Fun Events...Where Are They?
 

I've done some digging around on this forum and on Google and have yet to come up with with an authoritative list of bike events across the country. It could be that such a list just doesn't exist or it coould be that I just haven't found it. The Charity Events forum on this site is a little light on info.

When I speak of fun events, I'm thinking of those that are more socially than competetively oriented. RAGBRAI comes to mind as do the respective state MS rides (which are the best?) Here's what I ask of you if you would kindly oblige. Tell me about an event you have participated in that was a good time and what made it great. Single day, multi-day, relaxing or gruel fest. Fun comes wrapped in many different packages. Or steer me toward a good list of events with some reviews or descriptions. Last year I made a point out of hitting a couple good motorcycle events across the country. I had a blast. This year I want to do at least 4 bike events. Help me figure out which ones offer the best time.

europe.

burning man.

There is no list because there are just too many and way too many different organizers to get their information all in one place.

Each area has good sources for events in their respective areas. I would suggest posting on the regional forums for the areas you are interested in traveling to.

Also - "fun" means something completely different to many people. To me fun is something longer, higher, faster than any other ride around. To some fun is the shortest, easiest route with the tons of gut growing food.

Pick your poison.

I'm surprise my filters at work allowed me to get as far into my research of that event as they did.:lol:

Through an administrative error I am going to have 2 months worth of vacation (300+ hours) dumped into my account, so I am willing to go anywhere and would actually prefer to travel a bit. I am a flatlander, so mountain climbing events wouldn't be my idea of fun. Nor would events longer than centuries. What's your favorite non-competitive event?

I am unclear as to the meaning of this term....what is "non-competitive"?


;) - Do RAGBRAI. Everyone else does.

Mine is Ride Across INdiana (RAIN ride).

RAIN sounds like a good time. A little long for my level of fitness, but that's exactly the kind of reference I was looking for. Non-Competitive is probably a bad term. Even MS rides turn into races.

Most of our local cycling clubs have links on their websites to events and out of area bulletin boards. You might want to check there. Also the LBS's.

I have done some of that type searching. It can be very time consuming, but is interesting nonetheless. What I'd really like to get is more of a review of events that readers/members have enjoyed. The personal insights that you are not likely to get from link chasing.

Check the Regional Discussions section of Bike Forums, they usually have events posted in there many of which are recreational.

Here is a list of major bike rides in California: www.bikecal.com
There are probably other regional schedules like this. I agree that organizing a complete and accurate international schedule would be a lot of work.

for Texas:
http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/main/mainmenu.htm

also - if you have that much time, get a touring bike and do a long tour.

The Midnight Express Ride has registration closing this Friday at midnight, PST. There are some registration spots available - so if you're interested... best be signing up NOW!!

(oh, and not sure how much 'fun' it is - but this would be categorized as 'extremely difficult' according to the BRDAA)

Have a look at the Links page on my website:

http://www.machka.net/links.htm

http://www.qcbc.org/tomrv/

I did the first day of TOMRV this year and really enjoyed it. I didn't do the second day on account of lots of rain (clearly I need to HTFU). Good route, pleasant enough scenery. I will likely do RAGBRAI this year just to see what it's all about. Only problem is the last day of RAGBRAI always coincides with my favorite running event (Bix 7).

some northwest options:

http://cascade.org hosts all the fredliest of rides around here. (Seattle to Portland double-century is the most popular of these). The "High Pass Challenge" is a fun ride too, but probably not worth traveling for.

RCC - redmond cycling club hosts the "Ride Around Mt Rainier In One Day" ride - 150 miles and 10k feet of elevation gain. not the craziest of rides, but decently tough. they also hold two 275-mile races across washington (Cannonball, S2S)

and if you really want to get your hands dirty, come out to one of our 600k brevets next season. we'll surely be playing in the mountains again!

active.com seems like a good source for getting links to events throughout the states.

Bike Virginia, usually in the last week of June.

Regular fun: Western States Ride Calendar: http://www.bbcnet.com/RideCalendar/RideListDate.asp

Serious fun: http://www.planetultra.com/KOM/index.html

Bike Virginia is great as is RAGBRAI. If you're going on your own, Bike Virginia is a better option than RAGBRAI. If you can hook up with a team, RAGBRAI is a unique experience you shouldn't miss.

I think for a lot of these events, there's a limit to how far people travel for them, so they're known more locally. So instead of a national listing you'll find a bunch of local listings.

Someone posted the www.bicycle-stuff.com up there. It's a good site (note the pictures and reviews). It mainly covers north Texas. There's another site, http://www.bicycletexas.com/ , that is more state-wide, but doesn't have the reviews and pictures.

Note that most of the events are in spring, summer, or early fall- not much coming up. There's a Turkey Roll ride in Denton, and a Happy New Rear Ride in Blue Ridge. Both are good events, but of more local interest.

Try to Google Mike's Midwestern Rides. He covers all rides in midwest from Wisconsin down through Kentucky, and east to Ohio. I've found a ton of 'em that way.

He might also do other parts of country, too.

Give it a google :)

I think the last time I looked at it Mike was falling off a bit in maintenance of it. FWIW...

Here you go: http://stockdell.org/biking/bikevirg...de_report.html