Shamrock

I ve been thinking about this,thought I'd throw it out there.A bf50 rider takes off in Maine rides and hands off a baton to another rider or riders. This continues across the country.Sort of a pony express to California.Of course we can adjust to touch any or all states.Id be willing to ride some miles across NJ.Perhaps we could vote on a charity and ask the riders to donate to the cause.This would give a purpose and make it interesting. I know nothing about the legal or insurance end of it or if bf would let us carry this out.What do you think?

Biker395 

I like it!

Ursa Minor

Very cool idea. I'd be willing to take the baton from Santa Barbara to Goleta!

Charlie

NOS88

I also like the idea. Who's really good with logistics?

cplager

That's actually a very cool idea.

As far as I can tell, we ought to just send our locations to Shamrock and then when he gets enough, he can plot a path.

(Norwalk, CT)

Cheers,
Charles

FMB42

I too think it's a great idea. A bit surprised that I haven't heard of it sooner. Meanwhile, IIRC, a similar thing was done with RC fixed wing aircraft models. To me this suggests that it is indeed a viable idea. As for the "insurance" issue, you could have everyone involved sign a waiver (you'd probably need an attorney for this tho).

Little Darwin

I haven't been too involved in this forum lately, but I would be happy to take a short leg on a relay, but I am kind of "off the beaten path" as they say. I would be willing to drive a couple of hours to fill a gap though.

tigat

Awesome idea. Given the way the wind blows, maybe we'd want to start on the left coast. Based on their superb ride posts and epic achievements. Vic and Rick could probably carry the torch as far as the Continental Divide, and it's all down hill from there.

02Giant 

If timed right, it could be transported across Iowa during RAGBRI.

Retro Grouch 

During the bicentennial, somebody had the idea for a hands across America event. Initially it sounded like a good idea, but the logistics proved to be too difficult to pull off.

The shortest, most direct route is around 3,000 miles so that's thirty 100 mile riders. We can't get 30 riders together to do a 50+ ride.

bruce19

I think it's a brilliant idea. And, should it be done, it needs publicity in every state.

JanMM

very doable but could take a while, which wouldn't be a bad thing. As long as whoever has the baton doesn't fall off the face of the earth or lose interest in, or log-in privileges to, Bike Forums.
Should be no issues with liability/legal issues, as it wouldn't be an organized ride, just folks carrying a baton (or something else?) as they ride.
Would be interesting to see a US map with locations of all BF/50+ contributors. (There could be side trips to the Land of the Canucks, too.)

NOS88

I wonder if the something else should be a GPS so that a map of the route taken could be published?

gabedad

I like it. I am in eastern mass

Cougrrcj

It'd be like the Olympic Torch run... Non-stop 24/7. That'd be awesome! For NE Ohio, I'm in! Take US 6 across the whole state - and it is flat! Same with US 6 across northern Indiana and skirt south of Chitcago...

Biker395 

Re the route ... you could to one of the established routes. I think Adventure Cycling has one, as does Cycle America. The benefit there is that the relative suitability of the route is already established.

Ursa Minor

I'd be willing to drive somewhere do 100 miles with the torch etc.

Charlie

Black wallnut 

I like the idea but what I see so far is that the supporters live in states with dense populations. Out here in the west there are vast spaces between members. I suspect along Route 66 it will be the same.

lhbernhardt

I see this cartoon. A cyclist has taken the baton and he's put it in his back jersey pocket. He rides over a very bumpy road. Approaching the next handoff, he reaches back for the baton, but it's not there, probalby fallen out and somewhere back in the last 100 miles... oops.

Luis

BigAura

No problem. The baton has a Spot Trace built in, for live tracking.

BigAura

I say no specified route. Anyone who moves the baton agrees to advance it some "predetermined amount" closer to the final destination.

Steve B.

A "Cycle for Safety" baton.

You hand it off to another rider. That rider has their local news outlet covering as well, with the message of share the road. No stopping it, Maine to California could be a first run, but maybe every state then back to the start. No route, just get it to the next rider on time. People sign up on a website, maybe have alternative riders to ride along and "cover" in case somebody doesn't show or drops out.

Probably needs a few laps around NYC and other big metro area's where running down cyclists seems sporting.

downtube42

An option that would reduce logistics would be a virtual baton. Use Strava or another GPS tracking site to move the virtual baton. All you have to do to pick up the baton is touch the previous rider's path, and ride further along the course.

Hmm, an interprising person could write an app...

Balsawings

This sounds like a fantastic idea. The southern most point in the US would have to be included. I'll cover the 120 miles from Homestead to Key West Florida. The idea of a virtual baton is a good way to also include Hawaii and Alaska. Of course if you included Canada for coverage of all of North America, Alaska would be easier to include.

Someone needs to start a web site for registration in order to track and map the willing participants.

Bob

Shamrock

I haven't been around due to family.All I can say is little kids are little problems and big kids are big problems.I have big kids.Ibelieve we had 23 replies.The eye opener was how many people we really needed to make this happen.Its a lot more than 23.Well the seed has been planted if more come around great.

I think this will happen we just need the right crew at the right time.2 years ago this would have happened.Ill try again. Thanks for all of your input!