This past weekend was another opportunity to take some long bike rides, get off the beaten path, and do some exploring. I was up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, and the area provided some great rides along the beach, through nature refuges, and over gravel roads.

Stopping to take in the views is a necessity. It was a bit cloudy, but my new friend the seagull approved.

All along the coast were some interesting boardwalks. I guess the clouds scared away the beach-goers, as it was surprisingly empty out there as I rolled along the paths.

The various inlets in the nature refuge were a habitat for many waterfowl and seabirds. Ducks, geese, herons, and even swans were spotted during the ride.

Into the woods for a bit before we get onto the gravel.

Gravel roads; exactly what I built this bike for.  The gravel bike, or the “all-road” (whatever you want to call it), is made to perform and feel like a road bike with the ability to take you on any terrain you can throw at it. I built this Montague FIT folding bike frame with a SRAM Force groupset, drop bars, disc brakes, and 33c semi-knobby tires.

This part of the day’s ride was incredibly fun. Some sections were pretty loose but for the most part it was flat and fast. The carbon fiber fork on the FIT, and the carbon Whisky 7 rims combined to do an excellent job of damping vibrations from the rough road. It was impossible not to smile while pedaling through this stuff, kicking up dirt and laying down a few skids just for fun.

After a long day of riding, we needed a swim, some BBQ, and a bit of summer celebration. The next day, I headed back to Boston on the Commuter Rail train, with my FIT folded right next to me.