This page tells you everything you need to know for ride day -- where to show up, when to show up, what to bring... there is a great deal of info here, so please take a careful look!
When And Where To Show Up On Ride Day
These are the times you should ARRIVE to check in. Please do NOT arrive earlier! You’ll just be in the way, and the set-up crew is surly enough at this hour. Go home and go back to sleep!
Look below for the times check-in ENDS too – if you’re late, you’re out of luck! Riders who attempt to start the ride after the cut-off times will be denied access and then fed to a pack of hungry dogs.
Just skip ahead here to the distance and check-in location you want, and then READ CAREFULLY!
DISTANCE: 145 Miles
CHECK-IN: W. 31st Street & 8th Avenue in Manhattan, on the sidewalk right outside Penn Station
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 5:00 a.m.
145-mile check-in ENDS at 6 a.m. sharp!
Start pedaling right here as soon as you have finished check-in and dropped off your luggage.
NOTE: There is NO 145-mile check-in at Babylon -- Manhattan is the ONLY check-in location for this distance.
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DISTANCE: 100 miles
There are TWO check-in locations for this distance -- Manhattan and Babylon -- and they have different check-in times. The pedaling you will do is identical no matter which start line you pick. (How is that possible? See The Full Story, below). Read carefully here!
MANHATTAN 100-MILE CHECK IN: W. 31st Street & 8th Avenue, on the sidewalk right outside Penn Station
WHEN: If you have signed up for our optional Express Lane service and already have your registration materials in-hand, please ARRIVE no earlier than 3:45 a.m. (Ugh!) This way we can take good care of you first. If you do NOT have your registration materials yet, please ARRIVE no earlier than 4:00 a.m.
Manhattan 100-mile check-in ENDS at 4:30 a.m. sharp! This is a very tight window -- be tardy at your peril!
The Short Version: Yup, the 100s checking in at Manhattan must arrive earlier than the 145s. Be a pal – trust us on this one!
The Full Story: You check in at Manhattan and we put your bike in our private truck.
We put you on the train WITHOUT your bike. Take your luggage with you on the train -- you’ll check it when you get to Babylon.
No need to buy a train ticket – it’s already paid for and we already have the ticket for you. We will direct you to the proper place to board.
You meet up with your bike at Babylon, where the actual pedaling starts. You will arrive at Babylon at approximately 6:20 a.m -- right in the middle of Babylon check in, so you are NOT late. When you get to Babylon, do not go to the check-in table -- you are already checked in; just toss your luggage in the luggage truck, grab your bike and a route sheet from the route-sheet table, and go.
There is NO pedaling in Manhattan for this distance.
No extra charge for transportation to Babylon for your bike and you.
WARNING: Absolutely no bicycles on the train from Manhattan to Babylon. Honest! You WILL be kicked off – NO REFUNDS! We have transportation for your bike and you all arranged – do NOT buy a train ticket. Just show up and smile and we’ll do the rest. Honest!
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BABYLON, LI 100-MILE CHECK IN: The Babylon Long Island Rail Road station, corner of Trolley Line Road and Deer Park Avenue.
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 6:00 a.m.
Babylon 100-mile check-in ENDS at 7:00 a.m. sharp!
You can start to pedal as soon as you check in and drop off your luggage.
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DISTANCE: 66 miles
There are TWO check-in locations for this distance -- Manhattan and Babylon -- and they have different check in times. The pedaling you will do is identical no matter which start line you pick. (How is that possible? Here’s the secret.) Read this section carefully!
MANHATTAN 66-mile check in -- W. 31st Street & 8th Avenue, on the sidewalk right outside Penn Station.
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 6:00 a.m.
Manhattan 66-mile check-in ENDS at 7:00 a.m. sharp!
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BABYLON, LI 66-mile check in: The Babylon Long Island Rail Road station, corner of Trolley Line Road and Deer Park Avenue
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 7:30 a.m.
Babylon 66-mile check-in ENDS at 8:15 a.m. sharp!
* * *
DISTANCE: 30 miles
There are TWO check-in locations for this distance -- Manhattan and Babylon -- and they have different check in times. The pedaling you will do is identical no matter which start line you pick. (How is that possible? Here’s the secret.) Read this section carefully!
MANHATTAN 30-mile check in -- W. 31st Street & 8th Avenue, on the sidewalk right outside Penn Station.
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 6:00 a.m.
Manhattan 30-mile check-in ENDS at 7:00 a.m. sharp!
* * *
BABYLON, LI 30-mile check in: The Babylon Long Island Rail Road station, corner of Trolley Line Road and Deer Park Avenue
WHEN: Please ARRIVE no earlier than 7:30 a.m.
Babylon 30-mile check-in ENDS at 8:15 a.m. sharp!
