2016 New England Dirt Road Events

click the event name to link to it's web site

March 20th Greasy Joes Gravel Grind
West Greenwich, RI: first of the season dirt road event. 47 miles

April 3rd Vermont Overland Maple Adventure Ride:
Reading, VT. Peter Volers has organized a spring dirt road ride for several years. This year he is inviting more folks to come up and enjoy the start of sugar season on Vermont dirt roads. 27 miles, 90%l dirt.

April 16th Rasputitsa
East Burke VT: The fine folks who put on the Dirty 40 last year are running a spring/mud season race again. This year the race will go through the challenging hills around Burke Mountain. Expect tough racing, interesting sag stops, and some hiking. 40 miles, 80% dirt road RACE! Sold Out!

April 23rd Ride Diverged
Lexington MA. Last year the Ride Studio Cafe hosted this event to great reviews. I have a feeling this years ride will be much more. Overland Base Camp has taken over this & other past RSC events. A casual mixed terrain tour of the Boston 'burbs. Fast, medium, & casual pace groups self seeded. 38 miles 50% dirt. Breakfast before the ride at RSC.

April 23rd The Muddy Onion, 
Montpelier VT. Vermont is now the heart of New England dirt road riding. I'm not entirely sure why, but there are a lot of great dirt roads & a bunch of bike nuts in the state. So here's another one, put on by the good crew at Onion River Sports. Low cost at $20 but limited to 100 riders. 32 miles 90% dirt.

May 1st Gears & Beers Gravel Grinder
Waterbury VT: This really two events over the weekend to benefit the Waterbury Area Trail Alliance. The Gravel Grinder is a 30 mile all dirt route on Sunday morning. But Saturday night there is a craft beer pub crawl in Waterbury too. Both support the WATA. Beers include offerings from Hill Farmstead, Lawson's Liquids, Frost Brewing, & a special release from Alchemist Brewing! The ride will have "refreshments" on route & food/beer afterwards (if you can handle any more) Bikes, steep Vermont dirt track, & great beer: sounds like heaven. 30 miles 90% dirt.

May 7th Bear Brook Classic Endurance Cross
Allenstown, NH: The Bear Brook Classic is the return of a great xc mountain bike race to New England. The promoters, State 9 Racing, decided to add an "endurance 'cross" category. But unlike other summer 'cross race at a mtb event this will be a separate course of fire roads & double track. 8 miles loop for 3 laps with open & M35+ categories. Sounds a bit like the old Big Ring Rumpus which was always fun. 24 miles, 100% dirt RACE

May 14th: Rhodekill Spring Classic
West Warwick, RI: Two routes, 65 or 40 miles. Both are rides, covering central Rhode Islands hidden trails. Approximately 50% dirt. Neutral mechanical support

May 14-15th Maneha 250
Lexington, MA: A new Overland Base Camp event, bike packing on mixed terrain from Lexington to NH and back the next day for a total of 250 miles! Sag support, meals, & campsite are included in the entry fee. Too many important details to list here, so read the ride description closely at the link above.

May 15th Dirt Road-a-Coaster
Hartland, VT A new race event of 100km with tons of climbing, 6100 feet of elevation gain. Registration on BikeReg.com 80% dirt roads

May 15th: Plymouth Gravel Grinder
Plymouth, MA: a new event benefitting the MS Society and promoted by long time New England race organizers International Cycling. 100 km with 12 sections of dirt road. Chip timed and awards for top 3 in each age category. Tom's wood fired pizza and Independent Fermentation beer after the race. 62 miles 45% dirt

May 15th Farmer's Daughter Gravel Grinder
Chatam, NY. While this list is primarily New England dirt road events I am happy to include a few that are just outside the region. Here is a new one that Peter Volers recommended to me. 65 miles 75%+ dirt

June 5th Tour de Heifer
Brattleboro VT. This event supports local farms, so the ride is also fully supported with local food! 3 routes of 15, 30, & 60 miles. The course is a D2R2 lite (even using some of the same roads). 60 miles 80% dirt.

