Sponsored by People Cycling and BTCNJ.  Once this gets listed on People Cycling, it will fill up within a couple of days.

TOUR LEADER: RICK GALLO [email protected]

September is the golden season on Cape Cod. The weather is generally the best and the summer crowds, with their traffic, are gone. This tour is being planned with maximum flexibility in mind. Longer and shorter ride options will be offered for each day. Although some cycling may be on main roads / streets (especially thru towns), every effort is made to find quiet roads and paths whenever possible. The terrain is mostly gentle. There are a few hills but they are brief. Participants will pedal through villages, along beaches, kettle ponds, and sandy dunes. There will be time to explore the many different sites along the way (and as someone who has spent parts of the past 23 summers on the Cape – there are many sites to see!). Yet at the same time someone looking to pedal a lot of miles would still be able to do so.

Our tour will start and end in Hyannis, which we will use at the start as a sort of fixed base to pedal in Martha’s Vineyard as well as a day along the Shining Sea and Cape Canal bike paths. Explore the Vineyard with loop rides from 27 to 57 miles (after you take the ferry – estimated cost included in the tour price), and on another day pedal both the 12 miles of the Shining Sea bike path as well as the 6 mile Cape Canal bike path. We follow this by pedaling on the Cape Cod Rail Trail on our way to our motel in the town of Eastham, going thru the town of Harwich, Nickerson State Park (miles of bike paths within), the town of Orleans (two bike shops where the rail trail crosses thru the town), the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitors Center, as well as the Nauset and the Three Sisters Lighthouses. Those wishing a slightly longer day can easily fit in a visit to Chatham (an absolutely wonderful town). The next day will bring us to our bayside hotel in Provincetown – a town that is a world within itself. We have two days here so you will have time to explore the town as well as ride thru the paved bike paths, or go on a whale watching cruise (not included in the cost of the tour).

After our stay in quirky P-Town we pedal back south to our motel in Orleans. So if you did not get to pedal to the Truro Winery, Marconi Wireless Station or go over Uncle Tim’s Bridge in Wellfleet (or the dozen other sites) here is your second chance. Maybe you will head straight to the Chatham Lighthouse, or save this for the following day when we pedal from Orleans back to Hyannis. We can supply you with a list of bakeries for your daily fix but if you rather focus on ice cream a list of those can be provided (or maybe you want fudge / chocolate!).

Rather than give you pages and pages of what to see and what to do, if you are interested we will provide you with various websites of places to visit in each area of the Cape. From the Oceanographic Institution and Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, the Mytoi Japanese Gardens and Jaws Bridge (from the movie) in Martha’s Vineyard, to the site of the Mayflower Landing in Provincetown. Plus so many others (books have been written about what to do on the Cape: how are we to cover everything in a paragraph or two?).

MILEAGE / TERRAIN: Daily mileages range according to the route chosen. Thus your daily average can range from the low 30’s to the high 60’s. The terrain is relatively flat with occasional gentle short rolling hills. Only one option (again, it is just an option) on one day would the elevation be over 1,000’ (the daily average for most folks on the tour will probably be under 1,000’). Those seeking out the longer routes would obviously have higher elevation gain. Both tandems and e-bikes will be accepted on this tour. E-bike users should carry a second battery, not only for when they want to trek on the long routes but also because there will be times you are on bike paths where there is minimal chance of vehicle assistance (although you can always just carry your charging cord and stop at that bakery to charge up!).

COSTS: Overall cost is $1,440 plus a ride fee payable to the Peoples Cycling. BTCNJ members will get a $50 discount (off the $100 ride fee) but must contact Rick Gallo at [email protected] to get the discount. The Peoples Cycling fee and a $800 deposit is due at sign up. The final payment of $640 is due June 20, 2024  This includes all lodging (double occupancy), two group dinners, well stocked nightly social hours, lunch and snack supplies, van support/luggage transfer, leadership costs, cue sheets and GPS/TCX tracks. In addition, we will have bicycle tools and supplies to include heavy duty locks. Bicycles that require special parts (such as Campagnolo or e-bike hub engines / wheels) should make sure their bikes are in good working condition since such replacement parts are sometimes very difficult to find while on a tour.

Once accepted on the ride, the participant must sign the waiver, pay the club fee and send in your deposit. After the tour, we will provide a report of expenses and refund any funds that remain.

LOGISTICS: Starting and ending in Hyannis. The nearest airport is Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) with Jet Blue flights from Boston and New York City. Our starting hotel is approximately 1.3 miles from the airport. If driving, there is paid parking at the airport ($70 per week) as well as at several other places in Hyannis. If needed we can work a shuttle to get you to and from parking. If you wish to arrive a day earlier or stay a day or two later, the ride leader will assist since he will be there. On the other hand if you wanted to start your journey home you will not have to stay that last night in Hyannis (although we need to take into consideration your potential room mate desires).

WEATHER: The Cape is one big island and can have weather different then the mainland. In late September it can be cool in the early mornings hovering in the mid to high 50’s and afternoon highs may average in the high 70’s or stay in the 60’s. According to personal preference, riders in the morning may want arm warmers and a wind vest (or light jacket) (some may even want tights). If anyone has heard of a tour that has promised no precipitation please let us know, in the meantime riders should bring rain gear.

SINGLES & SOLOS: Both are welcome. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own, however, we will assist. If one cannot be found by the time the final payment is due, you will be given an option of paying the single supplement, currently estimated at $800) as you continue to seek a roommate or you can cancel and get a refund.  Please note, the club fee is non-refundable.  As another alternative, it's possible we can arrange a rotation of those wanting to go solo on a part-time basis.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The tour will be operated on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional costs as a result of someone cancelling. If a cancelling rider is replaced, then they will get a refund of their monies minus the club fee. If a single rider cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs, the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement of the roommate remaining on the tour. In most cases, refunds will be determined after the ride and the final expense report is completed. The club ride fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled. We encourage folks to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

SIGN UP:  Email to Rick Gallo at [email protected]. The Ride Leader will contact you. After acceptance, you will get a notice to sign a waiver and pay the Peoples Cycling ride fee. At that time, your $800 deposit is due to the Ride Leader.