“Wait a Minute -- How Does this 30-Mile and 66-Mile Thing Work? I Don’t Get It.”
OK, But What Time Can I Actually Start to PEDAL?
We do NOT do a mass start -- after you check in, you can start pedaling whenever you're ready.
Helmets
You must wear a hard bike helmet at all times on the ride. No helmet/no ride/no exceptions. Really. Oh yeah, and while we’re being mean, no earphones or cell phones while you’re pedaling either. If you break these rules, we will kick you off the ride and laugh at you. No refunds.
Water Bottles
Bring TWO water bottles with you or you will dehydrate and die. Have a nice day!
Looks Like Rain
The Ride to Montauk runs rain or shine. There is no rain date. But it will not rain.
Locks
Highly unnecessary. We always see someone pedaling with a 20-pound chain on their bike. This doesn't mean that you should leave your bike unattended; it does mean that you can usually get a trustworthy friend to watch your bike for you while you duck in somewhere for two minutes.
Luggage
We offer free luggage service to Montauk. Bring a gym bag or backpack to morning check-in, and we'll take it out to the finish line for you on our private trucks. We’ll give you a free luggage I.D. tag for your bag.
How much luggage can you pack? (Especially for those staying overnight in Montauk..) You should be able to lift your bag over your head easily. If it’s too heavy... it’s too heavy!
Things to pack:
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★A towel (there are free hot showers at the finish line!)
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★Your favorite shampoo and soap
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★A change of clothes
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★A snack. (There is a free all-you-can-eat hot meal served at the finish line, but you might want to bring your favorite snack for the trip home)
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★A book or newspaper for the trip home (assuming that you are not the person doing the driving!)
Do NOT put your house keys, eyeglasses, asthma inhaler, methadone, money, etc. in your luggage. (What if your bike breaks down and you decide to take the subway home? Your vital stuff will be in Montauk!)
Camera
Don’t forget about the Ride to Montauk photo contest. Any picture that you take on June 21, 2008 from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. counts. The first prize is two free passes to the ride next year and a $100 bike shop gift certificate.
To enter just email your photos to photos @ ride to montauk.com after the event. Send as many as you want, but please don’t just forward the entire contents of your camera (including photos of your cousin’s wedding).
Don’t forget to include your name and contact info so we can reach you if you win.
Deadline for submitting photos: August 21, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. The judging will be highly subjective and probably unfair.
Note from the Evil Marketing Department: any photos you submit become the property of the Ride to Montauk. We reserve the right to use them to promote the ride, and to reprint them on a dreadful series of tacky and poorly made coffee mugs, mouse pads, keychains, and T-shirts, which we will make millions off of. Wah-ha-ha-ha!
Money
Bring some, for lunch and emergencies.
"Day-Of" Registration
If you have friends who want to sign up on the day of the ride, please show them this web site (so they know what to expect) and have them go to the start line of their choice at the time listed below. Please note that "day-of" registration is much more expensive -- $140 for all routes and distances -- and is cash-only (no credit cards or checks). On-line registration is available until Wednesday June 18, 2008 at noon here and is faster and cheaper for you.
Food
We serve a light breakfast at the start lines (probably bagels, doughnuts, coffee, and bananas, or similar) so if you're dreaming of a giant stack of flashbacks with maple syrup, better eat up before you get there.
Our fantastic rest areas -- located approximately every 25 miles. Each rest stop features:
Water
Sports drink
Fresh fruit
Something bread-y (for much-needed carbos)
Something sweet (for those who prefer to use sugar as their fuel)
Something with protein
We’re also known to provide stupid stuff like homemade pie with whipped cream made on the spot or ice cream, but whenever we offer goodies like this we will also always provide healthy snacks too.
This means that we love you, but that if you are eating a strict diet, you should bring some snacks with you, or buy them along the route.
We do not serve bottled water on any of our rides. Click here to see why. There are many stores along the route where you can buy bottled water if you wish.
At the finish line we serve a free all-you-can-eat meal suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters.
Ride Number
You MUST have your ride number to get breakfast, bike repair help, bike-rescue assistance, your post-ride meal, a hot shower, and our optional transportation home from Montauk.
There are ONLY two ways to get your ride number:
1. Show up at morning check-in and we’ll give it to you on the spot.
2. Sign up for our OPTIONAL Express Lane service when you register. We’ll mail your ride number to you about a week before the ride. When you get to morning check-in, do NOT get in line -- just toss your bag in the luggage truck, grab a route sheet and some breakfast, and go!
Do NOT throw away your ride number when you get to Montauk -- you’ll need it for our great post-ride meal, and to get home if you are taking our OPTIONAL transportation.
