Monsters in the Basement: Cycling in Concord

BY DAVID ROSENBAUM

Have you ever seen a Monster? Odds are, if you drive through Concord Center early on a weekday, or West Concord on a Saturday morning, you probably have. Maybe more than one! Monsters in the Basement is a cycling club based in Concord and has about 200 active members, mostly from Concord and surrounding towns but some from all over the country.

The club took its first steps in 2002 when Dan Holin, a newcomer to Concord, met his new neighbor Mark Prior and they started riding stationary bikes together in Mark’s basement. When the spring came, they invited others from their neighborhood to join, and the Monsters were born. The group holds organized rides for anyone who likes to ride. Every Saturday morning the group meets in West Concord to ride 30-100 miles. They split into four groups of riders to accommodate different speeds:

• Hubsters: 14-16 mph average • Shifters: 16-18 mph average • Cranksters: 18-20 mph average • Spinsters: 20-22 mph average

Shifters and above ride in packs called “pacelines”, while the Hubsters tend to be a bit more relaxed, and not packed as tightly. Monsters also have rides on other mornings, and there is a group that rides from West Concord to the top of Mount Wachusett and back before 9:00 am regularly during the summer.

Concord is an incredibly popular place to ride for cyclists from all over the Boston area. Because it is outside Route 128, historic, and darned pretty, you will see groups from all over come through on weekends. Fern’s in Carlisle is a well-known stop for cyclists, as is Monument Square and the Harvard General Store in Harvard. Concord also has bike-friendly drivers, who considerately share the road!

Cycling in Concord doesn’t have to be for serious fitness nuts, though, as there are lots of opportunities to ride for fun and sightseeing around town. While the streets may be intimidating for some, there are also the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the Reformatory Branch Trail which take you on more sheltered rides.

The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail currently starts at Powder Mill Road near Stone Root and takes you to the prison. An extension to Acton, with a bridge over Route 2, is in the works, and that will join with the older part of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in 2022, but for now, you can start in Acton and ride the trail all the way to Lowell!

The Reformatory Branch Trail begins at Lowell Road opposite Concord Market and will take you on a dirt trail all the way to Bedford, at the start of the Minuteman Bikeway. It is a beautiful and historic ride, but make sure your bike can handle the ruts and occasional mud that you’ll encounter. On both trails, you’ll need to be aware of pedestrians, and make sure to warn them before you pass!

Lots of folks ride around Concord for exercise, fun, or just transportation. On any warmish day, you will see people riding bikes heading into town for shopping, coffee, or more. Concord also has a Bike-to-School program, which many riders (including Monsters) have sponsored to help kids get in the habit of riding to school. If you do ride, you are encouraged to wear a helmet and put lights on your bike (front and back) to increase your visibility. Being seen makes you safer!

If you are interested in riding with The Monsters, please join the mailing list via the link on our site for more details.

David Rosenbaum is a Concord resident and a proud Monster since 2018. When he’s not cycling, brewing beer, or heading up the Concord Carlisle Neighbors Club, his day job is Solutions Engineer for Kaltura, Inc.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Monsters in the Basement: monsterscycling.com | Bruce Freeman Rail Trail: brucefreemanrailtrail.org Reformatory Branch Trail: traillink.com/trail/reformatory-branch-trail | Minuteman Bikeway: minutemanbikeway.org

Find more fascinating articles in the complete 2021 Guide to the Great Outdoors here: discoverconcordma.com.