This weekend, about 30 cyclists will pack their appetites for a one-day excursion that aims to highlight New England’s fall flavors.
On Sunday, the second annual Bikes & Bites: Culinary Bike Tour will make stops in Concord’s Verrill Farm for for apple pie, cider and a hay ride before taking a tour of Walden Pond, then finally pulling in at Tryst restaurant in Arlington for an Autumn-inspired meal.
North Shore resident Julia Frost participated in the 35-mile bike ride last year to give her new hybrid bicycle a whirl in a less urban landscape, and also to indulge in some of the tastes of the tour.
“To arrive tired and hungry and ready for a meal in a comfy booth – it was definitely inviting,” Frost said of the culinary tour’s culmination at Tryst.
“Dining should be an experience, and this is the ultimate New England experience,” said Tryst chef Paul Turano.
All that peddling and eating begs the question: are cramps an issue?
Frost said no: “It’s not just a little jaunt around town. It’s not so much about how much you’re eating, it’s what you’re eating. You have to be your own judge and know when to stop (eating). For the most part people seemed fine with it.”
One rule, however – cyclists must partake in helmet use.
“All guests, whether renting or not, are required to wear a helmet Without a helmet, guests will not be permitted to ride,” a spokeswoman for the event said.