Route Directions
We will provide you with a route sheet and we will mark the route clearly. When in doubt, follow the marks along the route. (Be careful about just following the cyclists in front of you -- they might be lost!)
Rest Stops
Official Ride to Montauk rest stops are located about 25 miles apart. Stop by, rest, and see your friends. We'll be there with food, water, first aid, and bathrooms. Bike repair will be available at most rest stops. Depending on which route you're riding, you won't be going to all of the rest stops -- here's the schedule:
* Rest Stop #1: 145-mile cyclists only
* Rest Stop #2: 145-mile cyclists only
* Rest Stop #3: 145- and 100-mile cyclists
* Rest Stop #4: 145-, 100-, and 66-mile cyclists
* Rest Stop #5: All cyclists
Repairs
We'll have bike repair experts along the route.
ALL bikes can get flat tires. Even if you don’t know how to change a flat, be SURE that you are carrying TWO extra tubes that fit your bike, a pump, and a patch kit. If you have these items with you, someone else can help you. If you don’t have this stuff, it’s going to take MUCH longer to get you back on the road.
S.A.G. Service
S.A.G. stands for Support and Gear -- these are the wonderful folks who will help you if you can't finish the ride because your bike breaks, you pull a muscle, or you're just too pooped to pedal. We provide the best S.A.G. service of any bike ride in the U.S.
Period.
We offer two different types of S.A.G. service:
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1.S.A.G. On Demand -- we'll have vehicles with bike racks on call throughout the ride. If you break down or need help, grab a phone and call us at headquarters. (The phone number will be printed on the route sheet you'll receive on the day of the ride). We'll dispatch the nearest vehicle to rush to your aid, but ONLY if you contact us -- the vehicles don’t just circle around; they are on-call, waiting to hear where they need to go to next.
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S.A.G. On Demand vehicles will usually take you to the nearest official rest stop, where we can help you. Please understand that we’ll always do our very best to help, but S.A.G. on Demand is not a taxi service -- we will not be able to take you to grandma’s house or Thai food take-out.
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2.Finish Line S.A.G. -- no matter what, ALL cyclists need to be at the finish line no later than 6:00 p.m. so they'll have time to shower, eat, and get home. The Finish Line S.A.G. team drives along at the very end of the ride and looks for people who need help. They are the clean-up crew who make sure that everyone is off the road by the end of the day.
If you need S.A.G. service, stay in a safe spot near the road where we can see you. Our rest stops are the best place to look for S.A.G. service -- get there if you can. (But please don't put yourself in danger just to prove you can make it to the next rest stop!)
S.A.G.ed riders will be taken to Montauk, so you won't miss your friends, the party, your luggage, or your ride home!
If you ship a bag to Montauk in our luggage truck but never make it to the finish line, we'll bring your bag back to our office for you. We are located a convenient 10,000 miles from where you live. Reach us after the ride at luggage @ ridetomontauk .com. We will not be able to check our email until the Monday after the ride. We will not be coherent enough to answer it for another day or so after that.
Help On the Way
Our S.A.G. team members are really smart -- they have years of experience. They know what time the transportation home is leaving. They know how fast cyclists can pedal. If they offer you a lift to the finish line, it's not to pester you -- it's because they know that if they don't help you, you are going to miss the last transportation home, and you'll be stuck in Montauk overnight. Please don't argue with them -- they're trying to help you.
We ride on public roads, and we certainly can't make you accept a lift, but if you refuse S.A.G. service, you are on your own, and we can not guarantee you transportation home, showers, first aid, luggage service, food, or a place to sleep. In fact, you’ll probably be mauled by wild tigers. Long Island wild tigers. Whatever.
The S.A.G. team's goal is to get everyone to Montauk no later than 6:00 p.m. by hook or by crook. That will give you just enough time to eat, shower, change, and get on the last transport home.
On the day of the ride we'll give you a route sheet that includes a schedule of how far along you should be at specific times to avoid getting S.A.G.ed.
"How Long Will It Take Me To Pedal To Montauk?"
This is one of my favorite questions -- we don't know how long it will take you to get to Montauk -- how fast can you pedal a bicycle?
Here is a very rough answer: Easy-going cyclists pedal about 10 mph on a flat road. Pretty darn quick riders in fine shape who have been training faithfully go about 15 mph. Racers and those in superb shape cruise at 20 mph plus. Pro racers full of steroids can pedal more than 20 mph going up a mountain. (Scary!) Again, these times are very rough and do not include rest stops. The speed demons will arrive in Montauk by noon. The S.A.G. team will make sure that everyone is at Montauk by 6:00 p.m.
Glen
Your tour director and humble servant
Ride Day: When to Check In, Where to Check In, What to Bring...
Photo By William O’Connell
