The geographic center of the continguous 48 is Smith Center, Kansas. There's a monument in the middle of a field that marks the exact spot. Trust me on this, it's not close to ANYTHING.

FWIW, I kinda like the ride suggested by Jim. It works for me. It starts about 14 to 16 miles from the Amtrak station, and train fare from ROC is only $100 R/T. Lodging seems plentiful and is relatively cheap.

The ride looks like you could cut 38 miles from the 103 for a 65. I have a hard time with any activity for more than 4 or 5 hours and I'm not fast enough to do a century in that time, so a metric option is ideal for me.

Google maps shows lots of bike path options for touring around the area before and after the event too. I like that Google routes me right though the middle of Boston Common on the way from the train station to the bike path along the Charles. Seems like an interesting way to get from point A to point B.

I should have mentioned that Eugene does have thirty or forty miles of bike paths, all flat, along the Willamette River and Amazon Creek, and nearby Cottage Grove has an extensive path system around Dorena Lake (It's a bit of a ride between the two cities, but there is the option of a bus or car). Those are both fit for folks who like to ride gently, or even walk, to a picnic.

As far as reaching Eugene goes, we're in the middle of one train line (Coast Starlight) that connects SoCal with Seattle and at the end of another (Cascades) that connects Eugene to Vancouver, B.C. Our airport is barely worth mentioning, but there is light rail service to the Portland Amtrak station from PDX and then train service from Portland to Eugene. As always, there is the option of using a car. Eugene is on I-5, the major north-south artery of the West Coast.

Oregon is nice, and semi local... Depending on details I'd be interested.

That's the absolute truth. Once you leave the KC area, there is not much out there between Topeka and Wichita. Just "miles and miles of wheat" and empty stares.

Marc

One of the issues Jim was struggling with was lodging. Are there going to be reasonably price options for people unaccustomed to Boston's rates?

Marc

Thanks DF, YES, I was suggesting for "2013", it's a yearly ride and it's as Centraly Located as any other event in Kansas! Have a most excellent day!:thumb:

I would love to join next year. Anywhere on the EC makes it doable, WC not so much. Looking to ride the Assault on Mt. Mitchell (SC into NC) next May so that's one road trip for the bike habit already. Either way I will bookmark and hope I can make it. BTW... Boston would be sweet!:thumb:

Can anyone here write optimization software? We need to find the desirable cycling venue that is within 500 miles of the largest number of 50-plussers! Actually if an analysis can find several such venues around the country, we will have found the group of best locations for 50+ rides.

I understand the issue with early summer rides, but July riding last year was a recipe for excess heat exposure - all through July!

Seriously, I think we need a west coast ride. We're leaving them out. I can't commit I'll be set to travel there, but it's fair.

I would be very much interested in this ride as well. I've never been up to Oregon and would love to do so.....especially for a ride!!!

Wow, what happened....did I kill the thread???:cry:

The wife and I are planning to be in Portland between 6/27 and 7/7, so if this does become west coast ride and it happens near Portland over those dates then I'll be in.

Still love the idea of the Boston area too.

Yep. Some people are thread killers, others are thread promoters. Sorry about that! :)

(As we are discussing 2013, it is likely that there may not be a lot of discussion all the time. Somehow, we manage to muddle through, though).

Sorry that I took so long to reply, but we have a long way to next summer. I'm glad to see Boston is still under consideration. Here’s some of the basic logistics:

THE RIDE:
This will be the fourth annual ride sponsored by a cycling advocacy group, MASS BIKE (presumably they will organize it for 2013). This year, the date was not announced until May or June for the ride on July 28, and usually it is around the last weekend in July.

As they describe it: “All rides (8, 26, 47, 62 and 100 miles) will traverse the heart of American Revolutionary history, from Paul Revere’s Ride through Lexington and Concord, to nearby battlefields. Longer rides visit the towns and villages that sent the first Minutemen. After the rides, everyone is invited to stay at Lexington High School for lunch and socializing. Lunch will be provided by Redbones! [A local, well-regarded BBQ joint that’s bike-friendly—they even have valet bike-parking. :D] The terrain, IMO, is gently rolling hills.
For details, see: !http://massbike.org/summer-century-family-ride/

BOSTON:
Besides the Ride, the downtown of Boston is presumably a second point of interest to draw riders. The MASS BIKE Ride itself starts about 15 miles west of downtown Boston. So if visitors would like to maximize their time here, they would have to consider where to stay to encompass both the ride and touring the city.

Because the downtown is compact and walkable, the major sites can be seen within one day or less. I have taken visitors on a satisfying four-hour walking tour of about five miles. We live just on the outskirts of the downtown, in Kenmore Square, less than about two miles from the Boston Common.

LODGING:
In general, hotels in Boston proper and vicinity are more expensive than in the Midwest, though the rates decrease farther from downtown. There are some hotels near the starting point of the ride, Lexington, MA. I have perfunctorily searched for campsites, and the few there are are pretty far from Boston and Lexington.

The cheapest alternatives are that perhaps we could provide floor or couch space for a few riders (not more than four), but this is not a promise. A new Boston Youth Hostel has opened in downtown Boston so you might want to check availability (bostonhostel.org). There are several colleges in the area, but I don't know what their policies are about rentals of dorm rooms. There are also fraternities and sororities, which I think allow alums to stay short-term. Finally, perhaps some visitors have friends or relatives in Boston and environs who could accommodate them for a summer weekend.

Boston, one of my favorite US cities. I may have to take part in this one.

Great post, Jim From Boston. I'm from the south shore (Hingham, if you're familiar with that) and I always love finding a reason to return.

Could we approach a hotel for a block of rooms at a reduced "group rate"? Possible idea, I have a friend that has use a similar approach with a hotel for a family function, and this could get us affordable rooms for those that want to participate.

Thanks for the post.

Thanks for your replies. jdon, you may be amused that your nemesis, Miss Kenton is favorably inclined to a Boston Ride:
Great idea.We'll have to see how many serious participants accrue. I discovered Hingham over the past couple years, and I was particularly enchanted by Rte 228. I have a vague recollection that that road was a particular favorite of Mrs. Rose Kennedy, probably on their way to Hyannisport.

Knowledge of the cost of accommodations this far in advance will prompt me to budget for the trip, and I do like a destination within a reasonable driving distance. At five hours, Boston fits the bill for me and I really would like to see the city. I'm in for Boston.

Blueberry Capitol of the world...I've seen Boardwalk Empire, that's got to be Hammonton. We're practically neighbors!

+1.

I'm very good at saving up for something specific. I'm very bad at dipping into existing savings on a whim. Which explains why I have existing savings.

And I'm all for seeing what sort of calamities may befall Miss Kenton on the ride. ;)

Thanks for the heads up. I'll start stocking up on cootie spray now.:p

Hammonton is correct, but I don't actually live there; I am even closer to Southampton than if I did live in Hammonton!

Oh tsl, things will be different this trip as I intend to wrest the helm from the captain and retain full possession of maps, cameras, cash, and KEYS! The bike rack was replaced immediately upon return from the Finger Lakes. I can't swear to there being no misadventures next trip, but they won't be as a result of what went before. Hell hath no fury like a woman with her bike trapped on the car. ;)

That would be my arrival. :)

I just wanted to keep this thread alive and kicking. I work a job where I have to plan my vacations a year in advance, and if I am interested in making this trip I will need to have some advance notice.

Is there an idea when this may happen? This will be the first 50+ ride that I will participate in so I'm not sure how you guys have handled the planning in previous years. Anyway I would still love to see this happen in Boston, so hopefully the planning may begin sometime soon.

Thanks, hope this works out.