Cape Cod and the Islands

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW

Cape Cod is one of the largest barrier “islands” in the world, qualifying as an island since the construction of the Cape Cod Canal removed the remaining attachment to the land mass of Massachusetts.  Cape Cod, the eastern-most arm of Massachusetts, is known for its pristine beaches, captivating history, and old-fashioned charm. Seven miles off the coast of Cape Cod sits Martha’s Vineyard, a jewel of an Island and with exceptional beauty.  Bike paths separated from traffic crisscross the island, enabling cycling past cool forests, tranquil harbors, and pristine beaches, with mesmerizing views from the Aquinnah Cliffs.  Nantucket is a small island of only 14 miles in length and 3.5 miles wide, and with its lovely cobblestoned streets, its dune-covered beaches and its beautiful architecture—transports you back to the 19th Century.

You will pedal through tidy villages, past, gray-shingled cottages, and along beaches, kettle ponds, and rivers.  Cape Cod and Islands have some of the nation’s best bird sanctuaries. This tour encompasses what many regard as the best of these three islands’ unique landscapes and seaside character. A diversity of scenery, cycling routes, and distinctive accommodations allow you to experience Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in comfort and style.

During our tour after Labor Day in September called the “Golden Season,” the weather is generally the best, the summer holiday crowds are gone, and the traffic is light.

Previous versions of this tour were done in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.  Ride Leader Albert Balingit led this tour twice in 2022.

RIDE DESCRIPTION

Here is a summary of the itinerary:

Days 1-2: We are in Yarmouth.  Our first recommended ride is a historical tour of Hyannis and surrounding towns. You can visit the John F. Kennedy Museum, the church where the Kennedy family worshiped and donated the altar to honor Kennedy’s oldest son and the cemetery where many Kennedys are buried. Visit the history museums of Osterville and Centreville.  You will ride along beaches, lakes, and past one of many ponds named ‘Long Pond.”  In Centerville, visit the Centerville Pie Restaurant, made famous by Oprah Winfrey, who was presented two of their pies at Ethel Kennedy’s funeral. You will be cycling along many waterways with views that will delight you.

Day 3-5 On Day 3, we bike from Yarmouth to Woods Hole, home of the world-renowned Woods Hole Oceanography Institute.  Cycle along the ocean front on the “Shining Sea” bike path, a name taken from “American the Beautiful”, written by a local from Falmouth, Katherine Lee Bates.  There are two recommended routes to tour Falmouth. We are in Falmouth for three nights.

Days 6-8 On Day 6, we leave Woods Hole by ferry for Oaks Bluff in Martha’s Vineyard, known for its picturesque gingerbread cottages.  Here you may cycle to the Aquinnah Cliffs and revel in the panoramic view of the sea stretched out before you.  During past BAC tours, some rode a bus there and cycled back or vice versa.  The second ride takes you east along a bike trail and then to the ferry to Chappaquiddick Island, a ferry that is always “on time” since it does not have a schedule. Here you can visit Mytoi Japanese Garden, a tranquil experience. On your return, visit the old whaling town of Edgartown. The third ride is a 35-mile ride which takes you to three lighthouses. We will spend three nights in Martha’s Vineyard.

Days 9-11 On Day 9, we will board the ferry from Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket. Ride the 35 miles of separated bike paths. One ride goes south to Madaket Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches of Nantucket.  On your return for lunch, visit  Bartlett Farms or Cisco Brewery, a favorite watering spot, and creator of Nantucket’s microbrews, wines and spirits. The second recommended route goes east on a separate bike path towards Siasconset (pronounced “Sconset’), a quaint village with tiny rose-covered cottages.

Days 12-15: On Day 12, we leave Nantucket by ferry to Hyannis and cycle from there to Chatham, whose abundant coastline at the Cape’s secluded elbow, makes it one of New England’s most coveted locations. Chatham is also the location of Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Center and the Chatham Lighthouse. After a night in Chatham, on Day 13 we will cycle first on the Old Colony Rail Trail, which meets up with the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Along the way, we leave the Cape Cod Rail Trail to see 2000-acre Nickerson State Park and cycle its eight miles of bike paths.  After leaving Nickerson, there is time to visit the Chocolate Sparrow, a gathering for local cyclists. In Orleans, we have mapped out two spurs-one west and the other east.  We will  spend the night in Orleans. We then bike to Cape Cod National Seashore and Salt Ponds and on to Provincetown where we will spend our last two nights. 

On Day 16, you may take the 90-minute ferry crossing to Boston. In Boston, you may take a water taxi to the airport.  For those who are driving home, you take Interstate Highway 6 to return to the Massachusetts mainland.

If you have not visited Boston, you should consult your favorite guidebook.  Some of the highlights are the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabelle Steward Gardner Museum and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library, along with walking tours to many historical sites.

RIDE RATING

This tour is rated 1A with four required riding days averaging 32 miles per day and an elevation gain of 994. On Day 3, the first required riding day from Yarmouth to Falmouth, the distance of 37 miles exceeds the Level A rating of 35 miles. The recommended riding day in Provincetown on Day 13 is a ride through the sand dunes, which have short steep roller coast like climbs and descents.   Although there are only four required riding days, we have created enough routes to have a ride every day of the tour.  We have created spurs that could be added to the day’s route for those who desire longer distances.

