irwin7638

We've had seven suggestions for rides next year. Vote for any or all that you would realistically be able to attend. Multiple votes are ok, I myself may be able to attend more than one ride if they materialize. Hopefully there is enough interest to justify 2 or three regional rides.

I posted the poll to last for 14 days, so we could give it some thought.

Marc

rdtompki

I'm in California (obviously) so I'm a bit geographically challenged. I could drive as far as Denver and I'd love to see the area other than from an airplane; would be a solo expedition since wife and I are not riding the tandem at the moment. El Tour de Tuscon is an ok event, but not all that scenic; it's an "experience". Las Vegas in September: some risk of blazing temperatures, but definitely an event destination.

irwin7638

Well, this is good, we've had the poll posted for 1 day and 115 views. I hope they will all be placing some kind of vote after they have thought about it a bit.

Marc

miss kenton

Marc,
I think the poll is a good way to clearly see which choices are popular. I also think that every one of these rides could be successful.
As in past years, what it boils down to is an individual(s) willingness to step forward to provide the necessary information in regards to creating a route, or finding a organized ride in which the group can participate. In addition to spending a considerable amount of time investigating the ride itself; distances, routes, amenities, fees, etc., it would likely involve providing information about nearby lodging/campgrounds, possible social activities, meeting up points and such. Some may find that a bit too challenging, but I believe that is how all previous rides came together and I am grateful to those that did for the rides in which I was able to attend.

Jim from Boston

Done, and I even found the posts from the First Annual Ride, which I did not attend.

This anthology illustrates how nicely these Rides turn out, even with the planning as Marc described,

Bikey Mikey

The only one I could possibly attend would be the one in Boston, but other parts of the country should get their turn too. Maybe two rides on different parts of the country so that more than one region can be easily served.

irwin7638

That is what we are working towards, hoping for a get together on each coast and one in the middle.

Marc

Shamrock

My wife is not much of a cyclist anyone else bringing a spouse that most likely would not ride?

rdtompki

I can certainly pull together ride, hotel and restaurant info in Northern California. I'm just not familiar with the rides down south (Socal) to know which smaller rides would be suitable for planning a weekend around. Can someone from Southern California chime in?

Request for Help in the SoCal sub-forum

Pamestique 

I posted the following in So Cal - I am sure you will get other good responses:

Cool Breeze Century - August - from Ventura to Goleta and back. See cibike.org for other ride options.

Palm Springs Century - February - obviously lots of resort lodging and lots of ride options.

Cruising the Conejo - May - N Valley/Camarillo area.

Big Ring Century - June - Orange County. This was the first year and hopefully there will be a next (so its still very small). It's a nice route (one I do parts of alot) and you can't beat Orange County for weather/lodging/route options. More info on OC routes go to bikeirvine.org or ocr.com.

Do something around Big Ring - and I am your volunteer! Just remember few rides in So Cal are "small" unless they are extremely challenging and not for the faint at heart!

Nice thing about OC there are great options for mountain biking as well. I could set up a private tour of Limestne Canyon, Fremont or Weir if anyone is interested.

Pamestique 

Not trying to sell Orange County but for a non-riding spouse there is lots to do here. There are the beautiful beaches, great shopping, theme parks, good dining etc. And freeway close to LA and San Diego...

Jim from Boston

Boston is quite an interesting place to visit, with plenty of activities for the non-rider. Depending on where you stay, a car is not necessary to get around. The car then can be used by the rider to get to the start of the Ride, usually out in a far suburb.

BTW, Shamrock, I recall a recent post by you making inquires about riding around Gloucester, MA (about 30 miles north of Boston), and I replied to your post. How did that visit go?

irwin7638

It looks like the coastal rides are getting traction, Sonoma in the west with Tucson a close second. Boston is getting good support and, in the midwest we are neck in neck between the Katy Trail and Denver. Remember, Retro Grouch says the Katy trail will happen no matter who else comes, Denver is a suggestion without an organizer at this point.

Marc

Biker395 

The Palm Springs Century and the Tour de Tucson are both good choices, IMHO.

