Cape Cod ride recs near Eastham (driving possible)

[schvezon]

Hi all,

I'm going to Eastham on the cape for 6 days and am going to bring my road bike. I went last year and seem to remember most of the road bikers just riding on the edge of the freeway that runs down the cape. Any routes that people may recommend?

[jh_on_the_cape]

north on bike path, take right on lecount hollow, left on ocean view dr.
left on gross hill to gull pond
.
cross 6 then up old county to depot. or take collins and then depot old county on the way back.

you will go through truro, that is the only place there is land there.

castle rd
up and out back up corn hill. this is pretty cool
from there yes no roads except the highway and shore rd.

race pt road is nice down through ptown.

basically there aren't many options and you have to ride rt 6 a little. it's really not that bad for the most part.

use the strava routes.

[Buzz Killington]

Eastham north on rail trail to end. Right past Marconi, then left at Beachcomber, cross over 6 into Wellfleet. Through Wellfleet head north on nice quiet roads through Truro. Take 6 north for just 2 miles maybe then jump off 6 and up to Ptown on side streets. Cruise around Ptown, grab a cold Coke, and reverse. Beautiful ride. I can’t remember road names but easy to folllow. Many a summer doing this, but we’ve moved on from Cape vacations.
Sam’s deli in Eastham for sandwiches and snacks was always a go-to for us. Happy memories!

[NHAero]

The little loop trail in the Province Lands NP is only 5-1/2 miles plus a couple of out and back short spur trails to the beaches, but it is very sweet.

https://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvis...bike-trail.htm

[jcs7282]

Not sure if you have a gravel or cx bike, but something with slightly wider tires will open up a ton of mixed terrain loop options, especially riding through Wellfleet and Truro. If that sounds of interest shoot me a PM...I have a ton of Truro/Wellfleet Cape "gravel" (mixed terrain) loops I can share.

[merckx]

Rise before dawn.
Enjoy a half-dozen jelly sinkers from Hole in One in Eastham
Plug into Zwift and ride your chestnuts off for an hour
Skip a shower
Spend the balance of the morning at Coast Guard Beach and walk the inlet
Get lunch at Sam's in Eastham
Rinse off at Long Pond in Wellfleet
Enjoy a drink on the upper deck at the Pearl in Wellfleet
Get dinner at the Bookstore in Wellfleet
Head to the A House in Provincetown and dance your chestnuts off
Stagger home
You're welcome

I've never been to the Cape. Let me know how it works out.

[benb]

All good recommendations.

I rode a bunch of these roads this summer, as I usually do.

I would beware of routing with the GPS. It's an area where things seem to get weird. Plan things carefully and don't leave too much vagueness in the route for the GPS to improvise.

e.x. Rt. 6 is not great, not horrible. But you definitely don't want to take a random left across it cause the GPS is being stupid.

- Herring Brook Rd. from Orleans up through Eastham is one of my favorites

- When that runs out I usually do take the bike path a little at least one of the directions (in/out)

- Nauset Rd/Doane Rd/Ocean View Rd. to go past through the National Seashore is recommended, pavement was quite bad this year though, nothing to worry about but you want modern big road tires

- Commercial St into Wellfleet Harbor is worth seeing, this is an incredibly beautiful Harbor

- In Wellfleet Center I usually pick up West Main Street -> Bound Brook Island Rd -> Old County Rd -> Depot Rd to go from Wellfleet to Truro. This is a very beautiful secluded route. Pavement was bad this year including some torn out sections so you're riding gravel part of it, but I didn't have a gravel bike and was fine.

- I almost always try to plan a stop at the Truro General Store (next door to the Post office) as there aren't that many places to refuel and this place has nice chairs to sit in outside and eat, etc.. and will usually have plenty of cyclists to talk to

- Race Point is Great

- If you go all the way to P-town there are lots of places to get food/refuel there, but it can be very slow to ride through there in season as there can be huge amounts of car and pedestrian traffic. It is worth riding through though, it's quite a scene.

[TimD]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39719116

More rail trail:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43450239

Highland Light is open periodically.