June 5th Raid Rockingham
Newmarket NH. Arlon puts on great events. Lately cycling events have become his passion. He is also the organizer behind Ted King's ride in October. 62 miles 45% dirt

June 11th VT Monster Gravel Grinder:
Ludlow, VT: a new event at Okemo Mountain. A stiff 9000 feet of climbing, 70 mile route. Harpoon beer and b-b-que after the ride. Limited mechanical support and 2 stocked feed stations. 80% dirt?

* June 18th, Green Mtn Double Century:
Deerfield. MA sadly Sandy will not be holding the event this year. I trust he will in the future

June 25-26 Dawn to Dusk Ride
Lexington, MA: Are you up for an adventure? How about a dirt road ride that starts at sunset and continues until sunrise the next day? Overland base is throwing just such a party, including a pre-ride dinner, mid ride bonfire & meal, post ride breakfast, snacks along the way, & support vehicle on route. They are doing it up right. Lights and night riding experience required. 90 miles 60% dirt

June 25th RAS Ride
Peru, VT: Described as a Overland Gran Prix lite, 37 miles of stiff climbing on Vermont dirt roads & jeep trails. Provisions from the Hapsgood General Store including a beer/beverage voucher for the first 30 registrants. 37 miles 80%+ dirt benefit ride

June 26th Central Vermont Cycling Tour
Montpelier, VT. Fully supported tour/race around the middle of Vermont. Last year the organizers included chip timing in the long route, so riders who want to "race" the event can throw down. Fully supported stops & sag for the tour. 59 miles 90% dirt.

July 8-10th Nomad Bikepacking Adventure Ride
Lexington, MA: Overland base is all about helping cyclists get out and explore. This new event is designed to help push your boundaries but adding camping to your cycling skills. Over 3 days & 2 nights the ride demonstrate the basics of bike packing. Breakfast and dinner are included each day. Snacks along the route and a roving support vehicle too. Because this is a camping event read the equipment requirements thoroughly at the link above. Total distance is 135 miles approx. 55% dirt

July 8th: Prouty Virtual Dirt Road Challenge
Hartford, VT A very tough benefit ride for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 108 miles, 75%+ on dirt roads with 11,300 feet climbing! Self supported but the route crosses 6 Vermont country stores. 10 Strava segments for cumulative time makes up the competition.

July 9th Raid Lamoille
Stowe VT: Arlon likes western VT and he likes dirt road rides. Expect a challenging course and a great post ride meal (including Smuttynose beer!) 62 miles, 6k climbing 80% dirt

July 16th JAM Fund Grand Fundo
Southampton MA. Technically with less than 25% of this course on dirt road, this event shouldn't make the list. But this ride is so much fun and supports such good people I have to include it. Jeremy Powers & Alec Donahue host the best cycling party/fund raiser for their development team. Fully supported including an ice cream truck stop, sag wagon, & a pig roast post ride meal. 68/88 miles 25% dirt.

July 30th IRR 5.0 Irreverent Road Ride
Waterbury VT. Last year Adam St. Germain told me he would do this route on 53x39 gearing & 23c tires. I told him he was nuts, & he was. This year he is warning people to run a minimum 28c tire & 50x34 gearing with a big cassette. This is a long very tough route, after all it runs through the middle of Vermont Gap Land. Fortunately there are many bail out points. Donuts and swag at the start. Self supported 120 miles, 12k climbing,  75% dirt
July 31st: Honey 101
Watertown, MA

August 7th NEBRA August Adventure
South Deerfield MA. A new event on familiar roads to veterans of the D2R2 & Tour de Heifer. Two routes 75 or 45 miles, both more than dirt than pavement. Post ride meal provided by Hillside Organic Pizza & Harpoon Brewery. 75/45 miles 65% dirt

August 13th Honey 100
Lexington MA. No one throws a bike event like Overland Base Camp. This is a tour of a secret stash of trails suitable for 'cross bikes. Starts and ends with a treats from the Ride Studio Cafe. Fully supported. 62 miles, 65% dirt.

