January - February 2006

Looking for an affordable vacation getaway?

Beat the heat this summer (or chill out this autumn) with a 5BBC weekend trip!

If you’ve never taken a weekend trip with us before, we encourage you to join us. Not only is the cycling fun, but you can also meet some great people! And, if you’ve been on our trips before, perhaps this year you’ll visit an exciting new destination.

When the list of 2006 Weekend Trips is complete, they will be listed here in the Bicycletter and at the 5BBC website. Up-to-date trip information is also available on our Weekend Trips Info-line, at (212) 932-2300 x138.

Here are a few things you need to know:

Members Only. You must be a member of the 5BBC to take a weekend trip. This is because insurance would add significantly to the cost of running the trips if non-members participated. Membership in the 5BBC is only $20, and you get lots of benefits (like a subscription to our bi-monthly newsletter, discounts in area bike shops, on our Montauk Century ride and our Leadership and bicycle courses, and the camaraderie of The City’s Friendliest Bike Club) so there’s no reason not to become a member!

What’s Included. The price of each trip includes round-trip transportation, accommodations, leader support, applicable event fees, and all breakfasts and dinners. Meals traveling to and from our destination, as well as all lunches (unless otherwise noted), are not included in the price. You must also bring your own well-tuned bicycle and bike helmet, which must be worn on all rides.

How We Ride. Weekend trips are lead by trained and experienced but unpaid volunteer club leaders. Except on days when the group joins an organized bike ride like a Century, the Point-Drop-Sweep system is used, in which leaders ride at the front and rear of the group, keeping cyclists together. This system accommodates a wide range of paces within one ride. Trips have been categorized by distance, pace and terrain, as follows:

A Rides - challenging, 40 to 60 miles per day, moderate to fast pace, hilly terrain

B Rides - intermediate, 30 to 50 miles per day, moderate pace, varied terrain, some hills

C Rides - easy, 20 to 35 miles per day, easy pace, and flat terrain

How to sign up. Please print out and complete the sign-up/waiver form on our website www.5BBC.org or in the Bicycletter, and send it in to 5BBC with your deposit. It is suggested you sign-up as early as possible, since registration is limited. A deposit of $150 (plus $20 for membership, if not a 5BBC member) is required for each trip when you register. We cannot “hold” a space for you if you sign-up without paying the correct deposit for each trip. You can pay the balance of the trip price in person at the time of departure. Online registration will soon be available. Only checks and money orders will be accepted for weekend trip payment(s) by mail. Cash will only be accepted in person.

Questions? To get more details about transportation, accommodations, rain, refunds, and the sellout policy for 5BBC Weekend Trips, we have a complete list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at our website, www.5bbc.org/aboutweekend.shtml. Also, please call our office during club hours on Wednesday nights from 7-9pm at 212-932-2300, x115. If you get a recording during that time, that means we’re taking a call from another member, so please try calling again in a few minutes.

Thanks for your interest in our weekend trips! We hope to see you on one of them soon.

Steve Sakson
Weekend Trips Coordinator, 2006
Weekends@5BBC.org