Have fun
Tim

[schvezon]

Originally Posted by merckx

Rise before dawn.
Enjoy a half-dozen jelly sinkers from Hole in One in Eastham
Plug into Zwift and ride your chestnuts off for an hour
Skip a shower
Spend the balance of the morning at Coast Guard Beach and walk the inlet
Get lunch at Sam's in Eastham
Rinse off at Long Pond in Wellfleet
Enjoy a drink on the upper deck at the Pearl in Wellfleet
Get dinner at the Bookstore in Wellfleet
Head to the A House in Provincetown and dance your chestnuts off
Stagger home
You're welcome

I've never been to the Cape. Let me know how it works out.

These are great recs. Thank you. I've done a couple of these things but adding Sam's and The Pearl to the list.

Much Appreciated.

[schvezon]

Originally Posted by Buzz Killington

Eastham north on rail trail to end. Right past Marconi, then left at Beachcomber, cross over 6 into Wellfleet. Through Wellfleet head north on nice quiet roads through Truro. Take 6 north for just 2 miles maybe then jump off 6 and up to Ptown on side streets. Cruise around Ptown, grab a cold Coke, and reverse. Beautiful ride. I can’t remember road names but easy to folllow. Many a summer doing this, but we’ve moved on from Cape vacations.
Sam’s deli in Eastham for sandwiches and snacks was always a go-to for us. Happy memories!

Thank you! A single brush with 6 is optimal. Will route this out.

[schvezon]

Originally Posted by jh_on_the_cape

north on bike path, take right on lecount hollow, left on ocean view dr.
left on gross hill to gull pond
.
cross 6 then up old county to depot. or take collins and then depot old county on the way back.

you will go through truro, that is the only place there is land there.

castle rd
up and out back up corn hill. this is pretty cool
from there yes no roads except the highway and shore rd.

race pt road is nice down through ptown.

basically there aren't many options and you have to ride rt 6 a little. it's really not that bad for the most part.

use the strava routes.

Where on the cape are you? If you knew of any off/mixed terrain routes closer to the thicker part of the Cod, I'd love to know. Even just the name of an area that may have some loops or linked-up open spaces

[jh_on_the_cape]

Originally Posted by schvezon

Where on the cape are you? If you knew of any off/mixed terrain routes closer to the thicker part of the Cod, I'd love to know. Even just the name of an area that may have some loops or linked-up open spaces

I am in Falmouth so upper cape closer to bridges. the dirt here is an area called 'otis'. The biggest trail system is in west barnstable but it's more mountain bike singletrack than mixed.
https://town.barnstable.ma.us/depart...ides/WBARN.pdf
if you are looking for more gravel ish rides they are often on the access road underneath powerlines. I run those a bunch. I don't really gravel bike, not a ton of dirt roads here.
fatbiking on sandy neck is really fun. i think you can rent fatbikes at seasports in hyannis.

[benb]

Yes fatbiking Sandy Neck is amazing.

There is a pretty wild pirate trail that parallels the CCRT and Rt. 6 that goes along quite a bit of the mid cape. It seems like it was cut by dirt bikers.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by jh_on_the_cape

I am in Falmouth so upper cape closer to bridges. the dirt here is an area called 'otis'. The biggest trail system is in west barnstable but it's more mountain bike singletrack than mixed.
https://town.barnstable.ma.us/depart...ides/WBARN.pdf
if you are looking for more gravel ish rides they are often on the access road underneath powerlines. I run those a bunch. I don't really gravel bike, not a ton of dirt roads here.
fatbiking on sandy neck is really fun. i think you can rent fatbikes at seasports in hyannis.

West Barnstable Conservation Area is 1100 acres of single track, wide trails and some minor challenging hill climbs. i ride my cyclocross or gravel bike there often.

If you ride the gravel road under the powerlines, be aware that occasionally a dirt biker or two (or more) maybe out there. Some ride fast, without regard for what may be around the corner...

Feel free to ping me if you want to ride West Barnstable...I'm out there almost every day...its about 1/4 mile from my house.