Getting to Know Us

The Boston Chapter Bicycle Committee offers a wide variety of rides to cyclists of all abilities in the greater Boston area and beyond. We have day rides, evening rides, weekend in the mountains or on the Vineyard rides, short rides, long rides, easy rides, advanced rides-something for almost every one.

We also get together socially after the rides or at the annual rally and offer workshops where all can learn to fix a flat, adjust the brakes and ride safely and responsibly.

Our purpose is to bring cyclists together in a friendly social atmosphere in which people can acquire new skills and enhance old ones. Our leaders are all volunteers who have mapped out routes on some of the area's most beautiful byways.

Most of our rides provide a lead and a sweep, as well as a cue sheet and/or map. We do our best to keep you on track as well as to keep you safe! Helmets are required on all our rides. We also group rides into easy, intermediate or advanced, so that you can ride with others at a similar pace.

Bike Committee Programs At A Glance

• Special Programs and Events

Bike Repair Workshop
Bicycle Rally
New Members Ride
Leaders' Appreciation Dinner


• Our Rides

Tuesday Evening Easy Rides
Thursday Evening Intermediate/Advanced Rides
Weekend Day Rides
Weekend Overnight Trips
Winter Rides


• Special Features

AMC Boston Bike Connections
Spoke'N Wheel
Bike Committee Meetings

SPECIAL PROGRAMS and EVENTS

This one day, 6 hour workshop held in April covers bicycle equipment selection, fixing a flat tire, general maintenance on how a bike works, including lubrication, brakes and derailleurs. Hands-on practice is provided for fixing a flat, while other topics are demonstrated by the mechanics.

The workshop provides a better understanding of safe bicycle operation and maintenance.

This popular annual event, held in early June, is designed to celebrate the summer biking season by drawing together AMC bikers in a pleasurable day of biking and socializing,

Traditionally held at the Littleton Youth Hostel in Harvard, MA, the rally features rides of approximately 25, 50 and 65 miles through rolling countryside, followed by a lively happy hour. After an outdoor barbecue, a featured speaker describes his/her biking adventures or other topics of interest to cyclists.

This special day ride in May invites both new and old AMC members to an easy ride through the lovely back roads of the Concord-Carlisle area.

Become a bike leader and be rewarded at an annual banquet! Everyone attending enjoys a fine meal, socializes and draws for random door prizes. In addition, certain leaders are generously recognized for their outstanding contributions to the biking program.

This popular series provides newcomers and/or cyclists not interested in a fast pace with rides of 10-15 miles distance at a moderate pace (10-13 mph) on mostly flat roads with some rolling sections.

Typically 20-40 riders leave from Lincoln, Concord, Lexington, Newton, Bedford, Weston or other metro west areas nearby Rte. 128 that the leader or co-leader have proposed.

Rides are show and go ( no registration necessary), depart at 6:30 (earlier after August 1), and feature an optional dinner afterward.

This series provides intermediate and advanced riders with evening rides for exercise, recreation and a social aspect.

The rides are show and go, 18-24 miles long, depart at 6:15 p.m.(earlier after August 1) and typically leave from Lincoln, Concord, Lexington, Newton, Bedford, Weston and other areas nearby Rte. 128.

Two or three leaders cover the range of expected speeds from 14-21 mph and up to approximately 35 riders. The leaders often arrange for dinner at a local restaurant for after ride camaraderie.

Throughout the spring and summer and often into the fall, we offer weekend day rides as often as possible. The rides typically include around 20 participants, a leader and co-leader as lead and sweep, a cue/sheet and/or map, a lunch or ice cream stop and/or post-ride gathering.

Our Easy level day rides are usually 20 to 30 miles long at a 10-13 mph pace. Intermediate rides range from 30 to 50 miles at 13-16 mph and Advanced rides are over 50 miles at a 16mph plus pace.

We choose routes that are as scenic and traffic-free as possible. Rides depart from metro west and north shore locations, and occasionally from the south shore or neighboring states.

Throughout the season we offer various weekend getaways that explore back roads in rural and coastal New England. Accommodations range from comfortable B&Bs in the mountains to a unique campground experience on the Vineyard.

Rides are usually in the intermediate range and some trips offer both a short ride (30 miles or less) and a longer ride (45 miles or more) .

For the hardy cyclist we offer occasional rides in the colder months. On an outing up and down the Minuteman Bike Path or a moonlight ride along the Cape Cod Canal Bike Trail, cyclists stay warm with frequent hot chocolate stops.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Join our email list! Share news with other list members, find members who ride similar bikes and distances, organize last-minute trips. Note: The list member organizing ad-hoc trips may not be a Bicycle Committee trip leader.

To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amcboston-bike

This newsletter, which is sent to all bike leaders and co-leaders, is issued in the fall, winter and spring. It features interesting articles on bike excursions or favorite bike shops, tips on riding gear, safety, leader responsibilities and descriptions of upcoming events.

Join the Bike Committee and get to know a small group of active bikers who have a lot of fun. We meet monthly from September to May in people's homes, and over dinner and dessert, try to come up with ways to maintain and improve our biking program. To join, contact committee chair. For the next meeting date, see our Calendar.