Hey, What Am I Doing On THIS Page?
I love hearing from you -- it’s probably the best part of the job. But when it starts to get busy, it can be hard to answer every email as fast as we would like. Here are answers to the most popular questions:
How do I know that my credit card information is secure during on-line registration?
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1.Trust us.
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2.Read our incredibly dull high-tech information explaining how all credit card transactions are processed through an encrypted web site by clicking here.
“How can I start in Manhattan or Babylon and wind up in Montauk in just 66 miles or 30 miles? That’s impossible!”
“My friends are doing one ride distance and I’m doing a different distance. Can we catch up with each other during the ride?”
Sure. I recommend that you bring your cell phones with you to coordinate with each other while you are on the ride. Here’s some info on our rest stops:
“Can I bring my kids? Do I have to pay for them?”
We encourage children on this ride. Children 6-12 years old pay half price. Sign them up per usual -- there’s a special half-price category for them during on-line registration.
Children under 6 ride free. Don’t forget that EVERYONE on this ride MUST wear a hard cycling helmet, and that includes all children.
If you are bringing children under 6, extra safety measures are mandatory: ALL children on the ride MUST wear a Ride to Montauk wristband.
When you get to morning check in on ride day, ask the folks there for some extra wristbands for your kids. The wristbands are all color coded — whatever color is on YOUR wrist, that MUST be the same color that goes on your kids’ wrists. Similarly, our check-in crew will handwrite a ride number on your wristband — the exact same number should go on the kids wristbands.
If you sign up for our optional Express Lane service where we mail you your wristbands in advance, drop us a note and we’ll mail the extra wristbands for your kids too.
“Can I bring my tandem or recumbent?”
Sure!
HOWEVER... many of the vehicles we use for our S.A.G. bicycle rescue service have standard bike racks on them. If you need bike rescue for your tandem or recumbent, we’ll take extra-good care of your bike and you, but please understand that it may take just a bit longer to pick you up if we need to send a special vehicle for you. Of course all of this leads to the next question...
“If I’m riding a tandem, does the stoker (rear cyclist) have to register and pay too?”
Only if they will eat, drink water, use the bathrooms, or look at the scenery! If you are taking our optional transportation home, both cyclists must sign up for it.
“I want to stay overnight in Montauk on Saturday after the ride and then head home on Sunday. How do I get home? How does my bike get home?”
We have you covered! Please go to our Getting Home page by clicking here, and scroll down to the bottom of the page for all the info on getting home from Montauk on Sunday. Note that you are on your own to make hotel reservations at the location of your choice.
“I want to change the distance I’ll pedal on Montauk day, or the place where I’ll go for morning check-in.”
No problem-o! This happens ALL the time! (The truth is that we ask you this information in advance just so we can ESTIMATE how many people to expect where and when). Just drop us an email at
changes @ ridetomontauk .com: “My name is August West. I was signed up to do the 66 from Manhattan but now I’ve decided to do the 100 from Babylon. The End.”
If it’s the last-minute and you decide to make a change, DON’T WORRY! Do NOT email or call. Just read here for ride-day details, and show up at the check-in location of your choice at the right time for the distance you prefer. If you already have your ride number, there is no need to check in at the start line on ride day, even if you switched start lines or distances.
BUT...
“I didn’t sign up for the optional return transportation home, but now I need it after all.”
If you already registered for the ride with no return transportation and decide later that you want it after all, not to worry! Just drop us an email by clicking here.
The price for transportation home from Montauk for your bike and you is $27 on Saturday (right after the ride).
If you are staying overnight in Montauk after the ride and need transportation home on Sunday, it is $20, and does NOT include the price of your return train ticket. You can buy your return train ticket on Sunday at the Montauk LIRR station, or use your monthly LIRR pass if you have one.
If you want a padded blanket for your bike in transit, that is available for an additional $12.00. Just tell us which services you want and we’ll bill them to the credit card you used during on-line registration. The usual Active.com service fees apply, and we STILL don’t get any of those fees.
“I am doing the 66- or 30-mile route, and I don’t want to check-in at Manhattan or Babylon -- can’t I just drive to the spot where the riders actually start pedaling, and go from there?” (If this question makes no sense at all to you, don’t worry about it! That means that it doesn’t affect you!)
No.
We’ve tried this, and it just doesn’t work.
Why?
The places where the riders actually start to pedal are both tiny LIRR station, located in the middle of nowhere. We do NOT stop there on the way home.
The other reason you can’t just start there is that setting up a new check-in location -- even a small one -- is a huge amount of work, requiring MANY volunteers. We just can’t commit a staff of 20 people so that three riders can check in there!
“I forgot to buy a T-shirt, jersey, or socks, but now I want them. Do I have to sign up for them in advance?”
YES. T-shirts, jerseys, and socks sell out. If you’ve already registered, no problem-o! Just click here and let us know what you want -- T-shirt, jersey, or socks -- with the size and quantity you would like. We will bill the credit card that you used during on-line registration. The usual Active.com service fees apply (and we STILL don’t get any of that money!) If you want sizing info and prices and stuff you can get all of that by clicking here.
“I signed up for the ride, but now I can’t make it.”
Sorry, but there are no refunds. Of any kind. For any reason. EVER. Why the hard line on refunds? The answer here. You can also find info there on how to roll-over your ride spot to another one of our cool events, or sell your spot in the ride (which is completely legal).
Still have a question?
Are you SURE? Each year I answer a zillion emails and they tend to fall in to four categories:
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1.Things that were explained on this web site in excruciating detail. (“Does this ride go to Montauk?” “What is the date of the ride?” “How do I register?” By the way, this sort of question seems to come almost exclusively from law-firm senior partners, bank vice-presidents, and pharmaceutical company CEOs. Hmm...)
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2.Unbelievably insane questions: "The web site says to arrive at morning check-in at 6:00 a.m. What time should I arrive at morning check-in?" (Previous winners: “How many red lights will there be between Manhattan and Montauk?” and “What time should I start pedaling from the Montauk start line to get back to Penn Station in time?” Not to worry -- I’ve asked questions that are much more insane than these!)
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3.The unanswerable: "How long will it take me to ride to Montauk?" (I dunno -- how fast can you pedal?)
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4.You gotta be kidding: "Can I start the ride from in front of my house, skip morning check-in, do the route in reverse order, and then get a ride to my cousin’s house in the Hamptons after the ride?" (Umm... No.)
If you're REALLY sure that you STILL have a question, I would be more than happy to help. (Honest!) Besides the usual batch of nutty emails, I get lots of notes every year from people with important, sensible questions and great advice for making the ride better, and I’d be delighted to hear from you. Send your email to
questions@ ridetomontauk. com and I will answer it personally.
We Love You -- No; really! This time I mean it!
Glen
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Photo By Clarence Eckerson of your tour director and humble servant, Glen (r), on a good day at the office
