Climb Green St

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Southborough, MA, US

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Route Overview

Charles River Wheelmen and Nashoba Valley Pedalers

East Central Massachusetts

37 mi.

1,891 ft.

This route goes out to Green Street Hill in Northborough, MA up to Berlin and back from Southborough, MA. It's a combination loop and out and back route. The route is scenic going past several working farms. Traffic is manageable if not light.

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Route Details

This is a scenic backroad route with one challenging climb, a couple of very short steep climbs and some long rollers.  Traffic is light for the most part, with the exception of passing a couple of small industrial parks.

You start and end at a Southborough, MA school located at Richards Rd and Parkerville Rd. There is plenty of parking and in the summer a porta-potty.

# Route

1. Your busiest road is @slice[Bartlett Rd](d,14472.33,16936.66) in Northborough.  You are on this road going out and back and it has some gradual climbs and downhills depending upon direction.  You will approach a traffic light that has an auto repair shop on your right and the back entrance to a shopping plaza.  If you need water or sports drink before going up Green Street Hill, I suggest you go to the @poi[convenience store](1195029) here.  There will be no more water stops until Berlin, after the hill. 
2. Green Street Hill is not to far away.  After your stop for water, if you made one, the route takes you through some residential areas with @slice[one short, but significant climb](d,17830.15,18547.99).  This is near where Rice Street crosses Whitney Street, and then becomes Winter Street, just keep going straight up the hill and turn left at the top of the hill.  *Sometimes different brands of GPS will show off course. It should show back on course when you make the left at the top of this small brutal climb.* 
3.  The @slice[major feature and climb](d,21138.21,23177.28) happens right after you go over Interstate 290 and start up the hill.  You have a short uphill then a brief slight downhill that bends to your left.  The road goes to your right and the climb begins in earnest.  It is not a steady climb; the grades vary, and when you think it is about to ease up, you go around a curve and it gets steeper!  It flattens at the top passing through some farmland. You will eventually @point[take a right and have a short downhill then an uphill](d,23835.15), before you get a @slice[long screaming downhill](d,24883.29,28457.46) ride that will almost take you into Berlin center.  **Caution, near the bottom you will encounter a @point[railroad crossing](d,28363.09), it's a little rough, but you will see the signals in plenty of time to determine if a train is coming.**
4. Berlin center has a @poi[market and deli](1195032) in an older white building on your right.  They have a lunch and deli counter serving hot and cold sandwiches including hamburgers.  There is a wide assortment of drinks available too.  
2. You will take a right shortly after leaving the market and you will have a nice gentle ride for the next few miles.  
3. You will then encounter a traffic circle/rotary, take your first right out of the rotary, pass the @poi[Dunkin Donuts](1195030) on your left (stop in there if you want).  You will now be on this road (Whitney Road/Street) until you @point[turn left on Winter Street](d,36498.06) and start backtracking the way you came with a a couple of minor exceptions in Southborough.
1. In Southborough I take you off state route 30 because this road is busy narrow and has the gradual uphill that just saps your legs.  However once I get you into Southborough center you can get some water at either @poi[Mauros Market](4205778) or @poi[Southboro House of Pizza](1195031) (this place would be a great end of ride post ride pizza just get on state route 85 north after you leave the parking lot.) 
2. After leaving Southborough center you have some decent road until you have to navigate @slice[Breakneck road](d,55601.19,57317.44), which is also narrow, and rough.  Fortunately it does not get very much traffic.  After Breakneck Rd., you turn on to Woodland, then Richards.  @point[Where Richards crosses route 85 there is a traffic light.](d,58000.12)  It is a trip light and it is not bike sensitive and if there are no cars going your way you may have to use the crosswalk signal.  (You may have to do this at the beginning of the trip.) Another slight up hill then a downhill and you are back at the school.

# Notes

* Seasonal notes, the best time of year to do the ride is from late spring to early fall.  Fall probably being the best.  If your ride this route on a Sunday, Mauro's Market in Southborough may be closed.  Southboro House of Pizza is directly across the street and may be open.  They sell water if that is all you need.
* Suggested variations on the route:  If you want to save time and it's early in a morning you can stay on route 30 in Southborough and then take Old Nortboro Rd. to Johnson Rd. to Northboro Road and you will be back on the original route.  You can do this on the way back as well.  It will probably cut about three to five miles off your ride.
* Recommended equipment & attire:  Any decent road bike can handle it.  As for attire, bike kit is appropriate.  In the summer use sun screen you will be exposed to the sun in a lot of places including a long stretch up Green Street Hill.
* Required fitness level to enjoy the route:  You should have experience on the bike and used to hills.  Green Street is a tough little climb but the average cyclist should be able to handle it.
* Water, food, and other services availability:  Berlin Market has food but no public restrooms, but you can ask nicely and they may let you use theirs.  I believe the Berlin Town Hall and Police station have restrooms.  Other frestrooms will probably be at the Dunkin   Donuts at the rotary/traffic circle.  Southboro House of Pizza has restrooms.  There is also a standalone porta-potty at a ball field on Middle Road in Southborough.

Climb Green St

Route Overview

Route Details

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