bikegeek57

huh? no that can't be right. heart is still beating... not dead yet.... have eyes.... just about does it. you got the right demographic. :-0

BlazingPedals

At my age, I can watch the Girls Gone Wild, but I can't catch them anymore.

BluesDawg

Daytona and the wild girls sounds fun, but no-go on ratworld. Been there, done that. Satisfied that requirement and I never have to go back again, ever.

ro-monster

Before we derail this thread completely, can we pick a location? So far it seems like Eugene has generated the most interest, and we have a volunteer to coordinate an event there. I'm willing to help out with that but I don't have enough spare time to be in charge of it.

bjjoondo 

Humm, it's the 60 miles to Denver, (no real easy way to get to Denver from Co. Springs, RATS!) , then seeing IF Amtrack would have a place for two full size hybrids, (geeze makes them sound like SUV's, LOL), ya it would be cool to be able to pick up a Bike Friday Tandem, there, ride the event and take the train back!! Have to buy extra lotto tickets for awhile!

zonatandem

Eugene area is a great . . . not only could you visit Bike Friday, but also Co-Motion; they are only a few miles apart in Eugene.
Just finished 3 months in northern Utah . . . nice!

BengeBoy 

I'd be interested in a Eugene meet-up, subject to dates, etc. Pretty easy for me to get to Eugene (I could even ride there...)

Not sure how much help I could provide in organizing it but if folks traveling to the Pacific Northwest would be interested in riding suggestions/maps/guides/resources on the Washington side of the Pacific Northwest I could help pull together that info.

tsl

Coincidentally, another forum I participate in is discussing rides in Eugene, OR.

https://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum...gon-16694.html

Links to several rides, and to the local bike club, which has dozens of maps and cue sheets.

seenoweevil

Unfortunately, Eugene sounds like a little too great a distance for me to travel in the time I have and with my budget. I was hoping to find an exixting ride in a central location (like Missouri) where we could meet this coming year.

Jim from Boston

I was on the Second Annual Ride at Watkins Glen, NY and had a great time. It seems tsl's involvement, as a great host, wasn't too overbearing since the ride was organized by the Southern Tier Bike Club, and everone made their own arrangements. I myself don't fly and and everyone who participated drove to Watkins Glen. I drove seven hours and seenoevil drove from Alabama! I wonder how many people would be willing to fly with a bike for a three day event?

To me the most practicable suggestion was by Beverly for a ride in Ohio. (Disclaimer: I have family in Michigan I could visit too.)

New England is somewhat geographically removed from the Midwest, never mind the West, but is a very attractive area to ride. If there is any interest, I would be glad to investigate organized, but free-form rides here, similar to the Great Finger Lakes Bicycle Tour.

cyclinfool

Although a Mass/NH/ME/ or VT venue would be perfect for me it is probably not fair because of the location of last years.

miss kenton

IMHO, two separate venues is the most practical answer. Those from opposite sides of the country are unlikely to participate in a ride on the other coast (except for tsl, he seems to be more adventurous than many of us codgers). So, I suppose this begs the question, how far would you be willing to travel for a BF ride?

Jim from Boston

Thanks for your reply, and I note you write from upstate NY. Actually, my post was seconding the idea of two or more regional rides. I think there were about ten or so 50+ BF'ers that came for the Second Annual Ride so I think two regional rides might be sufficient to not spread the concept too thin.

cyclinfool

Sorry Jim - did not pick up on that point.
Multiple locations might make sense. What might make more sense is a day or weekend where - as a member of 50+ - you seek out one or more other members which you have not met and plan a ride together along with report out. I think this might go a long way in strengthening the relationships without taxing most peoples ability to travel much, of course there are a few outliers who are close to no one else. I for one am not retired, I can't afford the time to travel by car and what little time after biking I have is spent with family. I could consider meeting a fellow 50+er for an organized ride somewhere close, but only for the day. This years trip fell on the weekend of my daughters piano concert - there was no way I was going to miss that.

Jim from Boston

FYA, see this recent companion thread:

A priori - purpose (if any) of 50+ "annual ride"
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nual-ride-quot

Not to be a Captain Bringdown, but:

I have attempted to organize a Saturday ride individually with at least three other local Boston subscribers, two of them living within a mile or two of myself—hasn’t happened. We all seem to have different schedules, and we further hadn’t even got to the point of comparing our personal riding speeds. I know of a few local organized riding groups that stratify into a many as four different speeds. In the above cited thread, a notable feature of the Finger Lakes Ride was that every one could ride their own distances and paces.

