This is a mixed terrain ride including paved roads, hard packed rail trails and some fairly tame single track. A gravel or cyclocross bike is ideal. A mountain bike would be fine but a little slower on the paved sections. Some skilled riders would be fine on a traditional road bike with some risk of flats. The 20 mile rider starts on the Topsfield and Boxford sections of the rail trail. This is followed by a section through Georgetown/Rowley SF and Willowdale SF, returning to Topsfield on Ipswich Rd. The 43 mile ride continues into Manchester by the Sea and returns through Beverly Farms, Wenham and the Topsfield Rail Trail. There are no arrows or cue sheets. If you are not comfortable using a phone or GPS unit to navigate let me know and we can buddy you with someone else. There are only a few opportunities for water and food for purchase on the direct route so please bring what you require for yourself. There are several places in Topsfield for food and water before or after the ride. In the past we have been able to utilize the Wenham Canal trail to return to Topsfield. This year it is CLOSED due to the town of Wenham's Covid restrictions. We will have to ride a short distance on rt 97 to route around this closure.
