Ballardvale MBTA Station, Andover is the traditional start. map to start ($4 parking charge is enforced. There is some parking available on side streets off of Tewksbury St, where the ride stats, up the hill from the Ballardvale T-Station. ) Directions: Rte 93 to Dascomb Road, take the ramp towards Andover, turn right… Continue reading NSC Over Hill and Dale from Ballardvale

NSC North Reading pigs, ponds and potholes

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
North Reading MA bicycle ride

A North Shore Cyclists ride Start: Ipswich River Park, North Reading map to start Description: Serene back roads, farm stands, ponds, pigs (plus sheep, chickens, and bunnies), and lots of potholes of the northern burbs. Have iced coffee at Smolak Farm (on the short ride) or a picnic lunch at Ingaldsby Farm. Terrain is moderately… Continue reading NSC North Reading pigs, ponds and potholes

NSC pothole inspection tour, Topsfield

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Topsfield Ipswich North Andover bicycle ride

Start: Topsfield Plaza, Main Street, Topsfield, MA. map to start Directions: From Rte 95 N, take Exit 50 to Route 1 North. In Topsfield, turn left onto Rte 97 North. At stop sign, go left (Rt. 97 continues right). Topsfield Plaza is 1/4 mile on right. Description: Flat to rolling terrain on some of our favorite… Continue reading NSC pothole inspection tour, Topsfield

NSC Wakefield Thursday ride

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
North Shore Cyclists Wakefield bicycle ride

Start: Quannapowitt Parkway, northern end of Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield MA, the end nearest the Rt. 128 interchange. Directions: Rte 128 to Exit 40. Follow Rte 129 south to the park at the north end of the lake and turn right almost immediately on Quannapowitt Parkway to the parking area. Map to start Description: Gently rolling… Continue reading NSC Wakefield Thursday ride

NSC Bradley Palmer winter ride

Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Bradley Palmer State Park bicycle ride

Start location: Bradley Palmer State Park parking lot, Asbury Street, Topsfield MA. From the Asbury Street entrance, take the first right, and the parking lot will be on your left in a short distance. Map to start. A North Shore Cyclists ride.   Map and Cue sheet (PDF) PRINT MAP FROM BROWSER PRINT CUE SHEET FROM… Continue reading NSC Bradley Palmer winter ride