Prices and How to Register

How much is all this luxury and fun going to cost? 


$250.  Optional transportation home for your bike and you is available.

30 years and under on ride get a discounted fee. (How come they get a discount and I don't?  I've been good!  See the answer below*.

Kids 6 and under on ride day are free.

SO... why is this ride so expensive?

I'm glad you asked!

1. Unbridled greed.

2. Donations to local charities. Insurance. Permits. Police coverage. Bike mechanics (yes, they get paid and they deserve it). Catering. Fuel for all the vehicles needed to make this go. And more, more, more...

3. This is how I make a modest (VERY modest!) living. My worst day loading bikes into a truck in the rain is STILL better than sitting in a cubicle, cold-calling editors who do not want to talk to me, so no complaints here. I promise you that no one is getting rich at these prices.

How to Register For the Ride

Just click here for online registration.

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* How come cyclists under 30 get a discount and I don't?

In recent years all of the big rides I know about have seen a decrease in attendance, and the reason appears to be that there are now few riders 30 or younger.

Why?

Here are several bad theories:

* They can't afford it (Remember your first grown-up job?)

* They're too busy staring at their phones. (Snarky!  Sorry.)

* We need to do more social media -- meet them where they're hanging out online.

* As the audience gets older, the rides become less attractive to younger people, who want to hang out with people their own age.

* Places like New York City have an extensive bike-share program. Many young people use these heavy sturdy bikes to commute to work. "I ride a bike five days a week -- why would I want to ride on the weekend too?"

* When Lance Armstrong was big a huge number of people got into cycling for the first time, and the rides got larger every year. I don't think Lance's scandal is the problem -- I think that a lot of people said, "That was cool -- and now I'm going to take kayaking lessons, or learn French, or join a square dance club, or... " They liked cycling but it wasn't their life.

* Stop trying to attract younger people -- if they don't want to do it they don't want to do it. Focus on the over-30 crowd that does want to ride.

SO... everyone involved in big rides complains about the lack of younger people, but no one does anything about it. We decided to stop whinging and take a crack at it. Is a discount price going to fix it? Beats me, but we're going to TRY.