August 14th Pemi-Baker Ronde
Plymouth-Holderness NH: My club's dirt road event, race it at the front or tour at the back for a more relaxed ride, 62 miles/ 100km of challenging hills & scenic views. The toughest but not the longest hill at the very end, Pulsifer Road with a peak grade of 14%, 5500 feet of climbing for the route. Team time trial and solo race categories, so recruit your team mates. Stocked sag stops and limited mechanical support. Lunch & a beer (for those age 21+) included in the entry fee & awards for the top 3 in each category, special awards for the lantern rouge team & the most mechanically challenged team. 62 miles 50% dirt roads. RACE!

August 20th Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnee D2R2
Deerfield MA, This is the grand daddy of New England dirt events. Almost a 1000 riders will attempt one of 5 routes from 60 miles to 115 miles. The long routes are very challenging with up to 12,000 feet of punchy climbing. The ride has no sag support, but many food stops, a full lunch & post ride meal. This year there is a pre-ride bonfire on Friday night with food & beer from the People's Pint! So many people are riding the routes that finding help with a spare tube is easy to come by. Every New England cyclist should do this ride at least once. Varied, long route=115 miles, 70% dirt
August 20th: Kingdon Farm & Food Rando
Craftsbury VT, A new event with food from the local store & even better a growler of beer from Hill Farmstead! 48 miles, mostly dirt roads. Late day start at 2:00 p.m., finish in time for a late summer b-b-que. 48 miles, 80% dirt?
August 27th Rose Mtn Rumble
Lyndeborough, NH. A ride in south west New Hampshire to benefit the Piscataquog Land Conservancy. 4 different routes, 20 (billed the family ride), 40, 50 & 62 miles. All approximately 70% dirt roads. The 50 mile route last year had 4800 ft. elevation gain, so expect to climb on the longer routes. various 70% dirt


August 28th  The Overland
Woodstock, VT. Peter Volers puts on a dirt road race like no other! He has picked a spectacular finish & a very tough course. 5500 feet of climbing in a 51 mile route. The finish in at the Suicide 6 ski area going down the slope! Food stops with local baked treats for those riding this event as a tour. A post race meal with local beer & kombucha included. Some New Englands fastest cyclocross racers will push the pace at the front, but there is a ton of fun at the back of the field. 51 miles 80% dirt RACE!

September 3rd Detour de Connecticut
Manchester CT. This is a long one, 118 miles long. No support, but plenty of new friends to ride with. The route is a figure 8 so you have a chance to shorten the ride if you like. 118 miles 50% dirt.

September 4th Labor Day 130k
Peru, VT. A new hard ride from RAS Ride. Unsupported but plenty of stores on route. That route is stiff with 7500 feet of climbing over 85 miles. funds benefit Rare Disease Research. 85 miles 50% dirt.

September 10th Kearsarge Klassic Dirt Road Randonnee
Newport NH. The New Hampshire Cycling Club puts on a fine event over a scenic route. 100, 90, or 60 mile routes including a few long stiff climbs. Food stops with water & snacks, mid point lunch, and a post ride meal of home made chilli & baked goods. Starts & ends at a historic barn with a view of Mt. Kearsarge. Various 75% dirt.

September 11th: Cabot Ride the Ridges
Cabot, VT. Cabot VT: Vermont is offering up another hilly dirty charity ride. This one has something for every age, from a 10km family spin to a steep climbing 100km grinder. Aid stations on route, support vehicle, and at the finish wood fired pizza & local ice cream. Family discount on registration for 2 or more, kids under 12 enter Free! Sounds like another good way to spend a Sunday. 100km, 75-80% dirt?

September 11th The Dirty Pizza
Alstead, NH. Orchardhill Breadworks hosts this ride as a benefit for the Putney Ski Club. The ride itself is a 40 mile loop with a bunch of climbing around southwest New Hampshire, as in 4400 ft elevation gain. But the pay off is wood fired oven organic local grain pizza at the end. This is a self supported ride. 40 miles 80%+ dirt

September 17th The Stone Valley 50 Gravel Grinder
Poultney, VT A 50 mile race or 20 mile tour benefiting the Kellen Sam Scholarship. No neutral support so bring tubes & inflator. 2 stocked feed zones. Awards and lunch afterward at Taps Tavern with a pint on the house for racers over age 21. 50 mile Race 75% dirt

September 24th, NER Fall Classic
Montpelier, VT. The New England Randonneurs Fall Classic has two routes, 114km & 200km. The 114km is approximately half paved & half dirt. The long route is 70% dirt roads. Low cost but brevet type support, which means you, what you carry, and the company you ride with. Good times with good riders

September 25th, Great Granite State Gravel Grinder
Franconia, NH. Bigring Bob is putting on a tough course in a beautiful corner of New Hampshire. Mostly it is a tough 62 mile RACE over 70% dirt roads


September 25th, North Woods Gravel Grinder
Rangeley ME, Maine's one dirt road event returns for 2016. Three routes including a new long 78+ mile course. Race results timed in the long route with cash prizes for the top male & female finishers. Rest stops & limited rolling support. Race (in the long route) 35 or 75 miles. 70% dirt


September 25th, Westhill Grinder
Dummerston VT, The good folks at the Putney Westhill shop have been running dirt road rides for decades. Now they are putting on an event. 3 routes, the long one goes over 4 gaps in southern VT. Roughly 45 miles with 4500 feet of climbing so bring your low gears. 30 or 45 miles, 70% dirt


October 2nd Fall Foliage Gravel Grinder
Becket MA. A tour through the Berkshires during foliage season. Full support and post ride meal. Starts and ends at a historic bed & breakfast with camping on site. 66 miles 75% dirt

October 2nd les 100 B7 
Bromont Quebec. New England cyclocross loves Lyne Bessette (she's married to Tim Johnson after all). Last year she put on a ride around her home roads in southern Quebec. This year it's back using a Strava segment Gran Fondo format. That means the "racing" will be only on the timed segments along the course. Lowest cumulative time for the segments wins. Awards, raffle prizes & post race food at the finish.n 100km (62miles) 95% dirt/gravel road. C'est Bon!

October 8th: Braintree 5 Gravel Grind
Randolph, VT. Short, hard, and very steep but worth the ride. Braintree Gap is one of the hardest climbs in New England. The route covers the 5 roads that cross Braintree Hill with 5k feet of climbing in only 35 miles. Strava segment KOM contest for the climbs. The Central VT Brewfest in at the finish. Each rider gets 2 beer tickets too! 35 miles 80% dirt, Strava KOM contest.


October 8th: The Formidable Terra Ride
Lexington, MA: Overland Base is adding a dirt road/trail option to their Formidable ride this year. The Terra route is approximate 40% dirt over 110 miles & 8000 feet of climbing. 5 timed sections if you want to get your race on. Breakfast, 2 sag stops, & dinner at the end. Mechanical support provided. Overland organizes some of the best & toughest events in New England.
November 20th: Grafton Cheese Grater Adventure Ride
Grafton, VT. It might be snowy, it will likely be cold enough. One last dirt road event before ski season, 45 miles, 80% dirt roads & trails, some ridge views & chilly descents. No rolling support so bring enough gear to fix things yourself.

Bucket List Events:

Paris to Ancaster Race, Ancaster, Ontario

Almanzo 100, Springvalley MN

Dirty Kanza 200, Emporia KS

Crusher in Tushar, Beaver Utah

PCL Gravel Worlds, Lincoln, NE

L'Eroica, various, Gaiole in Chianti, Italy

Three Peaks, Yorkshire Dales, UK

these events draw thousands of cyclists, and they sell out early so plan a year in advance.


This is a working list. I will add events as new ones come up. If you are a promoter and want to add information or other events, email me & I'll be happy do so. Enjoy the ride.

*disclaimer: these are only the events that I am aware of, but I've attempted as comprehensive a list as possible.