The routes stay away from busy roads, but sometimes this could not be avoided, and thus you should be accustomed to cycling on busy roads, some without shoulders.  Most of the routes are on separated bike paths such as the Cape Cod Rail Trail and the Old Colony Rail Trail. In Martha’s Vineyards and Nantucket, the routes are primarily on separated bike routes. For those who desire longer mileage, those can be developed using RWGPS and if you need assistance, the Ride Director will gladly assist you. This will give you the opportunity to visit places the tour does not go.

WEATHER

The average temperature in September is a high of 72 degrees and a low of 56. Rain on average fell five days during September. Make sure you prepare accordingly.

LODGING AND MEALS

The tour includes 15 nights of lodging in seven different hotels.  As of this moment, we are negotiating with the different hotels and will finalize arrangements before January  2024. Some of the hotels being considered are beachfront in Chatham and Provincetown, and hotels close to the ferries on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Since we have not finalized the hotels, we do not know how many breakfasts will be provided.  We will have four group dinners.  We will have social hours on most days.

LOGISTICS

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 5:00 PM, we have our first meeting, and dinner in Yarmouth, we finish the tour on Monday morning, September 23, 2024, in Provincetown.

If you arrive by air, you should use Boston’s Logan Airport, and then take a bus to the Transportation Center in Hyannis.  Our last hotel is in Provincetown, and in the morning, you could take a scenic ferry ride to return to Boston Airport.

If you are bringing a car, we intend to have parking at our last hotel in Provincetown and you will need to drive your car to Provincetown.  You could return by bus or you can take a beautiful 51-mile ride mainly along the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

There will be no formal support during this tour. If you need transportation, private taxis are available which you need to pay for on your own.  We will have a U-Haul truck which will transport our luggage during the time we are on the main island of Cape Cod.  We will not take the U-Haul van on the ferry to the the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.  The hotels we intend to reserve on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard will be a short distance from the ferry and are walkable. If necessary, we will hire a taxi service to transport our luggage from the ferry to the hotel.

We will not ride as a group.

BIKES

Bike rentals are available from Bike Zone located at 323 Barnstable Road in Hyannis.  Call them 508-775-3299 and reserve your bike at least three months in advance or by June 13, 2024. You must decide personally. Bike Zone will pick up the bike from our last hotel in Provincetown for a fee which should be prorated for those who are taking advantage of this service.

If you are bringing your own bike and have a bike box, we will seek storage for your bike box at our last city of Provincetown.

E-bikes and tandems will be allowed on this tour.

SINGLES AND SOLO POLICY

It is recommended that singles interested in sharing accommodations, try to find their own roommate. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until February 1, 2024, to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC fee and payment processing fee) or pay the $2,550 solo supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate, if necessary.  The Ride Leader will assist in trying to match singles who apply for the ride.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office by February 1, 2024. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

COSTS AND ADMINISTRATION

The estimated costs of this tour are  $4000. based on a minimum of 18 and will be reduced if a maximum of 24 is reached. The major portion of these costs, close to $2550, is for lodging, which is expensive in both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.  It includes 15 nights of lodging, four group dinners, daily social hours, and all ferry tickets.

All gpx files will be uploaded to Ride Leader Docs, and a RWGPS Event created.  You will be able to download these gpx files to your bike computer and smartphone. The Ride Leader is willing to assist riders with the use of bike computer and smartphone. 

The initial deposit of $2,100  is due on sign-up. The second payment of $1900 is  due on February 1, 2024.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled due to participation below the stated minimum requirements.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped or cancelled.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPATION RESPONSIBILITY

If you are new to BAC bike tours, you should know that we expect our participants to be competent cyclists who can provide much of their own support while on the tour. You will be carrying and loading your own luggage.  On days with ferry rides, you will carry your luggage and bike onto the ferry.  You will be assigned a certain day to assist in the preparation of the social hour.

Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained for cycling, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should be prepared to accept personal responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  Please be sure to read the ride description carefully and respond promptly to calls for payments and emails from the ride leader.  While on the ride, consider offering to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation.  All our Ride Leaders are volunteers, and we ask that participants respect their decisions.

HEALTH and SAFETY

Participants must be vaccinated for Covid and be prepared to present vaccination documentation for viewing by the Ride Leader, if requested.

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Prior to the final payment for the tour, an infectious disease plan will be developed and communicated. The plan will identify possible actions for dealing with persons with an infectious disease on the tour that could affect their ability to ride or the health of others in the group. The plan will include items such as isolation protocols, testing, masking, distancing, and leaving the tour. Best practices for managing infectious diseases on tours are provided in a separate “Infectious Disease Plan for BAC Tours” document.

MEDICAL COVERAGE

Before participating in any BAC tour, members should review their medical coverage and assess whether your coverage is sufficient.  If it is not, you should purchase additional travel and medical coverage. 

BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

SIGN UP

To submit a request to join this ride, use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description.  When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At that time,  you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and initial tour deposit $2,400 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description