Bike Around The Bay
08-10-16, 08:20 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bike Around The Bay 2016
Bike Around the Bay 2016 - Galveston Bay Foundation
I'm riding it. Is anyone else?
If you are looking for a team, Saint Arnold is still accepting members. If we get 6 more people to sign up in the next 6 days we get a reserved table at the dinner Saturday night, plus a keg donated by Saint Arnold. The team is great. We have training rides every Saturday and Sunday, and there's free beer at the end of every ride. Every ride!
If you sign up for the Saint Arnold team, there's a discount on the BATB fee. There's also a Facebook group for the Saint Arnold team.
You can sign up for the Saint Arnold team here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.c...464b&oseq&c&ch
You can sign up for Bike Around The Bay here: Bike Around the Bay 2016: Saint Arnold Bike Team - Galveston Bay Foundation
I'm riding it. Is anyone else?
If you are looking for a team, Saint Arnold is still accepting members. If we get 6 more people to sign up in the next 6 days we get a reserved table at the dinner Saturday night, plus a keg donated by Saint Arnold. The team is great. We have training rides every Saturday and Sunday, and there's free beer at the end of every ride. Every ride!
If you sign up for the Saint Arnold team, there's a discount on the BATB fee. There's also a Facebook group for the Saint Arnold team.
You can sign up for the Saint Arnold team here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.c...464b&oseq&c&ch
You can sign up for Bike Around The Bay here: Bike Around the Bay 2016: Saint Arnold Bike Team - Galveston Bay Foundation
08-10-16, 08:22 AM
#2
bill nyecycles
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I think I'll join the Karbach team..........................................
just kidding.
I'm not doing it this year, but I definitely have an interest in doing it in the future.
just kidding.
I'm not doing it this year, but I definitely have an interest in doing it in the future.
08-10-16, 08:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Karbach team looks pretty fun, too. Of course, if we end up in the same bar there's going to be a rumble.
06-20-17, 09:36 AM
#4
Bikes and beers
If you're considering the 2017 Bike Around the Bay, sign up before registration increases from $40 to $75 on July 1st. While you're at it, join the Saint Arnold bike team. Fee is $40 and you get weekly training rides with post-ride beverages, access to our FB group page, two meetings at the brewery with full and unlimited pours (responsibly and within reason), a parking lot party at Royal Purple* after the ride, and great times. Additionally, you get 15% off clothing and accessories at your neighborhood Bike Barn, our official bike shop. As an added bonus, if we hit 100 riders (we're at 74 as of this posting), the team gets reserved seating and table side kegs at the Saturday night dinner.
Please note, you need to register/pay SA and BATB to be on the team; a password to join our roster will be provided on the team fee receipt. If you have already registered with BATB and want to roll with us, that's no problem. Just pay the team fee and use the password to join our roster. If there's a hiccup, please let me know and they'll manually transfer you over. *Finally, the fee does not include a Saint Arnold jersey, which is required to attend the post-ride party at Royal Purple due to TABC regulations. Jerseys can be purchased at the brewery (including our sweet new Summer Pils) or online.
Apologies in advance for the broken link but the site requires 10 posts prior to doing so.
Team registration is saintarnold.com/bike-around-the-bay and follow the steps.
Cheers!
Please note, you need to register/pay SA and BATB to be on the team; a password to join our roster will be provided on the team fee receipt. If you have already registered with BATB and want to roll with us, that's no problem. Just pay the team fee and use the password to join our roster. If there's a hiccup, please let me know and they'll manually transfer you over. *Finally, the fee does not include a Saint Arnold jersey, which is required to attend the post-ride party at Royal Purple due to TABC regulations. Jerseys can be purchased at the brewery (including our sweet new Summer Pils) or online.
Apologies in advance for the broken link but the site requires 10 posts prior to doing so.
Team registration is saintarnold.com/bike-around-the-bay and follow the steps.
Cheers!
06-21-17, 07:58 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
06-27-17, 08:52 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Saint Arnold team will do a bunch of training rides between now and then, so we will all be ready. And there is beer.
06-28-17, 12:48 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
07-18-17, 07:51 AM
#8
Bikes and beers
Honestly, BATB/Moody Gardens prefers the finish line beer stand to close around 3, so riders don't get too schnockered after a long day in the saddle. However, the beer resumes flowing at dinner and taps usually close when the pavilion shuts down (8ish?). As a related side note, one of the perks for being on the Saint Arnold team is reserved tables next to said dinner beer.
08-06-17, 04:50 PM
#9
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beer, no beer, whatever. This is a great ride. I'm signed up for 2017. It'll be my 5th time. If anyone needs help with logistics, like getting to the start, finding a place to stay, let me know.
10-23-17, 07:44 AM
#11
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Thread Starter
Sunday got wet. They had to cancel after the start. 50mph gusts, rain, hail and lightning. But we still had a blast.
10-24-17, 09:59 AM
#13
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Saturday was a great day for riding. Sunny, temps in the low 80's, I believe. Even a slight tail wind on Bolivar Peninsula!
Sunday. On Sunday we paid the bill for the great weather on Saturday. We all knew some rain was coming. I don't think we were expecting it to blow as hard as it did, but we started to get hints as we rode along. Break Point 4, closer to the North end of the course, radioed in to report all of the port-a-cans had blown over. Thankfully, they were unused at that point.
