Marathon Monday Ride!
Written by Boston Biker on Apr 18There will be TWO count em TWO marathon Monday rides this year! For thous of you not in the know the Boston Marathon is tomorrow. Its a Boston cyclist tradition to get out to the start line before the race and then ride back to Boston on the nice closed off route!
The first ride will be TONIGHT (Sunday) at 11pm, this is the midnight marathon ride, you can find more info about it on the Facebook.
In case you don’t have Facebook see info below.
Not tough enough to run a 26 mile marathon, but awesome enough to bike it the night before? then join the Boston Midnight Marathon Bike Ride! Since the start/finish lines and fancy mile markers will be set up, you’ll feel just like you’re running the marathon, except without all that silly cheering, and on a bike!
Itinerary:
1. Arrive at South Station with bike and bring bike with you on 11pm Commuter Rail from Boston South Station, arriving in Southborough at 12:01. (Commuter Rail Schedule: http://bit.ly/9Thmlo)
($6.75 for ticket from South Station to Southborough)
2. Ride 3.2 miles from Southborough Station to Boston Marathon Starting Line in Hopkinton, Ma. (about a 20 minute ride)
3. Ride 26 Miles, 385 yards to Finish Line in Copley Square, Boston Ma. (Depending on your pace, this could take you anywhere from 2 to 3.5 hours)Route/Cue Sheet: http://bit.ly/do9mby
Point A: Southborough Commuter Rail Station
Point B: Starting Line in Hopkinton
Point C: Finish Line in Copley SquareOfficial Course Map:
http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/CourseMaps.pdfEven though I’m “organizing” this event, Please know that you will be responsible for:
-Your own safety (please keep this in mind)
-Directions (Print and bring the map/cue sheet)
-Flat repair preparedness (It sucks to be stranded, so at the VERY LEAST, bring a spare tube/patch kit. If you have them, bring some tire levers/pump or plan to stick with a friend/friends who has one and knows how to change a flat!)
-Water/snacks (Bring at least a bottle of water)
-Spreading the word and bringing friends! (The more, the merrier!)
-Meeting us with your bike at South Station/Starting Line
-Getting Home ( please figure out how you’re getting home at 3,4,5am beforehand)Last bits:
Weather: It’s up to you whether to come out or not. keep posted: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/02215
The only cost is the commuter rail ticket. This ride is being informally organized as just another awesome idea that begs to be spread, so come prepared to ride and have fun!
Pace: As fast or fun as you please. Bring your friends so you can ride with them! 26 miles is a lot to run, but easily doable in three hours on a bike if you’re used to riding everywhere. Most of the route (except for that hill towards the end) is a slight downhill.
Sticking together: This is a group ride, but naturally, people will split because of pacing. Last year 30 people showed up with bikes ranging from road bikes, fixed gears, and dutch three-speeds. If the same thing happens this year, you’ll have several paces to choose from.
BRING A SPARE TUBE. In the event of a flat tire, you’d be doing yourself a huge favor by stopping by your favorite bike shop picking up the right size tube for your tires, just in case.
Urban Adventours Rents Bikes, but you might have to pay for two days if you rent from them for this ride: http://www.urbanadventours.com/
You are welcome to meet up with us anywhere along the way and part ways wherever and whenever you please.
This ride looks pretty fun, but if you want to get the real race day feel you can do the Monday morning Marathon Ride. Groups will be gathering all over Boston at all sorts of times, I think I am going to try to catch the group leaving Cleveland circle around 6am (no later than 6:30am!!!!) Basically you ride the route out to the starting line, take a piss, take a picture, then leave before the Wheel Chair racers take off, you HAVE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE WHEELCHAIR RACERS! You do not want to get pulled off the course by a race Marshall. If you leave early enough you shouldn’t have a problem, but be aware that the wheelchair men go pretty damn fast, so don’t dawdle.
Here is some info about the route, and other details (like when the wheel chair racers leave).
Cleveland Circle 7-11 (open 24 hours)
2002 Beacon St, Brookline, MA
Meet @ 6, ride 6:30 SHARP
Bring some food and water
Have fun out there tomorrow the weather looks like it might shape up so cross your fingers!
Add to Reddit. Tags: Boston Marathon, marathon monday, Ride
Posted in Bike Business, fun | 11 Comments »
11 Responses
to “Marathon Monday Ride!”
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By 100psi on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
who’s gathering at cleveland circle? are the roads closed to traffic at that time?
By mtalinm on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
I’m slow on the hills. Is there a chance of meeting the Monday-morning crew in Hopkinton instead of in downtown Boston, i.e. only doing a one-way ride? I asked the organizer but he didn’t answer me.
I would guess they’ll get there by 8:45 or so if leaving boston at 6:30.
By Craig on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
Don’t forget about the ride from the greater Boston YMCA out to the start and back (52 miles). Last year had a group of 40+ riders. Group leaves at 6am.
By mtalinm on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
craig – that’s the ride I wanted to join halfway. when do you guys hit Hopkinton?
By mtalinm on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
for the midnight ride, does anyone know whether the roads will already be blocked off? or are we riding with the midnight crazy cars?
By Gary G. on Apr 18, 2010 | Reply
Wish you had let us know about this ride SOONER !!! I would have loved to do it, just not enough notice… For those that are going, be safe ! I’ll see you next year…
By mtalinm on Apr 19, 2010 | Reply
it was a wild event, about 75 (by my estimate) mostly college students packed into a commuter rail and then flooding the streets of Hopkington in the wee hours.
I didn’t see any crashes/injuries, hope there weren’t any I didn’t see
By craig on Apr 19, 2010 | Reply
looks like 100+ people showed up for the Boston start at the YMCA at the wee hour of 5:45am. It was a cold ride out but the ride back was warmer with a slight tail wind at times.
Definitely will put this one on the calendar for next year.
By mtalinm on Apr 19, 2010 | Reply
my plan for next year is to have the wife drop me off outside Hopkinton at 7am (before the roads close) and then do the ride to Boston
By J on Apr 19, 2010 | Reply
What a great idea. Seems like the kind of thing that would be very popular if officially organized by the cities the route passes through (ie, with more notice ahead of time, and possibly a special early reverse commuter train)
By zbsports on Jul 1, 2010 | Reply
Definitely a nice idea, hope there is a event like that in our area. I love marathon.