Furthermore, also of note, a recent thread on the Fifty plus Forum by Miss Kenton made inquiries about setting up an informal riding group, and many of the replies raised liability issues of organizing a ride ; another reason to “glom on” to an organized ride.

Has Anyone Ever Organized a New Biking Group?
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...w-Biking-Group

Even so, about 99% of my riding is solo, incorporated into my year round commute, and I reorganize my busy schedule for only one organized ride a year, a charity ride with a personal appeal to me. The Finger Lakes Tour was, or a Group ride with other BF'ers would have a similar appeal though.

Nonetheless, I have taken a visiting cyclist on a tour of Boston on two different occasions, including helping to get a bike. I would certainly be glad to do likewise for any interested subscribers visiting Boston, or at least provide information about riding around here.

Jim from Boston

This morning I noted this companion thread about future annual Fifty+ BF rides:

"A priori - purpose (if any) of 50+ "annual ride"
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...nual-ride-quot

The first one was in Glenwood Springs CO coordinated by Dnvr Fox. He wrote:

I think that is the answer to your question. Wow, where do you think that guy came from: Labrador? Alaska? Tierra del Fuego? Or closer but he just got lost?

DnvrFox

Answer to which question? "Purpose of 50+ annual ride?" or some other question. I don't think it answers the first question at all. Hopefully, we learn from our experience, and get better rather than simply saying it didn't work perfectly so forget it.

I think he was referring to the round trip distance, which was from FL, and he may have said 5,000 or something similar. The exact mileage wasn't the point.

In any event, he ended up touring through Utah and Colorado, etc., and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the country - which is quite different from Florida.

Jim from Boston

I proposed that answer as a whimsical reply to Miss Kenton's question:

From the context, it sounded like one-way.

Beverly

You have a ride in your area that might serve as a meeting point for some of us. It's the week-long AMBA tour next May. A few of our club members are planning to attend this event.

seenoweevil

Yes, Sorry for not responding about that ride until now. I'm not really excited about that particular ride because it seems expensive to me to not have any meals provided and no partial week fees. However, if you are planning on coming down, I'll plan on riding at least a couple of days! What kind of Southerner would I be otherwise?(Please note this question is completely rhetorical and requires NO conjecture whatsoever!)

Ken Brown

I agree what others have mentioned about meeting others from this forum. That was the best part of the Watkins glen trip.

Will never get a location and dates that work for everyone, even if there were two venues. Personally, I would try to get to an event within a day's drive, so Beverly's suggestion works. Would love to go to Oregon sometime, but its not likely to happen when there is a bike rally.

I suggest picking a venue or two and don't worry that most people won't be able to attend.

BikeWNC

I wouldn't be able to attend an organized ride but I would extend an invitation to anyone on the 50+ forum to join me for a ride in the Smokies. Another BF member and I organized a couple SE BF rides that drew up to 23 people and we all had a great time. I don't want to go to that effort with a large group but if you find yourself in the WNC area, or will be heading this way with your buddies and want to do a bit of climbing , drop me a PM. We have some awesome riding if you are willing to tackle a few climbs.

Monoborracho

If anyone is interested in a springtime ride in the Texas Hill Country, sound off.

seenoweevil

I'm interested, but every time I see the word "hill", I get hives! OK, not really. But I AM interested! I've never been to Texas.

Road Fan

Bump this bad boy too!

Looking back through this, I really like the idea of inviting BFers to join us in Michigan for the One Hell of a Ride, sponsored and managed by the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring society. The ride begins in nearby Chelsea, Michigan, and covers scenic, marked, scouted, supported, and SAGged routes in your choice of distances from about 35 miles to 100 or a bit more. This is the best-run organized ride I have ever been on. I am willing to arrange a group dinner, provide all information to BFers regarding timing, hotels, and other logistics, and be the local contact. Ann Arbor is very easy to get to, being on Interstate 94. So is Chelsea. It's a one-day drive from anywhere in the Northeast, Midwest, Ontario, Mid-atlantic at least to Newport News, west nearly to Colorado, Quebec as far as Montreal, and south nearly to Dallas. Not sure about the Western Canadian provinces, nor about the deeper South, but there's a heck of a lot of access. Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle would be two-day drives.

We need to get the discussion started.

I can get a map of a past route.