I was on Skyline Drive, next to the Texas City dike, and just past Break Point 1 when it hit. As I rode along the road next to the bay, I could see the clouds ahead. I was thinking I would have to stop and put my rain gear on in a few miles, when I noticed two other motorcycles just ahead who were already gearing up. I went ahead and stopped and started putting on my own rain gear as well. A good thing I did, as those clouds were moving fast. I was just finished getting my Frogg Toggs on when the wind arrived. I can't figure out how to hot link a video, so here is a link to a video of the clouds rolling in. Near the end of the video you can see the corner of a gazebo we would shortly use to 'hunker down'. Clouds coming in
Another video shot from the gazebo at the height of the fun. Wind and Rain
A quick shot of the 10 or 15 riders sheltering with us. New Friends
Listening to the radio, we stayed informed on what was happening. At Rest Stop 1, about a mile South of us, volunteers and riders all stuffed themselves into the back of a supply truck to ride it out. About a half mile ahead of me, 3 SAG vans had stopped and each had about 12 riders each inside. Alas their bikes had to sit outside. Elsewhere, people were sheltering inside convenience stores, supermarkets, etc.
Most riders were moved from the course to an American Legion hall in San Leon until they could be taken to the finish. At one point there were 120 riders there. If you are ever in San Leon, stop by the American Legion hall at Avenue I and 14th street. Have a beer and tell them Thank You.
Eventually SAG vans came by, and picked up some of our riders. One driver left his personal stash of snacks with the rest of us. After a while it was down to two motorcycles and two riders. They were waiting on her mother to come get them. The SAG who donated the snacks also gave one of the riders a mylar blanket. That made a big difference.
These things are small, light, and will really make a difference in a situation like this. If the weather for your ride has even a small chance of rain and cold, take one of these along. The BAtB organizers did a great job of getting folks sheltered and off the course, but it still took time. At the least, you will stay relatively warm while you wait. At the most, it could save you from hypothermia.
This photo also shows the 'wall' we used for shelter. With winds at 50mph, the rain was horizontal. If not for that wall, the gazebo would not have offered any shelter at all.
Eventually, everyone was taken off the course and delivered to the finish line. As with most weather fronts, once the front passed through, the weather behind it started getting better, although the sun itself did not come back out until mid afternoon.
I hope everyone here made it home safely, and we can all do it again next year. Well, except for the rain part.
Sunday. On Sunday we paid the bill for the great weather on Saturday. We all knew some rain was coming. I don't think we were expecting it to blow as hard as it did, but we started to get hints as we rode along. Break Point 4, closer to the North end of the course, radioed in to report all of the port-a-cans had blown over. Thankfully, they were unused at that point.
I was on Skyline Drive, next to the Texas City dike, and just past Break Point 1 when it hit. As I rode along the road next to the bay, I could see the clouds ahead. I was thinking I would have to stop and put my rain gear on in a few miles, when I noticed two other motorcycles just ahead who were already gearing up. I went ahead and stopped and started putting on my own rain gear as well. A good thing I did, as those clouds were moving fast. I was just finished getting my Frogg Toggs on when the wind arrived. I can't figure out how to hot link a video, so here is a link to a video of the clouds rolling in. Near the end of the video you can see the corner of a gazebo we would shortly use to 'hunker down'. Clouds coming in
Another video shot from the gazebo at the height of the fun. Wind and Rain
A quick shot of the 10 or 15 riders sheltering with us. New Friends
Listening to the radio, we stayed informed on what was happening. At Rest Stop 1, about a mile South of us, volunteers and riders all stuffed themselves into the back of a supply truck to ride it out. About a half mile ahead of me, 3 SAG vans had stopped and each had about 12 riders each inside. Alas their bikes had to sit outside. Elsewhere, people were sheltering inside convenience stores, supermarkets, etc.
Most riders were moved from the course to an American Legion hall in San Leon until they could be taken to the finish. At one point there were 120 riders there. If you are ever in San Leon, stop by the American Legion hall at Avenue I and 14th street. Have a beer and tell them Thank You.
Eventually SAG vans came by, and picked up some of our riders. One driver left his personal stash of snacks with the rest of us. After a while it was down to two motorcycles and two riders. They were waiting on her mother to come get them. The SAG who donated the snacks also gave one of the riders a mylar blanket. That made a big difference.
These things are small, light, and will really make a difference in a situation like this. If the weather for your ride has even a small chance of rain and cold, take one of these along. The BAtB organizers did a great job of getting folks sheltered and off the course, but it still took time. At the least, you will stay relatively warm while you wait. At the most, it could save you from hypothermia.
This photo also shows the 'wall' we used for shelter. With winds at 50mph, the rain was horizontal. If not for that wall, the gazebo would not have offered any shelter at all.
Eventually, everyone was taken off the course and delivered to the finish line. As with most weather fronts, once the front passed through, the weather behind it started getting better, although the sun itself did not come back out until mid afternoon.
I hope everyone here made it home safely, and we can all do it again next year. Well, except for the rain part.
Last edited by Tanstaafl; 08-29-18 at 07:22 AM.
10-24-17, 02:45 PM
#14
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I had a great time on Day 1, but bailed out and didn't even start Day 2. My wife always drives down to meet me for dinner so I just went back with her. The weather was so crazy it was even hard to drive.
10-24-17, 03:49 PM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I got up at 6am Sunday planning to ride. At breakfast I spoke with one team mate who was going to ride, and several who decided not to. We were all looking at the line of storms headed our way. I realized I was going to be on the course for a long time with few of my team mates, probably on wet roads with high winds. That just didn't sound like fun, plus I still hurt from the day before (and from a wreck a month before).
So I bought a bus ticket. Around 8 I was regretting my decision. By 9 the 50 mph gusts were knocking trees around and all of my regrets evaporated.
So I bought a bus ticket. Around 8 I was regretting my decision. By 9 the 50 mph gusts were knocking trees around and all of my regrets evaporated.
