Cyclo-Cross-201 / North Shore Challenge

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Danvers, MA, US

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Route Overview

All Day Adventures

Hiking, Cyclo-Cross, MTB, Fat Bike, Road Bike: in Eastern Mass, and New England www.AllDayAdventures.org

45 mi.

1,508 ft.

Danvers Rail Trail, Bradley Palmer, Willowdale, Boxford, Harold Parker. >70% Dirt Riding, 5 different parks. Expect 6+ hours for this ride. Less than 15 Miles of Back-Roads riding. Need really good Cyclo-Cross tires with lots of traction. Now Called CX-201, CX-101 was misleading

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Route Details

**Cyclo-Cross 201. North Shore Challenge.**  This 45 mile (total) ride consists of 19 miles of REAL @photo[single tracks](2712789), 12 miles of @photo[rail trail](2712819), and 12 miles on quiet backroads. This is not a ride for a novice.
It is strongly recommended that you break this route into (2) sections before attempting to ride the entire route. Recently just renamed this route to Cyclo-Cross-201. 101 is not a valid description.

[**www.AllDayAdventures.org**](https://www.alldayadventures.org)

Places on this ride (in order): Danvers Rail Trail , Choate Farm, @slice[Perkens Row](d,6290.56,11353.31) (Road), @slice[Bradley Palmer](d,12067.76,16628.5), @slice[Willowdale](d,16754.93,22356.55), @slice[Pinegree Estates](d,21440.05,25666.29), @slice[Perkins Woods](d,25824.87,27418.2), Backroads of Boxford, @slice[Boxford Forest](d,34750.2,40614.71), @slice[Harold Parker](d,46042.56,52135.49) Forest, North @slice[Peabody Rail Trail](d,59316.56,63950.13), return on the @slice[Danvers Rail](d,65833.48,71509.94) Trail.

**Part A:** *First 1/2 ride,* Follow the provided route until you are at **@point[mile 17.5](d,28212.21).** You will be at the top of the **Danvers Rail Trail**. If you head back from this point, you will have a 25 Mile Total Ride.  The **Bail-Out** option is about an 8 mile return trip and can be viewed here <https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27574997>.

Also a second **Bail-Out "B" route** is located at **@point[mile 27](d,41444.62)** <https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27575061>, also an eight mile return.

**Part B:** *Second 1/2 ride,* Follow the route until @point[mile 3.5](d,5791.66). Instead of breaking off to Perkins Row street ride, stay on the Rail Trail until you get to the top, where you can rejoin the original ride, at **@point[mile 17.5](d,28213.86)**. It is 7.5 miles to this location, and about a 1/2 hour riding to get there. This will be a 35 mile total ride. Not as difficult as the Part A ride, because a lot more rail trail riding.

**Cyclo-Cross** **(CX)** is the hottest thing in Eastern Mass at the moment. Not many known-routes that can offer long bicycle adventures that are totally dedicated to Advance Level Cyclo-Cross. ADA looks to fill that void.

Because of the skinny tires, and lite-weight of the new bikes, rides are much longer, and saddle time is extended. By linking together local parks, ride experiences can be extended.

This adventure is another in a series of Cyclo-Cross (CX) rides in Eastern Massachusetts that I have put together. These rides are designed to test your endurance and technical riding skills on trails that are appropriate for 35-40mm tires. All while cycling on way-cool and excellent adventure trails.

This is an **Advanced Level Cyclo-Cross Ride**. You must currently ride on 30 mile outings (on trails) before attempting this ride. Expect 6 to 9 hours saddle time. ***Expect 5000+ Calorie usage.*** 70% of this ride is in DIRT. These are real single-tracks with rocks, roots, steep climbs and fast downhills. Advance Level Cyclo-Cross experience is required for trail obstacle navigation. If you are not running Tubeless, bring (2) spare tubes…(pinch-flats)

**TIRES:** Tire selection is important. Tubeless is perfect. Advance traction tires are required. Low resistance for road travel is a bonus. Currently I am running 40mm Maxis Ravagers which grip like 2.2” tires. Road bikes will break. Fully Rigid MTB with x-country tires is a good alternative. Suspension bikes too heavy for 30 miles of trails and 15 miles of Road riding.

This ride starts and ends at the @poi[**Danvers High** **School**](4242034). This ride takes advantage of a series of rail trails, and quiet country back-roads to connect you to the various parks you will be visiting.

For most of my rides, I would write a lot of fluff about the ride in this part of the text. This is considered an **Advanced Level CX Adventure**.  There are lots of trails that will lead you into trouble real fast, I picked CX Trails not MTB Trails. Stay on this route. I do route you to see some nice sights like the @slice[Swamp Walk](d,2690.98,3185.36).

**Bring FOOD. Bring 100 oz Water.** There is no place to stop for anything. Make sure your chain is NEW. Make sure you have tools, and (2) tubes. This is a rough ride. DO NOT ride alone on this ride. There are some very rural trails that are seldom used. Plan for this. I suggest cutting this ride in half the first time out. Contact me with any questions. I am always up to ride these routes too.

Cyclo-Cross-201 / North Shore Challenge

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