They're convenient to SoCalers like myself, and attractive to people in other parts of the country, who'll likely have less than ideal riding weather at home. That's one reason they are immensely popular.

That Las Vegas Gran Fondo in September is interesting ... isn't it flippin hot out there in early September?

Jim from Boston

FYI, the Katy Trail:

We did have about five miles (out of about 30) of such a trail on the Boston Ride this July, but that was because of the route we chose, instead of the metric or imperial centuries, which I presume were all on paved roads.

Shamrock

We are leaving this SAT thanks for your response.I looked up the bike club you suggested.They have a bike ride-event every weekend spring summer fall except the time we will be there.I'll make the best of it.

lhbernhardt

I think that's Viva Bike Vegas, held at the same time as Interbike, and not to be confused with the LV Gran Fondo that happens earlier in the year. I did Viva Bike Vegas last year, and it wasn't terribly hot. You start at about 5:30 in the morning just so you can ride up the Strip and see all the flashing lights. So most of it goes by in the morning hours. The featured rider at VBV is Miguel Indurain, but I only saw him at the Pinarello booth at Interbike. Didn't see him at all during the Gran Fondo.
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Road Fan

Is the poll saturated? I voted number 38 this morning before work and now 12 hours later there has been only one more. I guess 40 folks is kind of valid, considering the typical 50+ turnout is not huge.

irwin7638

I think you have a point, but I am leaving the poll up for two weeks which means it will end on the 26th. There have been 453 views on the poll and I hope some of the others will voice their opinions in the next 10 days.

Marc

DnvrFox

Suggestion - 7 "regional" rides - where, folks in the area or wanting to come to the area simply come together.

Boston-MassBike Tour (July, last weekend)
Katy Trail Social (July 18-20)
Denver Rio Grande (Sept)
Las Vegas Gran Fondo (Sept, 2nd week)
California Sonoma (Sept)
Michigan Leelanau Wine Fest (Sept 14)
Tucson (November)

Road Fan

In other words, they all have enough support theoretically to go forward, so just do them all!

irwin7638

Sure, Why not hold one of them if there is support and somebody is willing to help by organizing. I am hoping to identify the 3 most popular ideas and focus on those to have larger turnouts. I can see a bunch of us getting together in Michigan at the Leelanau festival regardless of the turnout elsewhere.

Marc

irwin7638

So far this poll has been pretty interesting. The leading places are Boston and California (I posted Sonoma because several agreed the Tour de Fuzz was a good option) and after that the other rides all have enough interest to have a get together at each of them. We know for sure the Katy Trail Social will happen and there is an abundance of lodging and camping options in that area and a separate thread has started to organize the Denver option. This is all cool. The poll stays up for another week. If you've seen the thread and haven't voted please do, the more the merrier.

Marc

irwin7638

Well, the poll is actually closed now. Boston and California came in tied for most interest, Denver and Tucson tied for 2nd and Katy trail at 3rd. I know we have people interested in taking the lead to organize Boston, California and the Katy trail, The Denver ride already has a second thread and I suspect the MIchigan and Vegas rides will draw their own contingents. I know nothin' about Tucson but we have a virtual buffet of pedaling possibilities together in the coming year. I expect to be in Boston if it is held the same weekend as this, will also be at the Leelanau festival, might make the Katy trail and even the California ride depending on the schedule, but hell what else do I have to do?

Marc

Jim from Boston

We had an unseasonable 19° Monday morning this week, so I thought this would be a good time to bump up this Sixth Annual Fifty-Plus Ride Thread. The Boston Ride proposed for this summer is a reprise of the Fifth Annual Ride held in conjunction with the MassBike Summer Century & Family Fun Fest. The previous four annual MassBike events were on the last weekend in July. I called MassBike yesterday, but it is still too early for the definite date.

Nonetheless, I did sign-up for a few days off work around that last weekend in July; I was not able to do so last year. So here is a very tentative proposal for the Sixth Annual Ride Fifty-Plus Ride, as suggested for the 2013 ride; possibly on Saturday, July 26 in 2014: