Ride suggestions around Somerville, MA

I will be in Somerville, MA next Saturday, April 22nd, and would like
ride suggestions.

I am looking to do a ride of from 40 to 100 miles, flat to few hills.

I will not have a car, but don't mind busy roads if I need to take them
to get to an area with nice riding.

If anyone is looking for a ride companion, I am a slow rider who enjoys
long rides.

Rick Poleshuck

wrote:
I will be in Somerville, MA next Saturday, April 22nd, and would like
ride suggestions.

I am looking to do a ride of from 40 to 100 miles, flat to few hills.

I will not have a car, but don't mind busy roads if I need to take
them to get to an area with nice riding.

I think your best bet is to head west. To avoid the big hills, stay on
either Mass. Ave. or the Minuteman Path, a popular multi-use trail.

The path will take you as far as Bedford. You have a lot of options from
there. This is the shortest flattest route to nice biking. I'm afraid it
isn't pancake flat, but with planning you can avoid the big hills. For a
long ride, you could probably put together something that went as far west
as Groton & back that only had moderate hills, or south to Sherborn.

I suggest buying a copy of Rubel's cycling map for Eastern Massachusetts to
plan the rest of your route. The maps are sold at bike shops in Somerville
and at the end of the bike path in Bedford.

Note that on the morning of Saturday, April 22, there is an historical
reenactment of the Battle of Arlington (1775) planned along Mass. Ave in
Arlington. If this interests you you can work it into your itinerary; if it
does not I suggest sticking to the Minuteman Path as Mass. Ave. will be
essentially closed.

Alternatively you could ride north to Malden, or east onto Boston to North
Station, and take a commuter train to the North Shore. Bikes are allowed on
the trains on weekends. This is very pleasant biking. You could ride along
the coast and back as far as you like. The downside is that trains don't run
that often and getting to the train would be a bit of a hassle.

Whatever you decide I hope you have good weather, and please be careful--the
drivers here are absolutely nuts.

Oops, correction:

The historical reenactment that will close Mass. Ave. on Arlington is
scheduled for Saturday *afternoon,* not morning.

I wrote:
Note that on the morning of Saturday, April 22, there is an historical
reenactment of the Battle of Arlington (1775) planned along Mass. Ave
in Arlington. If this interests you you can work it into your
itinerary; if it does not I suggest sticking to the Minuteman Path as
Mass. Ave. will be essentially closed.

Many thanks