Taking The Scenic Route

There’s no better way to shed the winter blues than by switching gears into cycling season. Toss on a helmet and let’s hit the trails.

Photo by Alison Caron

READY..SET...RIDE!

Cape Cod Rail Trail

Distance: 22 miles
Parking: The trailhead at Route 134, South Dennis; Nickerson State Park, Route 6A, Harwich; The trailhead at LeCount Hollow Road, South Wellfleet
Difficulty: Beginner/intermediate- mostly flat, road crossings, slight curves and corners

The Cape Cod Rail trail, its name comes from the 1800s railway running parallel to the route, is one of the longest, diverse trails on the Cape. The scenic trail extends through the picturesque towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, all the way up to Wellfleet, with a nice backdrop of cranberry bogs and fresh water ponds. Refuel with goodies at the Pleasant Lake General Store in Harwich, or lounge a little longer at a sit down restaurant like Ardeo (Mediterranean) or El Guapo’s Taqueria (Mexican) right off the trail in Brewster. By Nickerson State Park is Cobie’s Clam Shack if you’re craving a fresh seafood snack or a cold ice cream treat for a quick cool down. Toward Eastham and Wellfleet, signs direct riders to the Salt Pond Visitors Center at Cape Cod National Seashore, easily accessing the National Seashore trails that continue north up to beautiful Coast Guard, Nauset Light, and Marconi Beach.

Cape Cod Canal Bikeway

Distance: 7-8 miles
Parking: Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center, 60 Ed Moffitt Drive, Sandwich
Difficulty: Beginner- smooth, flat, no hills

Pack a picnic and spend the afternoon cycling along the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. This paved route is a great place for beginners to feel comfortable and relaxed with only non-motorized vehicles permitted. Feel accomplished and rejuvenated as you ride from bridge to bridge, and absorb the seaside surroundings.

Shining Sea Bikeway

Distance: 10.6 miles
Parking: County Road, North
Falmouth; Depot Avenue,
Falmouth; The Steamship
Authority, Woods Hole
Difficulty: Beginner/intermediate- paved, flat, smooth, few hills

The best part about riding along the Shining Sea Bikeway is its natural beauty, safety, and a strong sense of the Cape Cod community. This 10.6 mile journey from North Falmouth to Woods Hole has leisurely pit stops as well as several places to park and ride. Take a turn into Falmouth Center, for shopping and enjoy the local markets along the way, offering tasty sandwiches (West Falmouth Market) and fresh produce (Jack in the Beanstalk). Soak up the sun at Oyster Pond, Trunk River and Great Sippewissett Marsh (with a pacifying deck area overlooking the pond). For a real visual treat, take Surf Drive down to Surf Drive Beach, directly facing Vineyard Sound.

Trail of Tears

Distance: 15+ miles
Parking: Service Road entrance, located off Route 149 just south of Route 6, West Barnstable
Difficulty: Intermediate/advanced—steep hills, bumps, curves, corners

No, the name Trail of Tears doesn’t mean you’ll be crying
by the time you finish (let’s hope not anyway), but if you are
looking for more of a roller coaster bike ride, you’ve found the right trail. Embark upon an exciting journey on narrow, winding dirt paths running through the West Barnstable Conservation Area. The atmosphere is calming, but you are going to get quite a work-out. On the other side of Route 149 is Otis Atwood
Conservation area, with even more opportunities to challenge your physical endurance.

Pedal Pushing for a Cause…

The Last Gasp

One of the Cape’s most athletic and socially uplifting annual bike riding events, this 62 mile bike ride-for-a-cause is followed by a Cape Cod Bay cruise, and ends with an authentic Cape Cod clambake. For the past 20 years, participants have held onto their handlebars, from Sandwich to Provincetown, for this three day challenge. 100 percent of the proceeds will be directed to the charity that each rider chooses. For more information in the September 18–20 ride, visit www.thelastgasp.com

Cape Cod Getaway

Over 2,000 people—casual bikers, novice
riders, and cycling enthusiasts, gather together for one of the largest Multiple Sclerosis bike rides, a fundraising event of The National
Multiple Sclerosis Society. In their 27th year,
riders will begin in Boston, journeying through a mix of roads, while taking in each town as they make their way across the Cape Cod Canal and to the finish line in Provincetown. For information about this year’s Cape Cod Getaway, June 25–26, visit www.bikemsgne.org.

Rent and Ride

Art’s Bike Shop
Rental rate: $20–$45 per day (hourly options)
Styles: Mountain, tandem, children’s, trailers, attachable baby seats
Closest Trail: 1/10 mile from beginning of Shining Sea Bikeway

An avid rider of the Shining Sea Bikeway himself, Art has been welcoming fellow riders into his bike shop for over 25 years, providing folks with all their bike needs, and a run down of the route. Also a member of the Friends of Falmouth Bikeways, Art is a steward for a portion of the path, helping to maintain a clean and safe riding environment.
91 County Rd., North Falmouth, 508.563.7379, www.artsbikeshop.com

Bike Zone
Rental rate: $20-$50 per day
Styles: Mountain, tandem, beach cruisers, trailers
Closest Trail: Trail of Tears, West Barnstable (ten minute drive)

Nearby Hyannis Harbor, pedal down to the boardwalk and a harbor-side lunch at one of the handful of restaurants along the water, browse the artisan sheds and cruise on up the road (less than a ¼ of a mile) to the JFK Memorial at Veteran’s Beach. For the more adventurous, toss your rentals on to the ferry and head over to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket for the day. 323 Barnstable Rd., Hyannis, 508.775.3299

Barbara’s Bike Shop
Rental rate: $12 first hour, every half-hour after is $1, $22 maximum per day (styles vary in price)
Styles: Mountain, triathlon, tandem, adult hand cycles, three-wheeled adult tricycles, children’s, tagalongs, attachable baby seats, bike racks
Closest Trail: Cape Cod Rail Trail Rent and ride! Barbara’s Bike Shop is located at the very beginning of the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Dennis, so you needn’t worry about any extra traveling. And if you don’t feel like taking the trip all way back once you’ve biked far up the lower Cape, feel free to drop off your rental at their other Nickerson State Park location in Brewster. 430 Route 134, South Dennis, 508.760.4723, www.barbsbikeshop.com

Idle Times Bicycles
Rental rate: $18-$40 per day
Styles: Mountain, road racing, tandem, flat handlebar, tagalongs, recumbent (seat is almost even with pedals, reducing stress on body)
children’s, and trailers
Closest Trail: Cape Cod Rail Trail, National Seashore trails
4550 Route 6, North Eastham, 508.255.8281 (Orleans
shop: 508.240.1122), www.idletimesbikes.com

Ever try a tandem two-seater? Set off on a romantic bike ride through Eastham with a special someone. Park your wheels by the dunes and take a stroll on one of the secluded beach areas, only steps away from the trail routes.


Little Capistrano Bike Shop
Rental rate: $23-$45 per day, $19 for 8 hours (standard styles)
Styles: Mountain, hybrid, old Schwinn retro cruisers (in tandem too!), children’s, trailers (recumbent, adult trikes, and joggers available at Eastham location)
Closest Trail: Cape Cod Rail Trail, National Seashore trails

This cozy Eastham bike shop is in a prime location, at the head of the Cape Cod Rail Trail and across the road from The National Seashore trails. 30 Salt Pond Rd., Eastham, 508.255.6515, and 1446 Route 6, South Wellfleet (opens Memorial
Day weekend), 508.349.2363, www.capecodbike.com