Welcome to the other Martha’s Vineyard! Away from the yachts, crowded beaches and busy roads. Ticks, rain and poison ivy await you!
MVMT Martha’s Vineyard Mixed Terrain!
What the heck is Martha’s Vineyard Mixed Terrain?
The term “gravel ride” has as many different definitions as the words “gravel bike” which can lead to confusion, disappointment and spilled coffee! The boundaries of a gravel ride are very blurred here and lots of time will be spent on easy singletrack, not just dirt roads. Expect to do some underbiking at some point on any unpaved route in this zine! Adventure awaits you!
I’ve always used the term mixed-terrain and I think that word perfectly conveys the style of riding here. This amazing island is crisscrossed by a network of scenic backroads, dirt roads, bikepaths, singletrack, doubletrack and more! There is also a protected patchwork of public land that you can connect to provide endless route options to avoid cars, busy roads and sometimes roads in general! It’s pretty dang amazing.
Gravel and adventure bikes will very much feel at home in this terrain. Or a cyclocross bici, especially if you can jam at least 40’s in there. Fatter tires for rougher terrain are more important that faster tires; the sweet spot here is probably 42mm – 47mm, Bonus points if you are tubeless to help fight off all the bull briars.
Spicy 3 Lighthouse Tour mixed terrain route Three lighthouses in three different towns! Simply calling this a gravel route would be unfair and inaccurate. It is a typical Martha’s Vineyard mixed terrain route with dirt roads, backroads, busy roads, doubletrack, easy singletrack and everything in between. Ride it straight through or take the day to enjoy the scenery and eat and snack along the way.
