The Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée, or D2R2, is a series of dirt road rides in the hilltowns of Franklin County, Massachusetts, ranging from 19km to 180km. The ride has been organized as a fundraiser for the Franklin Land Trust since 2005, and runs on the “narrowest, oldest, twistiest, quietest, and most-scenic roads available.”

The ride philosophy is one of self-reliance. Riders must navigate the unmarked routes via cue sheets, and support vehicles are not permitted. Any punctures or other “mechanicals” must be dealt with by the riders (or their riding buddies) on the spot.

The next run is Aug. 18, 2018. More information is available here, and registration is here.

We’re not currently considering entering the ride (our tastes run more towards smooth pavement). Our attention was brought to it by the beautiful Jamie R.’s 650b light tourer from Chapman Cycles. Proud owner Jamie rode the D2R2 last year as a shake-down ride.