Organized Bike Rides: A Great Way to Spend The Day Getting Sun And Exercise
Have you seen packs of cyclists with numbers on their back? Chances are very high they are riders participating in the fun of an organized ride.
If you think you could never do this, think again! Organized rides are a great way to meet nice, interesting people from all walks of life and cycling ability, and get some great sun time and exercise all at the same time.
What is an organized ride? An organized ride is a planned bike ride sponsored by a group, often a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for a specific purpose.
These rides have predetermined routes that are marked and manned by volunteers to help riders participants stay on course and assist with any with any help you may need.
All participants get an easy to follow map in addition to the course being marked with paint arrows to help you follow the correct path.
Organized rides vary in length, usually between 25 and 100 miles.
Some even have family options that are shorter, for those who want to ride with children.
There are predetermined stops for refreshments so you can usually fill water bottles and get snacks every 10-15 miles.
The organizers also typically proved a post event lunch.
Do you need to be a good rider to participate? Organized rides attract cyclists of all ability, from the expert to the novice.
There is no need to fear participating if you have just recently started biking, as there will be lots of folks out there who are also casual cyclists.
In fact, these events offer tremendous benefits for those new to this form or recreation.
These events provide an opportunity to meet a variety of people who enjoy riding, and participants are usually very willing to share tips and conversation.
Organized rides frequently generate a feeling of camaraderie that makes meeting new people easy.
Newbies can often strike up conversations that may lead to new partners for your regular or occasional rides.
Some people are apprehensive at the thought of riding with large groups, due to fear that they might run into another bike.
While there are always a small number of cyclists who like to ride in tight groups and use racing-like formations, they are in the minority.
During most organized rides you will find that there is ample space between cyclists, and participants are courteous about not crowding or following too closely.
You don't need to be a fast rider to join in the fun.
These are not races.
Some will ride fast and finish quickly, but most participants are not speed demons.
As long as you can keep a steady pace - somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 miles per hour - you will be able to finish the ride well within the designated time.
Most organizers anticipate that there will be a wide window between the first and last to finish the course.
Where can you find an organized ride? There are a number of sources for finding these events on-line.
If you live in the western US, a good source is the Western States Ride Calendar.
A simple "organized bike ride" query on your favorite search engine will bring up a number of results.
Ride Calendars are most often organized by date so you can easily search for events that fit your schedule.
The calendars frequently list the ride name, date and state, as well as other helpful information such as length and elevation (gives an idea of how much uphill cycling to expect) on the main page.
Clicking on a specific event will usually pull up detailed information about the location, sponsoring organization, and cost.
This information will commonly include helpful details such as the routes, level of difficulty, etc.
If you are new to his activity, start with an easy ride and select thethe shortest route.
Participation is easy and inexpensive Some of these events are very popular and fill up quickly, so take note of the registration dates.
If it normally fills up quickly, it will often be noted on the web link.
Most sites offer on-line registration with a quick and easy form.
The cost of organized rides varies, but generally are about $40 per person for a single day ride, including all the support, snack stations and lunch.
Whether you are new to cycling, a casual recreational rider, or someone who is on the bike regularly, you should try an organized ride.
Most who do, sign up for more.
They provide a day of outdoor fun with friendly people at a reasonable price, and are a great option for those who enjoy riding a bicycle and love spending time in the sun.
If you think you could never do this, think again! Organized rides are a great way to meet nice, interesting people from all walks of life and cycling ability, and get some great sun time and exercise all at the same time.
What is an organized ride? An organized ride is a planned bike ride sponsored by a group, often a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for a specific purpose.
These rides have predetermined routes that are marked and manned by volunteers to help riders participants stay on course and assist with any with any help you may need.
All participants get an easy to follow map in addition to the course being marked with paint arrows to help you follow the correct path.
Organized rides vary in length, usually between 25 and 100 miles.
Some even have family options that are shorter, for those who want to ride with children.
There are predetermined stops for refreshments so you can usually fill water bottles and get snacks every 10-15 miles.
The organizers also typically proved a post event lunch.
Do you need to be a good rider to participate? Organized rides attract cyclists of all ability, from the expert to the novice.
There is no need to fear participating if you have just recently started biking, as there will be lots of folks out there who are also casual cyclists.
In fact, these events offer tremendous benefits for those new to this form or recreation.
These events provide an opportunity to meet a variety of people who enjoy riding, and participants are usually very willing to share tips and conversation.
Organized rides frequently generate a feeling of camaraderie that makes meeting new people easy.
Newbies can often strike up conversations that may lead to new partners for your regular or occasional rides.
Some people are apprehensive at the thought of riding with large groups, due to fear that they might run into another bike.
While there are always a small number of cyclists who like to ride in tight groups and use racing-like formations, they are in the minority.
During most organized rides you will find that there is ample space between cyclists, and participants are courteous about not crowding or following too closely.
You don't need to be a fast rider to join in the fun.
These are not races.
Some will ride fast and finish quickly, but most participants are not speed demons.
As long as you can keep a steady pace - somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 miles per hour - you will be able to finish the ride well within the designated time.
Most organizers anticipate that there will be a wide window between the first and last to finish the course.
Where can you find an organized ride? There are a number of sources for finding these events on-line.
If you live in the western US, a good source is the Western States Ride Calendar.
A simple "organized bike ride" query on your favorite search engine will bring up a number of results.
Ride Calendars are most often organized by date so you can easily search for events that fit your schedule.
The calendars frequently list the ride name, date and state, as well as other helpful information such as length and elevation (gives an idea of how much uphill cycling to expect) on the main page.
Clicking on a specific event will usually pull up detailed information about the location, sponsoring organization, and cost.
This information will commonly include helpful details such as the routes, level of difficulty, etc.
If you are new to his activity, start with an easy ride and select thethe shortest route.
Participation is easy and inexpensive Some of these events are very popular and fill up quickly, so take note of the registration dates.
If it normally fills up quickly, it will often be noted on the web link.
Most sites offer on-line registration with a quick and easy form.
The cost of organized rides varies, but generally are about $40 per person for a single day ride, including all the support, snack stations and lunch.
Whether you are new to cycling, a casual recreational rider, or someone who is on the bike regularly, you should try an organized ride.
Most who do, sign up for more.
They provide a day of outdoor fun with friendly people at a reasonable price, and are a great option for those who enjoy riding a bicycle and love spending time in the sun.
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