Instagram Photo Credit: @dogthegreat
This is a non-group organized ride. While you won’t be riding with a group, there will be other people on the route, and there will be a sweep to put your mind at ease about a mechanical issue. There will be ample opportunity to spend time and see people but outside and from a distance.
We’re riding on paved roads starting at Ride Headquarters and offering a fully-supported food stop near Ride Studio Cafe then returning to Ride Headquarters. The food stop will have individually packaged ride food (bars and gels) and Ride Studio Cafe Mini Mochas!
It’s wonderful riding especially knowing there are other cyclists on the same route who can help and offer support, even if only verbally and from a distance. It’s a way to maintain some normalcy, get some fresh air, maintain your physical and mental health, and drink a delicious mini mocha!
We respect anyone who believes everyone should stay inside his/her house during this time without going outside or beyond one’s front yard. However, for many of us, being unable to see the sun or get out of the house, a less healthy reality results for us and for those with whom we interface.
Be absolutely certain you’re up for the rules of this ride. Read this page in its entirety, every single word. If this ride goes well, this will be the first of others.
Details
Ride Type: All paved roads, social distance riding
Time & Date: Monday, May 25, 2020. Ride start times are staggered between 7:30-9:30 AM. You’ll choose a preferred time upon registration.
Starting Point: Ride Headquarters, Sherborn, MA
Distance: Metric Century 100km = ~63 miles
Price: $25 - Register Here
This page includes all the information you need to stay healthy and safe on this ride while maintaining proper social distance and not offering any perception to anyone that this is a group of any sort. Your safety and public health is our number one concern, and can’t be overemphasized.
Social Distance Rules
Keep your distance, at least 6’ or much more, from those you do not live with. If you’re riding with a spouse, partner, roommate, or any other person that you currently live with, you’re welcome to ride near each other as you would if you were riding together anywhere else in the world. If you are not, keep at least a car length between you and anyone else, on and off the bike. Absolutely no drafting.
No sharing or touching anything that is not yours before, during, or after the ride. This includes the rest stop. We’ll control the water and handing out bike food.
Everyone must bring a mask that covers your nose and mouth completely for use when you’re within sight of others on or off the bike.
We’ll be giving everyone slightly different parking locations as well as starting times, please adhere to these. The safety of everyone depends on it.
Pack a lunch to eat afterward, use a cooler to keep things cool. Don’t pack anything perishable. No sharing of food or beverages. Pack a lawn chair, you may wish to tailgate after you’re done riding. It is easy to maintain a lot of distance outside sitting next to your car while speaking with someone over 6 feet away.
There is no ride leader, you’ll be following your GPS computer, therefore owning a GPS computer is a must with at least one back-up power source.
We’ll send a very detailed email a day before the ride with the route, instructions, and details so you understand logistics and exactly what to do.
Start Location
Ride Headquarters
11 South Main Street
Sherborn MA 01770
Route Information
Here is some general information about the route:
63 Mile Route
All Paved Roads.
About 43 feet of climbing per mile. A total of 2,700 feet of ascent.
1 food stop, water, mini mochas from Ride Studio Cafe, skratch, and bike food will be available but dispersed by us for everyone’s safety.
Pace Options and Addressing Safety
When you register for this ride, we ask you for your best estimate of your average pace when you ride alone for a 20-mile paved ride in the Boston area. We don’t expect you will know what your pace will be on this exact route, but we do think you know how fast you ride if you go out alone for a usual 2-2.5 hour bike ride in this area.
You’ll see the selection of average speeds on the Registration form. From 12mph - 20mph+. If you choose to ride faster than this the day of the ride, that is alright, we just ask you to ride within yourself. We are staffing food stop assuming a 12 mph minimum pace.
We are using your “average” ride pace info to determine your start time, purposely separating people who would gravitate to each other during normal circumstances.
Don’t risk fast descents or not eat enough causing you to bonk. As we have been instructed by health professionals, now is not the time to ride too hard since this compromises your immune system. Keep your heart rate in your “aerobic” zone and you’ll benefit tremendously from the ride. After this whole situation is over, we can all resume harder efforts.
Be sure you’ve got the route and at least one back-up power source to charge your GPS unit and phone during the day. We will want to know if there is anyone with whom you live who you will want to ride with when you register.
If we see any two people within 6’ of each other and neither party has listed the other person(s) as a member of the same household, we will ask you to leave the ride immediately and not participate in anything else we offer. We are EXTREMELY serious that social distancing is exceptionally important and ask you to not attend this ride if you don’t take it seriously.
Being Social Without Being Too Close
Use #mochametric to capture your memories from the ride and share your images and experiences with the other riders.
Preparation
What to bring, we recommend:
Check out the contents of our bug-out bag
All the clothing you typically use for 40-70 degree riding. Clothing that likes wet conditions isn’t a bad idea, either. Note: We’re only including the gear that people often forget when they’re in a hurry, and riding in unexpected conditions.
Headlight and taillight with batteries in good condition. Use these to be even more visible during daytime riding.
Helmet
Neck gator/mask
sunscreen
Protective glasses
Towel to dry off after the ride.
A change of clothes for after the ride - it’s not fun to drive home in sweaty, wet, clothes.
Read this article about social distance riding preparation written by Ride Headquarters for more help in packing for the day.
If there’s anything you need, we can sell you whatever it is remotely assuming we have it at the store, and we will bring whatever it is to you in a clean bag, only handled with disinfected hands. Email us with anything you would like to have.
Proper Bike for this ride:
Road conditions the day of the ride will dictate. 25c-32c slick tires likely appropriate.
Clipless pedals and shoes. These are important elements of bike control.
A bike that’s in safe working order. Make very certain your bike comes clean, lubed, safety checked with fresh brake pads, and tires in good shape. If it's wet on the road or raining, please put a rear fender on your bike to keep you from getting wet. With no drafting, the requirements about fenders are a bit more relaxed now!
Weather: We will make last-minute route changes based on weather as necessary. All attendees will receive updates via email. We are playing it safe and erring on the side of caution.
Last Minute Information: We will email everyone who registers with the latest information and details concerning parking, timing, route, etc.
Unregistered riders or riders who haven’t signed the waiver may not participate.
Waiver: Ride Headquarters requires a signed waiver before your first ride. Please fill it out online prior to your first ride.
Contact Information: Email connect@rideheadquarters.com with questions. We will email you the cell phone number of the contact person who will be present at the beginning of the ride and available during the ride.
Riding Rules, What to Bring, How Our Rides are Different: All riders are required to read and are expected to abide by These Rules. Note: ALL rules stated here on this page override any conflicting rules you see on our typical ride rules.